Feel like you would eat just about anything right now? If you’re on a strict weight loss diet plan, there’s no question that some hunger should be expected. It is after all, a normal and natural part of the weight loss process.
No diet would have you completely avoid the hunger you will experience when in a calorie deficit state. However, if your hunger is becoming so uncontrollable that you struggle to stay focused on the tasks you need to do throughout the day, you should analyze the diet you are using.
Is this hunger there for a reason? Chances are, it is. You are making a critical mistake in your diet programming, which is what is leading to this hunger in the first place.
Let’s look at the top four reasons why you’re starving and what you can do to remedy them.
1. You’re Eating Too Many Carbohydrates
The first reason why you may be ravenous all day long is if your diet is too high in carbohydrates and too low in both protein and dietary fats. While you don’t need to cut carbs out, you do need to make sure that you are getting a balanced diet.
Protein and fats are the two nutrients that will best calm hunger pains, so they should form a larger part of your diet plan for optimal hunger-busting results.
Aim to eat around 30-40% of your diet from protein, 25-35% from dietary fats, and the remaining from carbohydrates.
2. You Aren’t Eating Breakfast
The second reason you may be finding yourself more hungry than normal is if you are skipping breakfast. Think it’s a great way to save calories?
Think again. Those who skip breakfast are far more likely to overeat later, making it harder to sustain their target calorie intake.
Eat first thing in the morning and you should find that your hunger level is much better controlled, allowing you to make smart food choices.
Just be sure that this breakfast is balanced as well. An energy bar or donut does not count as a proper morning meal.