Hi, 10 days in and I'm starving. Any tips please?

Hi

This is my first post as I've been mostly using the Android app. So far in the last 10 days I've managed to shed 3.2kg by sticking (almost) to the 1200 calories a day regime. I've also bought myself an exercise bike and rowing machine so that's actually doing some good too.

My problem is I'm constantly feeling hungry and carrots and apples as snacks just ain't working to stave off the hunger pangs. I've also tried eating Riveta and such things and drinking water, all to no avail. Does anybody have any tips I can use that will stop me feeling like I need a large Donor kebab and chips?

Thanks in advance

Brad

I can't see your diary, so I can't give you informed advice. My filling go to's are 99% lean turkey or trimmed chicken, and veggies. I started last March on 1200 calories and quickly figured out that 1) I needed to earn extra calories to not be hungry and 2) it took about a month of strict clean eating to get used to proper portions. If you want my diary is open, I wouldn't look at my more recent diaries as I've pushed into maintenance, but March - maybe June or July of 2011 might have some decent ideas.

I like to have a good protein breakfast. I use eggbeaters because they are lower in calories, fat and cholesterol. I've also learned to eat smaller meals all through the day. 3 meals and 3 good snacks, so I'm eating like every two hours. You should maybe double check the 1200 calorie calculation. If you are still hungry then I would say the calculation is not right. We are all different and sometimes the general calculation on MFP can be wrong. Best of luck to you!

I suggest your evaluate your calorie goal and macros. It's unlikely that 1,200 calories is sufficient, and the MFP macro base settings are wrong.

This also good advice. I find it difficult to think that, unless you are a shorter man, 1200 calories is sufficient. As a 5'3" woman I found this goal pretty aggresive. Also, are you eating your exercise calories? Again, it's difficult to give real advice without seeing your diary.

As a bloke, you should be on a minimum 1400 per day, but a lot depends on your BMR and Activity level. Starving your body now is only going to hinder you later on, it's the mistake I made last year.

As for feeling hungry, put a high-protein snack in there mid-morning and mid-afternoon. ( I find 100g of smoked salmon is about right, 20g protein, no carbs, next to no fat), if you are getting sweet craving, have a banana, it helps.

I agree with willpower. YOu are not really telling us enough to know why you are hungry.

Here is a list of really low cal foods you can pretty much eat until you are full with most of these ( except the dairy) and still be really low calorie however your goal is to get down to a portion of meat which is the size of a kitchen sponge. There is more than this but this is what I found right now. I have also been meaning to research the 300 cal meals but have not done it yet.It would be a good idea for you too. Then you could have 4 of those a day which would be awesome for those who get full really fast but is hungry an hour or two later.

Fish
Salmon, canned or fresh
Sole
Flounder
Catfish
Tilapia
Canned light tuna (in water)
Poultry
Chicken breasts
Turkey breasts-Ground turkey,
lean Eggs (2 eggs = 1 serving)-Egg whites (4 egg whites = 1 serving)
Artichoke-Artichoke hearts
Asparagus
Bell peppers, green, orange, red, yellow
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Garlic
Green beans
Green leafy vegetables
beet greens,
turnip greens,
collard greens
Kale
Leeks
Lettuce,
all varieties Mushrooms
Okra
Onions
Parsley
Scallions
Spinach
Tomatoes
Watercress
Apples
Berries,
all types Grapefruit
Oranges
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Prickly pear cactus
Prunes
Red grapes

Yogurt, any type,
Kefir
Low-fat acidophilus milk
Yakult
Breakstone LiveActive cottage cheese
Reduced salt miso dissolved in low-fat, low-sodium broth
Tempeh
Sauerkraut
Kimchi
Olive oil
Flaxseed oil
salsa,
low-carb marinara sauce,
lite soy sauce,
low-carb ketchup,
fat-free sour cream,
low-fat, low-sodium broth,
Truvia
sugar-free jams and jellies,
vegetable cooking spray,
fat-free cheeses (i.e. Parmesan),
fat-free salad dressing,
salt,
pepper,
vinegar,
mustard,
herbs and spices.

your food intake is not very balanced throughout the day. you eat too much at dinner and not enough in between meals. i lost 80lbs by eating six times a day with smaller meals. i also drink a ton of water. i am rarely hungry. if i ramp up the works outs then i eat more . do not be afraid to eat constantly so long as its healthy, planned out and in smaller doses. try different foods too. im looking at your menu and thinking .no wonder you are hungry

You need to eat more. No way around it.

You are going by an old mindset about losing weight and it just does not work. You are setting yourself up to fail.

1200 cal is really too few calories for a thin but active WOMAN let alone a man who works out.

I am female, mildly active ...my target calories are set at almost 1600 cals per day. When I work out, I earn up to 1000 more cals per day.

You need to reset your baseline calorie goal AND eat back some of your exercise cals if you are hungry.

Instead of just fruit for snacks, work in high protein and high fiber.

when doing the diary dont be lazy, if you put them in the right area its easy to see what you need to change when, it also depends on when your eating.
try to not eat anything 2 hours before sleep.
when you weigh yourself weigh yourself as soon as you get up.
if you exercise, try to do some lite cardio before you eat anything.
for breakfast have 1 real egg mixed with a serving of egg whites, scrambled. to start your day off right.
look up healthy recipes and make those for lunch or dinner.
and as more people said then i can count. MORE PROTEIN . better to go over on protein then cals.
good luck.
one more thing exercise more to get more cal. if you have your account set to lite activity add in everything that isnt sitting around.