day 5, hungry and headches:(

jaymarie8
jaymarie8 Posts: 16
in Health and Weight Loss
Day 5. Hungry and headaches:( (Edit post)
Posted on 02/01/2012 by jaymarie8
Hello everyone:) Im on day five of eating healthy and exersising daily, Ive had lots of energy and felt great during the day, but i find im constantly hungry and when i go to bed i get headaches and some nausea that i awake with. Im thinking its just my body adapting, but I thought i would ask opinions if i should up my calorie intake. My daily calories right now is 1200 a day im always right around it as well as my fat, carbs, protein slightly over, with 30-60 minutes of zumba and 20 minutes of walking a day. im drinking green smoothies for lunch, with a small breakfast, dinner and snacks. for example today i had:

Breakfast-1 piece dempsters ancient grain bread with marg

starbucks grande skinny latte(treat day:))

v8 vegetable shot drink(low sodium)

Lunch- green smoothie:

2cups spinach

2cups zuchinni

2 apples

half lemon

Dinner-Wrap with spinach tortilla and turkey breast

snacks- i cup strawberries

1 1/2 cups carrots

1 yougurt tube

*I was so hungry still, and I hate a 1/4 piece of chicken breast after with dinner

im open to suggestions and opinions:) Thank you
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Replies

  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    I think that you aren't eating enough real food... At all. I'd feel deprived like that as well!

    I eat 1200 a day as well. Here's how my day went-
    Breakfast- low fat Greek yogurt with strawberry 140 cals, 13 grams protein
    Lunch- udon noodle soup, crystal light 220 cals
    Snack- sliced apples, fish oil
    Dinner- cheese lasagna, Greek yogurt
    Desert-skinny cow

    I am so full I had to force myself to eat dessert.

    I think you need to be more creative!
  • japruzze
    japruzze Posts: 453 Member
    Without seeing your diary and going by what you listed, looks like you need some protein. I'd also eat more frequently. I find if I eat small amounts frequently I don't get hungry.
  • Lizerra
    Lizerra Posts: 22
    Are eating a total of 1200 calories and doing the exercising? If so you need to eat more than that a day. Plus I noticed MFP does not take into account the kind of workouts you are doing. You may need quite a bit more carbs and protien when you are working out that hard. I would definitely research it a little more. Just make sure you are eating the right kind of carbs and the right kind of protein with the healthy kind of fats.

    I hope this helps!
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,392 Member
    Are you entering the calories burned by exercise, and then eating those calories too?

    You shouldn't be hungry or getting headaches (at least not from a lower calorie intake) unless you have restricted too much.
  • snc1212
    snc1212 Posts: 38
    Yes, you def. have to up your protein at breakfast and lunch.
  • Aerohead21
    Aerohead21 Posts: 333 Member
    I agree, you should eat more. Also, give yourself sone credit: day five is still "detoxing" - as in your body is still adjusting. If you add some food and give it another week or two and still have headaches you may want to see a doctor.
  • jaymarie8
    jaymarie8 Posts: 16
    1200 calories before excersice, Im not exactly sure how much im burning with zumba, so i averaged it with 600/ hr. No matter the excersice im keeping the calories at 1200. Should i be increasing my protein intake?? im usually over that even with earned cals.
  • Lauriebean
    Lauriebean Posts: 6
    I agree with the other posters, more protein, it will keep you fuller longer.

    I was going through the same thing and I am still working out the kinks, but I cut most of my fruit, aside from one piece a day and increased my veggies and protein and really watch my sugar to avoid spikes. Eggs for breakfast, nuts for snack, light lunch (salad) or tuna, veggie snack, and protein for dinner.
  • Natihilator
    Natihilator Posts: 1,778 Member
    Just wanna add, drinking water constantly throughout the day has helped my headaches stop.
  • Tschleenbaker
    Tschleenbaker Posts: 4
    When I put Zumba for exercise it doesn't come up. How do you register the exercise then?
  • Fitness_4_Jess
    Fitness_4_Jess Posts: 55 Member
    I know it is tempting to not eat back the calories you burn off by working out, but you need to! MFP already takes out enough calories for you to be in a deficit. For example, if your goal is to lose 1lb a week, MFP is taking your Base Metabolic Rate and subtracting 500 calories from it. (500 since there are 3,500 cals in fat and 3,500 / 7 days in a week = 500). I fought it too, but you have to eat back some of those calories! It doesn't have to be all of them, at least some. Also, eat some more substantial foods. More protein and fiber would be beneficial.
  • jeni636363
    jeni636363 Posts: 23
    Do NOT starve yourself! If you are hungry, EAT! Just watch what you eat. Chicken breasts, fish, veggies, fruits, beans, berries, quinoa, rice are all fine for you to boost some calories. You need MORE food! I would feel sick too if i ate that little. I am on a two shakes a day diet, but I have lots of healthy snacks in between and a large protein-vegetable packed dinner. Especially with exercise you need more food! I always eat if I am hungry (not when i just want food). If you starve yourself and dont eat you wont stick with it. You can ALWAYS fill up on healthy snacks (mentioned above). What is your daily calorie goal? Stay above 1200 MINIMUM but that is still really low...:) good luck!
  • jaymarie8
    jaymarie8 Posts: 16
    i added it. and after googling .... i avereged 600/60 minutes although some sites said it could be up to 1200
  • Moosey75
    Moosey75 Posts: 30
    You could be detoxing too which can cause headaches... Foods with fiber can help with hunger.... things like oatmeal can too. Make sure your getting your MIN required water amount... The amount of water you should be drinking is half your body weight... for example if you weigh 180 you need to be drinking 90 oz of water...

