hungry at 1280 calories. what should i do?

when i made my account last week, it says if i wanna lose .5 lbs i need to eat 1280. I`'ve been going over and eating 1500-1700 and i feel guilty about going over but im also hungry! what should i do? i am 5'0 and 123

Replies

  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    You can try the TDEE method instead: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/912920-in-place-of-a-road-map-3-2013

    Maybe see if that gives you a different calorie goal.
  • Your hunger is your body's reaction to fat tissue loss.
    Humans are built to save up fat in times of scarcity. When your body starts losing fat, it sends you a relentless message to search for food, and eat plenty.
    many times, in nature, periods of short scarcity were followed by very long periods of scarcity.
    This explains why we eat EVEN MORE than we would have if/when we break our fat loss diet.
    In short, every time you are hungry, know your body is burning fat.
    Keep it safe though, nobody likes a piece of cardboard as a chick.

    Consider eating something with extreme low calorie intake, as well as rich in fibre.
  • JBearsMom21
    JBearsMom21 Posts: 90 Member
    Eat more.
  • starrylioness
    starrylioness Posts: 543 Member
    Try upping your calories a bit more...maybe by 200 more calories a day. That helped me a lot. I'm losing a fantastic amount of weight on 1500 cal a day.
  • jensiegel39
    jensiegel39 Posts: 163 Member
    If you exercise, you can eat all / most of those calories back!
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    Your hunger is your body's reaction to fat tissue loss.
    Humans are built to save up fat in times of scarcity. When your body starts losing fat, it sends you a relentless message to search for food, and eat plenty.
    many times, in nature, periods of short scarcity were followed by very long periods of scarcity.
    This explains why we eat EVEN MORE than we would have if/when we break our fat loss diet.
    In short, every time you are hungry, know your body is burning fat.
    Keep it safe though, nobody likes a piece of cardboard as a chick.

    Consider eating something with extreme low calorie intake, as well as rich in fibre.
    1346839458-auto-dafuq-dafuq-did-i-just-read-200165.jpeg
  • jensiegel39
    jensiegel39 Posts: 163 Member
    Also, it may be what you're eating and when. Some things make you feel fuller than others. Do some research on here or other sites for foods that make you feel fuller. Get more fiber; that'll usually work. Please make your diary public so we can see what you are eating.
  • Your hunger is your body's reaction to fat tissue loss.
    Humans are built to save up fat in times of scarcity. When your body starts losing fat, it sends you a relentless message to search for food, and eat plenty.
    many times, in nature, periods of short scarcity were followed by very long periods of scarcity.
    This explains why we eat EVEN MORE than we would have if/when we break our fat loss diet.
    In short, every time you are hungry, know your body is burning fat.
    Keep it safe though, nobody likes a piece of cardboard as a chick.

    Consider eating something with extreme low calorie intake, as well as rich in fibre.
    1346839458-auto-dafuq-dafuq-did-i-just-read-200165.jpeg

    hehe... I might have given too much details...
  • kelsanderson78
    kelsanderson78 Posts: 14 Member
    Eat more.

    This^
  • Add complex carbs - they keep you satisfied longer
  • ldula88
    ldula88 Posts: 169 Member
    If you eat more fats and protein and less carbs, you'll feel fuller longer because of they way the body breaks down the different types of energy. Try eating eggs, lean meats, avocados, nuts and nut butters to help feel fuller on less calories. I personally eat around 1300 cals a day, and never really get hungry, whereas when I ate a lot of processed foods and carbs, I was always hungry.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Are you eating exercise cals back?

    ETA: Also, how much weight are you trying to lose?
  • ty everyone for the replies. i dont have a goal weight, i just want a flatter stomach but i know i need to lower my bf%
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    ty everyone for the replies. i dont have a goal weight, i just want a flatter stomach but i know i need to lower my bf%

    So are you eating your exercise calories back?

    Are you doing any strength/weight training? That's what you're going to want to do if you are looking at body recomping.

    Maybe try eating at maintenance for 2-3 months while focusing on this or eat at a slight deficit.
  • xoeva
    xoeva Posts: 209 Member
    Same here... then I started eating my exercise calories back which helped. But the thing that helped the most is eating more protein... Greek yogurt and plain veggies, and going to bed when I've ran out of calories (like tonight..)
  • ty everyone for the replies. i dont have a goal weight, i just want a flatter stomach but i know i need to lower my bf%

    So are you eating your exercise calories back?

    Are you doing any strength/weight training? That's what you're going to want to do if you are looking at body recomping.

    Maybe try eating at maintenance for 2-3 months while focusing on this or eat at a slight deficit.


    as embarrassing as it is for me to admit, i haven't started any exercise regimen yet :frown: i know i need to def start at least strength training, cause as for cardio i do walks
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    ty everyone for the replies. i dont have a goal weight, i just want a flatter stomach but i know i need to lower my bf%

    So are you eating your exercise calories back?

    Are you doing any strength/weight training? That's what you're going to want to do if you are looking at body recomping.

    Maybe try eating at maintenance for 2-3 months while focusing on this or eat at a slight deficit.


    as embarrassing as it is for me to admit, i haven't started any exercise regimen yet :frown: i know i need to def start at least strength training, cause as for cardio i do walks

    Do you have access to gym or barbells? Or were you thinking of starting off with body weight exercises and then onto dumbbells or/and barbells when you're able to buy/get access to equipment?
  • i cant afford a gym membership yet, nor equipment so i guess ill be doing body weight. are they still effective though for what im aiming for?
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    i cant afford a gym membership yet, nor equipment so i guess ill be doing body weight. are they still effective though for what im aiming for?

