A metabolism question

[ksmith]

...or something.

What is your baseline state, hunger-wise? Do you always feel sated (no desire to eat), except when you're expressly hungry? Do you only eat when your stomach growls, or do you let it get that far?

I'm trying to eat more healthy food and yes, lose some weight, and I'm trying to figure out--how am I supposed to feel? Is a constant mild feeling of hunger the sensation I should aim for, or not? What is the baseline for an average human being?

In all the diet and lifestyle articles I've read, this isn't addressed. External factors--food groups, calorie counts--work only for so long. How am I supposed to feel?

I fear the answer is that everyone is different, but otoh, not sure if that's true. I wonder if, because of the constant proximity and availability of food, our baseline has shifted up so that what we now call sated is really overstuffed, and what we call hunger is often simply craving.

Comments

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Given my height, weight, and activity level, I can have 2000-2300 or so calories a day. I do try to stop eating after 6pm, because I hate going to bed on a full stomach.

I need to drink more water.

[(Anonymous)]

That's where the metabolism thing comes in, though. I had mine tested. Based on my height/weight/activity level, they'd project that I should burn 2200 calories a day. Certainly 2000 would be a conservative estimate, based on decades of research and actuarial tables.

Turns out, my resting metabolic rate was closer to 1600. Or, in other words, the metabolism of a slug...or a tree sloth. :-)

Jennifer (without her password)

[equesgal.livejournal.com]

Is that to maintain your weight? They say if you want to lose weight you need to eat about 500 less a day. That equals out to 3,500 a week which is how many calories (they say) is in a pound.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's maintenance. I'll have to eat less if I want to lose...or exercise more.