Calorie goal too low? A tale of binging

dragerk

So I've been tracking my calorie intake for a few weeks now and I've noticed something:

One day I'll be under my calorie goal of 1200 (with the help of a workout) and being feel great but the very next day I'll just be so constantly hungery and basically binge and not be able to control myself. I just feel the need to eat, eat, eat, and it usually involves cookies or sweets.

I do eat healthily enough, I make an effort to get close to the recommended fruits, veggies, dairy, grain portions. And on the days that I can do my calorie goal I genuinely feel great (not starving, full of energy, etc)

So my question is, do you think my calorie goal might just be a bit too steep for me? Or does this just sound like a mental hurdle I'm going to have to overcome?

Thanks in advance!

JenevieveDrury

It may be that you are not getting enough fat. I find that if I deprive myself fat, especially good fats, I also have intense cravings. I am not a "sweets" type person, but when I deprive myself of fats I crave sweets but it never feels as though the craving is satiated. I have to maintain a good balance of "fats" in order to curb this....

superhippiechik

Personally speaking I could not overcome that hurdle until I started breaking down my meals. For months I planned out small mini meals every two hours. The obsessive planning and clock watching kept my brain busy so I would not binge plus I think it is easier on your body to eat like that. I am not a Dr. so don't quote me on that. I just know that looking at the clock kept my mind too busy to lose control.

bmmadden

I would say you would need to up your calories on a daily basis since your getting smaller, I would increase it at least anywhere between 1300-1500 cals per day to start with. Another idea is getting like low cal versions of cookies and sweets like those 100 cal pack cookies or skinny cow ice cream treats having one a day and you wont feel like your not getting a treat and you might not be as likely to binge the next day while still eating healthy the rest of the day if you add in one or two low cal snacks every day which would be about 100-200 extra calories a day

_GlaDOS_

I tend to think 1200 calories is too low for most people, even women.

I would try setting your goals to lose 1/2 lb per week or 1 lb per week, and see where that puts you.

perceptualobfuscator

This sounds like exactly what I went through when I started out. What I did was change from losing one pound a week to losing half a pound. I would recommend you do, too - feeling famished all the time isn't healthy, and could start to effect things like your mood or work performance.

dragerk

Thanks so much everyone! I think I'll increase my calorie goal... and also invest in some of the 100 calorie packs!