1210 calories and always hungry!

hazzaram
hazzaram Posts: 77 Member
edited November 16 in Health and Weight Loss
When I first started MFP, I was allotted 1500-1600 calories. I can't quite remember but I had no problem staying in it and staying full. As I've lost 25 pounds, MFP changed my calories to 1240 and now 1210. I've been struggling to stay within my 1210 budget. I am always hungry now and I feel frustrated because of it. I've cheated a lot lately and I feel guilty over it.

I don't eat that many veggies (I don't like them), so I can't load my meals up with them. I'm also not working out, I'm just trying to get a handle on my food first. Once it warms up (I live in Ontario, Canada - brr!), I'm going to start long walks.

Any tips? I feel like this isn't a lot of calories and I hate feeling so frustrated :(

My stats:

Female, 28
5'3"
Currently 235 pounds
Activity level is sedentary (I work as a cashier, 8 hours of standing but not much movement)
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Replies

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited March 2017
    This content has been removed.
  • whosaiditwaseasy
    whosaiditwaseasy Posts: 19 Member
    Is there any kind of exercise u can do at home? Resistance bands? Body weight? Both of these can be quite effective at getting your heart rate up, burning calories and increasing lean muscle. This will then give u a little more calories and also improve overall health.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • catherineignews
    catherineignews Posts: 3 Member
    When it comes to not liking veggies: can you fool yourself with smoothies? Baby spinach, with an orange, a banana and some ginger makes a great smoothie, full of fiber. Add a scoop of protein powder and you've got a sweet, tasty, low calorie high nutrition breakfast meal that will keep you super full. Yummy - I swear!

    I am full - easily- on a 1200-1300 cal day that is sugar free, alcohol-free and nutrient packed. I don't have to try if I'm eating really healthy stufff... but I lose desperately (not weight!) with sweets and wine!! The empty calories kill my goals...

    I found that doing a month on a Whole30 really helped me reframe the whole "liking veggies" thing and reprogrammed my taste buds to avoid sugars, empty carbs, refined foods, etc. Might be worth a try to help get your food more veggie based. (And maybe help with not feeling hungry all the time!) hang in there and keep fighting the good fight! You are so worth it!!!
  • hazzaram
    hazzaram Posts: 77 Member
    edited March 2017
    malibu927 - I don't know if I feel comfortable with that. As it stands, I've got 100 pounds to lose. I feel like it would take forever if I lower it to 1.5 or 1 pound per week. Is that crazy?

    leanjogreen18 - I've definitely been playing around with how to distribute my food. I've also cut out breakfast. I'm not hungry until around noon-1 and I tend to binge at night, so I save my calories for a good sized lunch and a large dinner. That way I'm full and don't feel the urge to binge. That's how I was successful in the beginning but I've sort of curved away from that out of laziness. I think it's something I need to start doing again.


    catherineignews - I have tried smoothies. I found a really yummy protein shake with strawberries and protein powder that tastes like a strawberry milkshake. It definitely curves cravings and it's about 350 calories but I found that if I had it for lunch it didn't fill me. I wish it did because it's delicious. No greens in it though, lol. I LIKE green smoothies, my issue is they don't fill me and the ingredients can be expensive. Maybe it's something I need to pursue again. I used to make them with spinach and avocado.

  • leanjogreen18
    leanjogreen18 Posts: 2,492 Member
    As for veggies any chance you can doctor them a little to help?

    I used to use ranch dressing (now bolthouse classic ranch dressing) and cheese to help my kids eat more. My son was vegan for 12 years as an adult (now pescatarian) so it worked:)

    My salad also is never just a garden salad. I add corn, beans, cheese, avocado's, seeds, croutons and chicken boca (veggie "meat" you could use chicken) to help flavor the salads. Hummus for dipping carrots, cauliflower or broccoli.

    Also maybe add veggies to your sandwich or taco's.

    I don't mean to "push" veggies on you but the fiber does help as well in keeping you satisfied. I agree with adding something like spinach or other veggies to your smoothie that masks the veggies as well.

    Also what are you binging on? Maybe those foods need to come out of the house for awhile and eat only when you go out to eat or in a single serving size?
  • Ejcejcejc
    Ejcejcejc Posts: 26 Member
    100+ ounces of water a day. More lean protein.
  • hazzaram
    hazzaram Posts: 77 Member
    edited March 2017
    leanjogreen18 wrote: »
    As for veggies any chance you can doctor them a little to help?

    I used to use ranch dressing (now bolthouse classic ranch dressing) and cheese to help my kids eat more. My son was vegan for 12 years as an adult (now pescatarian) so it worked:)

    My salad also is never just a garden salad. I add corn, beans, cheese, avocado's, seeds, croutons and chicken boca (veggie "meat" you could use chicken) to help flavor the salads. Hummus for dipping carrots, cauliflower or broccoli.

    Also maybe add veggies to your sandwich or taco's.

    I don't mean to "push" veggies on you but the fiber does help as well in keeping you satisfied. I agree with adding something like spinach or other veggies to your smoothie that masks the veggies as well.

