Your tricks to 'embrace' the pain of your lifestyle changes?
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lifeskittles wrote: »Wow... some of you need to get off of your pedestal. Everyone has different goals. Everyone's body reacts different to different food combinations. You really have to find what works for you. For me, I'm past the point of "healthy weight" and I'm really trying to lean out as much as possible before summer. So yes I DO have to deal with hunger. And yes I DO eat balanced meals. I can't eat processed meals anymore because they leave me ravenous all day, so eating natural foods throughout the weekdays are the only things that work for me. Also if you are doing HEAVY lifting you will generally struggle with hunger more than if you do cardio because of your muscle's need to replenish it's glycogen stores. So there are MANY factors that influence whether someone is hungry or not. Stop being so damn judgey and if you don't have anything positive to add then gtfo.
I'm in the process of leaning out prior to my first bulk and I do not deal with hunger outside of normal mild hunger (or appetite as mentioned above) before a meal.
I also eat "processed" meals all the time without being hungry. Reasonable calorie goals (0.5lb/week now that I'm 15-20lbs from goal) and eating enough fat and protein are miraculous things. As is figuring out my natural ideal eating pattern - smaller breakfast an lunch, most of my food in the evening, ideally less carbs in the morning and most of my carbs in the evening even though I work out usually around 2-3pm.
I also lift heavy (I am currently deadlifting 200lbs, this is without having bulked once in my life, so I'm pretty happy about that). I do maybe 90 minutes of cardio in a week and I'm actually hungrier on my one cardio-only day (30 minutes, maybe 40 minutes) than I am on my 4 lifting days (doing 10-15 mins cardio after lifting). I used to do 6-7hrs of cardio when I was younger in a week... I would be starving afterwards. Now I can easily wait a few hours before eating after lifting weights.
Your net goal seems pretty low for your weight. Even if I'm not exercising I don't net below 1900 calories. I'm a student who is otherwise fairly sedentary. This is probably why you deal with hunger.0 -
I bulk at 2500 cals and I cut at 1600-1800. I deal with hunger because i'm cutting. I'm not doing a body recomposition...I don't do a "mild" deficit because I'm aiming for a certain physique within a certain time period. Generally I would agree that for a "lifestyle change" the deficit should be smaller, but a faster/harder cut and a slower/cleaner bulk work best for my body type.. I've been on the wagon a very LONG time, and I've already lost 90 lbs so I DO know what I'm doing. I'm also a certified personal trainer
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lifeskittles wrote: »I bulk at 2500 cals and I cut at 1600-1800. I deal with hunger because i'm cutting. I'm not doing a body recomposition...I don't do a "mild" deficit because I'm aiming for a certain physique within a certain time period. Generally I would agree that for a "lifestyle change" the deficit should be smaller, but a faster/harder cut and a slower/cleaner bulk work best for my body type.. I've been on the wagon a very LONG time, and I've already lost 90 lbs so I DO know what I'm doing. I'm also a certified personal trainer
I'm cutting too... still no hunger. Actually I'm hungry now because I haven't eaten in hours, but it's not enough hunger to make me not be lazy and go eat food. Maybe you should be bulking less or starting your cuts earlier if you're trying to cut on a time frame. Assuming your maintenance is somewhere around 2300, a 1600 deficit is excessive.0 -
I cut on a time frame because I do a shorter cut with a little higher deficit. My body doesn't like being in a deficit for more than about 3 months (even if its only by about 200 cals) I in no way meant for it to sound like I'm "miserable". I'm not. I even stated before If I feel "sick hungry" or crappy I will eat. I was just stating that there are times that are harder than others. I was just commenting to the OP that its not easy ALL the time. Some days are suckier than others. Its easy when you're at a certain body fat..but in order to push past a certain point it gets harder.0
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lifeskittles wrote: »Wow... some of you need to get off of your pedestal. Everyone has different goals. Everyone's body reacts different to different food combinations. You really have to find what works for you. For me, I'm past the point of "healthy weight" and I'm really trying to lean out as much as possible before summer. So yes I DO have to deal with hunger. And yes I DO eat balanced meals. I can't eat processed meals anymore because they leave me ravenous all day, so eating natural foods throughout the weekdays are the only things that work for me. Also if you are doing HEAVY lifting you will generally struggle with hunger more than if you do cardio because of your muscle's need to replenish it's glycogen stores. So there are MANY factors that influence whether someone is hungry or not. Stop being so damn judgey and if you don't have anything positive to add then gtfo.
