Struggling to eat 1200 calories

klikittyklak

I have been eating about 900 calories a day (+ exercise at least 3 days a week) for a while now, and am still not losing any weight. MFP suggests I eat 1200 BEFORE exercise, and since I seem to have hit a weight plateau, I think it might be a good idea to increase my intake a little. However, I just seem to naturally eat that little, and trying to eat more seems like binging to me. I can't figure out what else to eat that isn't something completely unhealthy like ice-cream. Any suggestions?

klikittyklak

I have been eating about 900 calories a day (+ exercise at least 3 days a week) for a while now, and am still not losing any weight. MFP suggests I eat 1200 BEFORE exercise, and since I seem to have hit a weight plateau, I think it might be a good idea to increase my intake a little. However, I just seem to naturally eat that little, and trying to eat more seems like binging to me. I can't figure out what else to eat that isn't something completely unhealthy like ice-cream. Any suggestions?

Lavendersunday

PBJ on two slices of whole wheat bread with an 8-12 oz glass of 1% milk.



~Namaste :flowerforyou:

dedelen0

What are you eating during the day??

sunnyholtz

I go to a weight control center where they are big into education. I was doing the same thing, thinking less has got to be better. They were explaining to me that if you eat below a certain amount of calories (usually around 1200), then your body goes into "starvation mode". What that means is, you actually don't lose weight in a good way, you lose muscle weight and you will feel very tired and sick all the time. Your body immediately stores the food that does come in as FAT and you gain weight (because your body thinks it needs to save some fat for later in order to keep you alive.)

A better way to lose weight is to eat at least the 1200 calories a day of HEALTHY calories like whole wheat, fruit, veggies, lean protein..and exercise. So by eating up to the calories you are supposed to intake, your body will still realize it is being fed and everything is okay and it can shed the extra pounds. Seems crazy, but it has worked.

apt84

Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

mzrobbie

I am having the same problem. I can eat 1200-1300 calories a day, but with the amount I exercise, I'm still netting about 200- 300 calories under. I've lost a couple pounds, but it's taken me about 2 months, which is crazy-slow.

Do you really think that the extra calories will help us lose?

If you want to pick up healthy calories, eat the healthy fats - avacados, nuts, add olive oil to your salads, etc. Peanut butter is a good suggestion too.

apt84

anything lower to 1200 calorie puts ur body into starvation mode u must eat more or 1200cal pper day... for further details read the reply on recent post about eating 1200calories per day

klikittyklak

yes sunny, that's what I said...I know that eating more will produce more results, I just don't know how to do it! :laugh:

And dedelen, I eat frequently during the day, but rarely anything that's 200+ calories.

RhondaV

I WISH I had that problem -- eating too little! How about a handful of peanuts, or some cheese?

kimber607

Hi

I never had that problem..LOL
BUT what about nuts/almonds....
I agree with the pb&j sandwich or pb with apples to add some extra cals
I would try to add a few cals to each meal or snack...
Maybe ti would be easier to drink some cals...maybe try a glass of OJ etc

Good luck
Kim

MsLadybug

Try adding a good cold pressed olive oil to your salads, fish or pasta. Not heaps but a tbsp is like 119 calories of good fat. I also agree with nuts, again good fat.

rosabella

The obligatory: NUTELLA!!

And I wish I could have your extra calories. I exercise so that I can have 1500 and I STILL feel like I'm starving. Go figure... :grumble:

iluvsparkles

i have continuously had this problem, and i can tell you one thing, eating less does NOT work when you are exercising daily!

it took me a long time to get that through my head, but i am trying to incorporate one more item into each meal for starters, so i can gradually get closer to my net 1200. Ive been under for waaay too long, and i think starvation mode is working against us! ( i have only lost about a pound a month or so!)

so eat those cals in PB and milk if you like milk, and other healthy options are nuts and granola. The occasion cake isnt so bad either, just not every day

PedalHound

I'm re-posting this in this thread since it may be of interest!:

So, because I adore working out so much I tend to have a lot of exercise calories to eat. Some days it's NO problem at all and many days I have between 100 and 200 cals left over. I've also been paying close attention to sodium and fibre and have been looking for good solutions to those items... so today I had a desert that is high in fibre, low in sodium and 190 cals. And from someone with a love affair with chocolate, this is seriously delicious:

1 tbsp nutella
1/2 banana, sliced
1/3 C Nature's Path Organic Smart Bran Psyllium cereal

mix together and enjoy! lol SOOOOOOO tasty....

iluvsparkles

oooh man that sounds like the most scrumptious thing ever!

snowtrend

I am a personal trainer. You NEED to eat 1200 calories. No one should really have less. If you have under your Basil Rate(reqired to sustain life). Your body goes into starvation mode because you are taking in less calories then your body needs in a day. At this point, every ounce of fat you put into your mouth will be stored as fat. Fat is your slow burning fuel. You are not going to burn off fat if you are in starvation mode, you're body thinks it's not going to get energy sources for a while, so it stores, or holds onto the fat you have! I promise you will lose weight if you eat more calories.

