I'm still hungry <wail>

[Greensleeves]

I am trying to lose a large amount of weight 100lb+) and trying to do it sensibly and gradually (have lost it all before by living on boiled veg and water, and put it all back on again)

This time I'm doing it right - sensible meals, loads of exercise (walking 10k per day, cycling, bit of strength training), using a fitbit to keep track of everything, have given up smoking/salt/sugar, am drinking lots of water etc.

I've lost 1 stone 3lb in the five weeks since I started which is fine I think. I should be feeling better, right? I'm not. My legs and feet hurt all the time from walking, I'm hungry constantly (I'm not starving myself! Am eating proper meals, spag bol for dinner tonight, scrambled egg on toast for breakfast etc). It's revolting but what I'm used to is eating massive portions and lots of snacks, and I just never feel satisfied now. I miss cheese and chocolate and cake and biscuits and late-night salty chips/pizza

Sorry, just wanted a rant.

Congratulations on your weightloss so far.
It's hard but stick at it. Keep your eye on the prize!

Ive lost 4 stone on slimming world and never felt hungry. Are you having a good amount of lean protein? as that helps you feel fuller for longer.
well done keep going x

so what are you eating? Is the scrambled egg on wholemeal toast and can you add in, say, some chopped herbs to extend it a bit. What veg was in your spag bol?

Choose low gi foods from here www.healthline.com/nutrition/low-glycemic-diet#section6

and have apples or a handle of cherries as a snack.

Are you getting any advice on your new regime? It sounds like a lot of exercise for someone with so much to lose and it could be that some changes might help your progress.

well done!
you did well so far.
do you have herbal tea or herbs at home?
a large mug of fennel tea tastes slightly sweet and soothing.

Congratulations! I've got another 70lbs to go myself, but doing well. Tonight, I absolutely had a bowl of chocolate cereal, even though it meant going over my calories, because you know what? One night won't kill me, and if you are hungry, you are hungry.
Have you tried/can you manage a bit of moderation. Cut yourself a small piece of cheese and have it with an apple. Make sure you make the cheese last as long as the apple, and drink a whole cup of water while you do.
I like to keep some frozen berries in the freezer and greek yoghurt in the fridge to have if I'm craving something sweet.
As for salty, have you tried those seaweed snacks? I get the sea salt ones (or make them at home) and they are like 11 calories or something a pack but hit the spot for salt.

(also, I'm still totally starving! I know exactly how you feel! I actually dreamt about dominos cookies last night!)

Scrambled egg is on wholemeal seeded toast, sometimes with beans or mushrooms or tomatoes. Spag bol has tomatoes, peas, lots of onions and chopped red and green peppers in. I love all veg and eat lots of it. If the family meal is too calorific for it to be worth me having a tiny portion of it (eg yesterday's shortcrust beef pies with buttery mash) I have a huge bowl of mixed salad/raw veg including beans and seeds with either tuna or cottage cheese and a wholemeal pitta.

I think I'm eating enough, I'm just greedy and obsessed with food, and feeling deprived and I miss salt and sugar-laden foods

If you fancy pizza toast & cut open a wholemeal pitta bread. Spread some Dorito's salsa on, low fat cheese & toppings you like - wafer thin ham, sweetcorn etc. Stick it under the grill until the cheese is melted. Fairly low calorie & hits the spot.

Punnets of fruit are good for snacking on too.

It is hard OP, you're doing a great job so far.

Btw there's really no need to walk 10k every day (or do you mean 10000 steps?)

It's hard, if it wasn't then everyone would be slim. Don't give up!

No, I do mean 10k

No wonder your feet and legs are sore if you're walking 6 miles every day!

Give yourself a break and try to relax a little about it. If you keep going full pelt you'll be more likely to crash spectacularly.

could you do something like and exercise bike, just to get some exercise that's not (or less) weight bearing?? I have an elliptical thing that has an optional bike seat and you fairly cover the miles with that tbh

I really fecked my ankles for over six months after starting C25K, but I have been at it since january, on and off on that machine and it's so much better, no issues at all.

I lost 115lbs in 2 years. I didn't cut out any of those things. I ate them less but I didn't do anything mad like giving up pizza 😬😳 I've maintained it a year now.

I found that when I restricted myself I just gave up after a few months.

I ate to my appetite. I had water before I ate anything. I tried not to snack if I had a meal in an hour. You're exercising loads so you need more food. Protein will keep you fuller longer, eggs, lean meat, etc.

Also how is your mental health around this stuff? That was a major major shift for me. It's honestly what I credit with how I've achieved.

You're doing a great job, don't be too hard on yourself.

Are you tracking your calories? Use MyFitnessPal or similar and weigh, scan and track everything you eat. You'll soon become more aware of what you're eating/ how many calories you're eating etc.

Protein is key here to keep you full. Make sure you're having a good helping of lean protein at every meal, and where possible have protein based snacks too (low fat babybel might help with protein & hit that cheese craving). Loads of veg is obviously great on that front too.

