If you have a hard time eating 1200 calories...

technobunny

why the heck are you overweight/obese?

ilmb87

For some people it might be the switch from processed foods to more "natural" ones. Personally, having actually gone through this, I think it's a mental thing: you want to lose weight so much, your brain convinces your body it's full on so little food.

superwalrus417

LOL because I used to do that, and my user name is Superwalrus

BogQueen1

walruses are so hungry, that they have to go and lie on MFP that they are full on 1200 calories, just in a fail attempt to convince themselves that they are not hungry, then after 4 days they go on binges

Wow dude. that's pretty harsh.

bunchesonothing

I used to take in a ton of extra calories.

But I used to drink a lot of them. And I used to take in high caloric foods with low water content.

Change that up and it makes a difference.

britzzie

walruses are so hungry, that they have to go and lie on MFP that they are full on 1200 calories, just in a fail attempt to convince themselves that they are not hungry, then after 4 days they go on binges

Walruses?

Not cool.

AIZZO4

Hey what's up with the negativity. Just live your life.

SoDamnHungry

They switch to eating all sorts of fruits and veggies when they join MFP, and those have a lot more volume. If you're eating chicken breasts and broccoli at every meal, it's harder to reach the same caloric goal you used to while eating more calorie-dense foods.

cdjs77

First, not everyone on here is overweight or obese. Many are here to lose just a few pounds or to get healthy. Second, many people completely swear off the high calorie foods they were eating before because they find they are unable to just eat them in moderation. It takes a lot more salads, veggies and lean meats to meet your calorie needs than junk foods, so many may find themselves full or satisfied before they reach their calorie goals when they make the switch to healthy alternatives.

Charlotte_Snead

A woman I know says she can't eat 1400 calories a day but weighs about 260 and she is short. One day (but many examples) I saw her eat a large Dairy Q blizzard. Some people are very stupid or uninformed about calories. I used to be that person.

Morninglory81

Bananas, avocado, nuts, cook with healthy oils. Problem solved IMHO

deksgrl

Blitz_40

I love to eat, no problems there. BUT the minute I start logging I completely lose interest in food & not in a good way. I've done better this round & on THIS site than ever before, but usually I would just stop eating. I think it's some kind of extreme laziness on my part. Folks on here have great advice & pre-logging my food has helped a lot. I just go look & see what I'm supposed to eat & eat it. So I really did struggle with getting enough calories at first, despite the fact that yes, I have lbs to lose!

rml_16

why the heck are you overweight/obese?

Changed what I eat, so it's a higher volume of lower-calorie foods whereas I used to eat a smaller volume of lower-calorie foods.

Just sayin'.

jharb2

Its what your body has adjusted to. Just like it adjusted to eating large amounts of high fat/ crappy food. I ate 1200 for over a year and yes, it is physically and psychologically difficult some days. My stomach rebels to increase in the amount or frequency of eating. A gradual increase does work as long as the increase is not junk

_HeartsOnFire_

You're doing it wrong!

shrinkingWITS

This is what you think about during the day? *scratches head*

Wilhellmina

The walrus part I try to ignore, that is just very insultive, but he has a point with the rest he said! Undereating can (and will most likely) lead to snack attacks! It's just the way he says it which is pretty rotten, it's so blunt and hurtful towards big people.

VeganLexi

Why are you bothered? :laugh:

megan020103

This is me! I am certainly not obese. Not really even overweight (still in the healthy range) but I managed to gain to more than I like to be at. I eat very filling foods - mostly veggies. I struggle getting to 1200 and I was just told I need to be at least 1400. I gained my extra weight when I started to take an anxiety medicine. As soon as I took It a few weeks - I gained 20 lbs. I got off it very quickly, but the weight stuck. I also like wine. I like wine a lot. I had at least a couple glasses 4 or 5 times a week. So I am sure that is where my extra calories came from. I now only allow myself one bottle a week. I also now measure my food - so I am sure I was eating more just by not paying attention before. Real food is very filling. I have to force myself to eat 4 cups of raw spinach - (still only 40 calories) when I want to stop at 2 cups.

jofjltncb6

Like a moth to a flame...

...am I to a "1200 calorie" thread.


OP, I suspect this will not go how you thought it would when you posted it...

...or, alternatively, it will go *exactly* how you thought it would.

Either way, I'm...


In...

