1200-1500 calorie eaters...serious question...

I'm at 1200 a day, and at first it killed me because all the food I was eating before was junk. But now I eat a protein bar in the mornings and that holds me over until like ... 2 or 3 pm if I get hungry then I will eat almonds or 2 peanut butter crackers or an apple (something small but filling) then I eat dinner and dessert (like a fiber one brownie or weight watchers ice cream bar) no later than six. Gum and water have become my best friends and after a month of changing my eating habits I don't get as hungry. (unless my monthly is coming then i'm always hungry lol) Hope this helps you.

I think the defenition of "constantly" needs to be revised, I don't conssitently eat at 1200 or below ALL the time. This last weekend I threw out the rule book and ate above what I normally do to try and get my body back to losing consistently. I could have eaten as many as 2500 calories each day this last saturday and sunday, not to mention about 1800 calories on friday evening. Mostly white rice, tuna, avocado, crab, some bacon, tomatoes, a little cucumber.

I had sushi.

So no, I am not "constantly" undereating, I am "frequently" creating a calorie deficit, with periodic refeeds.

My fewd journal is open, wtf? Is it that hard to check the log of someone who you're going to b!tchslap for being an overweight guy who is eating less?

I'm not going to go and check everyone's diary mate. I believe you when you said what you ate initially. I was a bit dumbfounded but I believed you.

Cal cycling like that is very different to constantly eating that low and the calories over a whole week would be what you should be looking at then. But eating up to 2500 isn't a refeed as a refeed requires a calorie surplus (above maintenance).

e.g. 1200X6 = 7200. 7200+2500=9700. Est TDEE at 175lbs = 2400. 2400*7=16800. Deficit of 7100.

And not trying to argue just trying to help. You DO NOT want metabolic damage.

I would at least watch the first 10mins of this vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QHHzie6XRGk

I have healthy snacks on hand and have found out through trial and error what will help stave off the hungry bugs. I try to eat whole foods, and avoid anything that comes in a packet. A couple of times, I've even made myself eat lunch when I was only 'sort of' hungry. Why? Well, because I go from 'sort of' hungry to ravenous pretty quickly and I like to avoid that point. It's the point where I make bad food choices.

I'm no expert, I read with interest many of the comments made by others and decided that I was going to follow a few simple rules.

1. Don't buy it ready made, make it yourself! This includes salad dressings. (a do make a couple of exceptions with sauces).
2. Buy food that is as little refined as possible. ie. brown rice, wholemeal pasta etc.
3. Fruits as snack foods. (strawberries and avocado seem to keep me satisfied longer)
4. Avoid anything in a packet.

I've also cut out most dairy or at least limited it. And have reduced animal protein to only 2-3 days a week. (not including eggs...which I eat maybe once or twice a week depending on if I feel like it).

Whoever, it was that said if you're not hungry enough to eat an apple, then your not hungry enough. I try to follow that philosophy as well.

If I do stray from my path, I avoid the junky junk food. Straying for me is eating out at a restaurant, I will still try to pick the healthiest option. Failing that...I savour my food, and stick firmly to loads of vegies for the next few days.

And with all that said....play around and find out what works for you. It's a bit of trial and error.

PS...I still will have a chocolate every now and again. Because I want to, not because I crave it.

1. What's your height/ weight?

I am 5'6 and 235 pounds. (I have a lot to lose.)

2. Do you get REALLY REALLY hungry during the day? If not, was there an adjustment period?
Some days are worse than others but I tend to snack a lot throughout the day. Usually I'm eating something every 4 hours. I tend to binge on some days but I usually work out to keep it around my goal which is 1400 a day.

3. What do you eat to prevent feeling like death (if you answered that you're not hungry)?
The snack type foods are usually cereal, toast and jam, oranges, lean cuisine makes these 200 calorie spring roll things, they're delicious, and crackers with cheese and turkey.

5'0 and currently about 112, which is up a bit due to months of not "regulating" but when I am losing, I am on 1200-1500 most days. I don't get hungry and didn't require an adjustment period. If I do have those random days where I feel hungry, I just eat. I tend to get hungrier if I eat over this amount though. I tend to have my hungriest days (true hunger and cravings or impulse to eat hunger) when I eat grains--pasta, breads, even though they are gluten free. For this reason, I try to avoid these foods as well as foods with limited nutritional value (typical desserts or junk foods). They take up more calorie room than they are worth to me, basically. When I do eat them, I struggle to stick to 1200-1500 and it isn't usually worth it to me. I don't feel deprived. If I really want those foods, I get them. I just struggle more.

When I'm most successful, I eat a lot of nuts and seeds, protein powder smoothies, fruits and vegetables. I'm happiest this way. It's what I need to move back into actually now. Overall, I don't currently feel as healthy as I did then even though I'm not overweight.

To the OP, thank you for asking this question in a serious, respectful way. I am happy to share my details with you.

Thank you for this! I appreciate you taking the time to acknowledge my well intended post! :flowerforyou:

You are welcome. This debate has been so heated since I have been on here and can get quick mean and hateful. I think it is simply because people cannot understand someone's body being so different from their own. I figured a girl's BMR one day and was shocked when it came out to 1800. That blew my mind that someone could have a BMR that high. Maybe a man, but never thought a woman could have that. THEN I finally understand why she was so adamant against anyone eating 1200 cals/day. Of COURSE she would starve on that amount. She was also very active and burned up to 3000 cals per day. For many of us, that just sounds crazy. About as crazy as those of us eating 1200-1500 sound to her.

