I still don't get it

Full4Life

I've been following the diaries of my "friends" and I just don't understand how they do it. I've upped my activity level and lowered my weight loss goal to give me 1370 calories per day - half the time I feel pretty ravenous on only that. Then, on days when I exercise, even when I'm eating back the calories, I want to eat a whole pizza (I don't, just sayin'). Most days, I'm lucky if I squeak even.

Then, I look over at my friends' diaries and they're adding in 900-calorie workouts and STILL end up eating an even 1200 day after day after day. How do they do it? Why can't I do it? Especially when they're doing these extra long and strenuous workouts, how do they manage on only 1200 without passing out or eating a bus when I have a tough time maintaining my sensible 1370?

_stephanie0

Then, I look over at my friends' diaries and they're adding in 900-calorie workouts and STILL end up eating an even 1200 day after day after day. How do they do it? Why can't I do it? Especially when they're doing these extra long and strenuous workouts, how do they manage on only 1200 without passing out or eating a bus when I have a tough time maintaining my sensible 1370?

not healthy. don't follow your friends. follow YOUR gut. no one knows your body better than you. eat :flowerforyou:

saraphim41

Practice.

steph1278

Doesn't sound healthy to me. Your body needs fuel just to maintain basic functions let alone adding exercise into the mix. I eat over 2000 calories a day and am still losing weight.

sarahg148

I have NO idea how others do it, too! I know some days I cannot be satiated. My TDEE is like 2400 and my BMR is about 1500...so I could never eat as little as 1300/day. I feel best at about 1900-2000. I've been trying to do this for about 4 weeks now. I did have three days where I went HOG wild...but figure out of 28 days that's not so bad. I also set my goal weight to be a bit higher at 155. So that means I only need to lose about 19 or so pounds. I'm going to try and stick with 1900-2000 cal/day and not eat back exercise calories...I already figured those into my TDEE. Really trying to make this a lifestyle change so I don't keep going up and down.

divincenzo1

My whole approach is eat when you're hungry. I currently do about 1200/day give or take. I'm not feeling hungry though...if I were I would eat. Everyone's body is different so it could just be you are hungry. But your not really eating many more calories than me. I find if I do a hard workout I'm less hungry than if I don't work out...yup sounds crazy to me as well but again everyone is different. Do what feels good for you and what's healthy.

MichelleLaree13

This site is known to way overestimate calories burned. Some say to cut whatever calories burned number they give you in half so those 900 calorie workouts are more like 450. Eat tons of fruits, vegetables and drink lots of water. Eat smaller amounts of whole grains and protein. Stay away from pure fats like butter and oil.

lilpoindexter

When I first started weightlifting, I would get so hungry, I would eat my lunch at work by about 10AM. Then I'd go to a teriyaki place and eat a big plate of chicken or steak, and I'd feel hungry again by 2 or 3 PM. Eventually it got better...but I still get hungrier on the days I lift weights.

MB_Positif

Some people don't log everything they eat or underestimate portions.

Full4Life

I have NO idea how others do it, too! I know some days I cannot be satiated. My TDEE is like 2400 and my BMR is about 1500...so I could never eat as little as 1300/day. I feel best at about 1900-2000. I've been trying to do this for about 4 weeks now. I did have three days where I went HOG wild...but figure out of 28 days that's not so bad. I also set my goal weight to be a bit higher at 155. So that means I only need to lose about 19 or so pounds. I'm going to try and stick with 1900-2000 cal/day and not eat back exercise calories...I already figured those into my TDEE. Really trying to make this a lifestyle change so I don't keep going up and down.

Right. I'm doing more or less the same thing. To be honest, I'm surprised how I've managed to get down to my 1370 goal. I did it by cutting out sugar, gluten and added salt, and I have to say, I'm pretty proud of myself for doing that. I'm pretty small (157cm/5'2") so that's probably why my count is so much smaller than yours. Still, I'm sitting there feeling real proud of having managed to fit everything in perfectly, and then I look and everyone around me is doing these daily marathons while maintaining a 1200-calorie diet.

Seems CRAZY to me!

AZKristi

You can't do it because you probably shouldn't be doing it. Eating 1200 calories per day while burning 900 through exercise may lead to fast weight loss, but healthy weight loss is hopefully steady and not super fast. Just keep working and eating well and you'll see results.

airlily

Do their diaries have a lot of protein or fiber? I'm not sure. Maybe they have jobs where it's hard to eat when you really want to (I can't eat when I need to, so I wind up almost not eating all day except at noon).

