Cutting calories without being hungry - Help!!!

SFMegatron
SFMegatron Posts: 13
in Food and Nutrition
I'm 31, 5'8" and around 161 lbs. I would like to lose 15-20 lbs but it seems nearly impossible! Though I am happy to say that I've lost a little over the 50 lbs that I gained while pregnant with my son.

I don't understand how people are able to cut their calories down to 1400 or 1500. I lift weights and am pretty athletic so I manually set my cals at 1800 since I was always hungry at a lower number but I I find that I I am still very hungry when I limit my calories. I know to eat high fiber, high protein, low glycemic, etc. but my body waves the "feed me" flag when I cut my cals even when I eat back most of my exercise calories.

I'm convinced that it's just my body fighting weight loss. Anytime I go low in cals to the point that I'll lose weight I get super hungry. Has anyone dealt with the same thing? What worked for you?

I would be happy at 145. Seems so far away though :)

Replies

  • jarrettd
    jarrettd Posts: 872 Member
    More water and more sleep. And my meals/snacks were planned so that I ate slightly before I got hungry. Once the hunger-demon woke up, I had a helluva time getting it back to sleep again!
  • coe28
    coe28 Posts: 715 Member
    I've been set at 1200 calories a day, and I'm having a very hard time doing this without wanting to eat any snack that crosses my path. I have an egg & ham english muffin sandwich for breakfast, a salad for lunch and a small serving of whatever I can get my 2 year old to eat for supper. On days that I work out I do okay because I can eat those extra calories, but I only get a chance to get a work out in a few times a week so on those other days I'm either starving or end up going over my calories.
  • angelltn
    angelltn Posts: 20
    I'm in the same boat....5'9" and 157 to start, now 153, aiming for 145ish. I found it hard at first to cut calories, but then I started finding good substitutes. Fish is very low cal compared to chicken. Sugar free jello for sweet tooth cravings, 5 calories a serving. Celery/carrots and dip made with fat free sour cream are a good sub for chips. My husband even pointed out that quick oats with sugar free syrup will fill me up more than an omelet and ends up being about the same calorie wise. I've also cut out the morning orange juice and opt for water or iced team sweetened with sweet and low. Yesterday I didn't know what to do with my exercise calories, so I had wheat thins with the dip rather than celery.

    It can take time to do the research, but there are lower call options out there. Good Luck!
  • mirgss
    mirgss Posts: 275 Member
    Protein. Fat. Water. Get your carbs from veggies and fruit instead of breads and starchy things.
  • GeoJenna223
    GeoJenna223 Posts: 68 Member
    If you could open your food diary to the public, it would be easier to suggest different things to eat.
  • coe28
    coe28 Posts: 715 Member
    Protein. Fat. Water. Get your carbs from veggies and fruit instead of breads and starchy things.

    My problem is I crave the starchy foods and I don't feel satisfied without them. I can fill up on veggies and it seems like half hour later I'm hungry again.
  • astrasburger
    astrasburger Posts: 28 Member
    My age/weight/height and goal is similar. I have my meals pre-set out and i have a "selection" to choose from so if i'm "Hungry" (which i always am) then i can choose what i want. It's what i did pre-kids and just started now...so far so good...Water intake is something i am working on...and sleep!

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