SO HUNGRY!

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fteale
fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I have been maintaining for 8 months on 1500 cals, but have gained 5 lbs in the last couple of months, so yesterday cut back down to 1400 cals, and I am STARVING. Tummy rumbling, can't think straight, feel weak, starving. I have 300 cals left for the day and am actually scared of how hungry I feel.

Any tips?

Replies

  • FloridaAimee
    FloridaAimee Posts: 295 Member
    What kinds of things are you eating?
  • thaupt
    thaupt Posts: 1
    Three suggestions:
    1. Make sure you understand the difference between fast burning and slow burning carbs and get a good balance of both.
    Eat a smaller meal and have a snack!

    2. Go for a walk!

    3. Do nothing for a few weeks and see if it is simply a convergence of life. Water retention, illness, stress. 5 pounds is the difference between a BM and a pair of jeans vs. waking up early and weighing undressed.
  • PhilyPhresh
    PhilyPhresh Posts: 600 Member
    It all goes back to WHAT you are eating, not how much. If you are eating foods low in calories you can eat all day and barely reach 1500 calories, but if you are willing up on flower/starches/grains then you will burn though your "allotted" calories rather quickly, leaving you hungry and miserable.
  • stfuriada
    stfuriada Posts: 445 Member
    You're not logging accurately then. Maintenance by definition, means that you STAY AT THE EXACT WEIGHT.

    Basic concept of fat is that you gain weight by eating 3500 over and above maintenance. So if you're gaining weight, then the math doesn't add up.
  • eat things with more protein like eggs or yogurt!
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    You're not logging accurately then. Maintenance by definition, means that you STAY AT THE EXACT WEIGHT.

    Basic concept of fat is that you gain weight by eating 3500 over and above maintenance. So if you're gaining weight, then the math doesn't add up.

    Clearly maintenance means staying at the same weight, but equally clearly what I am doing to maintain isn't working at the moment. I was looking for advice, rather than a definition of maintenance. I am logging accurately, but I did skip a few days a couple of weeks ago as I didn't have time to get online.
  • PhilyPhresh
    PhilyPhresh Posts: 600 Member
    You're not logging accurately then. Maintenance by definition, means that you STAY AT THE EXACT WEIGHT.

    Basic concept of fat is that you gain weight by eating 3500 over and above maintenance. So if you're gaining weight, then the math doesn't add up.

    Clearly maintenance means staying at the same weight, but equally clearly what I am doing to maintain isn't working at the moment. I was looking for advice, rather than a definition of maintenance. I am logging accurately, but I did skip a few days a couple of weeks ago as I didn't have time to get online.

    What types of foods are you eating? I can kind of understand what stfuriada is trying to say, but obviously someone who eats 1500 calories in lean protein is going to be better off than someone who eats 1500 calories in ice cream and sugar… You may not be fueling your body with the nutrients it needs, so in return it is shutting down and trying to store as much as possible. Does that make sense/help in any way? Are you eating good wholesome foods to reach those 1500 calories a day?
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    You're not logging accurately then. Maintenance by definition, means that you STAY AT THE EXACT WEIGHT.

    Basic concept of fat is that you gain weight by eating 3500 over and above maintenance. So if you're gaining weight, then the math doesn't add up.

    Clearly maintenance means staying at the same weight, but equally clearly what I am doing to maintain isn't working at the moment. I was looking for advice, rather than a definition of maintenance. I am logging accurately, but I did skip a few days a couple of weeks ago as I didn't have time to get online.

    What types of foods are you eating? I can kind of understand what stfuriada is trying to say, but obviously someone who eats 1500 calories in lean protein is going to be better off than someone who eats 1500 calories in ice cream and sugar… You may not be fueling your body with the nutrients it needs, so in return it is shutting down and trying to store as much as possible. Does that make sense/help in any way? Are you eating good wholesome foods to reach those 1500 calories a day?

    Ok, I have some sort of unsweetened oaty breakfast - porridge or unsweetened oat granola with chia seeds. I usually have salad with grilled low fat halloumi and fruit for lunch, fat free yoghurt with fruit at 4pm and a vegetable stir fry in the evening. Occasionally I have flapjacks or similar if I have made them for the children. I try to avoid wheat, though maybe once a fortnight will have a wholemeal bagel. I have one glass of wine twice a week, and drink either unsweetened tea or water. I certainly don't fill up on empty carbs and never eat junk food. Snacks are always fresh or dried fruit, or cucumber and humous.

    I have been at this MFP thing for nearly two years, and until 3 months ago had never gained anything at all, so I am not a naive newbie. I exercise a lot, and am training for a half marathon. On running days I eat quorn to up my protein.
  • Vincentsz
    Vincentsz Posts: 407 Member
    Tue 06/26/12 12:04 PM
    I have been maintaining for 8 months on 1500 cals, but have gained 5 lbs in the last couple of months, so yesterday cut back down to 1400 cals, and I am STARVING. Tummy rumbling, can't think straight, feel weak, starving. I have 300 cals left for the day and am actually scared of how hungry I feel.

