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Dutchess_III's avatar

What does it mean when I've eaten plenty, but my stomach's telling me I'm still hungry?

Asked by Dutchess_III (28315 points ) September 25th, 2011

This morning I had two biscuits for breakfast. I was STARVING by 6pm. I heated up 2 slices of pizza. Ate one, and most of the second, then I was done. That’s always been plenty of pizza for me, and I didn’t feel like eating any more, but my stomach is still feeling hungry.
Why is that? It’s annoying!

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13 Answers

zensky's avatar

Sounds like most fast food meals, especially McDonald’s – but not limited to.

You really get hungry after Chinese, but again, not limited to.

The current thought is it is due to certain types of carbohydrates with a high Glycemic Index (GI).
For many years, it was thought that monosodium glutamate (MSG), a commonly used ingredient in Chinese fast food, was responsible for the rapid return of hunger. However, this is no longer considered the case.

Instead, many scientists now believe this is due to certain types of carbohydrates found in rice and pasta. With a high glycemic index, the body needs to produce extra insulin, thereby causing a drop in blood sugar.

A short answer to that question is the fact that you ate fast-food. Fast food is almost always extremely calorie-dense, due to the high fat and sugar content that most fast foods undoubtedly have.

Carbohydrates (sugars): around 4.3 calories per gram

protein: around 4.1 calories per gram

fats: around 9 calories per gram

In short, it all adds up very fast. Fats and proteins do not effeciently provide the body with usable energy; the most easily broken down fuel source is carbohydrates. Since Carbohydrates contain about half of the calories as an equal amount of fat, you can thus have a much larger volume of carbohydrates and consume the same amount of calories.

The bottom line is that natural foods (not fast-food) is going to be much less calorie-dense, and therefore give you a lot more energy, while at the same time keeping you full.

(Source: the Internet)

poisonedantidote's avatar

You need about 2000 calories a day, a couple biscuits and a couple slices of pizza only account for about 500–600 calories. Eat anything else?

Consider the possibility of an eating disorder.

Blackberry's avatar

It means you’re an American. Or… just didn’t eat enough. What you described seems like not enough, to me.

Dutchess_III's avatar

@zensky…I eat McD’s every morning and get plenty full.

: ) No eating disorder, @poisonedantidote. I just don’t eat much on the weekends. I make up for it during the week, especially at breakfast.

@Blackberry It’s plenty for me. This from experience. It must have something to do with the fact I was SO hungry before I ate that my stomach hasn’t caught on that it has food in it.

Blackberry's avatar

@Dutchess_III Have you started exercising lately? Oh, and eating McD’s every morning? Uh, gross. Lol.

zensky's avatar

@Dutchess_III I wouldn’t announce that publicly – and secondly, by morning, I’m assuming you mean breakfast. It’s not the same.

Dutchess_III's avatar

I just did @zensky. How is breakfast at McD’s any different from lunch or dinner?

mangeons's avatar

@Dutchess_III The breakfast is much more delicious than any other food there! It’s actually the only thing I’ll even eat from there. :-)

Dutchess_III's avatar

:) It’s good @mangeons! And the food is perfectly fine. Real egg, real English muffin, real cheese, real Canadian bacon.

mangeons's avatar

@Dutchess_III And the hashbrowns and cinnamon melts are to die for!

zensky's avatar

You just answered your own question re. breakfast.

XD's avatar

It probably means your definition of “plenty” is skewed or incomplete.

Here is a list of foods that are mostly good (better) for you and will make you feel full. I’m not implying anything about you by pointing you to this particular source.

Additionally, it’s generally better to eat a big breakfast and get upwards of 30% of your breakfast calories from protein. This will benefit you in the evening, because you won’t be as hungry as a result.

It’s also known that willpower diminishes in the evening, because blood glucose is depleted throughout the day and is a factor that affects willpower. If you are low in the evening, you will have less control over how much you eat.

Dutchess_III's avatar

The only will power I need when it comes to eating @XD is usually forcing myself to eat. It’s tedious. Also, I’m not a kid. I’m a gramma. Been on this earth for a while. I know what is enough for me.

@zensky Their lunch and dinner food is just as healthy. Nothing wrong with hamburger meat and french fries, as long as you don’t over eat.

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