1200 calorie daily allowance and feeling hungry :(

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Replies

  • chandraminick
    chandraminick Posts: 452 Member
    I have been loosing on 1200 a day. First thing I eat in the morning is a cup or two of plain cheerios and a half cup or cup of skim milk (NO SUGAR). I will also eat this for a snack or for meals because it lasts. I eat my meals at the same time every day, and when I am not having a meal, I find something else to do like exercise, work on my RV, or yard work. Stay away from the kitchen and carry water with you always. At first I couldn't stomach it, but now I am drinking about 4 bottles a day. Don't eat white bread or fried foods as they increase cravings. I eat lean protein like chicken and cube steak on the George Foreman, and I eat plain small gold potatoes microwaved with seasoned salt and butter flavor cooking spray. If you can stomach plain veggies, get a rice steamer and do broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and other stuff in it (use the butter spray if you have to). Make omelets with lots of veggies and mushrooms. You could loose 2 pounds a week if you burn 1000 calories a day in addition to eating the 1200. Hope this helps.
  • peleroja
    peleroja Posts: 3,979 Member
    You've managed to confuse NEAT (doesn't include exercise so caloric intake varies daily dependent on exercise level) and TDEE (averaged based on exercise resulting in a constant daily caloric goal). I'm glad you don't do my accounting since you mix simple terms with different definitions.

    If your logging is as accurate as your posting and knowledge of terms, your weight maintenance is purely luck.

    There's no need to be so snarky. I promise, I log meticulously, and that's why I'm successful. I apologize if it upsets you.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    You've managed to confuse NEAT (doesn't include exercise so caloric intake varies daily dependent on exercise level) and TDEE (averaged based on exercise resulting in a constant daily caloric goal). I'm glad you don't do my accounting since you mix simple terms with different definitions.

    If your logging is as accurate as your posting and knowledge of terms, your weight maintenance is purely luck.

    There's no need to be so snarky. I promise, I log meticulously, and that's why I'm successful. I apologize if it upsets you.
    If there is no need for snarky, why did you go there hours ago with assumptions that others don't understand how MFP works? You mix terms that are not interchangeable, claim special snowflake status and tell others who admit to unwise goals (such as 2 lbs per week with only 8 to lose) to follow your pied piper claims when the very basis of MFP, IIFYM, and Scooby's (among others) disagree with you.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    200 calories is a 16.66667% difference when using 1200 as a baseline. That's a rather liberal tolerance level for someone claiming to be in accounting.
  • emtjmac
    emtjmac Posts: 1,320 Member
    How tall are you, and what are your workouts like? Your ticker says you only have 8 pounds to lose, in which case, you should not have selected "Lose 2 pounds a week" when you set up your goals. Eat more.

    This is troof. Set your weight loss to 0.5 pounds per week and monitor your progress over a month, not a day. It's not a race. Eat at that deficit for one month and then weight yourself. If you keep doing what you're doing, you may be setting yourself up to fail and no one wants to see that happen because most of us know what it feels like.
  • aledba
    aledba Posts: 564 Member
    See, this is what I am dealing with. I have 60 pounds to go, and I am set at 1200 calories per day through the MFP calculator. I'm hungry a LOT. Sadly, after my week of 1200 and doing 4 cardio sessions, I gained 2 pounds. I am not sure I understand what in the world I am doing wrong. This is my first time tracking food as well.
    At 40 mins into your cardio, your body starts burning the muscle. Try strength training! Eat and lift!!!
  • hiphopbunnie
    hiphopbunnie Posts: 37
    Ok thank you everyone for your input and for taking the time to reply! Please don't get so angry -_-'
    I understand 1200 is pretty low but even when I change my goal to 0.5 lbs a week my calorie recommendation is still calculated to be 1300/day which is not that different I think...I also know that my body is stubborn to change. I dont have a lot of weight to lose so those last few pounds are always the most stubborn so I think 1200-1300 is actually not that far off from what I should be consuming. Once I reach my goal I plan to increase my intake to just maintain my weight.
  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    Ok thank you everyone for your input and for taking the time to reply! Please don't get so angry -_-'
    I understand 1200 is pretty low but even when I change my goal to 0.5 lbs a week my calorie recommendation is still calculated to be 1300/day which is not that different I think...I also know that my body is stubborn to change. I dont have a lot of weight to lose so those last few pounds are always the most stubborn so I think 1200-1300 is actually not that far off from what I should be consuming. Once I reach my goal I plan to increase my intake to just maintain my weight.

    Just realize that your MFP goal does not include exercise, it's what you should eat to lose without doing any exercise. You're still supposed to eat a portion of your exercise calories back, which will help fuel your workouts. You said you were hungry - that's why. Most people eat about 50-75% of their exercise calories back.

    The last few pounds are stubborn, which is why you need to give it some time and give your body time to adjust to your new diet/exercise plan. I don't mean to beat a dead horse, I just hate seeing people trying to do this and eating very little when they can eat more and still succeed. I also echo the people who have said to add resistance training, that will take off inches and will probably get to you to your goal body more effectively than just losing weight.
  • katmix
    katmix Posts: 296 Member
    Ok thank you everyone for your input and for taking the time to reply! Please don't get so angry -_-'
    I understand 1200 is pretty low but even when I change my goal to 0.5 lbs a week my calorie recommendation is still calculated to be 1300/day which is not that different I think...I also know that my body is stubborn to change. I dont have a lot of weight to lose so those last few pounds are always the most stubborn so I think 1200-1300 is actually not that far off from what I should be consuming. Once I reach my goal I plan to increase my intake to just maintain my weight.