Either way, do what works for you. If you're hungry, I say eat! Just make it something healthy that will fill you up and curb your hunger.

jgsparks89

Most days, especially if I eat healthily, I have no problem feeling satisfied with my 1500 a day. When I was down closer to 1200 a day, I did feel hungry sometimes, but I just tried to choose more filling foods. I shoot for high protein, high fiber meals with just enough fat to feel satisfied. I think your body just has to learn to adjust, especially if your norm is eating high calorie, high sodium, high fat foods that is typical of the average American diet.

onedayillbeamilf

No idea. I don't think.any of my friends eat below 1,500. And I'm almost positive none of them eat at 1,200., especially after working out.

melmonroe

By burning fat mostly and not as many carbs.

I feel hunger but can ignore it if I have something else more fun that I am doing. How? I stabilized my blood sugar levels by learning what what makes me "binge." Being hungry does not cause me to binge but eating a slice of pizza plus being hungry might. Flour (IE pizza dough) triggers a massive blood sugar surge on me. If something makes me binge, I find something that tastes as good to me that does not make me binge.

Some are saying it's unhealthy but I say, overeating was NOT healthy either folks.

There was an imbalance when we gained the weight and we must create a greater imbalance (because of inertia) to return to a natural state. If one does not have a calorie deficit, one cannot lose weight. That dear friends, is how it works.

Malozing0809

Check their protein and fiber intakes. Thoses two things keep you fuller for longer. You could try upping your protein intake, but do what works for you.

spangey13

I didn't get it either.

Some days I want to chew my arm off.

cbeutler

After a few weeks of being hungry but cleaning up my diet my blood sugar leveled out and the hunger greatly reduced. Just stick with it you will feel better.

dawns_ash

Many people use water as a 'filler'. Drink a full glass before every meal and/or snack makes you less hungry...and drinking lots throughout the day curbs some hunger. Mostly, don't ignore your body but be smart about choices while eating fruits and veggies instead of high calorie/carb items.

Hannah645

I feel the same way.

I've been logging my food on MFP for 5 months. I have maybe 4 or 5 total days at 1200 calories, and those have all been by pure accident. I remember falling asleep early a couple of days and feeling sick to stomach on another occasion. My appetite has always been strong.

I also have a friend who constrict her calories so much on a regular basis, that after a while she loses control and binge eats. That's scary because it borderlines on disordered eating. I know there are emotional reasons why people binge too, but don't you think that constantly underfeeding your body would make it more likely to happen?

bankmd

I exercise regularly and cannot imagine subsisting on only 1200 or even 1400 calories a day. I agree that people often overestimate exercise though. Also, I see a difference between fueling my body for exercise, and nourishing my body outside of the exercise that I do. So the base foods in my diet are generally whole foods because I think if one eats empty calories, one's body will continue to "want" food that is nutrient dense because hunger is a tool to get the macro and micronutrients the body needs. You can tell I really believe this by my attempt at times to eat liver!

FlaxMilk

Food choices make a difference. 1370 is not necessarily more sensible than 1200 if the difference comes in the form of an ice cream bar. (I'm not knocking ice cream bars or the people who eat them. I'm not knowing people who eat more than 1200 calories.) The amount of actual food eaten between those two numbers can be very similar. I can eat a whole lot of ice cream bars if I let myself and still feel hungry soon after.

Full4Life

My diary is open. The only thing I am not so consitent about logging is water, but I drink between 2-3 litres a day. The ONLY reason I'm able to get to my 1370 goal is 'cause I recently cut out refined sugar, gluten and salt and protein at every meal. I'm doing a lot better, just amazed/frustrated at what others can do and I cannot... or at least feel ravenous while doing so.

Bob314159

I've decided most people overestimate calories burnt and underestimate or forget food eaten (I'm sure I do the latter since I'm not losing fast enough.

I was on a very accurate 1200 a day program at one time, and its not easy, and I was not exercising.

windycitycupcake

eat more raw vegetables and salad. it fills you up and you can keep eating all day long. i understand why people say 1200 is not enough but if that is your goal for yourself only you can push yourself to do it. you shouldn't drop below 1200 it's dangerous. i would say 1300 is better, depending on your current weight and height. i drop below 1200 all the time and i am still losing weight but i have issues. i do actually get full off of 900 calories a day if i choose my meals wisely. if you are eating over 2500 calories a day i don't think you are going to lose weight very fast if at all. but i am no expert. i just know what works for me.

jonibc

The longer I'm on MFP, the less hungry I feel. I guess my stomach has shrunk.

zaph0d

Who knows and who cares? Why would you want to emulate someone who is netting 300 calories per day?

bynonmurrayc

I usually eat around 1200 or less a day, and do pretty intense workouts of 5km on the treadmill combined with weight training. I think the reason I can eat so few calories has to do with what I eat and when I eat it.

