Can you really lose weight and not feel hungry?

angella_jacobs93
angella_jacobs93 Posts: 54 Member
edited 12:41AM in Food and Nutrition
I am on a 1200 calorie/day plan and I never really feel satisfied so I am constantly going over. I also do not really feel 1200 is enough for me because I am also currently breastfeeding my son (he is also on solid food). Is it normal to still feel hungry? Or do I need to up my calorie intake?

I am 155lbs (and have been for months now)
I am 5'1"
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Replies

  • melimomTARDIS
    melimomTARDIS Posts: 1,941 Member
    i have no idea how much you should be eating being that short, and nursing. however, i have good luck controlling my hunger when i eat a large percentage of my calories from protein.
  • angella_jacobs93
    angella_jacobs93 Posts: 54 Member
    i have good luck controlling my hunger when i eat a large percentage of my calories from protein.[/quote]
    Thank you I will keep this in mind :)

  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    What does MFP give you if you select 1 lb per week loss?
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Shouldn't you not be consuming such a little amount while breast feeding?
  • angella_jacobs93
    angella_jacobs93 Posts: 54 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    Shouldn't you not be consuming such a little amount while breast feeding?

    I did not think so..
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    Shouldn't you not be consuming such a little amount while breast feeding?

    I did not think so..

    Someone else will come in and help ha. 1200 is very little, I'm pretty sure you need more whether you're breast feeding or not.
  • melimomTARDIS
    melimomTARDIS Posts: 1,941 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    Shouldn't you not be consuming such a little amount while breast feeding?
    arditarose wrote: »
    Shouldn't you not be consuming such a little amount while breast feeding?

    when i was nursing i ate pretty good sized meals, and was snacking in between. im gonna hazard a guess... i was probably eating 2000 per day or so at the time. i am 5'4 though.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    I'd be starving on 1200 calories too - that's such a low amount. I'm sure the breastfeeding doesn't help.
  • angella_jacobs93
    angella_jacobs93 Posts: 54 Member
    Well my son is almost a year old so we are not exclusively nursing. I guess MFP does not give recommendations for extra calories for breastfeeding mums because it really depends, everyone's situation is different. I looked it up and it said an extra 500 cal. a day but that seems very high.
  • angella_jacobs93
    angella_jacobs93 Posts: 54 Member
    and I am obviously not losing weight with what I have been doing...so I am not sure.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Well my son is almost a year old so we are not exclusively nursing. I guess MFP does not give recommendations for extra calories for breastfeeding mums because it really depends, everyone's situation is different. I looked it up and it said an extra 500 cal. a day but that seems very high.

    1700 seems high? God I wish I felt that way.

    Are you weighing your food on a food scale?
  • angella_jacobs93
    angella_jacobs93 Posts: 54 Member
    I have not but when I log everything and I am around 1500-1600 I feel really guilty and like I overate. It may be because I am very small framed (under all my fats).
  • alias1001
    alias1001 Posts: 634 Member
    edited October 2015
    1200 is doable for this height (I'm 5' 1/2"). Took about three weeks to adjust. Can't account for breast feeding, though.
  • angella_jacobs93
    angella_jacobs93 Posts: 54 Member
    I have not been weighing my food.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    I have not but when I log everything and I am around 1500-1600 I feel really guilty and like I overate. It may be because I am very small framed (under all my fats).

    Yeah. You don't know how much you're truly eating until you get a food scale. If you're not losing (and it's been over 3-4 weeks), you're eating at maintenance.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    1200 is doable foe this height (I'm 5' 1/2"). Took about three weeks to adjust. Can't account for breast feeding, though.

    Yeah, the breast feeding is what I'm concerned about. I don't know anything about babies and mommies.
  • Four_Leaf_Clover
    Four_Leaf_Clover Posts: 332 Member
    I would definitely suggest weighing and measuring all of your food - every bite. I didn't use MFP back when I was nursing, so I can't say from personal experience, but I have seen other moms log breastfeeding as exercise (around 50-75 calories burned). If you are only nursing say at bedtime or 1-2x per day, I would add 100 calories to your goal. Staying full at 1200 requires careful attention to macros - gotta get a good amount of protein, a little fat, and bulk up with lots of veggies. GL!
  • RoseTheWarrior
    RoseTheWarrior Posts: 2,035 Member
    I suggest because you're nursing, that you talk to your doctor or a dietician about a recommended calorie goal. I'm pretty sure you use a lot of calories breast feeding.
  • mwyvr
    mwyvr Posts: 1,883 Member
    Can you really lose weight and not feel hungry?

    Yes.

    Can you really lose weight and not feel hungry while breast feeding?

    No idea!
  • Yi5hedr3
    Yi5hedr3 Posts: 2,696 Member
    You need an additional 500-600 calories a day, just for breastfeeding milk production. You are starving yourself and baby. Eat more!
  • Ginnygirl5
    Ginnygirl5 Posts: 55 Member
    1200 cals is not enough while your breast feeding! I would go to my doc and just talk with them. Good luck
  • Becka4Real
    Becka4Real Posts: 1,527 Member
    Sometimes losing weight is not a matter of just eating less. We need to be using the fuel we take in. You shouldn't have to feel hungry ALL the time when losing weight. Consider 1)weighing your food to be sure exactly how many calories you are actually eating 2) Increase your calories by a 200-300 for two weeks to see how that affects your weight 3) Increase your activity and strength train to build more lean mass so that you burn more at rest
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I am on a 1200 calorie/day plan and I never really feel satisfied so I am constantly going over. I also do not really feel 1200 is enough for me because I am also currently breastfeeding my son (he is also on solid food). Is it normal to still feel hungry? Or do I need to up my calorie intake?

