Stupid Stupid Question

emilybeaver

I've been STARVING this past week. I can't get enough food and I know I need to stop. But my belly is growling at me. I've been drinking tons of water as well to see if it's just being thirsty. I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but I feel like I could eat tons at every meal....

KarenJanine

How many calories are you eating?

Karmyeboo

I don't understand there is no question?
But I will say that going from eating at a surplus to eating at a deficit can make you feel that way it may take time. Or maybe you are eating too little?

DeguelloTex

What's the actual question?

nvmomketo

I find fats and protein will help me feel full.

Kalikel

That's not a question.

Eat more healthy foods. It is very easy to stay nice and full when you eat lots of fruits and veggies! Whole grain breads are more filling than white. You can eat more cottage cheese when it's no-fat cottage cheese. It's really very difficult to go hungry when you eat healthier food.

emilybeaver

I guess I need to just get my *kitten* back on the wagon and start eating better!! I'm stuck at work today starving and nothing healthy around me to eat! I need to start packing a fridge full of stuff just for my snacks!

Francl27

PMS maybe? I get ravenous the week before my period. Like right now.

emilybeaver

What healthy snacks do you take to work?

emilybeaver

I'm about two weeks out from that time!

booksandchocolate12

Again, how many calories are you eating?

T_X_L

I find if I eat too carb heavy, I'll go over my calories to stay satiated.

DeguelloTex

I don't go to work, but yogurt with fruit or salads with some protein are pretty good options, imo.

jennifer_417

Is it TOM? I get way hungrier than usual during TOM.

MaryQueenofWalking

Eat vegetables. For a snack at work yesterday I had a cup of microwaved zucchini with 4 g of a margarine spread and I was happy. Or as suggested you are trying to eat too little calories.

emilybeaver

I eat around 1400 calories or over. It's about two weeks from the TOM

emdeesea

What's your current weight?

jaga13

1. Determine if you are eating the right amount of calories for your weight loss. Your deficit could simply be too aggressive. I have only ever lost at .5 lb per week and that suits me just fine.
2. Start packing food for work that appeals to you and fits for calorie goals
3. Make sure you are eating food that packs a lot of satiety. For instance, 300 calories from french fries are tasty, but won't leave you full like 300 calories from lean protein and veggies (I'm not saying you can't have french fries, just to clarify! Eat what you want if it fits your budget, but if you are starving, then trade up some food for more nutrient-dense, high volume food).
4. Pre-logging helps me a lot. You can view my diary. I've already logged my upcoming lunch and work snacks, plus dinner and a treat. I know they will generally work with my macros and keep me full and fit my calorie goal. Plus just knowing what I will be eating in a few hours helps...I look forward to it!

emilybeaver

I weigh 183 right now.

jessicapk

You might up your calories a little or rearrange distribution of calories in your day. I am 240 lbs roughly and have been losing with a goal of 1725 calories (and moderate exercise). I am rarely hungry. As far as how your calories are arranged, you might find that you need a larger breakfast or even omit breakfast entirely. Sounds weird but I am hungrier later if I eat a large breakfast. It's mostly in your mind. For the physical end of things, make sure you are getting plenty of protein and fats to help you feel full. Like another poster said earlier, carbs tend to make you feel hungry quicker.

californiagirl2012

It is never a stupid question. Fill up with vegetables and protein to keep more satisfied, but also remember, there is just a little pushing through the "temporary corrective action" of the calorie deficit to lose fat. It's like taking a treatment to fix a health problem we all got ourselves into. It's not fun. Corrective treatment is never fun.

Hunger ebbs and flows and is sometimes very mysterious, but if we pay attention there are some patterns. Stress causes hunger. Workouts cause stress, lack of sleep causes stress, and even sometimes when we eat up to normal maintenance we still feel hungry.

So we learn over time that the feeling of hunger is not really "starving" like we once thought it was.

We all have to learn that stress balance and energy balance with all that we do in life including the workouts and calorie deficit.

dubird

Might try spacing out your eating times if you can. When I first started, it was easier to eat 5-6 times a day, with my calories adjusted for that, then it was to stick to three meals and maybe a snack. That helped get me used to smaller portions and smaller meals, so when I readjusted for 4 times a day, it was much easier. And I say 'if you can' because sometimes work doesn't allow you to adjust for that.

knitapeace

Packing my lunch and snacks every day was one of the two best permanent changes I made when I started MFP (regular exercise was the other). My routine is one morning snack and one afternoon snacks, around 100-200 cals each. Today I cut an apple in half, used a melon baller to scoop out the centers, and filled each side with 1/2 tablespoon of crunchy peanut butter. Around 3:30 I'll have vanilla Greek yogurt with fruit and almond slivers. For each there's a little protein, a little fat, and some carbs and that seems to keep me satisfied. Other days it'll be baby carrots with 2T hummus, pretzel crackers with Laughing Cow cheese, or Skinny Pop white cheddar popcorn.

To commiserate, I've been wanting to eat the world this week too. Sometimes it depends on the type of exercise I've done that day. Walking for an hour doesn't leave me ravenous, but 15 minutes of HIIT and watch out!

Lleldiranne

emilybeaver wrote: »

I eat around 1400 calories or over. It's about two weeks from the TOM

Ovulation, then? Some women feel hungrier then.

How long have you been eating at 1400 calories?

Plan out your meals and snacks so you can eat frequently enough. Make sure you have healthy alternatives available at work. Make sure you're getting enough protein, fat, and fiber.

SimoneBee12

mathjulz wrote: »

emilybeaver wrote: »

I eat around 1400 calories or over. It's about two weeks from the TOM

Ovulation, then? Some women feel hungrier then.

How long have you been eating at 1400 calories?

Plan out your meals and snacks so you can eat frequently enough. Make sure you have healthy alternatives available at work. Make sure you're getting enough protein, fat, and fiber.

Was just about to say this. I get hungry the week I'm supposed to ovulate, despite my birth control preventing that. But it happens every month.

emilybeaver

Thanks everyone! I need to plan my meals more. We will be going to the grocery store tonight so I'll be making some lists of healthy things!

jaga13

OP, what is your goal? I lb weekly loss, or more?

emilybeaver

1 lb weekly. The 1400 calories was what MFP put as my goal range. And I'm not exercising currently. Will be getting back on that train too.

emdeesea

Yeah, I'm thinking you need to increase your calories. I guessed at your height and your activity level, but at your age and current weight, I got back a calorie recommendation of 1781 calories a day to lose almost a pound a week.

I'm guessing your goals are a bit too aggressive. If you're too hungry, you'll cheat on your food and the weight will never come off. Make that goal more attainable.

emilybeaver

Really? I would think I would need to lower my calories not go higher. Activity level is pretty sedentary at work but I'm 29 and weigh 183.

Pinnacle_IAO

emilybeaver wrote: »

I've been STARVING this past week. I can't get enough food and I know I need to stop. But my belly is growling at me. I've been drinking tons of water as well to see if it's just being thirsty. I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but I feel like I could eat tons at every meal....

What's stupid?
Anyway, that's how I felt when I began, and it was my body fighting against my efforts to lose the fat.
It's like a battle.
After losing 3o pounds, it stopped, and all was well until I hit that 50 pound wall.
BANG!
It was the same all over again...and it happened at 70 pounds, then again at 80 pounds lost.
Over time I have learned to break past these walls, and it's never easy.
Today, I am maintaining my 100 pound total weight loss, and some days are still like this.