1200 calories
Amanda0926
Posts: 108 Member
I am having so much trouble with the 1200 calorie thing!
Thats what MFP tells me that I need to eat. I did that, but then learned that I need to eat more. I am now trying to figure out how to get my carbs/protein/fats where they should be and still be at a decent calorie intake. I'm so confused!!!
I dont eat any fish or sea food. And I can't eat any bread. So... if I can't eat bread how are my carbs so high everyday?
I drink a protein shake every day. I eat chicken. But I'm still not getting enough protein.
I'm hungry all the time recently and I wasn't before. What is going on, and what do I do?
Thats what MFP tells me that I need to eat. I did that, but then learned that I need to eat more. I am now trying to figure out how to get my carbs/protein/fats where they should be and still be at a decent calorie intake. I'm so confused!!!
I dont eat any fish or sea food. And I can't eat any bread. So... if I can't eat bread how are my carbs so high everyday?
I drink a protein shake every day. I eat chicken. But I'm still not getting enough protein.
I'm hungry all the time recently and I wasn't before. What is going on, and what do I do?
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Replies
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I've learned that i had to get used to hunger. I make my stomach growl before i eat, and if i manage to get hungry and not be able to eat (like, im out somewhere), after a bit i get used to it.
I dont do combining, i found it highly confusing, not to mention expensive. I just count calories. When i DID concentrate on lowering carbs and upping protein, i found i was hungry ALL the time, and it was a very uncomfortable sort of hunger.
Are you exercising?0 -
Yes I exercise 6 days a week for at least 30 minutes. Usually it is around 45 minutes though. I do 3 days of cardio and 3 days of calisthenics.
This is all very confusing! It's a completely different kind of hunger than before!
There are all of these people on here that say that you need to eat so much than MFP says, but I just dont know which way is right. If you eat that much more how do you lose weight?
So, Im trying to stick to 1200 calories which has always been easy for me. Until now anyways.I've learned that i had to get used to hunger. I make my stomach growl before i eat, and if i manage to get hungry and not be able to eat (like, im out somewhere), after a bit i get used to it.
I dont do combining, i found it highly confusing, not to mention expensive. I just count calories. When i DID concentrate on lowering carbs and upping protein, i found i was hungry ALL the time, and it was a very uncomfortable sort of hunger.
Are you exercising?0 -
Do research on GOOGLE that's what I do for me and my husband, are you a picky eater? I check the labels on everything I eat and count an balance it out. I usually try to stay away from bread I eat oatmeal for breakfast and that has protein also eggs but always eat your breakfast I don't think that protein shakes have all needed nutrients. I am also at the 1200 calorie thing and I at first was hungry to but now that I know what Im doing I dont get hungry I am satisfied.0
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How many carbs are in your protein shake? I've seen a lot of "protein" shakes out there that have more carbs and sugar than they do protein. So I'd look there first.
Also look at adding in protein from sources like non or low-fat plain Greek yogurt (again, the flavored ones are going to be loaded with sugar and carbs)
Other things with protein but few carbs (though often high in fat, so watch your macros) are cheese, almonds, pistachios, and beans. You can also look for low sodium beef and/or turkey jerky. Again, watch the carbs, there are some brands out there (Krave being the worst offender) that add so many things for the flavoring that you end up with more carbs than protein in the jerky.
You can probably also be eating more than 1200 calories and still be losing. I had myself set to sedentary because I had a desk job and was eating my 1200 calories like a good little MFPer. And then I got a BMF and discovered that I tend to burn more along the lines of what MFP considers Lightly Active. Once I changed my settings here and upped my calories accordingly, I felt better and still lost weight.0 -
I have been cooking from websites that post calories and nutritional info on their recipes such as www.skinnytaste.com. By eating the right foods like lots of fruits and vegetables, beans, seeds, etc. you can definitely eat delicious food, be satisfied and stay under 1200. However, I work out most days of the week and therefore eat more as long as I net 1200 at the end of the day. I have been doing this for about a month and lost 10lbs. Good luck!0
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egg whites (like hard boiled)
some protein and minimum calories...
if you have a dog, give the yolks to the dog...0 -
First check your weight loss goal. Unless you are obese you will find it extremely difficult to lose 2 or even sometimes 1 pound a week. MFP when it gives you the calorie goal does not take what our bodies can realistically do into account. It just takes the numbers you supply and plugs it into a formula then poof...goal calories. If you are constantly hungry you may want to increase your calories, it may be that the MFP formula was wrong for you.
