New and feeling deprived

Lcball78

Hi I am new to this. I started yesterday with food counting and I felt very deprived. I felt I ate clean and well. It put a damper on my day. Any suggestions?

kuvadog

Great job for getting started and for eating well! I feel like one of the biggest things when starting out is not to deprive yourself- just go with smaller portions. Otherwise, you can get too frustrated and ended up giving up. Keep watching the calories and eat some of those foods you enjoy- just smaller amounts. Eventually, you’ll naturally move to even healthier eating as you start seeing the results you’re looking for. Good luck to you!!

Lietchi

Why do you feel deprived?
Because you feel your calorie goal is low? (how many calories did you eat?)
Or because eating 'clean' isn't pleasant for you and you prefer/are used to other foods?

You don't need to starve yourself or ban treats to lose weight. Just a mild calorie deficit and eating the foods you like in smaller quantities is enough to lose weight.

Lcball78

Maybe I am taking the counting the numbers wrong. I divide it by three (three meals) and allow myself to eat then. I am on 1200 calories a day.

lynn_glenmont

Maybe you shouldn't be on 1200 calories a day. What is your height, weight, and general daily activity?

Lcball78

I'm 5'8" and 224lbs. I am 42. At 39, I was 175lbs and I felt great! I am a big girl, not petite at all. Once I got to the age of 40, the weight gain happened and I had a hard time loosing weight. I think hormones have a big part in me not able to lose weight.

harper16

Lcball78 wrote: »

I'm 5'8" and 224lbs. I am 42. At 39, I was 175lbs and I felt great! I am a big girl, not petite at all. Once I got to the age of 40, the weight gain happened and I had a hard time loosing weight. I think hormones have a big part in me not able to lose weight.

Try dropping your weight loss from 2 lbs a week to 1.5 or 1 lb a week. I'm 5'7 starting weight was 225, and even though I need to lose close to 90 lbs 2 lbs a week made me miserable.

Adding I'm 37.

jenlefleur31

Hey! I’ve just read through the thread I’m 5’9 and have set my calorie goal to lose 1lb a week I was tempted to go for a bigger loss each week but I think it would be too restricting and like you’ve said feel deprived! I did my first day today with a calorie goal of around 1500 and I’ve loved it I’ve had 3 full meals and a snack this evening and I’ve also got a couple hundred calories left over, if you have a fitness tracker sync it up and if you do exercise it also takes that into consideration if you wish to add the extra calories for the day ☺️
I hope this helps in some way! As I’d hate to think someone felt deprived!

Lcball78 wrote: »

I'm 5'8" and 224lbs. I am 42. At 39, I was 175lbs and I felt great! I am a big girl, not petite at all. Once I got to the age of 40, the weight gain happened and I had a hard time loosing weight. I think hormones have a big part in me not able to lose weight.

Diatonic12

Throw eating 'clean foods' out with the bathwater. Eating Clean is a made-up set of food rules. No one owns that term and no one really knows where it comes from. It contributes to more perfectionism with food which you might useful for the short-term but will ultimately be useless for the long term. Throw it out and rid yourself of all of those imaginary food rules and regulations.

You feel deprived because this thinking is the Shock and Awe Approach to food = All or Nothing Thinking. This is just more dieting dogma and none of it will sate or give you long lasting satisfaction. You know what you like so eat those things in moderation. Dieting dogma says you must follow some really narrow way of eating and thinking which only contributes to a confusing relationship with food. It's a total cluster and we simply haven't got the time to get into all of that.

Bottomline:
Whatever you do to lose the weight is what you will have to continue doing to maintain the weight.
We can learn to moderate ourselves with all of the foods we like. If you don't you're going to go right back to them in a moment of distraction.

The number one reason diets fail is because they're conducted so brutally strict right out of the chute.
Clean Eating vs. Dirty Eating
All or Nothing

It's an overhyped battle and it only serves to dig you into a much deeper hole with food. Steer clear of this mental debate with food. Today, give yourself permission to stop following food gurus with narrow food rules and regulations. Start thinking for yourself about your likes and dislikes. Create your own positive food management plan and use it for the rest of your life so you can discover long term stability with your weight and food.

lilspider

I agree with everyone saying that you should definitely not feel deprived!!! I eat pretty much everything I want but make sure I log everything down. It sometimes shocks me how much some foods have calories but then I know it and try not to have so much of that in future or try to find some alternatives that aren't so unhealthy (this is the main reason I calorie count).
I also try to exercise every day so I can eat more. Walking is great!

DarrellB1980

Stick with it and like it’s been said try eating the foods you like in moderation and also extra exercise definitely gives you that little extra wiggle room calories wise but it is a life style change to get yourself were you want to go and maintaining for the rest. I’m only in my second week counting calories with this app and have downed 5lbs and it has been a lot better after my first week and I kinda gaged my room with calories with what I like to eat😁. Good luck to you and I hope you reach your goals,I’m sure you will👍

bigblues11

1200 calories per day is probably why you're feeling deprived. That's the bare minimum for females. And only if you're short, older, sedentary, or a combination of some sort. I'm 50 years old, 5'3 and am losing about a pound and a half per week eating 1700 calories per day. I do bank calories during the week so I can relax a bit on the weekends. Lost 45 pounds in seven months. Best of luck on your journey chica!

Lcball78

Thank you all for the wonderful advice! I've only "dieted" once for two weeks in my 20s. I've always been too busy, and frankly, I've always put myself in the back burner because of work, kids, and divorce: basically just life. Now that my 4 kids are older and I am a recent stay at home mom, I want to look better for my husband and feel better. I already have joint pain and stiffness, I am sure due to gaining so much weight. My husband and I just bought our home a few months ago so a lot of my exercise comes from gardening, construction, diy-ing. Currently we are building a chicken coop and clearing out the garage next. Hoping to dust off my stationary bike, punching bag, and boflex. That way get into a routine.

I've changed my weight loss goals so now it shows 1420 calories. Thanks!!

podperson1

I think when you start feeling deprived it's normally because you're 'banning' certain foods. I try to go with the idea that there's no bad or good foods as long as I stay within my calories (and I am at 1200). So if I want some pizza or cake etc then I can have it, but I adjust accordingly. After a bit I have found that I'm leaning more towards healthier choices as I can have more of them but knowing that I CAN have something if I'm craving it gives me a much better mindset.

ChelleDee07

I'd also like to suggest that you may want to increase your protein and fiber intake. Higher amounts of protein and fiber can help you help you feel full & satisifed longer. Keep pushing! You can do it.