I'm Hungry

"Hunger knows no friend but its feeder"- Aristophanes

Men’s Health Magazine has another great article with "7 Reasons You’re Still Hungry—Even After You Just Ate!"

1. Sugary Drinks
Sodas, iced teas, and other sweetened beverages are a major source of high-fructose corn syrup which can trick the brain into craving more food. High-fructose corn syrup impedes the body’s ability to use leptin, the “satiation hormone” that tells you when you’ve had enough to eat.

2. Your Dinner Came Out of a Can
Many canned foods are high in the chemical bisphenol-A, or BPA, that can cause abnormal surges in leptin resulting in food cravings.

3. Your Breakfast Wasn't Big Enough
Researchers have found that those who eat just 300 calories for breakfast gain almost twice the weight as those who eat 500 calories or more for breakfast. A bigger breakfast makes for smaller rises in blood sugar and insulin throughout the day, meaning fewer food cravings.

4. You Skipped the Salad
Most Americans don’t eat enough leafy greens, which are rich in the essential B-vitamin folate and help protect against depression, fatigue, and weight gain. Best sources: Romaine lettuce, spinach, collard greens, radicchio.

5. You Didn't Stop for Tea Time
According to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, people who drank one cup of black tea after eating high-carb foods stayed full longer and had fewer food cravings for 2 and a half hours. [I wonder if herbal teas have any effect?]

6. You're Not Staying Fluid
Dehydration often mimics the feeling of hunger. Drink a glass of water before eating more, and see if your desires diminish.

7. You're Bored
Envision a huge, sizzling steak. If you’re truly hungry, the steak will seem appealing. Otherwise you’re in need of a distraction, not another meal.

Bottom Line

I can relate to many of the items above – at work I’m trying hard NOT to eat when thirsty or bored. I do eat breakfast but never considered that it could be too small.

I just saw my doctor for a physical recently. He claims I could lose 50 lbs in one year with a proper diet. Yeah, right. When I was in college I followed a diet with the goal of losing a pound a week - with time off at the Thanksgiving/Xmas holidays. My metabolism burns slower now.