Also, eat every 2-3 hours. Bring you calorie intake up slowly from 900. 1000 one week, 1100 the next, and so on.

Eating often and more calories works for me, and even as a trainer, I've struggled too. I always ate too little. This last couple of weeks I made it a point to eat right. In the first week I lost 4lbs!

You can eat snacks like almonds, kashi cereal, grapes, a banana, or add a meal in. It gets easier as you go because your body starts using the energy. You start getting hungry more often.

StrawberryMargarita

What if you are gettin plenty of food, and eating every few hours, but still are under 1000 calories? I have been great keeping my caloried down by eating steamed vegies for breakfast and other vegies and of course chicken for meal. I even snack a little on wheat thins and have coffee with real sugar in the morning. If I am eating all day, will my body still freak out?
I just ate a meal that I almost couldn't eat all of but it was under 300 claories, but I am totally stuffed. Isn't that important to eat and be full?

jdtrainer

!200 calories is a minimum that no one should go below unless under a doctor's supervision. However, some individuals minimum will be higher than 1200. Starvation mode is not something that happens at a specific number of calories either. The human body is extremely adaptable. If we deprive our body of calories by too large a deficit it will begin to slow down our metabolism in response.

The set formula of a 500 calorie deficit/day for one pound/wk. loss and 1000 calorie deficit/day for a 2lb/wk. loss does not factor in that the body may begin to adapt to these low calorie diets. Some studies have found that the ideal calorie deficit should only be 300-400/day to avoid the body slowing down the metabolism. The body may not actually be in all out starvation mode but merely adapting to a low calorie diet.

I hope I do not confuse anyone with this next statement, because there has been so much discussion about needing to eat your exercise calories. I prefer to think in terms of eating your maintenance calories everyday and allowing your exercise to take you to a deficit. That would be providing that you are burning 300-400 with exercise. It is still the same number of calories, but just a different way of looking at it. If you are burning more, then you would need to eat more than maintenance, and if you are burning less then you would need to eat a little less. I like this because it gets you used to thinking in terms of how many calories you need to eat each day in order to maintain rather than getting locked in on that arbitrary 1200 calorie number that so many are fixated on.

Most of us did not gain our weight quickly and we should not expect to lose it that way either. Those who do lose it quicky my just be setting themselves up for another round of the same old game.

Good luck to all of you and keep up the good work!

littlespoon

What if you are gettin plenty of food, and eating every few hours, but still are under 1000 calories? I have been great keeping my caloried down by eating steamed vegies for breakfast and other vegies and of course chicken for meal. I even snack a little on wheat thins and have coffee with real sugar in the morning. If I am eating all day, will my body still freak out?
I just ate a meal that I almost couldn't eat all of but it was under 300 claories, but I am totally stuffed. Isn't that important to eat and be full?

Yes your body will still freak out!
If you know that you are under 1000 calories, why would you eat vegetables for breakfast instead of say, porridge or some toast?

The problem with eating that little, is that once you figure out its not working and you are harming your body; when you start eating the right amount, your body will hold onto it and then you feel so unmotivated and confused to why you're putting on weight! So start increasing it now slowly, and you will lose the weight you want to.

ladywalkalot

vanilla yogurt, peanuts, berries and a touch of ff whip cream....yummy and filling!!!

frankp

I've found that drinking your calories is the easy way to pack them on.

A 8oz. glass of 100% pure apple juice is 120 calories (that's a lot of apples for your day and should keep the Dr. away)

When I need calories I really like my 'fake' milk shake

1 frozen banana (remove the peal before freezing, I alway keep a bunch of frozen bananas on hand)
1 tbsp of Trader Joe's Almond Butter crunchy unsalted (Peanut butter will work also, the all natural no sugar added kind)
1 cup of skim milk
.75 scoop of Designer Whey Protein - Chocolate Flavored.
Blast all that in your blender

It fills one glass and is cold, creamy and delicious and is 346 calories.

Add the apple juice to a morning snack and the fake shake to your afternoon snack and and you've added 466 healthy calories to your day.

I eat about 1800 a day and have no problem getting there. And if you're excercising and lifting weights, don't be afraid of upping the fat in your diet... avacados, peanut butter, nuts, all loaded with calories.

krawls33

Snowtrend I have a question for you. I am opposite of most people on here. I came on here to gain weight in a healthy way and have a healthy lifestyle. Anyway I am getting impatient with how long it is taking to reach my goal. I am 5'3" and about 105 pounds. My goal weight is 120-125. I am alloted 2000 calories a day. I usually go over that though. Today I went over by 17 calories. I do alot of walking so I do get my exercise. What is the best way for me to gain quicker without doing it the unhealthy way?

burley13

to the trainer guy...

