Finding it really hard to stay under or at 1200 calories per

You just have to watch the portion size you eat. The problem I have is that I always eat way to much

What do you have your calorie goal set for? I absolutely cannot eat at 1200 cals per day either so I have my weight loss goal set to lose only 1/2 pound per week. Also, I make sure I get some form of cardio each day so I can eat a little extra. I am eating in the range of 1500 to 1800 each day and I am losing. Granted, it is not at the rate many seem to require in order to stay motivated, but it works for me.

1200 is very low. BTW you should never consume under 1200, this can force your body into starvation mode. Listen to your body too! If it is too hard to maintain 1200 consider bumping things up. Sometimes people try to restrict their calories too much and it is only to their detriment.

I tried the 1200 calories a day (2lbs a week loss goal) and I just couldn't do it long term. So I switched to 1 1/2 lbs to lose a week and I'm at 1400 calories and that makes a big difference for me and I STILL lose 2lbs a week on average

So it could be that it's just not a good goal for you if you can't do that very long you're more likely to completely binge at some point.

i am set on 1200 a day also and always stay under my calorie goal..... but it only stays under as i exercise frequently throughout the day (burn on average 1000 which gives you extra calorie intake), have smaller portion sizes, and eat things that are going to satisfy me but are not high in calories.
I notice when i dont move around alot i am more likely to want to eat the larger portion sizes or i tend to snack (alot) so i always try and keep myself busy. Next time you feel hungry have a glass of cold water with your food, give yourself half of what you would normally have and go outside, clean the house, etc anything that will take your mind of food until it is time for the next meal.
If it is proving to hard after that then your better off giving yourself more calories and slowly working your way down to 1200, maybe start at 1600 and each month take a 100 calories off that?!?

Goodluck :-)



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I really liked The Biggest Loser Club online when I used it a couple years ago. I needed a dummy proof plan where someone said "eat this at this time". Previously when I tried to count calories or "points" I would blow my daily allowance on empty calories or spread my allowance on only one or two meals which led to me being hungry all the time. Not Effective.

The Biggest Loser Club tells you what to eat and when and the nutritional recommendations are very similar to those on MFP. Also, if you don't like the food they suggest you can "swap" ingredients or whole meals for something nutritionally similar. You can also track your food like on MFP if you eat something that's not on your plan (they make suggestions but you always enter what you actually ate).

Unlike MFP there is a cost (I think I paid 20 dollars a month) but I found it was probably the best investment I ever made. After a year, making the right choices and eating regularly was a habit so I no longer needed the meal suggestions. That's when I switched to MFP because I only needed a place to track my food and MFP is FREE! :happy: Good Luck to you! :happy:

My goal is set at 1200/day, too. Some days it's easier than others. There are two things that help me. The first is exercise - either biking or my Wii Fit routine. Secondly, I strictly regulate two meals a day (try Greek yogurt for breakfast. There's a lot of protein in there and it fills me up more than I would have thought. Just watch the sugar content) and have whatever I want for the third one while trying to control the portion. It makes me feel good cause I feel like I'm "cheating" on one meal, but I've built it into my diet with the two low-cal meals, so it works!

1200 calories was certainly too low for me when I was in weightloss mode. 1200cal is the minimum intake recommended for women, yes, but there's a natural difference in requirements already, depending on how tall you are. I averaged around 1450 calories before exercise (and I ate most of those calories, too) while I was losing weight. I also found I had to make my target loss/week less aggressive the closer I was to my goal weight.

Good luck

Haveyou thought about slightly increasing your calories I did this and I exercise at home 2-3times a week even walking the stairs for 15 mins if I can.
I also take pills to stop me getting so hungry and they work.

Exercise exercise exercise! I consider any workouts I do a way to “earn” extra calories so I don’t have to go crazy trying to stick to 1200.

The hardest part about starting an exercise routine is just that, starting! For the first couple of weeks you will have to force yourself, it will be an almost physical battle - but once you are in the swing of it, it becomes natural, and you will grow to enjoy the way it makes you feel! I suggest sleeping in your workout gear to begin with (that’s the only way I could get out of bed when I first started) that way you aren’t so tempted to hit snooze, and just go for a half hour walk to start off . As your fitness improves, increase your workout times.

Well said!