I used to exercise a lot and have a high carb, low fat/protein diet (hello early 2000s) and I experienced hunger a lot. I tend to eat moderate fat/protein/less carb and experience less hunger, to the point where if I eat breakfast (normally I dont), lets say two eggs and a muffin at 9:30 am, I wont be hungry again until 5 pm. I'm also petite and really need to add some muscle, which will probably increase appetite.

anyway, yes, I do think people experience hunger differently. its partly what you eat,its partly hormones its partly gut microbiome and genetics and then your own body composition affects all of these things as well .

Sure. My hunger is a meek little thing who asks if maybe we could think about planning to eat sometime if it’s not too much trouble.

That’s not everyone’s experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We know it’s different based on our understanding of hunger hormones. But it’s convenient for people who don’t struggle to maintain a normal weight to assign that to their moral superiority in fighting hunger than to believe they really feel less hunger.

It’s 100% related to hormones. I’ve had days where I’ve made it to dinner time and realized oops I forgot to eat today (usually when I’m crazy busy/distracted). Or maybe I’ve had grazed on a handful of nuts and a bit of fruit/cheese.

But when I was breastfeeding it was a different experience. I remember visiting family with my baby and wanting to rage at my parents for not being able to figure out a dinner plan by 7 pm. Like not even were we going to cook at home or order something. I wanted an actual meal so bad I could cry. When nursing I need big, filling meals and can large quantities too, and then would be thinking about my next meal shortly after the last one. It’s the only time in my life I’ve experienced this type of hunger. If people live like this all the time, then I can understand why it’s so hard to make healthy food choices all the time.

I give you the empathy points that some other PPs will not be awarded.

I think it does feel different, but also that most people can train their bodies by ignoring hunger pangs.

You can just compare babies to understand this.

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I have an appetite, and mistake it for hunger. I may want to eat, but not need to eat.

Sometimes I’m actually hungry.

Sometimes, I cross a threshold and suddenly feel like a pull-string doll winding down. I get weak and shaky, it gets harder to focus and think. As soon as I eat something, a slice of cheese, a piece of bread, etc., it starts to get better.

Agree. An appetite, or cravings, or even a stomach grown isn't actually a feeling of "hunger." The feeling of hunger is actually painful. I think many people don't know the difference.

Anonymous wrote:Hunger is absolutely different for everyone. I have NEVER ever once forgotten to eat a meal. My stomach growls, and if I don't eat I can get cranky and lightheaded.

Yeah but you can train yourself away from this. When I eat a lot / haven’t been being careful I 100% feel exactly like this. You’ve stretched out your stomach…with discipline it can charge

Sometimes I have an appetite, and mistake it for hunger. I may want to eat, but not need to eat.

Sometimes I’m actually hungry.

Sometimes, I cross a threshold and suddenly feel like a pull-string doll winding down. I get weak and shaky, it gets harder to focus and think. As soon as I eat something, a slice of cheese, a piece of bread, etc., it starts to get better.

Anonymous wrote:We know it’s different based on our understanding of hunger hormones. But it’s convenient for people who don’t struggle to maintain a normal weight to assign that to their moral superiority in fighting hunger than to believe they really feel less hunger.

It’s 100% related to hormones. I’ve had days where I’ve made it to dinner time and realized oops I forgot to eat today (usually when I’m crazy busy/distracted). Or maybe I’ve had grazed on a handful of nuts and a bit of fruit/cheese.

But when I was breastfeeding it was a different experience. I remember visiting family with my baby and wanting to rage at my parents for not being able to figure out a dinner plan by 7 pm. Like not even were we going to cook at home or order something. I wanted an actual meal so bad I could cry. When nursing I need big, filling meals and can large quantities too, and then would be thinking about my next meal shortly after the last one. It’s the only time in my life I’ve experienced this type of hunger. If people live like this all the time, then I can understand why it’s so hard to make healthy food choices all the time.

My brother could eat huge amounts of food at one sitting but he could also go long periods of time without eating, often forgetting to eat. He was never fat.

I never miss a meal, never forget to eat, don't typically eat large amounts at one time but sometimes do eat too much and definitely eat things I shouldn't eat too often. I also get hangry if I get too hungry. I cannot put it out of my mind and I'm no fun to be around. I have struggled with my weight my whole life.

