Does 1350 sound like a low calorie goal?

Rosepetals11

I weigh 165 and would like to get down to 135.. MFP set my calorie goal to 1350/day.. I've been trying really hard to meet it, but I feel like I'm starving myself half the time.. And I know if you eat too few calories you could put your body into starvation mode. I really don't want to end up gaining weight here, lol. Any advice?

arewethereyet

It depends, what is your goal? I would set it to 1/2 lb a week, then you can set it higher in a week or two when your used to eating better foods.

Welcome:flowerforyou:

RachelSRoach1

I'm 241 and my goal is 1300... as given by trainer not website

Sweetchaos66

Also, dont forget that you earn calories for exercising.

AylaBean

Also, dont forget that you earn calories for exercising.

LorinaLynn

I did better on 1350 than I did at 1200, but I preferred being around 1400-1500. Remember that you can (in my opinion *should*) eat the calories you earm from exercise, which could bump your daily total up significantly. I typically averaged a total of about 1800 calories a day while I was losing.

ATT949

Don't worry about starvation mode, please. Starvation mode is a medical condition that I would bet very few people on this site have experienced. Starvation mode requires that you consistently and repeatedly eat roughly 500 cals/day or less for an extended period (weeks and months).

Starvation mode is not "eating light", intermittent fasting, or skipping a meal or two every now and then. It's a focused effort to disregard the signals that your body generates as it pleads with you to put food in your mouth. Think North Korea, Auschwitz, African famine, etc.

When I was losing weight, I set a calorie target of 800 to 1k cals/day and I felt hungry a total of five times. I believe it was important was to eat quite a few small meals (I ate 6/day), to exercise at least three times per week, and, also, I swapped my protein and carb % around so I was eating about 50% protein and 25% carbs.

Have a look through my diary if you care to see what I ate — perhaps that will help.

Good luck on your weight loss journey!

RachelSRoach1

Don't worry about starvation mode, please. Starvation mode is a medical condition that I would bet very few people on this site have experienced. Starvation mode requires that you consistently and repeatedly eat roughly 500 cals/day or less for an extended period (weeks and months).

Starvation mode is not "eating light", intermittent fasting, or skipping a meal or two every now and then. It's a focused effort to disregard the signals that your body generates as it pleads with you to put food in your mouth. Think North Korea, Auschwitz, African famine, etc.

When I was losing weight, I set a calorie target of 800 to 1k cals/day and I felt hungry a total of five times. I believe it was important was to eat quite a few small meals (I ate 6/day), to exercise at least three times per week, and, also, I swapped my protein and carb % around so I was eating about 50% protein and 25% carbs.

Have a look through my diary if you care to see what I ate — perhaps that will help.

Good luck on your weight loss journey!

That is terrific to know!!!

savage22hp

Spread your calories out in small meals or snacks throughout the day. Drink water before you eat to help you feel full. Eat slowly to let your body realize that you have eaten. Eat fruits and vegetables that are low calorie so you can have more volume. Accurately log your food and exercise and don't be afraid to eat the extra calories that you earn with exercise.

Puffins1958

I'm at 1200 calories a day to lose 2 lbs per week, that's what MFP suggested. I think it's fine, and I don't feel hungry.
I wish you luck in finding the right balance for you.....


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brooklynsfinestballerina

Don't worry about starvation mode, please. Starvation mode is a medical condition that I would bet very few people on this site have experienced. Starvation mode requires that you consistently and repeatedly eat roughly 500 cals/day or less for an extended period (weeks and months).

Starvation mode is not "eating light", intermittent fasting, or skipping a meal or two every now and then. It's a focused effort to disregard the signals that your body generates as it pleads with you to put food in your mouth. Think North Korea, Auschwitz, African famine, etc.

When I was losing weight, I set a calorie target of 800 to 1k cals/day and I felt hungry a total of five times. I believe it was important was to eat quite a few small meals (I ate 6/day), to exercise at least three times per week, and, also, I swapped my protein and carb % around so I was eating about 50% protein and 25% carbs.

Have a look through my diary if you care to see what I ate — perhaps that will help.