As for your macros (carbs, fats, and proteins), if it is too confusing dont focus on them immediately. As long as you are eating at a *reasonable* calorie deficit you will lose weight. Low carb will probably start off faster but in the long run they all work equally well if you stick too it. If you are interested in hitting certain macro nutrients, expand your food choices. There is plenty more carbs to eat than just bread. All vegetables and fruit have lots of carbs plus vitamins and minerals so you stay healthy while losing weight. There are whole grains without gluten such as quinoa that have plenty of carbs, protein and fiber. Search around the interweb plenty of great fun recipes to try. Proteins are also easy. I dont eat much meat and refuse to eat protein powder. Instead I eat beans, lentils, eggs, and milk. All of these things are very filling and will help you stay within your calorie limit. Bottom line start making your food and youll find your macros fall into place.0 -
I've learned that i had to get used to hunger. I make my stomach growl before i eat, and if i manage to get hungry and not be able to eat (like, im out somewhere), after a bit i get used to it.
When I was on ww i used to do this. It stunk because I was always so ravenous I couldnt actually enjoy my food. I kind of just shoveled it all in. I got used to it, but my body never did...couldnt lose weight that way.0 -
I just joined and my goal is similar (1270). I'm going through the same feeling - just flat out hungry at times. But I want this so bad that I just know I'll be REALLY mad at myself if I give up. I'm actively researching types of protein drinks that take longer to burn and just tried half of a Lucerna bar for the slower burning carbs. A work in progress! ;o) Anyway, I guess all I can truly offer is my empathy as a fellow sufferer of, "THE HUNGER!" Try to be strong Amanda, you can do it!0
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Eat more protein and small carb for morning and arvo snacks. Morning I have a protein bar and in the arvo I do 100g of greek yoghurt and 30g of nuts I am never hungry and always full. Check my diary.0
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Try to eat 1200-1300 calories for now, and then up it bit by bit later. Be reasonable though. You should see great results with the 1200! I started with 1200 and about the same amount of cardio your doing ( i only did cardio though, no lifting or anything) & wow great results!!! HUGE DIFFERENCE! Lost about 20lbs. And the inches FELL OFF! Best of luck xx0
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I am at 1220 calories a day before exercise. I eat anywhere from 70-80 grams of protein (I like protein bars w/ 30 grams of protein for breakfast) a day and 25-35 grams of fiber a day. Not hungry. Protein and Fiber both really filling. Chia seeds are good source of protein/fiber to put in smoothie also..0
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I have been cooking from websites that post calories and nutritional info on their recipes such as www.skinnytaste.com. By eating the right foods like lots of fruits and vegetables, beans, seeds, etc. you can definitely eat delicious food, be satisfied and stay under 1200. However, I work out most days of the week and therefore eat more as long as I net 1200 at the end of the day. I have been doing this for about a month and lost 10lbs. Good luck!
Totally second skinnytaste.com. She has some of the best recipes I've ever tried!0 -
Hey you're another MN girl! I want you to know that you can lose weight by eating more than 1200 calories. If you are working out six days a week, your body is going to need more fuel. That's basically what food is, fuel. I have lost about 30 lbs since March and I eat a lot more than 1200 calories a day. Feel free to take a look at my diary.
edit to include: 1200 should be you NET calories. Don't be afraid to eat back those work out calories. That is still a substantial deficit for most people and will contribute to weight loss.
You will read a lot of different stuff on this site but the following is something to remember:
Make your health your priority!!!!!!!!!!
Weight loss takes time!!!!!!0 -
I was on 1200.... and cause i was working out 6 times a week and doing hard workouts, I found I got really hungry.
This week I've changed my goal to 1300, and might eventually raise it to 1400.. but 1300 is working well, i'm not getting as hungry as I was
I was also netting too low - I thought it would help with the weight loss, but then I got worried that it could stall the weight loss after reading threads about it. So his week I've been eating almost all exercise calories back, which has been fine
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BECAUSE you workout regularly, 1200 is not enough fuel, and won't help weight loss very much in the long-term!! Your body needs more 0
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Try eating snacks between meals. I;ve added a sample of what I eat.
My breakfast = a protein shake;
Snack = sm banana;
Lunch = 1/2 a ham or turkey pastrami sandwich - 2 oz of meat w/peppercini's and sliced tomatoes & spicy mustard, 16g of Finn crisp rye bread (hard) w/1.5 T of cream cheese & 1.5 T of Strawberry jelly.
Snack = large apple
Dinner = 4 oz lean pork chop - 1 cup broccoli or other veggie - 1/2 cup milk - sm. baked potatoe.
If I don't have snacks I am starving by dinner and then I will eat anything that is in the fridge that is fast & easy and end up overeating 'cause I still eat dinner after raiding the fridge.
Another thing that works for me and also saves me money at the grocery store is I plan a menu for the week and then get the just the groceries need for the menu for that week.
I don't always stick to the plan but it gives me a base and I also don't come home wondering what I will cook for dinner.
