1200 calories sucks !!!

kellyb234

I am trying to stay at the 1200 calorie goal but I feel like its not enough. I am always hungry and I don't know if it's just a subconscious thing. What are some great vegetarian friendly foods that will make my bottomless pit seem a little less bottomless

AmyRhubarb

Honestly, it's not enough for a lot of us! I tried it for awhile and was always hungry, eventually tired and cranky due to lack of fuel. Then I found out that 1200 was below my BMR - less than what a doctor would prescribe for my nourishment if I was in a coma.

Have a look at this thread - great info and links to tools where you can calculate your numbers and see how much you should be eating: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/912914-in-place-of-a-road-map-3-2013

I've been at 1800+ for the past year, and am losing weight and fat - it's awesome.

JeneticTraining

I think you should bump it up to 1350 calories and add exercise as well

elyelyse

unless you are very small (under 5ft) you should be able to eat more than that and still lose at a good pace. no use being in a rush if it's so hard to do that you can't sustain it.

Confuzzled4ever

if you're hungry you're not eating enough..

Listen to your body.. give it good nutritious fuel and it will only ask for what it needs.

I'm never hungry..

also.. bump you your protein. that will fill you up

lithezebra

How many pounds per week are you trying to lose? Unless you're only trying to lose 1/2 pound a week, try setting your goal for 1/2 pound less, and see if that calorie level is more satisfying. Also, eating more protein and fat helps me feel full for a few hours longer.

carryingon

I added a couple hundred cals. My weight loss didn't slow and I became a nicer person who had more energy! I highly recommend adding cals and watching to see where weight loss stalls. :flowerforyou:

kellyb234

Thanks these are all great ideas !

Bennyflippy

Holy crap I feel the same way. I am always hungry with only 1200 calories. I don't get it at all.

:mad:

marypatmccue

As other people have mentioned, 1200 calories is not sufficient for most people, unless they're right around 5' tall, and already thin-ish.

Look at the roadmap -- You should never eat below BMR. Calculate your TDEE, and eat at 10-20% below. You'll lose weight and fat, especially if you add that to a lifting routine.

Good luck, and eat up!

imchicbad

http://healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/slideshow?cp-documentid=250220245#3

JoanB5

Honestly, it's not enough for a lot of us! I tried it for awhile and was always hungry, eventually tired and cranky due to lack of fuel. Then I found out that 1200 was below my BMR - less than what a doctor would prescribe for my nourishment if I was in a coma.

Have a look at this thread - great info and links to tools where you can calculate your numbers and see how much you should be eating: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/912914-in-place-of-a-road-map-3-2013

I've been at 1800+ for the past year, and am losing weight and fat - it's awesome.

To this poster who wrote above: Look at that great muscle you are supporting in your pic! I don't have it yet, but I hope to as I start to bulk up more over the next year. Until I get my knees strengthened and can work out harder, I am at 1200.

A vegetarian would have to add tofu, soy, wheat germ, protein bars, and lots of nuts to feel full enough. Make sure you watch your "macros" (fat/protein/carbs) or you'll always feel hungry at 1200. I have to pace myself very evenly through the day to make it, and a lighter day thrown in here and there, and a heavier day thrown in here and there both seem to help keep me from either feeling too hungry or stalling out.

ICOZA7

I'm a big believer in listening to your body. If you are physically hungry, you probably need more food. If you are tired, even though you're getting sufficient sleep.. you probably need more food. I know I didn't get this big by eating when I was physically hungry... I got here by eating just because (and eating foods that are less than healthy). Intake goals are nice, but if it's too much or too little, listen to yourself
Also... whole grains, protein, good for providing the body sources of fuel that don't metabolize as quickly.

xiamjackie

As other people have mentioned, 1200 calories is not sufficient for most people, unless they're right around 5' tall, and already thin-ish.

Look at the roadmap -- You should never eat below BMR. Calculate your TDEE, and eat at 10-20% below. You'll lose weight and fat, especially if you add that to a lifting routine.

Good luck, and eat up!

