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we need more information: how many calories are you trying to eat? What's your current and goal weight, gender, weight and size?

The easiest solution of course is to eat more, hence reducing your weekly weight loss goal. there's no point in starving yourself. Slow and steady wins the race.

You could eat more and still lose weight. Try 1700.

But the other things to be aware of...it takes me usually a week to get used to lowered calories. If you're used to eating 2500 calories a day and you are trying to stay around 1320, that's a huge jump and it's going to be hard.

Then, what are you eating? Lots of sweets and breads and stuff? Try eating protein (chicken, turkey, pork, fish) and lots of vegetables along with a little fat. That will fill you up and not leave you looking for more food like breads and sweets do.

niamhdean97 wrote: »

yirara wrote: »

we need more information: how many calories are you trying to eat? What's your current and goal weight, gender, weight and size?

The easiest solution of course is to eat more, hence reducing your weekly weight loss goal. there's no point in starving yourself. Slow and steady wins the race.

Thank you for the comment.

Im trying to eat 1320 calories but have only just started back calorie counting but I know i eat too much. I am 12 stone 11 pounds, 22 year old and female. I'm around size 12

How tall are you? How much are you trying to lose? How active are you in your day to day? Do you exercise?
When you put your info in to the Guided Set up, what rate of weight loss did you select?
If you exercise, do you log that and do you eat (any of) those calories?

It's very possible that you've selected too aggressive a rate to lose at, are more active than you stated and/or aren't eating your exercise calories. All of which leads to you not eating enough to fuel your body and ending up hungry. It's possibly the default setting, but many people think it's best to choose to lose 2lb a week whereas often that's not suitable. 2lb a week is really only for people with more than 60lb to lose and you definitely don't need to lose that much. Also, MFP is designed such that you're expected to enter your exercise and eat those calories on top of what it gives you to start with; a lot of people don't realise that. Going slower is much much healthier.

I think you've just contradicted yourself. You may not be very active in terms of doing conventional exercise but, if you're a single mum to a toddler, it's just you that's chasing your child around all day. You're definitely not going to be Sedentary, that's for sure!! It's now even less surprising that you feel the way you do.

You're currently a little above Normal BMI - you're into the range of 'Normal' as soon as you get to 12st 7lb, so start with that as a target.

You probably need to focus on getting your hunger levels under control first though. Change the MFP Guided Set up to say you're more active than Sedentary. I'd go up one level and see how you get on. I also suggest you change your goal to lose half a pound a week. Both of those will give you more calories to eat. Log any deliberate exercise and eat 75% of those calories too. Stick at it for 6 weeks and then see whether your weight is going down, on average, at the required rate. The 6 weeks gives you time to adjust and takes you through one full menstrual cycle.

Depending on how much you're chasing around with a toddler, you may find you'll lose a little faster than half a pound a week - but at least you shouldn't be as hungry and therefore shouldn't binge. Better to lose slowly than to aim to lose faster and then immediately undo it by eating over your calories.

Weigh and log everything you eat. Then look to see if you can make small tweaks - a little less pasta, one fewer potato on your plate, an extra carrot or serving of peas to bulk up your meal, a smaller piece of chocolate, Greek yoghurt with berries instead of a sugar-laden dessert etc. Try to eat more protein and (good) fat as they will help you feel fuller for longer. Also, make sure you're drinking enough water.

You don't have to stop eating sweet things and you don't have to start eating things you don't like to lose weight. You just need to eat the right number of calories to have a deficit whilst still giving your body fuel. Salad and veg have more beneficial nutrients than cake and chocolate, but don't torture yourself as that's what makes people give up.

Hopefully you'll soon have the energy that you need to keep up with a toddler - and will also be losing weight, slowly. Good Luck.