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Eating 2300 and... Hungry!!

Bebe6740
Bebe6740 Posts: 57 Member
edited November 15 in Social Groups
Ok soooo... Not sure what is going on with my body but I'm on my third week of EM2WL, eating 2000-2500 and I'm....starving?!?! I usually can do fine at 2300 when I don't go to the gym, but as soon as I go lift heavy I come back home and want to eat the house, couches and all!! I've hit 3000 cals a couple of times already... And I'm concerned.

Is this normal??

TDEE 2800-20%= 2300.... (BMR 1860)

Anyone experiencing something similar??

Any feedback is welcome!

Marilyn

Replies

  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Totally expected -
    Your workouts have probably improved.
    The repair process has probably improved, requiring more energy.
    Your daily movement has probably increased.
    You burn more processing the more food you ate.
  • Bebe6740
    Bebe6740 Posts: 57 Member
    Hello,
    Yes! You're right! I've increased weight amount by 5-10lbs on free-weights and other weight machines.
    I also think you're right with regards to the repair process- I'm no longer aching everywhere after lifting, and can go back to lift the next day.
    I'm going to try to keep an eye on the intake though, 3000 is a bit steep...I think?

    ;)
  • Jennbecca33
    Jennbecca33 Posts: 321 Member
    EM2WL suggests using a 15% deficit rather than 20% - that will allow you to eat a little more. Totally normal to feel the hunger greatly increase when increasing cals. What activity level did you choose and how much working out and daily activity do you do?
  • Bebe6740
    Bebe6740 Posts: 57 Member
    Yeah I posted another thread when I started EM2LW, and because I weight 240 and have about 80 lbs to lose, I was advised to do -20% to start until a big chunk of weight/fat is lost first and then go to -15%.

    I chose moderate activity level.....I work from home Mon-Thursday ...have no children so pretty sedentary at home...but then I go to the gym to lift heavy 3-4 times a week with some 20 minute cardio spurts in there 2 times a week or so.... I am 5'7 and weigh 240.

    :)
  • agardengrrrl
    agardengrrrl Posts: 50 Member
    Maybe your actual TDEE is higher than what the calculator gave you? I have probably still 40-50 lbs to lose and decided to try eating up to my TDEE for a while just to see what it actually is. Those calculators give you an idea, but you don't really know your personal TDEE until you test it out. As I increased I did notice being really hungry for a while. But I had been restricting my calories before that. Maybe you can eat more on days when you are really hungry and less on other days? Or maybe 20% is too much if you are going to be lifting heavy?
  • Jennbecca33
    Jennbecca33 Posts: 321 Member
    Ok, I see. But just keep in mind, if your hunger doesn't level off and you stay ravenous, better to raise your calorie goal a bit to 15% deficit rather than to keep overeating out of hunger, know what I mean? You may find that 20% doesn't serve you well in the long run as far as keeping it sustainable. If you're always hungry, that's no fun and you'll eventually eat more one way or another. :) If you're hungry, you can always increase your calories and I don't think it would hinder your losses at all...many times eating more actually helps the fat loss.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Bebe6740 wrote: »
    Hello,
    Yes! You're right! I've increased weight amount by 5-10lbs on free-weights and other weight machines.
    I also think you're right with regards to the repair process- I'm no longer aching everywhere after lifting, and can go back to lift the next day.
    I'm going to try to keep an eye on the intake though, 3000 is a bit steep...I think?

    ;)

    Hopefully different muscles day after day, not good day after day with same muscles.
    May not feel sore, but if good workout, repair takes 24-36 hrs anyway.
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    Another option is that you could increase your calories until you find your true TDEE, just to make sure. Cut afterwards? Because maybe your TDEE really is higher.

    Also, can't see your diary, but eating fat is a good thing - make sure you do :)
  • Bebe6740
    Bebe6740 Posts: 57 Member
    Thank you all for your feedback. I'll give it a couple more weeks trying to eat around -20%.... By the 15th I'll be em2wl for 1 month. I plan to weigh myself and take measurements to see if anything has changed- and then adjust calories accordingly.
    On the plus side, I saw my sister a few days ago (hadn't seen her in a while) and she said I looked like I had lost some 'weight'... :)

    Thanks again You all!

    Marilyn
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