Diet: eating less, feeling great, waking up at 1 a.m.?!?

[Shepherd]

So a few weeks ago (almost three), I started trying a "Body for Lifesque" program: essentially, counting calories, eating balanced meals four times a day (6:30, 10:30, 2:30 and 6:30, in bed at 9 p.m. and up at 5 a.m.). Aiming for between 1600 and 2000 calories a day (usually winding up around 1800), exercising every morning except Sunday (usually about 400 cals worth of exercise).

All of this to lose 1.5-2 pounds per week.

On the whole, I feel great. My energy level is up, especially in the afternoons -- I used to suffer from bouts of exhaustion, literally nodding off at my desk, from 2-3 every afternoon. I still get a bit sleepy, but nothing close to the old wipeouts. Exercise in the morning is fun, and I feel "lean" instead of "hungry" between meals, if you know what I mean.

This is the thing, though: I go to bed at 9 p.m., give or take, and every day for the last week I've woken up between 1 and 1:30 a.m. with ... I don't know what to call it other than "rumbletummy." I don't feel particularly bad, and I don't feel hungry, exactly, but my stomach is churning away, rumbling and making noises and I can feel a certain amount of gas floating around in there. I usually go back to sleep after a few minutes; some nights I get out of bed, have a glass of water, read for a bit and go back to sleep around 2 a.m.

It's not ruining my life or anything, but it's weird. And it's affecting my sleep, obviously. Anyone know what's going on?

[johnlvs2run]

It sounds to me that you are doing quite excellent.

Yes that happens to me when I'm on portion control. Are you drinking plenty of water? Usually when going back on portion control, I lose quite a bit more the first 3 days and first week, then the decreases taper off after that.

A dozen years ago, I went from 170 (the most I've ever weighed) to 133 in four months this way, then stayed at or under 140 for the next four years.

It is nice having so much more energy and not needing as much sleep.

[Shepherd]

I'm trying not to weigh myself, at least for the first month. I figure it just psyches me out either way, so better to just avoid it.

[johnlvs2run]

I weigh every morning when on portion control, then record my weight on a chart.

Every day equal or under the average weight for the week before, or at goal weight, gets highlighted in green, otherwise in orange. My goal was to get at least 4 green highlights plus green for the average each week.

[jbell]

Man, I wish I could lose that much weight so fast. Over the summer I tried the same thing (balanced portions, excercise at night) and I lost nothing. I'm currently 6ft & 167lbs (~76kg) and would love to get under 160, but I dont think it could happen.

[johnlvs2run]

It's better to exercise in the mornings, to get your metabolism hyped up for the day, or else exercise in the afternoons at the latest.

An alternative is to do a little exercise in the mornings, do your main exercise in the afternoons, then wind down in the evenings.

In the evenings you want to be winding down so you can sleep and recover.

[Shepherd]

Well, I started at 5'9" and 195 lbs., so you're both looking pretty good to me.

[Elamonta]

I understand the whole "its only 7 pounds to drop to lightweight" speech. I am a first year rower (1st semester actually) and my coach had the urge to create a Mens Varsity Lightweight 4...needless to say at the beginning of the semester i had put on 25 pounds (college lol) and was up to 180. I began to lose weight by watching my diet and running abour 6 miles each afternoon in the good old Florida sun. Needless to say I dropped all the weight back off and am sitting at a comfortable 162 now. Before raceday I run some more to burn the 2 pounds....so for those who cant seem to lose weight...try running in the hot sun (use sunscreen) and see if it helps...sure helped me !