I <3 My Calories

SweetBeth

I see so many people on here talk about how hard it is to eat all of their calories. I'm brand new at this, but I feel like I'm ALWAYS hungry and waiting to eat again. I'm trying to keep the carbs low, but not completely omitting them from my diet. But nothing seems to fill me up. Could this be my body fighting the cravings? How do I know when to listen to my body's hunger? I go over my calories a lot. I'm working on busting those extra calories with a good fitness routine, but am I really the only one who is struggling not to go in the red instead of struggling to finish all the calories???

I have a busy lifestyle and find myself buying too many meals instead of preparing them myself. I'm working on that by preparing what I can days ahead of time, so I can grab and go. I also crave sugar all the time, but I'm trying to curb that with fresh fruit and healthier alternatives. Today I ate a medium fuji apple and it took 16g sugar!!! Geez Louise! 2 weeks in and I feel like I can't stop making mistakes! I know it's not good to ignore the hunger pains b/c then I'm more likely to binge, but these foods aren't filling me up at all. I'm ready to eat every 1- 1 1/2 hours. Someone tell me what I'm doing wrong!

rlmiller73190

When you work out, your metabolism increases, causing your body to burn through your calories at a faster rate. As long as you are exercising and eating healthily, using all of your allotted calories shouldn't be a problem. It's just your new and improved metabolism!

sweetheart03622

Are you eating your exercise calories? Because you are allowed to...

For me, I go through phases. Last week I was eating chocolate after dinner to fill up my calories, this week I can't get enough. At first I was ALWAYS hungry as well. Just try new things. Veggies and fruits are great, limit your simple sugar (even some fruits can reak havoc on your blood sugar which, in turn, makes you feel hungry). Fill up on fiber and protein and give it some time. If after two or three weeks you're still starving, try something new. You have to keep trying until you find what works for you!

journeytoahealthy51

I was super hungry the first month or so. I do try to eat every couple of hours. I found healthy, low cal snacks that I like, and are portable. I have a stick of low fat string cheese (70 cals) a couple of hours after breakfast, then a 300-350 cal lunch, then a snack of a low fat granola bar or cup of fruit in the afternoon after lunch. I do actually go quite a few hours b/t my afternoon snack and supper, but I am usually working around the house, and "forget" to be hungry!!! You will feel hungry even with this at first. Just track everything you put in your mouth, and consider how much exercise you will have to do to make up for a couple of cookies!
Are you adding in your exercise calories and eating them? If I am super hungry, I will do some extra exercise to earn me some more calories. I am not one of the crazy exercisers on here who can burn 600 calories in a workout. I tend to earn an extra 250-300 a day. I have just learned what foods I can eat to keep me under my calories.
Feel free to add me as a friend if you want.

baisleac

Are you eating good carbs (high fiber foods) and lots of lean protein? Both of these will satiate hunger longer.

ItsAsha

I had, and still sometimes still have the same problem. I found that instead of eating full meals, hours apart. I eat much smaller, more times a day.

Example: I like to eat granola bars, but they usually come 2 in a pack. I eat one in the morning, drink a lot of water, then when my tummy starts growling, I will eat the other bar. I also measure out grapes to a serving, then just grab a few every time I get hungry. Maybe just try splitting your meals up through out the day. That's what worked for me.

Much luck

hroderick

Take a multi-vitamin and multi-mineral supplements.

Chromium will knock out the sugar craving.

You're doing good by cooking ahead. I try to cook all my main courses on Saturday then just add a salad or veg. It's the only good way to know what's really in it. Since it is low cal I can eat larger (measured) portions and stay on track

jenbk2

Trying eating foods higher in fiber. this will fill you up so you won't be so hungry,

SweetBeth

Thanks for the head's up on the chromium supplements. I started googling it right away and people seem to say that it stops their sugar cravings over night. That might be just the thing I need to help me resist those overwhelming cravings. Some days I say no with sheer willpower...but inevitably I binge after a few days. Reading some of the articles actually brought some other symptoms to my attention that I may want to discuss with my doctor. I do tend to be moody if I don't have sugar, much like everyone else with their morning coffee. I eat enough calories, but my body keeps telling my I need something sweet, so maybe there are other deficiencies that aren't being met. Hmmm...

Yes I am eating my exercise calories, but this is only week 2 for me changing my eating habit and I just got back in the gym this week. So I'm not really earning that many calories yet. But I know I'll get back there again. I'm just concerned b/c I put all this weight on so FAST! I'm talking 30 pounds since November. And before that I had a personal trainer and was eating healthy and still couldn't lose much weight at all. So I think MFP is helping me to really disect my habits and figure out how to have an effective lifestyle.

Thanks for all the responses. I'll start looking for high fiber, high protein foods. I know I can definitely add more protein to my diet!

SweetBeth

So just an update: I got the chromium supplement last night. I took one after dinner when I realized that even though I felt full, I was still craving something sweet. I did some research on the Atkin's diet and carbs and sugar, protein and fiber. Then I planned out most of my food for today. I feel like I have a better view of the whole picture now. I took more chromium this morning after breakfast, which was scrambled eggs and sausage: high protein, very filling. Though I can't say the cravings are completely gone, they are definitely noticeably reduced. I had breakfast 3 hours ago and I just now finished my morning snack, 3 hours later!

Thanks for the advice everyone! :flowerforyou: