Not that new...still struggling. .. need some advice

SbRaza

I've been here for over a year, didnt manage to loose any weight . Very hard to curb hunger and cravings, guess going through a relationship brake up and work issues doesn't help with peace of mind and staying on track with things ...my problem is night binging when feeling hungry. one slice of bread just won't do. Even after 3 sandwiches I find it hard to stop. Any advice?

Lasmartchika

Maybe the amount of calories you're eating is too little and that's why you're still feeling hungry.

shred_me_up

What kinds of foods are you eating? Try to fill up on high volume/fiber foods like veggies when you're hungry.

SbRaza

I am vegetarian, on 1200 daily cal. I really have to loose the weight for medical reasons. Just need to learn some how to stop thinking about food particularly at night...

Vaprrenon

How much do you exercise? It might help with some stress relief if you even just take a good walk every day.
Also, when you end up with awful cravings, try drinking a full glass of water and waiting about 15 minutes. Sometimes that actually does the trick and the cravings subside.

Richardlaing1

I suggest you look into glycemic load of the foods you eat. For me if I eat simple carbs like fruit and bread I come off the rails and have a hard time controlling appetite. Personally I think nature wants us to load up on fast carb foods when available and store them as fat. That was what was required to survive way back in time. Now that natural tendency works against us because simple fast carbs are abundant and we use no energy to acquire them. So just avoid the simple carbs. Not only is your appetite not triggered into a frenzy you will eat better more nutritionally dense foods. Good luck

TossaBeanBag

When I upped my protein and drank more water, I lost my desire to eat a lot.

Sawjer

Eat healthy and as much as you want. Fruit, veg, clean carbs, good sources of protein. Make food more interesting, stop counting calories.

SbRaza

I have arthritis in my feet and left ankle so can't exercise much, the doctor is saying i have to rest yet I must also loose the weight to get better...so this is sort of a vicious circle..

Sawjer

Oh and drink more water, I drink 5 litres at least. I also love loose leaf white/green tea's for the aid of weight loss.

TossaBeanBag

SbRaza wrote: »

I have arthritis in my feet and left ankle so can't exercise much, the doctor is saying i have to rest yet I must also loose the weight to get better...so this is sort of a vicious circle..

Do what you can each day. Never give up. Get the vicious cycle spinning in the other direction. It takes just a little momentum to get started. Find a pool, maybe, to take the weight of the ankle while getting in some good exercise. You can make it happen, but you have to stop making excuses. I was told I would never run, again. I will.

Palabrota

I think there are two different angles you can take on this. Why you're eating, and what you're eating.

What you're eating is an easy problem to fix. A slice of bread has a lot of carbs that have been cooked down to make it easy for your body to convert them into energy. Most of the bread we get from the store is so soft because it's white bread (bran and wheat germ layers taken out before milling it) and because bakeries handle it with other baking steps and ingredients to make it super-soft and tasty. But that stuff just goes straight mush in your belly and then glucose in your bloodstream, and pretty quickly your belly is empty and you want more again.

The trick here is to have something that's not white carbs (no soft bread, no white rice, no sugary stuff) or liquid, but has some heft and snap to it and takes a while for your body to break down. For me, the best option is to have some cut-up celery, carrots, cucumber, or other juicy vegetables on hand, shake some salt on them if I'm also craving salty food, and pig out on that instead.

For you, it might be some other food, if raw veggies aren't your thing. Hell, eat your sandwich, just skip the bread! Slap the meat and trimmings on a plate, eat it up with a fork. You'll still get the salty and rich flavors from the meat and flavor from the mustard or whatever you put on it, but if you leave off the bread and butter/mayo you've cut the calories by 50-70%. Huge improvement.

Knock yourself out. Have two or three breadless "sandwiches." Just as long as it's not as quickly digested as bread and it's something you enjoy eating.

That leads into the second point, WHY you're eating lots late at night. I completely get what you mean when it's 11 PM, you're hungry, and your belly is whispering "oh mannnnnn wouldn't a burger just hit the spot right now!!?" And even if you don't have any room left in your diet plan, you do it anyway because, very literally, it feels freaking GREAT to have that food. Makes you happy, perks you up, and it has a little subconscious tickle of all the other times you've had a great burger, or you had a burger at a really fun cookout when you were a kid.

This is a nicely intertwined set of incentives your belly and your brain have presented you with, and they are harrrrrrrrrd to resist. Really the best thing I've figured out to deal with them is to give up. Not give up and have the burger, but give up and go the f--- to sleep. Whatever you thought you were going to accomplish that night, it's probably going to be done sloppily if it's work, or it doesn't really matter in the big picture if it's watching TV or kicking around online.

I get that sometimes we have work problems that keep us up late, and in that sense yeah I'd take keeping my paycheck on track over keeping my diet plan on track. But if it's not critical to your job performance, just pack it in, go to sleep, and start again in the morning. It's by far the best way to quiet those cravings, and the extra sleep will feel freakin' great the next morning too.

skullshank

do you track your food?
if so, open your diary. it'll be easier to make suggestions if we know what youre currently doing.

