STARVING!!!! Not always, just today.......
clsalmon
Posts: 22 Member
Honestly - I've been so good with exercising and eating 1,200 calories. But today, I am absolutely starving. I feel like I could eat everything in sight! I'm still sticking to today's food plan, but I actually have a headache from the hunger. Why are some days like this? Should I just give in and eat something that's not part of my plan for today just to satisfy my hunger? What do YOU do when these days arrive?
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Thanks for all the advice you can give me!
Christine
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Thanks for all the advice you can give me!
Christine
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Replies
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I felt like I was starving most of the time on 1200 calories so I just ended up upping my calories. I think if you want to stick to 1200 then just have a nice low calorie snack. Some veggies or something like that. The few calories that will add will be insignificant in the long run anyway.0
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eat and try not to go over maintenance. dont put yourself through headaches just to lose weight, this is supposed to be a life long change, i doubt you want to deal with headaches for the rest of your life0
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Eat!! The point is not to suffer. Most likely you're eating too little calories per day and your body is asking for more food. Can you really live on 1200 forever? Your body is telling you :noway:0
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Why 1200 calories? Was that a calculation?0
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Did you have a hard workout yesterday? I am always ravenous the day after a good workout, so I save my "eat back" calories for the next day, knowing I will be starving. If you're hungry, try something high in protein like cheese strings or yogurt to keep the hunger at bay0
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You're supposed to eat back exercise calories. If you're not, well, that's why.0
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PMS? That always turns me into a hunger monster. Maybe eat something with a little protein and a little fat.0
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Eat and up your calories before this hunger happens more and more and you completely give up. Your body is needing more calories.0
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scraver2003 wrote: »PMS? That always turns me into a hunger monster. Maybe eat something with a little protein and a little fat.
+1 for hunger monster status during PMS0 -
How carb heavy was your last meal? If I have a carb heavy dinner, the morning is a nightmare for me in terms of hunger (to the point my stomach hurts until I eat). This is my insulin talking though. The same goes for right after carb heavy meals, my hunger will come back stronger than prior to it, given some time. However, if I eat something sugary when I'm hungry, I'm even hungrier in about 20 minutes. The dips in my blood sugar make me miserable.0
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Either eat back your exercise calories, or do TDEE with a deficit, that is not good for you and you will lose muscle and maybe worse that way.0
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How carb heavy was your last meal? If I have a carb heavy dinner, the morning is a nightmare for me in terms of hunger (to the point my stomach hurts until I eat). This is my insulin talking though. The same goes for right after carb heavy meals, my hunger will come back stronger than prior to it, given some time. However, if I eat something sugary when I'm hungry, I'm even hungrier in about 20 minutes. The dips in my blood sugar make me miserable.
This is exactly what happens to me.
Should you eat? That is up to you. I wouldn't eat something completely off plan if I could help it. I do agree with some of the posts about how this is supposed to be a lifestyle so why suffer but at the same time, it is nice if you can just get your weight loss over with and get to maintenance without prolonging the process. Weight loss is uncomfortable. If it wasn't then there would be more people at their ideal weights. I know the majority of weight loss success stories that I read or hear about usually include some type of comment about some days being more uncomfortable then others. It is cyclical and most likely a part of the process.
All of this is said without knowing you, looking at your stats, ect.. so its just a thought. Ultimately you know you!0 -
Have you done anything to change up your exercise recently? I know anytime I go for a longer run or increase my strength trainig, I'm absolutely ravenous. That mixed with PMS this week is making me want to eat everything in sight!
Also, as others said, you should be eating your exercise calories back if you're not already - at least half to be on the safe side (some overestimate). And 1200 may be too low for you. If you're set to lose 1.5-2 pounds per week, that may be why. With the amount of weight you have to lose (per your ticker), 1 pound per week would be more reasonable.0 -
I too definitely have those bottomless pit days...usually once or twice a month, right around my favourite time of month
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Hmm.. sometimes it's really worth it to give in. But make sure it's something healthy. Go with the line "If you're hungry, eat an apple. If you don't want an apple, you're not hungry". So if it's really hunger, make yourself something filling and healthy (maybe tuna salad or something like that. Protein?). 60 calories for half a can, add some salsa and sour cream - you won't be much over your calorie goals but you might feel a lot better. Especially since you have a headache.0
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today is my first day, where do I get the food plan?0
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I have had to experiment with different foods to achieve that feeling of "fullness". If I eat something sugary that doesn't help. At all. If I eat only a fruit or vegetable that doesn't help either. However, if I eat something with something else it seems to help. Example: apple w/peanut butter, oatmeal w/milk & 1/2 banana, almonds & a fruit, cheese and fruit, veggies and cream cheese, etc. I think the quality and the combination of foods you eat makes a huge difference on your hunger.0
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eat, don't make yourself sick from not eating!0
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Calories are important, but so is listening to your body. Your body is telling you it needs food!!!
