Eating Less?

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I've been putting a lot of effort into trying to diet and stuff but there are two problems: 1. healthy foods either taste horrible or take more time to prepare than I have and 2. eating less leaves me tired and lightheaded. I've tried working out but that leaves me exhausted for the rest of the day (I'm apparently in worse shape than I thought). I figure my best bet for losing weight is to simply not eat as much but that presents the aforementioned problems. I can't concentrate at work when I'm that hungry and that'll lead to me getting fired real quick. Any suggestions?

There is only one way to lose weight, and that is to consume fewer calories than you expend, there is no way around that.

I understand that. But how? I need to eat less but I also need to do it without compromising my productivity during the day.

It's almost impossible to lose weight without being at least a little bit hungry from time to time.

It shouldn't cause other problems though. Are veggies included in your diet? And if not, do you supplement with a multi?

Exercise regularly and eat less crap.

The trick about exercise is you have to make it fun somehow. I enjoy going for a run by myself, I've done that for about 14 years now I think. Others might hate that type of activity and need to engage in sports with people, everyone's different. Find something that works for you.

You also need to push yourself a bit, if you don't nothing changes. I have to push myself, but I try to make it fun in the process The reward will be better health and a general feeling of well-being and of course the endorphin rush from a long run or hard workout

It's normal to feel hungry all the time while trying to lose weight. That is just your body's way of saying it wants more food because it is so used to having more food and now you have to train it to not have food all the time in your stomach. Plus your stomach will shrink when you eat less food because over time your body gets used to it so you get full quicker when it shrinks and you eat less food naturally.

Also doing exercises help and it allows you to eat more food without gaining weight but if you are trying to lose weight, you don't eat more food.

Also you need to avoid foods that will go through you fast because you don't want to eat something that is high in calories and it's a tiny thing and then you are hungry an hour later. You want to stay full for a few hours so you need to eat the right foods so you won't feel hungry sooner.

It's okay to be hungry between meals and you don't need to eat every time you feel hungry. If I did that, I would also be overweight. That was how I got big in the first place and I started to let myself be hungry all the time and I got so used to it, I don't feel it much anymore because my stomach shrunk. Now I get full quickly and not let myself eat between meals nor do I eat whenever I feel hungry.

Also drinking water helps because it makes you feel full and you won't feel hungry. And it's zero calories. If you feel like eating, drink water to get rid of that feeling if it's not lunch time or diner time yet or if you had just eaten and your body is asking for more food. Just think of all the money you will save on groceries.

Only 1,400 calories per day? It's times like these I'm glad I'm a guy. I can eat a little over 2,000 calories per day and still lose weight.

So far I've managed to flatten my stomach, now I want to lose my love handles.

They should be called hate handles because I hate them.

It's ok to be peckish between meals while your body gets used to not being fed on demand but if you are hungry enough to get distracted after the first week that is a sign you are are not getting what your body needs. For future health you need good overall nutrition with fruit and veg but a lack of it will not make you hungry unless you are missing FAT, PROTEIN or CARBOHYDRATE. If you have not eaten enough of any of those three your body will tell you you are hungry.

Carbohydrate will feed you immediately so to eat less of it without being hungry you need to have eaten more protein not in the same meal but in the one before.

A common mistake people make is to take too much fat out of their diet, your body needs fat, it doesn't want to use it's back up supply (it's saving it for the next famine) so it tells you you are hungry so you eat, but your on a diet so you eat probably low fat carbs, and ten minutes later you are hungry again AND the carbs calories were calories you didn't need. You need to think about what you haven't had enough of and eat that because a calorie is not just a calorie.

2000 calories of some foods will leave you satisfied and healthy while 2000 calories of others will leave you norring the furniture and growling like a grizzly bear.

Restaurants typically prepare stuff ahead of time. Marinades typically taste better after a day or two. What I''ll do is prepare a half dozen portions of meat at once, and freeze perhaps four of them for later.

^ Yes it's the carbs that are the least needed but cutting back on them without making sure you're getting enough fat and protein will leave you really hungry. It's best to reduce carbs gradually as you get the hang of eating a balanced diet.

That's the reason dieting doesn't work long term for most people. Have you tried keto? I used to be hungry all the time, like low blood sugar crazy every hour, and fueled a lot of anxiety and irritability. Now I do high fat, moderate protein, low carb and can go hours and hours before I need to eat. No crazy switch of calories 1500-1700, but now my body can actually digest and use the energy in between eating. You really have to research, though, to do it right. Not an excuse for hot dogs and blocks of cheese. Healthy fats, grass-fed meat, lots of veggies. It could be a lot of prep, or it could be very simple. Frozen veggies with olive oil, salad, grilled or sauteed meat. No PUFAs, no processed foods, I don't do dairy or nuts, but some do. The transition from burning carbs to burning ketones is no fun, but I feel way better now than ever before.

For working out, you have to increase your exertion to make change, but it can be little. If you do nothing, then add in a brisk 20 minute walk. Then when that feels easy, add climbing hills or stairs on your walk. When that is easy, try a different activity once or twice a week like a low intensity workout with weights or yoga.

Veggies. Lots of veggies.
Curries, casseroles, stir fries, nut loafs, all kinds of salads...
Once you've cut out the junk food and your taste buds adjust, you'll find them delicious.

^I love veggies but it's best to increase your intake gradually. Your tummy will thank you .