Also worth being aware of your hormones. The impact of your hormones can be huge on hunger & satisfaction levels. Keep a track over the next month or 2 and if you notice a pattern then adjust your food intake accordingly. It might be that you can reduce calories and manage ok for three weeks which then allows a little extra food in a 'hungry week'

Plenty of hot baths and loads of stretching for your aches and pains. Once you feel ready introduce some other methods of exercise to keep things varied.

17lb in five weeks is amazing. Well done!! Salt and sugar are unfortunately things your tastebuds crave (bastard taste buds!), but not your body.

I'd recommend Hairy bikers diet cookbooks. Normal meals that are low cal, so the whole family can eat them without you feeling like you have to eat something different or a tiny weeny portion. None revolting, easy to cook recipes full of flavour to satisfy the bastard tastebuds. (Actually the only cookbooks I'm am capable of using and I'm officially the world's worse cook!). They have snack recipes too. All calorie counted recipes.

Again congratulations on your hard work so far!

My mum said something to me about the hunger feeling which has helped in diets "If you're not an actual starving human and/or an anorexic, feeling hungry won't kill you." seems harsh but she's right if talking about people who legitimately need to lose weight (like you and me both)

Any chance you can include more swimming in your exercises as more easy on your joints and feet.

My legs and feet hurt all the time from walking

Make sure that you're wearing a decent pair of trainers that support your feet, and remember to have rest days.

10k isn't a huge distance to walk every day if you're in decent shape but given that you only started 5 weeks ago and you're obviously carrying some weight, it's important to build up distance gradually and make such you take rest days. Rest days are really important for your recovery.

It sounds like you're flung yourself into this wholeheartedly but maybe a little more moderation is needed so you can maintain this (both the walking/activity and the diet). 17 pounds is quite a lot to lose in 5 weeks. Well done for doing it but it does indicate that maybe you've gone a little hard and your body needs some time to adjust and recuperate.

It will take a while for your body to get used to eating smaller portions. And your mind too! If you've been a comfort eater, the mind can be the hardest to deal with.

I lost 70 pounds in one year and it's stayed off but that's because I do a lot of exercise - and if I notice a few pounds creeping on, I watch my food intake for a few days until the weight's dropped off again. I eat healthily because it fuels my gym performance but OMG I have been craving a sourdough pizza for what feels like ages! I allow myself a cheat day every so often but it also helps to find more healthy substitutes for things you miss/crave.

For example, I buy Halo Top ice cream as it's lower in calories and higher in protein. Depending on the flavour, a whole 500ml tub can be less than 300 calories. So you can have a decent sized portion without ruining that day's calorie intake. I buy Heck chicken sausages as they're low in fat and low in calories. 2 grilled sausages are only 98 calories. There are healthier options out there of your favourites, it just takes a while to find them.

It must be extra hard trying to maintain your diet while you're cooking quite calorie-laden meals for your family. That must feel a bit like you're torturing yourself!!! Would they not be willing to eat a little healthier to support you and make it easier for you?

You're doing fantastically well - don't give up!

Of course you are craving those foods - we evolved from a long line of people who survived to breed because they found sweet, fatty foods the most pleasant, so they had extra flab to carry them through lean times. Now that sugar and fat are easily available, we have to fight our natural instincts to lose weight.

And of course you are hungry - you are losing weight because you are NOT eating enough food. Your body is telling you it needs more food to maintain its size. But as you don't want to maintain your size, you have to eat 'not enough.'

Well done for putting your long-term goals above your short-term greed for yummy stuff, even if it is a struggle now and then.

Keep busy!

Or have a long bath....

Hi op. Congrats on your current weight loss.

I don’t mean to sound patronising but are you actually hungry? As in, tummy rumbling hunger pangs? Or are you maybe instead missing that full up feeling you would usually have?

Perhaps if it’s the latter you could start doing something to keep your mind/hands busy of an evening or whenever it is that you would usually be craving things. I think for most people evenings are the worst for that!

What is your water intake like?Have you upped it to match your level of exercise?

sugar cravings can be a vitamin defiency - so some advice here www.foxnews.com/health/9-ways-to-eliminate-sugar-cravings

If you think you can stop at one try a single square of dark chocolate when you get a sugar craving. It is good for magnesium deficiency. Or try the L-glutamine.

Remember it gets better. Your stomach gets used to having less food, and the sugar cravings get less over time. Keep going, and remember one meal of breaking the rules won't be a problem - as long as you don't go mad, you can still enjoy family celebrations. Just never eat anything unless you are positively enjoying the taste of it (even if it does mean leaving stuff on your plate).

Try drinking a big glass of water or mug of herbal tea when you feel hungry. It may not work but it's worth a try.

And keep reminding yourself that you're not feeling hungry, you're working up a good appetite.

When it comes to the meal, chew everything well so you get every morsel of taste - it slows you down so you're not starting at an empty plate while everyone else still has loads on their plate.

You could still have cheese if you only eat a small piece of it (and instead of something else that's more calorific than veg)- a square lump the size of a box you could fit a walnut in. If you buy good cheese, a small lump is more satisfying than a small lump of bog standard cheddar.