1200 calories = Unbelievably Hungry (What should I eat?)

Lean protein will actually keep you fuller longer, things like seafood sticks are great. Peanut butter is also good,Have it on its own or with a couple of rice cakes. For meals go for hearty soups,theyll fill you no problem:)

After an intense workout, I eat a serving of protein and two servings of carbs within 30 minutes to recharge my body. I feel less hungry when I eat soon after exercise.

Hello Jessebenne,
I have been on a targeted 1200 calories per day for about 11 weeks now, the beginning is very difficult but it's getting better now. HOWEVER, I need to qualify that, I will eat more if I am working out that day, 1200 calories is for the no-workout day. I am actually not sure if it's possible or healthy to be at a low calorie diet for too long. Read that the body will go into starvation mode and slows down our metabolic rate - our God-created bodies are so efficient and if we are ever starving, this is a way to help us survive.

What works for me is complex carbs and lean protein, and lots of vegetables. My choice of complex carbs are 1) baked potato, plain, no toppings, no butter, 2) baked sweet potato, again, all plain, and complex carbs. I choose these over bread, even wholemeal bread, because bread requires shortening to bake, and that is fat. I eat 5-6 smaller meals instead of 3 like before. Usually, breakfast at 7.30am, mid-morning mini meal at 11am, Lunch at 1pm, Mid-afternoon mini meal at 4.30pm, pre-workout mini meal at 6pm, dinner at 8.30pm (or on rest day, dinner at 7.30pm).

I did the South Beach Diet and Atkins previously and I find that I feel better with complex carbs. I'd like to encourage you: I am happy to say that in 11 weeks, I have lost 7.3 lbs and gained muscle mass, and lost 1% bodyfat. That's with working out at the gym 4-5x a week though.

Remember though, all of us are built differently, so be patient and remember that, each healthy step you're taking is a worthwhile one All the best!

Eat more. Especially if you are working out 2 hrs a day.

I agree that you should eat more. Reduce your weekly weight loss goal from 2lbs to 1lb--this will be more sustainable as a lifestyle change. Add more protein to each meal. Cottage cheese and greek yogurt have good protein levels; kashi go lean cereals are high protein; protein bars; egg whites; maybe you could try some other vegetarian options like tofu or tempeh, since you don't care for meat. Also, are you eating 4-6 small meals per day, or sticking to 3 squares? It helps to eat every 3-4hours, a protein/carb combo.

I agree that if you're exercising two hours a day, 1200 calories is not enough. In women working out often just triggers a body response to be even hungrier. There was an interesting article about it in the New York Times a few months ago. It was on April 12, 2010: Weighing the Evidence on Exercise, By Gretchen Reynolds. You might want to read it, as I find that hearing that I'm not crazy and my body is acting normally makes me feel better about really, really wanting to eat more.

My only advice is to try to focus on getting your full seven servings of fruits and vegetables each day. If you eat most of them raw, it ends up being pretty bulky and filling. I also feel like when I'm concentrating on eating more (I don't always get all my fruit and veg into a day's food) I feel happier, because I'm not thinking about what I want but isn't a good choice and feeling sad that I can't eat a giant block of cheese.

Good luck!

When I did another calorie counting program, it had me on 1,500 calories for the same weight I am now and I was losing fine. MFP has me on 1,200 and says I should lose .9 a week, but when I stick to that, I lose 2 a week. 1,200 seems awfully low for someone at 175 pounds. I agree that you should up your calories. And exercise so you can eat a little more, too.

Otherwise, make sure at each meal or snack, you're getting a little fat, a little protein and a little fiber. That will help you stay satisfied.