Feeling hungry - what am I doing wrong?

tinyfitlauren

Hello!
This is not my first time on MFP - I had a separate account since 2011. I succeeded tremendously a few times and then fell of the wagon a few times plus one. So now I am back with a new account in hopes of starting fresh.

It is only day 2 of eating healthier and paying attention to calories and exercise, so those are the only 2 days that you can see in my food diary.

Yesterday and today, I have felt like a constant void of never ending hunger... I would eat and be satisfied but then I'd feel hungry again about an hour or so later.

My diary is open for critque... what am I doing wrong? Both days I have had coffee or tea right when I wake up and then have breakfast an hour or an hour and a half later. Could this be screwing up my hunger levels for the whole day... would eating right when I wake up change anything?

Please help! I do not want to give up. Also, I am not depriving myself.. this is real hunger, not cravings.

alainacharisse

I'm having the same issue. I've been eating 3 meals a day but feeling so hungry and weak in between meals and.end up eating over my daily calories to try to stop the hungry feeling. Feeling discouraged.

herblackwings39

What are you set to lose a week? 2 lbs, 1 lb, .5 lb? If it's not .5 lbs have you considered lowering it? It would give you more to work with until you get used to the reduced intake.

tinyfitlauren

What are you set to lose a week? 2 lbs, 1 lb, .5 lb? If it's not .5 lbs have you considered lowering it? It would give you more to work with until you get used to the reduced intake.

Whoops forgot to mention this! I have set it to CUSTOM, eating right in between TDEE and BMR. 5'3" and eating 1350 to 1450

Mokey41

Protein is far more satiating than carbs or veggies. Add more proteins and fats into your day.

ritchiedrama

More protein and fat as others have said - you could probably get away with eating more food in general, too.

tinyfitlauren

*edited this because I worded it all wrong*

tinyfitlauren

Perhaps more nuts? Beans?

tinyfitlauren

And another addition - should I be eating closer to the time that I wake up rather than having coffee right away and having breakfast later on in the morning?

Should I focus on smaller meals more often or larger meals less often?

Haha I just don't know!

Lleldiranne

I agree that you need more protein, less processed carbs (white buns, etc, don't fill you up for long).

I also suspect that you aren't allowing yourself enough calories. 5'3" and 18 years old, and your BMR is below 1350? I'm shorter than you, and older than you, and I'm pretty sure my BMR isn't that low. But I'm not an expert on your metabolism…

If you are 100% sure that your calorie goal is fine, then try to spread it out through the day. 200-300 cal breakfast, 100 cal morning snack (a boiled egg would fit in well here), 400 calorie lunch, 200 calorie afternoon snack (a serving of almonds or cashews? with some fresh veggies too, maybe) and then a 400-500 calorie dinner. Feel free to tweak it some, too.

ritchiedrama

I am not sure why you think eating meat and fat is harmful to humans, but I strongly disagree.

I got rid of my hunger personally by doing Intermittent Fasting (eating 2 meals a day, one at 12 pm one at 6pm)

But "I am focused on eating more plant foods as meats and fats are very harmful to the health of many"

That comment worries me, Lauren.

herblackwings39

And another addition - should I be eating closer to the time that I wake up rather than having coffee right away and having breakfast later on in the morning?

Should I focus on smaller meals more often or larger meals less often?

Haha I just don't know!

Meal timing really doesn't matter. If you're hungry when you wake up eat something. If you're not just have your coffee. You can try smaller meals or snacks through out the day to see if it makes you feel full longer or you could eat all your calories in one meal. It's personal preference.

DancingMoosie

You might want to try having a cup of water first thing, and then again whenever you feel hungry, before you have a snack. I almost always have my coffee or tea before breakfast, and it usually helps me get through part of the morning before eating. I don't like to eat first, so its usually workout(around 5:45, right after waking), water, shower, then tea or coffee(around 6:20), then breakfast(7-7:15). If you feel absolutely ravenous, try a small healthy snack in between meals. Try to pair carbs with protein and a little fat. My go-to snacks are:
emerald 100 calorie pack cocoa roast almonds
1/2 apple or 1/2 grapefruit with low fat cheese stick
carrot/celery/cucumber with a tbs of hummus
100-110 calorie protein shake (like advantEdge)
flavored lowfat greek yogurt (also around 100 cal)
small banana with a few nuts

tinyfitlauren

I agree that you need more protein, less processed carbs (white buns, etc, don't fill you up for long).

