Eat more, lose more?

Doesn't it seem odd when people tell you "you should eat more?" My brain processes what they are saying but I just can't make myself eat more. I understand what they are saying but I am so afraid to gain any weight that I just can't make myself go over 1000 calories a day. I will say that 1000 cals is even pushing it. If I drink my two protein drinks per day and eat properly I usually get close. Somedays, I just can't get the drinks in. Does anyone else feel this way? Afraid you are eating too much even when you know you are not? Val

I know exactly what you mean! I think it comes from fear that this "diet" too shall fail... How many times have we lost weight, just to gain back more the minute we stop "dieting".. I hope that we will all learn this new "way of life" and not have all these hangups. It just seems too good to be true at this point. I rarely if ever feel hungry, but do have "head hunger". I am so afraid of stretching things and having real hunger return.. I usually eat far less than I should, still can't get in more than 2 ounces of even my favorite meat, and that not every day. I am still sooo glad I did this! Sandy

Val, No one has told me to eat more! We go to dinner with a couple fairly often and for a while she constantly cautioned me not to eat too much because "you might get sick." It drove me crazy then because I was barely eating anything and never even ordered anything but just shared something with my husband. Luckily, she no longer seems focused on how much I eat. Yes, some days I fear I eat too much but I try to get 2 small shakes in a day and have other protein as well. I exercise pretty strenuously 5 or 6 days a week and for the past 2 months or so I've had stomach growling hunger several times a day. I don't have much "head hunger" but when I have physical hunger I do eat. I try not to eat much at one time but I eat about 5 times a day and try to eat some amount of protein every time I eat. I've lost more in April than I have in any one month since December and I think it is because I've increased my protein and, thus, my calories. I'm crossing my fingers and toes that my April success carries over to May but I'm scared to death that in the coming months my appetite will increase and I'll have trouble controlling my calorie intake. I think the key for me is to keep my blood sugar balanced by keeping the carbs low (eating only good carbs) combined with protein at every meal or snack. I feel in control that way and I lose as well! CeCe

I relate to this. I even pray before I eat. I know it is because I am so afraid of failure. I try to exercise within my limitations, and when I eat, I think, now I have to work this off, and I eat around 800 cals!