How the hell are you all eating so little?!

AliceDark

I get super hungry about an hour after lunch and crave carbs and have to fight hard not to eat a slice of bread.

Getting really hungry very soon after eating is a sign that your macro balance during that meal was off. Carbs aren't bad for you! Everyone has a different macro balance that suits their body the best -- some people just need more carbs than others, and that's totally fine. Try eating a slice of bread with lunch and see if that fixes it.

You remember back in the 1980s when fat was the devil, and all you saw was "low-fat this" and "non-fat that"? We're going through that with carbs right now, and it's just as silly as the fear of fat was back then. If your body is telling you it wants carbs, try eating some carbs and see how you feel.

rachelrb85

Where did you get 1800 from? I heard to allow yourself an additional 500 calories for nursing, so that would net you at 1300 which is a bit low. Not sure what your weight loss goal is but maybe you set it too aggressively?

If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal

Also, drinking your calories through dinner might not be the best way to keep you full. Try some other food high in protein instead of 2 protein shakes... maybe eggs, cheese, chicken, beef, nuts, etc. You can also try increasing your activity so you can eat more. Take the baby for a walk in the stroller! Log the activity and eat back your calories.

yopeeps025

Fruits and veggies. Protein powder and chicken breast.

danaf694

I'm 5'7" as well and my target weight is around 147....I think anything lower than that would be extremely hard to maintain (for me at least). Also, those shakes are a waste of calories and money in my opinion...they never kept me feeling full for very long at all. I've been eating a lot of cereal or yogurt with fruit for breakfast, chef salads and grilled chicken salads for lunch and then a fairly decent sized dinner and I've been staying at or under my calorie goal.

menosmas

I have a very difficult time feeling satisfied with my allotted calories also. (I'm supposed to stay at 1200) A workout friend I made at school who is majoring in nutrition advised me to eat most of my carbs in the morning and only whole grain carbs. Her theory is that if you don't have easily accessed carbohydrates for your body during the day when you are active, your brain tells you that it is starving. I am not the best at dieting (emotional eater) but when I follow this advice, I do feel so much better through out the day.

Zekela

I'd die eating under 2000 cals. I could do it for a couple of days, but the third day I'd die. I'm 100% sure of this fact.

ShibaEars

I don't have kids, so I don't have experience with nursing or anything, but I could easily eat about 2000 calories a day. I have no idea how people stay at or below 1200. I struggle to keep mine between 1500-1600 - however I do like to snack at night, so that doesn't help my numbers lol. (I'm 5'2", about 130 pounds)

JoRocka

I eat 1200
















for breakfast.

I could sht 1200... I get very cranky with people who say they struggle to reach 1000. I can easily eat that in one meal- if not two if I'm being generous and spreading it out.

I'm very comfortable with being hungry -and I feel like I'm dying around when I am anywhere under 1500. Right now I"m aiming for 1600 with eat back- and I'm hungry CONSTANTLY.

One of the reasons I'm happy working out is because it means I get to come home and make a big vat- yes vat of eggs... large side of bacon. onnomnomnom

love me some food.

could I do less than 1200- yes- am I happy- hell no.

parkscs

I eat 1200
















for breakfast.

I could sht 1200... I get very cranky with people who say they struggle to reach 1000. I can easily eat that in one meal- if not two if I'm being generous and spreading it out.

I'm very comfortable with being hungry -and I feel like I'm dying around when I am anywhere under 1500. Right now I"m aiming for 1600 with eat back- and I'm hungry CONSTANTLY.

One of the reasons I'm happy working out is because it means I get to come home and make a big vat- yes vat of eggs... large side of bacon. onnomnomnom

love me some food.

could I do less than 1200- yes- am I happy- hell no.

Damn, only 1115 calories for my breakfast. I'm slacking.

I wouldn't say I'm comfortable being hungry - quite the opposite, in fact. That's why I go out of my way to cut in a way that leaves me satiated pretty much all the time, even if it means I restrict certain foods. I suspect I'd struggle a lot more with cutting weight if I was going hungry, but then again everyone's got their preferences.