    Starting off - absolutely. :)

    Check out You Are Own Gym, NerdFitness, or Convict Conditioning - these are really good books on bodyweight exercises/routines.

    Bodybuilding.com has a really great exercise database that you can search based on equipment (or lack thereof).

    Other options: (in the future when you have funds)

    TRX Suspension (home edition). I believe it is about $200.

    Using sandbags

    There is a Cap Barbell Dumbbell set (w/ plates) on Amazon for about $50. It is about 30-35lbs to start. You can purchase heavier plates as funds become available.
    http://www.amazon.com/Cap-Barbell-40-Pound-Dumbbell-Set/dp/B000VCDXNS/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386018141&sr=8-1&keywords=cap+barbell+dumbbell+set

    Check out craigslist and Ebay for benches, plates, weights, etc.

    Get an Iron Gym Bar. It's about $30 on Amazon and can be used for chin-ups, pull-ups, hanging leg raises and such.
    http://www.amazon.com/Iron-Gym-Total-Upper-Workout/dp/B001EJMS6K/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386018197&sr=8-1&keywords=iron+gym+pull+up+bar

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/850719-strength-training-the-basics

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/902569-barbell-routines-when-you-only-have-dumbbells

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/852401-proper-form-and-technique-sources
  • Nicolee_2014
    Nicolee_2014 Posts: 1,572 Member
    i cant afford a gym membership yet, nor equipment so i guess ill be doing body weight. are they still effective though for what im aiming for?

    Get 1 of those resistance bands things. I hear they are good, if you use them properly. And, I don't know what you are eating, but maybe eat more chicken, veg/salads?
  • DeeDeeMee
    DeeDeeMee Posts: 133 Member
    Just to be clear, you want to lose half a pound or five pounds? Someone above mentioned eating at maintenance and focusing on strength training instead, which I think is great advice. Body weight should be fine, and if your goal is a flat stomach maybe go for the crunches and suchlike that target that area (don't neglect the other areas though). Just because you reach your goal weight doesn't mean that you won't be flabby in some areas, if you're pretty much at goal already and you want to tone up then it's the exercise you need to focus on.

    Have a look on youtube for some exercise videos that you can do for free at home. I'm a fan of the Tai Bo ones, which are on there in full.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Just to be clear, you want to lose half a pound? Someone above mentioned eating at maintenance and focusing on strength training instead, which I think is great advice. Body weight should be fine, and if your goal is a flat stomach maybe go for the crunches and suchlike that target that area (don't neglect the other areas though). Just because you reach your goal weight doesn't mean that you won't be flabby in some areas, if you're pretty much at goal already and you want to tone up then it's the exercise you need to focus on.

    Have a look on youtube for some exercise videos that you can do for free at home. I'm a fan of the Tai Bo ones, which are on there in full.

    I think she meant she chose the .5lb/week option when setting up MFP and it gave her 1280 as her base.
  • hwoeltjen
    hwoeltjen Posts: 199 Member
    There are two main triggers of hunger. Neither of these have to do with tissue loss. I have no idea where that came from.

    Hunger can be triggered by psychological and physiological factors. Many people believe it is caused by contractions of the stomach or the stomach being empty. Many others believe it is related to lowered levels of blood glucose.

    Some studies suggest that the hormone ghrelin is responsible for overeating.

    Either way, what you need to know is that psychological and physiological triggers exist. So at times you may actually be hungry, and other times you may be hungry as a result of the habits you have formed over time.

    You need to make sure you fill yourself up on food that takes longer to digest, in turn keeping you satisfied longer. Complex carbs and protein will do the trick.

    Chicken, veggies, and other forms of complex carbohydrates and protein will keep you satisfied longer and help you get over those hunger pangs.
  • DeeDeeMee
    DeeDeeMee Posts: 133 Member
    Just to be clear, you want to lose half a pound? Someone above mentioned eating at maintenance and focusing on strength training instead, which I think is great advice. Body weight should be fine, and if your goal is a flat stomach maybe go for the crunches and suchlike that target that area (don't neglect the other areas though). Just because you reach your goal weight doesn't mean that you won't be flabby in some areas, if you're pretty much at goal already and you want to tone up then it's the exercise you need to focus on.

    Have a look on youtube for some exercise videos that you can do for free at home. I'm a fan of the Tai Bo ones, which are on there in full.

    I think she meant she chose the .5lb/week option when setting up MFP and it gave her 1280 as her base.

    That makes more sense. I couldn't work out if she meant 1/2 a pound or 5 pounds.
  • ReligiousFitness
    ReligiousFitness Posts: 14 Member
    The more cardio you can do throughout the day, the more calories it will allow you to intake while still losing the weight. I suggest a morning cardio session to start your day. This way automatically off the bat you will increase possible caloric intake for the day!
  • 73Laine
    73Laine Posts: 63 Member
    30 day shred will help tone u, or ripped in 30. Jillian Michael's. Search youtube for the workouts free. I have the dvd of 30 day shred. Very challenging.
  • wow thanks everyone for all your feedback!!! i just got great tips and advice and now i will def start putting those to work!!! :flowerforyou:
  • alisonlynn1976
    alisonlynn1976 Posts: 929 Member
    I eat the amount I want to eat and exercise to create a deficit, and I am losing weight this way. Granted, if I wanted to eat 5000 calories, this would not work because I would not be able to exercise that much per day, but my estimate of what I'm doing is eating about 2000 and burning about 600, which makes a net of 1400, which is what MFP says I should be eating to lose a pound a week, and I'm usually on track with that rate of weight loss, so I must be approximately doing it right.