1200 calories and struggling!

2

Replies

  • STARSHINE1975
    STARSHINE1975 Posts: 168 Member
    I have my calories set to 1600 and I'm still losing because of my food choices and the fact that I lift weights. Feel free to take a look at my diary. I'm usually stuffed by the end of the day. Lots of veggies, protein and fresh food. Less processed foods. You'll eat a ton and shed weight.

    1400 is a good amount for women IMO. I do 1600 because I lift heavy weights and I need to fuel those muscles. And eat back most of your exercise calories!! =)
  • heatherblose21
    heatherblose21 Posts: 12
    My doctor told me to eat 1200 cals a day. And, the first few days were extremely hard. I never realized how many cals were in every daily thing I was eating. What really helped me was having a Slim Fast 180-200 cal shake for breakfast. The Rich Royale Chocolate and Rich Creamy Chocolate taste like chocolate milk. They keep you full for a few hours and by the time your hungry it's time for a 100 cal snack. I eat 1200 or a little less a day for the past 10 days and I promise it does get easier. It takes patience and a bit of hunger the first few days.
  • blasiansrus
    blasiansrus Posts: 151
    1200 is too low for most people! If you're hungry then eat! Forget 1200 calories. It's not enough for you personally if you're always hungry
  • Kushgetti
    Kushgetti Posts: 146 Member
    i agree looking at ur diary, its alot of breads and pasta not enuff meat and fiber....as previously drink before a meal
  • bonniejc4
    bonniejc4 Posts: 12 Member
    I eat tons of baby carrots, grape tomatoes and light dips like hummus, light ranch, and drink tons of tea and coffee with light coffeemate and splenda. There are a lot of great soups too that are filling, healthy and very low in calories. Poached eggs and egg whites are great for protein.
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    After looking at your diary you may want to reconsider bananas and all the bread and biscuits.

    bananas are good but you need about 1/2 a regular size banana a day. if you want to eat the whole banana that day, eat half early then the other half later

    whats the reason for that?
  • killagb
    killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
    While we are on the topic of eating your exercise calories....if anyone reads this lol....why does MFP warn you about eating too few calories when ur under your calorie goal with no exercise for the day...but when you exercise and don't eat back all your exercise calories and you still have some left over it doesn't warn you???
    Because not everyone uses the tool the exact same way. You should only eat back your exercise calories if you log your exercise and aren't accounting for it elsewhere. Other people opt to just set their activity level to active or something like that, which includes more activity in the day, giving you a higher calorie goal. These people will have the same daily goals as they are accounting for the exercise at the activity level. Either of these scenarios would still be considered eating your exercise calories, but in the 2nd case, it's not so much that you're eating them 'back' as they are there all along.
  • killagb
    killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
    After looking at your diary you may want to reconsider bananas and all the bread and biscuits.

    bananas are good but you need about 1/2 a regular size banana a day. if you want to eat the whole banana that day, eat half early then the other half later

    whats the reason for that?
    tumblr_lwvp2zu9tt1qc8kay.png
  • skywa
    skywa Posts: 901 Member
    eat more!

    1200 isnt enough

    calculate your TDEE and then subtract 300-400 cals from that.

    also if your still hungry, eat back your exercise calories.

    i dont even work out most days and i eat 1700 and am still losing at 122.

    do not fear the calories. eat them all. you deserve it!
  • jessmsu81
    jessmsu81 Posts: 23
    I try to keep my intake around 1200 (more if I get in a good workout) and I'm rarely hungry. As others have said... drink LOTS of water and make sure you focus on increasing your protein, that will help keep you full and satisfied. On a good day... I only do a serving of grains/carbs at breakfast/lunch - not dinner. I eat 5 times a day -- breakfast/lunch/dinner + 2 snacks -- all prepared at home.
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    After looking at your diary you may want to reconsider bananas and all the bread and biscuits.

    bananas are good but you need about 1/2 a regular size banana a day. if you want to eat the whole banana that day, eat half early then the other half later

    whats the reason for that?

    sugar
  • Lesa_Sass
    Lesa_Sass Posts: 2,213 Member
    After looking at your diary you may want to reconsider bananas and all the bread and biscuits.

    bananas are good but you need about 1/2 a regular size banana a day. if you want to eat the whole banana that day, eat half early then the other half later

    whats the reason for that?

