something i don't understand about calories

[hotpink]

something low in calories like lettuce, cucumber etc... if i made up a salad whith hardly any calories, will it actually fill me up? or am i just eating it, to make me think i am getting full up from it? (im dieting, obviously)

[Clanad]

By and large the calorie content of any food has nothing to do with the "full" feeling one has after eating. The calorie content is a measurement of the energy available from the food.
One of the keys to most successful dieting seems to be readjusting the brain to "know" when the stomach is "full".
A full feeling can be achieved with very little food but bulk of the food does help. Therefore, items that take up more space, even after chewing help achieve the full feeling. This, though, does not help if the person continues to eat after feeling full.

Additionally, it takes several minutes after the stomach reaches a point of satiation for the brain to recognize and respond to the signal.
Some foods, celery for example, actuall have negative calorie content. That is the act of chewing, swalloing and digesting the stalks takes "burns" more calories than it provides...

[hotpink]

so, say i ate salad all for every meal (which im not going to, just as an example), which had pretty much no calories... and i felt full.... am i not starving myself of the calories my body needs?

[Clanad]

Well, starving is an extreme description, no? Fact is, according to Mrs. C who is a nutritional counselor here in the western U.S., the diet should be well balanced. However, salads, especially at the start of anymeal (other than breakfast, I suppose... ewww!) serve to help fill the stomach. However, additional, rather low calorie items can be added. Sliced or julienned turkey, for example is a great source for protein but only 85 or so calories in 3 ounces, just short of a quarter pound. It also has nearly 1.0 gram of dietary fiber, which also helps provide the full feeling so necessary for weight control. There are other additions equally helpful and healthy...

[Lindylou]

Try veggies. Everything, apart from sweetcorn, peas, parsnips (i.e. high sugar content). I fill up on protein and lots and lots of vegetables or salads (no dressing apart from vinegar, salt and pepper). Although I'd love some chocolate. Chips. Crisps. Toast with butter and marmite. CHEESE!!!! And I would probably sell one of my sons for a bacon sarnie.....

[Lindylou]

Well - thinking about it probably not one of my boys.

[coccinelle]

I read about a year ago that unless you eat some protein in a meal you will not feel full. Apparently, once the protein gets into the intestine to be digested there's a signal goes to the brain to say you're full. They are now trying to find a form of tablet using low calorie proteins which will help people diet unless they've found it and i haven't heard about it.
So really by just eating your lettuce, cucumbers, etc your brain wouldn't get the signal andit would want more.
I suppose it's the reason a cup of tea can fill (because of the milk) and not a glass of water.

[enfable]

Five things to bear in mind.

i) Eat food high in GI (make you feel full)

ii) Eat chicken (all it does is run around = little fat)

iii) Eat fish (all it does is swim = little fat)

iV) Remember that the way they fatten pigs is: reduce their normal diet for a few weeks then let them eat as usuall and hey presto... they get to be fatter than they were before.

v) If you want to lose weight exercise, exercise, exercise, there's really is no substitute

[hotpink]

thanks all for ur answers, dont worry, im not into extreme dieting... but coccinelle answered my question in a way i could understand. i was just askin out of curiosity. i am dieting, and i am eating lots of fruit, veg, fish and meat... as i normally would. and i excercise twice a week. i also agree, that the best way to lose weight and tone up is to excercise. thanks all xx