Dealing with hunger and low calories

aetzkorn14

So I usually keep my Calorie goal at 1500 and try to burn 500 a day which allows me to eat a reasonable amount of food. I started half assing everything 2 weeks ago but got myself back together the other day. I decided to give what MFP recommended as my calorie goal (1270) to see if it was doable and if I would get faster results. I'm already over my goal and it doesn't look like I will be able to work out tonight. I am 5'8" and 194lbs but I have a reasonable amount of muscle on me. I feel like I have ate a lot today but I am starving and it is only 6pm. Maybe I'm not cut out for such a low limit?? I could eat a lot more veggies and substitute some of my higher calorie food but I don't want to and I know I will binge if I do. I drink 3L of water a day so I am not confusing hunger for thirst. Those of you who eat 1200cals a day, what do you typically eat and do you ever let yourself get hungry for a while?

I want to loose my fat but gain muscle (a lot of it I might add), so I don't feel letting myself get hungry is beneficial.
Those of you who know your way around bulking and cutting and weight loss in general, should I keep my limit at what I had it? I want fast results like everyone else but I also don't want to be counterproductive. I've lost 7% BF in 3 months with what I was doing, I think mainly because I was able to put on so much muscle eating more food. Keep in mind that since Feb I have only lost 25lbs (45lbs since I started) so by fast results I mean 1lb ish a week.

bajoyba

Is 1270 the goal MFP gives you to lose just 1 lb a week? That seems low.
Keep in mind that the larger your calorie deficit, the more likely you are to lose muscle mass along with body fat. I think you're better off eating more, especially if you're hungry and finding it difficult to stick to a lower goal.
For reference, I'm 5'6", 186 lbs, and I eat 1750 calories a day.

Have you calculated your TDEE to get a better idea of how many calories your body needs?

gigglesinthesun

Those of us you eat around that mark require fewer calories, because we are shorter, weigh less or have less to lose, and are less active. Thus we require smaller portions and don't feel like we are starving. No I don't go hungry ever. I used to have a 1200 calorie goal, but I am now more active and thus have a 1320 goal.

What do I eat? Everything in moderation though I now have some medical condition that means i have to be a vegetarian for thd next year.

Myhaloslipped

Did you try setting your weight loss goal at half a pound per week?

Stage14

I tried the 1200 calorie diet for awhile, but it just simply was not enough food for me. I bumped up to 1400 (1lb a week loss setting) and I didn't feel hungry, but I just didn't have a lot of energy and I was struggling with workout motivation, lucky to get in 2 days a week. I recently bumped it up again to 1600, which sets me to lose about a half pound a week. I feel so so much better and have a ton of energy. I genuinely enjoy working out and though my weight loss has slowed, it's still happening and increased exercise has made some very positive non-scale changes in my body.

Which is a long-winded way of saying, I am firmly in the camp of "eat more to weigh less". I believe it is a more positive, enjoyable, and sustainable weight loss journey when you eat at a smaller deficit. Plus it really reinforces the idea that this isn't a "diet", it's a lifestyle change. I'm able to eat all the same foods that I plan to eat after I reach my goal weight, and upping my calories by 300 or so a day will be much easier to do without gaining the weight back than upping them by 800 a day would be.

bridgie101

So I usually keep my Calorie goal at 1500 and try to burn 500 a day which allows me to eat a reasonable amount of food. I started half assing everything 2 weeks ago but got myself back together the other day. I decided to give what MFP recommended as my calorie goal (1270) to see if it was doable and if I would get faster results. I'm already over my goal and it doesn't look like I will be able to work out tonight. I am 5'8" and 194lbs but I have a reasonable amount of muscle on me. I feel like I have ate a lot today but I am starving and it is only 6pm. Maybe I'm not cut out for such a low limit?? I could eat a lot more veggies and substitute some of my higher calorie food but I don't want to and I know I will binge if I do. I drink 3L of water a day so I am not confusing hunger for thirst. Those of you who eat 1200cals a day, what do you typically eat and do you ever let yourself get hungry for a while?

I want to loose my fat but gain muscle (a lot of it I might add), so I don't feel letting myself get hungry is beneficial.
Those of you who know your way around bulking and cutting and weight loss in general, should I keep my limit at what I had it? I want fast results like everyone else but I also don't want to be counterproductive. I've lost 7% BF in 3 months with what I was doing, I think mainly because I was able to put on so much muscle eating more food. Keep in mind that since Feb I have only lost 25lbs (45lbs since I started) so by fast results I mean 1lb ish a week.

I guess the question is: if you're having a hard go and losing motivation, why are you trying to make it harder for yourself?

You need to maybe go on maintenance for a week, to get your juju back. Not go hard core down to 1200.

You're tall. Stick with the number you were given or maybe go up a hundy. why make it harder than it has to be?

ihateyoga

I'm 133 lbs at 5'5. Somehow 1200 calories are plenty for me. I try to eat every 2 hours, no more than 200 calories at a time.So all day long, I don't feel hungry. But I don't have much muscle. People who have more muscle have faster metabolism. You may need more than what I need.

cingle87

Couple of things there is no way you have put of loads of muscle in that time frame, people in calorie SURPLUS would be happy with gains of 1lb per month. Even with noobie gains, you would be luck to have gain that since february.