    Hang in there things should ease up soon!
  • jaymarie8
    jaymarie8 Posts: 16
    thanks everybody so much!! i think i just got a little obssessed with the guidllines since im clueless! and whenever i try to put in eggs and avacados, there isnt much room for protien or fat at dinner.... am I following it too seriously?
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,392 Member
    With 27 pounds to lose, Imma gonna go out on a limb and say.....if you have your calories / goals set to "Lose 2 pounds a week" - you've set yourself up for failure.

    Read these:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/186814-some-mfp-basics
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/175241-a-personal-view-on-exercise-cals-and-underfeeding
  • agibson0430
    agibson0430 Posts: 27 Member
    Just wanna add, drinking water constantly throughout the day has helped my headaches stop.

    I'm with you on this one. I use to get at least 2-3 migraines a week; however, when I started drinking half my body weight in water - no more. I feel great!!! I make it my goal now to have my cup runneth over every day.
  • PSantos1
    PSantos1 Posts: 17 Member
    Were you a coffee drinker before you started? Or did you drink things with caffeine? The lack of which can cause headaches, like a detox. It could also be made worse if you're not getting enough electrolytes.
  • crazycat80
    crazycat80 Posts: 121 Member
    You could be detoxing too which can cause headaches... Foods with fiber can help with hunger.... things like oatmeal can too. Make sure your getting your MIN required water amount... The amount of water you should be drinking is half your body weight... for example if you weigh 180 you need to be drinking 90 oz of water...

    Hang in there things should ease up soon!

    I agree. You're pushing a lot of bad stuff out of your cells and replacing it with good. All that waste will take a while to flush. If you look at detoxes, up through about day 10 are pretty rough. Lots of water and a little more food won't hurt!
  • sherri2012
    sherri2012 Posts: 3 Member
    I put in dancing,under cardio and it comes up dancing, aerobic modern and twist.
  • jrusso28
    jrusso28 Posts: 249 Member
    If your target is 1200 calories per day and you do a workout that burns 600 calories you need to take in a total of 1800 calories for that day. If you don't take in enough food to fuel your body you will get headaches and fatigue and remain hungry.

    Slow and steady wins the race.
  • jaymarie8
    jaymarie8 Posts: 16
    does anybody have an idea how many calories an hour long zumba session would burn?
  • trelm249
    trelm249 Posts: 777 Member
    Definitely need more protein. The MFP protein values are based on USDA guidelines and do not account for Zumba or caloric deficits. Try to hit 1 gram of protein per pound of desired goal weight. That should help with the hunger and aid the recovery process following exercise.

    Seriously, at breakfast you could have added 2 egg whites with 1 whole egg to go with your toast.

    Lunch could have had some tuna or chicken to go with your green shake.

    Follow your Zumba class with a whey protein shake or bar as soon as you get in the car to head home.

    Just some tips. Try it for two weeks and see if you feel better.
  • jaymarie8
    jaymarie8 Posts: 16
    i didnt drink anymore coffee than i do know, cant cut eveyrthing out;)
  • agibson0430
    agibson0430 Posts: 27 Member
    Also, I read in another post that MFP sets the minimum amount of protein you should have. I agree don't follow all the categories so seriously - it's okay to go over on protein and fiber. And I also agree with posters that you should eat back some of your exercise calories - you may be putting your body into starvation mode which will result in your metabolism slowing down.
  • jrusso28
    jrusso28 Posts: 249 Member
    Depends on how hard your working and everyone will burn a different amount with different levels of effort, body weight, etc.
    600 is conservative, if you really work hard I have heard folks say that their HRM indicated they burned as high as 1200 calories in a session.

    I generally stick to 600 and hour for my typical workouts, but I have never done Zumba.
  • catic
    catic Posts: 156
    I was the same but Im cutting sugar and increasing protien and in 1 day my mood has improved 100%
  • wickedcricket
    wickedcricket Posts: 1,246 Member
    do NOT go to bed hungry. eat a bowl of cereal or something. IF you feel hungry, for God's sake, EAT. This is not a 'punish your body & starve yourself thin' website- IT'S ABOUT BEING HEALTHY.
    Going to bed hungry & being miserable is NOT healthy. Eat frequent, healthy meals. Drink plenty of water (you could be dehydrated)
    I personally don't recommend starbucks on a daily basis- perhaps the caffeine is bothering you?
    At any rate, LONG TERM healthy body weight is NOT achieved by starvation & deprivation.
    feel better, Cricket
  • KathyEarhart
    KathyEarhart Posts: 94 Member
    I haven't read all the replies, but wanted to say if you've dramatically decreased caffeine (from drinks or chocolate) you can definitely have withdrawal headaches. I had them for awhile when quitting my Dr Pepper addiction.
  • rissa_me
    rissa_me Posts: 3
    I think your body is trying to get used to it. Are you eating enough protein? Maybe add a protein powder to your smoothie. I know when i went real dramatic with my diet (no prcessed foods, no animal proteins, tons of veggies), i had headaches for about a month and got lightheaded a lot until i added a whey protein powder to my shakes. I was also really hungry all the time. Some ppl react differently. It is uncomfortable for a while but definitely worth it if you stick with it. Just listen to your body and if the symptoms persist or get worse, go see your doctor.

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