1200-1400 Calorie Range. Are you hungry?

I just recently dropped from 1,500 to about 1,400 and I do get hungry and still have crazy cravings but I've just been using baby carrots and any other super low cal snacks I can eat when I start feeling the hunger to keep from going over in calories.

Hey, I did first start in that calories range, starting at 1200-1300. That was last summer and I didn't go to class so I had a lot of time to spend planning healthy meals. I had a lot of chicken/fish and vegetables, so it did keep me pretty full I would also only eat wholewheat rice/pasta/bread. It can happen though, that when you start, your stomach is all streched out from having very big portions, then you will feel it "shrink" (not sure it actually shrinks but you get used to eating less)
I later upped my calories to 1500 and I would still lose weight. I never eat back my exercise calories on purpose

My biggest problem, to be honest is not the hunger, but wanting to eat these high calories foods like chocolate and candy... I'll eat them, not because I'm hungry, but because I want them...

I started eating only 1200 calories in July. I'm 20 (19 then) and weighed 305. The first few days were horrible and painful. I was starving and the only thing I could think about was food constantly during those few days. At the time I still drank pop so I cut down to one cup at dinner which was also very hard. My day usually consisted of a bagel with weight watchers cream cheese and a banana for breakfast, salad and dressing for lunch and dinner would consist of something healthy less than 500 calories (usually chicken) and if I had calories left over I would get a small snack. I counted and measured everything. I walked almost everyday which really helped in the beginning because I didn't want to loose that hard work I just put in by eating something bad. After about four days I was really into it. I had so much more energy since I was actually moving around and eating healthy and I cut out pop for good. I stopped starving and felt full. I started school back up in early September and weighed and now weigh 285. I started eating out again and stopped counting. I'm trying to get back into it. I know I will feel better and happy again when I do. The first few days are really tough and I've been messing up about every afternoon wanting to go back to 1200 or even just eating health period.

Edit: I also drank lots of water to help with hunger. I drank about 5 regular size water bottles a day.

I eat between 1200-1500 calories a day, my macros are 15% carbs, 35% protein, and 50% fat. I honestly am almost never hungry, or at least not hungry the way I used to get all the time before I switched to Paleo. Now, after a couple of hours, my stomach might make an occasional noise, but I never feel myself getting physically hungry. Upping my water intake helped as well, I'm sure

my calories are 1230 per day. I am not really hungry, but I hate to eat out thinking I will go over. My daughter feels 1230 is to low and my body will go into starvation mode. I exercise with yoga, palates and a boot caamp. I do 5 days a week of exercise, but not much on he weekends. I am 68 yeas old, so does anyone have a thought. I am lost in this department of calories counting. My weight is 144.5. Thanks for any advice.

I'm not hungry per se at that level but I make sure I get a lot of satiety bang for my calorie buck. Foods that are full of fiber, protein, water and meals that have some fat are best for keeping you full. Read Volumetrics by Barbara Rolls for the science.

My goal is 1380 and I eat under that with or without exercise calories. I'm pretty satisfied with my intake and I do not eat back most of my exercise calories.

My goal is 1200 calories. I'm never hungry. In fact, I usually near the end of my day, realizing I didn't eat enough and need to have another meal. When I exercise, I make sure I eat those calories as well.

I don't usually eat back all of my exercise calories because I believe that it's over estimated --- however, MFP lists me at 1210 for my daily goal - however, as long as I stay under 1500, I'm happy (even if I don't go for a run that day)

I'm at 1340 using the IIFYM method with 20% carbs, 45% fat, and 35% protein. As long as I meet my protein and fat goals I don't feel hungry until mealtimes. While this method is new, I've always found that if I increase my carbs and/or don't eat protein with them, I will feel hungry. No, I don't increase my calories on days that I exercise unless it's in excess (i.e. a half-marathon). I also don't go anywhere without my bottle of water. I find that if I'm dehydrated I'm more likely to eat more.

I eat in that calorie range and I don't eat my exercise calories back. There are times when I get hungry but for the most part my body has adjusted like most I got headaches in the beginning, but haven't had them in a while. I don't go out of my way to eat protein I just try and eat mostly healthy foods that fall inside my calorie goal.

I stay in the 1200-1350 range most days, but some days I go under and some days I go over. I stay pretty satisfied. I find that the key to eating this calorie limit is to eat an adequate volume of food, while keeping the calories within range. For instance, if I want a snack that's around 100 calories, I can either choose a small cookie that takes less than a minute to eat, and doesn't displace a very large volume in my stomach, or I can have a 100 calorie bag of microwave popcorn, that I can eat one kernel at a time for several minutes, that will make my stomach feel pleasantly full when I'm done. And since I've been in the habit of eating this way for a couple of months, I find that my stomach feels full a lot sooner than it did when I first started. So watch the calories and the physical volume of the foods you eat. If you want to satisfy a craving for pizza, have a slice with a big green salad (watch the calories in the dressing). I also find it helps to take smaller bites, and to chew each bite thoroughly, actually savoring the food. :drinker:

I just wanted to know if you are in the calorie range of 1200-1400 daily, do you try to get more protein to keep you full? Also, when you workout, do you eat back exercise calories or no? When you first started that calorie range, did you have headaches or feel hungry and then your body just adjust to it? Please advise. Just seeking info.

I'm hungry at anything less than 1700 calories. 1700 is my bare minimum if I eat low-cal, nutrient-dense stuff.

I just wanted to know if you are in the calorie range of 1200-1400 daily, do you try to get more protein to keep you full? Also, when you workout, do you eat back exercise calories or no? When you first started that calorie range, did you have headaches or feel hungry and then your body just adjust to it? Please advise. Just seeking info.

Congratulations on your weight loss! Good job!

I started at 1,200 calories and ate a portion of my exercises calories back. I didn't feel horrible, but I didn't feel as energetic as I thought I should. I always felt a bit hungry too but I never had headaches. As I began to learn about portion control (again!), my body did learn to adjust to eating less more often.

I decided 1,200 was too aggressive for the weight I needed to lose and set my goals to lose 1 pound per week. I think I'd lost 15 pounds and was 28 pounds from my goal. I began to feel less hungry I ate most of my exercise calories back.

When I had 10 pounds to lose, I set my goals to lose .5 pounds a week because it was a slower rate and as I reach maintenance I don't want to make a big jump in calories to maintain. I now eat 1,630 plus my exercise calories back as closely as I can. The reason I do this is because I weight lift and I run, and do other exercise, because I absolutely love to exercise and it helps my 51 year old body stay well oiled and pain free. You want to always make sure your body is properly fueled whether or not you chose to exercise.

I do eat a lot of protein in my diet-fish, red meat, chicken, nuts, beans, whole wheat products, oatmeal (the real stuff ), as well as plenty of carbs too because I run. I try to keep everything in balance and remember that nothing is forbidden, except that food which I am intolerant to-soy and lactose. I am also sugar sensitive, which for me means eating limited amounts of processed sugars. You just have to listen to your body.