How hard can it be to eat 1200 calories, what's up with that

I'm with ya--- I have a HUGE appitite!

Wow. Anorexic? Hardly.

I think the people are more confused about eating back the calories they work off through exercise.

I haven't read many posts saying people don't know how to eat all 1200 calories.

Although today I didn't. LOL But I'm FULL! I average about 1400 a day.

I had about 900 cals for most of the day. I forced myself to eat the last bits to cover into 'safe' territory but still was unable to eat all my suggested calories.

I'm not anorexic. This doesn't happen every day.

Most days, I get hungry after 5pm. So I spread out my cals in the midday and morning so that I can eat whatever I feel like in the evenings. Sometimes I don't get hungry in the evenings and that is how it becomes hard to eat all my calories.

It IS hard to eat them all sometimes, because while I could go grab a burger and fill my entire calories for the day on that, I'd rather try to find healthy choices and fill up on those.

I can relate to not getting in enough calories, there have been occasional days I have gone most of the day not eating much due to business or distraction. However, I agree, most people would not have a problem with meeting a 1200 cal intake, especially considering that one meal at a restaurant can reach those amounts easily. With that said, just because someone eats a very low cal diet it does not mean that they cannot gain weight... in fact, it's people who starve themselves repeatedly who screw up their metabolism (and hormone balance) the most, thus causing them to gain weight even eating a 1200 calorie diet. Not to mention the lack of energy they must have and therefore can't possibly exercise to develop lean muscle necessary to burn calories or increase metabolism. Going on a very low calorie diet should never be attempted on one's own, only through a certified nutritionist, monitored carefully, and only for a short duration. Otherwise it will certainly be detrimental to the body.

I struggle with an eating disorder...but I'm learning to control it. Sometimes it really truly is hard to think about eating 1200 calories. It's a mindset thing. *hides behind laptop* don't judge me!!

I'm set at 1200 calories and some days I have a really hard time eating 1200. Today I ate 1234 calories and I feel like I ate a lot (my food diary is public if you want to check) I make everything, eat lots of whole grains, drink tons of water, fruits, veggies...stuff like that. It's filling and not very calorie dense. I just had to eat an apple after my workout just so it would put me over 1200 calories...some days I'm filled and am only at 1100 and I just call it a day because I can't imagine eating anything else!

I'm by no means anorexic and the past week and a half I have struggled most days to get my caloric intake above 800 calories. I don't force myself to eat if I'm not hungry. I work out which makes me not hungry. Sometimes I'm running around too much at work or the food has too high of a sugar content for me to eat without getting sick. Other times I eat a lot... but it's all very low calories and doesn't add up to what people would like.

On an ending note I'd just like to add that I think the comment about "must be anorexic" was quite rude and disrespectful.

The best way to lower your calorie intake is to be sure to eat every 3 hours or so and to eat very low calorie/nutrient dense foods (most of your fresh vegetables), lean meats (for protein) and a small amount of fruit and good fats (olive oil and avocado). Remove all processed foods and sugars and you can easily survive on 1200 calories healthfully. Remember, the body usually burns anywhere from 1500 - 1800 calories, give or take, depending on your size and lean muscle mass, just to maintain itself (breathing, digesting, etc.) So when you exercise, you should increase your cal intake to maintain a deficit of not more than 1000 calories a day (2 lbs a week). This way your body burns the fuel you provide it and releases fat to burn (depending on how you workout) instead of using it's own muscle tissue as fuel.

I just had a look at my net cals - I haven't netted 1200 all week. I eat regularly, I eat tonnes of veges, protein and good fats, plus some brown rice and toast. My cals are set at 1200 and normally I burn at least 400 during the day and net 800-900 - I struggle to net `1200 feel free to look at my diary though - it seems plenty to me. I am not anorexic but some people here are struggling with eating disorders, I kind of find it a bit harsh that you are talking like there is something wrong with people like this. It wouldn't be nice for me to say "I can't imagine how any one can eat X many calories, it's so much, what is up with that blah blah". Every body is different - we are all here trying to be healthier. The people asking for help as to how to make 1200 cals are ASKING FOR HELP so let's give it to each other constructively - not create divisions.

My problem is definitely consuming a net total of 1200 calories, once i have exercised for the day! i would hate to think that i am working against my metabolism by not giving my body enough fuel, but i also don’t like the idea of eating more to compensate for exercise, since then i just feel as though my intake = output and im maintaining my current weight. I could be all wrong with my mindset, and would appreciate it if someone could explain exactly what the right method would be!

On an ending note I'd just like to add that I think the comment about "must be anorexic" was quite rude and disrespectful.

I agree, and I also believe the OP didn't intend to be rude. Her post is one of the few I have read here that made me speechless with disbelief.

For me it's not that I am having trouble, like, I can't eat 1200 calories. I have the problem with trying to net 1200 calories. I get 1520 a day. I have a pretty sedentary lifestyle. If I work out and burn 400 calories I actually have to eat more than 1520 (1600) calories to net 1200. I try to eat low fat high fiber snacks and it kills me to work out and burn 400 calories and still have to eat them back, when I would rather not eat them and lose weight faster. It just doesn't work that way.

Some people here are not overweight just by eating 1000s of extra calories a day, some are people who don't eat enough everyday and their bodies are in storage mode. They are the people who are probably not obese, just needing to lose those pesky 10lbs or so,

I'm with you. I am allowed 1430 calories a day and could easily double that. :laugh:

Honestly no. When I work out I just feel good and refreshed. I think there has only been a time or two that I've ever actually felt hungry afterward.