1,200 calories?
smjnwilliams
Posts: 4
How do you stick to 1,200 calories without starving?
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Replies
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How do you stick to 1,200 calories without starving?
you can't because 1200 is starvation level for most people..and I not referring to starvation mode...0 -
Short answer: I don't.
Long answer: It's why I chose to abandon the MFP method. For me, the idea of only eating 1200 calories for the rest of my life made me want to cry. And this was going to be something I could do for the rest of my life. So I figured out my TDEE and took a 20% cut.
If you are trying to find ways to fill up, then I'd suggest eating as much protein as you can. Also foods with a lot of fibre will help keep you feeling full. Otherwise all I can suggest is to maybe set a smaller deficit and eat a little more (instead of trying to lose 2lbs/week maybe aim for 1lb). It'll take longer but you won't be as hungry.0 -
Do some research on TDEE. I'm eating 1700-1800 calories a day and losing.0
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I don't know. With exercise, I got almost 1800 calories to eat today. And I am still starving.0
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I do it by eating more than that if I'm genuinely hungry. You can look at my food diary and see that there are plenty of days where I exceed it and I keep losing more weight than expected. Also, on days where I exercise, I eat back at least some of my exercise calories. I eat a lot of fiber, protein and fats and it keeps me feeling satiated.0
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I do stick to 1200 cal. I discovered eating an LCHF diet stops me from craving foods, and I'm easily able to keep calorie targets. Basically, it's a low carb diet that keeps my blood sugars stable, which improves satiety and reduces hunger. I've lost weight and improved my health (doctor is impressed with the blood work). I also lose at least 1 lb per week. It's something that works for me. I hope you find what works for you. Good luck.0
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Short answer: I don't.
Long answer: It's why I chose to abandon the MFP method. For me, the idea of only eating 1200 calories for the rest of my life made me want to cry. And this was going to be something I could do for the rest of my life. So I figured out my TDEE and took a 20% cut.
If you are trying to find ways to fill up, then I'd suggest eating as much protein as you can. Also foods with a lot of fibre will help keep you feeling full. Otherwise all I can suggest is to maybe set a smaller deficit and eat a little more (instead of trying to lose 2lbs/week maybe aim for 1lb). It'll take longer but you won't be as hungry.
Why would you think you would have to eat 1200 calories for the rest of your life?0 -
I was on 1200 but I was hungry all the time. It works for some people. I am 5'1" so I just assumed I would need the smallest amount of calories possible but it wasn't really working. Now I'm doing about 1400 a day and more if I work out. Everyone is different I guess.0
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I'm new here. What's TDEE?0
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Total Daily Energy Expenditure (I think)I'm new here. What's TDEE?0 -
Short answer: I don't.
Long answer: It's why I chose to abandon the MFP method. For me, the idea of only eating 1200 calories for the rest of my life made me want to cry. And this was going to be something I could do for the rest of my life. So I figured out my TDEE and took a 20% cut.
If you are trying to find ways to fill up, then I'd suggest eating as much protein as you can. Also foods with a lot of fibre will help keep you feeling full. Otherwise all I can suggest is to maybe set a smaller deficit and eat a little more (instead of trying to lose 2lbs/week maybe aim for 1lb). It'll take longer but you won't be as hungry.
Why would you think you would have to eat 1200 calories for the rest of your life?
She's thinking more of a lifestyle choice, so 1200 for life to continuing staying fit (at some point though you would go into maitnence mode)0 -
I can stick to 1,200 in a day if I eat very little calories during the day. I stick to coffee (with very little milk and sweetener), do my workout first thing in the morning (Insanity) on a mostly empty stomach. Then I get through the day on a lot of raw veggies and small amount
of fruit and a 35 calorie laughing cow cheese or string cheese etc. Yes I get hungry at times during the day but I am very busy
at work and it distracts me from being hungry. I save most of my calories for dinner. Then I can make a big serving of
veggies stir fried in a tablespoon of olive oil, a decent sized portion of meat, and a healthy grain with little fat on it.