Now Im an inch shorter than you and I have a starting goal of 1630 cals a day and then exercise on top, this gives me a predicted lose of 1.5lbs per week, and guess what im never hungry. So up your calories to more than 1400 and you wont have that problem.

medic2038

OP,
I eat less calories per day then you, and I'm a man. PSMF can definitely suck, but to me it's worth it!

Some of the things that have helped with hunger are water, and green things.

You said you're drinking about 3l water per day, I try to get at least a gallon (which is almost 4l). It helps for sure (but don't go too crazy with it, you can throw off your electrolytes drinking too much)!
The other thing is that green fibrous veggies are very very small calorically. A 12oz microwave bag of broccoli is about 120 calories.
The other thing is time. When you first start eating less you're going to be hungry more often, it tends to lessen as you get used to eating less. A few weeks ago I went 20some hours without eating, and it wasn't excruciating or anything.

jadethief

Your estimated TDEE set at lightly active is 2337. Your estimated BMR is 1713. At the very least eat at your BMR. No reason to eat such a small amount of food.

www.fitnessfrog.com

I'm more than twice your age, 7 inches shorter and weigh less at 178 lbs. I eat anywhere from 1500 (on a couch potato day) to 2200 (super active day) and lose over a pound a week. I use a Body Media Fit to manage my deficit.

aetzkorn14

1270 is what MFP recommended for 2lb per week, but I changed it back to 1500. I will usually eat around 2000 and burn off what I need to stay at my goal. I've gained a lot of muscle recently so the scale moving slowly doesn't bother me that much. I just thought I would give the 1200 a shot.....lasted one day. It just isn't possible for me personally. I like food to much

aetzkorn14

So I usually keep my Calorie goal at 1500 and try to burn 500 a day which allows me to eat a reasonable amount of food. I started half assing everything 2 weeks ago but got myself back together the other day. I decided to give what MFP recommended as my calorie goal (1270) to see if it was doable and if I would get faster results. I'm already over my goal and it doesn't look like I will be able to work out tonight. I am 5'8" and 194lbs but I have a reasonable amount of muscle on me. I feel like I have ate a lot today but I am starving and it is only 6pm. Maybe I'm not cut out for such a low limit?? I could eat a lot more veggies and substitute some of my higher calorie food but I don't want to and I know I will binge if I do. I drink 3L of water a day so I am not confusing hunger for thirst. Those of you who eat 1200cals a day, what do you typically eat and do you ever let yourself get hungry for a while?

I want to loose my fat but gain muscle (a lot of it I might add), so I don't feel letting myself get hungry is beneficial.
Those of you who know your way around bulking and cutting and weight loss in general, should I keep my limit at what I had it? I want fast results like everyone else but I also don't want to be counterproductive. I've lost 7% BF in 3 months with what I was doing, I think mainly because I was able to put on so much muscle eating more food. Keep in mind that since Feb I have only lost 25lbs (45lbs since I started) so by fast results I mean 1lb ish a week.

I guess the question is: if you're having a hard go and losing motivation, why are you trying to make it harder for yourself?

You need to maybe go on maintenance for a week, to get your juju back. Not go hard core down to 1200.

You're tall. Stick with the number you were given or maybe go up a hundy. why make it harder than it has to be?

I didn't loose motivation per say I just got depressed with everything I have going on and decided to snap out of it and give the 1200cals a shot. It will be the last shot I give it, I am certain of that.

aetzkorn14

Your estimated TDEE set at lightly active is 2337. Your estimated BMR is 1713. At the very least eat at your BMR. No reason to eat such a small amount of food.

www.fitnessfrog.com

I'm more than twice your age, 7 inches shorter and weigh less at 178 lbs. I eat anywhere from 1500 (on a couch potato day) to 2200 (super active day) and lose over a pound a week. I use a Body Media Fit to manage my deficit.

Thank you for the detailed info. Much appreciated.

PrettyPearl88

OP...if it's not broke, don't fix it! :laugh:

What I'm trying to say is that if eating 2000 cals/day, burning 500, and netting 1500 is working for you and you're losing weight...STICK TO THAT!

Fast weight loss isn't healthy anyway. Not only do you lose more body fat, but because you're starving your body, it's impossible to keep up with long term and as a result, you're not actually forming new habits. With fast weight loss, once you get to your goal, you don't know how to maintain because you've only been practicing unhealthy eating habits so far. So what happens? You get comfortable and overeat, or binge. That's why so many people who lose a lot of weight fast gain it all back.

Slow weight loss is healthier, more manageable, and easier to maintain. Just be patient and keep doing what you're doing. You're doing amazing so far! Congrats on all your hard work!

Francl27

You are supposed to eat your exercise calories back. So 1270 is way too low for you either way.