Is this even worth it?
SamanthaLouiseMence
Posts: 663 Member
Since I've started dieting (not just joining this app) I've watched what I eat, I count my calorie intake, I watch how much sugar, salt, fat and protein I eat, I exercise everyday… even if it's just walking for an hour or two. My clothes are too big for me know, but when I look in the mirror I think I look bigger!!! So is it even working?
Plus, I've cut out all junk foods, take-always, alcohol, fizzy drinks, basically all the crap I used to have in my diet, but I'm starving all the time… to the point where I'm feeling physically sick!
I don't talk to my friends and family about it cos they just tell me I'm wasting my time in doing this, once you've gained you'll never loose it ect (that's just the way they think tbh)
Does anyone else feel like they're starving even though they're eating?
I don't think I'll be doing this much longer if this is how it makes you physically feel
Plus, I've cut out all junk foods, take-always, alcohol, fizzy drinks, basically all the crap I used to have in my diet, but I'm starving all the time… to the point where I'm feeling physically sick!
I don't talk to my friends and family about it cos they just tell me I'm wasting my time in doing this, once you've gained you'll never loose it ect (that's just the way they think tbh)
Does anyone else feel like they're starving even though they're eating?
I don't think I'll be doing this much longer if this is how it makes you physically feel
0
Replies
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Did you weigh yourself and take body measurements? Have they changed? You can't trust the mirror.
Do you have a reasonable weight loss goal? If you are 50 lbs or less overweight then losing .5- 1 lb a week is reasonable. 2 lbs a week is only reasonable if you are 50+ lbs overweight. 1200 is the minimum reccomended calories per day for women and 1500 for men. With MFP you are supposed to eat some of the calories you earn from exercise.
You should not be feeling horrible or starving all the time. Eat enough calories to fuel your body. Eat enough protein, fats and fiber to help feel satisfied. Drink water. You don't have to cut out a bunch of foods just consume the right amount of calories for your activity level. Eat in a way you can sustain for life.
I've lost 25 lbs and am 9 lbs from a healthy weight for my height now. It has made a big difference in the quality of my life. I used to be in pain all the time, out of breath, have trouble keeping up with my family. I feel good now. Lots more energy. I am not hungry all the time.2 -
You've taken the approach that most dieters do, which is one of restrictive eating along with the thinking that the above is "crap". The reality is food is neither good nor bad, it's just different in nutritional values for the calories provided. You can eat pizza, you just have to account for the calories.Since I've started dieting (not just joining this app) I've watched what I eat, I count my calorie intake, I watch how much sugar, salt, fat and protein I eat, I exercise everyday… even if it's just walking for an hour or two. My clothes are too big for me know, but when I look in the mirror I think I look bigger!!! So is it even working?
Plus, I've cut out all junk foods, take-always, alcohol, fizzy drinks, basically all the crap I used to have in my diet, but I'm starving all the time… to the point where I'm feeling physically sick!
I don't talk to my friends and family about it cos they just tell me I'm wasting my time in doing this, once you've gained you'll never loose it ect (that's just the way they think tbh)
Does anyone else feel like they're starving even though they're eating?
I don't think I'll be doing this much longer if this is how it makes you physically feel
Eat what you like WITHIN calorie restriction. It WILL MEAN eating much smaller portions of it, but honestly because of the way the advertising works with food, people think more is better.
I eat whatever I want, I just make sure NOT to exceed my calorie allotment per day.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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I need to loose over 50lbs, I haven't been on the scales this week as I'm not at home, I'm away for a mini break with family, at first I was thinking maybe it's because I can smell the foods that they're all eating, which is completely different to what I eat, but it shouldn't be making me feel sick
I don't tend to eat over 1,200 regardless of any exercise I do, but eating just fruit and veg with the odd chicken here and there isn't working for me, I'm gonna have to either find another alternitive or just stop calorie counting I think x0 -
1200 should be your NET calorie allotment. If you're exercising and only eating that much, then it's no wonder you're starving. Calorie counting works. It's the basis of ALL weight loss programs regardless of whatever philosophy of eating approach they offer.
