Have a Hard Time Eating Under 2000 Calories

It's helped me to remove temptations from the house, like someone else said. I'm a big snacker too so last time I went grocery shopping I bought lots of healthy snacks and threw out my old stuff (cookies, ice cream, etc). I find its harder to build up calories eating veggies and whatnot than binging on cookies and chocolate. I still eat them but now it's limited to when I go out and buy them and they're not readily available a few steps away.
Aside from the snacking, I've had trouble too because I used to eat 3500+ cals a day and I've cut to less than 2000 as well. A couple other things that help me are making sure I keep up my water intake, and I usually keep gum with me for when I get bored-hungry but I know I'm not actually physically hungry.
That being said, don't deprive your body of the calories you need!! And like some else said, moderation is important. Have the foods you love just not all the time!

A. Every trainer and nutritionist I've ever talked to has stressed meal timing. Since I'm neither, you'll have to take it up with them. It has worked for me (very well).

There is ZERO scientific support for meal timing beyond a few after workout things. The myth is pure broscience, and even spouted by nutritionists I saw at MIT. They did not like it when I asked them to provide evidence of their claims, they liked it less when I provided evidence torpedoing their claims. They got off that tack quickly.

I invite you to look for proof from peer reviewed articles: http://scholar.google.com

The theory of meal timing is an advanced fitness THEORY reserved for advanced fitness people.

For us commoners it has no bearing, a caorie defecit daily + time = weight loss

Let's be clear, because this irks me.

Theory: Theory is a contemplative and rational type of abstract or generalizing thinking, or the results of such thinking.
Scientific Theory: A scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is acquired through the scientific method, and repeatedly confirmed through observation and experimentation.

One of these things is not like the other. There is some evidence showing that protein intake and utilization is increased by a few % points for a period of time after a workout, but you ARE correct in that being for advanced folks, because that's increasing marginal efficiency which is something you do once you have the bulk of everything else figured out.

I also completely agree with your last comment.

To be blunt... You just have to want it more than the cookies or whatever you are snacking on. There's no miracle solution for willpower.

In fact, because it amuses me.

I dub this, "Missed me bro!"

Spreadest thine meals, mortals!

If you love food, then make it a bigger part of your life. Explore different kinds of produce, grains, proteins and spices. Prepare your own food and try out new recipes. Have fun in the kitchen.

Oftentimes when we diet, we make an enemy of food. Restrict it. Curse it. Secretly lust for it. Hate that we can't resist it. Until you get a handle on your relationship with food, it will always be an issue. That feeling of binging, knowing you've packed away too much food..... it's not good. That's not loving food, that's abusing food.

I think the whole 'jump start your metabolism' thing about meal timing is baloney but I think that many people do better with a calorie budget if they have a reasonable plan in advance for how to spend it, and for some people having some meal structure helps with that.

I think a natural inclination when you're trying to restrict calories is to skip breakfast and maybe even lunch. A lot of people do fine with it but a lot get so famished they blow their calorie goal out of the water from 6-10pm, then get up the next day (still not hungry) and do it again.

So I think it can be a mental or behavioral aid to try to stick to some structured meals. Biological-- not so much.

Meal timing: Irrelevant - plan your meals and snacks around what works for you

Avoiding trigger foods: You most important tool in losing weight is making your self control as strong as possible. You have to learn/practice it every day. Until you learn moderation and self control - you are going to keep having the same issues.

Make specific goals about getting healthy: Read this link, learn all you can and then put a plan in place. You can do this. Unfortunately, YOU have to do it. The information is all here, the support is on this site, but getting there is all on you.


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1175494-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

This.

Double this.

Meal timing: Irrelevant - plan your meals and snacks around what works for you

Avoiding trigger foods: Your most important tool in losing weight is making your self control as strong as possible. You have to learn/practice it every day. Until you learn moderation and self control - you are going to keep having the same issues.

Make specific goals about getting healthy: Read this link, learn all you can and then put a plan in place. You can do this. Unfortunately, YOU have to do it. The information is all here, the support is on this site, but getting there is all on you.


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1175494-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

Listen to this lady, she knows her stuff.

I love dessert and I have some every night. But I also make sure I'm getting enough protein and fat, and I try to get in a few servings of fruit/veg. I think of it as working things in instead of cutting things out. Protein first, then fat (honestly that's never a problem), then veggies, and then dessert with what's left.

Are you hungry when you're snacking or bored?

I am an evening snacker... I recognize this, and in order to accommodate that, I tailor my day to accommodate that. For me, I've found that a smaller breakfast and lunch allow me a bigger dinner and more room for snacks.

I've also cut out most drinks, allowing myself my one coffee and no juice /pop.

I've adjusted my snack foods so that if I DO want to snack, I have better, lower cal options. (I. E snap peas and carrots, over granola bars)

Start looking at where you can skim cals off your snacks, rather than trying to eliminate them all together.

This has helped me a lot. I switched to water not because I think I need it or like it (although now I prefer it) but because it saved me calories I could use elsewhere.
I make little sacrifices during the day that allow me to have something I really want.
I also do better on several smaller meals because it keeps me from getting to hungry. The key is to figure out what works for you.

I also found a lot of my snacking was really just habit. Like watching a movie = snacks. Certain favourite shows = snacks. A lot of the time I wasn't even hungry. I tried to just break the habit. But for the times I really felt I needed something I would have a lighter snack. Now I am at the point where I can save calories for a snack I want but it isn't something I need all the time, they are usually planned ahead.