People who complains about

I also find it odd. Even eating super duper healthy it is hard to do it under 1200 cals.

Actually, that's a common misconception.

I am overweight because of conservation/starvation mode. I had, prior to MFP, never eaten more than 1 meal a day. I was often told by the doctor and others that if I wanted to lose weight I had to start eating. I started gaining as a, very active, professional dancer who thought lunch was supposed to be a bottle of water and a cigarette! So it wasn't a sedentary lifestyle or overeating.

When I first started MFP it was very difficult to eat my calories every day, not to mention the terrible idea of HAVING to eat breakfast. I had always eaten plenty of fresh produce and lean protein, I just failed to eat more than 1 meal. My calorie average was 700 a day, and never more than 1200.

Now I eat three meals a day plus snacks and am, happily, losing. Yet, there are still days I have problems eating enough mostly because so much of my diet is produce. Those are the days I have a big, fresh smoothie!

So, it's different for all of us. But that's why MFP is so great, there's someone here who relates to all our idiosyncracies.:flowerforyou:

Sorry, I too have now had a vent session!

Actually, that's a common misconception.

I am overweight because of conservation/starvation mode. I had prior to MFP never eaten more than 1 meal a day. I was often told by the doctor and others that if I wanted to lose weight I had to start eating. I started gaining as a, very active, professional dancer who thought lunch was supposed to be a bottle of water and a cigarette! So it wasn't a sedentary lifestyle or overeating.

When I first started MFP it was very difficult to eat my calories every day, not to mention the terrible idea of HAVING to eat breakfast. I had always eaten plenty of fresh produce and lean protein, I just failed to eat more than 1 meal. My calorie average was 700 a day, and never more than 1200.

Now I eat three meals a day plus snacks and am, happily, losing. Yet, there are still days I have problems eating enough mostly because so much of my diet is produce. Those are the days I have a big, fresh smoothie!

So, it's different for all of us. But that's why MFP is so great, there's someone here who relates to all our idiosyncracies.:flowerforyou

Sorry, I too have now had a vent session!

I agree! I had the same problem. When you don't eat a lot of carbs it truly is hard to get your calories. I try to eat more proteins, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables rather than breads/crackers, etc.

I'm doing it now. There are days that I have less than 1200 calories and dont feel like i'm starving.
I lost more than 60 LBS a couple of years ago having less than 1200 calories a day, something i only had 800 a day. it wasnt healthy but i had done it and i know it can be possible. I gained the weight eventually over a period of 5 years after i stopped taking care of myself and that is the reason why im here. But eating less than 1200 calories a day is very possible. plently of food out there that are low in calories.

I measure EVERYTHING I eat, and sometimes, especially when I first started out, I would have a claorie deficit of at least 200 without being hungry. It's not about telling the truth in some cases. I wouldn't be intolerant or not compassionate about this in the future as you don't know the circumstance that they are in calorie deficit that day. Maybe they are doing something wrong and you can give them some advice instead of saying "oh please, gimme a break" next time.

Sorry, but that was my vent about people that don't take other people's point of view into account.

Sorry to jump in would you mind expl. that fasting thing ? what is it - and where did you get it from ? is that even healthy ?

Never heard of it.

I have a hard time eating my calories most days. I am sure it is because I am eating alot more bulk then I did before. In other words, eat a piece of cake for say 400 calories then eat 400 calories of vegetables.... HUGE DIFFERENCE! I was easily scarfing down 2500-3000 calories a day with processed, fat-filled food. Now I have a hard time eating 1200 cause I don't get "hungry" often.

My thoughts exactly.

Sometimes it is difficult to get all my calories without going over in total fats and/or sugar grams. This is the educational and most important part of MFP. We are not just dieting to lose -- or in some cases -- gain weight. We are learning how to balance everything. We are learning how to eat for nutrition as well as taste. It takes daily thought, planning and research to get everything in balance. I don't hit everything precisely each day. But I am getting closer.

Wow!

There are days I come in at 600 calories and I don't feel the hunger.

It happens.

My doctor believes me and so does my mom.

Have a good day.

