Hungry All The Time

[WGibs]

Hi,

For the past week, I have been incredibly hungry all the time. I'm not talking about munchy, unable to control my eating, but actual physical hunger sensations almost constantly. I get a 30-60 minute break from them right after eating, but then they come right back. This happens whether I eat a huge salad or something smaller and denser like a banana and yogurt or nuts. I'm trying to cut back on processed foods and carbs, and really eat whole foods and more protein, but it's hard when I'm so hungry all the time -- I just want to grab anything gluten-free. I don't think this is my body genuinely needing more food -- I've put on a pound and a half in the last week!

Other relevant info: I've only been gluten-free a little over a month, and my last known glutening was 3 weeks ago. I drink plenty of water.

I have never felt so hungry in my life. Does anyone have a similar experience to relate or an idea as to what is going on?

Thank you!

[jerseyangel]

All I can say is I've been gluten-free for 8 months and I feel hungry a lot of the time, too. When I finish a meal (substantial), I feel like I could go on eating. The hunger is mixed with a feeling of a need for more food. I really don't understand it. I hope others will weigh in on this, too.

[Guest BERNESES]

I get really hungry sometimes too. Not all the time, but I do go through periods where I literally feel like I could sit down and eat a jar of peanut butter.

It was worse when I first went gluten-free and now it resurfaces usually a few days after I get gluten in me. For me, it feels like hypoglycemia. I've always thought that when I first went gluten-free my body was starved because it hadn't been absorbing anything for so long, so I just kind of went with the cravings (and seriously- it was peanut butter).

[danikali]

All I can say is, you're not alone. I hate it when I get like that, and it happens every few days and it will last for a few days. It's almost embarassing because people see me eating ALL DAY at work, I will eat the same size meal as my fiance (I weigh 120, he weighs 200!) and actually more because he actually GETS full like a normal person would (of course). So I eat his steak, or whatever is left on his plate. And of course after dinner we move to the living room to chill out a little and what do I grab? Rice cakes, and I'll eat the whole large bag!!! (NO JOKE!) And then I'm constantly running back and fourth to the kitchen for whatever else I can grab, and it usually ends with 2 HUGE glasses of rice milk. I say it's embarassing because people are probably wondering what my problem is and think I have some kind of eating disorder. I'm eating all day long at work, and the only snacks I can buy around here (when I run out of my own food of course) is apples bananas and oranges, or nuts! So it's healthy things, but I eat so much, people probably think I starve myself for days and then binge at work or something! And I always always feel like I have to give an excuse to my fiance (even though he really doesn't care how much I eat), but I feel like such a pig in front of him.

Oh and I'll add, no, I'm not eating out of boredom. It is PURE HUNGER. And not cravings really either (unless it's that time of month-then watch out!)........but it's such a deep, bad hunger that I feel like I can't breathe if I don't eat! I've never ever ever had that!!!!! I know they say to have water if you are really hungry because sometimes you are just thirsty, but all that does on these crazy days is make me more hungry! And no one around me understands.........

But don't worry, you are right on track with the rest of us, apparently.

[Guest BERNESES]

I think you need to listen to your body on this one. It's going through an adjustment in so many ways when you first go gluten-free. Plus, you're not eating all the stuff that used to fill you up like bread, pasta, etc/. i do remember reading somewhere that people on the gluten-free diet need to make sure they eat enough protein. I would just eat when you're hungry, unless you're showing other symptoms like feeling hypoglycemic, excessively thirsty or other signs of diabetes. If you're worried, i'd give your doctor a call.

[Guest Viola]

I hate to tell you all this, but I have been gluten free for 17 years and still get bouts when I'm hungry all day. And quite frankly, I don't know why now, anymore than I did 17 years ago. I have a feeling that it just may be the way we digest our foods even when gluten free. I just eat on those days and try and get more excercise to ballance it out. Sheba doesn't mind, she gets extra walks

[WGibs]

Thank you for the feedback. Makes me feel a little more "normal."

I know exactly what you mean, dani, about feeling self-conscious about eating. My office has an open floor plan, so that everyone is in cubicles, and I feel like everyone notices that I am constantly digging in my drawer for another snack. I also do the thing in the evenings where I'm constantly getting up for a snack. I always ask my BF, "Can I get you anything while I'm up?" He almost always says no...and I used to think that he was a huge eater!

I understand the encouragement to listen to my body, but I don't want to go completely over the top. To give a frame of reference, so far today I have eaten:

1% chocolate milk (pre-breakfast)

turkey and cream cheese in corn tortillas and tea (breakfast)

banana (to tide me over until lunch)

spinach salad with tons of veggies, feta, and balsamic vinaigrette (half of lunch)

black bean tamale (other half of lunch)

string cheese (snack while the rest of my department ate cookies in our meeting)

fat-free blueberry yogurt (snack because I was hungry by the time I got out of the meeting)

And I sit here hungry. Not wanting more food, but really physically hungry. How? By the way, this is more dairy than usual, but since I'm trying to eat less processed, junky food, it's what was most grabable today. Fruit does not sit well with me.

So, I still have a couple hours left at work. I'll probably end up eating some almonds and raisins. Dinner was going to be a big salad with tuna, but I know that won't be enough...I'm with you on the peanut butter, berneses! I feel like I could eat a whole jar!

The only thing I've noticed in the realm of hypoglycemia is that if I ignore my hunger (which I used to be able to do with little problem), I will get absolutely wrecked...weak, nauseous, and it'll take me a few hours to bounce back, even after eating.

