So I walk to the corner bakery to get breakfast for my wife and me… I plan to order a panini with eggs and avocado, and a croissant sandwich for my wife. But they list the calories on the menu board- 550 for my panini, and 730 for the croissant sandwich (I am a bit overweight). And I think “I’m as hungry as my wife, plus I’m twice her size…”, and I change my order to the croissant sandwich too.
It doesn’t hit me how absurd this was until I’m walking back home… while eating the rugalach I ordered and finished before my wife could see it.
Hm, I’ve never heard of this before! Is it perhaps a product of not knowing how many calories you actually need to maintain or slowly lose weight? How many calories do you think you need a day right now?
I have actually been very slowly losing weight- maybe 10 lbs in the last 6 months- by reducing portion size. But I still tend to splurge on the weekends… I am hungry during much of the week, and I probably overcompensate a bit by eating too much on the weekend (I don’t “stuff” myself- to really feel “stuffed” I need a whole lot of food). It’s about avoiding hunger… needing that feeling of my belly at least being mostly full.
I would guess, as a 200 and something pound moderately active male, I need about 2700 calories per day to maintain my weight.
I would agree with 2700 calories to maintain, depending on what you mean by moderately active, but I’m not a doctor or nutritionist.
Your hunger might be coming from what you’re eating rather then how much. I notice when I’m eating a more balanced diet (high lean protein, less sugar/carbs) I feel more satisfied and don’t get the hunger pains.
Yeah stuff with a high glycemic index (potatoes, and of course anything made of sugar) leaves me feeling extremely hungry a few hours later. Going with more lean meats (rabbit is especially good) and nuts will help with the hunger pangs.
The thing is, your lack of hunger doesn’t correlate with how many calories you eat to become not hungry. Have you never noticed that you can eat something like lettuce which has few if any net calories, and you’ll still feel full? Or even drink water? If you’re going to compare hunger, look at how much food there is, not how many calories it contains.
Of course, I’m sure you realize this now. But that’s the first thing that came to my mind when reading your OP.