Best of luck to you in your endeavors. Have faith in yourself.0 -
Pre-logging helps me get my macros right. I first make sure I'm getting sufficient proteins and fats and then fill the rest of my calories with carbs.0
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You sound a little lost, frustrated and overwhelmed. If you can't eat bread due to gluten intolerance, there are many fine gluten free products available. My husband suffers from GI and we have a number of things in our freezer for him. My personal favorite is gluten free raisin bread. You might enjoy potatoes, sweet potatoes or yams, quinoa, and all sorts of lovely raw fruits and vegetables like carrots and apples. We love sweet potato fries and can buy them already made and frozen in bags at Costco and our local IGA. You can really eat all sorts of things, and MyFintessPal will figure out the nutrition for you. Play with it and have some fun while you diet.0
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Are you doing 1200 calories because you want fast results?
Work out your BMR and your TDEE using the links the tryclyn posted. You should be eating at least your BMR, but below your TDEE to safely and sustainably lose weight.
Your body needs BMR calories just to be alive, this isn't affected whether you are busy or not, because this is just to keep your organs and muscles going. Your TDEE is for things like sitting around, walking, cooking, moving your head, typing on a keyboard and then possibly exercise if you set your activity level a bit higher. If you eat considerably below your TDEE, the deficit needs to be made up somehow.
Usually this deficit is made up from your fat stores, but here's the catch: your fat stores can only release so much fat at any point in time. If you cut your food intake so much and your body got as much fat it could from it's fat stores, what does it do then? It starts using muscle. This is great for the number on the scale, but devastating for your metabolism. Your body has to burn calories to keep muscle going, less muscle means less calories to burn. And before you know it, your body has adjusted to your excessively low calorie intake. And then you have a problem.
Then you have to choose whether to cut calories even more and continue doing the damage or to pause your weight loss for a month or two to get your metabolism fired up again, therefore reversing all the great weight (mostly muscle) loss you've achieved.
We've all been there - you want the fast results, because the sooner you can lose the weight, the sooner you can eat "normally" again. Whatever it was that was "normal" was what caused the weight gain in the first place, so it's just setting yourself up for failure.0 -
I'm doing 1200 calories because that's what MFP told me to do. And honestly I'm really confused!
I have lost weight and I don't want to gain it back! But, I do want to make sure I'm healthy. I'm not looking for super fast results. Iyknow it takes time. Honestly, I don't have that much to lose. I want to tone more than anything. So, no I'm not looking for a quick fix.
I really don't have a ton of time to research and make everything from scratch either. I'm a single mom of 2. I work full time and I go to school. I try to cook on the weekends and freeze things for meals. That is usually what the kids eat. I would rather have a salad that anything, so that's what I usually have.
I don't eat gluten and I because I have celiacs disease, but I also just try to stay away from any breads whether they are gluten free or not.
So, that's where I'm at. Completely lost and confused about how much I should really be eating. The site I looked at said 1700 calories. 1700 calories is how I gained weight in the first place, so I'm not sure why it says I should eat that much.Are you doing 1200 calories because you want fast results?
Work out your BMR and your TDEE using the links the tryclyn posted. You should be eating at least your BMR, but below your TDEE to safely and sustainably lose weight.
Your body needs BMR calories just to be alive, this isn't affected whether you are busy or not, because this is just to keep your organs and muscles going. Your TDEE is for things like sitting around, walking, cooking, moving your head, typing on a keyboard and then possibly exercise if you set your activity level a bit higher. If you eat considerably below your TDEE, the deficit needs to be made up somehow.
Usually this deficit is made up from your fat stores, but here's the catch: your fat stores can only release so much fat at any point in time. If you cut your food intake so much and your body got as much fat it could from it's fat stores, what does it do then? It starts using muscle. This is great for the number on the scale, but devastating for your metabolism. Your body has to burn calories to keep muscle going, less muscle means less calories to burn. And before you know it, your body has adjusted to your excessively low calorie intake. And then you have a problem.
Then you have to choose whether to cut calories even more and continue doing the damage or to pause your weight loss for a month or two to get your metabolism fired up again, therefore reversing all the great weight (mostly muscle) loss you've achieved.
We've all been there - you want the fast results, because the sooner you can lose the weight, the sooner you can eat "normally" again. Whatever it was that was "normal" was what caused the weight gain in the first place, so it's just setting yourself up for failure.0 -
I don't know how much more to eat though. I don't want to gain anything back. But, I do want to be healthy.BECAUSE you workout regularly, 1200 is not enough fuel, and won't help weight loss very much in the long-term!! Your body needs more0
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I do this too! Yolks are good for their coats and I love the egg whites0
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Yep, I second this! The In Place of a Roadmap thread is amazing! This is the revised thread (though not sure of the differences between the old and new versions):
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-120 -
MFP is simply going by the inputs you give it. You asked for help on here two weeks ago also and people told you to up your calories, but you didn't do this. You don't have much to lose, so you are doing more harm than good. The last thing you would want is for the weight that's coming off to be muscle. Don't let your body use the wrong thing for fuel because you aren't giving it enough.I'm doing 1200 calories because that's what MFP told me to do. And honestly I'm really confused!