    Also what are you binging on? Maybe those foods need to come out of the house for awhile and eat only when you go out to eat or in a single serving size?

    I don't feel pushed. You're definitely right. My issue with veggies is texture and taste. I've posted here before and a few people mentioned I might be a supertaster. I only like veggies soft and mushy (which is why salads are out unfortunately) and I have to eat them disguised because I find them so bitter, whether roasted, steamed etc. I also don't like many sauces. I usually try to hide veggies in the sauces I do like or blend/grate them up and put them in things like meatloaf. It makes me sound like a kid but it's the only way I can consume them without gagging, lol.

    Binging is sweets. Cookies, cupcakes, chocolate. I actually DON'T keep them in the house but when I'm grocery shopping I end up picking something up even if I have a list with me. I need to strengthen my will for sure.
  • annacole94
    annacole94 Posts: 994 Member
    I'll also suggest soups. I like pureed soups (which takes care of the texture issue) and you can do sweeter bases, like sweet potato, sauteed onion, and carrot. Some suggestions:
    http://www.superhealthykids.com/sweet-potato-apple-soup/
    http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2009/03/curried-cauliflower-soup-with-honey-recipe.html
    http://www.skinnytaste.com/baked-potato-soup/
    http://allrecipes.com/recipe/14132/black-bean-and-salsa-soup/

    Raising your calories a bit is also a great idea. You can kick it up with exercise when you're ready (I hear you on winter being the worst).
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I agree with raising your calories and losing at a slower rate
    I know you'd like to lose faster but if it isn't sustainable for you to eat 1210 calories then you will not last long enough to lose 100 lbs. You are already going over your calorie goal often.
    Also 1200 is the minimum calorie goal. That can be hard to stick to without eating vegetables or exercising.
    Do what is manageable and sustainable long term.
  • monicaw44
    monicaw44 Posts: 71 Member
    @hazzaram youre not four years old, you should be eating your vegetables. that being said putting vegetables in your diet will make you full without the sugars, fats, and carbs (some vegs have carbs but very low). its also healthy bc it gives your body nutrients that it needs.
    your goal weight loss should be a pound a week, not more than 1.5 pounds a week.
  • SusanMFindlay
    SusanMFindlay Posts: 1,804 Member
    hazzaram wrote: »
    When I first started MFP, I was allotted 1500-1600 calories. I can't quite remember but I had no problem staying in it and staying full. As I've lost 25 pounds, MFP changed my calories to 1240 and now 1210. I've been struggling to stay within my 1210 budget. I am always hungry now and I feel frustrated because of it. I've cheated a lot lately and I feel guilty over it.

    I don't eat that many veggies (I don't like them), so I can't load my meals up with them. I'm also not working out, I'm just trying to get a handle on my food first. Once it warms up (I live in Ontario, Canada - brr!), I'm going to start long walks.

    Any tips? I feel like this isn't a lot of calories and I hate feeling so frustrated :(

    My stats:

    Female, 28
    5'3"
    Currently 235 pounds
    Activity level is sedentary (I work as a cashier, 8 hours of standing but not much movement)

    How long did it take you to lose the 25 pounds? I ask because if you're standing for 8 hours/day, you're not sedentary. Even if you're standing in one spot, standing burns more calories than sitting. I wouldn't go any higher than "lightly active" until you start getting those walks in, but I'm betting you lost weight faster than expected (based on actual intake - not goal intake) if you're going with the "sedentary" setting. That also explains why you're so hungry.
  • deviousme7
    deviousme7 Posts: 61 Member
    hazzaram wrote: »
    I've changed my diary to 1.5 lbs per week and 1460 calories. It already looks a lot easier, lol. I think I'll have much better luck with this.

    It's not luck, it's hard work, you make a lot of excuses, you need to find reasons to make it work (if that's what you really want?) instead of talking yourself out of it

  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    Think of it this way: you are already going over calories because you feel hungry on your current budget. this adds stress and frustration as well as more artificial hunger driven by a feeling of deprivation. You are effectively eating at a calorie level that does not allow you to lose 2 lbs per week due to adherence issues. If you lower your expectations you would have a larger budget, would feel more satisfied and less stressed, and you will be losing no slower than what you are already losing. There is a big difference between WANTING to lose at a certain rate and what is actually happening. Wanting to lose more and attempting to do it through stressing and white knuckling is not giving you any better results than if you set a more reasonable target.
  • CattOfTheGarage
    CattOfTheGarage Posts: 2,745 Member
    I agree with @SusanMFindlay that you should change your activity level to "lightly active" - standing up all day is not sedentary (by definition).
  • hazzaram
    hazzaram Posts: 77 Member
    SusanMFindlay wrote: »
    hazzaram wrote: »
    When I first started MFP, I was allotted 1500-1600 calories. I can't quite remember but I had no problem staying in it and staying full. As I've lost 25 pounds, MFP changed my calories to 1240 and now 1210. I've been struggling to stay within my 1210 budget. I am always hungry now and I feel frustrated because of it. I've cheated a lot lately and I feel guilty over it.