SbRaza

Fruits contain glucose and calories. I lost weight counting calories and doing lots of exercising so i believe this method works

Sawjer

SbRaza wrote: »

Fruits contain glucose and calories. I lost weight counting calories and doing lots of exercising so i believe this method works

I have never heard of anyone getting fat from eating fruit, have you?

And yea counting calories may work, but just because 1 method works doesn't mean it is gospel and/or the only way.. be more open minded.

RavenLibra

replace food with exercise... IF you are hungry... grab a water bottle lace up the shoes... and go for a walk... empty the house of the "bad" food... and search for healthy alternatives... chances are you are not paying attention to your macros... OR getting enough protein... you can get all your calories from a bag of chips... OR from a bag of carrots... guess which one is going to help you feel fuller longer??? also...take your time eating... slow down... it is NOT a race... the more time you take to eat.. the more time you give yourself to feel full.. the less you will actually have to eat to feel full

karenlwashburn

I usually get the hungry at night too but I eat my largest meal dinner at night so that helps. How much I eat I base on how much I exercise so if for some reason you don't put in time then cut back on food intake. Drink lots of water as everyone has said. That's what I do too. Protein will help fill you up over time so increase the protein in take. I bought one of those case iron grills for my stove so I grill diced chicken, steak, vegetables on there so it tastes more flavorful, crispy. I also use a non stick pan for making eggs so I don't need a fat to make them... everyone's body is different so you'll have to experiment. I eat only 100% whole grain bread, fruits, vegetables, cheese and meat only. I also went over half a year with no weight loss and the above suggestions I do now, I lost weight right away.

daniel9797

I completely understand what you are saying. I have been on MFP for 3 months and have just realized what it means to eat until you are satisfied, not full. 1/4 of my calories are to be eaten for breakfast, 1/4 for lunch, and 2/4 for dinner and dessert or 11 o'clock snacks.

I used to eat 3/4 of my calories for breakfast/lunch because I listened to the saying "breakfast should be the biggest meal of the day." It does not matter what time you eat because it is all calories in, vs. calories out. I do the math every Saturday because if everyday I had to stay under ____ many calories, I would fail. Some days I want more, and some days I want less. For me this is possible because I can eat 75 more calories today, but the next 3 days I need to eat 25 calories less.



So, I guess what I'm trying to say is save some calories at night for your snack, and you won't go over your limit.

Lealonnie1

I agree with Richard; avoid the simple carbs, because after ONE bite, I can't stop myself. I gave up sugar & other junk foods in July of 2013 and my night eating issues have simmered down significantly. Many of us struggle with night eating because that's the time of day when we unwind, and like to mindlessly eat. Save some calories for after dinner, and make your choices healthy ones, and high volume/low calorie, like a large cucumber with light dressing or some air popped popcorn.
Best of luck to you.

SbRaza

Thank you all so much! You are motivating and inspiring. Thanks to you guys I had a great day - went to the pool, had a good swim, managed to eat just 700 cal ! It feels great. It's just one day but i m very hopeful and as jbach2 said, perhaps it's time to get the vicious cycle spinning the other way...i also agree that it's important to stir clear from simple carbs - years ago I stayed off sugars for 2 years and manages to lose 10kg without dieting. Anyway i will try my best to stay on track! Thanks again for the helpful comments. Best of luck to you too

skullshank

SbRaza wrote: »

Thank you all so much! You are motivating and inspiring. Thanks to you guys I had a great day - went to the pool, had a good swim, managed to eat just 700 cal ! It feels great. It's just one day but i m very hopeful and as jbach2 said, perhaps it's time to get the vicious cycle spinning the other way...i also agree that it's important to stir clear from simple carbs - years ago I stayed off sugars for 2 years and manages to lose 10kg without dieting. Anyway i will try my best to stay on track! Thanks again for the helpful comments. Best of luck to you too

did you eat just 700cals for the whole day? or for the meal after your swim?

acorsaut89

This might sound weird, but do you have anything to do at night? I find that when I'm busy with other things occupying my mind I don't have those late night cravings. Also, do you go to the gym in the morning? I do and I have found through trial and error that when I eat big snacks late at night I feel really sluggish at the gym the next day and it really bums me out because I know I can do better. I'm not saying the same is true for everyone, it's just an example of things I do to stop myself.

Also, I have learned to see if I'm really hungry or just bored. If you're just bored, it might seem like you're hungry. Further, you could actually really be dehydrated - a lot of times our understanding of thirst and hunger from our brain is the same and you might just need some more fluid; I drink about 3L of non-caffeinated fluid every day. I usually drink water, but sometimes crystal light is thrown in there too. I do have a coffee in the morning, but I don't count that.

