I'm hungry!!

I have been on a 1500 calorie/day regime for a week and I am very hungry very often! I exercise only a little but I am still really hungry and I am sure that if I went down to only 1200 I wouldn't function very well.

I remember when I was younger that I could do the 1200 calorie/day diet, but now the thought of it seems impossible. I am 39 and only want to lose about 3 kilos, but the calorie counter says that I need to go to 1200/day to do this effectively (i.e. quickly). Any suggestions?

I can tell you two things that often work for me:  1. drink water.  2. chew gum.  

Maybe you can drink alot of water or iced tea (decaf) with artificial sweetner?Diet soda just makes me more hungry - if you are drinking that. Make one of your meals, like breakfast, high in fiber, like shredded wheat, raisen bran or oatmeal. It should stave off the hunger. Carry apples and a green veggie -like peppers or celery - with you. One is sweet and the other is kind of not. Alternate munching between the two. Should stave off wanting a sweet/salty snack.

I'm 43 and 148.2 pounds (as of Wednesday, week one weight loss 4.8 pounds-I'm sure it's mostly water). I had gotten really lazy with my diet and very stressed at the same time. Over the last 5 years I gained 28 pounds. I work out at least 6 hours a week; yoga, step, weights and treadmill. I'm trying to lose 18 pounds by the end of June. I want a summer where I can wear what I want without trying to hide my mid section lapping over the top of my shorts!

I've found that since giving up sugar 2 weeks ago, I no longer have major cravings for it - which I found amazingly weird as I'm a sugar freak(ah...Good n Plenty). I drink very little caffeine and am on a 1200 calorie diet. At the end of the day I generally have about 150 - 200 cals left to eat-which I do make myself eat. Very very weird.  I had also gave up alcohol for lent and found that I no longer crave that either, now that lent is over.

Best wishes on your goal and hang in there. It will all be worth it!

Thank you both--yes, more water, apples, and iced tea/tea. I'll try the high fiber b'fast too, but oatmeal always makes me very hungry only an hour or so after I eat it.

Multitaskermom, I'm impressed that you manage to stay within the 1200/day AND work out 6 hours/week. I wish I could do that--I simply don't have that kind of stamina. But Like you I want my old bod back for summer (and ever after)!!

I've put on 10 pounds in the last 5-6 years. I was perhaps a little under weight for my frame back then so I'm trying to lose about 6 pounds ideally (by summer). I'm 5'3 small to med frame and 120 pounds. I just bought a scale today, as I didn't ever have one before, my weight was so stable. But then my clothes started getting smaller and smaller and I couldn't understand what was happening (really, I thought it was the clothes)!! I don't love to exercise (I do force myself though 2-3x/week and feel virtuous when I do), but I love to eat, and I've moved to a new place where portions are larger in general and the weather colder...and I'm older...so must really pay attention now.The key is to stay with it. This coming weekend is my first one dieting and I hope I'll be able to stay with it.

Original Post by meredithmc:

I have been on a 1500 calorie/day regime for a week and I am very hungry very often! I exercise only a little but I am still really hungry and I am sure that if I went down to only 1200 I wouldn't function very well.

I remember when I was younger that I could do the 1200 calorie/day diet, but now the thought of it seems impossible. I am 39 and only want to lose about 3 kilos, but the calorie counter says that I need to go to 1200/day to do this effectively (i.e. quickly). Any suggestions?

I find that 1200 is way too low for me.  I am 5'7, 138 and 23 female.  I can lose on 1500-1700 calories.  I work out Mon - Friday (unless I am sick).  1500-1700 calories can still leave me hungry if I'm not eating high fiber foods.  Since changing my lifestyle and comitting myself to eating healthy foods I have gone from eating 10-20 grams of fiber to 30-45 grams and feel great.  Eating foods rich in fiber really keeps the hunger away!

1250 keeps me pretty satisfied. Sometimes I go up to 1300. I just drink water with all my meals and between meals. No soda, juice, tea (and I LOVE tea, especially the super sugary southern sweet tea) etc,  just water so I get to EAT all my calories and not have to factor the liquids in.  I love to eat, I just sarted this calorie counting thing and switched my daily junk food/fast food with fruits, grains and veggies and lean meats and I find that I can eat ALOT for little calories if I stick to the good stuff.

