is it normal to be really hungry?

vengefullilac
vengefullilac Posts: 44
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi today I started my journey to get healthier, lose weight, and conquer my binging. While I haven't caved yet, I fine myself very hungry despite using all my calories for today. Is this normal since your body is getting used to it (especially when you binge on a regular basis) or do I just need to eat more..? thanks.

keep in mind I don't really log all my water intake. whenever I'm hungry like this with a calorie limit I try to substitute food withw ater and it doesn't really work...
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Replies

  • OTchic
    OTchic Posts: 205 Member
    open up your diary so we can see what you are eating. but no you shouldn't be really hungry. maybe your protein level intake is low.
  • albayin
    albayin Posts: 2,524 Member
    I have always had the same question I am glad someone brought it up. :)

    I bet most of replies will tell you to eat more. However in my case, if I eat more, I won't lose; I would only lose when I feel hungry. :( I have tried out different methods for the past year and it proved I just have to be hungry to be skinny. I can't do that. :brokenheart: :sad:
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    It's probably hard for anyone to help you since your diary isn't open.

    I'm really hungry lately too and I'm eating all my 1200 calories plus exercise cals too :(
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    If you want advice, open your diary.

    But no, you don't have to be hungry to lose weight. That's nonsense - and if you are making a lifestyle change, who wants to live hungry forever?
  • vengefullilac
    vengefullilac Posts: 44
    can you see my diary now?
  • Carol_L
    Carol_L Posts: 296 Member
    If you're using MFP's autogenerated numbers, you could be shorting yourself in the calorie department.

    Take a look at you Total Daily Energy Expenditure and Base Metabolic Rate to see what you should be eating at a minimum.

    You can find a calculator for those numbers here: http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators.html

    The other thing you might want to look at is your macro ratios. MFP tends to be very carb heavy in its recommendations in auto mode. You might want to consider lowering your carbs and raising protein and fat. Protein and fat have far better satiating effects.
  • bisland
    bisland Posts: 245 Member
    I would say no you should not be hungry. Eat lots of protien, fruit, vegtables & make carbs whole grain. I have never been hungry. I do not loose the fastest, but I am loosing.
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    can you see my diary now?

    Yes, just a couple of thoughts:

    Instead of the very high calorie dried fruit, have actual fruit instead. Lower in calorie and it will fill you up better.

    Also, make sure you have your numbers calculated correctly. Here's a great resource for figuring it out: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
  • vengefullilac
    vengefullilac Posts: 44
    If you're using MFP's autogenerated numbers, you could be shorting yourself in the calorie department.

    Take a look at you Total Daily Energy Expenditure and Base Metabolic Rate to see what you should be eating at a minimum.

    You can find a calculator for those numbers here: http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators.html

    The other thing you might want to look at is your macro ratios. MFP tends to be very carb heavy in its recommendations in auto mode. You might want to consider lowering your carbs and raising protein and fat. Protein and fat have far better satiating effects.

    do you know one thats less confusing?
  • vengefullilac
    vengefullilac Posts: 44
    can you see my diary now?

    Yes, just a couple of thoughts:

    Instead of the very high calorie dried fruit, have actual fruit instead. Lower in calorie and it will fill you up better.

    Also, make sure you have your numbers calculated correctly. Here's a great resource for figuring it out: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    don't have any fruit right now
  • no1canadianangel
    no1canadianangel Posts: 115
    you need to drink A LOT more water...
  • no1canadianangel
    no1canadianangel Posts: 115
    Also you are eating WAYYYYY too little protein
  • Renae_Nae
    Renae_Nae Posts: 935 Member
    Your diary doesn't look that bad. Are you really hungry or bored? Are you craving certain foods? I find that some times I'm craving certain foods and no amount of calories will make me feel full. Veggies and protein!! I've also learned that nuts are not enough for the calories on days I'm hungry but are great when I need to just fill in calories.
  • vengefullilac
    vengefullilac Posts: 44
    you need to drink A LOT more water...

    you didn't read my post did you
  • muamontreal
    muamontreal Posts: 109 Member
    I am very hungry too ! And I am eating what I am supposed to eat if I follow MFP correctly. I am new to this so may be I am doing something wrong...I am very frustrated because I can understand it takes a little while to adjust to a new lifestyle but I don't want to starve the rest of my life after I reach my targeted weight.....???
  • vengefullilac
    vengefullilac Posts: 44
    Your diary doesn't look that bad. Are you really hungry or bored? Are you craving certain foods? I find that some times I'm craving certain foods and no amount of calories will make me feel full. Veggies and protein!! I've also learned that nuts are not enough for the calories on days I'm hungry but are great when I need to just fill in calories.

    my stomach is growling right now
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    High fiber foods work for me.
  • vengefullilac
    vengefullilac Posts: 44
    Also you are eating WAYYYYY too little protein

    care to share more? how much do I need?
  • marijasmin
    marijasmin Posts: 160 Member
    You can add less calorie dense foods that will fill you up rather more. Celery, cucumber and carrot are good.
    An old trick is to add a vegetable soup and an undressed salad to every meal, this slows stoach emptying and helps you feel full. I have to 'trick' my hunger until the next meal and I have a couple of recipes (on my profile) that create concrete mix in my stomach for minimal calories, you can develop ones you like by trial and error. Water on its own drains from the stomach- you can add soluble fibre to it that will slow its passage. (Fibrogel)

    Most of my recipes add beans of one sort or another- protein adds saiety. Lentils, quinoa, chickpeas, adame beans. Cottage cheese with extra 0% yogurt is good. Try jelly made with a spoon or two of berries and whey protein.

