Counting calories is giving me terrible mood swings because I'm always hungry

sam_c_93
sam_c_93 Posts: 23 Member
edited November 20 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm a bit fed up today. It's been bang on a month since I started my healthy eating plan. I am always hungry. I'm sat here right now with my stomach growling knowing I need to save my remaining 600 calories for the evening because that's when I'm most likely to need them. Because of this hunger, I've been REALLY moody and irritable for the past month and it's bothering me that people have noticed. My boyfriend said he noticed a change as soon as I started counting calories and that I'm always low, upset or argumentative, but that is how I get when I'm hungry.

He then starts going on about how he likes me the way I am and prefers me happy and big than moody and trying to lose weight. I don't want to hear that. Why can't my mood be okay whilst I'm counting calories.

Does anyone have any advice on this because what I'm doing at the moment is not sustainable with my mood swings?
I've lost 16 pounds but have 7 and a half stone to go until my BMI is normal so it really feels like I'm not going to be able to do it. I don't want to be a moody mess for the next year. I will be single by the end of it that's for sure.

I don't understand why I'm hungry. I'm eating reasonably large meals to try and stay full but my stomach is hurting from hunger! I make sure I am constantly drinking water to check it's not thirst.

EDIT: left off my stats, sorry.
I eat 1370 a day (that's what MFP came up with when I put everything in). I weigh 214 pounds and am 5 foot 5. Female. I'm 25.
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Replies

  • Old_Cat_Lady
    Old_Cat_Lady Posts: 1,193 Member
    edited August 2017
    How many daily calories? Are you exercising? Are you logging food? Using a food scale?
    Sounds like you need more calories and more protein in your life. I'm at 1600 and losing. No exercise.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    How low calorie are you eating? How old are you? How tall are you? What do you weigh? I assume you're female?

    You may be able to eat more calories and still lose weight without being miserable. You will lose more slowly, but you'll have a better chance of success.
  • alondrakayy
    alondrakayy Posts: 304 Member
    How about you give us your stats? I have a feeling you're eating too low in calories. Sure, you will experience some cravings or hunger here and there but you shouldn't feel as miserable as you are feeling.

    What is your height, weight, activity level, what does your workouts look like, how many calories are you consuming right now, what is your goal weight, etc. ?
  • erincolleen1
    erincolleen1 Posts: 3 Member
    How much protein are you getting? Upping the protein when you're in a deficit can help with the hunger.

    Also, are you exercising alongside counting calories? Whilst exercise isn't exactly necessary to lose weight, it can help to create a deficit and might help to improve your moods, especially if you're doing activities you enjoy.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Eating too little is giving you mood swings. What calorie goal did MFP suggest, and have you adjusted it yourself? You could up your calories from MFP's suggestion too, I think I would have done that, just log correctly.
  • Fitnessgirl0913
    Fitnessgirl0913 Posts: 481 Member
    Have you tried messing with your macros? I found a high protein lower fat, and lower carb diet left me very hungry and miserable. I switched to higher carbs, more fat and less protein (but still enough so I am not deficient). My breakdown right now is 50% carbs, 25% protein and 25% fat. I try and make my carbs beans, lentils, and grains like quinoa and oats because I found the fiber/protein/carbs combo in those helps keep me satiated. Try messing around with them to find a combo that works for you. For example I would be absolutely miserable on keto but mostly plant based works for me. Unfortunately there is no diet that will work for everyone so it may take some detective work on your part!
  • kschwab0203
    kschwab0203 Posts: 610 Member
    Agree with all the above poster...we need more info...sounds like you are not eating enough
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited August 2017
    It could be that you are not eating enough (that's my guess), but it also could be that what you are choosing to eat or your meal timing is not working for you -- those things vary by individual.

    If you give us more information, we can provide ideas/tips.

