I am HUNGRY!!!....or is just in my head

KylaDenay

I lowered my calorie intake to 1600 per many suggestions on one of my post. I did not workout the past couple of days due to bad headaches, so I must eat around 1600 or I am not in a deficit. Even if I work out 3 times a week, my tdee -20% is 1600. Sooo I went to bed starving last night. I woke up today drank my coffee, had breakfast at around 11 am, which was 1 egg, 2 egg whites, a slice of cheddar cheese, 2 slices turkey bacon and 2 slices whole wheat toast with butter. By 12:45 or 1pm I was hungry again. After all that food, drinking 3 cups of water and I cup of coffee! I just ate 2 red velvet frosted cookies (don't worry it fits) and I am a little hungry.

Could this just be my head, or is my body trying to get used to the lower amount of calories?! Does anyone else go through this? If so what helps you to curb the hunger?

I am also starting to get a minor headache and feel tired ...I HAVE to do this right this time or I will not lose weight. I did not weigh food or watch caloric intake close enough in the past. Seems I feel deprived now that I am doing it right UGH.

Forty6and2

Does your ticker accurately reflect your goal--to lose 15 lbs? If so, you wan to do a 10-15% reduction on TDEE as you do not have a lot to lose.

Can you give us some stats, like your height and weight? I am 5'2 and 182lbs and I eat 1600 calories per day, but I have a good 50+lbs to go and even if I eat up to 1800, I am still in a deficit.

KylaDenay

Hmmm I do not even know why it says I have 24 lbs to go, but my ticker says 15?? I do not know how to fix that. I am 5'3 163.5 32 yrs old and I would like to weigh 135. I have to be honest though if I get to 140 lbs I will be happier than ever, so I guess 24 lbs to lose. I eat tdee-20% right now which is bringing me to around 1600 in case I do only get in 1-3 days/hours of exercise. I slowed down on Insanity, so I have not done any intense exercise in over a week.

Edit: My ticker says I have 24 lbs to go, but I have not lost any yet. I just learned to weigh my food accurately and that is why I feel deprived eating less.

albayin

Insanity is...just that, very insane and put my control to hunger to wack...I did it during last month and I felt hungry all the time, no matter how much I eat...I gained some water weights and my pants fit miserably (they were already pretty tight to begin with).

KylaDenay

I know!!! No matter how much I do insanity, I feel I will never lose weight with it and I am always hungry. I gave it up a week ago so that I can focus on my diet, but eating the 1800-2200 that I was on while doing it spoiled me. Cutting my calorie intake is harder now.

Forty6and2

Even with 24 lbs to lose, you should probably have a deficit of 15% at most, probably closer to 10%. That will raise your calories and you won't feel hangry as often

KylaDenay

Thank you for the advice! I had people tell me to bring it down to 1600 and then I had people tell me to follow Tdee-15%. I was just going off the other advice that was given to me.

evarga12

You should try implementing some Quaker oats as a snack. Prior to starting my food tracking I never ate breakfast I would just eat a big lunch and snacks later in the after noon (some may say I'm "starving myself, ah i hate those words, lol. i just never felt too much hunger)....back to topic... Once I started eating more to reach my macros (to loose weight) I incorporated breakfast at 9am. Once I did that I started feeling hungrier throughout the day, so what i did was bought some pre -packed quaker oaks and ate those as snacks, these give me the satisfaction of feeling full till the next meal. They should also still fall under your macros!! You should try it...FYI..My deficit is similar yours. Hopefully this helps!?

Forty6and2

You should try implementing some Quaker oats as a snack. Prior to starting my food tracking I never ate breakfast I would just eat a big lunch and snacks later in the after noon (some may say I'm "starving myself, ah i hate those words, lol. i just never felt too much hunger)....back to topic... Once I started eating more to reach my macros (to loose weight) I incorporated breakfast at 9am. Once I did that I started feeling hungrier throughout the day, so what i did was bought some pre -packed quaker oaks and ate those as snacks, these give me the satisfaction of feeling full till the next meal. They should also still fall under your macros!! You should try it...FYI..My deficit is similar yours. Hopefully this helps!?

Just looked at your diary and you are eating too few calories. Your brain will stop sending hunger signals if you go without eating for too long, which explains why you are not hungry. However, your body still needs energy.

Read these: (for OP, too)
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here?hl=so+you're+new+here

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974888-in-place-of-a-road-map-2k13

RHachicho

Your hunger could be due to vitamin deficiencies. Give a multivitamin supplement a try. It helps me.

KylaDenay

Your hunger could be due to vitamin deficiencies. Give a multivitamin supplement a try. It helps me.

Good point thanks! I was taking a multivitamin for the past month, just ran out and have not gone to get some. I have only been taking B12 gummies. I will go pick some up tomorrow. I totally forgot about how they helped me.

MelodyandBarbells

Sometimes you have to experiment with your food. For example, a lot of people might do great on Greek yogurt, but others are hungry within minutes of eating that.

It's also possible that you just like more food. Can you increase your exercise, perhaps explore options other than Insanity?

