Not hungry, but need to meet my calories

martini79
martini79 Posts: 13
edited September 27 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello. Lately I haven't been hungry during the day and have been edning my day under my 1200 calories. I know this isn't good and with working out I should be eating more calories. Before I started my journey I was hungry all the time eventhough I ate all the time. Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions on things to eat to get to my calorie intake for the day? Thanks.

Replies

  • christine24t
    christine24t Posts: 6,063 Member
    I think when you eat better overall, you feel fuller longer and that's why your appetite has decreased. Also, exercise is an appetite decreaser too.
  • webbed1
    webbed1 Posts: 86
    Find a shake that you like that meets your calorie distribution requirements (protein fat carbs) and just BOTTOMS UP.
  • amandamaria
    amandamaria Posts: 1
    I've been doing the same thing! It worries me because that kind of diet can put the weight right back on if your calories increase, though. The best thing I've heard to do is snack a lot in between meals with healthy snacks, which is better for your metabolism anyway.
  • Losingitin2011
    Losingitin2011 Posts: 572 Member
    Find a shake that you like that meets your calorie distribution requirements (protein fat carbs) and just BOTTOMS UP.

    This. I do this a lot when I'm having a fibromyalgia flare up because I have zero appetite.
  • warmachinejt
    warmachinejt Posts: 2,162 Member
    Eat more of the right stuff and spread your meals into small 4-6 meals a day. Eat every 2 to 3 hours.
  • foreverloved
    foreverloved Posts: 220 Member
    Nuts are good snacks with high calories and nutrients for that extra boost!
  • Crystal817
    Crystal817 Posts: 2,021 Member
    Also, exercise is an appetite decreaser too.

    Really? I would like to see your proof on that... :smile:
    Immediately after vigorous exercise, appetite decreases, probably because of a temporary rise in body temperature, specialists say. But as soon as body temperature normalizes, appetite goes up.

    So if you're trying to lose weight, exercise alone - without calorie restriction - doesn't help much. Exercise increases appetite because the body burns calories as you exercise, and this stimulates appetite to make up for the expended calories, said Dr. James Fries, a professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine.
  • DianaPowerUp
    DianaPowerUp Posts: 518 Member
    Exercise decreases my appetite too. Make sure you get enough calories in, or you'll find your metabolism slowing down to a crawl. If I need extra cal, I usually drink a protein shake, or eat some (healthy, not sweet) trail mix - full of nuts and berries.
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    Hello. Lately I haven't been hungry during the day and have been edning my day under my 1200 calories. I know this isn't good and with working out I should be eating more calories. Before I started my journey I was hungry all the time eventhough I ate all the time. Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions on things to eat to get to my calorie intake for the day? Thanks.

    You've gotta eat! Even if you're not hungry =D.

    As was said, nuts, avacado's, quinoa...and other things are calorie dense. When I'm behind on my calories, I'll eat an ounce or two of cashews. Every ounce is 160 calories, with decent protien, low carbs, and lots of good fats your body needs. It's nothing to toss down a couple ounces of sea salt cashews =D.

    Cris
  • christine24t
    christine24t Posts: 6,063 Member
    Also, exercise is an appetite decreaser too.

    Really? I would like to see your proof on that... :smile:

    I was just trying to search for the article I read it in, but while I was searching I found another article on Livestrong that said there is inconclusive evidence towards that. It sounds like it increases appetite in some, and decreases in others.
  • martini79
    martini79 Posts: 13
    Thanks for all the advice. It's funny how when I didn't watch what I ate and made very poor food choices I was hungry all the time. Now that I'm watching what I eat and make good food choices I'm not hungry.
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    Thanks for all the advice. It's funny how when I didn't watch what I ate and made very poor food choices I was hungry all the time. Now that I'm watching what I eat and make good food choices I'm not hungry.

    It's because the food you were eating before was full of junk and 'quick burn' calories, causing your body to keep trying to force you to give it what it needed, via more food!!

    Don't worry, you'll get it down, just increase your portions gradually...eat so you feel just the tiniest overfull, 4-6x a day, and you'll soon be eating with the best of us =D.
  • registers
    registers Posts: 782 Member
    Why do you want to meet your caloric needs??? caloric needs are based on weight, and that doesn't tell the full story, depends on the amount of muscle mass to fat raio you have that determines your caloric needs. Somone who weighs 150lbs of lean muscle and someone who is 150lbs of mostly fat have totally different metabolisms. The one who is lean can eat a lot more calories than the 150lbs fat person. Does MFP know this? NO, it just gives you a "general" rule for low caloric levels. Supposedly "1200 is starvation mode" now this is completely ridiculous. Here's why, If someone weighs 300lbs and who is 7ft tall, if they eat 1200 calories MFP will say they're in starvation mode... What if the person is 4ft 110lbs... are they still in starvation mode??? NOPE. the numbers don't say much per person.

    WHy would you force feed yourself??? weightloss is about "reduced caloric diet" why would you increase your caloric intake to reduce weight??? makes no sense at all. Someone would probably say, "well you need to meet those numbers so your metabolism doesn't slow down"... which is another complete lie in the fitness community. THere is some true to it, but not much.
  • webbed1
    webbed1 Posts: 86
    Expanding along ASMs line of thought, consider this: when you don't feel like, DON"T. Take that day as a deficit, period. So that when there are days you have met your need and STILL need a few more calories (good ones of course, protein and fats), you will average out if you indeed track daily. This is part of a system many people are raving about called zig zag dieting. The catch is that you must STILL manage say weekly calories and on your up days, it MUST still be rationale, consistent, and MANAGED(read planned, controlled, MEASURED). It CANNOT be, oh, several days ago or so I underate so today I am going to eat my *kitten* off.
  • Atlantique
    Atlantique Posts: 2,484 Member
    Hello. Lately I haven't been hungry during the day and have been edning my day under my 1200 calories. I know this isn't good and with working out I should be eating more calories. Before I started my journey I was hungry all the time eventhough I ate all the time. Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions on things to eat to get to my calorie intake for the day? Thanks.