A good sized dinner makes me feel full and satisfied. Being hungry sometimes during the day isn't so bad (for me) if
I know I have a nice dinner to look forward to.0 -
I am here from past 5+ months.I lost only 15 lbs on 1200 cals diet.It was hard in the beginning,but I was determined.I am 54 years post menopausal woman, and only 5 feet 1 inch tall.
I thought if not now , I cannot do as the age advances.So I determined to stick to 1200 cal diet.
I walk a lot ,out side and now on treadmill, that too with low intensity(I am suffering from fibromyalgia ) I cannot work very hard most of the days.
Eat the exercise calories ,that is the one good thing with MFP settings.
Good luck, stick with it.0 -
Short answer: I don't.
Long answer: It's why I chose to abandon the MFP method. For me, the idea of only eating 1200 calories for the rest of my life made me want to cry. And this was going to be something I could do for the rest of my life. So I figured out my TDEE and took a 20% cut.
If you are trying to find ways to fill up, then I'd suggest eating as much protein as you can. Also foods with a lot of fibre will help keep you feeling full. Otherwise all I can suggest is to maybe set a smaller deficit and eat a little more (instead of trying to lose 2lbs/week maybe aim for 1lb). It'll take longer but you won't be as hungry.
Why would you think you would have to eat 1200 calories for the rest of your life?
She's thinking more of a lifestyle choice, so 1200 for life to continuing staying fit (at some point though you would go into maitnence mode)
Exactly. I wasn't prepared to make changes that I didn't see myself sustaining for the rest of my life.0 -
I ate 1200 to lose for almost a year and was fine. I'm a very small person and insanely active as well. Mentally I found 1200 constraining so once a week I had a pig out meal of fatty/junk food. To maintain my weight I eat between 1300 and 1400 a day and am fine. I think a lot depends on your metabolism and what foods you eat. I eat tons of veggies so I eat a large volume of food and that helps me feel mentally satisfied. IMO, the mental aspect is as important as the physical for those of us who need to maintain for life. I also eat a treat daily like chocolate or chips.
Having said all that the point is to eat what you need to be nourished. If it's 1200 calories or 2500. Be healthy.0 -
I usually eat around 1200-1300 cal a day, and I rarely feel myself going hungry most days. I'm only 5'0" so I guess I don't need as much food as most others to keep myself going. I'd probably need to eat more if I were larger.0
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I'm new here. What's TDEE?
Acronym given above.
It's literally what you would eat to maintain, because it's what your body burns.
It is different every day, hence the popularity of the devices that try to estimate it daily, and then you eat with a deficit to that number each day.
If you like eating different amounts daily, having a rough plan, and getting reward of eating more when you do more - it's a great system.
It's much like the MFP method, but less guess work based on your profile setup.
The TDEE Deficit method described, is where you look at a whole weeks worth of activity, and then average that out to a daily level.
So you plan and eat the same amount daily no matter what, but based on what you plan to do for activity and exercise on a weekly average basis.
No reward style of encouragement, your encouragement is to do the workouts you included in your weekly plan.
Some people like one method of encouragement, some like the other.
If the MFP choices on profile setup were done reasonably and exercise calories eaten back, they would end up at about the same number.
MFP style is better if exercise is iffy or you lack motivation, because you get a deficit anyway, exercise or not.
TDEE Deficit style is better if you do better planning your meals in advance, don't like surprises, and want to include something tasty each day, and are encouraged to therefore do your workout.
Spreadsheet on my profile page will intro you to TDEE method.0 -
Short answer: I don't.
Long answer: It's why I chose to abandon the MFP method. For me, the idea of only eating 1200 calories for the rest of my life made me want to cry. And this was going to be something I could do for the rest of my life. So I figured out my TDEE and took a 20% cut.
If you are trying to find ways to fill up, then I'd suggest eating as much protein as you can. Also foods with a lot of fibre will help keep you feeling full. Otherwise all I can suggest is to maybe set a smaller deficit and eat a little more (instead of trying to lose 2lbs/week maybe aim for 1lb). It'll take longer but you won't be as hungry.
Why would you think you would have to eat 1200 calories for the rest of your life?
I wondered as well.0 -
While I can do it (which is a HUGE surprise to me, trust me!!!!), I find that I rarely need to, since I exercise pretty much everyday so that I CAN eat more!!!