We may have been genetically very similar but regarding appetite and weight control we were always extremely different.

My DH and his family are never hungry. Ever. Traveling with them is an exercise in granola bar hauling and carefully planned enormous breakfasts before everyone else wakes up. They appreciate special or nicely prepared food, but I suspect that they would eat the human equivalent of a cup of dog food 2x/day if they could.

I am always hungry and have to manage it by thinking very carefully about what I have done that day, what I have eaten so far, and how much more food I actually need to survive until another day. What hormones are telling my brain does not match what my body actually needs.

The interesting thing is that both my DH and I have recent generations who have truly experienced hunger. I’m curious how our bodies might have inherited those experiences, since the memo I got is “eat eat eat while you can” and the memo he got is “well, guess we won’t eat today or ever, so we have to keep going anyway”.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think people experience hunger all that differently, but I do think people will have different experiences based on what they eat. Junk food is literally engineered so that you don’t feel full and want to keep eating more. Fast food and processed foods have the same effect. It’s much more unlikely that you will overeat if eating natural, minimally processed low sugar foods.

While I agree that some foods (like sugar) make you hungrier, I don't agree that one person's hunger is based on this entirely -- I think there is more to it, and it's likely tied to hormones. I am fat, but I eat healthfully (I cook my own foods, limit alcohol, avoid junk, etc.); however, I am always hungry and my diet of 1200 calories/day (per the doctor) leaves me hungry. Now on Wegovy, that hunger has gone away and I am able to stick to my diet without feeling hungry all the time. Wegovy is a freakin' game-changer!!

I can totally believe this.

For me, when I am busy, I’m not hungry (or there’s just sort of an anxious feeling in my stomach but I can ignore it). When I’m bored, hunger is much much sharper. Protein doesn’t do a thing for me. I crave salt and strong flavors) (happy eating a salted lemon, olives are my favorite food).

If someone walked into a room with a delicious smelling pizza, I would definitely want a slice (up to 3-4) bc my stomach takes a while to tell my brain I’m full.

Low carb has never worked for me.

Intermittent Fasting has been great during periods when I am busy.

I don’t knock those who say Keto / low carb is the path that worked for them. But I strongly believe that that’s not the case for everyone.

We are all different.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think people experience hunger all that differently, but I do think people will have different experiences based on what they eat. Junk food is literally engineered so that you don’t feel full and want to keep eating more. Fast food and processed foods have the same effect. It’s much more unlikely that you will overeat if eating natural, minimally processed low sugar foods.

How can you say that when you're only one person?

I eat minimally processed foods and I'm a person that never forgets to eat, that gets shaky when I haven't eaten breakfast. I have a good friend who literally can't eat breakfast because she has zero hunger for it. She's not hungry until 2pm, she's been this way her whole life. How can you say our hunger is the same? I've had two meals by the time she's hungry for one.

And the pizza example above is SPOT ON.

NP. I used to eat breakfast always and if I didn't, I also got shaky and nauseous. During covid when I was at home, I pushed my breakfast back gradually each day until it was pretty much lunch. Now I am one of those who doesn't get hungry at all until noon or later. So I think hunger can change if you change your habits.

I use to wake at 6 am famished and it was messing up my sleep.

I had to push my breakfast to 9am and eat at my desk to adjust

Now I eat later but then I get heartburn and it f’s ip my sleep, lol.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think people experience hunger all that differently, but I do think people will have different experiences based on what they eat. Junk food is literally engineered so that you don’t feel full and want to keep eating more. Fast food and processed foods have the same effect. It’s much more unlikely that you will overeat if eating natural, minimally processed low sugar foods.

How can you say that when you're only one person?

I eat minimally processed foods and I'm a person that never forgets to eat, that gets shaky when I haven't eaten breakfast. I have a good friend who literally can't eat breakfast because she has zero hunger for it. She's not hungry until 2pm, she's been this way her whole life. How can you say our hunger is the same? I've had two meals by the time she's hungry for one.

And the pizza example above is SPOT ON.

NP. I used to eat breakfast always and if I didn't, I also got shaky and nauseous. During covid when I was at home, I pushed my breakfast back gradually each day until it was pretty much lunch. Now I am one of those who doesn't get hungry at all until noon or later. So I think hunger can change if you change your habits.