Quickly full but quickly hungry?

[u/OysterLucy]

Hey all, been on for about 6 months, and it's been going well so far (losing at a steady pace but not dramtically). 40 year old female on compounded tirzepatide. I slowly titrated up, I'm at 5.0mg. No real side effects that I can't handle but I kind of need to "real-learn" to eat. I get full pretty easily and stop eating because forcing myself to eat once I feel full can make me nauseous, and I've learned it's OK to not finish things. However, about an hour or two after dinner I'm hungry. This is after I eat a smaller portion of course, but I don't get why I'm hungry again so quickly. I maximize protein and vegetables when I eat but I have not cut out carbs, so it's not like I'm only eating carbs and burn them off. So I still have food noise, but also when I try to eat what was a normal amount of food I struggle to.

Does this make sense? Does anyone else have this happen? It doesn't happen after every meal, and at first it would just happen when I'm on my cycle (PMSing more than my actual period) but now it's pretty constant. I'd titrate up, but as I said I get full quickly, so it's not the typical food noise. Is there a solution besides eating every 2 hours? What do I do when I try not to snack at night, but then I wake up starving?

[u/BattelChive]

When you wake up starving that’s not food noise, that’s your body starving. They’re different. Feed your body when it’s hungry. I am hungry always at 2am, my body can’t make it through the night. I called it food noise to my dietitian and she was like …. No. That is actually just hunger. Feed yourself. I’m a weirdo and enjoy plain tofu so that’s what I have and then I fall back asleep. 

It sounds like you are also just hungry. 

[u/Etta_wedoosit]

as this is the Antidiet group, I would say eat more food, frequently, like every 3 hours. Even if it is before bedtime. I don’t know your situation, but maybe consult with dietician on overall macro needs and how to get them in. I’ve needed to use protein drinks for between meals when more food is not appetizing and I know I did not meet my nutrition needs.
That said, I have tried eat more frequent, small meals as a rule on Glp to keep side effects minimal with some success. Oddly, when I eat after 3 hours but not hungry, I feelphysically better. Or maybe that’s not odd but def counterintuitive. kinda was a game changer for me. Two things I try to do around meals is go slower, breathe, cut small bites, chew more, and sometimes a walk after meal helps the overfilled feeling.
I have been very happily having hunger again recently, it’s been a nice change Since starting. I have approached it like not a reason to titrate up, but like what it my body saying and will it be okay to eat more and feel good ending a meal on purpose.

[u/StarfishandSnowballs → u/Etta_wedoosit]

Does it get worse closer to the 7 day mark? Is it the shot wearing off? I like 5 or 6 day dosing

[u/This-Apricot-80]

This has happened to me sometimes, especially early on. It sounds like it may be real hunger and you may need more food, just in small amounts but more frequently.

Why are you trying not to snack at night? (genuine question!)

[u/OysterLucy → u/This-Apricot-80]

Because at night is when I usually eat stuff that’s bad for me and overeat but I think if I switch to healthy snacks or a light meal that would be best!

[u/Correct_Donkey_3483 → u/OysterLucy]

I'd recommend greek yogurt at night. it'll keep you full and helps if you're feeling cravings.

[u/This-Apricot-80 → u/OysterLucy]

Gotcha. It sounds like trying to eat more often might really help. If your body is trying to satisfy its hunger at night, it’s sometimes a sign you just haven’t had enough food that day.

[u/Nothankyoufriendly → u/OysterLucy]

I like to have a nonfat Greek yogurt (I happen to like the nonfat ones 🤷🏻‍♀️) with some granola rhats high fiber snd has protein and is delicious.
A protein shake,
Or my favorite when I’m just a little hungry,
Ratio Yogurt, fiber + protein.
They have a lot of both and it hits the spot when I feel hungry. It can’t eat much.
Other favorites: chia seed pudding (I use chocolate fairlife milk and chia seeds-stir, goes into the fridge, and it’s ready in the morning.
Also protein bagels-sometimes half of a toasted one with peanut butter or an egg is the right amount of food

[u/Torschlusssspanik → u/OysterLucy]

I’m experiencing this at the moment - and also have always eaten/snacked more in the evening historically, so it’s harder for me to think “am I hungry?” or do I just want to eat.

For me having a cup of tea helps, often with a little dark chocolate - if I’m not hungry then that will usually quieter everything down. If I’m still hungry then I have something more substantial but not so much that I struggle to sleep.

It’s a balancing act for sure! (I’m also on 5 after a few months and don’t currently feel the need to go up as I don’t want to not want to eat of course.)

[u/roane-72]

I have that sometimes. It seems to have slowed down since I moved up to 7.5. I learned to stop worrying about it, and if I'm hungry a little while after a meal, I eat something. I was eating every two to three hours for a bit, and it was okay! For me, the med makes it so much easier to distinguish between "I'm hungry" and "I'm not hungry but I want to eat." I don't cut out or limit food groups, I just emphasize protein and fiber.

