Stomach pains when eating in a caloric deficit

[Mithras]

Hi everyone. This is my first post.

I've started changing my diet a week ago. I just started monitoring my calories and ate at a caloric deficit. I focused on eating food that are great sources of protein like chicken and peanuts because I want to increase my muscle mass while burning fat. I lift weights 4-5 times a day (i mean a week) even before changing my diet and as recent as two weeks ago I started running on a treadmill - fun for a bit but gets boring fast, so I switched to aerobic exercises for my cardio.

I'm a 24 year old guy (just turning 24 this April actually), i'm 5'11" and I weigh 180 pounds (i'm surprised i'm technically overweight according to my BMI even though i'm more or less flabby)

It's been a week and a half ever since I've started eating on a range of 1200-1400 calories a day, but for the past 3 days I've been having stomach pains that's been getting worse by the day. I've been to the company clinic and they gave me Butylscopolamine to treat it - it didn't do the job, and earlier I asked for some Antacids because my mom thinks I have hyperacidity - I told her I don't drink coffee or anything like that, but still.

My stomach always hurt in a way (because I was hungry) but this is different. It still cramps after I eat, during workout, and sometimes before I sleep.

I guess the reason why I'm posting is I want to know if anyone here experienced a similar thing when just starting out to eat in a deficit. I'm wondering if this is because i'm technically still hungry, or if I have sugar withdrawal or something (not even really into sweets, don't know why i've thought of this)

Any recommendation would be of great help to me. Hope to hear your suggestions.

[josephz2va]

A little bit overweight is fine, but if you're worried about flab that's toning required. I would follow what the commenters suggested. Lifting weights, adding cardiovascular resistance, and home training are good ways on lowering flab.

Mostly my schedule on my signature page is what I do daily.

[Mithras]

@GershonSurge @Esya @y2kcrash @PhilipY @joggerjosh

Hi again everyone. I have a little trouble tagging everyone but I thought it's fair to tell you how I've been doing.

I ended up changing my diet and increasing my calorie intake for the past week. I stopped eating chicken and ate peanuts for my protein instead (I had a feeling the chicken had something to do with it, or the place where I buy it from)

I eat in a range of 1800 to 1900 now. I feel a little bloated though, so after a while i'm going to probably reduce it again.

For 2 days I ate a lot of fiber from oatmeal, and the cramps weren't going away at first but after the second day my stomach didn't hurt anymore. My bowel movement improved too.

So I actually FEEL healthier this time, thank god. I see I'm also packing a little muscle mass. maybe a week or two from now I'll cut again.

So in short, what I basically did was eat more fiber, and stopped eating in a deficit for now. Maybe if someone else run into the same problem I had they can try what you guys recommended.

Thank you again everyone.

[Mithras]

@GershonSurge @Esya @y2kcrash @PhilipY @joggerjosh

Hi again everyone. I have a little trouble tagging everyone but I thought it's fair to tell you how I've been doing.

I ended up changing diet and increasing my calorie intake for the past week. I stopped eating chicken and ate peanuts for my protein instead (I had a feeling the chicken had something to do with it, or the place where I buy it from)

I eat in a range of 1800 to 1900 now. I feel a little bloated though, so after a while i'm going to probably reduce it again.

For 2 days I ate a lot of fiber from oatmeal, and the cramps weren't going away at first but after the second day my stomach didn't hurt anymore. My bowel movement improved too.

So I actually FEEL healthier this time, thank god. I see I'm also packing a little muscle mass. maybe a week or two from now I'll cut again.

So in short, what I basically did was eat more fiber, and stopped eating in a deficit for now. Maybe if someone else run into the same problem I had they can try what you guys recommended.

Thank you again everyone.

[Esya]

@Mithras

Thanks for the update. When you try to cut again make sure to keep eating plenty of fiber. And maybe pick a day to try that chicken again to test if it really has anything to do with it.

[GershonSurge]

@Mithras,

Glad to hear you are doing better. One thing I didn't mention is many people get a little gas when they stop eating animal products. This disappears after a week or two. Usually, it's associated with beans.

You don't need to worry about protein. It's impossible to design a diet that contains enough calories to be deficient in protein. Peanuts are healthy, but they have a lot of calories. Try to limit them to about a handful a day if you choose to eat them. Same for other nuts.

Before you consider eating meat or dairy products again, that is if you stopped, I suggest watching all of Dr. McDougall's videos. 

[emmsyjojo]

That's not even enough calories to fuel your body if you weren't working out - no wonder you're having stomach pains you're probably starving. Eat more food - at least 2000cals.