HUNGRY ALL THE TIME? It could be because…
You’re sleep deprived
Increased hunger is due to the body compensating for the energy lost from poor sleep to support bodily functions, boost our energy levels and relieve us from tiredness
You eat when you’re distracted
Distraction and busyness can override our innate hunger and fullness cues, as well impacting our feeling of post-meal satisfaction
Your meals are out of balance
If your meals are balanced and contain the right nutrients in the right amounts then you will feel fuller and satisfied for longer, as well as improve your overall energy intake
You aren’t fuelling correctly around your workouts
Not fuelling correctly will impair your performance and recovery and leave you yearning for more energy later in the day in the form of quick, sugary snacks
You’re not eating enough protein
Protein is the most satisfying of all the macronutrients, keeping us feeling fuller for longer, as well as stabilising our blood sugar levels
You’re not eating enough fibre
Fibre slows down digestion and helps keep us feeling fuller for longer
You’re confusing emotional hunger for physical hunger
You’re not actually hungry, you are stressed, bored, procrastinating, looking comfort or joy
You’re eating too many refined and highly processed foods
Highly processed foods are often ‘empty’, failing to provide us with much nutrition or substance (meaning they aren’t able to physically satisfy our hunger) and because of the way their palatability is able to override our reward centres in the brain, we find it much harder to stop after a reasonable intake, thanks to the sweet, salty, crunchy, fatty deliciousness they offer
You’re dehydrated
Mild dehydration is often masked as feelings of hunger, when really your body just needs fluids
You’re not eating enough in general
I usually see this when people are trying to be ‘healthy’ or ‘good’ which involves skipping meals or not eating enough, which leaves them constantly hungry and grazing, more often ending up eating more across the day than they would if they ate a satisfying main meal
Are any of these ringing true for you? If so, let's get them sorted so you can get through the day feeling fulled and nourished, leaving you able to focus your time and energy on the things that really matter.
