Question on hunger in the beginning

Hi IF, Last week, I read the FAQ and Wiki, and scrolled through posts here. I decided to give IF a try to lose some weight, and chose the 16:8 method, with a window of "eating" from 1:30pm-9:30pm. I'm tracking calories and so far so good, its been 5 days. Question, though - toward the end of my fasting window, at around 11am (so approximately 2.5 hours before I can eat), I get really really hungry. I feel like I'm just waiting out those hours before I can eat. Should it be this difficult?

Answer

It does get easier with a little bit of time. What time did you use to eat before starting IF?

The body is a creature of habits. If you eat at regular times, it will start producing ghrelin (the hunger hormone) right on time every day to remind you that it’s time to eat. When you change the schedule, it takes some time for your brain to adapt and get on the new train.

You’re also eating less than you used to.

I’d say give it a couple more weeks and it should regulate on its own. When you get hungry, drink a big glass of water (or better yet, unsweetened hot tea).

I almost never get hungry anymore.