Grumper Pants

JonoK
JonoK Posts: 147 Member
edited September 29 in Food and Nutrition
For the past several months that I have been working on this weight of mine, I have noticed that I get annoyed/frustrated easily with life. Perhaps it's the job, perhaps it's my life situation or stage, but I find that I am easily annoyed and typically it is about stupid things that I use to just let roll off. I use to be so easy going - but now many things have changed this, including my diet style.

My primary suspicion is the lack of Calorie intake. My wife has taken to calling me 'grumper pants' because I get in off moods over stupid things and don't realize it til later on in the day. The other problem is that my family has a known history with low-blood sugar levels and although I'd like to think I don't struggle with it, I know I do.

Right now, I eat a sensible breakfast, "snacking" for lunch meaning something light (200 cal max per) at 11:00 am and again at 2:30 pm, and then a sensible and calorie light meal in the evenings, around 6:30 pm. This along with 8 cups of water and calorie-free drinks. I also workout/exercise at least once a day for 45 minutes to an hour at least.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? Have to found a solution that works for you? I am moving towards my weight goals which I am super excited about but I am definitely battling other beasts at the same time.

Your suggestions and experiences are invaluable. Please feel free to share.

Replies

  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    EAT!! :laugh:

    Seriously. Losing at a slower rate and being happy whilst doing it is the way to go!

    Good luck and WELCOME!:flowerforyou:
  • ChantalGG
    ChantalGG Posts: 2,404 Member
    How many calories are you netting?
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,031 Member
    EAT!! :laugh:

    Seriously. Losing at a slower rate and being happy whilst doing it is the way to go!

    Good luck and WELCOME!:flowerforyou:
    :drinker:
  • JonoK
    JonoK Posts: 147 Member
    How many calories are you netting?

    Typically 1200 plus whatever I burn during a work out. I'm not typically 'hungry'.....just grumppers
  • sass30
    sass30 Posts: 355 Member
    I get seriously cranky when I am hungry and when I have low blood sugar. I mean extremely cranky. Eat more!
  • tammyquinnlmt
    tammyquinnlmt Posts: 680 Member
    Add complex carbs with your protien. It will help your body maintain a more even blood sugar level. Quinoa, brown rice, sweet potatoes..starchy vegetables. Hope that helps.
  • Samantharose8akaDebbie
    Samantharose8akaDebbie Posts: 407 Member
    I'm curious about the amount of calories as well, especially if you are working out. What types of snacks are you eating? Are they "good enough" to maintain your blood sugar until your next meal? I have dealt with blood sugar issues too and they will send you all over the board with mood swings.
  • Samantharose8akaDebbie
    Samantharose8akaDebbie Posts: 407 Member
    1200 is too low for a man.........are you doing the recommended weight loss here?
  • Awake_Alive
    Awake_Alive Posts: 261 Member
    I was feeling the same way, and I agree with everyone else...EAT!

    I have small meals every 3 hours or so. Instead of having a bigger breakfast, I cut it in half, then eat again in a few hours. A few hours later, a good size salad, then a few hours after that, some protein. Etc. etc...etc.. It keeps my blood sugar stable (sounds like that is important for you!) which also aids in steadier loss.

    Good luck!!
  • theflyingartist
    theflyingartist Posts: 385 Member
    I know how you feel! I often have days where I go over what my daily allowances are whilst only feeling somewhat satisfied.
    One thing that helps me is figuring out what it is that I am hungry for, when the time does come to eat.
    So, asking something like,
    "What specifically do I what?" I.E., I might answer with "french fries."
    OK, cool. Then I ask, "What sounds good about french fries?" I'll answer, "SALT!"
    Then, viola, I can go and eat anything salty and I've made my logical mind happy as well as my sensory mind. And I proceed to pop popcorn, or eat pickles, or have a handful of tortilla chips.

    Worth a shot, maybe! :smile:
  • Mandired78
    Mandired78 Posts: 69
    I have been grumpy on this weight loss journey as well. For me, I have always been an emotional eater and that is how I "coped" after a hard day-eat until the seratonin kicked on and I felt calm. Now I have to deal with the tough times without food, and sometimes it's really rough.

    Best of luck to you!
  • vdavis_89
    vdavis_89 Posts: 334
    I get seriously cranky when I am hungry and when I have low blood sugar. I mean extremely cranky. Eat more!

    Same here! My fiance told me that if I get too grumpy with this "lifestyle change" hes gonna duct tape me and toss me in the closest lol I think its important to realize whats making you grumpy ... i know that not eating makes me grumpy so wheni feel myself getting gumpy I eat a little bit :)
  • pcteck2
    pcteck2 Posts: 184 Member
    For a guy 1200 calories does not seem like enough. You should probably have a base more like 1800. Don't know your stats, but that's my take. You need to EAT.:smile:
  • JonoK
    JonoK Posts: 147 Member
    You want to know something really weird? After I work out, I don't feel like eating. I can want to eat everything in site, and then I work out with Jillian Michael's or take a hard bike ride and once done, i am more interested in showering then I am about the fridge.