    I don't eat that many veggies (I don't like them), so I can't load my meals up with them. I'm also not working out, I'm just trying to get a handle on my food first. Once it warms up (I live in Ontario, Canada - brr!), I'm going to start long walks.

    Any tips? I feel like this isn't a lot of calories and I hate feeling so frustrated :(

    My stats:

    Female, 28
    5'3"
    Currently 235 pounds
    Activity level is sedentary (I work as a cashier, 8 hours of standing but not much movement)

    How long did it take you to lose the 25 pounds? I ask because if you're standing for 8 hours/day, you're not sedentary. Even if you're standing in one spot, standing burns more calories than sitting. I wouldn't go any higher than "lightly active" until you start getting those walks in, but I'm betting you lost weight faster than expected (based on actual intake - not goal intake) if you're going with the "sedentary" setting. That also explains why you're so hungry.

    It took a month for me to lose the 25. I figured it was mostly water weight. Things have really slowed down now but I'm not worried about that as long as it's still coming off.

    So I should change my activity level? I work 32 hours a week, standing 8 hours but on my days off I really don't do anything. That's why I left it at sedentary. At my job I only manage like 4-6k steps a day depending on what's going on. I thought maybe that cancelled it out lol
  • animatorswearbras
    animatorswearbras Posts: 1,001 Member
    As above definitely set to lightly active with the standing, you may not walk around much but you definitely burn at least 10 or 20% more cals standing during those 8 hours than a person sitting at a desk. You probably have an extra 200 cals to play with right there. :)
  • animatorswearbras
    animatorswearbras Posts: 1,001 Member
    If you're worried about changing it to lightly active all the time just see what the difference is, change it back to sedentary and then credit yourself the difference on days you're at work doing a shift in exercise cals. Although I think 32 hours of standing would be fine to change your setting to lightly active all the time, just see how you get on after a couple of weeks with the changed settings and if you're losing at the rate you want.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    Change your weight loss goal. If you are still at 2 pounds per week, shift it to 1.5. You'll have more calories per day.
    hazzaram wrote: »
    When I first started MFP, I was allotted 1500-1600 calories. I can't quite remember but I had no problem staying in it and staying full. As I've lost 25 pounds, MFP changed my calories to 1240 and now 1210. I've been struggling to stay within my 1210 budget. I am always hungry now and I feel frustrated because of it. I've cheated a lot lately and I feel guilty over it.

    I don't eat that many veggies (I don't like them), so I can't load my meals up with them. I'm also not working out, I'm just trying to get a handle on my food first. Once it warms up (I live in Ontario, Canada - brr!), I'm going to start long walks.

    Any tips? I feel like this isn't a lot of calories and I hate feeling so frustrated :(

    My stats:

    Female, 28
    5'3"
    Currently 235 pounds
    Activity level is sedentary (I work as a cashier, 8 hours of standing but not much movement)

  • dragon_girl26
    dragon_girl26 Posts: 2,187 Member
    whosaiditwaseasy wrote: »
    If u have over 100lbs to lose, then I can tell u from personal experience that slow and steady wins the race. Time will pass and you will either lose the weight, stay the same or gain some more. Small changes u can live with are the key to being successful at keeping off the weight after you lose it. After losing half my body weight I get that question all the time "how long?" My response is always I'm still doing it, is that too long? Find a healthy lifestyle that you can live with, build on and then maintain...losing weight is hard, keeping it off is the real challenge!!

    I couldn't agree with this more. I've lost 80 of the 100 total lbs goal, and I've been doing it for 3 years, off and on. I started at a heavier weight than OP, too. Believe me, losing weight slowly has been the key for keeping it off long term for me so far. You didn't gain it in a day, you won't lose it in a day. Patience is going to be your best friend during this process.
  • kcmsmith0405
    kcmsmith0405 Posts: 259 Member
    You might want to explore your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) and your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure), you are actually eating too few calories. If you use a BMR and TDEE your BMR is abvout 1800 calories - that means you would burn 1800 calories just lying in bed doing nothing. Your TDEE if you were actually sedentary, is around 2100 calories - and that is if you do no activity, it assumes sitting and working, sitting at home, no walking (aka less that 4000 steps a day). If you do even a little walking or regular housework and cooking that goes up to lightly active which is 2400 calories a day. Plus standing burns more than sitting even with no movement so standing for 8 hours a day puts you up into the lightly active range automatically.

    So at 1400 calories you are eating at least 1000 calories a day deficit. No wonder you are hungry!

    I would say go for the long haul and sustainability because what you are doing now is not sustainable!! Raise your calories up by 100 a week until you hit about 1800 hundred which still puts you at losing 1.5 lbs per week. As you lose weight - either recalculate these numbers regularly or up your exercise and keep eating the same (if you jump up all they way to 1800 at once you will gain back some weight as your body is still used to so few calories).

    Also a little higher protein macro (30%) aka 40 carb/ 30 prot/ 30 fat will help you maintain muscle - especially if you stay above your BMR in calories eaten. Plus it takes more energy (calories) to digest protein that it takes to digest fat and carbs.

    If you need more info you can check out http://eatmore2weighless.com/ good luck and feel free to friend me!!
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