Hard to reach 1200

In the beginning, only eating 1200 calories usually left me pretty hungry. I don't know what's going on, but the past few days I've been having to force myself to get up to 1200. I usually eat about 700 and feel done for the day but have been forcing myself to eat more because i know its not good.

Is this happening to anyone else? Any reasons why? Its really frustrating to eat when I'm not hungry.

Replies

  • Pedal_Pusher
    Pedal_Pusher Posts: 1,166 Member
    Sounds odd
  • crodriguez94
    crodriguez94 Posts: 105 Member
    It is odd! I don't know why it started happening all of a sudden. Its just really hard to reach 1200 now
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    Try and eat some calorie dense foods such as nuts etc, they are high in calories but won't stuff you so you feel like you're gonna pop
  • crodriguez94
    crodriguez94 Posts: 105 Member
    Thanks for the suggestion! I'll try that next time I'm not really hungry but need to get some extra calories :)
  • I was also thinking that it could be food choices that are making you feel fuller, longer. Meaning, you could be eating healthier (higher fiber and more filling) foods now as opposed to when you started. This is a good thing! I understand though, you want to be at the minimum (1200) so you don't go into starvation mode, so I totally agree with the nuts suggestion :)
  • crodriguez94
    crodriguez94 Posts: 105 Member
    Yeah, exactly! When I started i was eating 1200 but it wasn't the best kinds of food haha. But i've been trying to make better choices and now its biting me in the a**, haha. but yeah, the nuts idea is great :) i'll definitely keep it in mind!
  • Cheri_Moves
    Cheri_Moves Posts: 625 Member
    In my experience, this happened because my metabolism was slowing down. My body had to conserve what resources it had... so I found myself more and more satisfied at lower and lower calories.

    But I also found myself more and more weak at the gym, dizzy throughout the day and had very little energy. Then the PLATEAU HIT. fun times.
  • crodriguez94
    crodriguez94 Posts: 105 Member
    Yeah, I mean I lost 15 pounds in the first 15 days but it's been another 15 days or so and I haven't lost one pound ... it's getting a little annoying
  • Yeah, I mean I lost 15 pounds in the first 15 days but it's been another 15 days or so and I haven't lost one pound ... it's getting a little annoying


    This may sound odd, but eat a lot of apples in one day along with your other foods to help with a plateau.
  • Cheri_Moves
    Cheri_Moves Posts: 625 Member
    Yeah, I mean I lost 15 pounds in the first 15 days but it's been another 15 days or so and I haven't lost one pound ... it's getting a little annoying

    Your body is trying to tell you something... honestly, it sounds like its pleading with you... Check out www.scoobysworkshop.com and figure out your BMR and TDEE and eat at least your BMR. You should start seeing a loss again if you have only been eating 1200 for a short time.
  • crodriguez94
    crodriguez94 Posts: 105 Member
    Really? Any particular reason why? I'll try it! Heck, I'd try almost anything at this point, haha
  • Thanks for this because I've been in the same position recently. Today I had to force myself to get to 900 cals and I prelog a lot of the time yet don't finish what I log. I've decided I need to up my calories because along with not being able to stomach 1200 cals I have also not been up to my workouts which are usually very hardcore cardio sessions from 1-2hrs at least 4 days a week. I need to try to up my cals with foods that won't make me physically feel so fool but that will add some healthy calories back into my diet. I KNOW that I will benefit from more cals.
  • I have different weeks where some weeks I struggle to get to 1200 and other weeks I struggle to stay under 1500 but I do shift work and my sleeping / eating patterns are all over the place. I wouldn't stress about it too much. As long as you are making the right choices in what you eat the calories shouldn't be a huge issue for you.
  • jube61
    jube61 Posts: 4 Member
    I'm like you finding it very hard to eat my 1200 calories,,,so I asked my trainer what I should do and he suggested eating nuts too.....so maybe give that a try....good luck...
  • Peanut Butter and cashews would help. High in calories. It won't fill you up.
  • crodriguez94
    crodriguez94 Posts: 105 Member
    Your body is trying to tell you something... honestly, it sounds like its pleading with you... Check out www.scoobysworkshop.com and figure out your BMR and TDEE and eat at least your BMR. You should start seeing a loss again if you have only been eating 1200 for a short time.

