Constantly STARVING need filling meals

mochamommy

Since Sunday I have been struggling to keep under my 1200 calorie goal and not eat all my exercise calories back since I have been STARVING. I've been dieting since Monday the 6th and had lost 4.2 pounds on Monday the 13th. I'm not weighing myself again till the 20th. I have gone to the gym or yoga stdio every day since the 1st of the year. So I DON'T eat meat, so what are ideas for meals that are filling and stick with you and are very low calorie? I burn between 300-400 calories a day at the gym and other exercise per my HRM.

hananah89

do you eat seafood? Beans, lentils. Whatever is protein rich will keep you fuller longer.

ETA: You are supposed to eat most of your exercise calories back if you aren't. And are you sure 1200 is the right amount for you? Most people should have their settings at 1lb per week or so.

softncudly

I sometimes load soups, stews, chili..,etc with spinach. That tends to help me feel food and it doesn't change the flavor of my meal that much.) And of course drinking a huge glass of water before your meal helps. (Some people eat an apple before having their meals). Best wishes:flowerforyou:

MorgueBabe

Can you open your diary? I don't eat meat (I do eat seafood so I'm a pescartain) Feel free to check my food out.

mochamommy

How do you open your diary

teetime304

1200 calories seems very low. You shouldn't be trying to lose more than a pound per week. High quality protein and fiber rich foods will keep you full longer. I use a lot of shrimp, chicken, fish and lentils coupled with veggies.

1ZenGirl

This may be a radical idea but perhaps you should eat more?

MorgueBabe

How do you open your diary

Under settings

lab1973

I'm eating this for lunch today since I've been having the same problem. I know that this is fills me up like crazy and no snacks needed. I can even go to a late dinner if I eat this at lunch!

http://www.preventionrd.com/2013/05/slow-cooker-beer-pulled-pork-stuffed-sweet-potatoes/

Muddy_Yogi

You are starving because 1200 calories is already too few for most people and on top of that you are not eating your exercise calories. I suggest finding you TDEE - 20% and working with that calorie range. MFP tends to be a bit low. Also, make sure you are getting enough protein and load up on Veggies.

ShannonBEarley

Try this recipe: It is for Potato, Mushroom and Leek Croquettes. If you serve it with a big bunch of greens, and a soft fried egg broken on top it is filling, healthy, non-meat and really GOOD! Also, you can substitute cooking spray for the olive oil and cut that extra little bit out as well. You come in with a whole meal for about 350 or so.

If you like it let me know. I can throw some other recipes at you!

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/potato-mushroom-leek-croquette-50400000119674/

callyart

I am finding when I have jacket potato and a piece of fresh fish with veg or salad, it usually fills me up for the night and can be about 400-500 calorie meal.

nccarolb

I haven't looked at your food diary but the first thing I would suggest is that you are NOT supposed be eating LESS than 1200 calories per day. You need a minimum of 1200. That being said, I've been at 1200 and it is harder to get filled up at that level. I do eat meat, but not a lot of it (can't afford it) so I eat LOTS of beans and eggs for protein in addition to nuts, Greek yogurt, and peanut butter. Although some folks say that bread/carbs are evil, I do find that eating my whole wheat bread with added fiber makes me fill fuller. I also eat 6 times per day--not full meals, but schedule a heavy snack three times per day in addition to meals. When I was at 1200 calories, I also ate back almost all of my exercise calories because I was just flat hungry! Now that I've lost to my first goal and have a lesser amount to lose, I've backed off to 1 lb per week and 1430 calories seems like I'm eating all the time!

davemunger

4.2 pounds lost in a week? That is not a sustainable weight loss regimen. You probably actually need to eat more. As for more filling foods, salads and veggies work well for me. Whole fruit and yogurt (unsweetened) are pretty good. Since you are vegetarian you will be getting protein from nuts and beans mostly. Try and stay away from processed grains -- white bread, pastries, etc.

janeite1990

Eat your exercise calories. You are saying you lost 4.2 pounds in a week, right? That sounds like you are being too restrictive. You'll do better long-term if you lose slowly and keep your calories in a place where you aren't hungry.

Tedebearduff

Since Sunday I have been struggling to keep under my 1200 calorie goal and not eat all my exercise calories back since I have been STARVING. I've been dieting since Monday the 6th and had lost 4.2 pounds on Monday the 13th. I'm not weighing myself again till the 20th. I have gone to the gym or yoga stdio every day since the 1st of the year. So I DON'T eat meat, so what are ideas for meals that are filling and stick with you and are very low calorie? I burn between 300-400 calories a day at the gym and other exercise per my HRM.

Incorporate more protein into your diet, keeps you full for longer.

GoMizzou99

egg whites (scrambled - or whatever) are high in protein and low in calories and can really fill you up.

I make a delicious breakfast burrito using egg whites, ham, pepper-jack cheese, and a flat-bread. Look at my Saturday 1/11/14 breakfast. Adjust the proportions to fit your macros.

Sometimes i will add a little hash browns to it as well (zero calorie spray in the skillet and some onion).

jstout365

Eat more of what ever you like. You can lose weight and not starve if you just reduce your caloric deficit to a reasonable amount that you can sustain. If you are burning 300-400 calories a day, eat 300-400 a day more. Seriously. Eat more, starve less. I am only 5'2" and lose weight eating @ 1600/day with limited (at this point) exercise. When I start hitting the gym a bit more I'll increase my calories even more so that I don't starve (or more likely just feel like crap from lack of energy). You need to fuel your body. 1200 isn't' sustainable for many people. Unless you are short and small to start with, my guess is that you are eating too low for what your body burns just doing its thing (look up BMR and TDEE to find out how your metabolism works and what a good deficit/calorie level for you is).

