Always hungry!! (How many calories do you eat?)

[Kirsten]

Well, as I mentioned before, during my time at the clinic this summer I decided to lose some weight, so I started to reduce fat in my meals, and reduced the calories as well. I think in the past, I sometimes ate more than 3,000 calories a day, but now I'm on 1,400 - 1,500 a day. Worked fine during the summer, I wasn't even too hungry, and during the last 4 months, I lost 46.5 lbs. I'm down from formerly 214 lbs to currently 167.5 lbs, and my BMI went down from 32 to now 24.5. Still want to lose about 15 more lbs.

But now it's getting colder here, I'm feeling cold, and I'm getting hungry now all the time!! Looks like 1.500 calories are not enough to keep my body functions going in the cold time of the year! LOL How frustrating!

What do you think about it? Do the temperatures make really such a difference?
(Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I'm new to this whole diet stuff... )

Kirsten

[pomtzu]

Will warm drinks take the chill (and maybe the hunger) away? If it's just your body feeling cold, then maybe warming up with liquids might help. Hot chocolate or coffee - low calorie of course!!

[Kirsten]

Yes, I'm already drinking a lot of hot coffee here. Didn't try hot chocolate so far because that has a lot of calories. Unfortunately, my stomach doesn't tolerate hot tea very well...

Another thing that takes away the worst hunger are rice wafers. They're filling, and each of them has only 30 calories. But the colder it is getting here, the more I have visions of chocolate in all forms...

I think one reason why I'm feeling cold is that there's now less fat tissue to keep me warm! Also, my blood pressure is going down.

Kirsten

[Taz_Zoee]

I have no idea about counting calories. Which is obvious if you were to see me. LOL
But how about a low calorie, or light, soup? Soup is always yummy when it's cold out. And it can be filling.

Oh and btw - congrats on losing weight!!

[Kirsten]

Thanks!

Yes, soup is a good idea! I can try that!

Kirsten

[MoonandBean]

You should ask your doctor about having your thyroid checked. A simple blood test can tell you if it is working correctly. Feeling cold and hungry can definitely be signs of an underactive thyroid (or it might just be that it's getting cold and you're eating less than you used to... but it can't hurt to check the thyroid as well)

[pomtzu]

Hmmm - so it's a chocolate fix you're craving!!! Have you tried the sugar free candy like is made especially for diabetics? How about picking up a diabetic cook book too - I've been told that there are a lot of great recipies to be found in them. I don't have a weight problem (other than needing to put some on), but that has it's definite pitfalls too!!

[beeniesmom]

Wow, congratulations on your weight loss.
I am trying to get motivated to do the same.
What did you eat to lose it?

Yes, definately have soup to warm up.
A nice 'zuppa di fagioli' always hits the spot.
If you can't have tea, how about Chamomile? Do you tolerate that?

You are probably fine! It's just getting cold there in Germany!

[jazzcat]

Sorry if I'm wrong but aren't you on Thyroid medication already? Maybe it needs to be adjusted especially since you've lost so much weight.

[Catty1]

Dress more warmly, even indoors (good slippers really help!). Snacks with protein are more filling - can you get soy wafers or snacks in addition to rice? You may have to add a little bit of fat to your diet - olive or other vegetable oils - to get you through the winter.
With your Hashimoto condition, you may need to add a few calories - but ask your doctor.

Here's info on figuring out your BMR - how many calories you actually burn:

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-ca...mr-formula.php

English BMR Formula
Women: BMR = 655 + ( 4.35 x weight in pounds ) + ( 4.7 x height in inches ) - ( 4.7 x age in years )
Men: BMR = 66 + ( 6.23 x weight in pounds ) + ( 12.7 x height in inches ) - ( 6.8 x age in year )

Metric BMR Formula
Women: BMR = 655 + ( 9.6 x weight in kilos ) + ( 1.8 x height in cm ) - ( 4.7 x age in years )
Men: BMR = 66 + ( 13.7 x weight in kilos ) + ( 5 x height in cm ) - ( 6.8 x age in years )

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-ca...dict-equation/

Remember, Kirsten - you have to do those stairs every day, and most of us don't. So remember that when you are calculating your calorie count.


