Eating at a deficit but never hungry?

DiamondCookies

So this is my first time keeping with a diet for longer than a month, and I'm a bit confused about how my body is adapting to it. For reference, I'm 19, female, and 5'6" and 153 pounds currently. I'm eating between 1000-1500 calories per day (depending on how hungry I am, it tends to average at about 1200 calories per day) and I tend to have higher carbs and protein and lower fat. I don't restrict what types of foods I eat; I'm basically the epitome of CICO.

A lot of my friends have gone on diets before, but they always complained about being hungry all the time and how they had super intense cravings. I've never had that at all. It's honestly a struggle to eat most days simply because I just don't feel hungry at all for most of the day. And I don't really get cravings at all either, they just go away after a few minutes. When I do eat, it tends to be a larger meal with lots of carbs and protein (burritos stuffed with meat for example).

So is there any way to fix this? I'm always worried that I'm going to start eating less and less and going way into the danger zone (Less than 800 cals, for example) because the more I diet the less I feel hungry, and that's why my diets never last more than a month. I have hyperthyroid, would that contribute to the problem? Or is this a problem at all? It's just confusing, really.

adoette

Hyperthyroidism may contribute some, but you need to discuss that, AND your diet with your doctor.

As far as eating under goes... well, take what I say with a grain of salt but.

I'm 5'6" as well. I'm at 163 and aiming for where you are to start with. My calorie count is 1380.

Some days I go over, some I go under. There are some days I get tired. Tired of eating, tired from exercise, and tired from a long day so I just go to bed.

You have some days that might be over, and some days that might be under, but your trend is what matters. Total up your calories for a week, where do you stand in regards to 1200x7?

If you are within the ballpark, don't worry too much. If you are too low (off by more than... 500 maybe?) you need to make some adjustments.

Exercise is also an appetite surpressant, so keep that in mind as well.

When I'm under and tired of eating, I figure that's as good a reason as any to eat a chocolate bar. There are some days that I wake up so tired I eat 400 calories and go back to bed. Then again hypothyroidism runs in my family

Just remember that there isn't a magical timer that resets in your body every 24 hours. A weeks average is the best way of looking at it. And while I don't pretend to understand the process because I don't do it, you may look into intermittent fasting. It might be that IF will fit your body and lifestyle better.

If your weekly counts are bizarre low compared to where you should be, definitely talk to your doc. There may be more going on then you realize.

Seffell

From my own experience my hunger increased after the first couple of months of losing weight on CICO. I started at 165lbs, eating like you around 1200 but mostly around 1100 and I fell quite satisfied almost all the time. After a couple of months and around 8-9lbs less my hunger started increasing. So I started increasing my calories gradually (I can't bear feeling hungry). Now 4 months+ later I eat around 1400-1500 and they never feel enough. I had to incorporate more walking to compensate lately and it is not easy as I have health problems. (My TDEE is 1500 if I don't walk).

So for me the initial months of not hungry at 1100 are over. Unfortunately. I'm 150lbs now and still losing. I have read similar stories to mine here on the forum.

kuftae

There's more to hunger than just the primal bioligical urge to consume energy. Your friends' minds were probably hungrier than their stomachs. Dieting really isn't painful until you get into the real low body fat percentages and are in fact fighting the primal biological mechanism trying to keep you alive.

Just continue to be aware of your hunger. Don't sweat it too much.