I haven't checked your profile, but it sounds like maybe you are looking into a career in fitness and nutrition? If so, it will be very enlightening for you to see the varied calorie levels and BMR/TDEE of people outside your normal circle. I know it was very eye-opening for me to see the other end of the spectrum.

Thanks again for your respectful posts. I wish everyone would have respected your request and answered accordingly, but the anonymity of the internet often brings out the worst in people.

Wow! You are honestly one of the most polite posters I've ever encountered. I also appreciate the compliment--I'm not going into fitness or nutrition as a career but I LOVE everything about it. I'm going into law actually but I'd totally own a gym if I could. The thing about 1200-1500 calorie diets that I find the most disconcerting is that people who COULD eat more and still get results often turn to the lower number as a starting point without even giving the higher amount a chance. Their initial success makes it difficult to believe that they'd have been successful with more--then thus fear of food can develop. People often ramp up their exercise and keep the calories low--and that's where the problems lie. Now thus is NOT true for all people but it's try for enough of them that I am 100% opposed to 1200 calories as a starting point--1500 isn't do bad but less than that and I'm not on board. If the person has given it a reasonable amount of time with no success then an adjustment is in order but all too often people are seeing results but simply not FAST ENOUGH. I hope that explains my perspective a bit more.

I totally understand what you're saying (and seeing) and maybe i can offer some insight.
On 1200 cals a day i'm losing around 1.5lbs a week. Sometimes 2 if I exercise enough. MFP figures that I'll lose 1.6lbs per week so that's pretty accurate.

So... could I eat more and still lose? yes. i could eat back my exercise calories and still lose 1.5lbs per week.
but:
a. I'm really not hungry. I've gotten into a routine with the foods I like that keep me satisfied. Sometimes after dinner I realized i'm 150 cals under my goal and i force myself to have something else.
b. I'm 211lbs. Not terrible, but i still have plenty to lose so I don't feel the need to eat more and slow down the loss just yet.
c. I go out to eat on saturday nights, and usually friday. If I'm going to have extra calories, I'd rather save them for those nights, when it's not me preparing my food. Therefore I have 1200 cals during the week and maybe 1400 on the weekends and I'm satisfied and losing at a good pace.

I am 5'2 and weigh 117 lbs.

My calorie goal is set at 1,530. I don't always hit that amount (meaning I'm sometimes under like yesterday for example) but as to whether or not I'm always hungry the answer is no. I don't eat until I'm stuffed, I eat until I'm satisfied and IF I think I can eat more I will stop, push my plate away and wait 10-15 minutes and if I feel hungry still then I'll go back and eat a little more but usually I'm not. I also like to stop eating before I'm satisfied if I want to have dessert.

However this all might go out the window next week when I start Insanity and get back to my regular gym schedule in addition.

i'm 5'3'' and i was eating 1200 cal/day, i'm currently set at 1300 cal/day. I eat every 3 hrs so i never find myself getting hungry, by the time i'm feeling hungry it's time to eat again anyway. i also try to adhere to lower carb higher protein meals. I'm also currently at 134lbs.

I am 6'11" and eat 1300 and sometimes up to 1500 on days that I play basketball. I rarely ever get hungry. It's all about eating the right stuff that is low in calories. I fell like I am always eating and I usually stay under.

Looks healthy but I could never do that--I had 4 eggs and oat bran this morning and I could have eaten much more. I'm satisfied but definitely not full.

You shouldn't eat until you're "full". If you are then you're over eating (not being snarky either).

"THEY" say that you should eat until you're satisfied and then stop eating for about 10-20 minutes because that's how long it takes the brain to register that you're full.

Okay--an hour later and I never felt FULL. I also don't think I'm overeating. Sorry--an egg and 2 slices of bacon for breakfast...that's UNDEReating if you ask me.

Hey now...no need to dis my breakfast because someone else gives you advice. Daily meals will vary per person. I have always been a smaller breakfast eater -- but now that I fill my breakfast will protein and fats, I do not feel hungry for a couple hours. When I used to have oatmeal or toast or a banana, it didn't stay with me as long. We each have to find what works for us.

Looks healthy but I could never do that--I had 4 eggs and oat bran this morning and I could have eaten much more. I'm satisfied but definitely not full.

You shouldn't eat until you're "full". If you are then you're over eating (not being snarky either).

"THEY" say that you should eat until you're satisfied and then stop eating for about 10-20 minutes because that's how long it takes the brain to register that you're full.

Okay--an hour later and I never felt FULL. I also don't think I'm overeating. Sorry--an egg and 2 slices of bacon for breakfast...that's UNDEReating if you ask me.

Hey now...no need to dis my breakfast because someone else gives you advice. Daily meals will vary per person. I have always been a smaller breakfast eater -- but now that I fill my breakfast will protein and fats, I do not feel hungry for a couple hours. When I used to have oatmeal or toast or a banana, it didn't stay with me as long. We each have to find what works for us.

I wasn't trying to dis your breakfast--for ME 200 calories or less is undereating. there are some people who skip breakfast altogether--I realize there are differences. I was referring to myself--my apologies for not making that clearer.

I usually have 2 eggs and a 4oz steak or pork chop for breakfast. It's about 250 cals

Would an easier question not have been "Why are you torturing yourself?"

I'm 5' 5" and weigh 139 lbs.

I net 1500, and usually eat around 1800-2200 calories per day. Every once in a while I get hungry during the day (usually the week before my TOM) but it's never really been an issue for me. Maybe my body is running off the reserves that I saved up for 22 years of my life by eating like 4000 cals per day and not exercising. hahaha

I eat like... everything. literally. lol small portions of everything.