Breakfast: I don't eat breakfast; I have a BIG coffee in the morning with whole milk and sweetner. Then i speed walk 30 minutes to work (usually because i'm late). On days when I wake up hungry I'll hv a 80 cal piece of gluten free toast with an egg white on it (96 cals).

Lunch: I usually have a salad under 500 calories high in protien with just balsamic vinegar and a little oil/salt/spices. I usually eat this at my desk but I eat extremely slowly so the salad takes me around 1.5 hours to eat. The protein fills me up and i'm completely satisfied for the rest of the workday.

Snack: While I'm at work I usually either have a sugarfree energy drink or another coffee to get me through the day.

WORKOUT! I don't like eating before my workouts so after I walk home from work I get right into my gymclothes and walk to the gym. I'm usually still amped up from my energy drink still so I'm not that hungry. I do cardio, weights etc then walk home and get in at around 7:30 - 8. I can't do as good of a workout after I eat because when I eat I just want to go to sleep.

Dinner: Then I have dinner; I usually have another salad high in protien and if i'm still hungry snack on rice cakes and almond butter.

I try to chug a bunch of water before I go to bed; i find i wake up less hungry when i'm fully hydrated. I used to eat a lot of almonds and nuts before I joined MFP but realized that they really cost you a lot of calories. I agree with the other posters; it really depends on your body and how you feel; I think I have a pretty slow metabolism so what makes me feel full may not satisfy you. I also follow a fairly gluten free diet, and notice that I don't get cravings/sugar rushes that were usually due to my unstable insulin levels.

Hope this gave you some insight!

nikilis

I usually eat around 1200 or less a day, and do pretty intense workouts of 5km on the treadmill combined with weight training. I think the reason I can eat so few calories has to do with what I eat and when I eat it.

Breakfast: I don't eat breakfast; I have a BIG coffee in the morning with whole milk and sweetner. Then i speed walk 30 minutes to work (usually because i'm late). On days when I wake up hungry I'll hv a 80 cal piece of gluten free toast with an egg white on it (96 cals).

Lunch: I usually have a salad under 500 calories high in protien with just balsamic vinegar and a little oil/salt/spices. I usually eat this at my desk but I eat extremely slowly so the salad takes me around 1.5 hours to eat. The protein fills me up and i'm completely satisfied for the rest of the workday.

Snack: While I'm at work I usually either have a sugarfree energy drink or another coffee to get me through the day.

WORKOUT! I don't like eating before my workouts so after I walk home from work I get right into my gymclothes and walk to the gym. I'm usually still amped up from my energy drink still so I'm not that hungry. I do cardio, weights etc then walk home and get in at around 7:30 - 8. I can't do as good of a workout after I eat because when I eat I just want to go to sleep.

Dinner: Then I have dinner; I usually have another salad high in protien and if i'm still hungry snack on rice cakes and almond butter.

I'm not judging, but if you're doing that amount of exercise you could definitely eat more. the energy drinks and coffee may be getting you through. if that was the case that wouldn't be good.

I guess in the end I'd ask not why you can eat such low calories, but why you should, or why you do.

don't take me wrong, I dont know your TDEE or BMR, BMI or even what your goal is, please dont take this as an attack on you because its not and its possible due to your body type and height that your regime is fine.

everyone has different nutritional needs. don't compare to your friends!

bynonmurrayc

Exercise seems to have very little effect on my weight loss. If I want to loose weight it mostly has to be done by my eating habits. It really sucks, I have a pretty slow metabolism and generally only see weight loss results when I consume around 1000 calories. If I ate anything over 1600 - 1800 I'd gain weight. What makes it worse is having a twin sister at 106 lbs.

Sbehlmer

What works for one person may/may not work for you....you need to find out what works "for you", & not compare to others as you don't know their medical history. I believe your talking about me, & what you don't know is that I've battled diabetes badly for over 13 years, & have worked with my doctors in getting it controlled, & on this plan it is not only controlled, but I have been removed from all medications, I've lost 65 pounds, I have more energy than I've had in a long time, I've gotten into running & just completed my first 5K over the weekend........

The main thing is before judging someone on their diary plan/exercise plan, you should first learn why they are doing it that way.....and yes, this plan "FOR ME" is completely healthy, "for you" maybe not, but "for me" it is.