Hungry and weak.........is this normal?

J

jdoll

Cathlete
Hello gurus! I have been working out pretty hard now since the end of Oct. I had my calories restricted to 1200/day and when nothing happened with that after several months, i started staggering them. Here's the problem...the more i work out the hungrier i get and the wearker i feel. i do higher calories on the days that i do weights and save the low calorie days for lighter workouts. i know i can't lose weight if i don't cut calories, but how the heck am i supposed to have the energy to burn calories (workout) if i am so weak and hungry? my calories come from lean proteins, ALOT of veggies and some fruit (i try to eat very low sugar). i always follow a meal by alot of water to feel "fuller" i need more energy without the calories. Is there such a thing (that is healthy)? thanks for any advice or suggestions!

jes:(
 
if you are working out hard and only eating 1200 calories... you are starving yourself and won't lose any weight! cuz your body has gone into starvation mode and is holding on to what it's got for dear life!

first off... depending on your weight and height... 1200 may be the bare minimum calories you need just to sit around all day (and i mean sit.. no walking, not talking, no peeing, not eating.. nothing! then add the calories you need to do each of those! then add the calories you need to be able to workout! (i can burn between 300 and 500 calories for one workout depending on what it is! i'd keal over on 1200 calories and i only weigh 110!!!!!!)
 
HEY! thanks for resonding...i WAS eating 1200/day for several weeks, but nothing was happening, so i upped them. i am staggering now, which means not the same amount of cals every day. i do low (1300-1400) cal on rest days. b/t 1700-2000 on weight& cardio days. Sorry if i wasn't clear.

jes:)
 
are you eating any carbs? as in good carbs? (i.e. full cook oatmeal? whole wheat pasta?) i have a yummy bowl of oatmeal before i go on a looooong bike ride and it's great for "sticking" with me and giving me the energy i need to be able to ride (i don't eat before i workout to cathe in the morning though....)

depending on your weight you may still need more calories than you are eating... unless you are a really teeny tiny person!


also... if you've been eating 1200 for a long time... don't try to up all at once cuz you may gain a couple pounds and if that will freak you out and cause you to go back to 1200.. well.. that's not good! increase gradually! but do increase (perhaps more than the way you've been doing it! cuz if you are still weak and hungry.. you aren't getting enough calories/nutrition!)

oh! do you take vitamins?
 
i had another thought.... are you perhaps already at your ideal weight? that could be another reason why you aren't losing (along with being in starvation mode)

do you eat any good fats? you do need some fats.. but GOOD fats (i.e. olive oil, avacado, black olives, natural peanut butter, a serving of nuts)
 
I am definately NOT at my ideal weight!! I need to lose 30 lbs. i am 5'6 and 160. I eat oatmeal for breakfast with sugar free wheat toast. I eat sugar free PB and walnuts. i always use olive oil to cook with. I take flaxseed oil everyday and multi- vitamins, plus calcium supplements b/c i can't drink milk;( I don't eat pasta even though i love it b/c i am watching calories and i can't stand the whole what kind. I have been calorie staggering for 2 weeks no weight loss worth mentioning. I just don't see how i am supposed to lose anyweight if i don't cut calories, but i AM hungrier naturally because i am working out more. do protein shakes have alot of calories? would increasing fiber help with the hunger thing or do you just have to be hungry to lose weight? i don't mind the hungry part, but i want to do more cardio and i don't have enough energy to do it. does protein give more energy?

jes
 
Hmmmm....maybe it's WHAT you're eating. And how often. Do you eat several times a day? I eat at 6:00 a.m., 9:30ish, 11:30ish, 2:00, 4:15, and 7:00. Eating fiber fills you up for longer, and I think protein does too. I'd give you advice on the snacks, but I don't think my choices are really all that I need either (oatmeal, fruit and more fruit). I know I should have some nuts in there too...

Maybe take a look at the healthy eating threads. There are some good ideas in there.
 
OK thanks. Donna, somehow, i posted my last response on this thread and yours about what im eating wasn't there before.....??? so you answered some of my questions...i eat about every 2 hrs starting at 10ish in the am...i am not up before then unless it's imperative. }( i know i am getting pleanty of sleep at least!

is it normal to feel drained when you are getting used to lifting weights and if so, how long until your body gets acclimated to working out? it's been almost 2 months now!

i will look at the healthy eating thread

thanks

jes:7
 
1200 calories are few if you are working hard. Why don't you try 1500 calories. I lost 25 kilos two years ago and I ate carbs. You can eat potatoes baked or pasta with a healthy sauce. You can eat a sandwich of tunny fish without oil for breakfast or a protein shake. You have to breakfast well.Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.I usually eat a salad of vegetables and meat in the lunch. I eat two pieces of fruit each day.My dinner usually is salad and an omelet.The most important thing in the weight loss is the patience and the constancy. The weight loss takes time but deserve the effort.








Mariángeles a spanish terminator junkie :)
 
I know the first couple of months I started Atkins I was really weak. In fact I had to reduce my weights by about 5 lbs, even more w/some exercises. But my body eventually adjusted to the reduced carb intake & I worked my way back up to where I was before I started the diet.
 
Hi Jes,

I just sent you an email about this. It's long, and I'm not a nutritionist; just a nutrition-junkie, so I'm not comfortable posting it all on an open forum.

Cheers,
Sandra
 
Sorry, Jes. I'm at a loss after telling you to eat more frequently. I have never felt drained, even when I was only doing 1200 calories (but I'm only 5' tall, so that isn't so drastic for me).

Maybe you have a medical reason for feeling drained. Are you taking vitamin supplements?
 
Got is Sandra...you are a princess! Donna, Maximus, Kathryn...thank you for the help and advice. i do take viatamins...maybe once my muscels get used to being used i will feel stronger.

jes:*
 
I agree that you aren't getting enough carbs. If i don't eat carbs i can't lift weights without feeling weak, much less do cardio! Whole Wheat/Grain bread, oatmeal, Kashi, whole wheat couscous... add them into your diet without changing the number of calories you eat, i bet you will start having more energy and losing weight!

Good luck!
-LB
 
De nada Jes. I hope you will succed in your weight loss. I am proud by myself for the effort I did and I know you will feel the same too. One last counsel: when I loss weight I usually did my daily workout of 1 hour and take a walk in the 20 minutes of break in my job. I used my static bike more often than now too.






Mariángeles a spanish terminator junkie. :)
 
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