The Harris Benedict Equation is a formula that uses your BMR and then applies an activity factor to determine your total daily energy expenditure (calories). The only factor omitted by the Harris Benedict Equation is lean body mass. Remember, leaner bodies need more calories than less leaner ones. Therefore, this equation will be very accurate in all but the very muscular (will under-estimate calorie needs) and the very fat (will over-estimate calorie needs).


Harris Benedict Formula

To determine your total daily calorie needs, multiply your BMR by the appropriate activity factor, as follows:

1. If you are sedentary (little or no exercise) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.2
2. If you are lightly active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.375
3. If you are moderatetely active (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.55
4. If you are very active (hard exercise/sports 6-7 days a week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.725
5. If you are extra active (very hard exercise/sports & physical job or 2x training) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.9

Total Calorie Needs Example
If you are sedentary, multiply your BMR (1745) by 1.2 = 2094. This is the total number of calories you need in order to maintain your current weight.

Once you know the number of calories needed to maintain your weight, you can easily calculate the number of calories you need to eat in order to gain or lose weight:

Once you know the number of calories needed to maintain your weight, you can easily calculate the number of calories you need to eat in order to gain or lose weight:

Calorie Intake to Gain Weight

Calorie Intake to Lose Weight

[Kirsten]

Candice, thanks for the formulas! Looks complicted, need to figure that out!

You should ask your doctor about having your thyroid checked.

Sorry if I'm wrong but aren't you on Thyroid medication already?

Yes, it's true, my thyroid gland isn't working well (Hashimoto's) and I'm on medication for many years already. The last time my blood was checked (August 2008) the results were okay, but maybe the levels have changed after the weight loss. I'm actually feeling a bit hypothyroid lately because I'm very tired again.

What did you eat to lose it?

Well, I reduced fat in the first place, which means no butter on my bread, and I also stopped eating things with "hidden fat", like in many kinds of cheese. Cottage Cheese is a good alternative. Or some vegetable creams (I don't eat meat). And I'm always adding a lot of fresh salad, tomatoes or cucumber to my meals. I try to avoid frying my food, because that usually adds a lot of fat to your meal.

If you can't have tea, how about Chamomile? Do you tolerate that?

No, not at all. My stomach always feels strange after drinking tea.

Have you tried the sugar free candy like is made especially for diabetics?

Yes, but diabetic candy doesn't necessarily mean it's calory reduced. Usually it just replaces Sugar by fructose.

But every couple of days, I spoil myself with a tiny peace of chocolate.

Snacks with protein are more filling - can you get soy wafers or snacks in addition to rice?

Hmmm, good point. As I'm veggie, and don't eat much cheese, or eggs because of their fat content, it could be very well that there's a lack of protein by now...

Kirsten

[Husky_mom]

very nice charts... if I did it right I burn 1426 cal... so obviously I´m taking more than I can burn.. LOL...

sorry I have no help... but it´s a tendency towards colder climate to eat more.. to raise up the fat and hence the body warm blanket.. LOL...

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Congrats on the weight loss!

I have the same difficulty in the winter time. I get cold pretty easily and also hungrier as the weather gets cooler. I wear a big fluffy robe and slippers on cold days that helps, and drink plenty of hot tea. Do all hot teas bother your stomach? Maybe a nice mint tea would work. Also, I would eat snacks that are filling but low in calorie, like popcorn, which is a favorite of mine!!

Now that I am pregnant I feel like an elephant and probably eat like one too. My stomach is not huge or anything yet but I am absolutely starving sometimes, and it's really not pretty when I get home and need something to eat! So to answer your question, lately I eat about a million calories a day.

[Karen]

Kirsten, there are herbal teas that have no caffiene - none of the "tea" stuff that may be what makes you tummy feel funny. I drink a wonderful blueberry tea ... see here - do you get "celestial seasonings" teas where you live? It's lovely, yummy and warm!

[chocolatepuppy]

Kirsten, when I lost 35 lbs in just under 10 months a few years ago, I ate 2,000 calories a day. I have put a few back on and am trying like heck to stick to that again. I could never live on 1,500 calories! That's not much food. I guess it depends on a persons metabolism and also how active you are.