Again, you just have to figure out how to eat foods you actually like and have them fit into your daily intake.................which sounds like it's too low.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition 4 -
I need to loose over 50lbs, I haven't been on the scales this week as I'm not at home, I'm away for a mini break with family, at first I was thinking maybe it's because I can smell the foods that they're all eating, which is completely different to what I eat, but it shouldn't be making me feel sick
I don't tend to eat over 1,200 regardless of any exercise I do, but eating just fruit and veg with the odd chicken here and there isn't working for me, I'm gonna have to either find another alternitive or just stop calorie counting I think x
No wonder you're ready to give up. You are not eating enough. You need to fuel your body. And I certainly wouldn't listen to anyone that says it's not possible to lose weight. Reach out to people on here. Ninerbuff is a good start, and there are many other successful people who can give you encouragement to make this work for you in a way this sustainable.2 -
Someone had suggested to me that when if I start to feel hungry between meals then to drink a a couple pints of water and the hunger should go within half an hour… that doesn't sound like something I'd be willing todo tbh… but then again eating more doesn't really sound like it would help loose weight either
However… I think tomorrow I'm going to come at this with a different approach, bring some different foods into it and see if that helps a little bit, because I really want to loose this weight, but I'm not willing to feel sick, horrible and sluggish for it
Thanks guys x0 -
I've seen a lot of good responses to your post but I haven't really seen a true acknowledgement that you understand what others are trying to tell you. I hope I am wrong, and you are not just looking for motivation to move forward on a quest for some type of secret method.3
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This process can absolutely be worth it, but being hungry to the point of being physically sick is no good. You deserve not to be miserable through all of this!
The first thing I would suggest is resetting your calorie goals. Have you tried rerunning your numbers to see if you can find a goal that works better for you? http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/819055/setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets/p12 -
20yearsyounger wrote: »I've seen a lot of good responses to your post but I haven't really seen a true acknowledgement that you understand what others are trying to tell you. I hope I am wrong, and you are not just looking for motivation to move forward on a quest for some type of secret method.
I understand what they are saying and no, I'm not looking for motivation for some secret method, this was a genuine question from me and what I posted is 100% true. I posted this to see if anyone else was feeling the way I am because it doesn't seem right to me, there was something off about it
Now I know that it's not right to feel like that and I intend to take everyone's advice and try some of the things they have said2 -
20yearsyounger wrote: »I've seen a lot of good responses to your post but I haven't really seen a true acknowledgement that you understand what others are trying to tell you. I hope I am wrong, and you are not just looking for motivation to move forward on a quest for some type of secret method.
I understand what they are saying and no, I'm not looking for motivation for some secret method, this was a genuine question from me and what I posted is 100% true. I posted this to see if anyone else was feeling the way I am because it doesn't seem right to me, there was something off about it
Now I know that it's not right to feel like that and I intend to take everyone's advice and try some of the things they have said
Ok, just making sure.0 -
I'm never hungry, much less starving.
I've greatly enjoyed the process of finding food nutritionally sound that I enjoy.2 -
How long have you been at this? It doesn't sound like very long to me? Of course, you are going to feel different and so is your body, until you find the right formula.0
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I've been dieting for around a month I've only been feeling like this for a few days thoughBiggDaddy58 wrote: »How long have you been at this? It doesn't sound like very long to me? Of course, you are going to feel different and so is your body, until you find the right formula.
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Yes to your question about feeling hungry even though I've been eating. This usually only happens when I don't eat a nutrtionally balanced meal ... too low in calories or when the macros are way out of whack.
For example, I will be hungry very shortly if I have a muffin for breakfast but will feel satisfied for hours if I have an egg sandwich instead. Also, if I only eat a raw salad at lunch I will be very hungry in short order even if the salad was full of lettuces, but if I add some tuna fish or a couple ounces of meat to that salad, I will be able to sail through until an early dinner. Also, if I have fruit, I find that I will feel hungry soon after for another piece if I eat the fruit as a snack but not when the fruit is part of a meal.
I have also found that I do better when my meals are generally about the same calorie wise from one meal to the next.
And for your question about is it worth it ... yes it is. I have learned that by logging my food and then used the notes section of the page to write in comments that I was able to better pin-point connections between how I felt and responded to the foods I ate. It made it a more complete diary that I could look back on so I didn't have to resort to my memory, which is not reliable.
As a diabetic, I also use the note section, or have added 'food' to my list that are not about food at all but help me track qucikly without using the notes section ... just more time logging. For example, time of meal, pre-meal blood glucose reading, post-meal blood glucose reading (1 hour or 2 hour). I also log the amount of water/liquid I consume right into my food log. This method has helped me, but it is a lot of logging.
