Im trying to lose weight through reduced calories and increased exercise. The exercise is going fine, but man am i hungry! This worries me, because i dont want to over eat, but i really dont want to starve myself either. I have been seeing slow results, but i know if i starve myself my progress will slow even more!

I am trying to keep my calories between 1200 minimum and 1600 maximum. Its not been going too badly. But this past week i have been really hungry, even though i've had between 1307 and 1470 calories per day. I've tried drinking lots of water, and i've tried snacking through out the day rather than just having all my food at once. Am i taking in too few calories? I am even hungry on days that im not exercising

I know having protein in every meal is good for keeping you full, and i usually have meat with dinner, try to have an egg for lunch, and have milk with breakfast. But it doesnt seem to help very much...

I know fibre is also important. I usually get at least some fibre with my porridge in the morning, and bread for lunch, but still im hungry

What to do? I dont want to be adding fibre or protein powder into my food or water, my skin is very sensitive to additives and anything artificial like that so im not too keen on adding things like that in.

So i guess your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to help me come up with some filling but low calorie lunches and snacks to keep me going! Please save me from my hunger

Hmmm, it sounds to me like you're eating enough calories for your weight... about 1400-1600.

I know your exercising, are you doing intense workouts? Do you lead an active lifestyle already? The only thing I can think is that maybe your burning off more calories than you think.. Maybe you could boost up your calories just a tiny bit more and see how that goes.

i aim to work out 5 times a week, and usually make at least 4. I usually do 45 mins of cardio per work out- running, cross training, cycling, and once a week i do a weight lifting class which lasts 55 minutes. My life style isnt that active...i go to uni, so most of the time i am sitting at a desk. I walk between classes, but i mean thats not going to burn a huge number of calories surely

True, though you still work out often. If your hungry you should be eating till you feel satisfied though. You never know, maybe a few more calories wont prevent your weight loss.

I'm pretty sure you'll get some more sound advice than mine when the other chicks log in. good luck

thank you for your advice, it was helpful ^_^ i just wonder if im still getting used to having less calories, or if i really need them...

Hey G. I know how you feel.

I use to be so hungry on my 1,500 cals per day that I felt like eating everything in my fridge by the second day of my plan. I use to spread my cals during the day, that there were only about 450 cals left at 5pm for my supper - then I would start cheating.

However, I found that if I eat less during the day (between 500 - 700 cals) and eat the rest for my supper, it takes the hunger away. I am really not hungry in the mornings, but I still I eat oats (200cals) and very little for lunch. I find that that works for me. If I have a large supper at night, it takes all the feelings of hunger away. Even if I am a bit hungry at, say, 3pm, I know that I will be able to wait 'til 6.00pm to have my supper.

However, if I am hungry at 7pm, and there is no cals left - I would just throw in the towel and eat everything.

It works for me, so I thought I would share it.

Regards
S

thanks for your advice Snoozles, i think i definately need more at dinner. Tonight my dinner was only about 290 calories. The thing is though that my breakfast gets me through to about 11am and then i get hungry, and then i tend to be hungry for the rest of the day despite eating my allocated calories. My breakfast is about 318 calories, lunch was about 620 calories (spread between about 10am and 5pm), and dinner was 290...and i was starving waiting for dinner

Maybe i have worms lol

Hmm the other thing I would suggest is trying to break your calories with snacks. When I first started counting calories I would divide my calorie intake to breakfast, lunch and dinner only. And I was absolutely starving by lunch and dinner. Now I subtracted 60 calories from each meal which equate to 2 small apples ans added those fruits to my diet. I eat one at around 11 and one at 5 in the afternoon. And it has done wonders.

i do spread my calories out a fair bit though, which is why im a bit stuck. I usually have my almonds and a natural yoghurt together, then in an hour i have my sandwich or other lunch thing, then a while later i have my apple or carrot sticks etc...at the moment it just means i am never satisfied though maybe i should add more fruit in? I only have about one small apple a day as far as fruit goes

It sounds to me that your diet is lacking bulk if you're still hungry. Increasing fruit and veg consumption will achieve this in a low calorie way. For example although almonds contain good fats they are high in calories and from my perspective I would rather eat say a banana and a couple of plums than an ounce of almonds. Similarly I'd eat a large green salad with my protein at lunchtime rather than a slice of bread.

I also second Snoozles suggestion about eating light during the day and having a good meal for dinner. I'm a similar height to you and I spread my calories like this:

B: 200
MS: 120
L: 200-250
AS: 120
D: upto 750 (usually includes a main course and 'dessert')

I would hate it if I had to go to bed hungry and know I would cheat if my hunger wasn't satisfied by bedtime.

Kitty

Do you track your calories through Fitday or CalorieKing? I know you mentioned that you think you get enough protein but if you'd track it through one of these sites you may be surprised...I know I was when I started calculating my intake each day! I FELT like I was eating more protein than carbs and once I started tracking it I realized how many of my calories were coming from carbs. Now, I'm not suggesting you go low carb, that's a personal decision, but higher protein would keep you fuller longer. Good luck!

Not that I'm an expert, but the Atkins diet really seems to curb hunger.

I have always been so hungry all the time, but I started Atkins only 10 days ago and my hunger has gone away. It is such a wonderful feeling! The book says once you get into ketosis on Atkins, the hunger fades, and it has been true for me.

yeah i am begining to think my diet is definately too "light". Is there any fruit that would be similar in filling-ness to a banana, but which isnt a banana? I cant eat them, the texture makes me nauseous i really tried, but nearly threw up in a car park last time i tried, ick.

I think i will try your method of spacing out calories the day after tomorrow Kitty. What kinds of things do you use for dessert? I've been weaning myself off desserts since i tend to go over board if i let myself have a little bit of something, but perhaps you have some healthy options that you like to use?

Vealcalf: i track my calories through the daily plate, and i usually end up with my diet being a half carbs, a little over a quarter protein and about a quarter fat. Does that sound around about right?

CJZee: Im a little wary of the Atkins diet...i've heard a few horror stories about it, and the people i know who have been on it havent been that successful. Im not trying to discourage you of course >.< Im just not sure its for me...i might have a look in the atkins forum though to see if there are any meal ideas in there i could adapt, thanks for the suggestion!

Try eating other kinds of fruit. Since it is summer here, I am much more excited to eat cherries, strawberries, watermelon, grapes, and pineapple than my winter fruits of bananas, apples and pears. Go to the store and experiment - by doing this, I learned that peaches and canned fruits were not an option for me, but I loved fresh pineapple and am willing to splurge on eating it because it is healthy.

I remember watching an episode of Oprah about how if you get hungry, grab a vegetable. You can't really over eat on those. And most people usually have a favorite veggie (mine is celery (cold) Broccoli (hot)) So I'm trying to train myself into eating those when I get hungry.

I eat around 1500 and 2000 a day. I give myself about 500 a meal. 150 a per snack and a little wiggle room for days when I'm out and about or I have a sweet tooth. I'm a sucker for fun size milky ways (75 cals per bar)