Weight loss and increased hunger from works outs.

So I’ve been doing amazing these last few months with just eating my 1200 calories. I’m not hungry. I’m very satisfied. I had stopped my workouts because I would become ravenously hungry and would always eat way more than my calorie goal then my weight loss slowed to a halt with a plateau for about 2 months.

SW 230
GW 150
CW 172
5’3 female. 24 yrs.
I want to start working out again because I know it’s good for my heart.

My question: I know eating back some workout calories is what you should do. But does anyone else become ravenous? If so, what do you do?

Replies

  • HellYeahItsKriss
    HellYeahItsKriss Posts: 906 Member
    Ignore the fact that it's ravenous and eat a snack within your goals with a macro that will keep you the most satiated. Eat that snack and wait 20-30 min. Drink a large glass of water if need be and allow time for your stomach and brain to communicate.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Eating the right number of calories is key to avoiding excessive hunger. Start eating your exercise calories.
  • Fitnessgirl0913
    Fitnessgirl0913 Posts: 481 Member
    How long did you give the workouts before you stopped? I notice when I start a new workout I am ravenous as well (recently for me it was lifting). I had to deal with it for about a month but then my body adjusted and I got back to baseline. Also why 1200 calories? You only have 22 pounds to lose, that deficit may be too aggressive. How many pounds a week do you have MFP set for?
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    i work out in the mornings before work. which means i leave my house at 6 30. i dont eat breakfast. i eat my breakfast when i get to work at 9. for me, i found a high protein something works best. hard boiled eggs, cold cuts and cheese, yogurt .... stuff like that. then i eat lunch around 11/12 - and get home at 6 and eat dinner.

    i eat back around half my exercise calories but ONLY if im actually feeling hungry. some days i do, some i dont.
  • freespirit427
    freespirit427 Posts: 65 Member
    How long did you give the workouts before you stopped? I notice when I start a new workout I am ravenous as well (recently for me it was lifting). I had to deal with it for about a month but then my body adjusted and I got back to baseline. Also why 1200 calories? You only have 22 pounds to lose, that deficit may be too aggressive. How many pounds a week do you have MFP set for?


    1.5 lbs per week.

    I’ve been working at this for 2.5 years of MFP but a lifelong struggle before then too.

    I am worried about hitting a plateau again and then becoming frustrated and giving up.

    I’m addicted to food and it’s easier to not go off my calories if I’m not hungry but I know working out is good for me. I used to lift light weights and walk on treadmill 4 days per week. 3.5 mph and 1-2 incline. Weight lifting was 5 lbs and under.

    MFP has worked wonders for me so far!
  • freespirit427
    freespirit427 Posts: 65 Member
    I had been doing my routine workout for about 6 months to a year and I was bouncing around 195 to 185 for about 4 or 5 months before I stopped workout out around September or 2017. October 2017 is where I dropped from 190-185 weight range down to my now 172.
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited January 2018
    I presume that you chose the 2 pounds per week rate of loss? Adjustments in your calories would be done at each 10 pounds lost, but at 1200 calories that is the lowest it will give you. Considered lowering your rate of loss at this last 20 pounds to go?

    Something sounds off if you have been eating 1200 calories + plus exercise and you stopped losing weight. MFP is designed for you eat the recommended calories it gave you to lose weight + your exercise.

    Either you have been eating too many of them back, or your logging efforts are off (or both).

    Also have you considered taking a diet break along the way in the past 2.5 years you have been trying to lose? This is where you reach your maintenance calorie in take, eat that for a period of time, then go back to resuming your calorie deficit to lose weight.
  • HellYeahItsKriss
    HellYeahItsKriss Posts: 906 Member
    Let go of the mentality of being addicted to food. Its really just giving yourself a hurdle or an excuse to over indulge subconsciously. If you have the ability to maintain a calorie deficit all this time, you certainly have the ability to do it after a workout, you just need to stop saying your addicted to food and giving into that.
  • freespirit427
    freespirit427 Posts: 65 Member
    RoxieDawn wrote: »
    I presume that you chose the 2 pounds per week rate of loss? Adjustments in your calories would be done at each 10 pounds lost, but at 1200 calories that is the lowest it will give you. Considered lowering your rate of loss at this last 20 pounds to go?

    Something sounds off if you have been eating 1200 calories + plus exercise and you stopped losing weight. MFP is designed for you eat the recommended calories it gave you to lose weight + your exercise.

    Either you have been eating too many of them back, or your logging efforts are off (or both).

    Also have you considered taking a diet break along the way in the past 2.5 years you have been trying to lose? This is where you reach your maintenance calorie in take, eat that for a period of time, then go back to resuming your calorie deficit to lose weight.
    [/.

    I’ve never really considered taking a true break and to eat at a maintenance. I usually just considering that a binge day when I eat way over my calories.

    How long would I eat at maintenance before
    Going back to my current cals?
  • maybe1pe
    maybe1pe Posts: 529 Member
    I know that certain kinds of exercise make me excessively hungry. For example, running gives me runger. However, weight lifting, biking, body weight exercises, walking, kettlebells don't make me hungrier than normal.

    Have you considered trying different kinds of workouts to see if there's something else that you enjoy that wouldn't make you quite so hungry?
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited January 2018
    RoxieDawn wrote: »
    I presume that you chose the 2 pounds per week rate of loss? Adjustments in your calories would be done at each 10 pounds lost, but at 1200 calories that is the lowest it will give you. Considered lowering your rate of loss at this last 20 pounds to go?

    Something sounds off if you have been eating 1200 calories + plus exercise and you stopped losing weight. MFP is designed for you eat the recommended calories it gave you to lose weight + your exercise.

    Either you have been eating too many of them back, or your logging efforts are off (or both).

    Also have you considered taking a diet break along the way in the past 2.5 years you have been trying to lose? This is where you reach your maintenance calorie in take, eat that for a period of time, then go back to resuming your calorie deficit to lose weight.
    [/.

    I’ve never really considered taking a true break and to eat at a maintenance. I usually just considering that a binge day when I eat way over my calories.

    How long would I eat at maintenance before
    Going back to my current cals?


    There is a great thread you should read up on. This should answer most of all your general questions.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10604863/of-refeeds-and-diet-breaks/p1

    eta: take some time to watch Lyle McDonalds video included. Eye opening and great to stuff to learn.