Help Please 1200 calories and still hungry

KenosFeoh

My most filling meals consist of a fruit or vegetable, a whole grain, protein, and a healthy fat.
Examples: old fashioned eatmeal with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter and 1 tablespoon of raisins stirred in.
1/2 chicken breast with wild rice stuffing, peas, and a rice cake with vegetable cream cheese.

Chew thoroughly, slow down and savor.

And you might need a few more calories. Try 1300 for a few days, then 1400. You'll find your balance.

Faye_Anderson

EAT MORE http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

tsdaughe

I definetly think 1200 is too low. If you want to maintain your weight loss you need to eat in a way that you can maintain long term and 1200 calories is not that. I have mine set to lose 1 lb a week which puts me at 1400 calories. But, I use a heart rate monitor and log any calories burned through exercise and eat those calories back. This is what works for me personally. But everyone is different. I started at 1370 calories but wasnt eating back exercise calories and always felt hungry. I upped my calories to 1520 a day and ate back exercise calories and that made me stall out on weight or inches lost. That is how I wound up at 1400. I used to log when i cleaned my house which is ALOT with 2 kids but now I don't unless its something out of the ordinary like moving boxes, painting, etc. Now i just log when I do power 90 or go for walks/jogs. This is what works for me. I am 5'6' and weigh 169. My scale has not moved in awhile but I am losing inches.

It may take some tinkering with your calories but I think if you ate 1400-1500 a day right now to try and gave it at least 4 weeks and watch your measurements vs the scale you will start to find out what works for you. If you find yourself not losing anything maybe up exercise or if your losing alot and fast that means you can up your calories. Personally, I would rather lose slower so I can eat more.

mrswoodward2012

Hi,
My guess would be that you`re not drinking enough fluids, I force myself to drink 2 litres of water with a squeezed lemon and some calorie free sweetener every day, holds the hunger demons at bay for me. At first it was awful but have now got used to it and dont mind at all.

anbegley

I agree. Increase your calories. I was also given 1200 when I first started and was constantly starving. I upped it to 1350 and I was much better (my husband thought so too, I was mean) . Slowly increase to find that "sweet spot" but be sure to eat smart and exercise.
Good luck.

jax31son

Something else to consider is to increase your water intake. Water takes up room and helps you to feel full.

vnovit

Unless you are seriously obese, you probably have your weight loss per week set to high. No shame in that, most of us do exactly that when we sign up - head straight for the two pounds a week option. I know I did. I lost, but it wasn't wasn't sustainable, and probably wasn't healthy either.

Rather than using the generic MFP advice, which isn't tailored particularly closely to your size or activity level, use the advice and tools in the following thread to create something tailored to you, which will give steady weight loss without the hunger. It will be healthier for you, result in more fat loss vs. lean mass loss and will be more sustainable once you reach your goals -

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

This is such a common and well known phenomenon on MFP, that I actually saw this posted by MrsBully4 on another thread -

Lifecycle of an MFPer

1. Start out at 1200 calories
2. Complain about how you're "stuffed" at 1200 calories and don't understand why everyone wants you to eat more
3. Make a post calling out the mean people
4. Gradually up your calorie goals when you grow tired of being "stuffed" on asparagus spears
5. Realize that you're still losing weight and feeling much better
6. Try to help 1200 calorie people
7. Get called an arrogant ahole one too many times
8. Retreat to chit-chat forum more or less permanently, only occasionally emerging to lay down a burn

HAHAHAHAHA i love it

stumblinthrulife

Hi! My first week I lost 4 pounds, but now the scale is NOT moving. I am eating 1200 calories and at times am very hungry. Especially at night. I am in my 50's. Please help me!! I need to lose 60 more pounds! I can't believe that I am not losing when I am eating this little!

Your body is trying to protect you. I'll not use the phrase 'starvation mode', but your metabolism is slowing to accommodate the lower calorie intake. Try upping to 1500 cals a day for two weeks. It's counter intuitive, but you will probably find you will start losing again.

Even better, make a tailored plan using the following advice. If you have any problems with the tools, there are many members who will be willing to help you. Myself included, though I am less experienced than many -

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

eyeshuh

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krisiepoo

I set up my account probably two weeks ago, I got sick in the mean time, but I am ready to get started now that I am done with medicine.

