Graduate Students!! PhD student needs help!!

1,000 calories is a pretty big deficit. If you're truly very hungry, and have low energy, you may want to consider a smaller one.

That being said, the first few weeks back are always hell for me, too. I find it difficult to get into the new routine, there are always more organizational responsibilities and uncertainties to deal with. These situations due tend to trigger emotional eating for me. Just throwing that in there as a reason that you might be hungrier on class (higher stress) days. Another factor to watch (since you have a bodymedia) is your sleep patterns. Less, or lower quality sleep will make you hungrier because your body will try to compensate for the lack of sleep with food energy. (there is science to this, but I'm fuzzy on it...same reason we crave carbs in the winter).

Here are a few things I've gathered in my Masters/PhD travels:

There will be periods where getting into the routine is trickier (and sometimes, easier). What I tend to do during these adjustment times is:
1. to make my workouts non-negotiable (and a smaller deficit will give you more energy to workout, so it might be a trade-off) Also, I move my workouts to first thing in the day.
2.I try to make the best possible food choices, but I focus more on portion control more than the best food choices as I don't have my normal time to devote to shopping and cooking.
3.Journaling. I don't think I could make it through without this tool. I spend a few minutes every morning and "empty my brain" by writing three pages of whatever comes to mind. It is amazing what comes out. It lowers my stress level significantly, and makes me more focused the rest of the day.
HTH.:flowerforyou:

edited to add: make sure you schedule in some sort of date day/night activity with your husband. Grad school puts a terrific strain on everything, including your relationships. I find I have to actually put "spend time with husband" or something similar into my calendar now.

I'm also a PhD student, in my (hopefully) last year I don't know how much I can help out, because I have a very different schedule. I go to the gym when it opens around 7 am, and then come home, eat and get ready and go into the lab around 10 or 11. I have no classes, just experiments and writing, so my schedule is very flexible.

Can you walk to school? Also, even though you want to maintain 2 lb weight loss/week, maybe 1000 calorie deficit is bit too much... aim for something that doesn't leave you feeling wiped, or you won't be able to maintain it. Try to bring your lunches with you, cook healthy meals in advance for those busy days where you have no time, and try to avoid cafeteria style "coffee breaks" with cookies and what not (so easy when you're on campus sometimes!)

Good luck!!

My work week is similar to your school week as I am a teacher and spend a lot of time at school and in meetings. I've lost 98 pounds in the last year and here is what I've found works for me.

1. Be prepared. Do your shopping on the weekend. Buy plenty of fruit (I buy apples, oranges, and bananas for the week), vegetables (carrots, celery, cucumbers, green peppers), and Tyson already grilled chicken breasts or fajita meat. I also buy Green Giant's Just For One broccoli and cheese individual portions. A little pricey, but I'm worth it at this point! I also buy reduced fat peanut butter and Pepperidge Farms Mini Bagels at 100 calories each and non fat Yoplait Yogurt. This, in addition to what you buy for your family to eat healthy at night, will help you be prepared once your week starts.

2. Prepare all your vegetables on the weekend (I usually end up doing it Sunday) by washing them, cutting them and putting them in baggies for use the entire week. Then all I have to do is grab one the night before when I'm putting my lunch bag together.

3. I reheat several of the frozen grilled chicken breasts, chop each one, and put them each in their own reheatable container. I only do this for 2-3 days at a time.

4. For breakfast each day right now I'm starting with a mini bagel with 2 T of reduced fat peanut butter. This satisfies my hunger and keeps me from becoming ravenous in the morning.

5. I always carry my lunch so In my lunch bag I have a lot: a container of the cut up chicken breast, a broccoli & cheese container, an orange, a knife, a fork, a spoon, a bag of raw veggies, a sliced apple, a banana, and a container of non fat yogurt. I also carry a cloth napkin to lay out for my "placemat."

6. For a morning snack I eat the sliced apple, a few raw vegetables, or a banana.

7. For lunch I heat the cut up chicken breast and broccoli & cheese in the microwave. I found I like to mix them together. Then I eat an orange and maybe some of that bag of raw veggies.

8. Later in the afternoon, usually between 3:00-4:00 I have the yogurt and whatever fruit is left in my bag.

9. For dinner, if I'm not home I'll eat a Lean Cuisine, or a package of chunk white tuna with whole wheat reduced fat Triscuits or Wheat Thins. If I'm at home we have either a vegetable with chicken, tilapia, or extra lean ground beef.

10. The first few days are the hardest, then you get used to the more frequent small meals. I try to stay right around 1,200 calories if I cannot exercise. If I can exercise then I'll eat maybe 1, 400-1,500 calories depending on how hard I exercised.

I'd be willing to be your friend on MFP if you'd like. A gal named Mollie from Chicago befriended me on MFP and has given me a lot of positive feedback. You can do this, you just need to be prepared by planning ahead on your weekends.