    Another thought is that when I first started I tended to be hungry between meals (or think I was, just wanting to eat), because I'd been used to grazing throughout the day. For me, once I broke the habit it went away, but at first I let myself eat raw vegetables between meals. There are many such foods that are such low cals that you could snack on them (and log them, of course) and see if they help.
  • RuNaRoUnDaFiEld
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld Posts: 5,864 Member
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10521320/10-a-day-800g-veggie-fruit-challenge-participants-check-in#latest

    I am stuffed full to bursting by joining the 800g a day veg/fruit challenge. I net 1600 average per day over the week and lose weight on that.
  • LJGettinSexy
    LJGettinSexy Posts: 223 Member
    edited August 2017
    There's nothing like counting calories and still being hungry. Check to make sure you're eating the correct amount of calories allowed to lose weight and then start eating foods with more substance and maybe add 2-4 oz of meat to an additional meal.
  • sam_c_93
    sam_c_93 Posts: 23 Member
    Sorry, so basic.

    I log everything. I eat 1370 a day (that's what MFP came up with when I put everything in). I weigh 214 pounds and am 5 foot 5. Female. I'm 25.

    I don't really exercise. I just walk a lot. I'm too hungry, I have hardly any energy to be doing stuff.

    I can deal with cravings, it's the actual hunger that is getting to me. I'm on medication that increases my appetite but it normally just gives me cravings rather than stomach growling hunger.
  • sam_c_93
    sam_c_93 Posts: 23 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    Sounds like the problem is your calorie level, not the fact that you are counting calories. How many calories are you eating each day? With 105 pounds to lose you should be able to eat plenty while losing at a good clip. I'm talking 1800+ calories.

    1800 calories - and I'd still lose?! Surely that would be very slow though? I'm eating 1370 which is the MFP number I got. I lost a lot of weight in the first two weeks but the last two weeks has been a pound each week. Slower than I'd like so I can't see how I'd lose weight by eating more.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    edited August 2017
    Yeah, eat more. Here's the numbers I got for you off scoobysworkshop.com.

    wbjx5hd9rx2a.jpg

    TDEE is your Total Daily Energy Expenditure - the amount of calories you need to maintain your current weight.
    The second number is to lose approximately 1 pound per week.

    That counts exercise calories, so you wouldn't eat any exercise calories back if you chose to eat 1945 calories per day.

    As you lose weight, you will need to recalculate. But for now, eat more, have more energy, enjoy the process.
  • toxikon
    toxikon Posts: 2,383 Member
    Assuming a sedentary TDEE (desk job, a little bit of daily physical activity), your maintenance calories are coming up around 2000 for me.

    So to lose a pound a week, you'd need to eat about 1500 (net) calories. So I'd recommend bumping it up to there, and see how you feel.

    I also struggle with hunger, it sucks. I only have 20lbs to lose so I need to stay at a low calorie goal. Eating high-volume foods helps a lot.
  • gabriellejayde
    gabriellejayde Posts: 607 Member
    besides everyone else's good advice here, I'm also going to suggest that since you mentioned that you are eating decent sized meals, that perhaps some of your hunger is psychological.
    when I know I'm not able to eat everything I want, that's all I can think about. my hunger feels intense and I feel weak and lightheaded. On another day, when I'm busy and running around and doing stuff, I will have eaten the same amount and feel perfectly fine.
    Next time you're hungry, (assuming you've already eaten a meal and have no snacks left), drink some water and distract yourself.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    There are some good ideas here. I suggest you pack some happy packs with you wherever you go. Each ziplock pack should carry about 50 calories (measure ahead of time). It looks like you have some leeway between 1350 and 1900 calories a day so even adding four happy packs (200 calories) will keep you in the range where you are still losing.

    When you are approaching grouchy, have yourself a happy pack and a glass of water.

    Try different macro combinations to find out what fills you up. I suggest nuts (a teeny amount, measured), edamame, celery sticks, crackers, and a quarter of a meal replacement packet.

    With some experimenting you should find out what fills you up. For some it's high fiber low calorie. For others, it's high fat, carbs, and still others it's protein.