    Any tips?

    Eat more fruits vegetables eggs whites throughout the day.. break you meals up into smaller more frequent portions!
  • albayin
    albayin Posts: 2,524 Member
    What else do you do for maintaining besides eating 1500 cal? Just curious. :)
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    What else do you do for maintaining besides eating 1500 cal? Just curious. :)

    I run 10-12 km (gradually upping to 20 km in training for race) two or three times a week, do circuit training including weights twice a week and aerobics once a week. I eat back my exercise cals, which I measure with a HRM.

    I have been doing this for 18 months, and last year dropped from around 157 to 123 lbs between Jan and Sept. I maintained fine on between 1600 and 1500 cals a day from Sept until April this year, but when I weighed in May I was up 2 lbs, which I wasn't fussed about, but when I had my June weigh in last week I was up another 3 lbs, which is beginning to annoy me, so I cut my cals to 1400 a day to try to get back down to where I was in April. But I am so hungry on that!
  • albayin
    albayin Posts: 2,524 Member
    What else do you do for maintaining besides eating 1500 cal? Just curious. :)

    I run 10-12 km (gradually upping to 20 km in training for race) two or three times a week, do circuit training including weights twice a week and aerobics once a week. I eat back my exercise cals, which I measure with a HRM.

    I have been doing this for 18 months, and last year dropped from around 157 to 123 lbs between Jan and Sept. I maintained fine on between 1600 and 1500 cals a day from Sept until April this year, but when I weighed in May I was up 2 lbs, which I wasn't fussed about, but when I had my June weigh in last week I was up another 3 lbs, which is beginning to annoy me, so I cut my cals to 1400 a day to try to get back down to where I was in April. But I am so hungry on that!

    Have you been tracking your calories in a consistent way? I mean measuring, calculating, all that stuff? I am not pretending I understand...Just try to learn something from you and others. Thank you.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    What else do you do for maintaining besides eating 1500 cal? Just curious. :)

    I run 10-12 km (gradually upping to 20 km in training for race) two or three times a week, do circuit training including weights twice a week and aerobics once a week. I eat back my exercise cals, which I measure with a HRM.

    I have been doing this for 18 months, and last year dropped from around 157 to 123 lbs between Jan and Sept. I maintained fine on between 1600 and 1500 cals a day from Sept until April this year, but when I weighed in May I was up 2 lbs, which I wasn't fussed about, but when I had my June weigh in last week I was up another 3 lbs, which is beginning to annoy me, so I cut my cals to 1400 a day to try to get back down to where I was in April. But I am so hungry on that!

    Have you been tracking your calories in a consistent way? I mean measuring, calculating, all that stuff? I am not pretending I understand...Just try to learn something from you and others. Thank you.

    As far as sanity will allow, yes. Obviously it's impossible to be accurate when you are eating out in restaurants or things other people have cooked, which is maybe 2 meals a week, but I do try to be as accurate as I can.
  • PhilyPhresh
    PhilyPhresh Posts: 600 Member
    You're not logging accurately then. Maintenance by definition, means that you STAY AT THE EXACT WEIGHT.

    Basic concept of fat is that you gain weight by eating 3500 over and above maintenance. So if you're gaining weight, then the math doesn't add up.

    Clearly maintenance means staying at the same weight, but equally clearly what I am doing to maintain isn't working at the moment. I was looking for advice, rather than a definition of maintenance. I am logging accurately, but I did skip a few days a couple of weeks ago as I didn't have time to get online.

    What types of foods are you eating? I can kind of understand what stfuriada is trying to say, but obviously someone who eats 1500 calories in lean protein is going to be better off than someone who eats 1500 calories in ice cream and sugar… You may not be fueling your body with the nutrients it needs, so in return it is shutting down and trying to store as much as possible. Does that make sense/help in any way? Are you eating good wholesome foods to reach those 1500 calories a day?

    Ok, I have some sort of unsweetened oaty breakfast - porridge or unsweetened oat granola with chia seeds. I usually have salad with grilled low fat halloumi and fruit for lunch, fat free yoghurt with fruit at 4pm and a vegetable stir fry in the evening. Occasionally I have flapjacks or similar if I have made them for the children. I try to avoid wheat, though maybe once a fortnight will have a wholemeal bagel. I have one glass of wine twice a week, and drink either unsweetened tea or water. I certainly don't fill up on empty carbs and never eat junk food. Snacks are always fresh or dried fruit, or cucumber and humous.