Good luck on your weight loss journey!

when i was younger i went into starvation mode. i had to make weight every week for ballet and i couldnt be above 95 at 5'7. i ate probably 250 cals of pretty much protein a day. you'll know it if you hit it. BUT on the flipside, as i have been losing weight since my injury, i'm a big believer in eating my exercise calories. i broke my 4 month plateau with flying colors when i started to eat more. ask your doctor though too, if you have any serious questions. feel free to add me!(:

Elleinnz

I weigh 165 and would like to get down to 135.. MFP set my calorie goal to 1350/day.. I've been trying really hard to meet it, but I feel like I'm starving myself half the time.. And I know if you eat too few calories you could put your body into starvation mode. I really don't want to end up gaining weight here, lol. Any advice?

It is quite reasonable, but if you are feeling peckish try eating more protein - personally I used to be starving late afternoon, and then started adding a portion of protein to lunch....and also some yoghurt or cottage cheese as a snack....

The other thing that has already been mentioned - do some exercise - and then eat most of those calories (I eat about 75% of my exercise cals most of the time....)

The one thing is to make sure you do not feel as if you are starving - that is the quickest way to fall of the wagon - rather up your calories slightly - and lose at a slower rate....

There is a group on here "Woman who eat more than 2000 calories a day" - some of the members are on maintenance, but many like myself just believe in not starving ourselves, we eat much more than those poor people surviving on 800 to a 1000 calories a day - and we are still successful in losing weight - and keeping it off ;-)

heathersmilez

Don't worry about starvation mode, please. Starvation mode is a medical condition that I would bet very few people on this site have experienced. Starvation mode requires that you consistently and repeatedly eat roughly 500 cals/day or less for an extended period (weeks and months).

Starvation mode is not "eating light", intermittent fasting, or skipping a meal or two every now and then. It's a focused effort to disregard the signals that your body generates as it pleads with you to put food in your mouth. Think North Korea, Auschwitz, African famine, etc.

When I was losing weight, I set a calorie target of 800 to 1k cals/day and I felt hungry a total of five times. I believe it was important was to eat quite a few small meals (I ate 6/day), to exercise at least three times per week, and, also, I swapped my protein and carb % around so I was eating about 50% protein and 25% carbs.

Have a look through my diary if you care to see what I ate — perhaps that will help.

Good luck on your weight loss journey!

Bumping to read your diary later.

markulin33

i've been eating 1350 a day for 8 months and i've lost 30 pounds!!! I'm 42 and exercise about 3 times a week and weigh 207 now... but it's worked for me.. sometimes i go over like if we eat at Chili's or something, but i've never felt starved.... i eat 1 cup cereal for breakfast, a smart one for lunch, a muffin before lunch or an apple and then whatever i make for dinner for the kids, like spagetti, steak, tacos, i really don't have a problem staying around 1350 or feeling hungry. I do wake up hungy though, which i never used to before and i'm pretty sure that's the way it's supposed to be. Of course, when i get to my goal weight, i'm going to adjust it probably around 1500 or 1600 cal.
jean

allaboutaleah

as long as your above the minimum of 1200 calories a day, you don't have to worry about starvation mode. believe it or not, your body gets use to eating less as time goes on. I started out at 314lbs, with a calorie goal of 2030 calories, I actually never ate that much, now i'm down 16 lbs, my calorie goal is 1930, and I usually dnt go above 1500, and I dnt get hungry often. I do eat when I am hungry, I just monitor what I eat, spread it out, smaller portions etc. You do get more calories for exercise, and have the option to eat those back, but I have only done that once. You can lower your weekly weight lose goal and that will also increase your calories. find low calorie snacks, like the 100 calorie packs, drink water. You will adjust, it was hard for me to believe when I 1st started, but it's proven true. Good luck

stayxtrue

I was set to 1200, so I changed my weight loss to 1lb a week and now I am allowed 1390 as set by MFP. However I exercise a fair bit so I am usually eating around 2000+ a day! You need to do weight training as well which will help you lose more weight... but 1350 is plenty, you just have to choose your foods. I eat heaps of fruit, which helps to keep me feeling full.

