allowance

i think it's because our eye's are bigger than our stomachs...lol...i still look at my plate sometimes like "that is all i get"

in time your stomach will shrink and will feel full on smaller portions until then i fill up on drink...i try to drink alot during my meals while still finishing all of my food...i will drink 16 to 24 ozs of water during each meal...and a lot in between as well...sometimes the same amounts during snacks...

and i chew gum to keep my mouth busy...

try making your snacks crunchy foods as well...one of the nutritional scientists i work with said it was proven that our bodies needs crunchy foods for a feeling of satiety...maybe it was mind control for me but it works...pickles, carrots...celery with laughing cow lite cheese and raisins...work well for me...

definitely not a pro but i hope this helps you...

and i just tried to become used to a slight feeling of hunger because i don't over indulge like i used to...well not all the time anyway...

flavored water?

i'm one of the lucky few that LOVES plain water...so i'm a bit biased on that...lol...:drinker:

Make the most of your calories, and be creative. If you are hungry snack on something light that will satify you. You don't want to wait until you are starving and then pig out.

Take the 1200 and divide them by 6 equals 200 calories.

Look for things you like and find away to snack on them for under 100 calories.

I like chocolate so I use some of the special k snack bars. You can do hummus and veggies, then you can add the other 100 back into meals.

Veggies are filling but so few calories. Be real careful not to drink your calories. You can also add back the calories you burn off execising.

Good luck.

Maybe this will help


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits


"Generally someone with a BMI over 32 can do a 1000 calorie a day (2 lbs a week) deficit
With a BMI of 30 to 32 a deficit of 750 calories is generally correct (about 1.5 lbs a week)
With a BMI of 28 to 30 a deficit of 500 calories is about right (about 1 lb a week)
With a BMI of 26 to 28 a deficit of about 300 calories is perfect (about 1/2 lb a week)
and below 26... well this is where we get fuzzy. See now you're no longer talking about being overweight, so while it's still ok to have a small deficit, you really should shift your focus more towards muscle tone, and reducing fat. This means is EXTRA important to eat your exercise calories as your body needs to KNOW it's ok to burn fat stores, and the only way it will know is if you keep giving it the calories it needs to not enter the famine response (starvation mode) "

You are allowed your exercise calories so if you want to eat 1500 calories per day then burn 300 in exercise. I you want to eat 1800 per day then burn 600. The net will be the same and you will be healthier because of the exercise. Or you can adjust your goals downward. Try aiming for losing less per week than you put in the calculator and it will allow you more. Everyone wants to lose fast but it may not be realistic for the long haul. The goal is to find a total plan/regimen you can live with forever and if you cannot live with 1200 cal/day (I sure can't that is why I work out a lot) then adjust the other things around it (exercise or lose slower)