Everyone keeps saying this. I'm 5'0, around 24-25% body fat, 120 pounds and my TDEE-20% is still 1600 calories. Just because you are small does not mean you require less calories. My BMR alone is 1285.

successby50

I had a consultation with a nutritionist, and at 1200 calories, she said I was starving myself! She recommended upping the calorie intake to about 1350-1400. HOWEVER, in doing so, she also strongly urged me to "eat clean", meaning no processed foods. While the weight is coming off slowly, I feel 100% better not fueling my body with processed junk!

lizziebeth1028

1200 isn't enough calories. You can up that amount to between 1300 - 1600 and still lose weight. And it's a way more sustainable approach to weight loss.....you won't be starving and you'll have plenty of nutrition to fuel your workouts.

fit4lifeUcan2

I have no problem sticking with 1200 calories but bumped mine up to 1350 because my weight loss stalled for 3 months. Now its moving again. I eat a lot of fresh veggies with lean protein, an apple or 2 a day and a banana, greek yogurt etc. I don't eat any processed foods other than the yogurt that is. Used to make my own yogurt but don't always feel like doing that. If you're hungry then eat. Bump up your calories a little bit at a time and see how you can handle that.

SavannahMarett

I know this probably won't be the same for you BUT I lost 5 lbs in 1.5 weeks by eating 2100 calories and working my butt off at the gym. I spend usually about 10 hrs a week at the gym doing cardio and weights. If you aren't eating enough you will put your body in starvation mode which it then hold on to whatever fat you have. And as others said, if you are hungry then EAT! Just don't go for a Big Mac and fries lol. Your body knows what it needs and honestly, I am never hungry throughout the day and I rarely eat my calorie goal. Feel free to add me on here and we can talk more if you want. Good luck!

SanteMulberry

I am trying to stay at the 1200 calorie goal but I feel like its not enough. I am always hungry and I don't know if it's just a subconscious thing. What are some great vegetarian friendly foods that will make my bottomless pit seem a little less bottomless

If you are not well nourished (and that means that you need to cover your micro-nutrients--which is difficult, but not impossible, to do on 1200 calories) you will be hungry. If you are exercising, your nutritional needs grow a bit. Why not eat at least some of your exercise calories back? You will feel better and be better nourished and more able to maintain your weight loss. Some people do not tolerate a strictly vegan diet well. I know I didn't (I'm one of the only people I know, who gained weight on a vegetarian diet--too many carbs). If you do some heavy lifting and get plenty of high quality protein (eggs and fish are some of the best sources if you don't like meat). Some here will disagree, but I have spoken to a number of people who have found that it is very difficult to stay well-nourished on a strictly vegan diet. The human body seems to thrive on animal protein.

marypatmccue

As other people have mentioned, 1200 calories is not sufficient for most people, unless they're right around 5' tall, and already thin-ish.

Look at the roadmap -- You should never eat below BMR. Calculate your TDEE, and eat at 10-20% below. You'll lose weight and fat, especially if you add that to a lifting routine.

Good luck, and eat up!

Everyone keeps saying this. I'm 5'0, around 24-25% body fat, 120 pounds and my TDEE-20% is still 1600 calories. Just because you are small does not mean you require less calories. My BMR alone is 1285.

Touche... Clearly that was a VAST generalization to make a point... that was further illustrated by your input
1200 really is TOO low for most people

Unknown

This content has been removed.

marypatmccue

I love this thread.

Me too....

AmyRhubarb

As other people have mentioned, 1200 calories is not sufficient for most people, unless they're right around 5' tall, and already thin-ish.

Look at the roadmap -- You should never eat below BMR. Calculate your TDEE, and eat at 10-20% below. You'll lose weight and fat, especially if you add that to a lifting routine.

Good luck, and eat up!

Everyone keeps saying this. I'm 5'0, around 24-25% body fat, 120 pounds and my TDEE-20% is still 1600 calories. Just because you are small does not mean you require less calories. My BMR alone is 1285.

Glad you posted this - I know there are a lot of people around 5' tall here who eat 1500+ calories and are doing great!

