Hungry on a diet? Hungry on Fat Shredder?
There’s a very interesting phenomena that occurs as I make nutrition suggestions to folks starting out with their transformations. Take for instance my most popular diet – the 1900 calorie fat shredder (designed to maximize body fat loss).
Some will say, as they start that nutrition plan, “I feel like I’m starving all day long!”.
While others will say, “I’m stuffed. There’s no way I can eat that much!”
Huh? How can similar people, both doing P90X, starting the same nutrition plan, feel so opposite? I think a lot of it has to do with what our body is used to (our old habits) and what we are trying to do to “re-train” it.
Today I want to focus on the folks who feel like they are “starving” with their new high protein, low carb nutrition plan. Next week I’ll address the people who think it’s impossible to eat 1900 calories of healthy food per day.
First, you have to consider that you probably will FEEL hungry for at least a week or two as you get started. (** notice I said you may “FEEL” hungry, which is very different than actually BEING hungry!). You are most likely used to eating huge meals that have stretched out your stomach, and smaller meals may not trigger that “fat and full” sensation you are used to. This is OKAY! You don’t have to be stuffed on 1,000 calories in 1 meal to be full.
And here’s a newsflash that may shock most spoiled Americans — being “hungry” is not the end of the world!! Trust me, you AREN’T starving! You are eating several times per day. That’s NOT starving! You need to stick with the new plan for a few weeks until your body realizes it can run at 100% on much less than you have been giving it. The fact of the matter is that you’ve gotten in the habit of feeding your body way more than it needs — as evidenced by the excess body fat you are now trying to lose. So while you may feel hungry, you’ll need to stick to the plan until your body adjusts. Trust me, it will adjust. You aren’t going to die by not eating when you are “hungry.” So show your body who’s boss! It’s about sticking to the plan and being consistent.
I was in the “hungry” camp myself as I started P90X and worked to dial in the nutrition. I was working to determine the minimum amount of calories I needed to fully fuel my body without bonking on the workouts. I felt hungry a lot the first 2-3 weeks, but then like magic, my body adjusted to a steady, predictable stream of fuel and the hunger went away. Before P90X, I would typically eat big fatty lunches of over 1,000 calories (add up a trip to the Mexican restaurant with chips, queso, an entree, and pop and you’ll probably be in shock!). No wonder I felt hungry eating chicken, carrots, an apple, and water! Once I had eaten the new way for a few weeks, I always felt satisfied. It was a matter of teaching my body to be satisfied with what it needs instead of giving it anything it wants.
And what are some tips that can really help if you are in the “Hungry” camp? Here’s my top tips:
#1 – Shakeology = Shakeology is the perfect supplement for helping you feel satisfied and full with a minimal amount of calories. This is because it’s got everything your body needs (proteins, healthy carbs, antioxidants, probiotics, vitamins, minerals, superfoods from around the world) in just 160 calories. It’s glycemic index is so low (25) that it keeps you full for a long time so you won’t feel hungry again a few minutes later. This is why it’s been so successful at helping people lose weight and feel great. I’ve used it daily for nearly 3 years now and I feel better than I ever have. I also have at least 20 people in my immediate family who are hooked on Shakeology and have lost weight, gained control of their nutrition, and are feeling great. If you’ve thought about Shakeology but are hesitant because you want to taste it first, head over and request a free sample. Free Shakeology Sample.
#2 – Eat often = As you can see in my sample diets, I eat every 2.5-3 hours. So even if I only eat 300 calories for a meal, and start to feel a bit hungry after an hour or hour and a half, I know I’m about to get to eat again, so that’s a big mental help. I don’t ever have to think about going 4 or 5 hours without food because I never do! I get to eat often, so the next meal is always right around the corner.
#3 – Eat low G.I. foods = Foods with high glycemic indexes when ate by themselves will hit your system fast, give you a spike of energy, and then leave you crashed and craving more food. So do some research and make wise substitutions in your carb choices to give you the sustained release of energy you are looking for (green beans instead of corn, a huge salad instead of baked potato, etc.). They will also tend to have higher levels of fiber which will greatly help in keeping you full.
#4 Give your fat time to work = Give your dietary fats time to work. It takes a while for those signals to get your brain. If you have a small snack of some almonds and jerky, eat it slowly and allow you body to send your brain signals about the good fat you just ate. Dietary fats help trigger that “full” sensation. Fats are also slowly processed and digested, that adds to there ability to curb hunger.
#5 Stay Hydrated! = It’s really easy to mistake the feeling of thirst for hunger. A lot of times dehydration will trick you into thinking you are hungry. Keep you water bottle close and FULL! The more water the better. It will fill your stomach and help move you past those feelings of hunger. Drink a large glass before a meal and after.
So is there hope for you if you are feeling hungry all the time? Absolutely! Re-train your body by giving it what it needs, when it needs it, but not more. It will fuss and kick back at you like a spoiled child for a few weeks, but once it realizes you are serious about taking care of your body in a responsible way, it will realize how much better it feels, and you’ll really start to love your new nutrition plan — not only because you’ll feel better, but because you’ll see huge results to keep you going as well!
Bring it!
Need a coach?
My email: coachwayne@teamripped.com
IG: @wayne_wyatt