Big losses are not as sustainable as we see it on TV. Setting a realistic calorie and weight loss goal will be key to long term success. 1-2 lbs is the range recommended by medical professionals.

Starving ins't a required thing in the weight loss process. Learn, eat, lose.

AmyRhubarb

Since Sunday I have been struggling to keep under my 1200 calorie goal and not eat all my exercise calories back

And you just posted in another thread about eating maybe 50 of your exercise cals because you often feel weak and shaky. These are not good signs! They are warning signs that your body is not getting enough fuel!

You need to understand that your daily calorie goal has you at a deficit already (especially at 1200, which is the bare minimum) - this means you could eat all 1200 calories every day, do zero exercise, and you'll lose weight. Burning more cals through exercise creates an even LARGER deficit, which is not good, and cause you all sorts of problems over time - slowed metabolism, hair loss, stalled weight loss, exhaustion, etc. Not fun. And not the results you are going for, I'm sure!

MFP adds those exercise cals back into your goal to bring your NET cals back up, and to keep that deficit reasonable. You are supposed to eat them back.

The plan works and it works well, but of course it's only as good as the info you give it. I'm willing to bet that unless you are a very very tiny person, 1200 cals is less than your BMR - less than what you'd get if you were in a coma in the hospital. And you're eating less than that, and then burning more off through exercise. And feeling weak and shaky - your body wants more fuel!

Set up your goals realistically in MFP - if you don't have 75-100 lbs to lose, don't set your goal to lose 2lbs a week - that's not realistic. Set it for 1/2 or 1 lb a week. Log your food as accurately as possible - use measuring cups and a food scale. Log your exercise as accurately as possible as well - invest in a good heart rate monitor or a Fitbit or some other gadget that will give you a better idea of what you're actually burning. And then make sure you are fueling your body - don't sell it short by pushing through exercise and then barely eating anything.

Besides eating the proper amount of calories, you can also help keep yourself feeling full longer by eating good amounts of protein and healthy fats.

Good luck.

parkscs

Eat your exercise calories. You are saying you lost 4.2 pounds in a week, right? That sounds like you are being too restrictive. You'll do better long-term if you lose slowly and keep your calories in a place where you aren't hungry.

She just started a diet. It's almost certain that the bulk of that 4.2 lbs is water weight being shed, as opposed to 1200 calories/day somehow accounted for a 14000 calorie deficit on her first week.

As others have said - eat protein with each meal and avoid meals/snacks that are purely carbs.

Sabine_Stroehm

Just yesterday you had reply after reply suggesting you NOT limit yourself to 1200 calories.

Start there.

You're setting yourself up for FAILURE. I hate to say.

MoreBean13

I would be starving, too, with any combination of food that totaled 1200 calories.

curlytoes79

I tried 1200 cal/day (I'm 5'4" and about 133 trying to get down to 125). Couldn't do it - I was so hungry! I bumped up to between 1400 - 1500 calories/day for slower weight loss, but it seems to be working so far. And it's definitely sustainable for the long term.

Remember, you didn't put on all your weight overnight - you'll need time to take it off, and you'll also need to set the stage for *lifelong* healthy habits.

pplf2001

You should be eating your excercise calories back... MFP's calculation assumes that you are -- alternatively calculate your TDEE and subtract 20%.

What are you setting your weight loss at 2lb/week? 1lb/week? 0.5lbs/week?

50racinggirl

Since Sunday I have been struggling to keep under my 1200 calorie goal and not eat all my exercise calories back since I have been STARVING. I've been dieting since Monday the 6th and had lost 4.2 pounds on Monday the 13th. I'm not weighing myself again till the 20th. I have gone to the gym or yoga stdio every day since the 1st of the year. So I DON'T eat meat, so what are ideas for meals that are filling and stick with you and are very low calorie? I burn between 300-400 calories a day at the gym and other exercise per my HRM.

FIBER, FIBER, FIBER

TR0berts

Since Sunday I have been struggling to keep under my 1200 calorie goal and not eat all my exercise calories back since I have been STARVING.

Problem identified. Eat more. Period.

softncudly

I sometimes load soups, stews, chili..,etc with spinach. That tends to help me feel food and it doesn't change the flavor of my meal that much.) And of course drinking a huge glass of water before your meal helps. (Some people eat an apple before having their meals). Best wishes:flowerforyou:

I meant feel full. (not feel food:laugh: )

mochamommy

But I wanted to FEEL my food. Pick it up and touch it and pet it, and squeeze it..

Smashley1947

You feel like you are starving because you really ARE STARVING.

Eat, eat, and eat more of filling, healthy whole and natural foods.
Check out the Canada or US food guides, they can give you a good indicator in how much to eat and proper serving sizes.

At trying to lose 20lbs as your goal, it should take months to get that weight off.

A better idea is to add strength training and get inches off.

hesn92

You are starving because you are not eating enough, that's all there is to it.

DeeDeeMee

Do you eat breakfast? Here's a simple recipe that is very filling:

1/2 cup raw rolled oats
1/2 cup milk
1/2 banana
a few strawberries, blueberries etc

Food process until smooth. It's basically a cold porridge. If you want it thick like traditional porridge you soak the oats in the milk in the fridge overnight then blend with the fruit in the morning. And you can vary the ingredients to taste, of course.