How can I stay under 1200 calories w/out being so hungry?

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  • ohhhjadeee
    ohhhjadeee Posts: 4
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    Please take my advice and EAT MORE. I damaged my metabolism, mind and body by eating less than 1200 calories for a long period of time. WE NEED FOOD. EAT MORE please!!! I can not believe I ate that way for so long. I lost my period (and took me 9 months to get it back), I developed an eating disorder & other issues. Eat more, eat to grow!
  • lovingmylifein2013
    lovingmylifein2013 Posts: 54
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    Im supposed to have 1200 calories a day more if I earn them through exercising. If you are hungry snack healthy or eat several small meals. Dont forget to drink your water to lose water weight, and keep you feeling fuller, longer. Your metabolism is going up you are going to be hungry. So.. eat!
  • Alluminati
    Alluminati Posts: 6,208 Member
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    what if I told you, you can still lose weight and eat more than 1200 calories???

    whoa
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
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    what if I told you, you can still lose weight and eat more than 1200 calories???

    This. You're probably hungry because you aren't eating enough.
  • ecw3780
    ecw3780 Posts: 608 Member
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    make sure you eat back your exercise calories. Look for places where you are wasting calories...skim milk vs 2%, 1 ounce of sliced cheese vs 1 ounce of grated (grated goes further). make sure you are actually eating a serving. A friend of mine was always over estimating what she ate when it came to peanut butter. She logged 3 TBSP instead of 1.5. It makes a big difference. Drink a ton of water....16 ounce before each meal. 40% of your calories should come from protein. Get 30 grams of fiber a day.

    It is possible to eat 1200 calories and be full, it just takes a little getting use to.
  • nathan6878
    nathan6878 Posts: 115 Member
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    I make sure that I get plenty of water in through my day!! I also make sure I am having plenty of protein to keep myself full, but also making sure that I don't go over my calorie set limit.
  • mike_ny
    mike_ny Posts: 351 Member
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    1200 sounds too low, but I won't go there since several others have.

    Drink lots of water to carry you through between meals and cut back on the carbs. Protein and fat will keep you from feeling hungry much better than carbs ever will. I can eat carbs all day and still be hungry, but a couple eggs fried in coconut oil with some full fat cheese for breakfast and I'm good for most of the day. It sounds crazy to eat high fat and dense calories to lose weight, but it's the daily numbers and not the individual meals that matter and I consistently eat less net calories eating high fat calorie dense satisfying food than I would trying to not stay hungry eating low fat food and snacks that never satisfy the cravings.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,488 Member
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    Why are you trying to stay under 1200 calories?! Of course you're hungry. Pretty much everyone would be. Eat more.
  • bridgie101
    bridgie101 Posts: 817 Member
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    So I've been getting on track far as working out and eating for the most part but I feel like I was way off track this weekend. I'm having a hard time eating healthy and I honestly don't know what to do from here. When I'm staying under 1200 calories, I'm starving. What am I doing wrong?

    Go up a bit. I started doing 1700 calories, and when my tummy shrank to that, I went down to 1400. then I unfortunately realised I had zero activity and the evil MFP monster told me it was only 1200. Sob.

    But honestly, you're still losing at 1700cals a day and you won't be ravenous. it's way easier to start gently. :)
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
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    So you're new here. How bout some generic tips in general. Some of these apply directly:

    here ya go:

    1. don't trust the initial setup that MFP provides. If you put in the wrong/inaccurate information, it'll tell you to eat an amount that may not be applicable.
    2. Make sure you eat enough.
    3. Figure out what works for you and is sustainable/healthy/long term.
    4. avoid fads. don't buy in to any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"
    5. Don't cut out anything now that you don't plan on literally giving up forever.
    6. GET A FOOD SCALE. Weigh everything. No, seriously.
    7. Get an HRM with a chest strap. You'll at least have a better idea of what you're burning. It'll be more accurate than the generic info in the exercise database.. and even more than the cardio machines. This is great for steady state cardio (run/walk/etc)
    8. Don't go balls out. You'll burn out. I see 300 lb people show up here, instantly start working out and cutting their intake SEVERELY... trying to cut out all of their carbs at once.. whatever. Take it slow. Figure out how much you need to eat FIRST in order to lose.. then incorporate exercise.
    9. Don't cardio yourself to death.
    10. Take the information on the forums with a grain of salt. A lot of people that have been here for a while.. and have been successful, may seem jaded. They give out GREAT advice day after day, only to be met with people that refuse to listen.
    11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
    12. don't set time restrictions.
    13. measure yourself weekly. Don't just weigh. Measure and take pictures.
    14 BE PATIENT.
    15. Avoid forum topics that have "1200" in the title. It's just full of butthurt. Lots of it.
    16. This isn't a game, it's about changing your lifestyle. Do that.

    pretty much that.

    ...and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:

    the typical MFP users does this:
    1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
    2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
    3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
    4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that.. then they work out on top of it.. creating an even bigger deficit.
    5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
    6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, not losing weight.
    7. Get on the forums, ask why they aren't losing.
    8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
    9. Argument ensues about who is right.

    Now. That being said. These threads happen hundreds of times per day. Most times, and I mean really.. seriously.. 95% of the time.. people get the 1200 number because they don't put the right information in when they set up the account. There are a great number of people that are trying to help. I'm one of 'em.