On the occasional day that I eat only 1200 calories, basically, I do not drink a glass of milk with breakfast (which I do not like to do!!!), and I have meals that are roughly 300ish calories and then 3 100 calorie snacks.
I don't really like to do that, which is why I exercise my hind off and then eat some or all of those calories (depending on how much I do!).
The hard part on those days is the evening. I just make sure to keep busy and go to bed when my husband does so I don't snack!!!
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I have a B.S. in exercise science and am a personal trainer. I will not recommend 1200 calories to anybody, nor a high fat/low carb diet.
at 1200 calories the body is usually in starvation mode, going back to it's survival instinct it will hold onto fat for future energy use because it doesn't know that food is readily available, instead it will get rid of lean body mass (muscle) which burns calories 24/7, thus making your body much less efficient throughout the day.
Carbs is both muscle and the brains preferred source of energy, mental and physical performance will drop with a lack of carbs. Although this is not to say to avoid fat either. A good macronutrient breakdown for weight loss is 30% fat, 40% carbs, 30% protein. Protein also gives you the full feeling of fat but also helps your body hold onto its lean muscle mass.0 -
I have a B.S. in exercise science and am a personal trainer. I will not recommend 1200 calories to anybody, nor a high fat/low carb diet.
at 1200 calories the body is usually in starvation mode, going back to it's survival instinct it will hold onto fat for future energy use because it doesn't know that food is readily available, instead it will get rid of lean body mass (muscle) which burns calories 24/7, thus making your body much less efficient throughout the day.
Carbs is both muscle and the brains preferred source of energy, mental and physical performance will drop with a lack of carbs. Although this is not to say to avoid fat either. A good macronutrient breakdown for weight loss is 30% fat, 40% carbs, 30% protein. Protein also gives you the full feeling of fat but also helps your body hold onto its lean muscle mass.
you had me until starvation mode…you cannot be in starvation mode if you are eaten 1200 calories a day …you have to eat nothing for a 72 hour period to see the initial effects of starvation mode…0 -
Short answer: I don't.
Long answer: It's why I chose to abandon the MFP method. For me, the idea of only eating 1200 calories for the rest of my life made me want to cry. And this was going to be something I could do for the rest of my life. So I figured out my TDEE and took a 20% cut.
If you are trying to find ways to fill up, then I'd suggest eating as much protein as you can. Also foods with a lot of fibre will help keep you feeling full. Otherwise all I can suggest is to maybe set a smaller deficit and eat a little more (instead of trying to lose 2lbs/week maybe aim for 1lb). It'll take longer but you won't be as hungry.
Why would you think you would have to eat 1200 calories for the rest of your life?
She's thinking more of a lifestyle choice, so 1200 for life to continuing staying fit (at some point though you would go into maitnence mode)
That still doesn't make any sense. Never mind.0 -
I'm m 5'1 and 126 pounds. And I eat between 1450 and 1800 calories a day. I'm still losing about a pound a week. I don't know how anyone can eat 1200 calories a day and not be hungry.0
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I am insulin resistant and my doctor wants me to limit carbs to less than 200/day. I try for complex carbs. How many calories do you recommend for someone who needs to lose 80 or so pounds?0
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Short answer: I don't.
Long answer: It's why I chose to abandon the MFP method. For me, the idea of only eating 1200 calories for the rest of my life made me want to cry. And this was going to be something I could do for the rest of my life. So I figured out my TDEE and took a 20% cut.
If you are trying to find ways to fill up, then I'd suggest eating as much protein as you can. Also foods with a lot of fibre will help keep you feeling full. Otherwise all I can suggest is to maybe set a smaller deficit and eat a little more (instead of trying to lose 2lbs/week maybe aim for 1lb). It'll take longer but you won't be as hungry.
Why would you think you would have to eat 1200 calories for the rest of your life?
