Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Any one else have the problem of not feeling hungry enough since going paleo? I can really only go with 2 meals a day, with less than 2000 calories every day. As a 21 year old male who exercises on average 5x a week, this is not ideal as I often feel I'm not eating enough and do not like to force food down my throat when I'm not hungry.

Pre-paleo I was hungry at every meal and enjoyed the meal because it satiated me. But now when I have the same size portions, I feel full half way through the meal. I often skip meals entirely.

Anyone else?

flag	asked Jan 6 2012 at 15:42 Luciiz 149●4

	What is your diet like? I have this issue on low-carb and it abates when I add more carbs in. – Bread-Eating Beelzebub Jan 6 2012 at 15:49
	I think 2000 calories is adequate, even if you work out 5 times a week. Do you feel weak? Tired? I can't find the link right now, but I saw that men used to eat an average of 2000 cals, and women 1500 cals, back in the days when they worked hard allllll day loooooong. So it seems adequate in your situation. You work out 5 times a week, but are you working out all day long like these men and women did back in the days? (and if I find that link, I'll post it) – a tricksty trickster Jan 6 2012 at 18:23

Nance · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-06 16:23:15Z UTC

Listen to yourself! We have a continent of pudgy, pot-bellied guys walking around and you're concerned you're not eating enough?

How sweet is that? Sounds like a formula for you to be lean and fit your entire life and the envy of all your friends. :-))

Seriously, though, if I get carried away with IF I get less and less hungry. I established a rule that it's okay to eat very light or even skip food one day but the next day I eat 2 full meals even if I don't feel very hungry. I'm fortunate in that my appetite stays robust in that regimen.

And, as Melissa HGL said, it can be a matter of WHAT you eat. Odds are if you change the amount of carbs you're eating--in either direction--that might jostle your appetite to attention.

Carl_Stawicki · Answer 2 · 2012-01-06 15:51:34Z UTC

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My layman's opinion is, don't worry about it if your body isn't asking for anything. Whatever you're eating is keeping you satisfied. Would you drink if you weren't thirsty?

Remember, it's not about the total calories, but about what type of calories you eat. 2000 calories of steak is more satisfying than 2000 calories of white table sugar.

answered Jan 6 2012 at 15:51

Carl_Stawicki
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Well thirst is not a good indicator of dehydration. ;) – AlohaSpeck Jan 6 2012 at 16:03

Have you ever tried to finish 2000kcal of pure sugar? It's a lot harder than 2000kcal of steak. – conciliator Jan 6 2012 at 16:33

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@conciliator, speak for yourself. I did it many times and then ate a bag of chips as a chaser. :-)) – Nance Jan 6 2012 at 16:55

2000kcal of pure sugar. Not soda. Not in other foods. I'm talking about 500g, more than 1lb of table sugar. – conciliator Jan 6 2012 at 22:16

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I'm with Conciliator on this one; sit down with several cups of granulated sugar and a spoon and get back to me. – Matthius Jan 6 2012 at 22:18

AndyM · Answer 3 · 2012-01-06 15:52:05Z UTC

Is it a psychological feeling that you are not eating enough or are you actually struggling to complete your workouts? The reality is that there is a fairly large range of intake that a healthy body can handle. The whole experience of being is quite different when living at the lower end where you are naturally efficient and conservative compared to the higher end where you may be bouncing off the walls. Not to mention the changes in the hormonal environment necessary to effect these changes. Certainly my expectation of how hungry I was or what an appropriate portion size is was thrown off. By adding variation, effectively feasting and fasting, I gain confidence that my body is getting what it needs rather than just following a routine.

Also, remember there is a difference between optimal health/longevity and peak performance. Paleo orthodoxy isn't necessarily what you want to follow if you are more interested in burning calories in a hurry day after day.

Too easy to undereat?

3 Answers