Hungry all the time

Why are you eating 1740 calories instead of the recommended 1200?

I also experience it. I think when you are limiting yourself to so little calories you try to use filling calories. When you have more you tend to eat more empty calories. I also work out more on more calories than I did, which allows for more eating.

because she's smart.

:flowerforyou:

Haha yup.

because she's smart.

haha yes.
your body was probably catabolic before. now that its getting more food and nutrients, its asking. hey come on? dont stop there! if your worried about hunger incorporate more moderately fatty meats, more raw fruit and veg, raw nuts etc

Are you working out more than before? When I ate 1200 calories I was rarely hungry, but I also had zero energy. The increased appetite probably just comes from working out hard and having more energy, therefore requiring more fuel (food)

Ever since I upped my calories to 1740 I am hungry all the time! I don't mind it since I have plenty of healthy snacks I can eat and I'm not gaining weight. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this? Is it a good thing? When I was on 1200 I was hardly ever hungry.

This happened to me too really weird how that works but I figured I had killed my metabolism and by upping the calories I got it back. So I see this as a good thing.

Same here when it comes to being hungry on high cals.

I actually do caloric cycling during the week.

3 days I eat 1200-1300,

3 days up to 1600

and 1 day to 2000.

I found when I first started that I was trying to be as healthy as possible with the veggies and protein to keep me satisifed at 1200-1300.

I found on my 2000 cal days? I went hogwild on the breads and snacks..

I now found a happy medium. On my 2000 cal days I try to at least get my protein requirement in before I go hogwild on the carbs. That seems to help.

But yeah, on my low days I was rarely hungry because I knew I just had a little to work with and I had to make every cal count.

But on my high days? I was eating lots of sugary stuff and I would be hungry soon after. Now I am learning to have yummy but healthy choices on my high days and still have my goodies, not just the whole day. That seems to work.

Yes you are very smart

Can't see your diary, but wondering what your protein and fat levels are. Eating around 1g of protein for every lb of lean body mass and also eating healthy fats helps you keep you fuller for longer.

I'm 5'6", started out eating around 1300... quickly upped that to 1500 when I saw how miserable that made me. Now I eat about 1700 (and more when I exercise).

I was content for quite awhile at 1500, but there was a point (several months into this new routine) where I was just starving all the time. My routine hadn't drastically changed, I had just been eating good quality food and exercising a moderate amount for awhile. I think my only explanation is that I suddenly had the metabolism of a somewhat active person, instead of just a couch bum?

I'd take a look at the ratios of the different foods you're eating. Fat and protein are what keep me full for longer, so make sure you're getting enough (I have MFP set to 40% carbs, 30% protein, and 30% fat, personally). If you try that and you're still hungry, you could consider adding another 200-ish calories to your day? If you're pretty active, that might be a reasonable amount for you. Try it for a month or two, and see how your weight behaves - adjust appropriately. Just know any changes are going to take awhile to really take effect

Good luck!

I have had this happen, too. Look back at your diary and see if there are any patterns. Are you eating less filling or nutritious foods? Are you working out more? My reason seems to change. I also find that sometimes when I eat a breakfast low on protein I am hungry all day.

When you restrict calories too much, it affects your hormones. Ghrelin and Leptin are the hormones that regulate hunger. Now that you are eating more, you are fixing those hormones so they are working again.