staying in 1200 cals who else finds this difficult?

Pardyqueenxoxo

Hey guys,

I'm prob being a big baby but I'm finding this 1200cal limit rather difficult?

I'm trying to get work outs to fit in between my 9am-7pm daily working pattern? I'm in an office based, customer service and sales role so- I need to have good concentration and a positive attitude, so being hungry doesn't help!

Anyone else suffer like this? Sorry to whinge! xoxoxox

janetsalley

Hi, staying at 1200 cals doesn't usually give you the results you want. At the rate, if you are sucessful you will probably lose weight (if you lose weight) and not fat. I don't know your measurements, but you probably should up your cals and you WILL LOSE WEIGHT successfuly without being hungry. Just my opinion, I'm no expert...but I'm quite sure the experts will be weighing in soon and they're going to let you have it about the 1200 cals lol!!

Pardyqueenxoxo

im 160lb........x x x x

shutupandlift13

You most likely don't need to be eating that little to see results.

Check out this, long, but definitely worth the read: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/937712-in-place-of-a-road-map-ver-3-0

Short and sweet, calculate your TDEE, subtract 10-20%, eat that amount as your TOTAL calories, not NET. To increase the benefits of weightloss and for supplementing body composition changes, eat adequate protein, lift heavy and move fast a few times a week.

kkaci5

Staying at 1200 calories SHOULD be difficult. It's less than your basal metabolic rate.

http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

My basal metabolic rate is 1499. Plus, I eat any exercise calories back.

Change your weight loss goals to 1 lb a week, to start :-).

albertabeefy

im 160lb........x x x x

Your BMR is over 1,500 calories ... do NOT eat 1,200 calories a day, please. Eat somewhere between your BMR and TDEE. If you want to lose weight faster, don't eat back all your exercise calories.

LindsayLL30

Yes mine is set at 1200... but I aim for 13-1400... I dont find 1200 to be enough at all! And I am still getting decent results

jdad1

You don't have to eat that little to lose weight. You likely have your goal set for to fast of weight lose and possibly have your activity level inaccurete. Your Base metabolic rate is for sure above 1200 calories.

What is your height, age, weight and what kind of working out do you do?

allikat93

I average 800 every 12 hrs (I have a odd sleep schedule so I have two days in one day.. Its weird.. Im up all night and part of the day.. Then up all day and night.. Then up all day and part of the night. Rinse and repeat....) Sometimes I eat just to get to my caloric goal so my body doesnt feel deprived and continues to lose.

mary_elizabeth28

I struggle eating 1200 too (I'm 5ft 4 and 147lb) - I try and exercise every day so I can have more.

Pardyqueenxoxo

You don't have to eat that little to lose weight. You likely have your goal set for to fast of weight lose and possibly have your activity level inaccurete. Your Base metabolic rate is for sure above 1200 calories.

What is your height, age, weight and what kind of working out do you do?

I'm 26, 160lb and i used to run but i broke my ankle in Jan, its not quite right in terms of healed even though cast is off...so its mainly sit ups, upper body workouts or exercise bike. x x

phumzilesiboza7

hi there, i was also given that net calorie goal, i am finding that i eat generally about 1500 cals but because my workout routine is a two hour session from 5 to 7 in the morning, i usually have excercised between 700 and 850 cals worth so my problem is even with eating 1500 i still need to give my body 650 to be at my net goal and i often dont feel hungry! am i also starvinhg my body?

nekoxvampyx

i eat 1650 and more when i work out. 1200 is basically starving ur self.

jdad1

You don't have to eat that little to lose weight. You likely have your goal set for to fast of weight lose and possibly have your activity level inaccurete. Your Base metabolic rate is for sure above 1200 calories.

What is your height, age, weight and what kind of working out do you do?

I'm 26, 160lb and i used to run but i broke my ankle in Jan, its not quite right in terms of healed even though cast is off...so its mainly sit ups, upper body workouts or exercise bike. x x

I need your height

jimmmer

At 26, 160lb and (I've estimated your height at 5'6") a mostly sedentary desk job with no exercise, your maintenance calories are around 1800ish.

If you actually do any exercise, then your maintenance will be higher.

