Need some help to regulate my appetite

My appetite has been insane lately.  I'm not looking to lose much (2 or 3 pounds) and I've easily eaten enough this week to put on another 1-1.5 pounds. 

I have a sport competition in 5 weeks that I need to make weight of 124 lbs for and I don't want to have to cut more than 2 or 3 pounds in water (I don't think it's heathly and it makes me really irritable and hungry and really unpleasant).

I had a pretty good grasp on it and was maintaining easily for nearly a year now but in the last month it's gone haywire. 

Stats are 5'6", about 128 lbs, 28 years old and female

I lift heavy along with plyometric exercises for 1 hour 3 days a week with some cardio after depending on the intensity of my workout and then I train in Muay Thai the other 3 days for about 90 mins.  I also walk to work and all my errands every day but it really only comes out to about an hour a day max of walking.

I also eat 2000-2500 cals a day and I try to avoid processed food as much as possible.

Any ideas to help me get back in control here?  I've eaten 3500 to 4000 calories a day this week. 

If you're doing that amount of exercise you can't afford to cut the calories too dramatically or all that happens is what you describe ... you end up bingeing to play catch-up.  It could easily be that 2000-2500 is too low for you and that you'd find it easier to stay in control on 3000.  124lbs is a pretty low weight for someone 5'6" who is also very muscular...

Good food is going to help.  You say you don't eat processed food which is a good start.  The most satisfying/filling combination of foods is fat + protein + fibre.  So make sure you get a good balance of all three at each meal.  Regular meals are more satisfying than irregular eating patterns.... so a meal or a snack every couple of hours might help. 

Hey Kikboxgirl!  I've been having similar problems myself.  I can't figure it out either.  I do Muay Thai too, 3 times a week, strength train 3 times a week, walk/jog about 5 hours a week, and about an extra hour of cardio a week.  I've checked all the calculators on the site and I'm right on with everything.  Last year this time I was 5/6 pounds lighter and I'd like to lose it but I can't figure out what the difference is from last year. 

I just started sparring and would like to drop down to where I was last year so when I'm ready to fight I'll be closer to my weight class. I also avoid processed foods basically because I'm allergic to a ton of foods.  Did you come up with anything? 

I've been doing Muay Thai for over a year now and I think I'm just not sure how my body works any more between the extra muscle and metabolism. IDK...

PS:  I read some of your other posts (since I'm Muay Thai obsessed) and was wondering how you did with your fight?

Hey Snoopini!  I found that I just wasn't eating enough as GI Jane (who always seems to know the right answer!) said.  I had to bump it up to 3000 a day to keep it in check and even then I'd still have to watch it - I Loooove to eat so even just regular overeating is a problem for me. 

I have found that going low carb really helps - it's a bit hard to get used to at first but it kind of keeps my eating at bay.

As for my fight, I made weight no problem (I'm pretty good with cutting 4 lbs of water weight the night before) and I won!  TKO at 1:07 in the first round with a knee to the body.  It was really great and kinda sucked at the same time cause I worked my ass off for it.  but oh well, I'm the ISKA North American superbantamweight title holder now - bwahaha!

I have to get back into it soon now,  I've been slacking and I have a title defense in July and as usual, have another 5 or 6 lbs to cut.  blech oh well.

CONGRATS on the title and the TKO in 1:07!!! That's so awesome!!   Good luck in July too!!  I can see how it kinda sucks to work your butt off for months and then it's all over so quickly but you got a title (and a TKO), how cool!!!

So maybe i just need to eat more, i have been hungrier lately.  But, I've been confused because my activity hasn't changed.  I was wondering if I needed to up my protein and lower my carbs. Do you know what percentage of carbs you eat? 

I have trouble getting advice because I don't know anybody else who does the same type of workouts as I do.  I'm always looking for females who do Muay Thai (I love it so much) so I'm glad I saw your post.

I'm looking forward to fighting, I'm loving sparring!

Thanks!  I'm not too precise on the carbs % but generally if I avoid breads, pasta's and rice I get about 100 to 150 gr a day so may be 12 to 15%?  pretty low but nothing atkins like.  I get them down to about 50 gr a day or less in the last two weeks before I fight for the last lbs to make weight but I couldnt' do that on a regular basis - I need the carbs for energy.

I eat pretty high fat too - minimum 30% (mostly from PB heehee).  I find it keeps me fuller longer than protein.  that's what works for me.

How long have you been doing Muay thai?  I've been doing it for just under 6 years and I go a minimum of three times a week even when I don't have a fight coming up - just not as intense.  I can't/won't give it up - it's the only thing I've ever enjoyed enough to stick to.

I love the PB myself, I'm an addict.  I think that's where most of my fat comes from too and I also find it keeps me fuller longer, it's my favorite snack.  I think 125 grams is about 20% (I love the Analysis part of CC, that's why I asked about %), so I am going to try this by reducing my carbs a lot.  I just noticed that in the last couple months that I've been really hungry and overeating a bit, I've been upping my protein a little but not enough apparently. I think reducing the carbs and increasing the protein will do the trick.  Thanks for the tip! 

I started doing Muay Thai a little over a year ago.  I was hooked after my second class, I can't imagine not doing it either.  I know I'll stick with it too, plus there's so many benefits from it that I don't think I could live without both mental and physical. I go to class three times a week religiously.