To think that to stay in the healthy weight range I'm going to be hungry 70% of the time for the rest of my life.

[AliceAbsolum]

I've tried eating when I feel hungry, I put on about half a stone a month. Bmi is about 22.

I eat a balanced, protein rich diet based on lean fish, loads of veg, etc. But about an hour after eating each meal I'm generally hungry. Don't drink alcohol, try to avoid processed foods. Don't feel overly stressed, don't smoke etc etc.
Drives me mad.
I run 5 miles most days just to be able to eat an extra 400kcal!
Urgh.
Anyone else?

@PixellatedPixie

I would go and see an endocrinologist who specialises in weight management. I saw one privately and it has been invaluable!

Can you advise how to go about this please?

There is some serious under eating on this thread. But I am also part of this - constant calorie checking, weighing in etc so I keep my weight and blood pressure down too. It’s exhausting.

@Susannahmoody

Low carb does work, it really does.

But it does get boring, I can tell you that.

It hasn't for me, I love my food and eat a wide variety of it, and you can now get decent substitutes for most carbs.

Not potatoes though, I've yet to find anything that is a decent replacement for a roastie or lovely new potatoes - so sometimes I have them. Not often or in large amounts, but occasionally.

@Cornfieldrainbows

My bmi is 18.4 but to maintain it I have to eat fewer than 800cals at least five of the seven days. A couple of days I might have more like 1200 but then I have to offset that by having fewer than 500cals for a couple of days. It’s just how it is. If I ate 1500 calories a day id put weight on really quickly.

Why are you trying so hard to keep your BMI so low?

When I lost weight I did 16:8 and it definitely made it easier.

Some of the weight has crept on over lockdown and I’m planning on doing 16:8 again to sort it. But I keep seeing RH fitness type videos in Facebook and tiktok where the personal trainer is going nuts about women saying they only eat 1200 calories a day and struggling to lose weight. He says he puts them all on 2200 or whatever they need (it’s worked out individually) and then they lose weight better.

I assume the plan works out how many grams of protein, carbs, fat you need each day and everything has to be weighed and measured. Also assume you have to lift weights (I do weights a bit already). So am contemplating signing up.

@EatYourVegetables

Add more fat to your meals, and reduce the carbs.

I second this, healthy, natural fats are the way to go. Meat, salmon, eggs, avocado, nuts, olive oil, seeds etc.

@Cornfieldrainbows why do you wish to maintain at 18 ? Some life insurance providers start asking questions at this BMI - it’s not statistically a healthy BMI to be at. (Please note I said statistically so in terms of population - I’m not talking about the people who are simply are extremely slim without thinking about it).

I have decided to eat barely any lunch and to really cut out bread. Except one slice at breakfast. I did the 12 12 diet early in the summer but I was off my food so it was easy to do.

It is too cold to drink much water this week!