I'm soooo hungry!!!

[choceyes]

I started my diet healthy eating plan and 30DS 2 days ago.

I'm finding it so difficult as I'm always hungry. I totted up how many calories I have ingested today and it is about 900. And my main meal is dinner with a snack before bed time too. How on earth do people survive on 1200cal a day??!!

Am I so hungry because I started doing exercise? I had a protein breakfast, a small sandwich made with wholemeal bread and a small slice of cheese and a big bowl of carrot soup for lunch. A couple of squares of dark chocolate and a pear. And 3 coffees with no sugar. All that should have been filling no?

Just goes to show how much I was overeating before. I was lucky not to have been gaining weight I think (saved by me still BF perhaps).

How do you all deal with hunger?

I have done Paul Mckenna, follow basic principles, but find it annoying to listen to....I don't go hungry and I don't eat unless I am hungry if I am hungry I eat something, ideally with protein - I still maintain though that if you eat the right foods then you wouldn't be hungry. There are studies showing that those following low carb diets lost weight as they naturally ate less (400 cals a day) as they were not hungr.

Also each breastfeed is about 100 calories so make sure you take that into account.

i lost 2.5 stone on slimming worlds because you can eat huge portions,no calorie counting and no weighing,it really is amazing how it works because you think how can i possibly have lost weight when i've just eaten a huge plate of pasta!. i wouls buy the magazine if you don't want to commit and follow there 7 day plan and see how you feel. it is the only diet that has ever worked for me, and i have managed to keep it all off for3 years until i'm pregnant now.

p.s 900 cals a day is not a healthy eating plan ,it;s a fast and as soon as you start eating normally you'll put it back on.

Have to quibble that, I've seen just as many people following WW/SW/RC who put on weight as soon as they finish as those on VLCDs. I don't want to go back to eating 'normally' as that is what took me to 21st! On the VLCD I'm learning portion control, the fact that I can get through my day without eating constantly. I did Rosemary Conley for a year and while it was great, helped me lose 4st in a year by the end I was sick of it, all the cal counting and denying myself. I'm not fasting, I'm getting 100% of all the nutrients etc I need in my packs. The packs include shakes, bars, soups and meals so I am able to follow a normal day. A quick fix is needed when morbid obesity threatens health and life- if I get to goal and gain a stone, that is far, far better than being 21st and gaining a stone!

YES Exactly justwant !!!!

Sorry forever I cannot believe that anyone on 400 cals a day would loose weight (loose their life maybe !!) especially when they started eating normally again. Anyway cal. counting is totally unnec. in weight loss (read the O.Ps. about paul mckenna none of us calorie count and we have all lost a hell of amount of weight and are happy and healthy!!!

I'm on 650-700 cals a day, depending which veg I chose. I am eating far healthier than I was before. Lost 1st in the month I've been doing it, still obese so I have a long way to go. Ever stood on the scales and seen over 20st? It took me a year to lose 4st eating healthily and exercising, which is of course great if all I had was 4st to lose. Knowing I had another 5st at that point to go and losing my home and job just killed my motivation. I wouldn't recommend anyone do a truly low cal diet for themselves, I'm following a strict plan which has everything a body needs.

Op - are you trying to get back down to 7 stone 7 again? Don't you think thats rather low? I am 5ft 2, and I do know some people of our height can weigh that little, but I tdo hink its on the very low side. What bmi would that give you?

Scarf have you checked out paul mckenna? there are people who have lost the same amount of weight as you need to believe me WITH NO CAL, COUNTING!!!

Yes sorry O.P for hi jacking yr thread but with b.f. just wait and along with healthy eating and Paul mckenna you'll loose all you want but not too much as bibbity says

I have looked at the books, thanks for suggesting it. I fully intend to use some of the ideas when I get closer to goal- my plan is to use the VLCD to get to overweight then use the products but not follow the full plan. I'm torn between low Gi and low carb to help the last few stone and maintain.

Yes scarf it really IS worth looking at because it actually deals with the EMOTIONAL reasons we overeat and helps us overcome our self hatred which IMO and E is all you need to make a PERMANENT change to yr. eating habits.
Also there's a very friendly and supportive thread on here really!

No didn't mean they ate 400 calories, meant those on high protein diets not counting calories naturally ate 400 calories less a day than those on normal diets not counting calories etc as they were less hungry as insulin stable. Of course can't live on 400 calories a day unless on VLCD replacement diet under supervision etc. IMO these are only a good idea if you are very overweight (more 5 stone to lose) and want to see results quickly but know that you need to work at maintaining afterwards.

