I still don't get it

Gallowmere1984

I hit right around 1540 calories per day as a 225 pound male, who lifts four times per week, and elliptical on two. I have had almost no hunger issues at that level, but I eat a LOT of protein. Well over 200g per day, and most of it comes from lean meats.

To me, lean meat is really key. That stuff stays with you for a while. A pound of extra lean ground turkey is only 600 calories, and is almost pure protein. Took me four hours to eat all of that the other night.

heybales

I've been following the diaries of my "friends" and I just don't understand how they do it. I've upped my activity level and lowered my weight loss goal to give me 1370 calories per day - half the time I feel pretty ravenous on only that. Then, on days when I exercise, even when I'm eating back the calories, I want to eat a whole pizza (I don't, just sayin'). Most days, I'm lucky if I squeak even.

Then, I look over at my friends' diaries and they're adding in 900-calorie workouts and STILL end up eating an even 1200 day after day after day. How do they do it? Why can't I do it? Especially when they're doing these extra long and strenuous workouts, how do they manage on only 1200 without passing out or eating a bus when I have a tough time maintaining my sensible 1370?

They have slowed their metabolism down to such a slow level the workouts don't really burn that much either.

You are also assuming those numbers are correct, even if from HRM, probably way off.

What normally happens though, is the body will find a way, so probably are tired and do less of other activities. So while they may burn 900, supposedly, in a workout, they no longer burn 500 calories being more active during other parts of the day. Making their net daily burn only 400 from that hard effort.

Since you are still hungry and appears to haven't killed your metabolism yet, why not switch to a method to feed those workouts.

Kymmu

^ I agree with the comments above. This week at lunchtime I ate a whole large can of mackerel. I was SO full for hours and hours. Pure protein, and some good fats.
You might have to consider the body height and frame of some of your friends too.

EdTheGinge

It's all down to the individual and what your body can handle. Me personally, my MPF calories is 1310 and I rarely make it over 1000 before knocking off the daily cycle to work. My daily intake is :

Breakfast - usually a banana
Lunch - some form of sandwich usually chicken with wild rocket
Snacks - 5 pieces of fruit spread over the day
Dinner - whatever is going, usually around 250-400 calories
Water - 8-10 glasses a day

To me this is plenty as it's not like I'm starving myself just eating low calorie foods. Most will say I'm not having enough of this or that but it works for me and that's the point. It's all about what works for YOU not Joe Bloggs or whoever but YOU.

Enjoy your day people

rexzmumu

i try to stick to the Michael Thermans six week body makeover, i record my food here so i can go back and see my week if i switch things around. if im as strict as they want me to be i ate an average of 700-800 cals, since i modified a few things to HELP(not stop) the cravings i eat average 900-1000. i eat 5 times a day and most of the time im good. if im still hungry i have my 6th meal, no worries. and its not 100% veggies i swear! when you see the numbers its crazy when you see the meals... its not bad. good luck!

neohdiver

I've been following the diaries of my "friends" and I just don't understand how they do it. I've upped my activity level and lowered my weight loss goal to give me 1370 calories per day - half the time I feel pretty ravenous on only that. ... How do they do it?

What worked for me was to figure out what triggers my cravings (or feelings of being ravenous). For me it is sugar and, to a lesser extent, fat. If I consume intensely sugary things in any significant quantity (candy bars or pop for example), I am ravenous.

Watch your diary and use the notes area to note when you are particularly ravenous - or not. See if there is a correlation.

I also discovered an anti-craving food - carbs. It helps me in the early stages of getting used to lower calorie consumption to fill my belly with high volume empty carbs (a whole bag of fat free popcorn, a half dozen rice cakes, etc.) Later on, I don't need the volume, but carbs (for me) lessen cravings - so I switch to denser (healthier) carbs - whole grain breads, for example. Roughly the same number of calories, just more dense and healthy..

tadpole242

If you are hungry all the time, drink more water, I drink 3lts of water at work, + 4 cups of coffee. I also fuel my body with real food, so i can repair the damage I do to it by cycling. 2100calories or more to net 1000 calories average. When you think you are hungry, you may be thirsty. so drink water, still hungry drink more water, and then eat something high in protein and calorie dense, and a good amount of fibre.

bufger

Check protein intake. i find if i have a lot of protein early in the day it keeps me going for a long long time. I have protein in the morning/mid morning so i can last.

murphy612

Eat more protein. I only eat 1200 calories a day but I eat 90g+ of lean protein. The only time I'm hungry is if I work out really hard, then I eat a little more.

WendyTerry420

I don't get it either. I am losing at 1800 calories, and that's working well for me so far. Some days I have went as low as 1500, but on those days, I didn't exercise and still had three regular meals.

RosscoBoscko

I generally halve any values that mfp sets for my exercise, though i record a lot of it through endomondo and fitbit anyway so dont need to. my calories intake varies between 1000 and 1800 calories per day and i dont eat back the calories.

but i do still get times where I feel hungry, so if not a planned meal time usually drink some water, and other times where my body just crashes so I will either have a snack, protein shake or move a meal forward to boost the calories.

holly1283

If you are losing by what you are doing, don't worry about them. If they are losing that fast, chances are they will gain it back that fast. Also, some people just lie.