I'm starving... Not really, but I'm starving.

GonzalesLJ

Hi!

I kick started this diet again and I have 50 calories left for to go for the day and I am starving. I am really not starving, but I am used to not worrying about my caloric intake. Anyone have a suggestion other than water-logging myself and going to bed?

All suggestions appreciated!

Louie

cmriverside

Eat?


Seriously. I hope your calories aren't set any lower than about 1800. How tall are you? How much weight are you trying to lose?

Sometimes people set themselves up for failure by setting too aggressive of a goal. Men should not be eating less than 1500 net, no matter what.

edit to add:

I just looked at your weight loss ticker. You should be at over 2000 calories a day to start with. If you are set with a lower goal, change it.

Your Goal should be "Lose 1/2 pound per week" at your weight - if you truly have 15 lbs to lose. If you have ANY type of job, set your Activity at "Lightly Active" - add back in any exercise you do and you'll be given more to eat. Don't try to beat the system. It won't work.

.

Pearsquared

I like to chew gum if I have an insatiable appetite.

Also, maybe the foods you're eating aren't filling you up? We could take a look at your diary, if you want. To make it public, click Food > Settings > Diary Sharing (at the bottom of the page) > Public.

That way, we could give specific suggestions.

lenkearney

As I have learned more about food, I know what I can eat that is low calorie - eat a head of lettuce and you will "feel" full and for not a lot of calories.

So cut up a bunch of raw veggies to have available for a grab snack. Use some hummus and hot sauce to spice it up.

pcastagner

Next time, try to leave 90 cals for yourself. That's only 40 more.

For that 90 cals you can have half a cup of low fat cottage cheese, which is packed with a protein called casein. It got me through the first 2 months of portion control.

You can buy pure casein as a powder as well, and make pudding out of it, or a concoction called protein fluff.

I don't recommend using veggies to feel full except at meal times when you can combine them with fat and protein.

GonzalesLJ

I am trying to be aggressive and cut as much weight as I can. I am 5'10.5" and 195 lbs...

GonzalesLJ

OK, settings are public now.

GonzalesLJ

Cool Len. I don't have any lettuce, but I do have some celery. Thanks!

GonzalesLJ

OK P. I am lactose intolerant, but I can do cottage cheese. I'll grab some of that tomorrow.

GonzalesLJ

CM, I am trying to lose 30 lbs....

jonnythan

Dude, your calorie goal is way too low and you are consuming way too little protein.

Your body burns in excess of 2200 calories a day when you don't do any exercise at all. With your goal set to 1200 you are running a calorie deficit of 1000 plus whatever exercise you do.

That's bad.

Set your calorie goal to 1750, which is about a 20% deficit. Log exercise and eat back your exercise calories.

And get at least 120 grams of protein every day. More is good.

peeaanuut

i have found the sugar free, fat free jello packs work great for me. 10 calories and usually hit the spot.

pcastagner

OK P. I am lactose intolerant, but I can do cottage cheese. I'll grab some of that tomorrow.

Hmmm then I would look for a casein powder with little or no lactose content. If you have a mixer you can make the fluff, but otherwise the pudding is super easy and will have the same effect.

Casein takes hours and hours to digest, so it really works.

mockchoc

Dude, your calorie goal is way too low and you are consuming way too little protein.

Your body burns in excess of 2200 calories a day when you don't do any exercise at all. With your goal set to 1200 you are running a calorie deficit of 1000 plus whatever exercise you do.

That's bad.

Set your calorie goal to 1750, which is about a 20% deficit. Log exercise and eat back your exercise calories.

And get at least 120 grams of protein every day. More is good.

^ THIS! You are actually starving yourself OP. Eat more.

samuelsson

After checking out your diary, my best suggestion (for the future, sadly, not for today) is to cut out the Sprite or drink a calorie-free Sprite. That's 140 calories you could be putting toward FOOD! Real, good, solid food with protein and/or fat, which keep you full. That's 1 scoop of protein powder, for example. If you combine 1 scoop protein powder + 1 cup almond milk + 5 ice cubes + 1/4 t. vanilla extract, you get a delicious, filling, high-protein shake for roughly the same calories as your Sprite.

I echo others when I say your calorie intake is too low for your height and BMR. Up your calories! Do it today! And then have a protein-packed snack. A string cheese is 80 cal. A mini Baby Bel light is 50 cal. Have two.

lucasmoten

My goto items that are filling and low in calories are oatmeal and melons. The former being good fiber, the later being sweet, but very cheap calorie wise considering how full it'll make you feel. If you're hungry, eat something. Right now you're at only about 1000 calories towards your 1200 goal (seems low), so there's definitely room there for either a bowl of oatmeal or half a cantaloupe. Since today you're already well over on sugar, if I were in your shoes, I'd opt for the oatmeal right now.

pcastagner

Oh crap, just looked at your calorie goal.

