Struggling to keep to my calories now :(

quackers82
quackers82 Posts: 55 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I was originally over 18 stone in 2010, i used the Paul McKenna weight loss method to get down to 15 stone which worked well, but i stopped following it, but managed to maintain that weight roughly so not too bad. Then in early 2012 i decided to try MFP and got down from 15 stone to 12st 4lbs in the first 7/8 months of that year. I then kind of stop following that, but did not go mental, and tried to use what i learned with Paul Mckennas system to not regain the weight and thats been kind of successful as for the last year i've only gone up 5lbs, which i don't thinks that bad considering I've not weighed or counted any calories.

Over the last year i switched to concentrating more on my nutrition rather than weightloss so in a morning i have a smoothie which has Kale, Spinich, Strawberrys, Blueberrys, Raspberrys, Blackberrys, Flax Seeds, Greek Yoghurt (260 calories) and also having a variety of nuts as a snack, normally around 300 calories worth. Plus i love veg so often have a plate full of sweet potatoes, carrots, cabbage, peas. That has made a huge difference, my dry skin has completely gone, my skin has way more colour and glows.

So now I'm at 12st 9lbs and i really want to get to between 10st 5lbs to 11st so i decided to start on MFP again to get that final 2 stone gone, but I'm really struggling to not be hungry now. Ive set MFP to a .5 lb loss a week, so I'm allowed 2045 calories (2300ish is my maintenance). But I'm just hungry hungry hungry, somedays going up to 2800 calories before I'm satisfied :( Now i am getting the net calories down by doing a lot of walking few hours a day.

I think the biggest issue is the smoothies and nuts don't fill me up, I'm still hungry afterwards, but i don't want to stop having them because my skin is dramatically better now i have them.

So now I've got more calories as standard wanted because of concentrating on my health side but not filling me up, less calories allowed because i weigh less now than i did a few years ago, plus its getting cold outside so cannot get as much exercise calories in.

So really feel like I'm stuck at this weight forever now. Don't know how to stop being hungry so much and have a decent calorie deficit. Any ideas to throw my way to try?

Replies

  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    One word: protein....... Eat some meat.....
  • SaraNicoleWilliams
    SaraNicoleWilliams Posts: 14 Member
    How much water are you drinking? I used to really struggle with hunger, and I realized that 90% of the time I was just dehydrated. Also, veggies are great, but the key to staying full according to my nutritionist is making sure each meal has fat, protein, and carbohydrates (healthy sources). Can you add something to one of your meals that is full of good fats, like an avocado? Maybe try to throw in some more protein or carbs from healthy sources? Like maybe some chicken breast, or brown rice?
  • _runnerbean_
    _runnerbean_ Posts: 640 Member
    It's great news that your skin is looking so good now. Could you still eat your smoothie and nuts but only have half the quantity? That might still be enough to keep your skin good but will give you some more calories to use on filling foods. Are you having the smoothie as breakfast? Maybe have porridge or high fibre cereal as well to fill you up in the morning. Your veg intake sounds good, do you eat potatoes, pasta or rice in addition? I cut back on those to save calories and still feel full.
  • galprincess
    galprincess Posts: 683 Member
    well have all of that but break it up have a bowl of fruit and yogurt top with nuts see if that helps?
  • onefortyone
    onefortyone Posts: 531 Member
    You maintained on 2300 for 2 years, but as soon as you want to lose weight, you suddenly want to eat 2800 calories?

    It sounds purely mental to me. It may simply be a case of adjusting your calories until you find yourself satisfied (go for a week with no deficit, then a week with a 100 cal deficit, etc., and build yourself back up to a 250 cal deficit).

    You could also try adding protein powder to your smoothies. That'll up your protein, and you won't have to sacrifice your skin. It may also help fill you up too.
  • quackers82
    quackers82 Posts: 55 Member
    A few things to try then, might try having the smoothie later after work rather than for breakfast. Not sure on the protein powder as my food bill has already shot up having all them berries don't know if i can afford protein powder on top. Think a lot of it is psychological as i don't seem to obsess over food when I'm not counting or calories restricting. Think main issue is I'm adamant i must have X Y and Z every day now because of the massive difference it has made health wise but thats now eating a lot of calories up, leaving me hungry still. I did think about maybe every other day for the smoothie and nuts, but problem is fresh fruit goes off so quick, and the frozen ones taste nasty.

Categories