...for further enlightenment on this topic that has vexed many on MFP.

janetteluparia

Wow, if you all think that everyone is the same you're way off. The negative perception of people that eat VLC is crazy. Some people have adapted to eat VLC and prefer it and it is really none of your business.

daisymae850

There are days that I struggle to eat that many calories and its not because I haven't been eating, its because i'm making better choices now than I used to. Before I would go to BK or McD's and order whatever I wanted and now if I go its for a salad or a happy meal. More often than not it's fish or chicken at home with a veggie and a potato of some kind. This makes a HUGE difference for someone when they go to change their lifestyle, they think they are making better choices and then at the end of the day they have only eaten 1100 calories, sometimes less. And after hearing "don't eat after "blank" time" for years, its hard to get it through your heads that it's ok to eat at 10pm to get those calories in. I am 3 months in and just got that through my head a couple weeks ago!

hyenagirl

I used to say I had a hard time eating over 1000 calories.

Originally, when I was fat, and how I gained the weight, I ate low-fat high carb. I also drank a lot of juice (which is high sugar and calorie). I switched to high-fat low carb and just drink water/tea/diet soda.

High fat satiates the appetite pretty well. When I first made the switch, I struggled to eat 1200 calories. Then I got in the habit of eating high fat and lifting weights, I was eating about 2000 calories a day (most of it fat and protein).

When ever I feel like binging, I eat like a pad of butter and some bacon (~100 calories and nixes the appetite).

ms_leanne

This is me! I am certainly not obese. Not really even overweight (still in the healthy range) but I managed to gain to more than I like to be at. I eat very filling foods - mostly veggies. I struggle getting to 1200 and I was just told I need to be at least 1400. I gained my extra weight when I started to take an anxiety medicine. As soon as I took It a few weeks - I gained 20 lbs. I got off it very quickly, but the weight stuck. I also like wine. I like wine a lot. I had at least a couple glasses 4 or 5 times a week. So I am sure that is where my extra calories came from. I now only allow myself one bottle a week. I also now measure my food - so I am sure I was eating more just by not paying attention before. Real food is very filling. I have to force myself to eat 4 cups of raw spinach - (still only 40 calories) when I want to stop at 2 cups.

Do you eat carbs and healthy fats?

jwdieter

For some people it might be the switch from processed foods to more "natural" ones. Personally, having actually gone through this, I think it's a mental thing: you want to lose weight so much, your brain convinces your body it's full on so little food.

Solid first response. Unless people are suddenly eating pounds of veg, it's a mental effect. Kinda like people being super excited about a new job. Then a little while later it's not quite as cool.

megan020103

This is me! I am certainly not obese. Not really even overweight (still in the healthy range) but I managed to gain to more than I like to be at. I eat very filling foods - mostly veggies. I struggle getting to 1200 and I was just told I need to be at least 1400. I gained my extra weight when I started to take an anxiety medicine. As soon as I took It a few weeks - I gained 20 lbs. I got off it very quickly, but the weight stuck. I also like wine. I like wine a lot. I had at least a couple glasses 4 or 5 times a week. So I am sure that is where my extra calories came from. I now only allow myself one bottle a week. I also now measure my food - so I am sure I was eating more just by not paying attention before. Real food is very filling. I have to force myself to eat 4 cups of raw spinach - (still only 40 calories) when I want to stop at 2 cups.

Do you eat carbs and healthy fats?

I do. For lunch I had the 4 cups of spinach, 1/4 cup of black beans, 4 cherry tomatoes, a hard-boiled egg, 1 oz shredded cheese and 1 tsp of olive oil. That entire lunch was only 363 calories. Very filling. Lunch is my biggest meal of the day.

Contrarian

The walrus' scientific name, Odobenus rosmarus, is Latin for "tooth-walking sea-horse."

acullen31

Hey what's up with the negativity. Just live your life.

I agree, people should support each other!

bmskid

Hey what's up with the negativity. Just live your life.

What this guy said!

MercuryBlue

I can't speak for anyone buy myself, but in my case it has a lot to do with the amount of protein I'm eating now versus before. I feel satiated- full sometimes, even- and don't have any desire to eat more. On top of that, I'm eating whole grains instead of refined stuff, and the foods I'm eating overall contain much fewer calories than what I was eating before. So, volume-wise, I'm eating the same amount I always was; the difference is that I'm taking in less calories as a result, and the foods I'm eating are keeping me fuller for longer. I'm also not overweight, though, I'm at a healthy weight for my size and age- I just want to lose fat and become stronger.

The path to weight gain isn't always "eats too much"; frequently it's "doesn't eat the right things". So, yes, I absolutely believe that some people can be full on 1200 calories, especially if they're just getting started out.

I will say that I've found that, the more I exercise and gain strength, the more food my body wants. It is starting to take more food to satiate me, gradually. As a result, I'm finding ways here and there to boost my calories without resorting to eating bad foods (too often).