This was my experience until I started using a fitbit to get an accurate daily burn count. It showed that I was setting my calorie count way too low, hence the hunger issue. If I eat the fitbit daily burn minus 500 calories I lose 1 lb a week with no hunger issues.
The plain joy of solving problems via code. I'm 55 and wake up every day with another set of problems to code against, it never gets old. You can also make a lot of money along the way if you take some risks.