I honestly feel like I can't do this.

If I ate only 800 calories, I would be hungry and thinking about food all of the time, too. You're not eating enough. You should be eating, at the very least, 1200 calories. I personally can not do it at 1200 calories. I have mine set for 1600 calories and I'm still at a deficit so that I am losing weight. The way I am doing this is by eating whatever I want as long as I don't go over 1600 calories. That's my first step. I'll change a little bit at a time because I know that I'll fail if I try to do it all at once.

Hope this helps. :flowerforyou:

First of all, eating only 800 calories in a day would make me wh0re myself out for a hot dog. You should figure out what you need to be eating calorie wise here:

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

Then go here:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/529002-a-compliation-on-meal-frequency?hl=compliation+on+meal+frequency

and realize it really doesn't matter WHEN you eat those calories

If I ate only 800 calories, I would be hungry and thinking about food all of the time, too. You're not eating enough. You should be eating, at the very least, 1200 calories. I personally can not do it at 1200 calories. I have mine set for 1600 calories and I'm still at a deficit so that I am losing weight. The way I am doing this is by eating whatever I want as long as I don't go over 1600 calories. That's my first step. I'll change a little bit at a time because I know that I'll fail if I try to do it all at once.

Hope this helps. :flowerforyou:

This is good advice. In addition to eating more calories, I'd make sure they were nutritious. Mac and cheese and hot dogs don't offer much nutrition. Eat lots of veggies, fresh meats, and whole grains. Look at your macros to make sure you got enough from each category without overloading yourself with preservatives and salt.

Also, stick with it for awhile. When I first started trying to reduce my intake, I thought about food a lot too. It got easier as time went on.

It's called head hunger. Get some therapy. Hypno-therapy worked for me. You can overcome it. I promise.

You are learning the fundamental lesson of deficit eating: You cannot cheat your body. If you eat far below what you need, you will make up the difference, and often in the worst possible ways. The last time I had an 1100 calorie day, I responded by having 2600 calories the next day, including wings and beer.

800 is not healthy. Even if it worked, you would lose weight too quickly and end up with a loose skin issue, not to mention the health problems you'd be risking. Listen to these people. You're not eating ENOUGH.

I would try to eat about 1400 calories a day...up your protein and vegetables. I know exactly where you are coming from...I love chocolate...crave it so I bought these slimfast bars that are 100 calories and when I get a craving thats what I have. You will find as you exercise more and start eating the right foods that addiction will slowly fade. It took me about a month to get there...it is so hard at first but You CAN do it..You are worth it!! Its ok to treat yourself as well, its realistic and its ok! Last night you caved..dont be too hard on yourself..today is a new day!

As others have said, it sounds as though you have set your calorie goal too low. So first, bump that up.

If you are in the habit of eating around midnight, plan for it. When you go to plan out your day, plan to eat a small meal or a snack late at night. Despite conventional diet lore, eating late does not affect your weight loss as long as you stay within your calorie goal for the day. So plan to have a few hundred calories late at night, at least for the time being.

Just start slow - set your calorie goals for a half pound a week (my guess is if you have a lot to lose, this number will be relatively high). Stop being so focused on the big picture. Baby steps. Develop good habits. Don't beat yourself up over a "bad" day. You can do it. I have a lot to lose, but having random MFP friends is really helping my focus and motivation - add me if you'd like extra help!

I used to feel this way, I'd tell myself, "I'd rather eat what I want, drink what I want and be heavy and happy" But I wasn't happy. I was heavy and let food fool me into thinking I was happy.

I wish I could tell you what changed for me, but I can't. My mindset just changed and I made the decision to DO THIS!

i struggle the most at work. So I ALWAYS bring planned snacks and count out how many I would be allowed within my daily limits. I never snack at home, just at work.

You have to figure out whether or not its time for you. You have to be mentally and emotionally ready to do it! Good Luck!


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I am a foodie too so i know what you mean when you say you are always thinking about food. My best advice to you would be to just eat when you feel like you want to. I mean don't go overboard by eating way outside your caloric intake but eat small amounts of food you enjoy. Trying to snack on things that you don't enjoy (from my personal experience) leads to overeating anyways because you end up eating what you craved in the first place. All you have to do to compensate for the food you ate is work out harder and longer. I personally got so tried of working out to compensate for my love of food that I had to strengthen my mind against my weakness for food. I slowly realized that eating all the time was just what I was used to, it comforted me. If I wanted to get healthy I had to change all my habits to maintain my new lifestyle. Don't get me wrong I still struggle with this on a daily basis but it gets easier each day. It really is a mind over matter issue that you have to overcome. It will take time but the satisfaction you will receive from you improvement and results will surpass your love of all things food! Keep up the good work and stay positive about your current situation. You can do it!

