Serious question about satisfying hunger

I normally eat pretty healthy.  I don't eat processed foods.  Eat lean meats. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day.  Don't muck them up with fat.  Cook with olive oil.  I use smart balance, not butter.  I usually bypass the fries when I go out and almost never eat beef  (although I'll go balls to the wall at a family picnic and eat 2 hamburgers and a hot dog along with all trimmings.......but that is rare).  

Here is an example of my problem.  Last night, I go for a bike ride.  Get back and have a banana along with a salad (olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing).  I finish the salad and I feel like I've eaten and am reasonably full, but I am absolutely not satisfied.  My stomach doesn't feel right.  So what do I do?  I eat a english muffin with a little peanut butter on it.  That certainly helped.  Well an hour later, I'm still not satisfied so what do I do?  Eat a small bowl of grape nuts with a touch of sugar. 

WTF is the deal?  I try to eat good carbs when I do eat them, but I just don't feel right if I don't eat them at a meal.  Eating protein helps, but yesterday, I had grilled shrimp with black bean and corn salsa for lunch with some fruit.  Lo and behold, I find myself pounding a mess of tostitos before I felt satisfied. 

Can someone help me out here?  What is going on and how can I combat this?

Would it be better to eat more fat (still watch saturated fat) and cut back on the carbs? 

FYI, I have been an exercise fiend in the past.....was lazy over the winter.  Am getting back to the cardio, though.  And that represents another thing....when I work out, I am absolutely on fire for carbs afterward. 

Anyone have any suggestions?

You are going into "beast mode" Your body is working extremely hard and needs fuel. Of course your body craves salt,sugar and carbs = easy fuel.

I suggest adding more nuts and fiber to feel more satisfied as well as some meat in the evening (chicken/tuna), Also, staying busy will keep your mind off food. Brush your teeth and go to bed if all else fails.

gl

Probably need to eat more meals a day.  At least more full meals.  I would try eating some lean beef, if you have some ground sirloin or flank steak that could really help.  If you have one of those a day that won't hurt you much.  Fish isn't as filling and neither is chicken in my opinion.  Train is right I would try some different kind of nuts as well.  I'd go with some almonds.  You do in essence need some fat in your diet.  Some won't hurt.

Fat is very satiating so I would recommend eating things such as medium ground beef or a rib eye steak. Quit the lean meat and buy regular or medium.  Eggs and avocado's would be another choice if you don't want to eat meat. The reason you are feeling hungry is because your blood sugar is having a yo-yo affect by what you are eating. Eating fruit makes your blood sugar rise immediately which your body will combat by producing insulin. The insulin will then combat the sugar and store the calories you ate in your fat cells in turn making you feel hungry again.  Eating low fat foods such as fruits, salads and cereals will constantly leave you hungry and unsatisfied.  Use butter when cooking and try and eat less carbohydrate and more fat and protein. Carbohydrates, simple or complex, cause hunger in the nature in which they effect blood glucose levels and insulin secretion. Most of what you are eating is low in fat which is the reason why you are not feeling satiated. Don't worry about nutrients either. In comparison per 100 gram serving, beef is higher than apples or carrots in the following nutrients-----Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, iron, zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Niacin, and Vitamin B-12.  If you eat hamburgers then just drop the buns and eat as many burgers until you are full.  The key here is to eat until you are full and not count calories or portions. Calories from fat and calories from carb affect your body in 2 totally different ways. Carb calories will leave you hungry soon after and will increase your chances of gaining weight, calories from fat will do the opposite.  Saturated fat is good for you and our bodies need it.  

I know exactly what you mean, you can eat a 3 lb bag of baby carrots and still be hungry.  I had this problem for a while too just eating way too light.  Eat more fats fish is always a good place to start but even just having that Wendys classic triple with cheese and a biggie fry once a week can help you from having that never full feeling. 

Well my two cents anyways I almost passed out from having too low of a blood pressure one day it was actually pretty scary. But I have been eating more fat good and bad ever since and I honestly do feel a hell of a lot better. 

Thanks, folks. That does make some sense.  I always thought I could get away with eating carbs because my metabolism is pretty high and I'm pretty active.  But I probably have gone over the top in an attempt to eat low fat.  And I am a fan of good fats....avocados....salmon.....nuts.  I'll try to integrate a bit more beef as well. 

I'll give it a month and see how it goes. 

i feel like you just told us you keep putting your hand in a fire and want to know why it always gets burned.  you're avoiding the foods you should eat.  eat protein (add whey protein to shakes) and meat and nuts and good fats and vegetabes and some fruit.  you'll be fine.  give it more than a month.

read books by these guys: gary taubes and michael pollan.

let us know how it goes.  good luck.

i meant for post #7 to come out differently.  i tried to respond to each of your points within your post.  most of what i wrote is in the gray part.

How much water are you drinking.  If you start to feel hungry, start with drinking a glass of water.  That might help for awhile.  If it doesn't, then you are hungry and you should eat.  As long as you're eating when you're actually hungry, no reason not to eat.

Eat more fat.  In some respects the low-fat craze is one of the worst concepts to ever catch on.

I'm not saying to head out and find the highest saturated fat foods on the block, but fat consumption serves very important purposes.

Two things seem to fill you up and stick with you..

Raw Oats
Beef..... if eat a small steak for lunch, seem to not even think about food for several hours.