I reached target in June last year and am maintaining, have experimented with different things since then. Agree that key to staying slim is only eating when hungry, not overeating and definitely no mindless comfort eating.

I wish that was my mindset, eat to live rather than live to eat. I should have said that, VLCD really are only for those with lots to lose. On a weightloss support site I use I see people starting at 30st+ and if people start with a low BMI or weight people jump and say it's not a good idea.

If I get to a healthy weight I will have lost 6st on the VLCD. Am dreading maintaining as I know I have very real food problems I need to address. The Paul McKenna book looks like the best thing for when I'm done, I've read every diet book there is from Atkins and set plans to just advice.

Oh and when I get there- perhaps by summer, if I keep the rate I'm going! I will jump on the thread here, I have seen it. I'll need all the help I can get!

Forever Surely it's healthier to loose slowly esp. when you're well over yr BMI otherwise you'll be soo upset by the flab that you'll eat again to get over it!! I tell you what I do one little easy exercise and it has really flattened my belly (it activates yr fat burning while you sleep)! I'll tell you if you're interested.

Ppeat I'd love to know the exercise please

Okay Olympic 1. Lie flat on a firm surface it can be a mattress (I do it in bed a.m and p.m.)

1. With yr arms by yr, side (bring them above yr head still flat when you need to make it more difficult)

1. Lift the top of yr body - head and shoulders- approx 5 or 6 cms. for 5 or 6 secs. KEEPING YR. HEAD IN LINE WITH YR. SPINE .

1. I do it 3 times A.M. and P.M. it helps you sleep too!!

To do it during the day just pull yr stomach muscles in slowly while counting to 20 and hold; you know while on the computer or standing at the station etc.

I'm going to do that. Ta ppeat .

Thanks ppeat, will give it a try. How on earth does it help you sleep though?

ppeat, isn't that just like a normal crunch?

Mychild I don't know if it's a normal crunch I just saw it on the telly once and tried it and I felt my body actually burning the fat AFTER it and it got my belly down really well ! Maybe it's because you tighten all those diaphragmatic (sp?) muscles that helps you to sleep when you relax afterwards olympic!

Kinky You're welcome!!

1200 cals a day is not a VLCD, it low enough but you'll not starve to death . The only problem with this is that you may not sustain it and so end up bingeing and not losing weight.

If, however you stick to it you will lose weight. If you eat less calories than you need you will lose weight and once the weight is lost you must eat according to your new body weight or you will gradually put weight on.
Doesn't matter how you lose the weight if you don't adjust your food intake to your new weight then it will go back on.

I did Cambridge for about 3 months which was 450 calories and the weight flew off - I haven't gone back to eating the same amount as I did before and no weight at all has gone back on.

You will be hungry as you are eating substantially less and it is up to you to decide if you can stick to it while you feel like this but if you eat more protein at your meals you'll feel fuller and try and cut down on carbs only try to eat wholegrain carbs as the the other type will probably make you feel hungrier.

You will feel hungyr because your body has to adjust to eating less. However, after a few weeks you will get used to eating less as your stomach will shrink.
I maintain my weight by fasting one a month for three days. I know that people disagree with this method of weight control, but it works for me.

bibbitybobbityhat - No I am aiming for about 7 stone 10 lbs, but will be happy with 7 st 12lbs, which is only about 5lbs away, so I am expecting it to be hard to lose this little amount of weight. It's not really my weight that is the issue, as I am well aware that I am of a healthy weight. It's the love handles and massive belly (really it is, my belly comes out more than my 30HH boobs do and I keep getting asked if I am PG) that I want to deal with. I don't know how much of my belly is fat or how much it is due to overstreched abdominal muscles, buy being PG twice within 2 years and having 2 c-sections. I am doing the Shred and going to Zumba mainly to firm up my core muscles.

I think I can't eat less than about 1700cals. I'm just too hungry!

I have tried going low carb, but I find that eating lots of protein on it's own doesn't fill me up at all. But adding a small amount of carbs (wholegrain) to a normal portion of protein will fill me up much more. So I'm just halving my carb portions and avoiding the cakes and sweets at the moment.

I've lost a lb since last week and DH said I looked more toned, so I hope it's working!

I'm going to try that ab exercise ppeatfruit, so thanks for that!

choc you're welcome How old is yr L.O.? It's takes a good while to loose the baby fat esp. as you had 2 c - sections (don't take any notice of the daft celebrities)!!! and don't forget yr PFE! IMO you just need to look after yrself and eat sensibly; P.M. is brill. for that. Good luck!