I also suspect that you aren't allowing yourself enough calories. 5'3" and 18 years old, and your BMR is below 1350? I'm shorter than you, and older than you, and I'm pretty sure my BMR isn't that low. But I'm not an expert on your metabolism…

If you are 100% sure that your calorie goal is fine, then try to spread it out through the day. 200-300 cal breakfast, 100 cal morning snack (a boiled egg would fit in well here), 400 calorie lunch, 200 calorie afternoon snack (a serving of almonds or cashews? with some fresh veggies too, maybe) and then a 400-500 calorie dinner. Feel free to tweak it some, too.

Thank you! I didnt even realize that I have been eating white instead of whole wheat, thats probably contributing. Also, I feel dumb... I had set my calorie goal based on memory of BMR before but I recalculated it and I should be eating atleast 100 cals more (BMR is ~1450 not 1350)

blackermagic

First off...you are going to be more hungry starting any diet or change in your eating habits.

You should increase your protein intake as 51g isn't enough. Protein fills you up longer too. I do the almond milk with protein shake mix...keeping the calories lower and proteins up!

Eat more often too, with smaller meals. Less chance of getting hungry!

Do you exercise at all? I find that when I exercise and drink more water, I am less hungry.

I don't understand the no meat route, since your body needs fats, some carbs and protein to survive...but to each his/her own.

tinyfitlauren

First off...you are going to be more hungry starting any diet or change in your eating habits.

You should increase your protein intake as 51g isn't enough. Protein fills you up longer too. I do the almond milk with protein shake mix...keeping the calories lower and proteins up!

Eat more often too, with smaller meals. Less chance of getting hungry!

Do you exercise at all? I find that when I exercise and drink more water, I am less hungry.

I don't understand the no meat route, since your body needs fats, some carbs and protein to survive...but to each his/her own.

I'm a vegetarian so therefore I am biased so I won't get into why I won't eat meat/limit dairy. I completely made it sound like I'm against protein though - I looked at my diary and saw I do need more proteins/healthy fats/complex carbs, and you all helped bring light to that so thank you! I just meant that I dont like to get those nutrients FROM meat. I don't think those nutrients are bad at all. Whoops!

cwaters120

you can add healthy vegetarian proteins sources and healthy fats. Both will make you feel more satisfied and last longer. Beans, tempeh, tofu, egg whites, etc. and avocados, nuts, and seeds.

GiGiBeans

When I was a vegetarian I struggled to get enough good protein. Rice and beans make a complete protein and are very filling. Hemp seeds, flax, chia sprinkled onto salads and veggies helps.

adgirl1995

When I am hungry and just cannot stop thinking about it ....(sigh) I have some egg whites. It seems to work for me!

lb7771

Hi,
I am a long time Weight Watcher client, & when I quit smoking 3 years ago I put on 30 pounds, not good, anyway, I went back to Weight watchers & 9 weeks later had not lost a pound. they work on a point system.

I joined this site on the advise of my daughter and it seems to be working for me, my first week I lost 2 pounds & 1 inch off my waist.

Anyway, I make Weight Watchers soup, it is full of veggies & Weight Watchers gives it 0 points so I don't count it on this site. Whenever I'm hungry I had a bowl of this soup You can go onto Weight Watchers & look up the receipe, try it.

also make sure that you are drinking plenty of water. Sometimes when we feel hungry having a glass of water make those hunger pangs go away, if they don't after your drink of water, then have something to eat.

Good luck

Mokey41

Anyway, I make Weight Watchers soup, it is full of veggies & Weight Watchers gives it 0 points so I don't count it on this site. Whenever I'm hungry I had a bowl of this soup You can go onto Weight Watchers & look up the receipe, try it.

Water is the only thing that has zero calories. Your soup may be low calorie but it isn't no calorie and should be counted in your budget. Starchy veggies can have a decent calorie value and throw your numbers off if you aren't counting it.

9jenn9

I haven't looked at your diary but I like quinoa. It's a grain that is considered a complete protein. Tasty!