Feeling worse on the 1200 calories

Are you eating back exercise calories?

How is your fat intake?

How is your fibre intake?

How is your protein intake?

What are your meals that you're eating? Unless they are very carefully nutritionally balanced, eating the same meals every day is not a good idea as you will likely be lacking in some micronutrients. Most people would also quickly get bored eating the same food every day.

How long were you on 1400? It's basically impossible not to lose on 1400. Either you didn't give it long enough, or you're underestimating your calorie intake. Plus you're supposed to eat back exercise calories... 1200 is way too little food.

Either way, it's a poor use of 1200 calories. Ditch the rice cakes, they don't fill you up at all. Have a sandwich at lunch OR a bagel in the morning, not both. Replace one of those with protein and veggies.

--I am eating the following:

--Breakfast - bagel with low fat spread
--Lunch - Low fat cheese sandwich on wholemeal bread, three rice cakes and a medium sized apple
--Dinner - Birdseye chicken char-grill & stir fried vegetables
--Snack - Pop corn/additional rice cakes

I would be hungry too! Is there any way you can do a more substantial breakfast? Eggs, beans, chicken, lean ham or beef? Switch the rice cakes and apple at lunch to fresh berries and a 100 calorie pack of nuts perhaps? Add some cooked greens or a large spinach salad to dinner maybe?

When I did 1200 calories for several weeks, I started to catch every illness that came around. Stayed weak and sick. Some of us need to eat a bit more food. An extra 100 calories a day of nutrient dense food makes tons of difference in how one feels.

I just don't know I guess i'm eating the wrong things - i have a thing about bread... I stuck the 1400 out for about three months losing a kg and putting it back on the following week so averaging out at the same weight. What do you all eat to keep you fuller? I always heard it should be carbs for energy but a lot of people have been telling me to go for protein. The last time i limited my carbs i turned into a total demon personality for a few weeks until i gave in and reached for the toast

If you opened your diary then we could see what you were eating and maybe be helpful. I agree that you should weigh/measure to make sure you really are eating the amount you think you are eating.

I know for me where my calories come from is just as important as how many claories I eat. Some people do well with just cutting calories and others do not. I need to stick to very limited amounts of processed foods, which includes bread unless I bake it myself. I eat a lot of veggies and some fruits and starches to keep my carbs at a moderate level, but not nearly as high as MFP suggests. I can maintain on the level of carbs suggested by the program, but I won't lose.

I spent many, many months under the care of a registered dietitian. She was at a loss as to what to do with me because I was so meticulous about my food diary and would follow every suggestion she gave me as far as calories and exercise went. I was frustrated because in a good month I would lose about half a pound. Finally I started to "eat clean" by avoiding as many things as I could that have labels. Instead of buying products I buy ingredients and make my own. That was when I was finally able to lose a significant amount of weight.

Pay attention to things like stress and sleep. Too much stress and not enough sleep will hurt your weightloss efforts too.

My Fitness Pal is beautiful in that they offer this easy set up and tracking for free. Enter your information and weight loss goals accurately and realistically. Eat your cals - all of them. If you exercise (and you should), eat back at least a portion of those exercise calories. Don't panic, you will still be eating at a deficit as the original daily goal MFP gives you already has you at a deficit, and making that deficit bigger by not eating back exercise calories will come back to haunt you sooner than later. Food is fuel, so eat it! You daily NET cals should be at or very near goal every day. Drink water. Take rest days, at least one every week. Get good rest at night.

And have patience. You didn't put the weight on overnight (or in two months) and it's not going all go away overnight - but it will happen and you will see results that stick with you if you take the time to learn to do it right. Develop the healthy habits now, things you can do for the rest of your life so you're not back in the same boat a year from now wishing you had a new quick fix or that you had started the right way a long time ago.