Good luck with your weight loss!!  :)

Original Post by meredithmc:

I have been on a 1500 calorie/day regime for a week and I am very hungry very often! I exercise only a little but I am still really hungry and I am sure that if I went down to only 1200 I wouldn't function very well.

I remember when I was younger that I could do the 1200 calorie/day diet, but now the thought of it seems impossible. I am 39 and only want to lose about 3 kilos, but the calorie counter says that I need to go to 1200/day to do this effectively (i.e. quickly). Any suggestions?

i have that issue too. but i find that since i have been spreading out my starches (foods with fibre) that hunger isnt so substantial. water and gum also help in the diet. i am 18yr female at 127lbs trying to lose 7-10 more.

but one of my most noticable things that helps control my hunger is mostly mental. think of that nice dress, or bathing suit you want to look hot in, drink a glass of water and move on with you day. its all mental.

The best thing I have found to stop me feeling hungry that is lower calories, healthy and tasty is Optivita or Special K cereals.  They stop me feeling hungry and are a healthy way to still eat properly.

Eat green vegetables, both raw and cooked! They are really low in calories so you can fill up on them. I eat ~1300 calories a day, and I eat all the time... fruit for breakfast, salad or whole wheat pita filled with veggies for lunch, and a big dinner of beans, veggies and tofu. I also snack on fruit and veggies throughout the day. If you are filling up on low cal, nutritionally dense foods then you can be full without eating too many calories.

Original Post by meredithmc:

I have been on a 1500 calorie/day regime for a week and I am very hungry very often! I exercise only a little but I am still really hungry and I am sure that if I went down to only 1200 I wouldn't function very well.

I remember when I was younger that I could do the 1200 calorie/day diet, but now the thought of it seems impossible. I am 39 and only want to lose about 3 kilos, but the calorie counter says that I need to go to 1200/day to do this effectively (i.e. quickly). Any suggestions?

I personally don't think any adult human being should restrict themself to 1200 calories when dieting. 1500 is fine.

Are you eating a balanced diet? Make sure you get your protein and fibre in. Eat whole wheat bread instead of white and whole wheat pastas if you can. They take longer to digest and make you feel fuller longer.

Have a snack or two a day. A good snack has both carbs and protein, which should curb the hunger. If you were just to eat a handful of baby carrots, for example, it probably would still leave you feeling hungry after. I personally don't find drinking water to help much. It's distracting while doing it, but otherwise not satisfying.

For snacks I've been eating Quaker mini rice chips. They're not terribly high in calories. I find them filling. Just 8-16 of those do well for me. Also, I find almonds help a bit. Sometimes I eat 8 of the chips and then a few almonds, like 5-7 or so.

You could have fruit and yogurt as well, vegetables with hummus, cheese and crackers, etc.

:]

This is all very helpful. Do you think that it's also a matter of getting used to being hungry?

I tested some of your suggestions yesterday and they helped quite a bit (particularly more water and the apple snack at around 11am)--I got down to 1220 for the day! Yes, I eat mounds of lettuce and veg at each meal and have fruit and such and have an 'A' nutrition grade on this site, but *still* I'm hungry! Mind over matter, in any case. Though I think that's easier with 8 pounds to lose, which is what I want to lose now. When there's only 2 left, and I hope I get there, it might be more difficult.

These forums really help though and I do think I will be able to stay motivated!!

I have found in the past that i often feel hungry when i force myself to eat healthy foods, i think its partially mental because i still crave something i want!

Rather than force myself to eat veg and lettuice which i hate with a passion ive been trying as many new foods as i can to find food thats low calorie,filling and tasty, and i think ive finally got the balance right.

Dont put up with being hungry! Rather adjust your meals so you either eat the same amount,but healthier foods or have smaller meals more often.

To stay healthy and not pile the pounds back on you will need to add more healthy foods to your diet and keep eating them,your old diet is fine in moderation but have new foods more often.

 Whatever you do dont eat less in volume! You can lose weight without eating less if you eat healthily.

I'm on the 1200 limit at the moment and i have breakfast,two cooked heavy meals a day and 1 snack for late evening when my stomach rumbles.