morbidly obese and need to lose weight

Sounds like you've been doing great, but you're unlikely to keep making progress from exercise alone, particularly now that your body has adapted to your current workouts; you've got to eat right too.

Can you post what you've eaten and drank over the last couple of days? Perhaps there are some easy tweaks that could be made. Does your OH make your lunches too, or do you have some more flexibility there?

thor wrote: »

Like you I constantly feel hungry but have resigned myself to the fact that having a full stomach is something I have to avoid and I tolerate the hunger pangs. Some people can satisfy themselves on small amounts of food but I am not that fortunate. The only thing I can suggest is that if you are truly hungry all the time then eat a carrot or tomato or something similar. They may not taste great but treat them like medicine - a necessary evil if you like.

If you do this then you're setting yourself up to fail and is how binges happen. You should never have to feel hunger like that if you eat a sensible healthy diet. The way to do this is to eat more protein and fat as these are what increase your satiety and keep you feeling fuller for longer, hence avoiding the need to snack.

Many people shy away from eating fat as they assume this is what puts on their weight. But it's not. Sugar is your enemy, much of which is hidden in low-fat products and fruit.

Eating a carrot or tomato is going to do nothing to quell hunger so eat a hard boiled egg, slice of ham or chunk of cheese instead. Or better still, ensure you meals contain a good portion of protein and vegetables and cut back on the carbohydrates and starchy foods. These are digested more quickly leaving you feeling hungry sooner.

How much of this desire to feel full is actually to feel emotionally sated?


Hunger in itself isn't that unpleasant a sensation until you get to famine levels of starvation.


But if you're missing the biochemical effects of carbs on the brain to quash any sadness or anxiety, and the activity of choosing, shopping and cooking food to fill in time and occupy yourself, then all the food in the world will never be enough to last more than a couple of hours.



That big, empty feeling, just under the bottom of the breastbone, filling your core isn't hunger. It's a craving for an emotional need to be met. The little whining grumble way back inside, nearer your spine is when your body wants some protein.

The second will go away after about ten minutes if you ignore it. The first, however, follows you around all day and night.

thor wrote: »

I have tried all the alternatives you have suggested before and have found no difference between carbs, proteins and fatty foods. They all sate my appetite similarly.
For 99.9% of mankind's existence humans have learned to live with a half empty stomach and that is how I'll be operating until I decide to give up the ghost and start overeating(and I can put away a lot whether it is in the form of meat, fruit & veg, carbs) but the cost of no hunger pangs means I'll become fat so maybe not.

Yes but protein keeps us feeling sated for longer, plus eating carbs gets us into a cycle of wanting more. I can't eat one slice of toast and jam, nor one choccy biccy.
Remember how before that was understood, how westerners used to remark about eating Chinese food?
"Fills you up, but in two hours you're ready for another one." That's due to the rice, veg and cornflour with little protein.

Two boiled eggs for breakfast, will keep you going till lunchtime. Toast or cereal won't. In fact you'll be craving sugar meantime.

I lost three stone on low carbs with little effort. Put back a stone since moving house due to sadness and comfort eating from the Indian and Chinese take aways.

I'm doing well on losing it again. Had pack of smoked trout, as in smoked salmon style, but much nicer, plus a big spoon of full fat Philly with lemon juice and black pepper. No cal counting no portion control. However, what counts most for me and I'm not unique, is I must lift weights.

When I was a stone heavier than present, I was a dress size lower, all because weights had pulled me in in all the right places. I also find that lifting weights, believe it's to do with the core, relieves my spine/arthritis problem. I am very flexible, can outbend even young ones in a Yoga class, stand for any time though and I'm in agony. Confuses people when I bend from the waist and place my palms on the floor to relieve it. "Bad back?" (Getting up from the floor from a lying position is another matter, picture a Giraffe!):D

To the obese then I say, go find a good Gym and lift free weights. Heavy weights and low reps to build muscle, not tone.
I use a weights machine at home, but free weights under the guidance of a good instructor is best. The more muscle you carry, the faster you burn calories the less it will matter how much you consume, and I bet the Gym expert will put you on a low carb regimen. Not a diet, as "diet" equals hungry.

If you land at a Gym where they point you to machines, exit fast, as they want your money with no effort on their part.
Take before pics and thereafter monthly pics and be proud of your progress.

As for cycling, running whatever, good for the heart in moderation apparently, but losing weight and reshaping?

For anyone who can afford one and has the space, the Concept2 rower is brilliant. I sold mine due to the house move and not everyone likes rowing. I'd put on a good music track on and row for 45 minutes. Aerobic and muscular exercise, reshapes the bod in no time.

Sorry for going on about weights. I'm 66 and I think all in their trimester should have more muscle. Don't get me started on Vit D3!

ETA. The music would be Kaisers not Perry Como.