Ugh! I've had the "hungries" all week. It's understandable. This is the "time of the month" I lose weight and I'm always so hungry during/before a big woosh. Usually, it's motivating and I can deal with the hunger. But I'm starving today! I was starving before I left the house, starving after breakfast and had to have my lunch early (11:30am) and then needed my snack immediatly afterwards and now I'm still a little hungry. To make matters worse, I've been very fatigued lately, a little irratable and depressed and light headed. Which to me screams I'm not eating enough, but I just refuse to believe that. I just find it so hard to believe that at 1600-1800 cals a day plus 1-2 days at 2000+ I could possibly be under eating. That said I run a lot and have been running more lately because of a half marathon I'm doing, but still...that seems that that should be plenty of cals. Next week is my peak in milage and I'm wondering if I should take a break and do maintenance next week. The light headedness and fatigue is really concerning me. I keep trying to tell myself that I'm better off hitting maintenance cals as opposed to trying to stay under 1800 and ending up bingeing. I need to make this my mantra because I cannot handle another binge this weekend. It's crack down time, binges are NOT an option. I'm already trying to figure out activities to keep me busy this weekend so I stay away from that pantry!

Could you just be getting sick? It's been going around here.

Hope you start to feel better!!

No, I've literally had everything that's been going around and been sick with one thing or another since the last week in August. Yay kids in daycare! I know my allergies are bugging me, they're scalping the grass in my neighborhood right now.

Ooooooohh Allergies, how I LOATHE thee...

I have them too. My eyes have been bloodshot and watering constantly for over a week now, and I've had to start keeping my inhaler with me. That's part of why I've been on a cleaning frenzy. We have 2 large dogs now, well, one was a puppy that was supposed to be about 45lbs, he's 5 months old and 40lbs... but anyway, we have 2 dogs, and it was hard enough keeping the dander and stuff down with 1, but now with 2, AND with my seasonal allergies... yeaaaah... I'm hurting too.

That could be it. I get very tired with a lot of headaches, and depending on the condition of my sinuses, dizzy. My nose doesn't have to be stuffy, but I have pressure behind my face and in my ears. Even a little sets me off. Maybe you're just having issues with allergies. :/

Well, I hate to say it, but it sounds to me like you DO know the caause, but you are perhaps a little afraid of the scale results if you increase your calories. Really, 1600-1800/day (even with two 2000+ calorie days) is awfully low for the amount of cardio you are doing (in my completely unprofessional opinion ).

Listen to your body. Feed it with nutrient-rich foods, and I suspect you'll end the hunger/depression/fatigue cycle you are experiencing. The hunger pangs are not fake - do not ignore them.



It may just be adding in 150-250 calories extra a day, which isn't much. Or, as you suggested, take a 1 week break & return to maintenance. That time off can do wonders for us emotionally & physically!

1600-1800 is still below maintenance for you (although it's just below, not much), so if you are training for a half marathon then YES the binge monster is telling you that you are hungry!!! Training for a half marathon and fat loss do not work well together. Your body is telling you that it is too hungry & you should listen to it.

Sometimes when people were overweight, they are scared to listen to themselves because they think that the former "fat girl" is rearing her head but it's not always that - sometimes you really do just need to eat more.

Sadly, I know this. I guess part of me wants to take advantage of all that extra cardio to lose a little extra since I know the last 10 are going to take at least 2 months. Stupid I know...repeating the mantra...Eating maintenance is WAY better than bingeing!

I was going to say basically the same thing...so, thought I'd just put it out there because some things do bear repeating. Especially this part:

None of this is easy, is it?