Well, I'm going to ride this out, and if it doesn't subside, I'll make a doctor's appointment next week. I'd still be interested in more thoughts or experiences, though. Or if anyone looks at my food list and says, "Wow, you really should not be hungry after all that!"

[GC1]

Yes, your body DOES need that extra food... Celiac is equivalent to some degree of starvation, and don't forget the damage to bone, muscle, organs, etc. It takes alot of nutrients from quality foods to enable regeneration, and it can start within days of going gluten-free. I was/felt like a ravenous beast after roughly 7-10 days; eating chicken breasts, collards, nuts/seeds, black-eyed peas, broccoli 'n' cheese, beans, even potatoes, etc, etc, as if I were eating for two. And it didn't let-up until 4 months later.

JMHO, GC

[covsooze]

have a look at the really helpful replies to a smiliar question I asked a few days ago:

Open Original Shared Link

[fritzicurls]

Try getting rid of yeast infection. I had this problem until I got my yeast infection under control. Going gluten-free was about half the solution for me. Getting rid of my yeast infection did the other half. Try this website candidafree.com. These people are unbelievably helpful and have been so supportive. They know everything about yeast infections.

Good Luck,

fritzicurls

[plantime]

Yep, I get absolutely ravenous some days. I am an overweight celiac, so when I eat all day, people really look at me weird! I have found that if I eat high fiber fruit, mainly apples, I do get the full feeling that lets me stop the starvation binge. It is just something we have to learn to deal with, and I am open for suggestions!

[WGibs]

Thank you so much for all the replies...and mostly for making me feel like I'm not alone! I think I've pulled through this phase...yesterday evening I started to feel more normal in the hunger department. I had a glass of milk before attending a lecture, and it actually held me for a few hours (I had a lara bar in my bag just in case).

It was scary in a strange way, though...I felt like I would never be not hungry. Good to know it wasn't permanent. Now my tummy is pretty unhappy...don't know if I glutened myself, just overwhelmed my system with more quantity than it's used to, or overdid the dairy. So many options! I'm going to try to keep things simple for a few days.

Thank you again for the support!

[silly-yak-mum]

Thanks for the info. My son (gluten-free for 2 years) goes through bouts of absolute starvation (even after dinner.) He can finish the Drover's platter at Outback and a Choc Thunder! I thought it was boredom (or love of food). Thanks for the education.

[Ursa Major]

I just read through this thread, and what comes to mind (especially after reading WGibs' menu) that maybe none of you 'hungry beasts' get enough fat! Your body needs fat, and it's a myth that fat makes fat. Avoid hydrogenated fats like the plague they are (ALL margarines are to be avoided), but animal fats are NOT the bad thing they're claimed to be, and actually essential for your body's functioning (just as essential fatty acids are, especially omega 3s, which I get from cod liver oil, it's much better than flax seed oil).

It's excess carbohydrates that cause most people to gain weight (and that includes sugar), not fat. It has been proven (and unfortunately ignored by the media and most doctors, since it's hard to admit that you may have made your patients sicker) that people on LOW FAT DIETS have a hugely increased risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke, and that too much fat is better than too little here.

Another myth is, that eating cholesterol containing foods increases body cholesterol. The cholesterol we ingest has absolutely nothing to do with the cholesterol our body makes, that has been scientifically proven several years ago. But myths die hard, just as it has always been. Since 'everybody' knows these to be true, it must be so. Well, oftentimes the one lone 'voice in the wilderness' is right, and 'everybody' is dead wrong.

Okay, sorry for the rant. Seriously, try increasing your fat intake, and you may find that you won't need to eat all the time. Your body is obviously telling you something is missing, and is telling you to keep eating. I believe there is a good reason for that. Ignoring the message your body sends you won't help. So, keep looking. I may be wrong with the fat issue (after all, it's just my own theory), but it's worth a try, right?

I try to get plenty of fat, and rarely feel really hungry, even though I don't eat much (I have lost all cravings). And I am finally losing weight (in October, before figuring out the gluten connection, I was 238 lb, and gaining, and today I am 214 lb, and I see myself losing about 2 lb or more a week right now). I even LOST 4 pounds on a CRUISE!

[WGibs]

Hi Ursula,

Congratulations on the weight loss! The best part is, it sounds like you've done it in a really healthy, strong way, which is so important.

And thank you for the thoughts on fat. Having been a complete devote of the fat-free way of life several years ago, I still have to remind myself to buy the "real" versions of things. But I usually do. Considering I used to never eat fat, I thought having cream cheese, string cheese, feta, all in one day was alot of fat! And then I had almonds! To be honest, though, I almost never read the fat grams on the label anymore, so I don't have any idea how much I typically eat in a day.

My "hungry beast" seems to have calmed down, but if she returns, I will definitely remember this.

Thanks!

[Guest BERNESES]

I just went through a RAVENOUS day yesterday (after getting glutened two days ago). I made a lasagna with turkey and Tinkyada pasta and ate three pieces! My husband was calling me "Snacky McSnack Snack". But today, I'm fine. I think the fat point is a good one- the less fat you eat the more your body holds onto it and I think protein- lean healthy meats or legumes if you're vegetarian- are REALLY important. And you do need carbs too. All things in moderation.

[Guest Viola]

I think you're right Ursula, thinking back most of my really hungry days are when I'm on a sugar kick. I seem to get back to normal when I start eating a fully balanced meal with fat included.

[plantime]

The fat thing would explain why 8 ounces of whole milk stopped the hunger, but it took 16 of the 2%. I did hear on the news that a lowfat diet did nothing to stop heart disease. I think that when my 2% is all gone, I will start buying whole again. Thanks for the info!