If I had eaten my allotment for the day and was experiencing physical hunger (vs. emotional hunger based on loneliness/boredom/etc.) then I would absolutely eat more even if it put me over my limit. I'd try to make them good calories though - don't use it as an excuse to eat junk. Have some fruit or veggies and some protein, log them, and move on!0 -
Because 1200 calories isn't enough!
![:\](https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/resources/emoji/confused.png ":\")
EAT MORE!
And make it with lots of protein to keep you full!0 -
I listen to my body and eat a bit more.0
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Because 1200 calories isn't enough!
EAT MORE!
And make it with lots of protein to keep you full!
It can be enough for some people. It depends on how you determined that this is your diet. If your BMR is 1190, then 1200 isn't exactly recommended, but it is ok. If you're even smaller, then your BMR could be 800 cals and 1200 would be just fine. If your hunger is coming from not balancing insulin spikes, then you'll easily go over your allotted calories for the day. First step is to verify if 1200 calories is enough for your activity and body. Please don't unilaterally say that you need to eat more. Second step is to eat well balanced snacks and meals so your body doesn't do that insulin spiking and dipping (making your body think it is hungry even when it is not). If you still feel hungry after including fiber and protein into your snacks and meals, then you may have to up your calories a bit.
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Fill up on lean protein such as turkey or chicken. It's filling, tastes good and the protein will work with resistance training.0
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You're supposed to eat back exercise calories. If you're not, well, that's why.
You all had such great advice........ yes, I did have a good workout the day before, and I didn't eat back ALL the calories. By the time I get home from work, change clothes, and do the workout, it's 7:00 pm. I didn't even feel hungry then, but I forced myself to eat some leftover stir fry.0 -
Because 1200 calories isn't enough!
EAT MORE!
And make it with lots of protein to keep you full!
It can be enough for some people. It depends on how you determined that this is your diet. If your BMR is 1190, then 1200 isn't exactly recommended, but it is ok. If you're even smaller, then your BMR could be 800 cals and 1200 would be just fine. If your hunger is coming from not balancing insulin spikes, then you'll easily go over your allotted calories for the day. First step is to verify if 1200 calories is enough for your activity and body. Please don't unilaterally say that you need to eat more. Second step is to eat well balanced snacks and meals so your body doesn't do that insulin spiking and dipping (making your body think it is hungry even when it is not). If you still feel hungry after including fiber and protein into your snacks and meals, then you may have to up your calories a bit.
wkwebby - I don't even remember how 1200 calories became my "amount"..... it seems that MFP did the calculation for me based on my current weight, goal weight and the 8 months in which I'd like to hit that goal. It ends up averaging about 1.5# per week for a loss. You clearly have more knowledge than I do about what to do - would you be okay if I friend you for some additional advice?0 -
I have days like that too. My solution is TONS of fresh veggies. I bring a baggie or tuperware to work with cherry tomatoes, raw green beans, carrot slices, baby cucumber slices, maybe raw broccoli or cauliflower--I try to change the mix every day. I measure one cup or 1/2 cup of each thing and snack on that throughout the day. That helps keep my mouth busy, keeps my stomach full of healthy, low cal, high fiber stuff. Mostly I just suck it up and wait for it to pass. I have been at 1200 calories since June 30 and have gone over maybe three times. Those bottomless pit days don't come around much. Also make sure you are drinking enough water.0
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As crazy as this sounds, you may not actually need food. You could be dehydrated. Happens to me in the evenings sometimes on leg day. I'll have a very filling dinner then 45-60 mins later I feel like I ate nothing. Then I realize I'm low on my water intake for the day.0
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Have some food. Consider raising your calorie intake. 1200 calories is such a small amount.0
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Have some fat. That will carry you thru. Pb 2 tbsp w a banana. Or add coconut oil in w coffee or smoothie. It works! Also u may be eating to low of cals you may need 1400. Or just bump it up 200 or 300 cal and see if theres a difference!0
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