KylaDenay

Yes.

Hunger is in your head.

Stop eating right now and keep it up for two weeks, and you will do just fine without food as long as you drink water.

Seriously.

This is exactly what I am making myself do!! I have my water bottle next to me now at all times. I figured I will get used to it in a while. I just got a headache now actually. I am hoping they stop.

I HAVE to keep it up and try or I will not lose weight.

Thank you for the great advice!

KylaDenay

Sometimes you have to experiment with your food. For example, a lot of people might do great on Greek yogurt, but others are hungry within minutes of eating that.

It's also possible that you just like more food. Can you increase your exercise, perhaps explore options other than Insanity?

Another good point! I will experiment with what foods work for me and make me feel better daily thanks.

Ohhhh I had to stop Insanity over a week and a half ago, so that I can focus on my calorie intake. If I do Insanity then I have to eat more. My best bet was to stop. I am now doing Zumba, walking, elliptical, and other dvd's 3 -4 times a week. I will increase my exercise once the headaches go away, I have more energy and am used to the 1500-1600 calorie intake.

snazzyjazzy21

Yes.

Hunger is in your head.

Stop eating right now and keep it up for two weeks, and you will do just fine without food as long as you drink water.

Seriously.

This is exactly what I am making myself do!! I have my water bottle next to me now at all times. I figured I will get used to it in a while. I just got a headache now actually. I am hoping they stop.

I HAVE to keep it up and try or I will not lose weight.

Thank you for the great advice!

That was extreme sarcasm, btw...

MelodyandBarbells

Ok. I guess I assumed your exercise was a total of 1-3 hours per week. I do not have personal experience with the TDEE method, but I will confirm that 1500 is my pre-exercise calorie setting and I weigh similar to you. My account is setup for 1/2 pound per week weight loss since I found this easier to comply with consistently than 1 lb a week

You are obviously here to figure things out and I wish you the best, but for the record I wouldn't say having headaches and being hungry all the time is working, not for me, anyway.

evarga12

You should try implementing some Quaker oats as a snack. Prior to starting my food tracking I never ate breakfast I would just eat a big lunch and snacks later in the after noon (some may say I'm "starving myself, ah i hate those words, lol. i just never felt too much hunger)....back to topic... Once I started eating more to reach my macros (to loose weight) I incorporated breakfast at 9am. Once I did that I started feeling hungrier throughout the day, so what i did was bought some pre -packed quaker oaks and ate those as snacks, these give me the satisfaction of feeling full till the next meal. They should also still fall under your macros!! You should try it...FYI..My deficit is similar yours. Hopefully this helps!?

Just looked at your diary and you are eating too few calories. Your brain will stop sending hunger signals if you go without eating for too long, which explains why you are not hungry. However, your body still needs energy.

Read these: (for OP, too)
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here?hl=so+you're+new+here

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974888-in-place-of-a-road-map-2k13

Thanks! i'll take a look at these in the office tomorrow.

But i have been mainly putting focus on the macros (i.e Protein & Fats, low carbs) not really to focused on the calories per say. This is my ongoing process and I have been adjusting it accordingly. When I really started focusing on the macros and started to eat "healthier" (more times a day) i gained a few pounds but as time went by my weight started to diminish when eating closer to the macro requirements.

ruthieoftx

I think your body is screaming for nutrients... Consider making 50% of all your meals be fruits and vegetables. For instance, in the breakfast you describe, I would have half the eggs and bacon, scramble my eggs with peppers, onions, and tomato and have a cup of fresh strawberries on the side. There are fewer calories there, so if you're hungry before lunch, you could have some nuts or fresh vegetables, but I bet the vitamins and minerals from the plants (as well as the added low-calorie bulk) would keep you full longer. If the hunger persists, you might try it.

KylaDenay

Yes.

Hunger is in your head.

Stop eating right now and keep it up for two weeks, and you will do just fine without food as long as you drink water.

Seriously.

This is exactly what I am making myself do!! I have my water bottle next to me now at all times. I figured I will get used to it in a while. I just got a headache now actually. I am hoping they stop.

I HAVE to keep it up and try or I will not lose weight.

Thank you for the great advice!

That was extreme sarcasm, btw...

SMHH that went right over my head!! I thought it was and then I didn't. But the fact remains I have to stay at a calorie deficit to lose the weight. 1500 is not low and I do need to drink plenty of water. I am not starving myself, I eat.

Edit: I did not see the "do fine without food" part oops for misreading that.

wilsoje74

The two cookies would have triggered more hunger for me, plus given me a headache!!!!

phoenixx866

I find that if I eat something TOO sugary (for example, Skinny Cow caramel chocolate doesn't trigger it, but a chocolate chip cookie will), I will get hungry really fast, despite the fact that I just consumed a bunch of fiber and protein not even 10 minutes before. I think that the cookies might be causing your hunger.

MizMimi111

Have you recently happened to decrease the amount of caffeinated drinks you consume?

Caffeine withdrawal caused headaches for me when I stopped drinking Coke.

Just a thought.