The Mental/Psychological Aspect of Eating

Dad_of_3
Dad_of_3 Posts: 517 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I am allotted 2300 calories a day on MFP. In the last five weeks since I have been tracking my food, I have only gone over my allotment 7 days, and four of those were just barely over the limit. Several days, like yesterday for example, I go way under my allotment. I was 1300 under for the day yesterday. I don't try to go under like that, and I don't try to go over. What is it, psychologically speaking, maybe even physiologically speaking, that makes one hungry enough to go over some days, and then other days you don't feel hungry at all and you go way under?

Please, let's don't get into a debate about me going over or under- I am trying to figure out the WHY of the matter so I can gain better control of my caloric intake.

Replies

  • Swissmiss
    Swissmiss Posts: 8,754 Member
    I wouldn't worry about the day to day counting. Are you holding steady over a week's period?
  • luvsunshine1
    luvsunshine1 Posts: 878 Member
    For me, I tend to go under on my calories if I've worked out really hard. It seems to really cut my appetite, which is good, but on those days I have a harder time meeting my calorie goal. I seem to make up for it the next day and will sometimes go over on
    my calories, but I figure between the 2 days that it will even out. The other thing I do, is if i'm really tired and try to stay up instead of just go to bed, then I will eat more and usually junk food; so I'm working on that - trying to listen to my body and go to sleep when it's telling me to. Don't know if this helps but this is how I tend to eat.
  • Smelerz
    Smelerz Posts: 115 Member
    maybe try logging what times you eat at the day before. I know that I like to eat my morning snack at 10, most days thats fine but others I am starving by 8:30 and just can't wait and others I dont get to it until 10:30 no problem. I wonder if it is how much protein and fiber you eat and if it keeps you fuller longer. Also your activity for the day. I dont mean exercise I mean are you busy a work/ home, are you bored are you thinking about food less when you eat less. Know what I mean?
  • sho3girl
    sho3girl Posts: 10,799 Member
    bump - so need the answer to this ...
  • dr3wman
    dr3wman Posts: 205
    My eating is almost always directley related to my schedule. I find that every week day, my before-work and lunch meals are always consistent but its dinner thats hard to control. This is because after work and going to the gym, I'm done for the night (activity-wise). I know its probably alittle different in your situation, but Im usually bored when I dont have anything else planned and this causes me to eat. Especially if Im just hanging around home, I'll just eat because its there. However, when I have plans for the night after work, I wont be thinking about food at all and its easy to avoid eating when I dont need it.
  • Dad_of_3
    Dad_of_3 Posts: 517 Member
    I think that is the key for me- not being bored to keep my mind off the food. I need to just stay busy.
  • delaney056
    delaney056 Posts: 475
    For me, it really depends on how busy I am. On days I have to work, I'm usually way under.
    I eat around 1300 calories a day on days I don't exercise, but on super hot days during the summer, I tend to lose my appetite.
  • mcarter99
    mcarter99 Posts: 1,666 Member
    Well, it's on my clipboard still so I'll post it here, too. It might give you some ideas.

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/9-ways-to-deal-with-hunger-on-a-diet.html

    I know for me protein, fiber, fats and exercise are some appetite killers. Stress is an appetite booster. And I think part of it is just hormones, though I don't know how much men get that effect.
  • lauleipop
    lauleipop Posts: 260 Member
    So many variables.

    My calories are wonky because my exercise is all over the place. When I run on Saturday, I burn 2000-ish calories, but long runs kill my appetite. So on Saturdays I'm consistently way under. But on Fridays, I carb load some, and am consistentnly over, and Sundays I eat ALL THE THINGS because my appetite has returned from the long run. But over the course of the three days, my calories average out to where they need to be.

    Similar issue on Wednesdays. I burn about 900 calories running in the evening, after lifting in the morning. I work and have school on Wednesday so I never make it through all those calories, I just don't have time to eat properly. So I balance my calories out on Tuesday and Thursday. Of course, I also run on Tuesday and Thursday, so I have to eat a LOT to balance the calories out.

    Because of the variables, I look at my weekly numbers for an easier gauge.
  • lauleipop
    lauleipop Posts: 260 Member
    Also, hydration can play a pretty big part in percieved hunger.

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