Insatiable Hunger- Prednisone

Cravings and planning

Prednisone causes hunger cravings because it’s turning off the signal in your brain that would tell you you’re full.

Insatiable Hunger

Let’s be clear here. I’m not talking about being hungry, having the munchies or craving a certain food. I’m talking about feeling like you’re starving and you can feel this all day every day, even after you eat a big lunch you still feel like your body is starving to death.

1- Remember just because you’re hungry doesn’t mean you need to eat.

2- It’s OK to feel hungry and not feed it

3- You need to be the one sending that signal and you need to learn to ignore the hunger signal. You need to figure out ways to give yourself a fullness signal.

Trick your hunger signals into being active. Find an activity to keep you busy for 15 minutes and see if that helps.

Sometimes you just have to give in and when you do but you need to make the best choices you can.

You can not always make good choices. You’re going to slip up and it’s gonna feel really good and it’s OK. You just can’t do it all day every day

Sugar. Prednisone messes up your sugar metabolism. It’s interfering with your ability to use sugar properly. If you deprive yourself of sugar, then you’re fighting back exactly where the prednisone is hitting. The Achilles tendon of prednisone is sugar. If you can cut out sugar, then you can cut out the weight. Prednisone interferes with your blood sugars and can lead to your chances of having diabetes to stop the consequences of diabetes.

My strategies and snack ideas.

Low Fat Cottage Cheese with fresh Thyme and honey. Eat with a reasonable amount of crackers

Yogurt. High protein, low fat and low sugar. I like to add a bit of low or no sugar jam or fruit

Patti's high protein low fat oat bread. Recipe can be found in the Strategic Planning blog post.

Protein drinks. Low fat and low sugar drinks.

Garbanzo beans warmed with salt, pepper and either lemon juice or flavored vinegar

Fruit that I really like. Blueberries, grapes and Rainier Cherries. Don't skimp they must be really good. Dried fruit without added sugar.

Mocktails. I like to muddle blueberries and mint in the bottom of a glass and add Italian Soda. Coconut water, mint and lime or Strawberries and Basil. Experiment and I find it important to pour it into a pretty glass. I like a wine or martini glass.

Trader Joes White Cheddar Corn Puffs. Low in fat and a handful can satisfy the worst need to devour something.

Day off. One morning recently I just couldn't think about keeping track of my water intake and protein and decided to have a day off. No rules, no keeping track just take a break. I did eat a small bag of Crunchy Cheetos and an Ice Cream Sandwich and it was incredible! I had been working hard on this for 4 weeks and realized that I need to give myself a pass and give in to some desires. It was a good decision and I just need to remember that sometimes you just need to live a little.