I've noticed that the nights that I have hunger pains/pangs before I go to bed that the next morning I see a difference on the scale, yet the nights I don't, there's no change. Now here's the problem...I'm trying to be good and not cut my calories way back, a habit I've had most my life when I diet, so I'm keeping them as close to 1200 a day which is what is suggested for me. And I'm not hungry. Ever. The days that I fall below the calories, I'm still not hungry. I know that it means my body has adjusted to the smaller amount of calories, a good thing, since the old me could pack on triple that amount in a day easily. I've even adjusted my workouts to later in the day, to see if that might help, but not so far. I am so happy that I've come this far, but I keep stalling and it's frustrating. Any ideas?
Hmm, the only explanation I can see for this is that if you don't eat late at night, you're likely to have less physically in you when you step on the scales in the morning, so you should weigh less.
The thing I find amazing is that often if I don't eat in the evening (ie. just have dinner at 6 and then don't eat after that) I get bad hunger pangs just before I go to bed, but that they're gone in the morning. Where do they go?
I looked up your weight and height on freedieting.com, and for fat loss it says your calorie level should be 1418 a day, average, and for extreme loss, 1152. This is if you're working out 3 times a week.
I suspect that you could be eating more, and that's why you're stalling.
The hunger pangs are probably because you are hungry! You may be losing muscle and other tissue, not just fat, if you're not eating enough...
Kat,
I'm that way also. I have to have periods of hunger pains throughout the day to see any weight loss on the scale. I heard someone (I think it was Bob Greene on the Oprah show) once say that you should feel hunger pains sometimes, that it's good for you-lol!! It usually leads me to binge, though.
I don't have any words of wisdom, just sympathy/empathy.
Our bodies are very adaptable and the possibility that your body has adapted to life at a low calorie intake is not a great one. It means that your body has learned to do more with less.
What are you eating? Can you give us a 24 hr daily intake? What kind of exercise are you doing?
I've kinda noticed that too sometimes. But I don't put too much stock in it for two reasons:
(1) It's not like I keep track everyday and write down my hunger levels. Bias and selective memory are really sneaky.
(2) It doesn't happen because I restrict calories to make myself hungry and force weight loss. It seems to just happen naturally - I eat as much as usual, in fact I eat plenty, but I'm still hungry sometimes. So I think it's more effect than cause, if that makes sense.
I've actually noticed with thirst too. I get thirsty when I'm losing.
Most days, breakfast is usually All-bran with light soymilk. which comes in at 325 calories. Lunch varies, depending on what I've got made, but I keep that at 300 calories, same with dinner. That leaves me 275 calories for snacks, which is often a piece of fruit, homemade pita chips, some nuts, etc...but I keep track on fitday to assure I'm counting right. I try to mix it up so my body doesn't get used to anything in particular.
Yep, that's 1200 cals. Try going up to 1300 or 1400. You don't say what lunch and dinner consist of--if you're using FitDay, you could look at the nutrient percentages (protein/carb/fat) and see what's there. Often protein comes in too low... That can also make you hungry.
Yep, that's 1200 cals. Try going up to 1300 or 1400. You don't say what lunch and dinner consist of--if you're using FitDay, you could look at the nutrient percentages (protein/carb/fat) and see what's there. Often protein comes in too low... That can also make you hungry.
Good luck!
Jay
Well Jay, you're right my protein is on the lower side, being vegetarian sometimes it's a struggle. I will try playing with my ratio to see if this might help. You would think that at 1200 calories, I'd be hungry more, and I'm not, hardly ever do I get the grumbellies...and the scale just sticks.
Hey RedKat, do you eat any animal products? If you are lacto-ovo, you could try cottage cheese (2% fat or lower). It has more protein per serving than steak, I recently found out.
I am, as of right now....trying to make the transition and to cut out all dairy, but I will on occasion....I forget about cottage cheese, thank you! Off to the store today
Hunger pains=loss, no pains=nada?
