Under Calories but not hungry

Purple_Orchid_87
Purple_Orchid_87 Posts: 517 Member
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
So I used to stuff myself full of crisps, chocolate, chips and sandwiches - since changing my choices to healthy options, and drinking water (I never drank any water or dilute before) I am finding that I'm not as hungry - my body did crash for 2 days at the beginning but I think it was my body's wayof complaining as there wasnt the sugar and rubbish in it to feed it.

Anyway, I've had breakfast and lunch for today, got out for a walk when i first woke up (before eating) and now i'm looking and i've had around 350kcals today - I only have snacks (carrot sticks) and my dinner to have (dinner is all planned and will be around 550kcals) - I know this will put me under my calorie goal for today, but I am not hungry atm, and when I do feel peckish, I have a glass of water or dilute as I heard that 75% of hunger is thirst.

The question is, should I have something 'bad' to get my calorie intake up? or is this going to put me back to wanting junk? my fav 'bad' thing is soft cheese on crackers (around 350kcals) but i'm not sure i should be thinking about eating more that i actually want on purpose just to reach a number that is on a screen.

What's your view?

Replies

  • Irene8509
    Irene8509 Posts: 381 Member
    I have had the same experience. By the third week of calorie counting, I realized I didn't have the same cravings as before. I keep thinking I'm going to go over my numbers but I most always stay on track especially if I exercise. Keep up the good work. It sounds to me that you have found what works for you so don't question it and stay on track.
  • PoleBoy
    PoleBoy Posts: 255 Member
    What is the weight loss goal you've got MFP set to?

    You're eating well under 1200 calories a day, so the chances are you do need to eat more - one of the insidious parts of "starvation mode" is that you don't feel hungry.

    I'd recommend you try to get a slightly better breakfast - (1 shredded wheat with semi skimmed milk or porridge*)

    other than that, if you're under your goal, and under you fat targets don't keep going for fat free.

    Also, check you protein levels - MFP sets them very low, so you should be aiming to beat that number, not be under it.


    *30g oats, in a big bowl in the fridge overnight with water or milk, then microwaved for 3 minutes in the morning is quick and easy
  • getslimagain
    getslimagain Posts: 1
    I hear ya! I keep getting that I am eating too few calories but i am not hungry. My friend is a Gym Rat and she tells me I should be eating 5-6 little meals a day along with my 8 glasses of water a day. She said that eventually your body will get used to it and it will be routine. Try doing a times meal plan, and with each meal drink your water. She also said that it is hard to consume all that water even for her and she has been doing it for years.
  • chnkydnknmomma
    chnkydnknmomma Posts: 258
    I'm not sure about the whole calorie intake, but I have definitely noticed that since I've been eating healthier and logging my food, I'm really not craving the junk food I used to. Even when I've gone out to diners and such, the foods that I used to order (such as a bacon cheeseburger with french fries) don't even appeal to me anymore.

    I know you need to eat that certain amount of calories to keep your body going and not put it into starvation mode. I tend to have healthy snacks throughout the day to keep myself from becoming too hungry and over indulging.

    Good luck!
  • coachredhead
    coachredhead Posts: 26 Member
    Be sure to up your protein that way the weight your losing isnt lean muscle mass. Dont eat allot of fat free items as they are loaded in sugar which will cause you to crash faster. Its better to eat full fat items and a sparing amount than huge amounts of fat free. I read Jillian Michaels master your metabolism book and it really spoke allot about this.
  • purpl3sox
    purpl3sox Posts: 38
    A couple things that I noticed when looking at your food diary. It is more important to track protein than sodium. If you drink enough water your sodium level is not something you need to worry about too much, your body is designed to self regulate that. Track your protein because it is one of the three macro nutrients and is essential to having a properly balanced diet.

    PoleBoy is right about needing to eat more. Starvation mode is what will kill any weight loss attempt. Starvation mode is when your body decides that it is not getting enough food and quits letting go of fat, sacrificing muscle instead because it takes more calories to support than fat does.

    A good way to avoid starvation mode is to eat smaller meals, approximately 200 calories each, every three hours, so six meals a day. If you manage five then increase the calories of each meal accordingly. Eating by the clock and having each meal contain a carb, a fat, and a protein, will ensure that you get all your daily requirements, you eat the needed calories for continued weight loss and that you don't substitute with something "bad" when you are caught out of the house without something "good" to eat.

    Hope that helps. But I would suggest eating the recommended daily calories, you don't have to add anything bad, just eat more of the good.
  • Purple_Orchid_87
    Purple_Orchid_87 Posts: 517 Member
    I was on 1000kcals a day and upped it to 1200kcals - had fresh unbreaded chicken yesterday for the first time in years! used to live in breaded chicken and chips, or takeaway stuff

    chicken on the menu again tonight, this time with salad rather than veg

    I only go for the fat free yoghurt because i like the flavours, and they are currently on offer at Tesco :o)

    i would have snacked on crisps, but at around 11am i found myself cutting up carrots! thats like mad for me! have gone through my cupboards and gotten rid of all the rubbish (gave most of it to my flatmate)

    am only having maybe 1.5ltrs of dilute a day - do i need to drink less and eat more?
  • purpl3sox
    purpl3sox Posts: 38
    You don't need to drink less but you do need to eat more. Water is very filling and most people are dehydrated, but it is important to eat enough as well because otherwise your body will cannibalize your muscle.
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