[change4thegood]

I'm just trying to understand my moderate binges better--without freaking out about them.

I'm curious how others relate to their experiences of eating more some days.

background:
I've started my summer change of diet and am a fit person trying to lose "the last 10 lbs" by August. I'm at the end of week one and have lost 1 lb.

Yesterday I swam 45 mins and walked in the city for about 2 hours. Today by 3pm I was ravenous--more so than usual. I didn't exercise today and made myself a really big meal and proceeded to buy and eat 1/2 pint of purely decadent coconut milk ice cream, which should have replaced dinner, but I had dinner too.

In trying to lose weight I eat very little added fat and make my calories count with more substantive foods--brown rice, roasted vegetables, tofu, egg whites, beans, VERY small amounts of nuts.

My question is: do people sometimes feel their body really needs a big meal, or some fat--or a lot more calories some days?

I find after I go over my 1400 calorie limit I feel a bit discouraged but it also feels like my body is telling me it needs nutrients.

I've read that eating too few calories can trigger the brain to eat more than it needs and I guess I'm concerned my brain is "tricking me" into thinking I'm hungrier than I am.

I generally get back on track in the next day or two but always fear I'm opening a can of worms, which is why I'm writing. I think support and writing about it helps keep me motivated and hopefully keep me on track this week.

Thanks for reading!

[Alexistrophic]

I feel the same way when I count cals, especially in the beginning. Could be the body adjusting to a lower cal amount, but still maintaining the metabolism. Keep exercising! If you're hungry, it means you're burning...
If possible, try to fill up your stomach w. the higher density, low cal foods (veggies, etc.) so that you can get that "full" feeling.

Good for you for writing about it rather than eating...

[JulieJ08]

I'm vegetarian too (at least, I'm assuming you are from your diet, if not sorry!) - I find I need the fat to be full. I don't know that that's true for everyone, or even for most, but it makes a pretty big difference for me.

Looking back at your foods, maybe you're vegan. I usually have a serving of yogurt (Greek, 2%) and a serving a full fat cheese most days, but the rest of the fat comes from nuts, avocado, walnuts and soy or chickpeas. So I feel good about it.

Anyway, that's just my experience.

[LittleBitIzzy]

Eat some soup with your meals---soup is very filling and low calorie if you get the right ones! (Or make it!!)

[change4thegood]

Thanks Juliej08! That's interesting about the fat thing. Most of my fat comes from nuts but I think whole milk fat can be really satisyfing. I do have pretty vegetarian, even vegan tendencies (not even totally intentiall, just like vegs!).
I do eat 1% or notfat yogurt and make my own lowfat kefir. Maybe I need to switch up my fat types. Avocado is a great idea.

Alexistrophic, It's also helpful to hear you think that the body has a transition period.

I noticed today I wasn't that hungry and felt strong and ready to do a 1hr. intensitve aerobics dvd at 10am, plus went on a hike later. That coconut cream desert must have refueled me!