I agree, too low. You can maybe go as low as 1600 net for the next 10lbs or so but after that you'll need to increase again.

So have a full cup of that cottage cheese!

Sarauk2sf

Why is your goal set at 1,200 calories?

GonzalesLJ

OK, Jonny, I'll try that. I have a protein supplement I can try.

Cranquistador

EAT!

GonzalesLJ

Thanks P.

jonnythan

OK, Jonny, I'll try that. I have a protein supplement I can try.

Eat food! You blew like 400 calories today on drinks alone. Eat some chicken and steak and veggies. Build your diet around lean meats and veggies where possible, but make room for the things you love to eat.

GonzalesLJ

I was trying to lose the weight fast Sara. I thought, I'd try to just tough it out.

trhnsn63

Vegetables, vegetables, vegetables. High fiber. Helps you to stay full longer. Make some delicious carrot soup with garlic, celery, red bell pepper, etc. (recipe on internet) is so good! And believe it or not.......you will NOT be starving. I can eat one bowl a day and do not have a hunger pain what so ever. In fact, it is so filling, that I have to force myself to eat something else for dinner.

fireproofwoman

Make a delicious pudding from chia seeds...great nutrition and very filling. Doesn't take much to fill you up with it and it will keep you feeling full. PLUS, it is easy to make, just blend seeds with milk (soy, almond, rice, etc) and other flavors or fruit...let sit for couple hours...yummy! Check out chia seeds online, they are amazing...

GonzalesLJ

I like my beer and wine after work. I guess I need to relook that.

When I first became a Soldier in 1986, I weighed 127 pounds. 27 years later still on active duty, I am at 195. I am getting ready to retire soon and I want to start getting more fit, besides losing 20 lbs. on a deployment,

quiltlovinlisa

I am VERY glad to see you upped your calories. Losing fast isn't healthy and you want to be healthy, not just lighter. Just for comparison, I'm a 5'3'' woman, weighing 212 and I almost never eat below 1500 and when I exercise, I can eat up to 2,000.

That extra 500 plus calories you have now should cure your hunger.

pcastagner

I was trying to lose the weight fast Sara. I thought, I'd try to just tough it out.

Yeah, the problem is you'll lose weight but a high proportion of it will be muscle. You'll lose strength too.

The game you have to play is: keep messing with food choices until you find things that make you feel more full on a calorie deficit. Eventually it will lead you to the right macros.

On rest days I ate more fat and fewer carbs, on workout days I ate more protein and more carbs. Worked very well.


You have more wiggle room now but as your body fat gets lower you will have to be more careful about your choices.

Diamondgirl369

Looking at your dairy today I would highly recommend you eat more. Breakfast needs to be way more than just coffee. Are you working out? At what level? Protein/ Carbs/ Fats need to be balanced for your body size to stabilize. If you do not eat enough your body will begin to eat your muscle and I would guess that isn't your goal. Please feel free to check out my food diary for ideas or look at others for ideas. Exercise, food and you must up your water intake to at least 8 glasses a day ,but work your way up double that will help you bring you to your goals and feel full.

GonzalesLJ

I am VERY glad to see you upped your calories. Losing fast isn't healthy and you want to be healthy, not just lighter. Just for comparison, I'm a 5'3'' woman, weighing 212 and I almost never eat below 1500 and when I exercise, I can eat up to 2,000.

That extra 500 plus calories you have now should cure your hunger.

Thanks Quilt, I appreciate the personal response.

jonnythan

Looking at your dairy today I would highly recommend you eat more. Breakfast needs to be way more than just coffee. Are you working out? At what level? Protein/ Carbs/ Fats need to be balanced for your body size to stabilize. If you do not eat enough your body will begin to eat your muscle and I would guess that isn't your goal. Please feel free to check out my food diary for ideas or look at others for ideas. Exercise, food and you must up your water intake to at least 8 glasses a day ,but work your way up double that will help you bring you to your goals and feel full.

Coffee by itself is fine for breakfast. There's no need to eat meals when you don't want to.

Focus on the macros. Get your calories, get your protein, get your fat, get your fiber. Get them pretty much any way you want, just make sure you get them. Lift weights and eat lots of protein to preserve your lean mass.