Why does this program keep me hungry?

9thwardchick
9thwardchick Posts: 73 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I calculated how many calories I should have per day and still lose weight. Myfitnesspal has me at 1300 per day. I am so tired and hungry throughout the day. I know that if you are hungry, you are supposed to eat, but after I reach my limit, I feel guilty if I eat something, so I don't. I have gone to bed hungry! I do not feel like I have lost a pound in months. I did go down from a size 14 to a 12, but I have been this size for months now. Although I have a desk job, I exercise 4 to 5 times a week. My workouts include 2 Zumba classes, kickboxing, yoga and a boot camp. Other sites have placed my caloric intake much higher stating that I should consume about 1500 to 1800 calories per day and I will still lose weight. Am I not losing anymore weight because I am not eating enough of what? Anybody else experiencing this?
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Replies

  • ladynocturne
    ladynocturne Posts: 865 Member
    You're suppose to be eating 1300 + what you burn during exercise, that way you are netting 1300, which is your goal.

    If you look at 1500-1800 calories you'd be grossing on other websites, you'll see it's that 1300 + exercise.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    You're suppose to be eating 1300 + what you burn during exercise, that way you are netting 1300, which is your goal.

    If you look at 1500-1800 calories you'd be grossing on other websites, you'll see it's that 1300 + exercise.

    This exactly. Plus consider what you eat. 1,300 calories of cookies isn't going to keep you near as full as 1,300 calories of protein, fiber, and healthy goodness. Not saying you just eat cookies - although your diary is closed so who knows... :wink:
  • 9thwardchick
    9thwardchick Posts: 73 Member
    LOL, I couldn't eat 1300 calories of cookies even if I tried.
  • chandanista
    chandanista Posts: 986 Member
    If you burn 500 in exercise, then eat 1800 in the day, you are still hungry? What is your height, weight, age? Maybe you need the TDEE method.
  • melindasuefritz
    melindasuefritz Posts: 3,509 Member
    you ar e eatin g too few calories?
  • TheMrsSpringer
    TheMrsSpringer Posts: 15
    Ready2Rock is right - you need to pay attention to WHAT you're eating in your 1300 calories. Make sure your meals are spread out throughout the day too - eating every 2 to 3 hours. Not just breakfast, lunch and dinner. Drink lots and lots of water. The more frequent you eat (like every 2 to 3 hours) will help keep your mind off being hungry and kick up your metabolism so your body uses the food in a more efficient way.
  • kat_lifts
    kat_lifts Posts: 56
    Hey girl! I do think they set the cals pretty low for certain goals. Try taking steps and aim to lose either less for the same amount of time or extend the amount of time.

    Another suggestion is to go to a whole other route.. (Now, no hardcore MFP ppl stone me...) before MFP, which I actually JUST recently started using , I just ate clean.

    No calorie counting, I just made sure that everything that went into my mouth was "clean". Processed food, gone. Refined sugar, bye. White rice/pasta/bread, adios. And my main focus was whole foods. And the great thing about it that I loved was that I could just eat eat and eat.

    Of course there was cravings so I told myself I could have a cheat day, and I went crazy! But was able to bounce back most the time! Then slowly but eventually I was enjoying fresh fruit and vegs more than ever. My taste buds changed!

    I lost 20 lbs in 2mo. NEVER feeling hungry. I did make sure to at least make an effort to work out 6 days a wk. So now, I'm at that level where I crave only clean foods so now my goal is to track the calories of these foods and see if I can get more of a result.

    It's all about taking steps, it's how you truly can change the way you live for the best. Don't starve yourself but feed yourself nutrient dense food, and you'll find you have energy to do anything and be the best you you've always wanted!
  • HerbertNenenger
    HerbertNenenger Posts: 453 Member
    I don't know what you're eating but my cals are also 1300 per day and I fimd EVERY DAY that I have to force myself to eat more to get close to my goal and am never, never hungry. And my only exercise is walking, my weight loss at about 2-3 lbs per wk. If u eat clean healthy foods they are naturally lower on calories and u can eat a lot more of them. If u are eating any processed foods like cereal or bread, they will give u the calories without the nutritive density that will make u feel fill.
  • deejkush
    deejkush Posts: 116 Member
    I'm hungry all the time, too, even eating the calories I burn exercising. And I don't seem to be losing any weight, which causes me to get mad and then sabotage myself with a day or so of bad eating. Sound familiar, anyone?
  • kat_lifts
    kat_lifts Posts: 56
    I'm hungry all the time, too, even eating the calories I burn exercising. And I don't seem to be losing any weight, which causes me to get mad and then sabotage myself with a day or so of bad eating. Sound familiar, anyone?


    Too familiar yes :/
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Each pound/week is 500 calories deficit/day. So if you input 2 pounds/week, you'll get a -1000 calories/day result (or the minimum of 1200 that MFP will allow). That's a drop from maintenance. A lot of people are used to eating over maintenance - which is why they were gaining weight in the first place.

    So it's a pretty big drop.

    And you're supposed to be eating back exercise calories with MFP.

    Aaaanyway, this program isn't choosing your maximum hunger level. If you're feeling like the calorie limitation is unsustainable, choose a lower weight loss objective. Like 1 lb/week, or even 0.5 lb/week.