Please tell me you're not serious about the pedestal and judgey remarks. I mean, come on.
Does your hunger cause you pain? If so, you may need to pay a visit to the doctor.
You say you do get hungry, but you don't elaborate on whether it causes you pain, and that's the subject matter.
I get hungry too, but it does not cause me pain. None whatsoever.0 -
SergeantSausage wrote: »Wait - There's supposed to be pain?
I'm doin' it wrong then, I guess.SergeantSausage wrote: »I think a lot of people just don't get that for some of us there's an over production of a hormone driving our hunger. Some of us are just hungrier than others. It doesn't matter that the deficit is tiny, that I'm careful to eat regularly and eat filling things, I could permanently eat a very hearty meal. Even an hour after just eating one.
There have been studied into this and for some of us it's physically harder.
You are not a special snowflake.
We ALL deal with hunger.
These two comments are contradictory. In the first comment, you said hunger wasn't painful for you. That's great. Good for you. But OP says it's painful for her.
Hunger is not pain.
That's kinda why we have two different words: "hunger" and "pain", right?
Let me just break your kneecap and you can go ahead and tell me that's what different folks feel hunger as ... mmm-kay?
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I can understand how hunger can be painful to someone who isn't used to feeling that way. I don't feel pain when I'm hungry, but that doesn't mean I haven't before, and it could be real to someone who is just starting...the feeling can be uncomfortable. I really didn't take her as saying shes in physical pain, I took that more of a mental struggle sort of pain. But then again, that was how I read it. I could be wrong of course.0
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His response is equivalent to sticking his fingers in his ears and repeating "neh neh neh can't hear you". If he disagrees, then that's fine, but instead of articulating his point he resorts to schoolyard tactics. I find it childish, more-so than my own reactions. You may disagree. I'm not really concerned to be honest. Anyway I'll not be engaging with him anymore and get back on topic.0
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SergeantSausage wrote: »SergeantSausage wrote: »Wait - There's supposed to be pain?
I'm doin' it wrong then, I guess.SergeantSausage wrote: »I think a lot of people just don't get that for some of us there's an over production of a hormone driving our hunger. Some of us are just hungrier than others. It doesn't matter that the deficit is tiny, that I'm careful to eat regularly and eat filling things, I could permanently eat a very hearty meal. Even an hour after just eating one.
There have been studied into this and for some of us it's physically harder.
You are not a special snowflake.
We ALL deal with hunger.
These two comments are contradictory. In the first comment, you said hunger wasn't painful for you. That's great. Good for you. But OP says it's painful for her.
Hunger is not pain.
That's kinda why we have two different words: "hunger" and "pain", right?
Let me just break your kneecap and you can go ahead and tell me that's what different folks feel hunger as ... mmm-kay?
I know what pain is, and hunger CAN be painful. Not a mild appetite, but when I get very hungry, it is painful. You can create a strawman argument about kneecappings but that doesn't really serve much of a purpose. We have a word for cramp and a word for pain. Are cramps not painful? It doesn't hold up i'm afraid.
Again if you don't ever experience pain from hunger, fine. But you can't tell everyone else they don't.0 -
Would it help if we just substituted the word 'discomfort' in for pain. We can all agree that hunger is a negative feeling on the whole and then address how to deal with it?0
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"It IS easy, once you find the method that works for you (that's the hard part)."
This is basically the key to this whole thread: it's the experimenting and time used in the trial and error process that sucks. We make some progress, then backslide. Think something works, then something changes. BUT, when we finally find our own individual strategy it finally becomes easy. "Easy" being relative. There are still good days and bad, but at least we have the knowledge of what it takes to succeed and will use it the majority of the time.
Exactly! Unfortunately what should be a supportive forum turns into judgemental know-it-alls. Making any sort of change in your lifestyle will encounter barriers, such as the OP pain. Saying that this barrier doesn't exist, doesn't help. The solutions to those barriers will be individualized. We can trial and error possible solutions, suggested from others. But what will work for one, may not work for another0 -
carakirkey wrote: »"It IS easy, once you find the method that works for you (that's the hard part)."