I'm with you though on people who "struggle" to eat more than 1000 calories. Unless they're following a very restrictive diet, I'm skeptical that they're really struggling to eat that much food.

WalkingAlong

I think the people who struggle to hit their target are probably ones who spent a long time shutting out their bodies' fullness signals and now they're listening and it comes across too 'loud', until they learn to dial it in. It seems like the effect lasts a couple weeks then goes away.

I love when people crow about the size of their breakfast. I want to know how many people who take pride in their big calorie numbers also drive big trucks or play loud bass. :laugh:

Hornsby

I think the people who struggle to hit their target are probably ones who spent a long time shutting out their bodies' fullness signals and now they're listening and it comes across too 'loud', until they learn to dial it in. It seems like the effect lasts a couple weeks then goes away.

I love when people crow about the size of their breakfast. I want to know how many people who take pride in their big calorie numbers also drive big trucks or play loud bass. :laugh:

I drive a 42mpg economic diesel car and listen to talk radio...what now? Lol

sculli123

I normally eat 2,000 calories a day while cutting except high carb days like today I eat more (2650). Last year I cut on 1800 calories though and it did not go nearly as well as this year is going. I don't think I will ever go below 2000 again, at least not on purpose. Would blow my brains out on 1200 though. lol

Deipneus

No need to eat only 1,200 or 1,800. You just need a deficit. Hunger is psychological as well as physical. I've gone for weeks on 1,200 calories a day, but I am not doing that any longer.

chelseababy22

You must be craving high calorie foods.. Have you tried lower calorie foods- fruits? veggies? are you drinking enough water? a lot of the time your body is just thirsty when you think it is hungry...

My diary is set at 1200 cals and I have a hard time even eating that much.

Also- are you eating empty calories? (cookies, chips, candies) That could also be your issue because those things are LOADED with empty calories

BogQueen1

I've been playing with intermittent fasting this month. Feeling deprived seems less problematic when you eat only every other day. Really appreciate your meals on the "on" days. =D

Please don't ever advise a nursing mother to only eat every other day.:huh:

Swiftlet66

Depends on the type of food, imo. I can easily down a 800 calorie piece of cake and still want more food but if I ate that much in lean chicken, vegetables, and potatoes, that's a different story. That and if you're a nursing mom, I think it's better to decrease calories slowly. You still need good nutrients and enough calories for your body to make the milk and feed the child. Making breast milk is already an automatic calorie burning activity (can be quite large deficit too if your child is eating a lot) so you should also take that into consideration.

sadiebrawl

I didn't count calories much when nursing, only because the hunger was like I never experienced.

I did lose weight though as I felt I never had time to eat as much as I was hungry. I kept nuts allll around the house and would just eat handfuls at a time.

leggup

Clearly people were capable of eating over 1,800. We all did end up here, after all.

I don't have trouble eating to my goal without going over because I save a lot of calories for later in the day, which is when I get the most hungry. I also eat a TON of veggies, which gives me a lot of volume to eat.

WalkingAlong

I think the people who struggle to hit their target are probably ones who spent a long time shutting out their bodies' fullness signals and now they're listening and it comes across too 'loud', until they learn to dial it in. It seems like the effect lasts a couple weeks then goes away.

I love when people crow about the size of their breakfast. I want to know how many people who take pride in their big calorie numbers also drive big trucks or play loud bass. :laugh:

I drive a 42mpg economic diesel car and listen to talk radio...what now? Lol

Fine, prove me wrong, ya big muscley-calved bully! (Is it at least 'Car Talk'?)

In the zombie apocalypse, you will envy my tiny calorie needs! :bigsmile:

spara0038

quite easily.

I'm a guy and I COULD cope on 1000 calories a day if I had to....

some days I had trouble getting it up to 1200.... and now I've increased my calories (when I found out 1200 was wayyy too low) its even harder.

What kind of foods are you eating?

there are loads of low calorie foods that can keep you full up for a long time!

