Insanely hungry after green smoothies [Archive]

barose

08-22-2007, 10:27 AM

I'm almost reluctant to drink GS because they make me soooo hungry. Is there something in the greens that increases appetite? Does anyone else go through this? I can drink 4-5 cups of GS and 30 minutes later feel like I've had nothing for 24-hours. Normal or problem?

Green Life

08-22-2007, 10:31 AM

Well, I experiance this, too. How I handle that is to eat some nuts or a dehydrated bread, ect. That seems to flll in the gaps.

Don't know why this is, but glad I'm not alone:)

I would say that we are 'normal' if there is such a thing!

Veganforlife

08-22-2007, 10:31 AM

That has never happened to me. But, every BODY is different. How about putting some coconut oil in them? I just posted a thread about coconut oil and filling me up...
I was also gonna suggest putting some avo or nut mylk (and/or nuts) in there, but can't keep up with who's eating or who's not eating nuts...
Also, if you haven't been 100% raw - this explains a lot. You are still eating empty foods when eating SAD/CRAP. So your body is looking for more food always. If you go 100% raw this will cease.
You have to eat more. Plain and simple...

garden granny

08-22-2007, 10:42 AM

I think because they are already broken down from blending, they digest very quickly. I drink mine all morning & finish up about noon, and by 1:00, I'm ready for lunch.

barose

08-22-2007, 10:42 AM

Thanks everyone.

I am 100% since April so I don't have a problem there. :p I do add coconut oil sometimes, but I do get scared off reading about people who have to cut back on oils and nuts or they start to gain. I use nut milk all of the time. I use a LOT of greens per smoothie; more than what VB suggests.

EmJo

08-22-2007, 10:45 AM

That has never happened to me. But, every BODY is different. How about putting some coconut oil in them? I just posted a thread about coconut oil and filling me up...

I put a tablespoon of coconut oil in mine, and still am hungry. If I add seeds/nuts, that fills me up for a while, but then I burp a lot more (improper food combining). So I drink my gs w/o seeds or nuts, then a half hour later have some tahini and celery to stave off my appetite.

Our bodies are all different. Some of us need more protein/fats in our diet, some of us fewer. I don't care which book says what. We can't all eat exactly the same kinds of foods in the same quantity.

But I encourage you not to give up on the green smoothies, b/c they are so nourishing. Just experiment until you find out what works for you.

barose

08-22-2007, 10:55 AM

I think because they are already broken down from blending, they digest very quickly. I drink mine all morning & finish up about noon, and by 1:00, I'm ready for lunch.

That about sums it up for me!

EmJo - I can use nut milk but not nuts. I get the same burping/bloating from the combo as well.

Glad to know I'm not the only one where are GS it not a meal, but just a supplement. Thats pretty much how Ill look at it from now on. I feel great while on them aside from the hunger so its not something ill stop doing.

Veganforlife

08-22-2007, 11:01 AM

Another thought just came to me. You may be thirsty. So often we think we are hungry when we are really thirsty. So maybe you need to drink more water?

barose

08-22-2007, 11:09 AM

I do this "experiment" that when I'm hungry or feel hungry, I drink 8 oz of water and see how I feel. 9 times out of 10 I'm really hungry. I drink about 80 oz a day on average so I'm not dehydrated.

Mialsse

08-22-2007, 11:15 AM

I get the same way with GS's... I decided it must be due to quick digestion, like garden granny said. I also add a ton of greens to my smoothies, and 20-30 minutes later I am ravenous!!! I can eat the same amount of greens in a salad, and be fulfilled for a few hours. A much faster digestion time with GS's is the only thing that makes sense to me...

tali

08-22-2007, 11:20 AM

The first week or so that I did them regularly this happened to me but after a week and a half I find that I don't need food as quickly after drinking them.

Honestly, I believe it's our bodies demanding good food from us and perhaps even testing us to see if we'll feed them more good food. If you keep doing it and keep feeding them well then I think the urges to eat so soon will go away.

