Shouldn't I be Eating When I'm Hungry??

It seems you are eating a really low amount that you won't be able to maintain. Honestly calorie amount doesn't matter as long as what you are eating is healthy.

It seems you are eating a really low amount that you won't be able to maintain. Honestly calorie amount doesn't matter as long as what you are eating is healthy.

No, calories do matter - but try increasing them by 200-300 or so. You'll likely still be in a deficit hence lose...and won't be so hungry.

Calorie amount does matter in the sense that you are eating enough to be satisfied, but what I meant was focus more on what you are eating and don't worry so much about the amount. Your body knows best, so listen to it.

I agree with what everyone had said but just wanted to add that I had the hunger pangs etc as well but I also noticed that after about 3-4 weeks, they started to get less and less as my stomach shrank...I do remember being quite cranky for the first month or so....lol....make sure your calories are set properly.... but for me, I just pushed through the hunger pangs too....

Just to answer your question on the post...Yes eat...just choose wisely and you will be fine..don't plan an extra meal just because your a little hungry maybe grab some yogurt and fruit or a PBJ on Wheat Bread.....it just may do the trick and not add in a full meals worth of calories...or even try a smoothie.

Calorie amount does matter in the sense that you are eating enough to be satisfied, but what I meant was focus more on what you are eating and don't worry so much about the amount. Your body knows best, so listen to it.

But this is STILL wrong, as well as mutually contradictory. 1) Listen to your body frequently does not result in healthy food, as my body would really, right now, like to down an enormous bowl of oily popcorn instead of the broccoli I plan to feed it. 2) It is absolutely possible to gain weight eating healthful food, if enough is consumed, and as well, it is absolutely possible to lose weight eating "junk food" such as Twinkies, if calories are controlled.

Someone who's been tracking for a while may be able to stop and just focus on eating healthfully, once they've retrained their body to like the amounts of food it's been subsisting on. It is NOT a good idea for someone at the beginning of a diet to just "listen to your body".

I'm guessing that you chose 2lb/week? Try 1lb/week instead. It will assign a more reasonable deficit.

Agreed. It may take longer, but it will be much more pleasant and sustainable if you don't feel like you're starving. :flowerforyou:

You all are lifesavers, literally! After reading what everyone had to say, I'm going to revisit my goals...and consider the amount I want to lose per week. I'm looking for results, but ultimately I'm also looking for something sustainable and long term.

This week I'm going to see what happens with changing my weekly goal to a 1-1.5 lb loss, and report back.

Thank you!

Signed,

Optimistic :happy:

Good luck! :flowerforyou:

I started at 1200 calories a week too. I think they must give that number across the board to anyone entering a 2 pound/week loss - regardless of other data. I was starving the first two weeks but that did get better. I also learned that eating more protein and/or eating protein at each meal would help me feel more satisfied at the end of the day, and it did. After about 6 weeks I was still hungry though and just felt like it was way to limiting and I spent to much time thinking about food and wanting to eat. I upped my calories. My current goal (after I add my exercise calories in) is 1500. I eat at least that much every day and I'm still losing.