Pretty much this. My calories are anywhere 900-1500 calories. I know 900 is not necessarily healthy, but sometimes my stomach feels so off that I just can't face eating anything. When I get up to around 1500, my meals are like this:

Breakfast: Oatmeal with a glass of milk
Morning Snack: 2 cheese sticks
Lunch: Salad with tuna, fruit cup
Afternoon Snack: Greek yogurt
Dinner: Meat (chicken or beef) with veggies. I often eat pizza too...

shellymeister

High fiber foods are more filling. try those fibre one bars and apples/pears

JoRocka

Clearly people were capable of eating over 1,800. We all did end up here, after all.

I don't have trouble eating to my goal without going over because I save a lot of calories for later in the day, which is when I get the most hungry. I also eat a TON of veggies, which gives me a lot of volume to eat.

ahem.
rude much?
some of us were never over weight- some of us are bulking- some of us maintain.

I think the people who struggle to hit their target are probably ones who spent a long time shutting out their bodies' fullness signals and now they're listening and it comes across too 'loud', until they learn to dial it in. It seems like the effect lasts a couple weeks then goes away.

I love when people crow about the size of their breakfast. I want to know how many people who take pride in their big calorie numbers also drive big trucks or play loud bass. laugh

I drive a 42mpg economic diesel car and listen to talk radio...what now? Lol

Fine, prove me wrong, ya big muscley-calved bully! (Is it at least 'Car Talk'?) tongue

In the zombie apocalypse, you will envy my tiny calorie needs! bigsmile

I have a motorcycle- 45 MPG- also a fat kid who isn't satisfied with 1500-1600 calories. humph

But I don't eat breakfast... wonder where that leaves me LOL

fit_gal

Somehow I feel like I'm eating loads! Lol My goal is around 1500 cal. I also exercise and eat back those calories too. So I don't feel like I'm on any sort of diet really

fittoday14

Thanks you all. I can def add more protein...Will try that...


For breakfast always a protein shake-1 scoop whey, 3/4-1 cup fruit, 1/3 cup greek yogurt(fage 2%).
I have 1/4-1/2 cup whole milk with coffee every AM too.
Lunch-usually another shake, like above but with spinach. Then nuts and cheese, sugar snap peas, popcorn. THose are my fave snacks.
I get super hungry about an hour after lunch and crave carbs and have to fight hard not to eat a slice of bread.
Dinner is roasted veggies in olive oil, lean beef or chicken breasts, and either a homemade bread or potatoes.
After dinner I am very hungry too, and usually eat 1/2 cup greek yogurt sweetened with maple syrup.

I do find that eliminating processed sugars has helped curb some cravings but I still have hunger.

Any insight is appreciated!

Just from this I'd suggest:

Stop drinking your calories, start chewing. Eat more vegetables, more salad - you don't need dressing but if you want to have something on it add lemon/salt/evoo/vinegar.. snack on carrots or tomatoes or celery or other vegetables loaded with nutrition and very low calories

If you are OK with eggs, perhaps having one egg in the morning, boiled, will give you a boost of energy in the AM (or as a snack, before dinner)

Cut the fage to 0% instead of 2% / swap the whole milk for fat free milk or skim - if you're not used to it, cut back slowly.

Cheese and Nuts are nutritious but don't snack on those every single day- they'll waste your calories in a heartbeat!

47Jacqueline

I eat only little enough to run a deficit that lets me lose a half pound a week. About six months ago got to a goal an started maintenance. I had been eating 1450 calories a day, but was having troupble meeting my goal. My Dietician started nagging me about eating more and adding more protein and also drinking more water. I had problems with all of that on maintenance, but slowly started increasing my intake.

Recently, I decided to lose about five more pounds to reduce my body fat because I'm studying to be a fitness instructor specializing in working with an older population teaching Zumba. I'm really excited about this.

Anyway I want to have a body make-up that's closer to athletic instead of average. I set my daily goal at 1500 calories a day. I'm 67and post menopausal so exercise is so necessary. I try to eat at least half my exercise calories back, which often gives me an extra 300-500 calories a day to increase to.

I don't know anything about dieting while nursing, but if you're drinking your meals, youwill have trouble being satisfied. We need protein that digests slowly and releases glucose into the body on a regulated basis, not as a boost (except maybe when we finish an exercise routine).