    I'm a hardcore advocate of actually finding out what works for the individual.. by means of other calculators, averages, time, practice, and patience.

    Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.

    Find out what you need: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
    Take the tips, links, and info above and make the cart more manageable.

    That was beautiful, and 100% accurate. Unfortunately I doubt it will change much. It should be a sticky in every forum.
  • ChristmasCheer
    ChristmasCheer Posts: 1 Member
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    Lean protein and fiber, like chicken breast and apples. Be sure to only eat whole grains, and nothing white.... bread, rice, sugar. Watermelon is low in calories and very filling. Milk expands in your stomach, so a glass of low fat milk might help. For breakfast eat oatmeal, this will sound strange but this keeps me full till lunch, mix an egg in the pot of oatmeal before eating it. The extra protein will keep you satisfied. I only add milk to the oatmeal in addition to the one egg. No butter or sugar if you can stand it. Add some fresh or frozen berries for flavor/sweetness. You will not taste the egg, it will just taste richer. Be sure to take a good vitamin supplement. BTW I am on a 1200 calorie diet. I do not eat my exercise points, or I will not lose the weight. I have a medical condition that limits my activity so I need to limit my caloric intake or I will become obese aggravating my condition not to mention creating others. I hope this helps.
  • EstherStark
    EstherStark Posts: 11 Member
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    A woman should NEVER go under 1200 calories according to everything I read because under 1200 calories your body goes into starvation mode and starts storing all the carbs & fat that you've eaten to protect itself. All health articles I've ever read say to never go under 1200 calories. Maybe try eating more snacks and smaller meals might help but stay at a minimum of 1200. I suggest you Google articles of women's minimum calorie intake for additional information. Hope that helps. ;-)
  • the_summer_belle
    the_summer_belle Posts: 353 Member
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    From what i've read women of any size should never eat under 1200 calories because that puts the body into starvation mode and the body retains fat salt and water in order to function you can damage internal organs and your heart by doing thos for too long its dangerous. I eat 1270 calories a day and i eat every three hours. A hearty breakfast a small morning snack a good sized lunch another small snack then dinner and yogurt or a small ice block for dessert and im still loosing weight. And most importantly i am never ever hungry.
  • Wetcoaster
    Wetcoaster Posts: 1,788 Member
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    Lean protein and fiber, like chicken breast and apples. Be sure to only eat whole grains, and nothing white.... bread, rice, sugar. Watermelon is low in calories and very filling. Milk expands in your stomach, so a glass of low fat milk might help. For breakfast eat oatmeal, this will sound strange but this keeps me full till lunch, mix an egg in the pot of oatmeal before eating it. The extra protein will keep you satisfied. I only add milk to the oatmeal in addition to the one egg. No butter or sugar if you can stand it. Add some fresh or frozen berries for flavor/sweetness. You will not taste the egg, it will just taste richer. Be sure to take a good vitamin supplement. BTW I am on a 1200 calorie diet. I do not eat my exercise points, or I will not lose the weight. I have a medical condition that limits my activity so I need to limit my caloric intake or I will become obese aggravating my condition not to mention creating others. I hope this helps.

    Good troll.....do you lift?
  • alexis_ipina
    alexis_ipina Posts: 1 Member
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    Eat more fiber, drink green tea and water,eat fruits and vegetables, on your main meals make them huge but with vegetables! Trick your brain into thinking you ate alot and it gelos so much! Good luck!
  • aishah313
    aishah313 Posts: 6
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    When I'm staying under 1200 calories, I'm starving. What am I doing wrong?

    I guess what I meant was staying at 1200 calories, not under 1200. I've also read that the bare minimum should be 1200. But I went to the grocery store yesterday and I got LOTS of vegetables and fruits. So I'm confident switching up my eating habits will help. Thanks to you guys I've passing another hump in the road. I'm also excited about the new recipes I can use with my fruits!
  • SkaterGirl704
    SkaterGirl704 Posts: 37 Member
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    Say if you work out your calorie intake is of calories is1200 you said, well if you work out then you will burn some of those calories off so you would have to eat back. Say if you burn 300 calories per workout you would eat 300. You are problaby hungey cause you are eating foods high in calorie. Just cause something looks healthy does not mean that it totally is.
  • SkaterGirl704
    SkaterGirl704 Posts: 37 Member
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    BTW eating under1200 calories in not healthy. I am 5 ft 5, 105, and MFP told me to eat about 1280 calories per day. Sometimes I eat about 1500, the odd day I will eat 2000! But I do cardio 6 times a week for an hour, and weight train, so I burn many calories off sometimes 700 per workout. Don't always listen to MFP. You should eat up to 1300/1400 calories. No wonder you are starving.
  • happysherri
    happysherri Posts: 1,360 Member
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    I don't know why 1200 is the magical MFP number. It's far too low for most people to maintain without compromising muscle mass and health. We are large organisms by nature (say compared to an amoeba, or even a cat) and it takes a lot to fuel our bodies. I recommend raising your daily intake.

    this
  • Snow3y
    Snow3y Posts: 1,412 Member
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    Don't under-eat. Simple.

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