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Having trouble staying under my calories lately..

xoTalim
xoTalim Posts: 212 Member
edited February 5 in Motivation and Support
I eat 1200 a day and it just seems like not enough lately. I've just been having trouble and end up giving in to cravings and over eating. How can I stop this? I try to have self control but it's not easy. :(

Replies

  • RaggedyPond
    RaggedyPond Posts: 1,487 Member
    Exercise more and you can eat more.
  • rhye
    rhye Posts: 104 Member
    Watching this because I am having the same problem, though my net calories are higher than 1200 by a lot. As the previous commenter said, usually I can spend 1-2 hours at the gym and get enough to stay within my calories but working three jobs and with a toddler getting to the gym every day is sometimes hard. And on days I don't get to the gym... oh boy!
  • xoTalim
    xoTalim Posts: 212 Member
    Exercise more and you can eat more.
    I've read on here that there's no point in even doing that because it makes exercising pointless if you're just gunna eat back your calories.
  • pixish
    pixish Posts: 79 Member
    What foods are you eating? You could swap some of them for less calorie dense foods that you can eat more of? A lot of vegetables have barely any calories so you could eat quite a bit of it compared to some foods. You could eat a whole lot of cucumber instead of a tub of yoghurt (even low fat!) Also, drinking water with your meals is something that helps too :)
  • RaggedyPond
    RaggedyPond Posts: 1,487 Member
    Exercise more and you can eat more.
    I've read on here that there's no point in even doing that because it makes exercising pointless if you're just gunna eat back your calories.

    Well if you are hungry and want to eat more but still lose weight you need exercise. So looks like it isn't pointless.
  • iron_jj
    iron_jj Posts: 446 Member
    'it just seems like not enough'

    Because it isn't. Solution? Eat more. Really, is it that hard?
  • lcyama
    lcyama Posts: 209 Member
    everyone is going to tell you to raise your calorie goal to something above 1200 -- to make it your TDEE - 20%.

    i am 4'11" and 50 years old, so my TDEE-20% is 1289. it IS hard to meet. i try to choose nutrient-dense foods, but whenever i eat junk or restaurant fare i go over calories. if i exercise more, i can eat more, but i tend to also be hungrier, too.

    if you can get past those cravings for a week or two, you might find you're not as hungry all the time. oh, you can also try drinking a lot of water to fill you up.
  • xoTalim
    xoTalim Posts: 212 Member
    What foods are you eating? You could swap some of them for less calorie dense foods that you can eat more of? A lot of vegetables have barely any calories so you could eat quite a bit of it compared to some foods. You could eat a whole lot of cucumber instead of a tub of yoghurt (even low fat!) Also, drinking water with your meals is something that helps too :)
    I've been going out a lot lately with family or whatever for dinners and stuff so it's been hard to stay under. And I've had the last 2 days off work so I've been at home and bored so I've just been snacking a lot. :\
  • Cindyinpg
    Cindyinpg Posts: 3,902 Member
    Exercise more and you can eat more.
    I've read on here that there's no point in even doing that because it makes exercising pointless if you're just gunna eat back your calories.

    Well if you are hungry and want to eat more but still lose weight you need exercise. So looks like it isn't pointless.
    Also, exercise improves your overall fitness, so it is never pointless. I burn about 800 extra calories a day and enjoy every one.:drinker:
  • TMLPatrick
    TMLPatrick Posts: 558 Member
    Definitely exercise... it's the only way to stay sane. It is also the only way you're going to get your body to look the way you want, regardless of weight.
  • GiGiBeans
    GiGiBeans Posts: 1,062 Member
    Has anything changed? Activity level? Stress? What you are eating? Sleep patterns? All those things can effect hunger.

    I upped my cals as I lost weight because I was working out harder and longer. So what if it took me a few months longer to lose weight that way? Beats being so hungry ya binge.
  • xoTalim
    xoTalim Posts: 212 Member
    Has anything changed? Activity level? Stress? What you are eating? Sleep patterns? All those things can effect hunger.

    I upped my cals as I lost weight because I was working out harder and longer. So what if it took me a few months longer to lose weight that way? Beats being so hungry ya binge.
    Activity level. I'm a waitress so I'm always on my feet and being active at work and burning calories that I can eat some back of. But I've had the past 2 days off so I've been way less active and getting back into my couch potato days. I go back to work tomorrow though so hopefully I can get back into my routine.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • Snow3y
    Snow3y Posts: 1,412 Member
    don't use MFP to estimate your food allowance, it's retarded.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • Mongognom
    Mongognom Posts: 123
    You exercise to build muscle, so that you burn more calories and to build muscles you need to eat.
This discussion has been closed.

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