I have a history of undereating, so my efforts these days are nothing short of miraculous.

I would never put myself on 1200 calories ever again.

fittoday14

I once made a very large bowl of salad for a work party. It was in a tupperware - a very large one, can't remember the exact size. Anyway, I hadn't put any dressing on it, kept the dressing in a tiny tupperware to mix it together just before we ate. When we were all in the conference Room about to start, two of my co workers were staring at me saying, "that tiny bit of dressing for that large of a salad??" They couldn't believe how little dressing I needed to make the salad taste great. When they finally got to trying it, they ate the most and were bewildered by what they just saw. I had put 1 lemon (juice) + 1 tbsp of evoo + 1 tsp or less of salt ONLY. It was exactly enough for that very large salad I made. I cut up my vegetables on the small size, so it's easier to eat btw.

NRBreit

The OP says she has been losing weight at a slow pace, which means running a calorie deficit. If you are eating at a deficit, I think it's quite normal to feel hungry. That's your body's way of telling you it needs more energy to maintain it's current self (which would include any additional demands associated with nursing). For me, it takes about 3 weeks of eating at a deficit to get used to it. By 'used to it' I mean getting used to feeling hungry. It's all about willpower and how bad you want to achieve a particular goal. As others have said, you can limit hunger by eating certain foods/macros as well.

abashir525

I could never eat 1200 cals. I am nursing and have my goal set to 1800. That is the # I got from a nursing calculator. Anyhow...I am really struggling to stay at or under 1800!!! I am very hungry mid-day and at night. I have been at this for a bit now, and I am losing really slowly, or bouncing up and down within 5lbs when I eat more than 1800. Without pigging out or binging, I could naturally eat 2200 cals! Seriously, how are you all doing this? This is SO hard. I feel so deprived but I really shouldn't given I am allowing 1800. And I am hitting my macros(40 carbs/30protein/30fat) so I should feel satiated. ????? I am never going to get to my goal if I go above 1800, but I just am having such a hard time not feeling bad and hungry. Help?

Breastfeeding hunger is like no other, don't worry it will get better once your little one starts solids. I am nursing a 10 month old and I've noticed my hunger has calmed down a little bit. I eat oatmeal 3 times a day to help me feel full; I mix in protein powder, flaxseed or chia and fruit. Oats also help with lactation, so its a win/win. Remember, 1800 calories is the LOWEST amount a nursing mother should go, so don't reduce any farther or else the quality of your milk will likely suffer.

Honestly, just listen to your body- eat healthy (no junk/empty calories) and if you are hungry, eat more! Also, make sure you are taking your prenatal vitamins- one that has plenty of calcium and magnesium (when we are low in these vitamins we tend to get intense sugar cravings)

wordyroo

Making milk is hungry work. I've seen recommendations for calories between 1800-2200. I've got mine set at 1900 so that I don't feel hugely deprived. I've found that limiting sugary drinks helps keep me from eating ALL THE FOOD. Drink more water, eat a lot of fruits and veggies (as long as they don't bother your child), and know that you may not lose all of the weight until you stop nursing. A lot of women's bodies tend to hang on to the last 5-10 pounds of fat while nursing.

akdetweiler

Both times I've nursed, I could've probably eaten 2500 cals/ day and still felt like I was starving. Especially when my kids were young and nursing every 1.5-2 hours, I could not keep up with my hunger! I also had problems cutting calories when I nursed because my supply would take a huge nosedive. Maybe try upping your calories by 100/ day to see if that helps? I don't think someone who hasn't nursed full time can understand the hunger!

ALL of this. I experienced the same. No one can understand the hunger when your body is producing such a nutrient rich product. I also started "dieting" while nursing and I found the best thing for me was eating A LOT of whole, fresh foods and healthy fats kept my cravings at bay. Lots of big leafy salads with avocado, nut butters (almond butter rocks), nuts, fresh veggies, etc. The water content of all the veggies helped keep my supply up, and the high healthy fat foods kept the cravings and protein up. If you can just get through the first few days of eating this way, the cravings will start to disappear.

Of course, not the same for everyone, but it worked for me!