    It is a good tip to add water as sometimes the body confuses the need for fluid with the need for food.
  • mikka050
    mikka050 Posts: 34
    I was hungry all the time until I stopped eating several small meals and just had a larger and late lunch and dinner (leangains style) I've only been doing this for a week but I am now having trouble eating enough calories rather than finding it extremely hard to stick to the allowance and feeling like food ruled my life.

    I am actually really excited about how well I will do in the future now instead of wondering when I can eat my next meal :)
  • no1canadianangel
    no1canadianangel Posts: 115
    This is an approximate...

    How to Calculate Your Protein Needs:

    1. Weight in pounds divided by 2.2 = weight in kg
    2. Weight in kg x 0.8-1.8 gm/kg = protein gm.

    I weigh 245 and this calculation tells me anywhere between 90-200gr of protein a day... I definately have over 110gr a day
  • Molly_Maguire
    Molly_Maguire Posts: 1,103 Member
    I took a look at your diary, at least for today it looks like you are eating a pretty well-rounded diet, no processed foods, "empty" carbs, etc. Though I would suggest increasing your protein intake. (there is a gauge at the bottom of each day's diary where you log food that will tell you how many grams of everything you should be trying to stick to.)
    If you've just started eating better, it may take your body a little while to get used to the change. Just do your best, but If you are absolutely starving to death, try upping your cals by maybe 150 extra per day, until you get used to it, then slowly drop back down to where you want to be.
  • homerjspartan
    homerjspartan Posts: 1,893 Member
    Hold the phone Chuck... take live tuna and you feed them mayonaise, this is great, call Starkist.

    Sorry, line from Night Shift.

    Seriously, it is your first day. Your body needs to adjust. Lowering simple carbs will help, since they make you hungry faster. When my doctor advised me to drop a few, I started in with all of the questions about what food and blah blah blah and he simply told me to read the South Beach book. That was 5 years ago. I still follow the basic philosophies and it really teaches you good food from bad. Good fats from bad. Good carbs from bad.
  • Inebriated
    Inebriated Posts: 271
    You're eating a lot of dried fruit and calorie dense foods that aren't bad but they're not going to really fill you up. Eat more protein, like chicken, fish, lean beef, etc. Substitute the dried fruit for fresh fruit, eat more veggies and you shouldn't be as hungry.
  • twinmom1993
    twinmom1993 Posts: 52
    Question... are u a (partial) vegatarian? I saw tuna, but no lean red meat, or lean chicken.. Tuna is good for you yes but you need more protein. another post said veggies like celery, if you are (partial) vegatarian then you can add peanut butter to celery to make up protein. protein stays with you longer than carbs. so you feel feller longer.. and give your body time to adjust to your new lifestyle. keep up the good work. its alot of trial and error... :flowerforyou:
  • curtnrod
    curtnrod Posts: 223 Member
    When I first started this journey 3 months ago, I was hungry all the time, primarily because I ate all of the time and had no limitations. I found that when I changed my foods to healthier choices, increased my fiber and protein intake and stayed within my MFP goals, the hunger went away. If I was craving something, I set a timer for 30min and if I was still hungry after that, I ate something. Eventually the cravings went away as my body adjusted to my new habits.

    If you're hungry, eat something sensible and healthy. Ultimately you set your goal to lose 1-2 lbs/week and as long as you are in a deficit of 3500+ calories at the end of the week, you should lose weight as a general rule.

    Feel free to message me or add as friend if you need any support.

    Best of luck on your new lifestyle journey!
  • xxpipsxx
    xxpipsxx Posts: 30 Member
    When you first start you will be really hungry for a while what ever you are doing, your body has got into a routine and it will take time to break it, it won't last though, once you push through it you will find you get less hungry and generally think about food less, at least i have. Personally I think a lot of it was in my mind as now that I am happy to be eating less as I'm am so happy with the weight loss I really very rarely actually feel hunger
  • judylynnh
    judylynnh Posts: 3 Member
    i started to diet many times. Each time it usually takes about 3 days to adjust to the amount of food i am eating. hopefully this will be the last diet i start.
  • Rayzback
    Rayzback Posts: 73
    I went from coffee, skip lunch most days, and fast food binge daily diet to MFP. I never was real hungry during the day before I started, but when I started to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner I found myself turning into a hunger maniac come feeding time for the first couple weeks. Almost evil >:} I've since stuck some fruit and veggie snacks in between meals and it's all good now.
  • monicalosesweight
    monicalosesweight Posts: 1,173 Member
    Well, that's pretty weird. I looked at your diary and there's nothing there. Odd. Hmm. Did you maybe delete everything? I'm wondering if there's some issue with Myfitnesspal right now. I swear - there's nothing there.

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