    Yes, happens to me too.

    Focus on getting more nutrient-dense foods. So if you've gone super low-fat, go back to some full fat foods: instead of skim milk, go 1%, 2% or full fat. Same with cheeses (and adding an ounce of cheese to something doesn't really give you more volume to eat). Eat some nuts--a one ounce serving on nuts is generally around 160 calories and contains good fats (mono and plyunsaturated fats). If you only eat egg whites, eat whole eggs instead.

    Protein shakes can be really helpful, as it's easier to drink calories than eat them sometimes when not hungry.
  • registers
    registers Posts: 782 Member
    Hello. Lately I haven't been hungry during the day and have been edning my day under my 1200 calories. I know this isn't good and with working out I should be eating more calories. Before I started my journey I was hungry all the time eventhough I ate all the time. Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions on things to eat to get to my calorie intake for the day? Thanks.

    Why you ant to eat more, if you're trying to lose weight? makes no sense. Starvation mode is a complete myth. People who have gastric bypass surgery, eat about 500-1000 calories a day. This would in theory cause them to gain weight. Obviously this doesn't happen. Proving the myth to be a myth.
  • GaveUp
    GaveUp Posts: 308
    Maybe you need more protein in your diet. Eat back your calories with dense carbs and high protein.
  • mocha76
    mocha76 Posts: 184 Member
    bump
  • webbed1
    webbed1 Posts: 86
    Gaveup--some of you women don't realize how you really look and don't need to stress that much, geez, that is the look
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    Expanding along ASMs line of thought, consider this: when you don't feel like, DON"T. Take that day as a deficit, period. So that when there are days you have met your need and STILL need a few more calories (good ones of course, protein and fats), you will average out if you indeed track daily. This is part of a system many people are raving about called zig zag dieting. The catch is that you must STILL manage say weekly calories and on your up days, it MUST still be rationale, consistent, and MANAGED(read planned, controlled, MEASURED). It CANNOT be, oh, several days ago or so I underate so today I am going to eat my *kitten* off.

    This would be great advice...but rarely do people have the discipline and common sense to manage a weeks worth of meals around being hungry or not one day to the next. Thing of how many times you see 'I have 400 calories to eat today, and it's 9pm!! What do I DO?!'. Now imagine that with a built up weeks worth of deficit from 'not being hungry'.

    If you're going to zig zag...find a zig zag program and stick with it.

    Most of us are in the 'overweight' boat because we couldn't, for whatever reason (work, life, stress, temptation, whatever!)...manage our eating habits on our own. And again...I agree with you COMPLETELY...it's just that most of us weren't capable of doing it on our own (thus the problem!)...so the plans and programs are the way we train ourselves to do it properly the next time around, you know?


    Why you ant to eat more, if you're trying to lose weight? makes no sense. Starvation mode is a complete myth. People who have gastric bypass surgery, eat about 500-1000 calories a day. This would in theory cause them to gain weight. Obviously this doesn't happen. Proving the myth to be a myth.

    Dude, you're going to get someone hurt.

    Gaveup--some of you women don't realize how you really look and don't need to stress that much

    So true!
  • webbed1
    webbed1 Posts: 86
    BTW, that was a polite, how shall we say, "bump" to gaveup and women like her. Lots of men LOVE that. Please, NO drastic changes. I tell my fiancee this!
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    Yes, happens to me too.

    Focus on getting more nutrient-dense foods. So if you've gone super low-fat, go back to some full fat foods: instead of skim milk, go 1%, 2% or full fat. Same with cheeses (and adding an ounce of cheese to something doesn't really give you more volume to eat). Eat some nuts--a one ounce serving on nuts is generally around 160 calories and contains good fats (mono and plyunsaturated fats). If you only eat egg whites, eat whole eggs instead.

    Protein shakes can be really helpful, as it's easier to drink calories than eat them sometimes when not hungry.

    This is a very good addition to what I said! This is the only way I can survive eating as much as I do lol...and still eat healthy foods.

    The problem is, most people who are scared of eating more...are TERRIFIED of eating fats =D.

    Awesome post man...truly.

    Cris
  • flabfighter31
    flabfighter31 Posts: 41 Member
    I have the same problem i can manage to hit between 1090 - 1180 i got told not to worry about it too much im still eating the correct amount of protein fat carbs etc im even managing five a day and 2 lts of water which im shocked. So i suppose as long as your near to the target i would stress about it too much although stress is suppose to release a chemical in the body which burns more cals!!!!:smile:
  • registers
    registers Posts: 782 Member
    I have the same problem i can manage to hit between 1090 - 1180 i got told not to worry about it too much im still eating the correct amount of protein fat carbs etc im even managing five a day and 2 lts of water which im shocked. So i suppose as long as your near to the target i would stress about it too much although stress is suppose to release a chemical in the body which burns more cals!!!!:smile:

    It's GH that is released, along with adrenaline. Very powerful combo. It boils down to this "are you losing weight?" if Yes then keep doing what you're doing, if you're not, reassess what you're doing.
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