You CAN do this!!! First of all, just like everyone else has said...you are definitely eating too few calories not to be hungry!!! What I have found that works best for me is eating (appropriately) every 3 hrs or so. I am a snacker(grazer) and I own that, but now I have learned what to "graze" on...such as string cheese, some fruits, sugar free chocolate pudding cups(Delicious, by the way), celery and peanut butter(in moderation), and etc... If there is something that I have a taste for, I simply eat a smaller portion or cook a healthier version of it. If I feel like I am depriving myself, I cannot rest until I have what I am craving...so I don't do that anymore and I am much happier and feel satisfied! Oh another good tidbit that works for me...I absolutely LOVE Yoplait lite yogurts and I keep a bunch on hand, especially at work, b/c believe it or not a lot of them actually taste like what they are named after(my favorite is the pineapple upside down cake) at my office my co-workers,God love them(:, seek out every opportunity to buy something sweet so when they bring in a cake or a pie...I just whip out my Kiwi Lime Pie Yogurt or Strawberry Shortcake Yogurt! But you have just got find your niche and what works BEST for you. You can do this, but starving is not the way...just take one day at a time...hang in there!

The 800 calorie thing stuck way out for me too. If you're eating that little, you are depriving your body of vital nutrients so OF COURSE you're going to have cravings and obsess about eating - your body needs the calories and nutrients! Google to find out your BMR - this is the number of calories your body needs just to function as if you were in a coma. If you're eating too far below that number, your health will suffer.

My advice to you is to try to plan your days better. Make sure you're getting plenty of protein and healthy fats because they both help you feel full longer. Fiber helps a lot of folks too. You need to try several approaches and see what works best for you. That's the great thing about logging, you can think - hm, I felt pretty satisfied yesterday - and go back to see what you ate and think about how you could plan days like that again. Or why was I so hungry today - and look it over to see if maybe you didn't get enough calories or too many carbs, not enough protein/fat/fiber.

The point of my planning comment is - if you know you're going to be up that late and want a snack, plan your day accordingly. Save a few hundred calories every day for whatever it is you want. If you're really hungry, you're going to keep caving and having whatever it is you can get your hands on, like that mac & cheese. Instead have some fruit, cheese snacks, pretzels, popcorn, veggies and hummus/dip, or whatever it is you enjoy on hand so you can have healthier snacks.

As far as your calorie goal goes, aim for whatever MFP gave you for NET calorie (see your home page for that) goal. This means if you don't exercise, you aim for that number. If you do exercise, you aim for that number PLUS whatever you earn through exercise. A lot of folks don't get this so I'll explain....MFP already sets you up wtih a deficit so you can lose weight without exercise. If you exercise, you burn more calories creating an even larger deficit. As I said before, too few calories and things don't work out so well.

Good luck!

Food can be an addiction, and it will take time to re-train your body to not think, "Oh, it's midnight, it's time to eat!" Your stomach AND your brain have to adjust to eating less and making smarter choices. It's hard at first, but losing those first few pounds can be addicting, too -- and so much more rewarding than all the eating!

well as others have said, of course your hungry eating that little.
make a lot of good choices and you can eat more and still have a reduced calorie intake, without resorting to mac and cheese.

but here's my tip:
Since I've cut out all/most sugar and a most bread, I hardly ever crave anything. When I DO crave something though, PROMISE yourself you can have it in the morning.

By the next morning, you'll probably forget about it. but even if you don't, you'll be well rested and you'll know you can either indulge a little, or eat breakfast and move on with your day and feel good.

Like everyone else is saying....YOU'RE NOT EATING ENOUGH FOOD. Figure that out first....then plan your meals accordingly. Make sure you're eating lots of lean proteins, fruits and veggies. Limit your breads/pastas/sweets and you actually get to eat more food. When you spend your 1200 or 1400 calories a day eating chocolate and cupcakes.....you'll still starve and we all know.....the more carbs you eat the more carbs you crave. If you want to EAT and change your lifestyle....fruits/veggies/lean proteins and success will follow.