HELP I am always hungry!!!

younginaz

If you can I would recommend seeing a nutritionist first and let her or him set your calorie intake. My nutritionist found my weak spots and made suggestions. I now eat five small meals a day with a small protien at every meal. My most important meal is my 4:00 snack of Yougart and 1/.2 cup of cereral because it prevents me from being famished and overeating at my 7:00 dinner (although dinner is still my hardest meal to control)

Good luck.

jppric2

I feel your pain! I have been doing MFP since mid-January. I started at 1200 calories and day and then began exercising more and lost some weight and went up to 1350 a day. Even after two full months I was still constantly starving and I would end up craving sweets and often caving in. I recently decided to up my calories to 1500 a day. I'm still going to bed hungry, but I don't get so hungry between meals like I have been. Allowing myself to eat more at meals is helping, and truly eating more healthy stuff at meal time is better than me limiting myself and then having an intense craving for a reese cup and having one of those! I think increasing your calories a little bit wouldn't hurt. I have a MFP friend who is at a similar weight as you and she upped hers to about 1650 and is still losing at a steady rate - with exercise of course.

Unknown

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HealthyFitGirl

I can't too much more to this than others have but I feel compelled to try and drive home the points.

1. Your body will adjust. Give it time.
2. Drink water. Are you hungry or thirsty? Drink 4-8 oz water first give 10-15 minutes and check back in.
2. What are you eating? Empty calories add up FAST! If you're going to snack on say on M&M's, read the label first. If it's 2 serving per pack at 260 calories each (random made up) then split the package. Maybe the next snack can be planned..have 13 baby carrots with a hummus dip and then if i'm still feeling snackish, have the candy.
3. Chew slow, enjoy the flavor of whatever it is. Give your brain and body time to catch up that you're hungry and now you've ate. It's why we tend to overeat.
4. Balance you're plate and alter eating: I drink 8 oz water first, then tons of veggies, then protein then carbs or starch each getting smaller then the previous.
5. Clean up your eating: try to get eat food as close to the source as possible. I like cakes so now I bake my own so I control my ingredients. In turn, now if i have a piece of "store made/packaged" cake I taste the chemcials behind it and it doesn't sit well with my palate or stomach.
6. Ask questions: what is this i'm eating? will this fill me up? why am i eating it? do i really need this? what's it made of?
7. Lastly, why are you eating? When I get pissed, I find myself turning to food. Are you bored? Keep a glass of water near you. Put some 2 strawberries in it to feel fancy and sip on it. You ge the point.
MOVE YOUR BODY - walk, skip, squat, lunge do something!
Be kind to yourself. Not every moment will be perfect but more moments are coming to perfect.

Good Luck.

abbyrae1

Protein Protein Protein!!

Try to have it be the main part of each meal. Lean proteins are low in calories and very filling. Also, since you are just starting, you could try eating around 1400 calories a day instead, or figure out your TDEE and eat TDEE-20% and you can still lose.

bippybee

Definitely think about adding in more vegetables and fruit. Aim for wholegrain foods too if you can. I'm on 1200 calories a day and I'm not getting hungry. I always start with wholegrain muesli with yoghurt for breakfast and have found that a raw carrot or 2 will keep you going during the daytime. Calories in things like cucumber and tomatoes are negligible so you can make a big salad for lunch with minimal calories, so there's still room for pork or a taco or whatever you want to have with it. I think raw food is more nutritious so helps you from getting hungry too soon.

That said, for most women there will be a point in your cycle when you get more hungry than usual, so maybe consider tracking that too, so you can be a bit more forgiving of yourself during these periods and not get discouraged.

skyler8937

And if I could just add...

If you are a sugar addict, it will take some time to detox your body from that. When you totally cut out the sugary snacks like the M&Ms and the cookies, your body will go into some serious withdrawel for at least a week. You'll have mood swings and your energy levels will fluctuate but hang in there! You gotta get that stuff out of your system. :-)

Also, pay attention and even write down when these cravings fall during the month. About one week before my cycle starts, I become obsessed with food. I think about it all the time and feel constantly hungry. I am much more likely to crave chocolate and sugar. So, pay attention to how these relate to your monthly cycle and plan!!! If you know the time is coming that you're going to be hungrier than usual, pack more, healthy snacks. If you know you're going to crave chocolate, have a plan for a small indulgence.