I have the same problem. I work out 5 to 6 times a week, 6-7 miles a day walking mostly, although I jog for about a half mile to a mile of it (and pushing my son in his jogger) and have been doing so since May. I eat more than the 1200 calories, and am a healthier eater(I am trying to get back into my pre-preggo clothes). I only have 10-15 lbs to go, but I haven't lost a single lb. I am so frustrated and would love some advice! I do some strength training (and lift my 24 lb all day long) but nothing is working!!!

burley13

Krawls33. Have you gotten your thyroid checked? When I was in college I had problems. I am 6 ft tall and always small, but I was about a 100 lbs. I could eat whatever I wanted and my weight fell off of me (mind you I no longer have a thyroid and no longer have this "problem"... but I miss it!!). and it was because I had graves disease...

krawls33

burley I never thought of that. I will get that checked though. I have always been small. My dad and uncle are very slim also. So it could be just in the genes for me. I hate it though.

eHarris

klikittyklak: Just a couple quick and easy things I've found that could fill out your calorie count.

1 Zone Meal Replacement Bar (any flavor) about =210 calories
(and they are a bit larger than a candy bar, I suggest the cinnamon roll its yummylicious)

1 1/2 packs quaker weight control instant oatmeal w/ 1snack box raisins & 1pat butter = 350 calories
(if you have this for breakfast its a really good fuel for the day)

1c. baby lima beans (with lunch/dinner) =216 calories

1c. pistachio nuts with shells on = 340 calories

1 pouch (the foil ones not the can) Starkist tuna in water garlic & herb flavor = 225 calories

none of these things will make you feel overly full, but they are all really good things for you and pretty healthy fillers if thats what your looking for.

shorerider

Snowtrend I have a question for you. I am opposite of most people on here. I came on here to gain weight in a healthy way and have a healthy lifestyle. Anyway I am getting impatient with how long it is taking to reach my goal. I am 5'3" and about 105 pounds. My goal weight is 120-125. I am alloted 2000 calories a day. I usually go over that though. Today I went over by 17 calories. I do alot of walking so I do get my exercise. What is the best way for me to gain quicker without doing it the unhealthy way?

Hey Krawls--

I just noticed that you said you're eating 2000 calories day--I really think you need to eat more! My Basal Metabolic Rate, given my age/weight/activity level, is almost 2200 a day. That means it would take 2200 calories a day for me not to gain or loss weight. That's why I think 2000 a day is kind of low for you.

You're a lot lighter then me but your younger, too, with kids--that means your activity level is going to be higher then mine. Meaning--you might need to increase your calories even more to gain weight.

Do you know what your BMR based upon your activity level?

And, don't forget to eat your exercise calories!!

klikittyklak

Thanks guys. I've been trying to eat more (or drink my calories, thanks for the tip!) and it seems to be working? Yesterday I ate what I felt was a lot, and this morning I had dropped 1 lb.! :happy:

Red13

There are alot of protein bars on the market packed with calories, but the calories your body needs. Lots of protein and some have good amounts of fiber. I really like the Kashi go lean protein bars and they are about 150-170 calories a bar. Plus, they are natural.

Nich0le

Start eating more calorie dense foods, like nuts, peanut butter, have some meat if you would like. A common problem is that when people start to "diet" they eat a lot of salads and fruits and veggies and not much else and yes, you have to eat a ton of that stuff to get your calories in. It is about eating healthier and making good choices not being a rabbit.

Lets face it, if you are overweight you were probably eating well over 1200 calories a day you were just making bad choices. There is nothing wrong with healthy fats (nuts, avocado, peanut butter, oil, etc) and there is nothing wrong with eating some complex carbs (whole grain breads, brown rice, a portion of pasta) and you can eat something besides grilled chicken all the time too (fish, lean cuts of steak, pork) and if you don't like meat add some lentils and beans to your food routine.

Another thing that people do is to eat the same foods every day, you need to have variety for proper digestion. Plan ahead, take time to prepare meals ahead of time so you can "grab and go" when needed, and no one can say they don't have time to do that because you have time to watch tv or be on the computer take some time to care for yourself.

Avoid prepackaged meals because the food is already cooked and loaded with sugar or sodium as preservatives. Not to mention that frozen food is over cooked to ensure bacteria is killed, then you pop it in the microwave and cook every last nutrient out of it therefore gaining no nutritional value for what you just ate.

Less rabbit food and more calorie dense food, it doesn't mean more food, it just means better food!