    I have been at this MFP thing for nearly two years, and until 3 months ago had never gained anything at all, so I am not a naive newbie. I exercise a lot, and am training for a half marathon. On running days I eat quorn to up my protein.

    I don't see much protein listed in here, are you vegan? I would think that your body must be starved for proteins at that rate. You don't seem to have many foods that are going to fuel your muscles and without fueled muscle your metabolic rate it going to be crap. Unless there is something else I am not seeing, I would say that is a pretty big problem. I know chia seeds have a little, and you will have a little in your yogurt, (not sure what halloumi is) but other than that I would say it looks pretty bare. You also would seem to be lacking on fats, which is another big deal. Takes fat to burn fat I always say ;) throw in some avocado or macadamia nuts in there and that will be a big help too!
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    You're not logging accurately then. Maintenance by definition, means that you STAY AT THE EXACT WEIGHT.

    Basic concept of fat is that you gain weight by eating 3500 over and above maintenance. So if you're gaining weight, then the math doesn't add up.

    Clearly maintenance means staying at the same weight, but equally clearly what I am doing to maintain isn't working at the moment. I was looking for advice, rather than a definition of maintenance. I am logging accurately, but I did skip a few days a couple of weeks ago as I didn't have time to get online.

    What types of foods are you eating? I can kind of understand what stfuriada is trying to say, but obviously someone who eats 1500 calories in lean protein is going to be better off than someone who eats 1500 calories in ice cream and sugar… You may not be fueling your body with the nutrients it needs, so in return it is shutting down and trying to store as much as possible. Does that make sense/help in any way? Are you eating good wholesome foods to reach those 1500 calories a day?

    Ok, I have some sort of unsweetened oaty breakfast - porridge or unsweetened oat granola with chia seeds. I usually have salad with grilled low fat halloumi and fruit for lunch, fat free yoghurt with fruit at 4pm and a vegetable stir fry in the evening. Occasionally I have flapjacks or similar if I have made them for the children. I try to avoid wheat, though maybe once a fortnight will have a wholemeal bagel. I have one glass of wine twice a week, and drink either unsweetened tea or water. I certainly don't fill up on empty carbs and never eat junk food. Snacks are always fresh or dried fruit, or cucumber and humous.

    I have been at this MFP thing for nearly two years, and until 3 months ago had never gained anything at all, so I am not a naive newbie. I exercise a lot, and am training for a half marathon. On running days I eat quorn to up my protein.

    I don't see much protein listed in here, are you vegan? I would think that your body must be starved for proteins at that rate. You don't seem to have many foods that are going to fuel your muscles and without fueled muscle your metabolic rate it going to be crap. Unless there is something else I am not seeing, I would say that is a pretty big problem. I know chia seeds have a little, and you will have a little in your yogurt, (not sure what halloumi is) but other than that I would say it looks pretty bare. You also would seem to be lacking on fats, which is another big deal. Takes fat to burn fat I always say ;) throw in some avocado or macadamia nuts in there and that will be a big help too!

    Halloumi is a very high in protein low fat cheese, and I have olive oil on salad, and in stir fry. I get about 25g of protein a day from yoghurt alone, and quorn, which I eat most days, has 10g protein per 80 grams. The mixed seed porridge I have has 10g protein per serving as well. I do eat eggs, but not every day. My protein is usually between 60 and 90g a day, which is what MFP recommends, and my fat is always over recommendation, carbs always well under. I do sometimes have avocado, on exercise days, but it is very high in calories and I am just too hungry most days to use up 100 cals on a tablespoon sized amount of food! I have an as yet unidentified nut allergy so have been advised by my doctor to avoid all nuts until I can isolate which are causing me problems. I have had bad reactions to peanuts and macadamias in the past 6 months.

    As I said I am not a newbie to this. I was fine for 18 months until a couple of months ago.
  • PhilyPhresh
    PhilyPhresh Posts: 600 Member
    I never said you were a newbie and am only trying to help narrow the problem. The facts I have before me are just extremely limited. I explain what I am saying not only in case you want explanation, but in case other readers don't understand why or what it is that I am talking about. Good luck to you.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    I never said you were a newbie and am only trying to help narrow the problem. The facts I have before me are just extremely limited. I explain what I am saying not only in case you want explanation, but in case other readers don't understand why or what it is that I am talking about. Good luck to you.

    Thanks for your time and your explanation. It is appreciated.
  • DarthH8
    DarthH8 Posts: 298 Member
    Maybe your body could be doing that starvation thing. If I'm right, a female that is average height, around 125 lbs, and gets a moderate amount of exercise would need around 15000 calories a week to maintain. You are eating 10000. That's 2/3 of what your body needs. Seems to me like it's that starvation response where your body will hold onto anything it can. And with only 2/3 of what it needs going in, it wont be able to hold on to much, but anything it can, it will.
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