This is basically the key to this whole thread: it's the experimenting and time used in the trial and error process that sucks. We make some progress, then backslide. Think something works, then something changes. BUT, when we finally find our own individual strategy it finally becomes easy. "Easy" being relative. There are still good days and bad, but at least we have the knowledge of what it takes to succeed and will use it the majority of the time.
Exactly! Unfortunately what should be a supportive forum turns into judgemental know-it-alls. Making any sort of change in your lifestyle will encounter barriers, such as the OP pain. Saying that this barrier doesn't exist, doesn't help. The solutions to those barriers will be individualized. We can trial and error possible solutions, suggested from others. But what will work for one, may not work for another
You are right. Thank you for adding some common sense back to this thread.0 -
lkniebuehler wrote: »I too just accept that there will be times when Im hungry and hope that as my body adjusts, the feeling will fad. Im also try to ensure I get enough water too, as not to mistake dehydration for hunger.
Overall, I think that when we are eating what we want and not working out and generally not taking good care of ourselves, we also embrace the suck... maybe its easier to embrace that suck?? I guess its just a different kind of suck we have to embrace. I just have to remember how horrible I felt being 60lbs + from where Im at today and compare that to how a little bit of hunger here and there feels. I will take this suck over that suck any day!
This was posted way back on the 1st page (2nd response to this thread) but I think was overlooked. Poster makes a very good point and it basically is the same thing that I see mentioned often on these boards: Being fat is hard. Losing weight is hard. Choose your hard.0 -
No, not everyone agrees that hunger is a negative feeling, or even one that is uncomfortable. In fact, I saw upstream where someone welcomes hunger as she waits for that big tasty meal.Would it help if we just substituted the word 'discomfort' in for pain. We can all agree that hunger is a negative feeling on the whole and then address how to deal with it?
By your reply above, you're projecting an awful lot and trying to control the course of the conversation. And, you're calling another poster immature?
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carakirkey wrote: »"It IS easy, once you find the method that works for you (that's the hard part)."
This is basically the key to this whole thread: it's the experimenting and time used in the trial and error process that sucks. We make some progress, then backslide. Think something works, then something changes. BUT, when we finally find our own individual strategy it finally becomes easy. "Easy" being relative. There are still good days and bad, but at least we have the knowledge of what it takes to succeed and will use it the majority of the time.
Exactly! Unfortunately what should be a supportive forum turns into judgemental know-it-alls. Making any sort of change in your lifestyle will encounter barriers, such as the OP pain. Saying that this barrier doesn't exist, doesn't help. The solutions to those barriers will be individualized. We can trial and error possible solutions, suggested from others. But what will work for one, may not work for another
What is supportive? Saying we feel something we don't? Or, simply telling our own truth and engaging in the conversation?
I would think the latter.
Nobody is judging here.0 -
emily_stew wrote: »I think a lot of people just don't get that for some of us there's an over production of a hormone driving our hunger. Some of us are just hungrier than others. It doesn't matter that the deficit is tiny, that I'm careful to eat regularly and eat filling things, I could permanently eat a very hearty meal. Even an hour after just eating one.
There have been studied into this and for some of us it's physically harder.
To be completely honest, that sounds like a psychological issue rather than a physical one.
I have to agree with this. It might be helpful to speak to a professional about why it's physically harder, and why it's so painful to feel hunger. I could eat 24/7 but I don't because I want to be healthy. I've embraced the suck.0 -
My biggest challenge isn't true hunger, it's the desire to eat in response to stress or because I want to celebrate or just because I want to do something pleasurable as a break from doing what I have to do (like homework). I didn't get 70 pounds overweight by chosing wisely and being in control. Gaining control is difficult for me.0
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I drink a LOT of water. But I've always liked water so that's not very difficult for me. The hunger feeling sucks for me when my acid reflux is acting up. All I want to do is eat to push the burning down. And some days, you are not going to be able to resist temptation and it's ok to give into it once in a while. Just don't over do it. Eat enough to make the hunger go away and then get back on track the next day. Or if you have the time the day you indulge, add an extra few minutes to your workout or go out for a walk at lunch. It's not always going to be easy, especially at first, but once you develop a routine and your body adjusts, it will get easier.
