3 replies to this topic

[Exception]

I'm a 135lb, 19 year old, five foot seven, male. I'm interested in starting CR to ensure I reach Longevity Escape Velocity.

I'd like to experiment with taking up CR, but I don't know how to do it without starving. I often find that I need to eat calorie dense food to ward off hunger. For example, while I was experimenting with pescatarianism for five months, I found it very difficult to keep myself from feeling hungry, despite the fact that I was going out of the way to eat protien and included fish in my diet. Another example: once I was very hungry. I ate six slices of twelve grain bread and half a bunch of kale. I felt no less hungry, so I went to the nearby convience store, bought a can of pop and drank it. I almost instantly felt full.

I have a couple theories about my situation. The first is that I'm already practicing CR without realising it. While in my university residence house, I find that I get hungry a lot more often than when visiting my parents. At uni I buy my own food and generally don't keep any junk food at my house, eat a diet high in vegtables, eat small plates of food, and only 12 grain bread. When visiting my parents i eat a lot more empty calories. Being a 19 year old male, I probably need more calories than most people so I may

My second theory is that my body is poor at absorbing plant protien and complex carbohydrates. That would explain why I find nuts and tweleve grain bread so non-filling and why as was so hungry during pescatarianism.

Anyway, do you guys have any advice for successfully doing CR without always feeling hungry or any books to reccomend the subject? Are there any hormones I can supplement which would reduce my appitite?

Edited by Earth Citizen, 21 April 2012 - 01:09 AM.

[lietosanabaltija]

I use The Zone Diet very successfully with CR.

You should look up the "The Zone Diet" book (Canadian libraries probably have it, for a cost-effective approach) by Barry Sears.

The book specifically refers to CR and why eating the right balance of proteins/carbs/fats (at every meal), and spreading the calories to 3 smaller meals / 2 snacks throughout the day are keys to not feeling hungry with reduced calorie intake.

[scottknl]

Good advice. I would add that your body will make all the hormones you need, and there's no need for external stimulation. In my experience it takes about 8 weeks for a dietary change to fully register in your body's internal systems. The most important part is to change your diet slowly and carefully over a longish period of time. Remember, you're doing this for longevity, so there's no need to hurry. Right?

Balance of the diet is the key to search for. If you get the balance right, then the hunger just disappears when you keep busy. If you're idle, then you will tend to think of food when on CR. That's the way it works for me.

Regarding your age 19. Some theorize that your brain is not fully developed until in your early 20's (say 23ish) so perhaps it's a little early for CR. Why not practice healthy eating without restricting the calories for a couple of years and develop some healthy habits that last a lifetime? Socially it's often easier if you don't restrict calories too, and at that age, social life is almost everything

[DR01D]

I eat piles of raw vegetables. It fills me up... but not with calories.