1200 and still hungary?

cma17
cma17 Posts: 56 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I am kinda new to this site (about 1 month) and I have read a lot of posts about people saying it is a struggle to eat 1200 calories and no disrespect meant at all to them but I'm wondering if any one else finds they are still hungry (not starving just peakish) after 1200 calories or is it just me?
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Replies

  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    I'm not surprised, I find that anything under about 1400 net calories (that means eating 1400 cals plus extra when I exercise) leaves me hungry, grumpy and not nice to be around.

    Chances are that you can lose weight very successfully eating much more than 1200 cals.

    First thing - are you eating extra when you exercise? If not, start. That's the way MFP is set up, so unless you are calculating your calories from another site you should be eating more when you exercise.

    Second - if you are STARVING on 1200 cals, then recalulate your goals. You've probably chosen "lose 2 pounds a week" as so many people do - picking a more realistic weight loss goal give you a more realistic calorie allowance.
  • knowwhentoshutup
    knowwhentoshutup Posts: 318 Member
    This link helped me immensely! (After thinking low calorie = better, for more years than I care to admit.) http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    After I figured out my numbers (BMR - Base Metabolic Rate, and my TDEE - Total Daily Energy Expenditures) it became much simpler.

    Best of luck on your journey.
  • KaleidoscopeEyes1056
    KaleidoscopeEyes1056 Posts: 2,996 Member
    Sometimes being Hungary isn't so tough. It could be worse, you could be Ukraine.

    mhungary.gif
  • VelociMama
    VelociMama Posts: 3,119 Member
    I can't do 1200 without the urge to gnaw my own arm off at the end of the day.

    As others will surely mention, figure out your TDEE and BMR and eat between those numbers. You will still drop weight.

    Also, be sure you're eating your exercise calories.
  • lachesissss
    lachesissss Posts: 1,298 Member
    Yes - If I ate 1200 cals a day, I'd have quit long ago. Reasonable totals for me are between 1600 - 1800 cals a day, so that I don't turn ravenous.
  • lachesissss
    lachesissss Posts: 1,298 Member
    Sometimes being Hungary isn't so tough. It could be worse, you could be Ukraine.

    mhungary.gif

    Win!
  • DexterDarko
    DexterDarko Posts: 235
    Try drinking 8 glasses of water a day, and eat around 5 smaller meals throughout the day rather then eating a few big ones. It'll keep you satisfied and your metabolism going.

    You need to create a 3,500 calorie deficit to lose a single pound. A healthy weight loss is about 1-2lbs a week, or that's the recommended, it's different for most people.

    So that's a 500 calorie deficit a day for a single pound a week. Calculate your BMR and subtract 1,200 calories from it and that's your idle calorie deficit per day. As long as you're expending more calories then you're taking in, you're losing weight. But remember, diet alone isn't going to give you the best results and you don't have to starve yourself. Exercise.

    If you're exercising to your max potential and eating 1,200 calories, and you're still hungry, then you should probably eat more. I'm not sure though, depends on a lot of things.

    Ultimately, consult a doctor on what you should do for the best advice IMO.
  • LordBear
    LordBear Posts: 239 Member
    1200 works for me... i sometimes have trouble hitting that.. and some times i do go over a bit depending on what i eat.. but only a month in..yah ur going to be hungry.... ur going to be hungry no matter what for some time since u are forcing a new way of living..and ofcourse its going to be hard..that is why u gain wait and eat a lot and not work out.
  • cma17
    cma17 Posts: 56 Member
    Sometimes being Hungary isn't so tough. It could be worse, you could be Ukraine.

    mhungary.gif

    :laugh: love it! and yes Hungary is an amazing country! I couldn't work out how to change it when i noticed my spelling
  • megleo818
    megleo818 Posts: 595 Member
    I'm not always "starving" when I keep it at 1200, but I'm not happy.

    I love to cook, I love to eat, and I love to drink. So for me staying at 1200 is a lifestyle challenge more than a matter of hunger. Since I really, really want to be successful and have the solutions I find now be those I take with me through the rest of my life, I've incorporated a chunk of exercise into my day-to-day so that I can consume more calories. I think I'll be able to do that from here on out, since it just so happens that I love to exercise (who knew?). I try to burn 500 calories every day so I can up my caloric intake to 1700. That keeps me happy. If I were to "starve" myself, I'd just be pissed off all the time and rebound.
  • OhKelsey1
    OhKelsey1 Posts: 139
    Sometimes being Hungary isn't so tough. It could be worse, you could be Ukraine.

    mhungary.gif

    You beat me to the country joke. Now I have nothing to say.
  • Lift_hard_eat_big
    Lift_hard_eat_big Posts: 2,278 Member
    Try eating more
  • cma17
    cma17 Posts: 56 Member
    Thank you all for your advice, and comments on both Hungary and being hungry.
    I'm glad to hear it is not just me:smile:
  • inkandsheep
    inkandsheep Posts: 101 Member
    It depends on what you eat as well.

