Am I the only one? Need support...

[changing]

Hello guys... I don't normally post like this, but I feel like I need to know if anyone else has similar issues...

Over the last 9 months, I have lost 60 pounds. Even though I have quite a bit still left to go (goal numbers say 70 pounds, looking at my body I'd say 40 pounds would make things look great), I'm extremely happy about this.

After losing about 55 a few months ago, I fell into a rut, fell off plan and gained back 5 pounds... I got back on plan about a month ago and took off 10 easily and am rededicated to things.

In the last week, I've really gotten my exercise back to the level that it was, and it feels great! But the last 3 days, especially, I've been EXTREMELY hungry... I've been really mindful of trying to only eat to satisfy my real hunger, use smaller plates, and serve myself small portions. I know we don't count calories on this way of eating, but as a manner of comparison, many days normally, I'll eat 1200-1600 calories, but the last three days I've been eating consistently 2000-2200 or nearly twice as much energy. It's not that I'm pigging out or filling a need that isn't there. I'm just REALLY HUNGRY! My carbs are consistently low (16-30g, depending on the day), so I'm wondering if a random spike in hunger is normal...? It's not hormonal because it's not that time of the month. I'm feeling less hungry this morning.

I have nothing against eating more food. It just feels weird to exist on so little, and then to be ravenous for a few days out of nowhere. Is this because I just upped my exercise? I haven't really backed down on my OWL rungs on purpose (I've moved through them all), I just am eating what I have available, what I'm in the mood for, and what's cheap... I tend not to eat from every rung every day.

Please, guys, I need some input.

[Lady_Hawke]

I'm not sure how to answer this since I haven't experienced anything like this.
I am sure someone will come along who know's the answer ~ 2big what to you think?
I thought I'd just give ya a hug and let you know I think you are doing wonderful! Keep it up changing cause you're changing!

[abstractillusions]

Hi, changing, bless your heart!! I wish i knew some grand advice as to why this is happening, the only thing i can think of is your body is changing over into a different phase so to speak. I just wanted to say hang in there. Someone will probably come in with some reasoning for you to help!

[G-Mom]

My only suggestion is to listen to your hunger. If you are truly famished, eat a small meal or snack. Are you eating enough fat?

[2big4mysize]

yep it can be hormones if your days are getting shorter as you are fattening up for winer programmed. remember to distinguish if it is physical hunger or wanting symptoms of hunger are Feeling of emptiness or growling in stomach, Dizziness, faintness or light-headedness, Headache, Irritability, easily agitated, Lack of concentration, and Nausea.
Listen to your body and if you are truely hungry eat some food until it is satisfied.

Also check your foods for new ingredients that could be triggering you.. i know my salad dressing was reformulated and I didn't realize it cause I's been using it for yrs until I was having issues with it.

[k5commando]

Originally Posted by 2big4mysize

yep it can be hormones if your days are getting shorter as you are fattening up for winer programmed.

I was about to post on this as well! I am completely convinced that those of us that live in colder climates have a "winter fatten up" mode built into our bodies. I get exaclty the same way about this time. I'm sure the extra exercise has something to do with it as well since a leaner body burns more calories. I feed the hunger with heavier breakfasts and lunches like eggs with cheese for breakfast. I like to make bigger, heartier dinners and then have the left overs for lunch the next day. This "fatten up" mode has usually lasted a month or so for me over the last 2 years on this WOE.

[changing]

Oh thank God! The upcoming winter weather! That has to be it (or at least part of it)! It had been pretty cold up here (in Central Maine) the last couple of days. Today, it's really warm outside (didn't even need my jacket), and I woke up less hungry... funny how that works.

I have been monitoring my fat intake closely, and it's usually anywhere from 60-75% of my calories, depending on whether I'm eating more ground beef or chicken breasts.

Well, now that I know it's not some form of mental illness (where I THINK I'm hungry all the time and feel hunger pains when I don't NEED The food), and more of a seasonal response then I won't sweat it. I'll eat as much egg salad as my body wants (a miraculous filler food for me), and enjoy generous servings of my homemade chili. I might not lose as much this month, but I need to be happy and healthy before I need to watch the scale go down quickly, right?

I love my exercise so there's no way I'm going to stop doing that. Guess it's time of year to eat up (legal foods of course)!

[boonie stomper]

Yup! I'm also convinced we humans, like squirrels and other creatures which must survive the cold lean months of winter outdoors foraging for scarce food or hibbernating, instinctively hunger for more food as the days grow shorter and temperatures drop. And then we blow it's purpose with non-stop holiday eating for 4 months, sitting around in heated indoor living rooms watching TV, and wonder why we gained so much weight when spring finally gets here... LOL

I think perhaps during this time, it might be better to eat when you're hungry, BUT- stop before you think you're satisfied, wait, have some water, distract yourself a few minutes and then only resume eating if you really are still hungry. It's been the case with me, too, that lately I'm eating more before feeling satisfied, albeit legal food, and it shows on the scales as no loss.

[2big4mysize]

it isn't the cold it is the length of the daylight hours. Our brains use sunlight to tell the chemical plants in the brain to stop making certain chemicals and make other chemicals less light more of those dark chemicals. many folk suffer from Seasonal affective disorder because they don't get enough of the sunshine chemicals you can interfer with this by getting a bright light bulb with about 10,000 lumes and allow the light to shine where your eyes will recive it for about 15 min in the AM. not looking directly at it just let it look diectly at you.
Did you know cholesterol levels go up in winter too?

[G-Mom]

And to be completely irrelevant, did you all know that chickens stop or reduce egg laying in the winter because of the shorter daylight hours? Yay! Useless knowledge, except if you raise chickens like me.