THANK YOU. I never understood this. >_<0 -
I have done a 1200 calorie eating plan on and off for the last 12 years. Originally I lost 45 lbs by using the 1200 calorie (at the time I was on a program called Prism), no bread, pasta, potatoes, corn or sugar. I lost that weight in 3 months. Now when I go up by 10 lbs I start again, not cutting out the carbs necessarily but watching my calories and it has helped me maintain. I focus my calories on as much protein as possible. My husband and I have eggs and bacon for breakfast, I have one egg, one piece of bacon, but don't have toast, also have some orange juice and coffee with cream. Lunches generally consist of leftovers from the night before, chicken breast, etc. or tuna salad, cottage cheese, boiled eggs, etc. Dinner is a lean meat, trying to avoid pasta, but I do have a little, like a 1/4 cup just so I can get the "taste" and not feel deprived. I always have a snack between meals, like a piece of fruit or low fat yogurt so my blood sugar doesn't tank. I find I don't ever feel stuffed but get used to the feeling of just not feeling hungry after eating. I haven't restricted myself to not eating red meat and I do let myself have a little carb-laden food once in a while. You can't always control where you are but its the gorging on it like I used to that I just don't do anymore. The first week is the hardest cutting back your calories, after that it gets much easier. I drink plenty of water, and when it is not -12 degrees outside (like it is now), I walk about 30 minutes a day a couple times a week. It is possible, you CAN do it, just focus on the foods that make you feel satisfied. The biggest problem I have now is that I'm 12 years older and it doesn't come off as fast as it did! Hang in there! You CAN do it. If I can do it, anyone can!0
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Short answer: I don't.
Long answer: It's why I chose to abandon the MFP method. For me, the idea of only eating 1200 calories for the rest of my life made me want to cry. And this was going to be something I could do for the rest of my life. So I figured out my TDEE and took a 20% cut.
If you are trying to find ways to fill up, then I'd suggest eating as much protein as you can. Also foods with a lot of fibre will help keep you feeling full. Otherwise all I can suggest is to maybe set a smaller deficit and eat a little more (instead of trying to lose 2lbs/week maybe aim for 1lb). It'll take longer but you won't be as hungry.
Why would you think you would have to eat 1200 calories for the rest of your life?
She's thinking more of a lifestyle choice, so 1200 for life to continuing staying fit (at some point though you would go into maitnence mode)
That still doesn't make any sense. Never mind.
I think the post right above this one shares why some would easily think you almost have to maintain on 1200, because many share stories like that above.
No comment on how fast that 10 is gained, and obviously 1200 is a deficit, but there must be a fine line there with little movement at this point sadly.
I'd agree not everyone wants to get in to the position where they've burned off enough muscle mass they have to eat so little to maintain, but folks have done it and think it's great.0 -
I never thought I would be able to stick to 1200 calories a day but I can usually do it by reminding myself what I want to accomplish. I know 1200 calories won't be for a lifetime. I am going to lose the weight I need to lose and then move to maintenance. With working out I can sometimes eat 1700 calories a day while still netting 1200.
Another way I do it is because I don't usually eat breakfast, I know this isn't ideal, but it is just the sleep pattern I am in right now.0 -
I am insulin resistant and my doctor wants me to limit carbs to less than 200/day. I try for complex carbs. How many calories do you recommend for someone who needs to lose 80 or so pounds?
You don't need other's recommendations, you need cold, hard facts driven by tried-and-true scientific calculations. Use the link below to calculate how many calories a day *you* specifically need using the parameters it requests, input that final number into MFP manually, and don't eat back the exercise calories (because the calculator already accounts for it). Then you have no more guesswork - you'll know exactly how much to eat. Private message me if you have any questions, I'll be happy to discuss.
http://www.incrediblesmoothies.com/tools/Calculator-Daily-Calorie.html0 -
Short answer: I don't.
Long answer: It's why I chose to abandon the MFP method. For me, the idea of only eating 1200 calories for the rest of my life made me want to cry. And this was going to be something I could do for the rest of my life. So I figured out my TDEE and took a 20% cut.
If you are trying to find ways to fill up, then I'd suggest eating as much protein as you can. Also foods with a lot of fibre will help keep you feeling full. Otherwise all I can suggest is to maybe set a smaller deficit and eat a little more (instead of trying to lose 2lbs/week maybe aim for 1lb). It'll take longer but you won't be as hungry.
The MFP method is set up so you eat back your exercise calories.0
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