Further, you ate only 700 calories yesterday? That right there is why you binge: it's not enough for your body. It's almost like when someone has something you want and you see it, you know you want it really bad and you just obsess and obsess over it. Your body sees food, knows it doesn't have the nutrition it needs and obsesses over food until you cave. If you provide your body with proper nutrition I guarantee that the cravings will slow right down and you will not feel the need to eat 3 sandwhiches at night any more. Sure, you might still snack - we all do from time to time - but you won't get that craving. Also, try to do something to keep your mind a little busier at night, read instead of watching tv (which is what I do) or make your gym time at night.

If you ever need to chat, or need some support I'm always here - it's definitely the hardest but most amazing journey we will ever go on

SbRaza

Yes I eat just 700 cal yesterday and today I was 40cal under my daily intake. Some scientists claim that eating fewer cal twice a week promot weight loss and longevity. .. have to lose the weight for medical reasons. i hate medications try avoiding it as much as i can so hearing my doctor suggesting injecting steroid into my ankle ( this carries the risk of tendon rupture) or loose the weight horrified me well that's when i decided to go back on MFP. Here I m taking each day as it comes and just trying to achieve my goal of the day...

RyanMatthewHarrell

How are you people surviving? I'm eating like...500-800 calories a day below my required intake and that's still 1800. Well I don't usually eat 1800 but 700? You guys eat a lot of veggies I bet XD

srcurran

I confess that fruits, vegetables, proteins have never filled me up. I have had to cut back on white flour/rice/pasta. I eat small amounts of whole grains. This is the only way for me to get to a healthy weight and maintain it. I have just come to the conclusion that I have to be hungry for the rest of my life. I eat 1200 to 1400 calories per day and I am hungry all day every day. I have worked out 50-60 minutes a day for almost the last 20 years. It's just how I am. I have to accept it. I have tried everything. Hungry.

SbRaza

Thank you. I also have the same problem. Constantly hungry. Healthy food just doesn't satisfy my appetite, also I find it hard to slow down my eating and chew food tour only. This is another habit to ditch gosh just to many of them to count...went to the pool again (third day in a raw!!!) Came home hungry as - made a huge salad and 2 toasts. It's only 11am ... still eating this meal. I should slow down my eating....

srcurran

We can gripe to each other. I have found one snack that is low guilt and that really satisfies the "crunch" urge. Trader Joe's Inner Peas - dried and lightly salted pea pods and they taste great. I snack on them when I just can't stand the gnawing inside.

arditarose

Sawjer wrote: »

SbRaza wrote: »

Fruits contain glucose and calories. I lost weight counting calories and doing lots of exercising so i believe this method works

I have never heard of anyone getting fat from eating fruit, have you?

And yea counting calories may work, but just because 1 method works doesn't mean it is gospel and/or the only way.. be more open minded.

Not getting fat, but it could stall weight loss if it's putting you over your calorie goals.

Also, green tea does not aid in weight loss.

SbRaza

Generally speaking I' m old enough to know that nothing is really fattening unless we eat too much of it. Fruit and veggies included. ...talking about veggies -just made a huge bowl of yummy Thai style salad (will upload image) huge bowl, I'm going to time my eating -giving it 30 minutes ..

SbRaza

My veggie salad:
Some kale
Cabbage
Carrots
Red capsicum s
Celery
Tablespoon grated fresh ginger (for some extra Asian zing)
Some red (Spanish) onion
3 tablespoons low fat coleslaw dressing
no salt or paper
tastes awesome !!

DianneLB1953

Hi, I am fairly new to MFP but not to needing to lose weight. I have about 60 lbs to lose. I have tried all the 'diets' and had success but gained back the weight. I have never nor will I ever take 'diet' pills though. I too, have always struggled with evening food cravings. I could eat healthy and within my plan all day and wham, evening came and I would eat one thing and then it was never enough and then uncontrolled eating. It is then a vicious cycle - you get craving more and more, you are mad at yourself and then say what the heck, tomorrow is another day.....
Diabetes and heart disease run in my family so I know that time is ticking if I don't get my weight under control. I am still fairly healthy but have some plantar fasciitis issues and a bunion so of course weight adds to those foot problems.
After reading a lot and talking to some people I know who are diabetic, I decided to go wheat and gluten free. Our bodies turn all bread and bread products into sugar which in turn makes us crave more. The first few days were the hardest - I was a huge carb eater, I loved my bread, muffins and granola bars. I have been wheat free for 10 days, my cravings are gone, I have so much more energy and I feel a lot better. I have also lost a whopping 8 lbs in those 10 days even though I had been losing a pound and a half to 2 lbs a week before that on WW so it is not like it was the first week of my weight loss.
I know this way of eating is not for everyone and I respect that everyone has to find what works for them. I am eating between 1150 and 1250 cals per day and eating healthy oils, veggies, protein and fruit.
You have to do what works for you. There are a lot of of great ideas and lots of encouragement on this thread so sort through them, decide what you think would work for you and start your journey. Come back here often as I can see there are lots of great people who will encourage us on, give us tips and tricks and just be there for each other. I am a 61 yr old grandma of 4 and want to get healthier and stay healthy so I can continue to enjoy them.
Good luck on your journey - remember it is a journey and each day is a new day - don't give up! You can do this!