    Even at maintenance, I only get 1460 cals... Small sedentary bodies just don't require the same amount of fuel.

    Forum posters don't all have the same goals or walk the same journey. Figure out your goal, find what works for you. Posters that have hit goal generally share what has worked for them-and sometimes get a little uptight that others don't share their thoughts on the matter. :flowerforyou:
  • peleroja
    peleroja Posts: 3,979 Member
    200 calories is a 16.66667% difference when using 1200 as a baseline. That's a rather liberal tolerance level for someone claiming to be in accounting.

    Again, no need to attack me personally. 16% of 1200 is less than two tablespoons of peanut butter, which is close enough for me when it comes to calorie counting, which can never be exact without metabolic testing. I'm not upset here and I'm not sure why you continue to insult my intelligence. Take a deep breath and see if you can post without the constant (edited out) snark which I was able to read. I'm happy with my loss, I did it in a safe and healthy manner, and I'm hoping to be able to help someone in a similar situation do the same.

    OP, I'm sorry this got so pedantic. Like I said, I know what it's like and I hope my original suggestions are helpful to you. I'll reiterate that if you're going to stick with a 1200 goal, it's really important you pay attention to your nutrition and get enough fat and protein as well as the vitamins and minerals your body needs.

    I'm gonna leave this alone now. OP, feel free to send me a message or add me a friend. I'm nice, honestly.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    200 calories is a 16.66667% difference when using 1200 as a baseline. That's a rather liberal tolerance level for someone claiming to be in accounting.

    Again, no need to attack me personally. 16% of 1200 is less than two tablespoons of peanut butter, which is close enough for me when it comes to calorie counting, which can never be exact without metabolic testing. I'm not upset here and I'm not sure why you continue to insult my intelligence. Take a deep breath and see if you can post without the constant (edited out) snark which I was able to read. I'm happy with my loss, I did it in a safe and healthy manner, and I'm hoping to be able to help someone in a similar situation do the same.

    OP, I'm sorry this got so pedantic. Like I said, I know what it's like and I hope my original suggestions are helpful to you. I'll reiterate that if you're going to stick with a 1200 goal, it's really important you pay attention to your nutrition and get enough fat and protein as well as the vitamins and minerals your body needs.

    I'm gonna leave this alone now. OP, feel free to send me a message or add me a friend. I'm nice, honestly.

    Noting that you find an over 16% variance as acceptable is not a personal attack or insulting your intelligence. It is citing an observation which you just said is "close enough."
  • cooi
    cooi Posts: 9 Member
    You really might want to track your macronutrients. It could be that you're not getting enough fat/protein... which keep you full and help keep your muscles as you lose weight.

    Use this to calculate your targets: iifym.com/iifym-calculator/
  • Nikkisfitblog
    Nikkisfitblog Posts: 149 Member
    This feed gives me the dumbs.

    Eat more!

    1200 is ridiculous...for any weight loss plan.
  • Grumpsandwich
    Grumpsandwich Posts: 368 Member
    This feed gives me the dumbs.

    Eat more!

    1200 is ridiculous...for any weight loss plan.

    :huh: eyeroll
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    I've never kept a food diary before and I'm shocked to see how quickly the calories add up. Anyone have any tips on how to stay satiated on 1200 cal/day diet?

    With 8 lbs to go, I'll bet you switch your diet loss goal to a reasonable level and you'll survive much better.

    Switch to 1/2 lb weekly, which is only a 250 cal deficit.

    Are you also following the MFP method, that base level of calories is for non-exercise days - just normal daily activity (really sedentary desk job/commute for 45 hrs weekly?).
    On exercise days you burn more, so take off the same deficit - you eat more.

    And losing just 1/2 lb of fat a week is decent volume even if not weight.

    But would you rather the weight be muscle mass?
  • budobo
    budobo Posts: 38
    This feed gives me the dumbs.

    Eat more!

    1200 is ridiculous...for any weight loss plan.

    Your response gives me the rage.

    1200 is suitable for certain sedentary people.
    Noting that you find an over 16% variance as acceptable is not a personal attack or insulting your intelligence. It is citing an observation which you just said is "close enough."

    16% is large when you're talking money; however when you're already changing your diet plans by a 29.4% decrease (1200 cal plan for 1lb/week fat loss), a flex of 16% still keeps you far below your goal
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    This feed gives me the dumbs.

    Eat more!

    1200 is ridiculous...for any weight loss plan.

    1200 is appropriate for some......morbidly obese women can lose weight aggressively (and keep muscle) - petite, senior women may have really low BMR's and need to reduce to 1200 calories for any kind of deficit.

    But OP - fits in neither category - 26 YO / 8 pounds to go......sedentary or not, 1200 is too low
  • friendthegirl
    friendthegirl Posts: 11
    Eat filling foods, foods with a lot of fiber and protein. I moved my calories up to 1330, but I tend to go lower. I did 1200 and wasn't hungry but I made sure almost everything I put in my mouth was filling.
  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
    bump

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