A sensible figure for sustainable weightloss based on these figures (which admittedly I estimated.....) would be maintenance - 20%. I figure you could sustainably lose on 1450ish WITHOUT exercise.

If you do any form of exercise, you could up that a bit. Depends on what you do, how often. But without more info, it's all guesswork I'm afraid....

DawnInVa

The nutrients at my doctor’s office, has me on a 1400 calorie per day diet. She said less than 1400, and the body believes it’s being starved and slow up your metabolism, which means the weight will not come off. Maybe bump up your calorie intake by 200 calories, and see if it’s a little easier.

I haven’t had too much trouble, but my problem is watching my sodium intake (high blood pressure here) and fat intake. One thing I do that has been helpful to me, is cutting up a bunch of my favorite raw veggies twice a week, make up some homemade or semi-homemade Greek yogurt dip, and cook a few chicken breasts. This has been my easy go-to snack or meal for those days I don’t have the opportunity to eat properly. For me, these are filling, satisfying choices. Most of my calories come from lean protein and vegetables. I’m in my 50’s, so this will have to be a lifestyle change for me; which I’m ok with since the a lot of what I loved as a younger woman no longer appeals to me. Except for pizza, which I still love and enjoy ONE slice now and then.

Good luck and hang in there! You’ll get there.

jdad1

hi there, i was also given that net calorie goal, i am finding that i eat generally about 1500 cals but because my workout routine is a two hour session from 5 to 7 in the morning, i usually have excercised between 700 and 850 cals worth so my problem is even with eating 1500 i still need to give my body 650 to be at my net goal and i often dont feel hungry! am i also starvinhg my body?

Calculate your BMR and make sure you are staying above that and then NO you are not starving yourself.

Pardyqueenxoxo

You don't have to eat that little to lose weight. You likely have your goal set for to fast of weight lose and possibly have your activity level inaccurete. Your Base metabolic rate is for sure above 1200 calories.

What is your height, age, weight and what kind of working out do you do?

I'm 26, 160lb and i used to run but i broke my ankle in Jan, its not quite right in terms of healed even though cast is off...so its mainly sit ups, upper body workouts or exercise bike. x x

I need your height

5'6

ozigal

I stay at 1200 and I dont find it difficult anymore. I admit I did at the start.

It depends what you eat. Lots of fruit, veg and salads for a starter. A bit of meat... not a lot. No added oil, sugar, salad dressings etc. Instead of salad dressings I will have beetroot with a small steak or chicken breast and lots of salad.

Black coffee and lots and lots of water.

You become very aware of wasting calories.

I started at 242lbs and am now down to 179lbs. I walk 5 miles a day (takes about 90 minutes all up and can be incorporated into your normal day as long as you use a pedometer). I run every second day.

jimmmer

You don't have to eat that little to lose weight. You likely have your goal set for to fast of weight lose and possibly have your activity level inaccurete. Your Base metabolic rate is for sure above 1200 calories.

What is your height, age, weight and what kind of working out do you do?

I'm 26, 160lb and i used to run but i broke my ankle in Jan, its not quite right in terms of healed even though cast is off...so its mainly sit ups, upper body workouts or exercise bike. x x

I need your height

5'6

Wow, good guess!

Then with workouts 1-3 times a week, your activity level puts your maintenance at about 2100ish, meaning you could lose sensibly and sustainably on about 1690-1700ish

Springfield_Rocks

You most likely don't need to be eating that little to see results.

Check out this, long, but definitely worth the read: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/937712-in-place-of-a-road-map-ver-3-0

Short and sweet, calculate your TDEE, subtract 10-20%, eat that amount as your TOTAL calories, not NET. To increase the benefits of weightloss and for supplementing body composition changes, eat adequate protein, lift heavy and move fast a few times a week.

was going to post the same thing.

join the "in place of a road map" group, and READ everything you can. these people know their stuff. do the calculations or get someone there to help you... and enjoy success!

best wishes! :flowerforyou:

jdad1

You don't have to eat that little to lose weight. You likely have your goal set for to fast of weight lose and possibly have your activity level inaccurete. Your Base metabolic rate is for sure above 1200 calories.

What is your height, age, weight and what kind of working out do you do?