    I know, I'm a weird-o. :)
  • Hollycat
    Hollycat Posts: 372
    If you have low blood sugar issues, then you probably need to eat often - every 2 or 3 hours - to keep it on an even keel. I've gone from hypoglycemic to pre-diabetic over the years by NOT following my own advice, so I know whereof I speak. [I do follow my advice now.] If you're watching calories, that means 100 to 300 calories every 2 or 3 hours...sounds like you're taking longish breaks in between breakfast and morning snack - 4 hours? and then between 2:30 and dinner and then in the evenings...is that when you get called GrumperPants? :tongue:

    Anyway, you might consider changing your schedule a bit....I follow what I call the 100/500 plan. 100 calories for mid morning, afternoon and evening snacks and up to 500 calories for 'meals'. I try to make sure I eat every 3 hours. For example, breakfast at 7:15, snack at 10:00, lunch at noon, snack at 3:00, dinner at 6:00, snack at 8:00. I realize that's not always possible, but I find eating this way almost eliminates hunger and keeps my blood sugar regulated. Sometimes i reserve more calories for the evening and have 2 or even 3 small snacks spaced out over the evening. I am an evening eater and I figure why fight it? Yes, I know that eating a heftier breakfast and eating less throughout the day is optimal for weight loss, but my body is different and if I don't want to be called GrumperPants, that's what I plan for. :ohwell:

    Anyway, food for thought. :wink:

    Hollycat
    :flowerforyou:
  • RhonndaJ
    RhonndaJ Posts: 1,615 Member
    I don't know if it's any help or not but I can get quite short tempered if my meals aren't properly balanced with protein.
  • hroush
    hroush Posts: 2,073 Member
    I've read multiple accounts that "starvation mode" is closer to 1700-1800 for guys. My guess is that you have your loss rate set to 2 lbs a week, which it definitely should not be considering how close to your goal you are. It wouldn't surprise me if you are burning some muscle for your scale loss. Up the calories, up the protein, and lift weights.
  • Jenscan
    Jenscan Posts: 694 Member
    You're not eating enough - 1200 is way too low for a man. Bump your calories up, because you'll get grumpier when you stop losing weight due to your low calorie intake. :flowerforyou:
  • Hodar
    Hodar Posts: 338 Member
    I used to bike; a lot (100 lbs ago). I'm talking about taking 10-60 mile trips with my tent, camping gear, water and food all on my paniers. I really miss those days, alot.

    Long story short version ... when I felt grumpy and irritated, that was an indicator that I was what bikers call "Bonked". We carry a tube of a grape jelly paste for such emergencies. If you feel lousy, irritated and mad for little or no reason; that's your body's way of telling you that you are doing something very, very wrong. This is not a good thing.

    You NEED complex carbs. You didn't put this weight on in a couple months; don't even THINK about dropping it in a couple months - you'll regret it. It went on slow, so you have to learn to be patient, and take it off slow. I prefer to think of it this way.

    The reason that fad diets NEVER work, is because you are 'on' them; then you go back off them. You gain back whatever you lost, plus a few more for good measure. Why? Because you DID NOT change your eating habits and lifestyle. This is a lifestyle change, not a quick fix. So, learn to enjoy eating healthy; be content with slow, weight loss over time; be prepared for plateau's. Your body is the greatest instrument you will ever own. It's designed to keep fat; so if you were to lose a food source, you wouldn't die in a few days. Work with it, not against it - you'll be happier, healthier and able to maintain this lifestyle after you hit your goals.
  • deb1130
    deb1130 Posts: 38 Member
    That's actually not weird--pretty common. Exercise suppresses appetite for awhile. Probably to keep us from working out then pigging out then throwing up. :sick:

    You definitely need to learn more about handling blood sugar issues and eat more. I'm an old flabby lady & my daily net is 1200. Yours should be much higher. No wonder you're grumpy!
  • JonoK
    JonoK Posts: 147 Member
    Well, and bare in mind that this is the lightest I have been in 15 years. Although 27 lbs isn't a huge life change for many, it has really allowed me to feel better about my own self-image, which was the primary focus of my weight loss. It has also, as 'Hodar' mentioned, also taught me to change my habits - which I can't tell you how excited I am to get to my goal and progress to a 'sustain' mode.

    The problem I think many of us face is the desire to be healthy and do more. I won't call it guilt, but there is a drive inside me that has been awakened to be honest about my weight loss/gain. I now have decided that the excuse phase (15 years) is over and I now need to do this for myself.

    Keep it coming people. I love to hear about your struggles and successes. Community really does make the burdens lighter.
  • shellybsn
    shellybsn Posts: 57 Member
    Quit beating yourself up!!!!! Give your body a break! It will quite happliy lose the weight if you don't starve it to death. You require carbs, protein and fat to maintain normal body functions, including regulating mood. If you're short changing yourself on calories, your body and mind are going to be getting pissed off! You may find it easier to lose the weight a little slower by following the program and eating all your alloted calories. Try it for even just 2 weeks and see if your wife is happier and if it's not easier to handle the rest of life's issues!
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