tired of starving myself to lose weight!

it seems like, for me, the only way to successfully lose weight is a low calorie diet (for me, around 1100-1200 cals and i am still always hungry). every time i eat anything out of the "norm" of this, my weight shoots up.

theres gotta be another way besides starving myself and always being grumpy/tired.

what keeps you full w/ low cals?

lean proteins like chicken, fish and lots of veggies - broccoli, sweet potatos etc.  Anything that comes out of the ground or off the tree - good stuff.  

Eat things loaded with Fiber - oatmeal, Fiber one cereal - whole grains....etc.

I don't know what your stats are... but it's very possible that you need more calories. 1200 is the bare minimum for a short, in-active female.

Veggies are super low calorie and when combined with a protien source they can keep you full.

Two things:

If you've been eating this little for a while, your metabolism could have dropped, and you will need to eat more (and probably gain some) to repair it. This will be worth it in the long run - you don't want to have to keep reducing your calories every time your body adjusts to the new low level.

But also, when you say "every time i eat anything out of the "norm" of this, my weight shoots up," I wonder if you mean that the day after eating more, your weight is up. If that's the case, this is just your body having a little more food still in it by the next morning, or, if the food that put you higher than usual was yummy, salty food, it's the water retention. It isn't fat.

So instead of trying to figure out how to stay full on too little calories, up your intake level. Just don't expect results immediately - it takes time for weight loss to show.

Original Post by amethystgirl:

Two things:

If you've been eating this little for a while, your metabolism could have dropped, and you will need to eat more (and probably gain some) to repair it. This will be worth it in the long run - you don't want to have to keep reducing your calories every time your body adjusts to the new low level.

But also, when you say "every time i eat anything out of the "norm" of this, my weight shoots up," I wonder if you mean that the day after eating more, your weight is up. If that's the case, this is just your body having a little more food still in it by the next morning, or, if the food that put you higher than usual was yummy, salty food, it's the water retention. It isn't fat.

So instead of trying to figure out how to stay full on too little calories, up your intake level. Just don't expect results immediately - it takes time for weight loss to show.

yes i think i did screw up my metabolism. i restricted this way, got down to my lowest weight, and ever since april gained about 25 lbs (and putting me at the top of the normal BMI range). so i went back to the restricting starting this week because it seems like the only way i can lose weight. a normal person can go to a wedding and eat teh food there and have a slice of cake and it won't kill them... for me.. well my weight will jump. arghhh.

Well, you've seen the results of restricting like that - do you want it to continue (or worsen) for the rest of your life?

People get their metabolisms back - it just takes time and patience (and a willingness to watch the scale creep a little higher). Frustrating? Yes. But compared to the alternative, I think you'll find it's worth it.

I also thought that if I wanted to loose 50 pounds I would have to starve and go hungry on 1200 to 1300 calories!!!  The other option was low carb and  then crave sweets like crazy!!! Been there done that. Frankly I just can not eat one more fried pork chop or slice of bacon or hunk of cheese! I did loose 35 pounds but I gained back 50. 

So I have to ask are you exercising at all? If you want to loose weight you will need to increase exercise as well as calories!  You body is in the starvation mode and everything you eat your body wants to hang on to because it knows what you are doing.  It is called self preservation!  

Well I can tell you I followed the advice here and I work out a minimum of 5 days a week and my calorie intake is between 1600 to 1900 daily and I am loosing inches and weight.  Not only that I actually get to eat.  When I am hungry I grab an apple or a protein bar.   But I do eat and eat often.  Never in my life would I have believed it possible - never!!!! But I took the big leap because I knew I could not live a life of starving forever  -sooner or later I would need to eat normally.   Then I would just end up gaining it all back and some extra right along with it because I would be so clueless on how to eat!

Instead I choose a healthy lifestyle - a way to learn how to eat and eat to increase energy, loose weight, clear pretty skin and healthy hair and nails.  You can learn how to eat out and learn how to use food to your advantage.  But i can tell you this - not eating will not get you what you want - you will loose muscle and you will be flat out hungry!!!  What will you have gained?  It will still take you as long to get skinny by going hungry as it would have had you exercised and ate healthy!