I'd agree with everyone though when they say, you're only a couple weeks in to this so your body is adjusting. If you feel hungry, then eat. But eat fruits or vegetables, low calorie foods that will fill you up but not demolish your calorie intake for the day. :-)

bevmcarthur

I just had a look at your diary you need to add CLEAN foods and FATs to your diet like Coconut oil chia seeds avocados almonds you have fat in your diet but not a lot of good ones as far as i can see
You don't show a lot of veggies or fruit in your daily diet and whole grains
try for 2 servings of fruit like berries you can have about 1.5 cups of Strawberries or 1 cup of raspberries or blueberries or black berries
And add a 1/2 cup cottage cheese with that and some chia seeds for GOOD Fat and thats a great snack and it will hold you over
also watch your SUGAR intake fruit is very high in sugar and yes its a natural sugar but you still need to watch how much you put in your day
You can add me as a friend if you like and we can maybe help each other with are struggles
Be HEALTHY Bev

crazybookworm

1) Go read some stories of peoples weight loss in the community. You will see people who eat 1500-2000 calories every day. You CAN eat that many calories - you just need to move some more. You can totally stick with your 1200 though... but you need something that works for you. I'm in a group of girls from MFP and a lot of us are finding that after we upped our calories out of the 1200 mark we ended up losing more weight. We also had more energy which helped up get more active.

2) Eat some protein!!! It seriously helps! Chobani is a good source of protein if you are looking for something light. I always go for some lean meats. If I can't do that I fall on Chocbani, turkey jerky, cottage cheese, and I've even picked up some Special K protein cereal. (I've tried protein powder but it actually really misses with my tummy - so after buying two different kinds I found it was too expensive for me to keep going.)

Hope you find something that helps!

This! You can absolutely lose weight eating 1,500 calories. I did! My Fitness Pal is just a guideline. You have to find a program that works best for YOU. If your always hungry, cranky and unsatisfied, than it's time to change things! Otherwise, it will be less likely that you stick to the program. If you find what works best for you, you are more likely to stick to it!

Good luck!!:flowerforyou:

leighann881

Check your calories. (They're too low.)

Eat more lean protein. (for me: eating crap = me: craving crap)

Preempt hunger. (I eat a crap load of food at lunch. Mostly chicken breast and roasted veggies. I chase it with a Clif bar and 3-4 glasses of water. (about 2 bottle))

drink lots of water. (Sometimes when you feel hungry you are really just thirsty.)

efranz12

Drink more water. Our bodies mistake thirst for hunger all the time. If you feel hungry drink a glass of water. Still hungry 5-10 minutes later have a small healthy snack (piece of fruit, some almonds, etc).

mrsfoster102613

Make sure you are drinking plenty of water. We often confuse thirst with hunger.

Also, eat lots of raw veggies! They will give you lots of energy, vitamins, nutrients etc.. Even if you go over your calories some, if a lot of those calories are coming from fresh, raw foods, you don't need to be as concerned.

Best of luck on your journey!

mrsfoster102613

Drink more water. Our bodies mistake thirst for hunger all the time. If you feel hungry drink a glass of water. Still hungry 5-10 minutes later have a small healthy snack (piece of fruit, some almonds, etc).

Great minds think alike lol!

emrogers

I think you need to look search TDEE first off and most importantly. THEN I would start incorporation more good fats. Coconut oil, etc. That's what keeps you satiated. But PLEASE do your research on TDEE and you will be amazed! It's all over the forums so its not hard to find it just needs a little reading and time but not much.

Vailara

I have the same problem in that I'm short and MFP wants to set my goal at 1200. That's because MFP wants me to lose at 1lb a week. I've found that if I set it for 1/2 lb a week, it will give me a little more calories, so if you want to use the MFP system, you could try that.

I find it easier to set my own goal. I found the Road Map post here useful, but all you really need to do is to find out your TDEE and eat a little below it. You should still lose weight at only 200 - 300 calories below your TDEE. It will just be a bit slower than most people, but I don't think that matters. My TDEE is only about 1700 including exercise and I've been steadily losing weight eating around 1500. It's better than being hungry all the time.