I definitely know the feeling of the acid reflux...NOT nice. Gross feeling
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I was taking this threads title to mean metaphorical pain, because changing habits is hard for a lot of people, me included. I also include myself in the hunger pains because I am never full. I have eaten until uncomfortably stuffed nearly my whole life, and it's hard to feel that no matter how much water I drink, or celery I eat, if I am craving Super Nachos I will still feel like I need to eat.0
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Honestly, when you practice eating nutritionally dense foods the cravings go away. I still desire the Super Nachos but I don't want to eat them. What satisfies me now is Greek yogurt, lean meats, veggies, and fresh berries. They're my life now.0
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Honestly, when you practice eating nutritionally dense foods the cravings go away. I still desire the Super Nachos but I don't want to eat them. What satisfies me now is Greek yogurt, lean meats, veggies, and fresh berries. They're my life now.
I eat lots of nutritionally dense foods and I still crave "junk" food. But then again I also crave the "healthy" food too.... so I just eat things that I enjoy within my needs. Not eating these things never made the desire to eat them go away, which is why I regained weight after failing to stick to "eating clean" (well, was PART of why I gained, I also lowered how much cardio I did).0 -
Honestly, when you practice eating nutritionally dense foods the cravings go away. I still desire the Super Nachos but I don't want to eat them. What satisfies me now is Greek yogurt, lean meats, veggies, and fresh berries. They're my life now.
I eat lots of nutritionally dense foods and I still crave "junk" food. But then again I also crave the "healthy" food too.... so I just eat things that I enjoy within my needs. Not eating these things never made the desire to eat them go away, which is why I regained weight after failing to stick to "eating clean" (well, was PART of why I gained, I also lowered how much cardio I did).
Yeah, I know what what you mean about still craving the junk. Now, however, if I have a taste of it, sadly, it's just not the same anymore. The foods I that craved all taste too processed and salty. I guess after a year of revising the types of foods that I eat I've actually lost my taste for the junk event though, in my mind, I think I still want it. I hope and believe that I'm done with the junk food now, I've crossed the Rubicon.
I've also lowered my cardio but increased my resistance training which seems to work for me. I'm within 6-8lbs of my goal weight.0 -
I am very jealous that so many MFP members find it so "easy" to make the right choices. I understand that the right choices are not complicated, as many of you have so often pointed out - just make a small deficit, make the cookie fit your macros, eat more protein, and so on.
But don't you ever just NOT WANT TO? I don't know how else to put it. I want a bagel for breakfast, pizza for lunch and pasta for dinner, and no, that absolutely will not fit my macros based on the amount of each type I will eat, with dessert to follow. It's not that those of us struggling don't have the knowledge on how to make this weight loss thing happen. I do want to lose weight and be healthy and all that jazz, but when I'm asking myself "what do I want for dinner tonight?" the answer will never be something that makes this whole thing easy.
when I want those things I log them into my day and see how they fit. If I meet my calorie/micro/macro targets then I proceed to eat them; if I do not, then I readjust until I am near or at my goal.
Taking your example I may not be able to have a bagel, pizza, cookies, and ice cream fit into my day; but I can usually make two out of the four fit..so I will have a bagel with breakfast and some ice cram for dessert, or pizza for dinner, and a few cookies for dinner.
Also, as wolfman pointed out if you are primarily concerned with just fat loss then you do not need to hit your macros spot on.
Calorie deficit for weight loss
macro adherence for body composition ..
as you lose more weight and get closer to goal weight, then you will have to get tighter with logging and macros...
I would also add that if you do have an occasional blow out, it is no big deal as one day of being a 100 or 200 calories over is not going to ruin progress.
Perhaps it's a bit easier for you to do this on a 2200-2800 calorie target than it might be for others with lower targets? Honestly the only topic I've ever seen this question discussed without judgement was the Questions in 3,2,1,Go! thread, where the lady said as the women lifters got tinier, their calorie targets got lower and they were HUNGRY. I'm liking the awesome tips so far but I've gotta say I find the dismissiveness and semantics of "no, hunger doesn't really suck" to the OP a little irritating
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Honestly, when you practice eating nutritionally dense foods the cravings go away. I still desire the Super Nachos but I don't want to eat them. What satisfies me now is Greek yogurt, lean meats, veggies, and fresh berries. They're my life now.