I've gone from needing to eat one hour after a GS to being able to go 4+ hours.

Also, it depends on what I put in my smoothies. If I skimp on the fruit (for example and do more greens and just one fruit) then I find I get hungrier so mixing several fruits is good for me plus half a VM container of greens.

Juicyfruit

08-22-2007, 11:28 AM

I definately would add some fat. The fat helps slow down digestion and levels out your blood sugar. It's how our bodies work. You can eat low fat, but you have to eat a lot more often. You can also use extra virgin olive oil if you don't want to use coconut oil. My smoothies are about 12-16 ounces and I add a tablespoon of olive oil. That lasts me for two to three hours. If I don't, I get ravenous as well. As for every body processing food differently, all of us have different ways our bodies process sugars and fats due to our past diet and/or energy needs. My blood sugar is slowly getting better about keeping level. I just know that if I don't get enough fat in my diet, I am always hungry due to blood sugar fluctuations. I try to eat fat everytime I eat fruits or anything sweet, even if I have to take it by spoon. When I eat fruit, I either make a fruit salad and add EVO or coconut oil, or I will take a teaspoon full after I finish eating it. Makes a world of difference to me. :)

EZ rider

08-22-2007, 11:35 AM

I have the same thing happen when I juice all morning but instead of fighting it I use it to my advantage. The juice or GS digest very fast as the food is "chewed" really well and so when your stomach is empty it signals that its ready for more food. I cooperate and give it some more juice or GS and the cycle repeats in another half hour or so all morning long. I use the return of hunger as my signal to eat more and I know that my body is ready to recieve it and wants it. Its a great opportunity to feed your body with the good stuff. When you get the hunger signal just make another GS.

SmilingRawDancer

08-22-2007, 11:38 AM

I just eat food instead. Once or twice a day I'll have maybe 2 pieces of fruit blended with some greens, but for the most part, a girls gotta chew.

barose

08-22-2007, 11:44 AM

In additional to GS, I eat 2 large salads (along with other food all-day). I dont think the salads alone is enough for me. The GS to me is like a missing piece in my diet puzzle.

EZ rider

08-22-2007, 11:53 AM

Here's a PS to add to my post above.

The key to eating the way I do is to tune in to your body and feed it only when it signals hunger and not force feed it. Hunger is not something to fret or fear its a natural body signal that can be used effectively to feed the body.

EZ rider

08-22-2007, 12:08 PM

I think for most people the body gets confused in its signals because the foods given to it are not in the fresh garden state intended for feeding. Instead some of the foods are in the processed category. If when you feed the body you give it only fresh garden foods with no more processing then to cut it as a knife, blender, and juicer do and when the body sends a hunger signal you respond with more fresh garden food the body's signals get clear and easy to respond to. For me its a matter of eating fresh garden foods and listening to my body and responding appropriately.

EZ rider

08-22-2007, 12:17 PM

If you took my three above posts you would have the essence of what I have been doing for the last 22 days as part of RAWgust because that is exactly what I have been doing and I feel no cravings. I just feel normal body signals and I respond to them. I am feeling better then I have felt in a very long time and I have had to tighten my belt up a notch to keep my pants up. My body is sending very clear signals now and I am listening.

barose

08-22-2007, 12:47 PM

Graciebeliever

08-22-2007, 12:53 PM

I am convinced that when one begins drinking GS's, At first we are filling a huge nutritional need in those of us who ate SAD.. I drank massive amounts of them when I started. I started feeling so much better and have tapered WAY off now. I think so many people are in too big of a hurry to go 100% that they don't give themselves time to heal and adjust. If you are drinking a lot of them and they are passing through you and you feel better than drink MORE or like the rest of these good folks have done and given you some good advice from their own thoughts and experiences. Don't limit yourself when first going raw..
Cheers

tinystrawberry

08-22-2007, 01:09 PM

do regular all fruit smoothies make you feel this way?
maybe add more fruit to your green smoothie

SmilingRawDancer

08-22-2007, 01:09 PM

It seems like the more unprocessed food I eat, the hungrier I get. My hunger isn't just a empty and growling stomach, its a low blood sugar crash complete with headaches, dizziness and horrible, horrible moods/temper.