Original Post by tuff_n_nuff:

I also thought that if I wanted to loose 50 pounds I would have to starve and go hungry on 1200 to 1300 calories!!!  The other option was low carb and  then crave sweets like crazy!!! Been there done that. Frankly I just can not eat one more fried pork chop or slice of bacon or hunk of cheese! I did loose 35 pounds but I gained back 50. 

So I have to ask are you exercising at all? If you want to loose weight you will need to increase exercise as well as calories!  You body is in the starvation mode and everything you eat your body wants to hang on to because it knows what you are doing.  It is called self preservation!  

Well I can tell you I followed the advice here and I work out a minimum of 5 days a week and my calorie intake is between 1600 to 1900 daily and I am loosing inches and weight.  Not only that I actually get to eat.  When I am hungry I grab an apple or a protein bar.   But I do eat and eat often.  Never in my life would I have believed it possible - never!!!! But I took the big leap because I knew I could not live a life of starving forever  -sooner or later I would need to eat normally.   Then I would just end up gaining it all back and some extra right along with it because I would be so clueless on how to eat!

Instead I choose a healthy lifestyle - a way to learn how to eat and eat to increase energy, loose weight, clear pretty skin and healthy hair and nails.  You can learn how to eat out and learn how to use food to your advantage.  But i can tell you this - not eating will not get you what you want - you will loose muscle and you will be flat out hungry!!!  What will you have gained?  It will still take you as long to get skinny by going hungry as it would have had you exercised and ate healthy!

i am glad you beat the diet trap and you found something that is working for you!

i do run every morning for 40 minutes. i know they say you have to do more than your body is used to but if i run for longer i think i'll exhaust myself!

i'm going to make an appt w/ a nutritionist so hpefully she'll set me straight.

really appreciate the input from everyone on here, i love this site!!

Don't starve yourself!!!!  You will loose weight quicker if you eat more calories but just a whole bunch of good foods.   I use to starve myself too but it doesnt work at the end of the day.  Right now I'm eat more calories but just halethy foods and i lost 13 lbs in 4 weeks... it works especially with exercise!! And you wont it back 

Jenny you are doing  some things really - really right!!! You are asking questions and not giving up!!! I know you will make it.  Good luck with the  nutritionist!! I am looking forward to reading your success stories!!!

I am with you - I love it here.  I was doomed before finding this place!!!

When I'm feeling hungry in between meals, I'll have a can of progresso soup. They have really yummy flavors (minestrone, pot roast and veggies, chicken and rice) and most are around 200 calories for the whole can. It makes me full for very few calories :)

Original Post by jenny8484:

yes i think i did screw up my metabolism. i restricted this way, got down to my lowest weight, and ever since april gained about 25 lbs (and putting me at the top of the normal BMI range). so i went back to the restricting starting this week because it seems like the only way i can lose weight.

 

I think this is a classic mistake you've made. As others have pointed out, you will have to fix your metabolism first because otherwise you will be stuck in this horrific lose/gain pattern the rest of your life.

So, figure out what you need to maintain your current weight (including your exercise cals) and eat it until you stop gaining. Scary? Yep, but it's the "price" of "cheating" the first time you lost weight (and hard to believe all that restricting was 'cheating,' isn't it?). Once you see the scale stabilize, reduce your intake slowly to about a 500-800 cal deficit. Make sure to eat as "clean" as you can so you don't feel hungry all the time. And remember that as you get closer to your goal weight, you will have to accept a slower rate of loss-it will be a mistake to restrict more and exercise more in an attempt to continue a more rapid rate of loss.

Best of luck, and good for you for sticking with it!

Eating lower calories doesn't necessarily mean less volume of food. As you go along on your weightloss journey you will get to find more low calorie foods as well as low calorie recipe ideas.  Fill up on veggies, follow the good health guidelines (found on mypyramid.gov) and you will see how you will be full by eating what you should be eating, while staying within your calorie target. Work out and it will make it all the better.

 Starving yourself will only screw up your metabolism and never let you lose weight again...