third day of dieting and want to chew off my own arm...

[Anonymous]

I am trying to follow a 1400 calorie a day plan and am so hungry I can barely stand it! Argh! Why is this so hard? Oh yeah, probably because I've been consuming more like 2000 calories a day for several years now. Sigh...

[Anonymous]

Drink more water and go to bed early

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yeah, I better get in bed now before it gets ugly in the kitchen.

[Anonymous]

If you're that hungry, you're doing it wrong OP.

Up your protein and fat intake, and I would seriously recommend bumping up to 1600 or 1800 calories (unless you're 5'0 or shorter)

[Anonymous]

I chew gum like crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drink more water and go to bed early

Not OP, but I never understood the drink more water advice. The only thing that did for me was make me pee more often. Never made my hunger go away.

Gum did help a bit, though.

[Anonymous]

You can do it. I dropped my calorie intake substantially and it took me 1.5 weeks til I was ok. It's harder cold turkey but doable -- stick with it. You will feel so great a month from now!!!

Do it. You will be ok.

[Anonymous]

You'll get through the wall, OP. Also, carrots, steamed broccoli, apples, etc. can be a lifeline when you're hungry and you just want to chew something! Herbal tea is good for sipping something with flavor, as is flavored water (http://www.theyummylife.com/Flavored_Water). When I diet, these things all help. As does coffee!

It sucks, but you've already done the hardest days, so keep it going! Post reports and let us know how you're doing. Hell, you may have just inspired me to cut back my excessive calorie intake!

[Anonymous]

Have a hot rooibos tea and take 10 long deep breaths. If you still have the bad jones, do the pose of the child or downward dog for 6 minutes. See if that helps.

Also can brush your teeth. Walk for 10 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Any non-starchy veggies in large amounts. It's the only way I can keep my weight under control.

[Anonymous]

I would start with 1600 and once you get used to that (you will!) then reduce it to 1500 and then 1400 if you still need to lose. Slow and steady wins the race!

[Anonymous]

I've been doing the 5:2 fasting diet for about 6 weeks now. I've lost 10 pounds so far. The way is works is that you eat as normal (no counting calories) 5 days a week. 2 days a week (not consecutive) you can have just 500-600 calories.

Some people fast from 8/10pm the night before to 8/9am the day after. I do a modified version. I eat a hearty (but not crazy) breakfast on my fast day, skip lunch, have a 300-400 cal dinner. Next day breakfast 100-200 cal, then normal lunch the following day.

I find this much easier to stick to than having to count calories every.single.day.

You do get hungry on fast days. But personally it helps me to know that I just need to make it through the one evening (hungry) and the next day I can eat/drink what I want.

[Anonymous]

I second some of the thoughts above:

- Start at a higher calorie level then work down. The only calorie deficit that makes sense is one that you can maintain, and it gets easier.

- Eat cooked veggies. These feel like real food to me, so they satisfy my hunger without adding calories. I do oven roasted broccoli or asparagus or steamed haricots verts. Vegetable stew can also be great, but watch potatoes and other starches.

- Hot tea at night when you are hungry.

- Carrots or celery to munch on.

- Watch your macros --- make sure you're getting enough protein.

[Anonymous]

If you get hungry at night, brush your teeth and get in bed. There is no way that another handful of food is worth the 2 minutes it takes to brush my teeth! lol

[Anonymous]

make sure the callories you are eating are quality clean calories. So lots of veggies, meat, fruit and healthy fats. Skip the empty calories like anything you drink, white starches and so forth.