    I am 155lbs (and have been for months now)
    I am 5'1"

    I'm not hungry all the time with my calorie goal. Still lost weight.

    You could change your goal to lose less each week and be more comfortable.
    You could change the type of food you eat. Eat more protein, fats and fiber to help feel more satisfied. Drink more water.
    If you haven't been losing for 3 weeks or more, check your logging accuracy. Weigh and measure and log everything.Make sure the entries you choose are accurate too.

    http://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/11477-if-i-am-breastfeeding-or-nursing-how-do-i-adjust-my-goals-
  • ChantalBremner
    ChantalBremner Posts: 5 Member
    It totally depends on what you eat. I previously weighted about 240lbs and I'm 5'5. I obviously had a large calorie intake. In the past month I suddenly changed my calorie intake to 1200 a day, and have lost 20lbs so far. You won't be hungry if you eat lots of protein. For example, for breakfast I'll have a hard boiled egg and a Greek yogurt. Both have lots of protein and keep me full, longer. Drinking lots of water throughout the day also keeps you full and keeps the cravings away. And for lunch and supper I usually have chicken, because it's my favourite and some veggies, with a fruit for dessert. I mean, it's trial and error for everyone to see what works for you, but eat protein and you'll feel full longer.
  • Cevalite
    Cevalite Posts: 9 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    I have not but when I log everything and I am around 1500-1600 I feel really guilty and like I overate. It may be because I am very small framed (under all my fats).

    Yeah. You don't know how much you're truly eating until you get a food scale. If you're not losing (and it's been over 3-4 weeks), you're eating at maintenance.

    YES! Food scale is a must! $20 for the black Ozeri model on Amazon. Works like a charm and takes all the guess work out of it. It might seem way too tedious at first, but after awhile you might enjoy doing it (I do!).

    Also, you shouldn't feel hungry ALL the time, but some of the time you might :( I believe from an evolutionary standpoint we are MEANT to experience some hunger throughout the day. This is why these people who put themselves in major calorie deficit as a lifestyle live longer. There is mounting scientific evidence for the benefits of fasting too on disease prevention and longer lifespan. I'm not saying you should fast or practice mega calorie deficit (I certainly don't), but changing your thinking to accept that, yes, you might need to distract yourself for that last hour before your next planned meal makes it easier. Every other animal in the animal kingdom lives with that gnawing feeling without the ability to go to the fridge and quell it every time. Humans are capable too!

    Breastfeeding is different, though, I'd talk to your OBGYN.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    Shouldn't you not be consuming such a little amount while breast feeding?

    I did not think so..

    I would discuss how much you should be eating with your OB/GYN and pediatrician. You need expert advice on how much to eat.
  • Ang108
    Ang108 Posts: 1,711 Member
    I am on a 1200 calorie/day plan and I never really feel satisfied so I am constantly going over. I also do not really feel 1200 is enough for me because I am also currently breastfeeding my son (he is also on solid food). Is it normal to still feel hungry? Or do I need to up my calorie intake?

    I am 155lbs (and have been for months now)
    I am 5'1" [/quote

    I have been eating 1200 calories since April 2013 and have never had hunger pangs. But I am not surprised that you do. I am under 4' 11" tall and almost 70 years old. I have a completely different lifestyle than you I assume with a different activity level ( even though walking for exercise, walking twice a day with the dog, walking to and from the store/bus/subway and taking care of my home and garden do not make me exactly sedentary ) that is different from yours. I do fine on 1200 calories and have lost 65 plus pounds.
    I do however think that 1200 calories is not enough for you even if you were not breast feeding. I would talk to a nutrition specialist, or maybe go slowly and increase my calories by 100 a week and try for a few weeks to see what happens. My maintenance is only 1439 so I don't have a lot of margin and with a 239 calorie deficit have been losing slowly, but I bet you have a much wider margin and can eat more and still lose, if that is your goal.
    Good Luck !
  • hamlet1222
    hamlet1222 Posts: 459 Member
    Can you lose weight without feeling hungry? In my experience, yes and no, some days when I'm busy I just don't think about it, and don't feel hungry - other days (usually weekends) I struggle. I suspect getting my meal frequency/quantity/timing right will help a lot, but I've not found my magic formula yet.

    What I try to do when I'm on my calorie target and feeling hungry is to just keep saying to myself "at this very moment my body's fat stores are depleting, if I give in to the hunger I'll be storing more instead'. It doesn't always work of course, in fact I'm not sure it's ever worked.

    Just make sure 1200 calories is right for you, it sounds quite low to me, but if you're very petite then it might be ok. I maintain a deficit of 15-20% of my requirement (calculated by the formula on this website).

    Tea (any kind: black, green, fruit, cinnamon,...) does help hold off the hunger pangs quite well I find.
  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    Yes 1200 is too little while BF. When I was BF I had to add 500 calories a day for BF alone.
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