AussieMisfit

I'm 74kg (not sure in pounds) and on 1260 per day. I know lots of diets suggest small meals but that doesn't work for me. I've been doing the leptin style with a good hearty protein rich breakfast, nothing for 5-6 hours then a sensible lunch, nothing for 5-6 hours a sensible dinner and nothing more until the next morning. The first few days were tough, but it only took a few days for my leptin sensitivity to improve. I'm honestly not even hungry between meals now. Some days I'm even running low on calories so I grab a little piece of cake or a Bueno bar or something for dessert. I've only been trying for 3 weeks, so I can't be sure how the long term will go, but I've lost 3kg already. I've been doing some strength training too, so I expected weight loss to be really slow while I put on a little muscle.

ATT949

when i was younger i went into starvation mode.

Why do you say that you went into starvation mode?

Rosepetals11

Thanks everyone for the advice! I guess I just didnt realize how difficult this diet thing would be, our how ignorant I was before about nutrition.. I get mad cravings all the time, looks like I have some homework to do. I think until now I've never really noticed how addicting food actually is, for me at least. This involves alot more than just calorie counting. Lol. Wish me luck!

Vermilla

I know that this topic has already been replied to a lot, but I just wanted to add that if you start exercising/increase your exercising by a lot, it also tends to make you more hungry, even if you're eating plenty of calories. This is also true for if you begin a diet and focus on a set amount of calories. Even though it's enough for your body to do well on its own, it's not what your body is USED to, therefore, it thinks it's hungry. But as was said, your body gets used to the lower calories and adapts pretty well. It's also partially WHAT you eat, not just when or how much. If you eat "junk" food to put it lightly, you'll consume more calories but be more hungry. Same goes for fast food and such. Even certain "healthy" foods can do it to you - such as those prepackaged frozen dinners with all the healthy lables plastered all over them. They don't fill you but the number goes up. Unpreserved/fresh foods are usually the best. Not just the best for you, but also the most filling without making your number skyrocket.

MissHellsing

I'm glad I found this. MFP put me at 1240 cals per day (I'm 222 and 5'6") and I was worried it would be too low etc.

LorinaLynn

i do want to add that I agree that the term "starvation mode" gets tossed around a little too freely, but lot of people - me included - find that we do/did a little better with a little more calories. It's all about finding YOUR sweet spot. Just because you can eat 1200 calories, sometimes less, a day and feel satisfied, doesn't mean that it's the right amount for you, or anyone else, as an individual.

Experiment. Try different things. If you really feel snarly at 1350, try 1450. Sometimes it's even just a psychological difference. We like seeing those green numbers at the end of the day, so if your goal is 1350 and you eat 1375, you might feel like, "Oh, darn. I went over." But if your goal was 1450 and you ate 1375, you'd do the happy "I stayed under my calories" dance.

Personally, I was happiest at 1450-1500, and really happy that now that I'm in maintenance, I can eat pretty much whatever I want, since with activity and exercise, my daily goal is around 2000. I would hate to think that I was stuck limiting my calories forever. Some people are fine with that, but I love eating. My family loves eating. I love going out for drinks and appetizers and not worrying that I'm blowing it.

Check these links: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/17-women-eating-2-000-calories-per-day

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/395881-people-who-lost-weight-eating-more

leelee_1974

Hi, I've set my goal at 1200 per day, but so far have been eating about 1400+ becuase I do long fast walks and cycle to work. I've been committed to this for just over a week and today's the first day I've felt less than 100%. Having said that, when I was eating whatever I liked there'd be days like this so I'm trying to listen to my body without going down the jumbo snickers and hot chocolate route!! What I have found is that the days I've eaten more in the morning adn at lunch, I've not been that hungry later on so I'm trying to eat more than normal in the morning even if it's not the time of day I usually feel hungry.

mirrim52

Make sure your calories are coming from quality foods. Processed food, pre-made and restaurant meals, fatty salad dressings and sugary coffee drinks add tons of calories and will leave you feeling hungry. Fill up with fruits, lots of veggies, lean proteins and a bit of healthy fat and you will feel fuller for longer using fewer calories.

Oh and yes, make sure to add exercise to earn more calories, and eat those back!

hellodolly62

Check your carb ct. It might be to high and thats why you you are feeling hungry. If this is the case, Increase your protein and decrease carbs. Your calorie ct may go over your targaret amt but thats ok. Also. When you feel hungry, drink a tall glass of water. I read an artical about water that said: when you get hungry its more than likely dehydration not hunger pains. So when you get hungry drink water. I hope this helps you.