    A banana has 100 calories, pretty high caloric content for a fruit.
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    After looking at your diary you may want to reconsider bananas and all the bread and biscuits.

    bananas are good but you need about 1/2 a regular size banana a day. if you want to eat the whole banana that day, eat half early then the other half later

    whats the reason for that?

    A banana has 100 calories, pretty high caloric content for a fruit.

    that too

    bananas are good...potassium and all that...but going gaga on bananas aint doing any great benefit and whacks the calorie and sugar count
  • lind3400
    lind3400 Posts: 557 Member
    While we are on the topic of eating your exercise calories....if anyone reads this lol....why does MFP warn you about eating too few calories when ur under your calorie goal with no exercise for the day...but when you exercise and don't eat back all your exercise calories and you still have some left over it doesn't warn you???
    Because not everyone uses the tool the exact same way. You should only eat back your exercise calories if you log your exercise and aren't accounting for it elsewhere. Other people opt to just set their activity level to active or something like that, which includes more activity in the day, giving you a higher calorie goal. These people will have the same daily goals as they are accounting for the exercise at the activity level. Either of these scenarios would still be considered eating your exercise calories, but in the 2nd case, it's not so much that you're eating them 'back' as they are there all along.

    THANK U!!! :D
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    You shoudnt eat 1200 calories you should look into eating 1400-1600 calories daily.
    1200 is great if you are under 4 feet but most people cant survive off that.
  • snc1212
    snc1212 Posts: 38
    I have mine set at 1270, and I'm doing fine. I also exercise quite a bit. I would suggest starting your day off with a protein (2 egg whites) and some PLAIN oatmeal - not that pre-packaged flavoured stuff. I add a tub of unsweetened apple sauce to it to make it taste good. Add protein into your snacks and meals - almonds, walnuts. Greek yogurt is a great addition. Also you might want to cut out the 400 calorie alcoholic beverages...imagine what good food you could eat for that 400 calories.

    Good luck!!!
  • blasiansrus
    blasiansrus Posts: 151
    After looking at your diary you may want to reconsider bananas and all the bread and biscuits.

    bananas are good but you need about 1/2 a regular size banana a day. if you want to eat the whole banana that day, eat half early then the other half later

    whats the reason for that?

    A banana has 100 calories, pretty high caloric content for a fruit.

    that too

    bananas are good...potassium and all that...but going gaga on bananas aint doing any great benefit and whacks the calorie and sugar count

    there's nothing wrong with eating a whole banana..who cares if it's 100 calories? It's filling & good for you..and most people need those calories
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    If you're struggling, eat more.

    1200 is really not necessary IMO unless you're like <5ft and really light, with hardly any muscle. I've lost perfectly fine in the past on 1500-1750 plus exercise calories :D
  • RAFValentina
    RAFValentina Posts: 1,231 Member
    Hey all!

    i'm allocated 1200 calories and i'm struggling, particularly on days where i don't exercise!

    help?

    Exercise more, eat lower GI , high water content foods that fill you up. Drink lots of fluids, limit sodium.
  • RAFValentina
    RAFValentina Posts: 1,231 Member
    You shoudnt eat 1200 calories you should look into eating 1400-1600 calories daily.
    1200 is great if you are under 4 feet but most people cant survive off that.

    Only if you're not exercising and thats a net... I operate on a net of about 500kCal but I eat about 2100 a day and workout hard. (in excess of 100kCal burn a day and a calorie "goal" of 1630) I'm 5' 9" a BMI of 23. Works for me just fine.
  • KLK1986
    KLK1986 Posts: 89
    I agree with others who said cut out or restrict the bananas. There are other fruits out there are much lower calorie but still have great levels of vitamins and minerals.

