eating only 1200 calories

Maryaly40

Anyone else get REALLY hungry after a few days of doing this???? After about the third or fourth day, I'm starving and I overeat on 1 meal...THEN I have a snack. I completely sabtoge my "good"efforts. Then I get sad, discouraged etc.......Does this happen to anyone else?

Wolfena

are you exercising? are you eating back your exercise calories? (you should be!)

Maybe you need to add 100-200 calories to feel better... you're "allowed" to adjust your goals if needed - everyone is different!
:flowerforyou:

rockerbabyy

it happened to me when i was eating 1200 and not eating my exercise calories - but when i upped my activity level and started eating my exercise calories i felt a LOT better and wasnt nearly as hungry

tina219

Try to eat more protein and see if that helps. I agree about adding 100 calories or so to make you feel better. You should still be able to lose weight and you will be more likely to stick with it.

Mandys_Getting_Fit

Yes, I started out at 1200 calories and I was miserable. A low estimate for my maintenance calories (before exercise) is 1650 daily. I'm much happier now because I eat around 1600 calories daily and let any additional calorie deficit come from exercise.

kristijc31

Yes, this happens to me! What has helped me is taking a day off. The day I weigh in and if I loose I eat "normal." I don't over eat, but I eat off my diet. This gives me something to look forward to and makes me work harder so I can celebrate a little.

Maryaly40

I just realized I'm not eating enough protein. I bought some protein powder to mix with fruit smoothies as snacks and after my workouts!

HonkyTonks

You should eat your BMR, 1200 is too low for most. If you can't eat that much now how are you going to go for the rest of your life? :P Also, tip for curbing appetite - protein is more filling I have found.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

1200 is the lowest calorie allotment that MFP will give you. Try going with 1400-1500 and see if that works better for you.

jillica

Good luck! I felt like I was starving at 1200, too. I was 186 and 5'-5". Then I really looked at my diary. I cut out the foods that were not worth their calories to me, and I switched some to lower calorie options.

At that same time, I did add more protein to my diet. I make sure I have some kind of protein at least 3 times a day (my recent choice is can 99% can chicken breast). I also started doing 6 meals a day and I'm feeling much more satisfied. This is working for me.

Some people swear by more calories and are successful. When/If I stall, I will most likely try that or some of the other advice I see on MFP.