Effect on Appetite

I have always been hungry. Always seemed to need more to fill me up than most people. Got hungry again sooner after eating. And could continue to eat when already full... especially sweet things.

I always thought this was a moral failing. Well, most of the time. Occasionally, I would think to myself "But I'm hungry! Surely I have to be able to eat enough not to feel hungry all the time?"  But, for the most part, I would think that it was my fault that I kept on eating food I didn't need.

I've already described how I fell into LCHF almost accidentally. And, for me, the most powerful aspect of it is the effect on appetite. That's what makes it possible not to overeat. I eat... I get full... and I stop eating. And I'm satisfied for many hours.

Take today, for example. I did feel slightly hungry when I woke up, which is unusual. But then, I did have more carbs yesterday then usual - we had a curry at the pub and I ate a small amount of rice that got scooped up with my curry, and about 1/4 of a naan bread. But it wasn't a strong hunger, so I ignored it.

Then we want for a walk, starting shortly after 10.30am. We walked for about 4.5 hours. Only in the last hour or so did I start to feel slightly hungry - but it soon passed. By the time we got to the tea shop, all I really wanted was a drink. But I thought eating something would be sensible. Everything on the menu was very bready. I chose rarebit, and scraped the cheese and bacon (which were delicious) off the bread, eating just a couple of mouthfuls of the bread.

Sometime after 7pm, we went for dinner. I had some smoked salmon with avocado mousse, then some lamb loin with green vegetables. And I am satisfied. Won't need to eat again until tomorrow lunchtime/afternoon.

This is not about willpower or morality. This is about the hormonal environment created by what I'm eating. I choose the types of food and allow my body then to choose the quantity and timing.