Why am I so hungry all the time?

Lexandreia
Lexandreia Posts: 82 Member
edited February 6 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi,

I'm 5'2, 108lb and 18 years old. I'm trying to lose 2 more pounds.

For exercise on gym days (3X a week) I do a timed mile on the treadmill, a mile on the elliptical, calisthenics and about 45 min of weights (using 20lb dumbells for arms, 55lb barbells, squat 70lb, other stuff). I run 2.3 miles on my non-gym days (3x a week) with calisthenics every day and a 4.6 miler on Saturday.

I don't count calories because my food's really diverse and it would just be time consuming to track and I want to learn to naturally regulate so I don't need to count for the rest of my life. For example, I'll have a small square of tofu and about 6-7 different vegetables to go with a salad that are all around 1 teaspoon or less and that's just trying to add up a salad. I try to eat until I'm satisfied and avoid all unhealthy foods.

My diet's about 55% vegetables, 20% fruit, 15% animal protein, 5% dairy, 5% legumes and whole grain.

I eat 2x a day due to my meal plan at the university but recently I've been hungry all the freaking time. I'll end up chowing down on 3-4 fruits or trail mix some nights out of hunger and I'm super sluggish during the day. What gives and should I just ignore the hunger? I calculated my calories today and I ate about 1800 (absolute max counting in my fruit/nut binge today). These binges happen about 3 times a week and I'm STILL hungry.

Replies

  • Cindyinpg
    Cindyinpg Posts: 3,902 Member
    Counting calories is not that time consuming, once you get started, even if you eat diverse foods. If you're like most of us, you eat similar foods every day and those foods appear in your recent list and are easily checked off. And if you start logging, then you can also track your macros, micros and fiber and that could help you avoid being in any deficiencies. I'm wondering if you're hungry because you are not getting enough protein and/or fiber?
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Because you're not eating enough. 1800 is probably right about whatyou should be averaging.

    Your diet also sounds very low in protein and fat as well as calories. Protein and fat are filling.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    You are hungry because all of this
    For exercise on gym days (3X a week) I do a timed mile on the treadmill, a mile on the elliptical, calisthenics and about 45 min of weights (using 20lb dumbells for arms, 55lb barbells, squat 70lb, other stuff). I run 2.3 miles on my non-gym days (3x a week) with calisthenics every day and a 4.6 miler on Saturday.
    takes an awful lot of fuel. If you are hungry all the time, you are not properly fueling your body.

    Logging in your food and exercise takes no time at all.

    You sound like you are in the healthy weight range for your height. Why are you trying to lose 2 more pounds?
  • Lexandreia
    Lexandreia Posts: 82 Member
    You are hungry because all of this
    For exercise on gym days (3X a week) I do a timed mile on the treadmill, a mile on the elliptical, calisthenics and about 45 min of weights (using 20lb dumbells for arms, 55lb barbells, squat 70lb, other stuff). I run 2.3 miles on my non-gym days (3x a week) with calisthenics every day and a 4.6 miler on Saturday.
    takes an awful lot of fuel. If you are hungry all the time, you are not properly fueling your body.

    Logging in your food and exercise takes no time at all.

    You sound like you are in the healthy weight range for your height. Why are you trying to lose 2 more pounds?

    I gained 5 pounds over the summer due to not having a gym to go to. I'm trying to lose the last of the weight. It's frustrating because this time last year I was easily 106 with no effort.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    I advise properly fueling your body and to lose that last two pounds at a rate of .5 pounds per week. Good luck. :smile:
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,368 Member
    Because you're not eating enough. 1800 is probably right about whatyou should be averaging.

    Your diet also sounds very low in protein and fat as well as calories. Protein and fat are filling.

    Pretty much this.
  • cingle87
    cingle87 Posts: 717 Member
    Your diet is 75% carb with very little protein and fat, you will be suprised how much fuller you would be by going 40% carb 30% protein and 30% fat.
  • prattiger65
    prattiger65 Posts: 1,657 Member
    My diet's about 55% vegetables, 20% fruit, 15% animal protein, 5% dairy, 5% legumes and whole grain.


    If you don't log your food all the time, this is just a guess at best. Log your food, eat more protein.
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    1. Log your food so you know if you are getting the proper nutrients.
    2. Eat more fat and protein. From what you say, you are getting far too little of these essential, sating nutrients.
  • Unknown
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  • Nachise
    Nachise Posts: 395 Member
    Log your food. It sounds like you are not eating enough, and the training you are doing is depleting glycogen stores, and your body is trying to burn up muscle. You need more protein and fat.
    http://www.shapeyou.com/old/weights_first.html
  • supplemama
    supplemama Posts: 1,956 Member
    Drink more water. It is the appetite destroyer. I have a HUGE appetite, rather piggish actually, but once I started drinking lots of water daily it made me have a normal appetite. When you get that ravenous feeling, like you MUST eat something or you will DIE (y'all know what I'm talking about) drink a cup of water and wait 10 minutes. If you still feel ravenous, drink another cup of water and wait another 10 minutes. Usually for me by then the 'hunger' fit has passed.

    Oh and I eat on average about 1800 calories a day, so I'm definitely not actually hungry.
  • Stage14
    Stage14 Posts: 1,046 Member
    Your TDEE is somewhere between 2000 and 2300 calories a day (depending on how long and how hard those workouts are).
    That means, with only 2lbs to lose, you should be eating 1800-2000 a day to lose (again, depending on your exercise duration and intensity).

    You also appear to be pretty deficient in complete proteins, which aid in muscle repair, and fats, which are important for your body to regulate hormonal and endocrine function. I'd recommend tracking at least for a little while to "relearn" eating with those things in mind.
  • donjessop
    donjessop Posts: 186 Member
    Because you're not eating enough. 1800 is probably right about whatyou should be averaging.

    Your diet also sounds very low in protein and fat as well as calories. Protein and fat are filling.

    What he said.
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