Really afraid of eating HELP!

Ticklemynose

I am a newbie at nutrition/exercise and would appreciate some advice. This is the first time I track my calories and I realise I am really afraid of food. In fact I am VERY afraid of food. I set my weight loss goals at 2 kg per week and have 20 kg to lose in total. Keeping to my 1200 calories have been challenging in so many ways. I tend to eat a high fat, low carb diet in terms of the kind of food I am used to. I managed to keep to the calorie range but feel tired throughout the day and so hungry at night. I want to up my calories and need more carbs but the no carbs/less carbs rule have been in my brain for SO long, it is hard to beat. It's been 4 weeks and my weight is yo-yoing. I mainly do cardio exercises like yoga and cycling. Lost 4 kgs and regained 2kgs. Anyone have any motivation tips? Am I eating way below my calorie range, how do I know how much should I eat for long term moderate weight lost?

I am learning to cook/choose healthier food instead of empty or unhealthy calories. So that bit is on the way.

Thanks in advance, really lovely to hear from so many people who are more knowledgable than I am, it is truly a blessing.

MandaLeigh123

Can you share your stats (age, weight, height) and also your activity level during your daily life (laundry, work, kids, etc). It will help people to help you more! How long have you been tracking
I was afraid to eat more at first too, so you aren't alone but 1200 calories is usually do low for everyone. If you are tired and hungry, you should eat more.
Most people in this group, use this calculator to calculate their calorie goals:
http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
What does it say when you put in your information?

heybales

MFP shouldn't have a goal of 2 kg / weekly, that would be over 4 lbs weekly and 2000 cal deficit, which you'd never get since it stops at 1200 eating goal, and your sedentary maintenance ain't that high.

So 1200 was the suggestion eating goal on sedentary days ONLY - you are supposed to eat more when you actually do more.
Have you been using the tool correctly this whole time by logging your exercise and eating those calories back?
Your daily goal would have gone up.

Have you read any of the stickies for this group that lays out how to merely eat a reasonable amount less than you likely burn?

That's all that's needed for weight loss - not starving yourself and developing a bad relationship with food.

Jennbecca33

Welcome to the group! Happy you found us! You're aiming for weight loss that is too aggressive and therefore eating too low of calories. Please use the link that MandaLeigh posted above to the Scooby calculator and use it to calculate your calorie needs. You will enter your age, height, weight and it will have you choose an activity level based on how much you exercise. How many hours of exercise and what types do you do on a weekly basis?

After this, you should choose no more than 15% deficit for weight loss. This will allow you to eat more calories that you have been and still lose about 1 lb a week or a little less. Believe me, those pounds lost will add up quickly when you aren't gaining them right back from binging. That's the great thing about eating more and still losing weight. It's sustainable this way and you will be able to keep weight off long term because you won't be starving all the time.

If you have any other questions, please post back and ask. Also, there's lots of great info to read in the Announcement section and also check out the main website at www.em2wl.com! Again, welcome!