Protein shakes work for me. A blender ball shake cup and some water is all it takes. I usually keep a scoop in the cup and just add the water whenever I'm feeling hungry. I like vpx chocolate and now I'm using egg white protein shakes. Also, green tea has an amazing appetite curbing effect.

I just started the Insanity workout and was STARVING the second day. Then I started drinking 16 ounces of milk after the workout for the protein (about 180 calories, 16g protein). Had to go buy fat free milk to minimize the calories and saturated fat. I have not been crazy hungry since. (It's been 5 days).

I eat normal clean food the rest of the time. And I drink a lot more water. Haven't craved bad carbs either. (But I'm used to not eating junk food and bread, pasta, etc.)

Originally Posted by Sternchen

Is it possible to be hungry all day just because you wake up earlier than your body is ready to? ... The constant-hunger is just another one of the many weird symptoms I have since starting this job. Time for me to get the heck outta here...

I know the feeling well! I used to dread eating breakfast because it always made me ravenous throughout the whole day. I just finally decided to take charge of my health and I started on the Take Shape For Life/Medifast diet, and I learned from that and my personal trainer that basically it's a good thing to eat as soon as you get up and be hungry throughout the day because it means your metabolism is working! If you don't eat breakfast or within about a half hour of waking up, your body apparently thinks that it is in "famine" time and it tries to retain fat to help you survive. I still totally hate being hungry all the time, but I guess I have to accept it as a good thing.

Making protein shakes or smoothies to take with you on the train may help.

I get up at 5:30 to be at work by 7:30 and I am not one to eat as soon as I get up. I usually eat when I get to work. Sometimes I make a green smoothie with protein and drink it on the way but most often I eat when I get there.

I eat every couple hours - fruit and cheese; nuts; those small, flavoured tins of tuna; cheese and cherry tomatoes, Greek yogurt, etc.

If you don't have a fridge can you buy those ice packs that you can throw in a lunch bag? Freezing a ziplock bag full of water would work as well.

There is no rule that you have to eat "breakfast" food for breakfast. If you want to make a wrap to eat on the train with turkey, cheese, veggies, or whatever, then you should. I often eat non-breakfast foods for breakfast.

There are threads in here with a lot of great ideas of easy to make lunch ideas that may help you.

Also, I had a fitness expert here, who hosts a show similar to The Biggest Loser (but the show here started years prior), make me a customized meal plan and for breakfast he always has me combining fibre, protein and fruit.

I really hope this other job comes through for you so you can cut 3 hours off your commute and have more time to prepare lunches and dinner meals because it is the planning ahead that is the real key and something I often have a problem with.

Thanks guys!

It's been getting a bit better lately, but that may have to do witht he fact that I've been so busy at work that my brain doesn't even have time to let me know I'm hungry. By the time my lunch break rolls around I am famished!

One thing I noticed: I hardly put anything on my sandwiches. Maybe that's why I'm not happy with them? I seriously put like 2 slices of turkey on my sandwich (thin sliced) and a slice of cheese. I need more!

Originally Posted by Sternchen

When I get home I literally STUFF my face. It's almost embarassing. Last night I had a plate of left over Chicken Parmesean and then had a plate of Spaghetti...and a big bowl of Broccoli. l

I think you are filling your stomach maybe too much at night so by morning, your food has been digested, and your stomach is still "stretched" (maybe) or is then currently empty with very little but stomach acids, hence you feel hungry all day.

Maybe have a fuller breakfast and lunch, with a couple of fruits or granola on the commute home. Then have a moderate or smaller dinner. I think if you wake up with a stomach not much more empty then when you went to bed with, you won't have those hunger rumblings as much I think?

I know because I go through the hunger in the mornings too and I'm trying to work on that (big dinner before bed and famished to eat more than I should for breakfast the next day). Sometimes being a SAHM sucks, the routine is kind of a weird one. I ate so much better with a lot of exercise while I was in the workforce.

I want to thank you all for your kind and sweet responses

My symptoms are slowly being cleared up. After extensive blood work I have learned that the inflammation levels in my blood are too high along with the rheumatoid levels.

After my vacation I have to have more bloodwork done and then may eventually have to see a specialist to determine what exactly is going on in my body.

eat a bowl of this with some fresh fruit and tell me your not satisfied by 12 noon.

A banana is the absolutely worst thing to start the day with if you don't want to be hungry. It actually is one of the worst fruits, unless you have a potassium deficiency, which you can take vitamins for. Bananas are pure sugar/carbs. They will make you starving.

Thanks guys. Jahp, I did notice that I was more full when I ate oatmeal or granola - I just had a hard time eating those things so early in the morning.

Hopefully I won't have to commute so far for very long anymore..