I don't have this problem. But I have noticed that when I eat healthy 3 meals and maybe 1 snack and no junk food what so ever, it's hard to get to 1200 calories. My problem is junk food, so I can easily get a cupcake and go over. When I started this change, one day I cooked a healthy dinner of chicken, rice (I need carbs) and veggies, the meal was under 350 calories and I was so full. So it just all depends on what kind of foods you eat. If my co-worker didn't have a big bowl of fun size candy bars on her desk, I wouldn't make it to 1200 calories on the weekdays. Working in an office sucks, almost everyday someone is bringing in donuts, candy, pizza, etc.

If you struggle to keep under your calorie goal it's fair enough that you'd be confused and maybe a little envious of those who struggle to meet their calories at all, but I do have to say you're not the first person to say something along these lines. I know for a fine fact why, on some days, I struggle to hit my calorie goal.

I'm down to a target of around 1900 cals. Given that I'm 323 pounds this is unsuprising. When I started on MFP, my cal goal was 2500. This was to loose a pound a week.

I tried to eat healthily, sustituting old bad foods for new healthy foods, proper fruits and vegetables etc and found that it brought my calories down so dramatically that I actually had to eat s**t to keep my cals up. So yes, I lost weight eating chocolate bars for the first half a month or so.

I didn't get to the weight I am by starving myself, I didn't get to the weight I am by eating mountains full of fruit veg and wholegrains, I got to the weight I am with chips, chocolate, cheese, and toast. Oh my god.

Since starting here I have had to ban siced bread from the house because I just cannot resist toast...a typical day before would have meant nothing for breakfast, a toast binge for lunch (you're talking 8 slices, smothered in margarine) followed by god knows what served with tons of oven chips. Then I'd look at my husband with my big blue eyes and say "fancy puds?" to which he would inevitably say oooh yes and one of us would head to the shop below our flat and buy a cake. A whole, big, family sized cake. And devour it between us in one sitting.

So is it any wonder that now we've cut that out and no longer eat chips but baby new potatoes with veg instead, and not 4 chicken steaks but 2 and not a whole cake between us but a single relatively low cal dessert such as muller rice...that we find it difficult to reach our calorie allowance?

I really want to start exercising now because I know that once this weight is off I'm going to be sooooo flabby from it, but actually I'm afraid if I start doing any decent ammount of cardio I'll not be able to fuel my body enough without resorting to the more unhealthy things to meet my goal, and what will the point in that be? So when I reach a point where it is difficult to keep under my calories, then I shall start, and I think that frankly anyone who finds it difficult to stay under their calories for the day need to get moving, not just to tone up and get healthy (health isn't just a weight) but to give themselves freedom to eat a little more!

i swim laps 3-4 times a week for 3 hours i am almost always under 400 cal a day

Even those who gained weight the old-fashioned way, by overeating and leading a sedentary lifestyle, probably got that way by eating a lot of bad foods. It's very easy to consume massive calories if you're eating junk food and fast food -- lots of bad fats, empty carbs, and sodium. If you're eating "clean" (no white flour, white rice, or sugar; only lean meats, fruits & veggies, whole grains, limited dairy, healthy fats), which is what many of us do to get in shape, it can become very hard to reach your calorie goals. There aren't a lot of calories in leafy greens, berries, and lean meats. And as others have said, two cups of broccoli is going to keep you full a lot longer than two cups of ice cream, so you're both eating fewer calories and not wanting to eat as often.

Just as an example, I made a Moroccan chicken dish last night that had red bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, broccoli, carrots, a ton of spices, and boneless/skinless chicken breasts. The only added fat was a quick spray of olive oil Pam to keep the veggies from sticking and some low-sodium chicken broth. I'm still full from it this morning, and the dish had less than 150 calories per serving (I entered the whole recipe on MFP to confirm).

The only way I make my calorie and protein goals most days is by relying on whey protein shakes.

i swim laps 3-4 times a week for 3 hours i am almost always under 400 cal a day

This is called an eating disorder. You need help.

"I am overweight because of conservation/starvation mode. I had, prior to MFP, never eaten more than 1 meal a day."

One meal a day can easily be enough calories to cause you to gain weight. I took my daughter out for her birthday and my dinner at the restaurant wasn't a ton of food, but it was three days' worth of calories.

Just sayin'.