Anyone else feel like 1200 cals is alot

Shortie0987

Hi all. I am currently on 1200 cal diet and here is my issue. I am having a hard time meeting 1200 a day it seems like a lot of food. Most days I come in 100 to 200 cals under. I am trying to lessen that and only came in about 58 under yesterday. How worried do I need to be about this, I don't want to hinder my weight loss by eating too little but some days it's a lot and I dont want to just fill with empty cals. Like candy and such. Anyone else have this problem and have u still lost weight even if u are abit short some days?

L1zardQueen

1200 calories is not a lot of food. Lol.

Nony_Mouse

Generally when people have this problem they are either

a) not logging accurately - are you using a food scale to weigh all solids and measuring cups for liquids? Logging everything, including fruit and veg, oils etc for cooking?

or

b) have cut out everything they consider 'bad', eating only low cal foods and often cutting things like fats way too low.

If you're sure you're logging accurately, try adding some higher cal, nutrient dense foods.

AnvilHead

L1zardQueen wrote: »

1200 calories is not a lot of food. Lol.

1200 calories isn't even enough for dinner for me, let alone for a whole day. Breakfast today was almost 700 calories, and it wasn't that much food.

TroyWebber

One thing is for sure: losing weight should be a breeze for you if you feel like 1200 calories is too much food.Most people have the opposite problem.

Shortie0987

I had an issue with anorexia in the past but a long time ago. Perhaps all this calorie counting is bringing some of that stuff back up again For me

Nony_Mouse

Shortie0987 wrote: »

I had an issue with anorexia in the past but a long time ago. Perhaps all this calorie counting is bringing some of that stuff back up again For me

In what way? Can you expand on that?

Basically, to lose weight you just have to eat fewer calories than you burn (simple, not necessarily easy ). It's pretty common for people to think they need to cut out all their favourite foods, but you actually don't, you just need to work them into your calorie allowance. Some things you may decide aren't worth it, others you may decide are, it's entirely up to you. Ideally 80% of your food should be coming from whole food, nutrient-rich sources, with the other up to 20% being made up of 'treat' foods if you wish. Being overly restrictive can lead to binging.

dsboohead

I dread when my calories adjust down to 1200....my husband will ship me off!

RecognitionT

1200 is literally my ideal breakfast.

Are you sick

TavistockToad

I ate 2800 cals today... 1200 was lunch...

slw37

Eat a couple of handfuls of cashews. Problem solved.

Shortie0987

Nony_mouse
When I was in my anorexia years I had to seek help through a nutritional therapist. A lot of the treatment was logging food and calorie intake. I know it sounds crazy to some ppl but it was one of the most daunting and hardest things I had to do to make myself eat. It took me a long time to get to a " normal" point. Perhaps all the logging I'm doing now is just bringing up that anxiety and not feeling like I want to eat. I don't feel hungry and I don't feel like I'm restricting myself. But obviously I was eating more before because I gained all this weight.
But I know I need to be more diligent and make sure I eat! Even if I'm not hungry sometimes

L1zardQueen

Sounds like you should reconnect with your therapist. Hugs

mph323

How fast are you losing weight? If you're losing as expected, and MFP gave you 1200 calories as a goal, then you need to take a look at your logging and tighten it up. If you're losing at a faster rate you're probably logging accurately and yes, you need to eat more. I agree with comments above, you need to discuss this with a professional. Hope you find your way through this, our relationship with food can be so difficult sometimes.

tyediri

Could you try and add some high calorie "healthy" food in to your diet, such as a avacado or nuts? You might find that easier than adding chocolates or sweets? Maybe make sure you prelog a small "treat" every day, so you know you can have it but since you are prelogging it, you are in control?

You know yourself best, but I agree with a previous poster that you may want to get back in touch with your therapist if you continue to feel this way?

Personally my goal is 1500kcals but I increase my TDEE by consciously moving more and getting at least 10000 steps a day just so I can eat more. 1500kcals is hard for me!!! ☹️

Shortie0987

Thanks all. Adding avocados is a great idea and I love them! And I'll try nuts too! I think I'm going to do a weekly cal count too that way I can monitor my deficiency and make sure I make it up before the week is done.
It's crazy how complicated our relationship can be when it comes to food lol

jennygutt

I do too. But i was starving myself before i started counting calories. Like it's go all day and just have broccoli for dinner...lol... But I'm losing stay now but i have to make myself and tell myself few times a day that i can eat whatever it is cause it's working my calories. Seriously i have to remind myself few times a day cause i start worrying I'm over eating at 1200 a day.

lauraesh0384

A lot? My calories goal is 1660 calories to lose 1.5lbs/week. My breakfast and lunch alone is 1200 calories. I can't wait to get back under 200 lbs so I can start eating more! Some days I struggle to not eat more.

evileen99

How tall are you and how much do you weigh?

collectingblues

Looking at your diary, I suspect you're underestimating what you're eating. There's a lot of "large" or "medium" entries and the calories associated with some of them don't match to a typical/actual serving size.

But please, talk to a therapist or dietitian. Restricting calories -- even if weight loss is necessary -- can set off those disordered thoughts again, and you're going to need support and help doing this safely.

Shortie0987

It is possible, I question the calorie count of things like potatoes because it's hard to measure unless it's weighed ...and jennygut I feel your pain .