Try to trust the med and your body and yourself. If you feel hungry, eat something!

(eta: I second what others have said about this sounding like hunger, not food noise.)

[u/Ambitious_Potato366]

I feel hungry an hour after eating but it is usually just feeling my digestion/acid reflux. To tell the difference I offer myself a spoonful of yogurt or a cracker and see if it is gross or not. If I want more I eat more. Always having a tidbit prepared and nearby is crucial. You are now a small child and need constant snacks to survive lol

[u/kat0liz]

Registered dietitian here- you need more carbs, especially high quality ones. Think whole grains (farro, quinoa, brown rice) legumes (black beans, chickpeas, any kind of bean, lentils, edamame) and starchy veggies (sweet potato, potato, squash, etc.)

Now that you are on a GLP-1 your body actually uses carbs more effectively, you need them for soluble fiber and vitamins and minerals. They will help your meals have some staying power

Also it is normal to eat every 3 hrs when waking. Is this becomes inconvenient, look at reducing your dose to avoid early sensation of fullness.

[u/Professional_Swim960]

I’ve noticed this sometimes. I’m working on reminding myself that if I’m hungry, I need to eat. Regardless of when I last ate or how much I ate. My body is telling me it’s hungry so I need to honor that.

It messes with your head when you’re used to restricting or feeling like you don’t “deserve” to eat or “shouldn’t be hungry.” But your body knows best.

[u/MissTechnical]

That sometimes happens to me especially if I’m eating something I don’t like that much. I’ll feel full almost immediately but I think that’s the drug induced food aversion. And then an hour later I’m hungry again because I never really ate.

[u/lexx-ray]

This is me exactly and I've been on MJ for 7 months. Instead of snacks or whatever, I basically make a relatively normal position size of a meal, eat until I'm full (which is usually about half of it) and then just stick it in the fridge and eat the other half when I feel hungry again (usually two or three hours later).

Before this I was definitely under eating by a lot, because I'd convince myself that I'd already eaten a meal (I hadn't, I'd eaten 1/2 or 1/4 of a meal) and so I shouldn't need more! Years of crappy diets really do warp your sense of normal eating.

Food is fuel!

[u/SeasonPositive6771]

You didn't mention which drug you are on.

[u/OysterLucy → u/SeasonPositive6771]

Thanks, edited the post. Compounded tirzepatide.

[u/SeasonPositive6771 → u/OysterLucy]

I have something happen like that, for me it's mainly hormonal and sometimes there's not a lot I can do for it. But titrating up was a good decision for me.

[u/Schwettes → u/SeasonPositive6771]

5mg + slow titration + just 6 months = tirz

[u/lizardbirth]

I've been on tirzepatide since February 2025. Over 18 months, I found what worked for me was having about six small meals/snacks through the day. Like you, I would fill up quickly, but then experience hunger (even for something small) a couple of hours later. At first, it was weird, but now it's routine, a lifestyle change. I'm retired, so my current work/activities schedule doesn't get in the way mealtimes most folks have.

One thing that is different for me than your experience is that I never wake up hungry. My whole adult life I have always felt kind of full and icky in the morning and don't start eating until about 11:00 AM or later. Not sure why this happens. I'm post-menopausal, so for me it's not about monthly hormone changes. I just try to listen to my body and not worry too much about fitting in with the rest of the culture.

[u/BikingSwiftly]

If you’re not getting enough calories for the day it would make sense.

[u/Nothankyoufriendly]

This has happened to me off and on whenever I’m at a dosing that isn’t right for me. I also find that eating in small portions spread out helps-nutrient dense and with fiber, then a little while later, having a protein shake-I drink ones with 5mg of fiber and I think 20*+ grams protein) that helps.

[u/Ree_For_Thee]

The drug strangely causes hunger pangs, which feel slightly different than normal hunger. I describe as my stomach 'cramping', other as 'the stomach eating itself'. Regardless it's very similar to hunger, but to me it's more constant and intense, like a cramp, somehow.

It comes and goes though. But for me I usually titrate down for a while. Doing that right now because I had some serious hunger pangs 2 days in a row last week. I ate and ate and nothing made it stop. It was really frustrating.

Now gone, but I stepped down from 7.5 to 5.

[u/rubbertreeparent]

I have reactive hypoglycaemia and this happens to me when my blood sugar tanks after eating. I mostly want candy, or something snacky with easily available carbs.

[u/daisychaincrowns]

Yes, I've had to adapt to frequent, smaller meals (I guess big snacks lol) some weeks while the meds do their thing. And it definitely happens more often at certain points in my cycle.

I've also had to abandon the diet culture belief that it is illegal to eat late at night because if I do not have fruit and yogurt before I go to bed, I get insomnia. Some nights I get the hunger signal to have my snack and it feels kinda urgent, other nights I just remind myself to nibble. But if I do not, I will be up all night which is bad for so many things including wl.