    Just an additional 250/day (0.5 lb/week) can be a big difference in satiation and sustainability.
  • Mistizoom
    Mistizoom Posts: 578 Member
    How many carbs are you eating? They can make you hungrier. I am rarely hungry on my low carb diet.
  • Querian
    Querian Posts: 419 Member
    You need to eat back your exercise calories my friend :flowerforyou:
  • 9thwardchick
    9thwardchick Posts: 73 Member
    Right now I'm hungry and I am on my way to boot camp! I am reading all of these posts so please keep them coming. I really need the advice :smile:

    Thanks
  • pansyviolet
    pansyviolet Posts: 34
    It sounds like you may not be eating enough
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    Right now I'm hungry and I am on my way to boot camp! I am reading all of these posts so please keep them coming. I really need the advice :smile:

    Thanks

    Change your settings to lose 1lb per week and eat back your exercise calories.
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    ^ OP, don't do that.


    Do this:
    Change your settings to lose 1lb per week and eat back your exercise calories.
  • sengalissa
    sengalissa Posts: 253 Member
    Find more foods that satisfy but are low in calories. Veggies, smart dogs, carrots. If I have enough veggies in a day, I am never hungry. If - like today - I use up my dinner calories eating cookies in the afternoon, then I might be hungry. But that's ok. I gained weight eating pretty healthy, I have to push a little harder to lose it.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    LOL, I couldn't eat 1300 calories of cookies even if I tried.

    I could. Easily. But I don't because, health and stuff. :grumble:


    Anyway definitely either increase your calorie goal or start eating back your exercise calories. I've never gone to bed hungry and it hasn't stopped me from losing 46 lbs.
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    LOL, I couldn't eat 1300 calories of cookies even if I tried.

    I could eat 1300 calories before I even realize that I've eaten that many. I think you're underestimating how many calories are in a cookie.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    LOL, I couldn't eat 1300 calories of cookies even if I tried.

    I could eat 1300 calories before I even realize that I've eaten that many. I think you're underestimating how many calories are in a cookie.

    Mine are about 90 calories each. 14 1/2 cookies? I think so. :laugh:
  • Scrogglez
    Scrogglez Posts: 26 Member
    Eat more food noob. wtf are you doing...
  • Ejourneys
    Ejourneys Posts: 1,603 Member
    This is what's worked for me:

    1. Slow weight loss goal, meaning I set my goals based on losing a half pound per week. Actual average has been almost a pound per week, with my weight loss pace slowing as I get closer to my goal weight. I've logged in under my calorie goal most of the time, without feeling hungry.

    2. Eating back at least part of my exercise calories. My current goal is to NET 1,430 calories/day, which is total calories consumed minus exercise calories burned. For example, on July 17 I ate more than 2,000 calories, but burned enough doing yard work so that I came in under my 1,430 net goal.

    3. Ditching most processed foods and eating plenty of fresh produce. Fresh produce provides more water and fiber, which are filling. Their natural sugars satisfy me, without the cravings I used to get from processed sugars.

    4. Making sure I get enough in my macros, especially protein. If I feel as though I'm flagging, I usually reach for a protein-dense food. Eating a can of tuna before my workout can make a huge difference in my energy level. If my fat grams are low I'll eat something like peanuts. I've had to learn to recognize what my body needs and when. For example, if I need fats and eat carbs, I might still be hungry; if I need fats and eat fats, I'm satisfied with the same caloric intake.
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    LOL, I couldn't eat 1300 calories of cookies even if I tried.

    I could eat 1300 calories before I even realize that I've eaten that many. I think you're underestimating how many calories are in a cookie.

    Mine are about 90 calories each. 14 1/2 cookies? I think so. :laugh:

    What kind of magic cookies do you have?! Mine are like 200 per. =/
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    LOL, I couldn't eat 1300 calories of cookies even if I tried.

    I could eat 1300 calories before I even realize that I've eaten that many. I think you're underestimating how many calories are in a cookie.

    Mine are about 90 calories each. 14 1/2 cookies? I think so. :laugh:

    What kind of magic cookies do you have?! Mine are like 200 per. =/

    Small ones.

    I made some awesome cookie bars that were 250ish though. I could eat 1300 calories of those and then eat my normal 1700 calories besides. They were delicious.
  • sk_pirate
    sk_pirate Posts: 282 Member
    LOL, I couldn't eat 1300 calories of cookies even if I tried.

    Challenge accepted.
  • TheCaren
    TheCaren Posts: 894 Member
    I would calculate your TDEE and then do about a 15% deficit. I went with MFP's calorie count of 1240 initially and I did lose weight quickly and wasn't hungry. But I'm not sure it was the best way to do it. I felt healthier once I learned about TDEE and operated from that number (you don't eat back exercise calories with it so you don't have to try and keep track of all of that).
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    MFP is designed for users to eat back their exercise calories. the formula can be found on the goals page.
  • hrtchoco
    hrtchoco Posts: 156 Member
    I feel the fat melting away when I'm hungry. I really feel you suppose to be hungry during weight loss. Not starving, but for sure not full. Stuff yourself with veggies every time you are hungry. It helps a little.
  • Morninglory81
    Morninglory81 Posts: 1,190 Member
    LOL, I couldn't eat 1300 calories of cookies even if I tried.

    I could eat 1300 calories before I even realize that I've eaten that many. I think you're underestimating how many calories are in a cookie.

    Mine are about 90 calories each. 14 1/2 cookies? I think so. :laugh:

    What kind of magic cookies do you have?! Mine are like 200 per. =/

    Small ones.

    I made some awesome cookie bars that were 250ish though. I could eat 1300 calories of those and then eat my normal 1700 calories besides. They were delicious.
    Cookies I make are easily 350-400 cals but they are also as big as a pancake! Not those frozen pancakes but a true ihop pancake!

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