Dragonwolf

People are going to tell you lovely generic things like eat more protien, drink more water, eat more fiber, eat more often. I was always starving and even once ate 4 chicken breasts with three sides of vegetables on a sitting and still went back for a bowl of cereal, a peanut butter sandwich, a cereal bar, a bowl of blueberries and a handful of crackers. Sometimes this advice does not work. That is when you must look at specifics in your diet and start experimenting. First, I cut out wheat. Viola! I was hungry no more. No one ever believes me when I say that however. I still wasn't losing weight however. When I was discovered to have a candida albicans problem within my digestive tract, I took the necessary dietary approaches to heal from that and almost two weeks in to that I am doing much better. I am no longer starving, I am losing weight, and I can go the whole day with out needing a nap. It may not be what is driving you, but it wouldn't hurt to check it out. Good luck.

I agree with you. I've cut out the gluten-heavy grains and have been better off for it, if for no other reason than I end up eating more (healthy) fats and protein. I could eat half a box of spaghetti and not feel full, and be hungry a short time later.

MFP is notorious for underestimating protein and overestimating carbs, so try tweaking your intake, as well (go to "Goals" and use the "Custom" option to change your protein/fat/carb goals).

Also, ditch the crap. A cup of ice cream, plus a pack of cookies, plus chips? Start out with one of them a day (and go with a regular serving on the ice cream - half a cup), and try to phase them out completely. They're all empty calories. And the margarine? That's crap, too. Go with real butter or coconut oil. Drop the Herbalife, except maybe as an after-workout snack, in favor of real, solid foods, such as an omelet with cheese, ham, and veggies. It will keep you fuller for longer and provide you with more nutrients.

Basically, you're finding out the hard way that if you're eating garbage, just eating less of it isn't going to work out too well. Summer's on its way in the northern hemisphere. It might help to start a garden, and start planning on trips to the farmer's market.

jlapey

I'm 5'0" and started MFP at 163. I've lost 13 pounds, which doesn't sound like much, but I look a lot smaller due to exercise. I eat between 1500-1700 a day.


Edited to Add: There is useful information at the following sites:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Robin_Bin

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/10067-eat-train-progress-

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/937709-in-place-of-a-road-map-ver-3-0

http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/

barbiegirl052

Have you ever tried body by vi protien shakes. They will help get you at your calories and they make you full longer and give your body good protien and vitamins. They are so good. You make mix them up to taste like any flavors. Our favorite is the peanut butter reese cup!!!

Message me or add me and I will give you more information. The nice thing about them are they help maintain a healthy blood sugar level so you don't bottom out and get the shakes from not eating.

I wouldnt try body by VI but thats just me take a look at the Ingredients Kosher Gelatin Since gelatin comes from cow hooves, Glycerin inhibits the absorption of nutrients, which the capsules are made of. Research has shown that vitamins like this do not allow your body to absorb all of the nutrients. So, why would Body By Vi use it? Because it is cheap to make. Soybean oil – It sounds healthy, but in fact is genetically engineered, and creates numerous problems for the body. It inhibits the absorption of minerals, particularly iron, and is loaded with goitrogens that cause the thyroid to slow down and even the drug manufacturers tell you not to use ANY soy when taking Synthroid because it interferes with the action of the drug; it’s that potent of a problem. Titanium Dioxide Is that natural? I’m pretty sure it is white paint. Head over to an art store and look on a paint can. Look at the ingredients and you will find Titanium Dioxide. Pharmaceutical glaze – an alcohol based solution of various types of food grade shellac. It is also known colloquially in the manufacturing world as beetle juice due to shellac’s derivation from the lac insect Kerria lacca (which is not a beetle, but a scale insect). Trans Fat Each of the “super charged antioxidants” contain 355 milligrams of the TRANS FAT – Magnesium Stearate. You’ll find 39.5 milligrams of TRANS FAT. in the anti-aging pill, and another 80.21 in the Omega Vitals Magnesium Stearate – is a trans fat. It inhibits the absorption of nutrients, by as much as 80%. They do not put it into the pill for your health. It is in there to make it easier for them to make it, sacrificing quality for cost. It is also a known carcinogen. Add to that the fact that they use 20,000 psi pressure to squeeze the pills into a form. This high pressure generates a lot of heat that alters the pill contents.

jazzcat55

I too struggle with feeling hungry most of the time. It is frustrating because MFP gives me a calorie goal of 1240, yet there is so much evidence and people's personal experience that indicates this is too low. I think it is too low for me, too, so I have upped that to 1400. It's better, but still not great. I eat a lot of high-protein foods and in fact go over my protein grams nearly every day. My weight loss has slowed to a crawl, but that could be because I am about 5 lb from my goal weight.

I guess I just wish there wasn't such a discrepancy between MFP's goal calories and all the (excellent, educated) advice on these boards.