I'm 26, 160lb and i used to run but i broke my ankle in Jan, its not quite right in terms of healed even though cast is off...so its mainly sit ups, upper body workouts or exercise bike. x x

I need your height

5'6

Your estimased BMR is 1533 and TDEE is 2108. (i put you as light activity but your BMR would not be affected by that anyway)

So 1200 is not enough for you. You should be eating at least 1533.

mlvanstone

I could never stick to 1200 calories per day, it's too difficult. You end up feeling cheated and hungry and spending all your time thinking about how to make those calories count - god forbid a glass of wine comes into the picture! I went the TDEE - 20% route recently and have my goal set at 1400 calories. Although it's not the weight loss is not the instant gratification we all crave, this # of calories IS WORKING, and slowly but surely, I am losing weight. My patience is improving as I see the ounces come off (love the digital scale), and I've lost 4 pounds over the last month. Again - slowly, but surely. FYI I'm 5'6", and as of this morning 169.5lbs, 8-5 office job with only occasional trips to the treadmill.

5pmsomewherenow

I agree with other posters... increase slightly to say 1450, and don't eat back your exercise gains everyday - I found the only way to really change to a more healthy lifestyle and stay within the calorie goal was to drastically CHANGE what I was eating. I found it was possible to have success (lose consistently) and feel better, and not be hungry if I really worked a planned of healthy eating every day.

I had to start eating a breakfast that was low fat, high protein, high fiber - shooting for about 350 calories in two servings between 6am-10am. A cored apple, greek yogurt with strawberries & blueberries, and maybe a Balance Bar Bare - would get me started right. Then a large salad with some healthy dressing and some lean protein (chicken breast or tuna.)

I also sit a desk all day in a sales role. I had to get into a habit of walking for 15 minutes first thing when I get to work each morning (got to work a little early, and head outside to kick in for a quick 15 minute walk) Then take another 15 minute walk just before lunch (15 minute walk + 15 minutes lunch break to eat.) I found the physical activity actually helped with the attention at the desk & hunger suppression.

An orange or another apple on the way to the gym. Workout. Then healthy dinner of lots of fresh veggies and about 4-5oz of lean protein. No alcohol.

Man, it was challenging to pick the right fuels, but worth the ultimate change in eating habits to make everything I put in my mouth really fuel my body to it's fullest. You just have to get in a mind-set of making every calorie count. Trust me, your body will get used to it.

joolywooly33

I upped my calls to 1500 and am actually losing weight now and am not miserable!

jdad1

If i were you i would put your goal as losing 1 pound per week. I would make sure my calorie goal was set at about 1650 and i would do more working out.

(Any working out you can do, do not let an injury completly stop you. I deal with a chronic neck injury and i do whatever working out i can whenever i can.)

jedibunny

Find out your BMR - which people above have been doing for you already - and don't eat less than that! I'm just restarting my journey here and have done a lot of recalculation for my own weight loss goals. I'm at 160 and I'm 5'6". I'm set for 1590cal/day for the moment, which is above my BMR and below maintenance. 1200 would make me feel tired and woozy and all sorts of other badness.

Pardyqueenxoxo

its such a relief to see others finding it difficult! I thought it was just me!

DebbieLyn63

With as little as you have to lose, I would shoot for no more than 1 pound a week weight loss. I am 5'6" and eat at the 1200 level, but I am almost 50 years old and am very sedentary, so 1200 is only a 500 cal deficit for me.
What calorie level were you at before you started cutting calories? If you can estimate about how many cals you were maintaining on, then simply deduct 500 from that number and try that.

If you DO need to eat at a lower level, then make sure you get 80-100 grams of protein and 35-50 gr of healthy fats in, then you can fill the rest of the calories with high fiber carbs, like non starch veggies and fresh fruit. Limiting sugar and processed carbs will help keep you from having cravings. Most people make the mistake of cutting protein and healthy fat cals, which can cause muscle loss, hormone imbalance, and lead to hunger and cravings.

jessetmia

Based on this conversation, you don't seem to be interested in changing upping your calorie intake, so at the very least make sure you are hitting your protein/fat macro's(broscience mainly)... Though keep in mind you are starving yourself more than necessary and may end up skinny fat(http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/895191-what-does-skinny-fat-look-like) instead of looking healthy. Your body tends to hold on to fat when it's starving and use muscle as fuel.

selina884

Set it at 1700.