Hungry on 1600 calories

jaykay · 19-Jul-06, 11:30 AM

I have been recording my diet on FitDay, and according to several calorie calculators I've used, I should be eating about 1600 calories/day. 3-4 times a week I weight train and do 20 minutes high intensity cardio (the body for life plan). Plus moderate intensity water aerobics 2-3 times a week. However I find myself getting hungry on 1600 calories/day. Do you think this is too little? I am trying to lose weight though so I don't want to overeat.
Thanks for any help.

lyra · 19-Jul-06, 11:37 AM

Can we have your height/weight, sex?

~Nicole

**Lady C** · 19-Jul-06, 12:21 PM

It is probably right. I get hungry when I workout intensly and trying to cut.

I normally eat around 1600. No, I don't think it is too little. Wait a few more weeks and see what the tape measure or mirror is telling you.

jaykay · 19-Jul-06, 12:29 PM

Lyra- my height is 5'4", weight about 135 pounds, age 22, female.
I forgot to add, I also bike to and from work 4-5 days/week, 20-30 minutes.
Lately I've been going over 1600 calories by about 300.

**Firehawk** · 19-Jul-06, 12:55 PM

You do ALOT of activity it sounds like. How do you feel most of the time?

jaykay · 19-Jul-06, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firehawk

You do ALOT of activity it sounds like. How do you feel most of the time?

Well during the exercise I feel fine, because I eat a good breakfast and small meals throughout the day, until the evening. THEN I get cravings for carbs. I've been holding it over with milk or hot chocolate. I've increased my activity because I'm trying to lose some body fat %. But according to those calorie-calc things, I should be eating 1600 cals for weight loss, according to my stats.

**maverick** · 19-Jul-06, 02:42 PM

Here's the thing. As far as hunger is concerned, I'm off the opinion that you should always feed it. Cravings on the other hand are a battle you need to learn how to fight on your own. Find healthy substitutes or increase your meal frequency to keep cravings at bay.

**Firehawk** · 19-Jul-06, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maverick

Here's the thing. As far as hunger is concerned, I'm off the opinion that you should always feed it. Cravings on the other hand are a battle you need to learn how to fight on your own. Find healthy substitutes or increase your meal frequency to keep cravings at bay.

I gotta agree on this...if i took care of every craving i'd never lose anything...probably gain.

vegan · 19-Jul-06, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaykay

Well during the exercise I feel fine, because I eat a good breakfast and small meals throughout the day, until the evening. THEN I get cravings for carbs. I've been holding it over with milk or hot chocolate. I've increased my activity because I'm trying to lose some body fat %. But according to those calorie-calc things, I should be eating 1600 cals for weight loss, according to my stats.

Starchy vegetables/grains will satisfy your hunger drive without adding alot of calories as long as you do not load up with high-fat toppings.

**Firehawk** · 19-Jul-06, 05:01 PM

Protein will also stave off cravings.

CF-OC_gal · 19-Jul-06, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaykay

I have been recording my diet on FitDay, and according to several calorie calculators I've used, I should be eating about 1600 calories/day. 3-4 times a week I weight train and do 20 minutes high intensity cardio (the body for life plan). Plus moderate intensity water aerobics 2-3 times a week. However I find myself getting hungry on 1600 calories/day. Do you think this is too little? I am trying to lose weight though so I don't want to overeat.
Thanks for any help.

Are you losing weight at this rate of eating? If yes then keep doing what you are doing. If no then reconsider how you are going about this.

Personally I could not "diet" on 1600 cals a day and workout at that workout pace, but I could survive easily on that amount if I am active but not strenuously working out.

Your experience may be different than mine though. You may be getting hungry as you adjust to eating differently. See if there is a pattern to your hunger and try to eat something at those times without adding cals.

jaykay · 20-Jul-06, 08:53 AM

As of recently no I haven't started losing any weight yet on this new plan. However the aerobics and biking are moderate intensity while cardio and weights are higher intensity workouts.

CF-OC_gal · 20-Jul-06, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaykay

3-4 times a week I weight train and do 20 minutes high intensity cardio (the body for life plan). Plus moderate intensity water aerobics 2-3 times a week.

That is from your original post. If in fact you are not doing high intensity cardio then you probably are not burning the calories you think you are.

See if you can cut out 200 of those extra calories you've been taking in over 1600. Re-work your meal plan to anticipate the hunger and satisfy it with a mini-meal. Carb cravings are a normal thing for people when they cut back on them. You'll have to fight them. As someone suggested eat lean protein at those times if you have to. Skim milk is probably OK but hot chocolate probably is not the best thing or you set yourself up for craving sweets even though it may be artificially sweetened with no calories. Have a slice of cantaloupe or a bowl of strawberries and eat them slowly if you must have sweet.

lyra · 20-Jul-06, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaykay

As of recently no I haven't started losing any weight yet on this new plan. However the aerobics and biking are moderate intensity while cardio and weights are higher intensity workouts.

How long have you been trying to keep yourself on 1600 calories? What are your ratios of carbs/fat/protein? Do you have a link to your fitday page? The reason why you're hungry may lie in what you're eating.

When I first starting watching what I was eating (bout 3 months ago) I started at 2000 calories, and I thought I was starving! Then I went down to no more than 1700 calories. For a week this was torture but then I got used to it. Don't get me wrong I do get hungry sometimes. In the middle of the night I have gotten up from being hungry and have eaten a bowl of broccoli. It did wonders (for me) at getting rid of the hunger. I've also cheated one too many times (which has decreased my progress) but every time I start eating right again it gets easier and easier. My craving for carbs (like you are having) have subsided so much! I used to be a sweet and carb junkie! Literally lived on bread, butter, candy and bakery goods. Now I get most of my carbs from veggies and fruit and 2 servings of whole grains. You'll get used to it too.

~Nicole