What happens to hunger?

**tellico** · February 3rd, 2009, 09:43 PM

Hunger does some weird things when you are on a diet- sometimes, when when I eat less and get hungry, the thought of food makes me sick to my stomach even though I am clearly hungry. Weird, huh.

Here's my real question- what happens to appetite when you lose a bunch of weight? I mean, right now I am comfortably eating between 1750-2100 calories a day, and burning 3500 calories a day. This leaves me satiated all the time- I never go hungry, except briefly right before a meal (normal hunger, not starvation). What happens when I lose down to my goal weight, and I am no longer burning 3500 calories just by living day to day? when my maintenance needs are around 2000 calories a day, will I only want to eat maybe 1100 calories worth of food? or will my appetite stay the same?

just curious... when I was at my ideal weight, I had no idea what my calorie intake was- didn't become aware of that till I got fat

**pliny_2001** · February 4th, 2009, 10:40 AM

I have no idea.

(I just wanted to add something).

**lizzyb** · February 4th, 2009, 12:07 PM

Appetite is directly related to your metabolism. If at say 300lbs, you are taking in 4000cals....(just pulling #'s from the top of my head here), your body becomes acclimated to ingesting that many cals....not to mention the amount of cals you would require just to keep your heart beating, breathing just to exist at that weight (BMR-basal metabolic rate) would probably be near 3000cals.....our bodies are wonderful machines and adapt and regulate themselves according to it's needs.....sooo, now let's say this same bloke drops 100lbs? His daily requirement would thus be less, naturally.....unless he's got a chemical imbalance or hormonal dysfunction, the body adapts to what it needs. Let's assume this joe dieted down by reducing overall caloric intake by 500cals/month.....his body adapts to this decrease in cals, burns fat as fuel and within a week's time (if diet is balanced accordingly), the brain figures it out and he's not as hungry....stomach begins to shrink, therefor feeling fuller also sending messages to the brain that joe is full, don't signal joe to go to McD's

Now say joe is an active guy now that he's dropped all this weight, running lifting and playing sports too....again his appetite may be higher b/c he's burning more cals, and the brain says I need more to keep this guy alive so give me more!.......am I making any sense here? In a nutshell, appetite is directly related to the body's requirements at any given time......no matter what size or activity level....it's all relative.
Hope I've helped a little, and not confused you more

**gYmgIrL** · February 4th, 2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tellico

when when I eat less and get hungry, the thought of food makes me sick to my stomach even though I am clearly hungry. Weird, huh.

that happens to me too! I dont have a clue what that is though, probably psycological or it could be because you know the next thing you eat is going to be boringly healthy, if you think about something delicious do you feel sick too? When I'm dieting hard I usually cant stand the smell of deep fried food and grease and everything seems really sickly sweet.

but a quick google says you're pregnant! haha

**tellico** · February 5th, 2009, 10:08 PM

Thanks for the explanation lizzyb!

gymgirl, that is a hilarious thought!! but yes, all foods, delicious ones too, and rarely even the thought of putting water in my stomach make me have to kinda concentrate to not hurl. gross. I force myself to eat and drink plenty of water anyway, but it is an odd feeling.
glad to know its not just me, though