Just one more item .... eat enough food to cover your base needs after you've figured in the exercise calorie expenditure ... some people call that NET calories in. For example, if you eat 1200 calories a day and then exercise hard for 60 minutes, you need to eat some more.4 -
Since I've started dieting (not just joining this app) I've watched what I eat, I count my calorie intake, I watch how much sugar, salt, fat and protein I eat, I exercise everyday… even if it's just walking for an hour or two. My clothes are too big for me know, but when I look in the mirror I think I look bigger!!! So is it even working?
Plus, I've cut out all junk foods, take-always, alcohol, fizzy drinks, basically all the crap I used to have in my diet, but I'm starving all the time… to the point where I'm feeling physically sick!
I don't talk to my friends and family about it cos they just tell me I'm wasting my time in doing this, once you've gained you'll never loose it ect (that's just the way they think tbh)
Does anyone else feel like they're starving even though they're eating?
I don't think I'll be doing this much longer if this is how it makes you physically feel
Don't give up! There are changes you can make so you aren't hungry all the time, like eating more fiber or protein. Some people say eating more carbs keeps them fuller, and for others it's fat. Find what works for YOU. In my case, a high fiber, high protein breakfast with some healthful fat keeps me full for the longest time. I can post my favorite breakfast smoothie recipe if you're interested.
Drinking water to combat hunger, as mentioned by your friend, works for me, so it might be worth a try. Eight to 10 ounces (a large glass) does it in my case.
Your clothes are looser so you have proof that something is working. Please note, though, that it might take time for your brain to catch up with your body. Some people find that even after losing weight they still feel fat. That happened to me. I lost about 40 pounds but still felt and saw myself at my starting weight for the longest time.
Hang in there! Be patient with yourself! You've got this!
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20yearsyounger wrote: »I've seen a lot of good responses to your post but I haven't really seen a true acknowledgement that you understand what others are trying to tell you. I hope I am wrong, and you are not just looking for motivation to move forward on a quest for some type of secret method.
I understand what they are saying and no, I'm not looking for motivation for some secret method, this was a genuine question from me and what I posted is 100% true. I posted this to see if anyone else was feeling the way I am because it doesn't seem right to me, there was something off about it
Now I know that it's not right to feel like that and I intend to take everyone's advice and try some of the things they have said
It can be very frustrating! I have tried many different things and never found much success. I went to a nutrition doctor who had me increase my protein to 80-100 grams per day. I am a vegetarian so I found this a little overwhelming. I have started using protein shakes (read labels for low fat, sugar, etc). I use JNB confidence with unsweetened almond milk for breakfast and lunch. That's 50 grams of protein and only 340 calories. Then I snack on almonds, hard boiled eggs, fruit, veggies, salad. I then eat a low carb protein dinner. I'm never hungry and have lost 25 lbs. After the first month I lost 15 lbs. I do not feel like I am dieting. If I want to have lunch with a friend, I just drink my shake for dinner instead. I really try to track my calories throughout the day. I also try to save enough for a glass of wine at night because that's what I enjoy. Good luck!
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Someone had suggested to me that when if I start to feel hungry between meals then to drink a a couple pints of water and the hunger should go within half an hour… that doesn't sound like something I'd be willing todo tbh… but then again eating more doesn't really sound like it would help loose weight either
However… I think tomorrow I'm going to come at this with a different approach, bring some different foods into it and see if that helps a little bit, because I really want to loose this weight, but I'm not willing to feel sick, horrible and sluggish for it
Thanks guys x
Your stomach does not know the difference between food and water so drinking lots of water will fill your stomach and tell your brain you are not hungry anymore.
You still need to keep to a calorie controlled eating (dont think of it as a DIET) but drinking plenty of water will stop you feeling hungry between meals.
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Someone had suggested to me that when if I start to feel hungry between meals then to drink a a couple pints of water and the hunger should go within half an hour… that doesn't sound like something I'd be willing todo tbh… but then again eating more doesn't really sound like it would help loose weight either
However… I think tomorrow I'm going to come at this with a different approach, bring some different foods into it and see if that helps a little bit, because I really want to loose this weight, but I'm not willing to feel sick, horrible and sluggish for it
Thanks guys x
Your stomach does not know the difference between food and water so drinking lots of water will fill your stomach and tell your brain you are not hungry anymore.