The issue is that I am allowed 1200 calories a day and I am still starving. Anybody have any suggestions?

google "scoobys calculator" and eat at 20% below the TDEE. depending on your height/weight/activity level you just might not be eating enough. I"m eating over 2000 cals and losing weight and am rarely hungry.

cleotherio

This post might help you -
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/855208-i-m-5-0-and-eat-1500-calories-my-story-of-weight-loss

damiannikodem

This is different to my experience, im on 1440 cal (MFP gave me that number when I punched in 2 pounds a week based on my weight and height. ) im pretty happy at this level, at times I eat more than when I was trying to become fitter/lose weight. Since the start of december I have lost 31 pounds, and I rarely feel hungry at all.

but I do tend to eat a lot of kangaroo meat which is a magical mystery meat. ( per 100g of meat its about 90 cal, 22g protein, 1.8g of fat.) (1kg/2 pounds of kangaroo mince, 1 tin of corn, 1 tin of beans, beef stock, salsa, 1 tin of capsicum split across 3 serves with a 'lite' small pita bread (because I need _some_ carbs) each comes in around 400 cal for approximately 1 pound of food.)

and on top of that I use recipes that I find online, calculate their numbers and then swap things around until I get to around 400 to 500 cal a serve.

Then breakfasts and lunches tend to be pre-packaged food (usually protein or nut bars. )

melissaharned39

MFP also set me at 1200 after I had already lost 25lbs. I wasn't hungry, but I wasn't losing any weight, even with going to the gym 3x a week. So I recently upped my calories manually to about 1500. I've already lost 2lbs this WEEK after the change. I haven't been eating back my exercise calories though. Good luck!

rochellena

I set up my account probably two weeks ago, I got sick in the mean time, but I am ready to get started now that I am done with medicine.

The issue is that I am allowed 1200 calories a day and I am still starving. Anybody have any suggestions?

Let me guess, you're trying to lose 2lbs a week, but are under 200lbs?

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

@ ninerbuff-If I am under 200lbs, what should I be shooting for if not 2 per week,. I have mine set up that way....should I be at 1 or 1.5??

I might be completely wrong, but I've always heard that you should shoot for no more than 1% of your body weight per week. (200 lbs > 2 lbs/week. 150 lbs > 1.5 lbs/week etc) I'm sure someone much more knowledgeable can give you much better, more accurate, more thorough advice.

lizziebeth1028

In agreement with everyone else. 1200 calories is too low. I'd aim for 1400-1500 and eat back most of your exercise calories. :flowerforyou:

xoyasminxo

1 cup of raw broccoli and 1 cup of raw cauliflower is only 55 calories. It is nutrition dense. Most veggies and fruit are low in calories but good on nutrition. You can eat you fill of veggies and fruit and add some lean meats and some whole grains. You WILL be full and your body will be thanking you for the good nutrients it is craving.

mair123

When I started MFP, I weighed 185 lbs. I also set my settings for a 2lb a week weight loss and was given 1200 calories a day. 1. It can take a week or two to adjust to your lower calorie limit. 2. Are you drinking diet soda? If so, please cut that out of your diet completely. Try and stick with water or if you need a flavor boost, Propel Zero. Once I cut out the diet soda, many of my cravings stopped. 3. As you start to exercise more, you'll earn exercise calories. Everyone is different and there is no magic formula that fits everyone. With a little trial and error, you will find what works for you. I know having a good filling breakfast works wonders! Also the feeling of hunger might actually be dehydration. Or try upping your calories 100 calories and see if that is better and you are still losing weight. Good luck! Don't get frustrated.

edmistonlee

I agree that increasing you calorie allowance will help, mine is about 1,500 and I am almost always under when i include excercise. Try to focus on the foods you are choosing rather than the calories. A 100 calorie piece or fruit or glass of skim milk is going to be more filling that a 100 calorie snack pack (and of course more nutritious).

Some of my "go to" snacks are :

-100 calorie guacomole pack with red & yellow bell pepper strips and or carrots (this is very filling and tasty-some good protein and healthy fat here too)
-chunk light tuna packet w/ tsp light mayo and lots of fresh lemon juice and pepper with a few bagel chips (i just portion out ahead of time rather than eating straight out of the bag)
-hard boiled eggs
- sauted veggies (bell peppers, mushrooms, red onions, squash) in tsp lt butter or olive oil and topped w/ 2 TBSP fat free feta cheese (this is one of my favorite things and i have it at least 3 times a week, i keep veggies portioned out in containers in fridge so i can grab one and have it ready in 5 minutes, the feta makes it taste like a treat)

Hopes this helps a little

Jacwhite22

I eat Broccoli and other fibrous veg to fill me, they are super low calorie but take time to digest and fill you up. Also, there is a product called Skinny B, its Chia, Hemp and Buckwheat, it expands and keep you feeling regular.

^^That's what I'm talking about. Someone else who understands the importance of chia seeds. All this talk about fats and proteins is too complicated.....