    Then you can decide if you want to continue with the snacking or increase your meal portions slightly with the foods that fill you the best.
  • IdLikeToLoseItLoseIt
    IdLikeToLoseItLoseIt Posts: 695 Member
    I get moody when my calorie deficit is too big. I could never understand why I felt so bad on commercial diet systems like Nutrisystem, Medifast, Slimfast, etc. But now that I use MFP, I realize those systems had me at a calorie deficit of 1000-1500, which was way too big. No wonder I was moody! (And no wonder why those were not long term, sustainable solutions.)

    When you put everything into MFP, did you set a goal of losing 2 pounds a week? If so, try changing it to 1.5 pounds a week which will give you more calories. No improvement in mood? Switch to 1 pound per week. If you 'only' lose 1 pound per week for a year, you'll weigh 52 pounds less at this time in 2018!

    Best wishes on finding a balance that works for you.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    I lost 150 lbs eating about 1700 cals the whole time (5'7") and I was 59-60 while doing so. Being older, I need less calories than you. When I got to my goal range, I was basically eating at maintenance.
  • DebLaBounty
    DebLaBounty Posts: 1,169 Member
    I agree that you should be eating a little more. Losing one pound a week is good progress. I find to keep my mood stable and my energy up, I snack with a little protein. One favorite lately is 1 ounce of cheddar cheese with a good apple. It keeps me from being snarky.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,185 Member
    You should be able to lose on 1500 - 1800 calories. It might be slower, but it would be better than giving up because you are so hungry all the time. I'm a little shorter than you and started out at 195. I lost ~73 pounds eating 1400 -1600 daily. I was hungry the first couple of weeks when I was getting used to eating less food, but after that I found that as long as I had good protien levels I was fine. I would play around a little with what you eat and see if that helps. You can eat whatever you want in a calorie deficit to lose weight. But some foods will keep you full longer than others and that will just be personal preference. I am more satisfied eating eggs for breakfast than oatmeal. Make sure you are getting plenty of protien and some good fats. If you like to eat large volumes then load up on veggies.
  • MegaMooseEsq
    MegaMooseEsq Posts: 3,118 Member
    edited August 2017
    I'll be another vote in the "don't be afraid to eat more" category. I know you're impatient to lose weight - I think most of us are! - but it's important to live life while you're doing it. If you want to maintain the weight you lose you will need to make long-term, sustainable changes. I think taking your time with the weight loss stage while you figure out those changes is a great way to go. I started out eating at maintenance and have been gradually pulling back my average calories every month. I've just about got below 2000 calories a day and am losing about a half a pound a week. By the end of 2017 I'd like to be averaging about 1750, which will be maintenance for my goal weight. I don't expect to reach that goal weight for a good while, but I'm not hungry and moody, and the weight keeps coming off.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    edited August 2017
    sam_c_93 wrote: »
    Sorry, so basic.

    I log everything. I eat 1370 a day (that's what MFP came up with when I put everything in). I weigh 214 pounds and am 5 foot 5. Female. I'm 25.

    I don't really exercise. I just walk a lot. I'm too hungry, I have hardly any energy to be doing stuff.

    I can deal with cravings, it's the actual hunger that is getting to me. I'm on medication that increases my appetite but it normally just gives me cravings rather than stomach growling hunger.

    Your diary isn't open, but make sure you are getting enough protein, fat, and fiber. Often some combination of those will help people feel a bit more full. I had to reduce the amount of carbs I was eating a little to get my protein and fat up a bit, but it def helped with satiety.

    If your medication makes you feel hungry/crave-y to the point that you are this uncomfortable, ask your doctor if there is any alternative.

    It might seem useless, but if you can work in some more exercise (even just walking) and eat those calories back it might help. Usually, light exercise won't cause more hunger and if you make those extra calories a high volume food it could help you feel fuller even though your net calories will stay the same.

    Good luck :drinker:
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    my concern is that the other day she posted this thread the other day...

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/40247000#Comment_40247000 and talked about reducing calories to 1000 for a couple of days to compensate
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