OMG I know what you mean, and the days where I just feel hunger are my happiest days.
Whenever I drink smoothies, green or not, usually I feel what you're talking about, unless I drink them in smaller quantities. For me, that's why I just eat stuff instead of blending everything - I NEED the slow digestion, or else I go into craving - blood sugar crash - much like how I ALWAYS felt eating sad. The reason I EAT raw is so that I don't have those insulin blood sugar problems, so yeah...even adding fats to my smoothies doesn't work for me. I have to chew stuff. -

*Added
And also, I find that I'm a veggie-fat type person. I do best eating nuts, fats and veggies. I LOVE fruit, don't get me wrong, but I can't eat it all the time and feel normal. It makes me crave, because it enters my blood stream and absorbs SO FAST. Maybe I'm wrong, and D. Graham would say I am - but I know that personally, if I eat tons of high-sugar fruits on an empty stomach, I feel crave-y and shaky and off-kilter. I do best with some nuts and an apple for breakfast, a big salad for lunch, and then whatever I want later on.

Nurse in the Raw

08-22-2007, 05:59 PM

Barose.....I am the same way with green smoothies. Are you sure we don't share the same body? We both love sushi, are built the same and work out a lot. Hmmmm. Could you be my twin?

barose

08-22-2007, 06:49 PM

Barose.....I am the same way with green smoothies. Are you sure we don't share the same body? We both love sushi, are built the same and work out a lot. Hmmmm. Could you be my twin?

Ha ha! Probably :) Mmmmm Sushi! I took some on a trip with us last week, it was so good!

SmilingRawDancer - I feel the same way too. One time I just ate fruit, veggies and salads. No nuts, breads, crackers or oils and I ate two grocery bags full of food in one day. :eek: I can down smoothies all day too, even green ones.

tinystrawberry - Yes, I get the same feeling with fruit smoothies as well.

SharonC

08-22-2007, 09:52 PM

It seems like the more unprocessed food I eat, the hungrier I get. My hunger isn't just a empty and growling stomach, its a low blood sugar crash complete with headaches, dizziness and horrible, horrible moods/temper.

These sound like detox symptoms. Is it possible that your body is not having to use energy to digest food (because the smoothie digests so quickly), and the body is then free to use energy to detox? That is why fasting is so healing.

I have read from several sources that what most people think is hunger is not. They say that true hunger is felt in the throat and is not uncomfortable. Is there anyone who has fasted that has experienced this true hunger sensation?

barose

08-22-2007, 10:32 PM

I had low blood sugar crashes for years before going raw, so I doubt this is detox, but something worthing considering.

SharonC

08-22-2007, 10:48 PM

I had low blood sugar crashes for years before going raw, so I doubt this is detox, but something worthing considering.

http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/weight-loss-stress-hungerthe-cause-of-obesity.html
This is one explanation that I found, but according to this, eating a nutrient rich diet like you are now eating is the answer to this problem. Possibly still healing?

barose

08-22-2007, 10:58 PM

Thanks for posting that - definitely something to ponder. I know I'm still going through detox though I'm on month 5. This is going to be a long first year!

rawfigure

08-23-2007, 06:22 AM

This happened to me consistantly when I used to do protein (whey) drinks when I was bodybuilding and SAD. I gave them up of course. So when I started the Green Drinks I thought I would have the same problem due to the fact it is so readily available to the body, I did, so I eat a piece of fruit with good fiber in it 15-20 min before the green drink. I do not put fruit in the green drink.