    My BMR is 1494, but I'm just nervous that if I have 1500 calories to eat in a day, I'm going to make bad eating choices because I'll have more room to do so. I'll try it though.
  • keina629
    keina629 Posts: 29 Member
    This happened to me, felt like I was eating enough but it was only about 800 calories a day - and I didn't lose anything! Now i'm eating a few small meals instead and snacking lots, but havn't weighed myself in a while...! Hopefully it's good news when I do!
  • crodriguez94
    crodriguez94 Posts: 105 Member
    are you reaching the 1200 though, now?
  • Thanks for this because I've been in the same position recently. Today I had to force myself to get to 900 cals and I prelog a lot of the time yet don't finish what I log. I've decided I need to up my calories because along with not being able to stomach 1200 cals I have also not been up to my workouts which are usually very hardcore cardio sessions from 1-2hrs at least 4 days a week. I need to try to up my cals with foods that won't make me physically feel so fool but that will add some healthy calories back into my diet. I KNOW that I will benefit from more cals.

    And by fool I obviously mean full, lol
  • 15lbs in 15 days is not healthy or sustainable.
  • crodriguez94
    crodriguez94 Posts: 105 Member
    I wasn't doing anything weird, I was just following what MFP said to do, haha. I just met 1200 and exercised.
  • Same situation as me! I lost 10 pounds in the first 2 weeks. And about 3 inches each off my waist and hips. But I was basically eating below 1000 cal when my bar is about 1300. I was shocked to find i didn't lose even a pound or an inch off my NSW in the last 2 weeks. I felt so depressed. Till I spoke to someone yesterday who mentioned that my body has most probably hit the starvation point. So I need to up my calories. I'm thinking lots of nuts and bananas and apples. Cos I've gotten so used to eating just 2 proper low cal meals a day. Sometimes one, and little fruits. We're all in this together tho.
  • crodriguez94
    crodriguez94 Posts: 105 Member
    Ugh! Why does losing weight have to be so confusing!? Haha. But yeah, maybe it has hit starvation mode, but i don't feel starving :P haha. But I'm gonna try eating more nuts and apples, and upping my calories if thats what i have to do
  • sunlover89
    sunlover89 Posts: 436 Member
    In my experience, this happened because my metabolism was slowing down. My body had to conserve what resources it had... so I found myself more and more satisfied at lower and lower calories.

    But I also found myself more and more weak at the gym, dizzy throughout the day and had very little energy. Then the PLATEAU HIT. fun times.

    Absolutely. This happened to me too, when not eating enough and not exercising enough.

    Make sure you have a 400 kcal breakfast, it's the magic number! Have at least 20g of protein in each meal and if you still havn't eaten enough, have some dried fruit and nuts or perhaps some dark chocolate if that's what you like.
  • Definitely not happening for me, I've been on 1200 limit for weeks and I still find it challenging! What I would recommend anyone tracking calories, is that you're very honest! For example a salad is fine, but add the dressing on calorie tracker or if you have spaghetti bolognese break down the ingredients i.e. 70g spaghetti and 170g bolognese, you then have a more accurate reflection of your day.
  • AnneC77
    AnneC77 Posts: 284
    Mmmm I think this some days too. I was told to each more calorie rich food, but I would/still eat few calories in the day and more at night. I am trying to rectify this myself, but I added Morning snack and afternoon snack and I am trying to eat those to help add on the calories. I also think eating nuts might be good for some. I don't like them very much so I tend to eat dark chocolate, or fruit or even if I am desperate a biscuit/cookie or two. Now I am worried my loss may slow down eek!
  • crodriguez94
    crodriguez94 Posts: 105 Member
    Okay okay okay, you guys ... I feel pretty stupid now that i realize this, but I just woke up and realized its the TOM for me, so that could have a lot to do with why I didn't have much of an appetite this past week?
  • SarahAFerguson
    SarahAFerguson Posts: 250 Member
    This is why I'm loving this site. Everytime I have a question it seems that someone else gets there first and I don't have to post. That is to say, I'm in the same boat. I've been trying to push my calorie intake up a little bit at a time and being careful to do it with healthy choices and a few treats here and there.
  • LadyIvysMom
    LadyIvysMom Posts: 391 Member
    In the beginning, only eating 1200 calories usually left me pretty hungry. I don't know what's going on, but the past few days I've been having to force myself to get up to 1200. I usually eat about 700 and feel done for the day but have been forcing myself to eat more because i know its not good.

    Is this happening to anyone else? Any reasons why? Its really frustrating to eat when I'm not hungry.

    I was the same way at first too but now I find it hard to NET 1200. I can usually eat just about 1200 or slightly under but after excercise, it's difficult to net that number.