How do you get over the hunger cravings?

[Anonymous]

I am 5’7” and in the past 6 months or so I have gained a bunch of weight. I used to be 140ish pre-kids and somehow it has crept up 10 pounds in the past decade.

I need to start dieting and watching what I eat. Working out alone isn’t cutting it like when I was young.

I am tracking my calories and aiming to eat 1300-1400 per day. I am freaking starving. I walk 15,000+ steps a day, weight lift 2-3 times a week and try to fit in bike riding on off days (peloton).

Do I just drink more water and hope the hunger pains subside?

[Anonymous]

Eat more and better food. Lots of protein!

[Anonymous]

Op - what lean protein?

This is what I am trying to eat:

Breakfast - coffee and Greek yogurt with 1/3 cup of granola

Lunch - salad with shrimp

Dinner - protein of some sort and veggies

Snack - apple slices with mozzarella stick

[Anonymous]

Maybe a little less cardio because it’s making you so hungry. If you’re in a calorie defecit, you should lose weight. And eat dense vegetables (like sweet potatoes) and complex carbs to fill you up.

[Anonymous]

At least 30 grams of fiber

[Anonymous]

Op - should I add in a protein fruit smoothie? To up my protein and fiber?

[Anonymous]

Just based on your sample day, my suggestion would be to swap a big bowl of oatmeal (one full cup of old fashioned oats) topped with a couple cut up walnuts and a handful or raisins for the granola. Eat the granola on Saturday and Sunday, more like a treat than everyday. The oatmeal will be more filling.

For the lunch sample, that looks a little light unless you are having a big salad with lots of healthy toppings such as seeds and nuts. A small salad with shrimp is very low calorie and lunch needs to be more substantial.

[Anonymous]

Also to add on the lunch, add some chickpeas or quinoa or something similarly filling yet relatively low calorie.

[Anonymous]

OP- thanks for the suggestions. I hate oatmeal (actually I hate yogurt too) but will try and choke it down. I really love food and have never had to diet before. I am trying to aim for less than 1400 calories but find it hard.

[Anonymous]

Drink water with lemon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drink water with lemon.

I thought this was bad for your teeth.

[Anonymous]

Less than 1400 really isn't enough calories with all that exercise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Less than 1400 really isn't enough calories with all that exercise.

OP - how do I get into a calorie deficient then? Also I am using My Fitness Pal and I read you should eat based on the calories it suggests (in your quiz it determines how many calories makes sense) and not add more if you are exercising.

[Anonymous]

OP, I have nearly the same stats and think about this question all the time. Currently trying to lose the last 10-15 lbs.

What works for me is to simply lean into the hunger and accept it. Also, I do intermittent fasting, which allows me to eat 2 larger meals rather than 3 tiny ones. I find I’m just as hungry at lunchtime if I eat breakfast or not. I also eat very low carb, which helps.

Here’s what I’ll be eating today:

-around 1pm: plain greek yogurt; chicken breast with grilled veggies

-around 4pm: 4oz steak with cheese, salsa, and sour cream

-around 7pm: 4oz pulled pork; 1.5 cups chicken taco soup

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Less than 1400 really isn't enough calories with all that exercise.

OP - how do I get into a calorie deficient then? Also I am using My Fitness Pal and I read you should eat based on the calories it suggests (in your quiz it determines how many calories makes sense) and not add more if you are exercising.

15k steps per day, 2-3 days weightlifting, and 4-5 days of peloton and it told you to eat 1400 calories per day? Like that is a lot of exercise to eat so little.