For me it's more psychological than that. Sometimes I don't want to eat healthy. It's a real battle for people like me who have never eaten any differently. Even though I may turn down the junk food, it's not because other food satisfies me, it's that I am terrified of falling back into old habits.
Much, MUCH easier said than done for me. But I am glad you have found something that helps you.0 -
ogmomma2012 wrote: »Honestly, when you practice eating nutritionally dense foods the cravings go away. I still desire the Super Nachos but I don't want to eat them. What satisfies me now is Greek yogurt, lean meats, veggies, and fresh berries. They're my life now.
For me it's more psychological than that. Sometimes I don't want to eat healthy. It's a real battle for people like me who have never eaten any differently. Even though I may turn down the junk food, it's not because other food satisfies me, it's that I am terrified of falling back into old habits.
Much, MUCH easier said than done for me. But I am glad you have found something that helps you.
Heck, if I had a choice I wouldn't ever eat healthy either, but I don't have a choice -- if I want to keep away from the doctors and meds. Fear also keeps me on the straight and narrow road, but I'm OK with that now. I am feeling satisfied and eventually you will too, just hang in there; you're right, it is easier said than done. I think the longer you do it, the easier it gets. I've been at it almost a year and a half now.0 -
For some of us, it's absolutely 'pain' at times when we're first starting out. Completely changing my eating habits, starting a workout regimen, was hard mentally and physically. Now, almost 2 months in, my body has adjusted, but my mind is maybe, 70% of the way there. Being someone that binged my entire life, even when I lost weight before, changing that thought process is a work in progress. It's easy to say that this shouldn't be painful to be sustainable, but when your mind is ravaged by years of yoyo dieting, binging, doing fad diets, and never fully learning how to correctly lose weight, it's an absolute struggle at first.
The only advice I can offer is that it does get easier over time. It's all about sticking to it- and exercise certainly helps to change your mindset as well.
QFT. Thanks.0 -
GrannieLinda wrote: »I understand entirely where the OP is coming from. My way of dealing with the shock to the system is to tell myself that feeling empty is ok and won't harm me for the short time I feel it. Hunger, however, if it is genuine (and I really have to examine myself to be sure it is if a meal is not due) means it's time to eat something if the next scheduled meal is more than an hour away - even if it's just an apple. Otherwise I console myself with the thought that all the time I feel this way I am losing weight. I am getting used to the concept that not feeling full does not equate to actually being hungry. Agreed there is a certain amount of mind training to be done. Old habits die very hard but I'm getting there. 15.5lbs down in exactly one month.
Great post thanks.0 -
A few thoughts for you that might help:
Are you sure you're hungry? And not thirsty? Or not having a craving? (Which can be changed over time by eating better)? Or not having an emotion?
I used to feel like you do, but figured out that much of the time,one of the above was the case- not real hunger.
Also, I figured food so that really help me. 1/4 cup of cashews, or a tbsp of peanut butter on a few slices of apple or spicy maple pumpkin seeds, or a clementine. Those are my foods, but you'll find your own.
Also, i started paying attention to feel what it actually feels like to be hungry. I think we are conditioned to think never is a 'bad' feeling. We feel slightly up hungry and we act like we're about to starve, and freak out and eat, or don't eat, and pout. I started to realize that my 'hungry' is usually a really small feeling, and that it's actually not a bad one. Now I don't let a slight feeling of hunger bother me,and I don't mind the feeling.
I'm finding weight loss is just as much mental as physical, so training my brain has made it easy to keep going, to not be frustrated, and to enjoy the journey.
Good luck on yours!0 -
CathyGillis wrote: »The negativity toward the original post is so disappointing. People share their feelings on here for support. Saying things like "I don't have any pain" is not helpful. OF COURSE people are going to experience pain or discomfort when they are making changes in their lifestyle.
I agree!! Negativity is not helping anyone. Asking for advice is what this is for...not knocking people down!!
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