    And you do eat an awful lot of biscuits....a LOT....
  • BinkyRaines
    BinkyRaines Posts: 1
    Hi there! Well done for being so strident and disciplined, I understand that you want to reach your weight loss goal as quickly as you can but please INCREASE YOUR. CALORIES! 1500 cals per day is an achievable long term limit to loose weight, 1200 is simply too low and you will compromise your nutrition and ultimately your health. Include lots of protein, salmon, mackerel, cottage cheese, eggs, prawns, tofu and soya protein all work for me. Include theses foods and healthy fats like olive oil,, nuts, seeds and tahini (spread on wholemeal toast or melted on your veggies) and you will actively increase your weight loss and rev up your metabolism and truly, you will never feel hungry. We all want to be and remain slim but our bone density and immune system (not to mention firm, glowing skin and shiny, healthy hair) are more important than a tiny bum. I wish you luck with all you intend to achieve x
  • Lesa_Sass
    Lesa_Sass Posts: 2,213 Member
    After looking at your diary you may want to reconsider bananas and all the bread and biscuits.

    bananas are good but you need about 1/2 a regular size banana a day. if you want to eat the whole banana that day, eat half early then the other half later

    whats the reason for that?

    A banana has 100 calories, pretty high caloric content for a fruit.

    that too

    bananas are good...potassium and all that...but going gaga on bananas aint doing any great benefit and whacks the calorie and sugar count

    there's nothing wrong with eating a whole banana..who cares if it's 100 calories? It's filling & good for you..and most people need those calories


    Okay sweetie, if you notice the reason for this post is the OP needed help with her calorie intake, we made suggestions and then gave the reasons for those suggestions. Please pay attention before making such statements in the future. This could help you in real life as well as a forum message board.
    Have a blessed day. :)
  • spottedlee
    spottedlee Posts: 372
    MFP sets everyone to 1200 if they want to lose 1-2lbs/week. It's not necessarily enough to actually fuel your body.
    Everyone????

    Not true. I started at 1320 and I was weighing 270. Now I am at 1280. MFP never gave me 1200. Since day 1, it was set for 2 pounds loss a week.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    You shoudnt eat 1200 calories you should look into eating 1400-1600 calories daily.
    1200 is great if you are under 4 feet but most people cant survive off that.

    Only if you're not exercising and thats a net... I operate on a net of about 500kCal but I eat about 2100 a day and workout hard. (in excess of 100kCal burn a day and a calorie "goal" of 1630) I'm 5' 9" a BMI of 23. Works for me just fine.


    BMR for average adults 5'5" is appx 1400+ so are you saying on rest days its okay to not give the vital organs the nutrients they need? The physiological reaction from the body in this state works against weight loss btw.
    My point is most people can eat a daily amount of calories upwards of 1600-1800 and just lose fat.
    The 1200 highway is slow and guarantees lean mass sacrifice.

    After running 100s of numbers for people on this website ive only come across 1 whos bmr was below 1200 and she was grossly underweight.
  • littlemili
    littlemili Posts: 625 Member
    Wait, what? The OP has beer, chocolate milk, chocolate margarine and cookies in her diary and you guys are telling her to cut out the BANANAS? This is about a healthy lifestyle. If her calories are too high cut out the cookies and the chocolate. If there is still a problem then maybe let's talk about bananas. Sometimes I wonder if y'all aren't just taking the p!ss as a massive joke...
  • elsinora
    elsinora Posts: 398 Member
    Hey all!

    i'm allocated 1200 calories and i'm struggling, particularly on days where i don't exercise!

    help?

    I had a look at your diary and the first thing I thought was that ONE COOKIE from subway has enough calories to provide for a full meal!
  • AnotherJenn
    AnotherJenn Posts: 62 Member
    I have eaten 1200 calories for about two years and have seen very little changes. I have recently started seeing a nutritionist who has instead that I need to eat 1750 calories a day and I must workout 5 times a week. She says I have damaged my metabolism and that it could take up to 3 months to get me out of starvation mode. Just be careful eating so little, you could find yourself working really hard and get nowhere. I'm extremely frustrated since I increased my calories and started weight training I had gained a few pounds which I was told would happen. My point is just be careful dropping your calories, you're having trouble staying at 1200 because your body is trying to tell you it needs more fuel. Good luck.
  • pitboss59
    pitboss59 Posts: 20
    Read you on a Diet by Dr. OZ . I finally quick the diet game and learned to eat the foods that race your metabolism. I eat maybe 6-8 times a day now. You can check my story out on my profile or got to www.facebook.com/pitboss59
    Good luck
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    Read you on a Diet by Dr. OZ . I finally quick the diet game and learned to eat the foods that race your metabolism. I eat maybe 6-8 times a day now. You can check my story out on my profile or got to www.facebook.com/pitboss59
    Good luck

    what foods "race your metabolism"?
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