Can't say, if you are 5'3 then probably, any taller, then probably not unless you have a metabolic disorder.I have lost weight and I don't want to gain it back! But, I do want to make sure I'm healthy. I'm not looking for super fast results. Iyknow it takes time. Honestly, I don't have that much to lose. I want to tone more than anything. So, no I'm not looking for a quick fix.
I really don't have a ton of time to research and make everything from scratch either. I'm a single mom of 2. I work full time and I go to school. I try to cook on the weekends and freeze things for meals. That is usually what the kids eat. I would rather have a salad that anything, so that's what I usually have.
I don't eat gluten and I because I have celiacs disease, but I also just try to stay away from any breads whether they are gluten free or not.
So, that's where I'm at. Completely lost and confused about how much I should really be eating. The site I looked at said 1700 calories. 1700 calories is how I gained weight in the first place, so I'm not sure why it says I should eat that much.0 -
I found 1200 cals not enough even if i ate back my exercise cals. Try 1500 for a month. You must give your body time to sort itself out. If that does not help eat even more. What have you to lose except the hunger pains.0
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Yes, you are right. I did ask for help two weeks ago with the calories. And you are right that I did not up them. I didn't because like I said, I don't understand how eating more will help you lose weight.
What I asked this time is about the protein/fat/carbs and how to get them where they should be. That is whre I am struggling the most right now. I think 1200 calories would be fine if I was eating the right things, and that is mostly what I am asking for help with.
I am slowly upping my calories because I don't know how much to eat. I will get to that at a slow pace.
MFP is simply going by the inputs you give it. You asked for help on here two weeks ago also and people told you to up your calories, but you didn't do this. You don't have much to lose, so you are doing more harm than good. The last thing you would want is for the weight that's coming off to be muscle. Don't let your body use the wrong thing for fuel because you aren't giving it enough.I'm doing 1200 calories because that's what MFP told me to do. And honestly I'm really confused!
Can't say, if you are 5'3 then probably, any taller, then probably not unless you have a metabolic disorder.I have lost weight and I don't want to gain it back! But, I do want to make sure I'm healthy. I'm not looking for super fast results. Iyknow it takes time. Honestly, I don't have that much to lose. I want to tone more than anything. So, no I'm not looking for a quick fix.
I really don't have a ton of time to research and make everything from scratch either. I'm a single mom of 2. I work full time and I go to school. I try to cook on the weekends and freeze things for meals. That is usually what the kids eat. I would rather have a salad that anything, so that's what I usually have.
I don't eat gluten and I because I have celiacs disease, but I also just try to stay away from any breads whether they are gluten free or not.
So, that's where I'm at. Completely lost and confused about how much I should really be eating. The site I looked at said 1700 calories. 1700 calories is how I gained weight in the first place, so I'm not sure why it says I should eat that much.0 -
Yes, you are right. I did ask for help two weeks ago with the calories. And you are right that I did not up them. I didn't because like I said, I don't understand how eating more will help you lose weight.
What I asked this time is about the protein/fat/carbs and how to get them where they should be. That is whre I am struggling the most right now. I think 1200 calories would be fine if I was eating the right things, and that is mostly what I am asking for help with.
I am slowly upping my calories because I don't know how much to eat. I will get to that at a slow pace.I'm doing 1200 calories because that's what MFP told me to do. And honestly I'm really confused!0 -
I'm learning, too. I think we started about the same time. I've picked up a couple of concepts that might help the question of how many calories to eat.
1. If you don't eat enough your body thinks it is starving and hordes calories as fat. The less you eat, the more it thinks it is starving and the more fat it stores. You do lose weight, but it is the good weight of muscle that is lost.
2. In order to keep your muscle and lose weight at a healthy speed, you have to eat enough to keep your muscles happy. You're looking for a sweet spot, where you feel good, have lots of energy, and lose fat but not muscle. I'm using the calorie goals they assigned me and adding exercise to the mix. I eat back some of the exercise calories but not all of them. I have plenty of energy and am making better progress than I expected.
3. I'm also using the program to look at nutrition, where I am no expert at all. I'm trying to learn by watching the pie graph found at "home". There is a bar graph of total calories with a red line at the goal. I keep mine under the red line nearly all of the time but I've gone over a few times. Up in the colored band there is a pie graph symbol. I go there and look at how my carbohydrates, fat, and protein are balancing. I'm usually above the line in protein and fat, and below it in carbs. I'm not a full on paleo dieter, but I feel best when I'm eating a high protein diet.
I hope this newbie to newbie advice is at least a little helpful.0
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