Careyann72

i've been wondering about the 1200 calorie deal here as well. No matter what I put in as far as active, not active it gives me 1200 calories on here as my goal. I do a pretty intense boot camp class 45 minutes long 3-4 times a week. I sit at a desk all day at work which stinks but when I'm not working I generally am busy doing things, I seldom get to sit on the couch to watch tv. I do stay pretty close to the 1200 calories (sometimes not even that) and my trainer says I am probably not eating enough due to my scale just pretty much parked itself at a number and hasn't changed in 3 months. I just checked my BMR and it gave me 1346 as a number. It's amazing that figuring my calorie needs, even sedentary with no activity says to take the BMR x1.2 and that gives me 1615 calories, Now I don't know if I can eat that much but why are the settings here so far off from what a person really needs?

unoriginalusername007

I love this thread.

Me too....

HAHAHAHA!

Okay and yes, I agree with everyone else who said you should eat more. Trust me, I was on 1200 calories way too long and when I met with a Dietician I was told I was doing it ALL WRONG. Heh whoops. I found out that when you're eating less than your body needs even just to keep your organs functioning, your body starts eating away at different parts of you like your reproductive system and other "less vital" organs. If it gets bad enough people can even have heart troubles. So you really have to make sure you eat enough to supply your body with what it needs. Not eating enough is really dangerous, and I never realized until then, and I still think many are uneducated about it. My dietician boosted me up to 1800 calories a day because of my activity level and metabolic rate at my age, and I still was losing weight. It's a funny thing that you can still lose weight eating way more calories than you are. (I mean, if you're eating 2000 cals and boost it to 2500 then that's going to result in weight gain, but if you're at 1200 and boost it to 1600 you can still lose weight.)

sherrymccall

As other people have mentioned, 1200 calories is not sufficient for most people, unless they're right around 5' tall, and already thin-ish.

Look at the roadmap -- You should never eat below BMR. Calculate your TDEE, and eat at 10-20% below. You'll lose weight and fat, especially if you add that to a lifting routine.

Good luck, and eat up!

Everyone keeps saying this. I'm 5'0, around 24-25% body fat, 120 pounds and my TDEE-20% is still 1600 calories. Just because you are small does not mean you require less calories. My BMR alone is 1285.

Glad you posted this - I know there are a lot of people around 5' tall here who eat 1500+ calories and are doing great!

I eat closer to 2000 pretty much every day and I'm 5'0 and 105 pounds!

majope

... It's amazing that figuring my calorie needs, even sedentary with no activity says to take the BMR x1.2 and that gives me 1615 calories, Now I don't know if I can eat that much but why are the settings here so far off from what a person really needs?

Most of the time, it's because people put in too aggressive a weight loss goal. Like, 2 pounds a week when they don't really have that much to lose and should be setting it to .5 pound, or 1 pound at most. 1200 is the number MFP refuses to go below, no matter what people put in.

paperpudding

How did you get to the figure of 1200, OP? - I am only a bit taller than you, fair bit older if your profile pic is anything to go by and I set my figures to lightly active and 1/2 lb per week (as recomended for people with relatively small amount of weight to lose) - the program gives me 1540 plus exercise calories.

1540 is managable without hunger plus I eat back any excercise calories - at this point, 2 months in, have lost above my target of 1/2 lb week - have lost 3 kg in 2 months when 1/2 lb week would equate to roughly a kg a month. ( we are metric in Australia so my ticker shows in kg)

corneredbycorn

As other people have mentioned, 1200 calories is not sufficient for most people, unless they're right around 5' tall, and already thin-ish.

Look at the roadmap -- You should never eat below BMR. Calculate your TDEE, and eat at 10-20% below. You'll lose weight and fat, especially if you add that to a lifting routine.

Good luck, and eat up!

Everyone keeps saying this. I'm 5'0, around 24-25% body fat, 120 pounds and my TDEE-20% is still 1600 calories. Just because you are small does not mean you require less calories. My BMR alone is 1285.

I'm ten pounds more than you, same height. My BMR is 1313 and my TDEE-15% is 2000.

Lynnmi07

Add in 200, I mean the benefit of 200 less or more a day isn't much in the grand scheme of things so if you feel better with 200 more I think it would be worth it.

geddyp

Do TDEE-20% you will not regret it