You still need to keep to a calorie controlled eating (dont think of it as a DIET) but drinking plenty of water will stop you feeling hungry between meals.
Unless you truly are hungry from not eating enough0 -
I found that eating a lot of protein works for me. As mentioned before, water is great as a filler. I generally eat a couple of hard boiled eggs in the am which keeps me going until late afternoon. Generally, tuna on a couple of slices of whol2
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Couple slices of whole wheat bread with tuna works good as well.3
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I suggest you give a little 100 g raw jicama a try. It's a root. It's lightly sweet. It's crunchy. 100 g gives you 5 mg fiber and in my experience provides satiety for several hours for less than 50 calories.2
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diannethegeek wrote: »This process can absolutely be worth it, but being hungry to the point of being physically sick is no good. You deserve not to be miserable through all of this!
The first thing I would suggest is resetting your calorie goals. Have you tried rerunning your numbers to see if you can find a goal that works better for you? http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/819055/setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets/p1
Yes!!!! Check this out. You need to understand how a calorie deficit works for you in relation to intake and exercise. MFP gives you a base # of calories when you enter your activity level (no exercise included in this), then you eat more if you exercise. There is no reason you cannot lose weight without feeling like crap. I drink water constantly over the course of the day and very seldom feel hungry.1 -
are you eating any carbs? i certainly found that if i had say chicken and salad leaves for lunch i would be very hungry in a couple of hours-however adding in a small piece of bread etc would make a huge difference.
also, i've personally got my settings to 1 lb a week as it means i can eat more. Whilst i may lose weight slower, it's not hard because i don't feel deprived - i would highly recommend that approach!1 -
JeromeBarry1 wrote: »I suggest you give a little 100 g raw jicama a try. It's a root. It's lightly sweet. It's crunchy. 100 g gives you 5 mg fiber and in my experience provides satiety for several hours for less than 50 calories.
I love jicama! Slice it thin, spritz it with fresh lime juice, add a pinch of salt and cayenne pepper.... Now I have to see if I can buy a jicama!0 -
I need to loose over 50lbs, I haven't been on the scales this week as I'm not at home, I'm away for a mini break with family, at first I was thinking maybe it's because I can smell the foods that they're all eating, which is completely different to what I eat, but it shouldn't be making me feel sick
I don't tend to eat over 1,200 regardless of any exercise I do, but eating just fruit and veg with the odd chicken here and there isn't working for me, I'm gonna have to either find another alternitive or just stop calorie counting I think x
1,200 is the minimum recommended calories to get enough nutrition and calories to function. You are supposed to eat some of those exercise calories too. You feel sick and hungry because you are not eating enough. You can lose weight while eating more calories and not feel horrible. It takes time to lose 50+ lbs. You need to do sustainable things for long term weight loss and maintenance.
I pretty much eat the same foods I always did just in appropriate portion sizes for my goal. My calorie goal is currently 1,200 and my diary is public. I eat exercise calories. My starting calorie goal was 1,340 to lose 1 lb per week but dropped as I lost weight. Starting at 1,200 would have been very difficult.
I drink water or unsweetened tea and save calories for food.
This is how I typically eat:
Breakfast- things like Greek yogurt, granola bars, cereal with milk, sandwich, dinner leftovers, fruit, cottage cheese (about 200-300 calories)
Lunch- sandwich, salad, or dinner leftovers (about 300-500 calories)
Dinner- something different every night of the month. (about 500-600 calories) I have soup once a week usually.
Snacks- things like fruit, chips, popcorn, pretzels, chocolate, cookies, granola bar, carrots, celery, broccoli, trail mix, deviled eggs, pickles, cottage cheese (about 100-300 calories)
I post recipes and my monthly dinner plan on my blog. https://lounmoun.wordpress.com/
I find food ideas on Pinterest a lot.
http://www.budgetbytes.com
http://www.skinnytaste.com
http://www.allrecipes.com
http://www.ohsheglows.com
http://www.kalynskitchen.com/1 -
How many calories are you eating? Google bmr calculator to find out how many calories you should be eating a day. Sounds like you are eating too few if you are starving. Eat foods higher in proteins to fill you up.. And most fruits and veggies are very low in calories so you could always have extra of that stuff... Its hard and it does suck at times but you CAN do it! Do not listen to anyone telling you otherwise!2
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