    If you eat mostly whole foods (e.g. oats for breakfast, lots of fresh veg and fruit, wholegrains, healthy fats like nuts and avocado) you can eat quite a lot before hitting your calorie goal. These foods also keep you fuller longer than some other things (e.g. are you using up calories by having high calorie drinks?).
  • BeckySBowen
    BeckySBowen Posts: 59 Member
    1200 works for me, but it took a while to figure out which foods are filling and which ones leave me starving an hour later. :smile:
  • LeidaPrimal
    LeidaPrimal Posts: 198 Member
    First of all, are you over 5.2 feet tall, or under 130 lbs weight? If not, eat more.

    Secondly, what are you eating?

    If you are hungry, eliminating hunger-inducing foods is the first and foremost step. Start with eliminating everything processed and artificial (particularly sweeteners), all added sugar, and all grains. Keep legumes if they rock your boat. Make sure your fat intake is at least 30-40% and comes from non-artificial crappy oils. Make sure you eat at least 100 g of quality proteins - and I mean meats, not Source Yogurts or potatoes. See if it helps.

    If it doesn't, eliminate all non-aged dairy and all tubers.

    If you are still hungry, fruit and nuts gotta go next & increase fat intake to 70-80%.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    I seriously thought this was a Sidesteel thread!

    Sometimes being Hungary isn't so tough. It could be worse, you could be Ukraine.

    mhungary.gif

    nxkih3jpg.gif
  • healthynotthin
    healthynotthin Posts: 223 Member
    Sometimes being Hungary isn't so tough. It could be worse, you could be Ukraine.

    mhungary.gif

    Thank you. I am so glad someone addressed the actual title. :happy:
  • ssteinbring677
    ssteinbring677 Posts: 158 Member
    My thoughts exactly!! hahaha
    Sometimes being Hungary isn't so tough. It could be worse, you could be Ukraine.

    mhungary.gif
  • jonwv
    jonwv Posts: 362 Member
    i feel hungry sometimes after 2600 calories a day
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    eat some Turkey
  • Weebs628
    Weebs628 Posts: 574 Member
    Sometimes being Hungary isn't so tough. It could be worse, you could be Ukraine.

    mhungary.gif

    ... I love you...
  • KilikiMom
    KilikiMom Posts: 237 Member
    of course you are still hungry with only 1200 calories consumed!! specially if you are exercising...here is a general rule of thumb...if you are hungry EAT!!! but dont eat snacks or whatever grab an apple or another fruit or veggie or grab something packed with protein!
  • LeenaRuns
    LeenaRuns Posts: 1,309 Member
    Try drinking 8 glasses of water a day, and eat around 5 smaller meals throughout the day rather then eating a few big ones. It'll keep you satisfied and your metabolism going.

    You need to create a 3,500 calorie deficit to lose a single pound. A healthy weight loss is about 1-2lbs a week, or that's the recommended, it's different for most people.

    So that's a 500 calorie deficit a day for a single pound a week. Calculate your BMR and subtract 1,200 calories from it and that's your idle calorie deficit per day. As long as you're expending more calories then you're taking in, you're losing weight. But remember, diet alone isn't going to give you the best results and you don't have to starve yourself. Exercise.

    If you're exercising to your max potential and eating 1,200 calories, and you're still hungry, then you should probably eat more. I'm not sure though, depends on a lot of things.

    Ultimately, consult a doctor on what you should do for the best advice IMO.

    I drink 16-20 cups of water a day, six meals a day, and 1525 net calories...I am STILL hungry all the time. LOL
  • CeriJSpiller
    CeriJSpiller Posts: 5 Member
    I am kinda new to this site (about 1 month) and I have read a lot of posts about people saying it is a struggle to eat 1200 calories and no disrespect meant at all to them but I'm wondering if any one else finds they are still hungry (not starving just peakish) after 1200 calories or is it just me?

    I am exactly the same! Sometimes makes me go for the bad stuff! :(
  • ValRAAAAY
    ValRAAAAY Posts: 270 Member
    Sometimes being Hungary isn't so tough. It could be worse, you could be Ukraine.

    mhungary.gif

    THIS....Totally cracking me up. I NOW have nothing to add to this thread!!!
  • sunshine_gem
    sunshine_gem Posts: 390 Member
    Try eating more protein. It fills you up and stops you from being hungry. If you're still hungry after that then 1200 may be too low for you. Just try a few things out and see what works best for you, don't take MFP's recommendations as gospel.
  • Fit_Vixen
    Fit_Vixen Posts: 201
    Sometimes being Hungary isn't so tough. It could be worse, you could be Ukraine.

    mhungary.gif



    BaaHAAHHAHAHA!!!
  • lionskitty
    lionskitty Posts: 72 Member
    I find netting 1200-1400 works for me, if I'm still hungry at 1200 I have more, if I'm not I don't! But netting at only 1200 for too many days in a row makes cranky and tired and I stop losing so I vary it a bit between a 1200 minimum and my 1lb per week calorie goal.
  • redredy9
    redredy9 Posts: 706 Member
    I eat about 1900-2000 which feels about right to me. I am never hungry - but I am also in training for a marathon.

    I will be sad once the marathon is over and I go back to eating less calories.

    EDIT: Eating tons of protien is key to keeping me satisfied. If I eat even 2100 calories of junk - I am still hungry. I try to eat 125-175g a day.

    EDIT 2: I also used the TDEE calculator to figure out my 1960 calorie goal.

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