Can't reach 1200 goal calories per day (losing weight)

Well there is no need to eat breakfast, so you can back load all of your calories. Also, it's very easy to eat more calories, you just have to eat calorie dense foods. Recommend that you add nuts, cheese, high calorie protein bars, protein shakes, cooking foods in olive oil, avocado, eggs, higher calorie meats, ice cream, or even going to town on a peanut butter jar. And on days you exercise, you should eat more calories.

Feel free to look at my diary, i eat a lot of calories. Heck, i probably eat 1200 calories by mid morning.

It's hard to find balance when you start a new diet. A lot of healthy foods have a lot of volume for less calories. So add a little healthy fat to the healthy foods. For example a tbsp of peanut butter to your smoothie, or tbsp of olive oil to your veggies at night. Or some nut butter or nuts with your fruit in the afternoon,

The key here is that you say you feel guilty if you eat more than the 1100. That's not okay, and it's going to mess you up. You really shouldn't get into a pattern of feeling guilty about food.

For weight loss, you are aiming for a specific calorie level, not as low as possible. If you aren't losing then adjusting is good or working on logging, but otherwise find a good level that's healthy to aim for and do that. Don't get into thoughts about how if 1500 is good less is better and less than that still better, etc.

I think if you get out of this you will be able to meet your goal just fine.

At your age, height, and weight, you should b eating more than 1200 calories. I am only 20 lb higher than you (and almost 40 years older so my metabolism is slower) and I am losing steadily with 1750 calories.

Easy and healthy ways to add calories are things like eat nuts (almonds are especially healthy but nuts in general are good for you), add a little healthy fat to your meals, snack on fruit like grapes (a snack of grapes, cheese, and almonds is really yummy to me), if you eat dairy like yogurt, go with low or full fat instead of nonfat. Expand the meats you eat so they aren't only super lean cuts, dump a scoop of protein powder into a serving of greek yogurt for a pudding-like treat.

How do you get to 230lbs if you can't eat 1200 calories a day?

This question is always asked in these threads.

I think the answer is that the person has turned a new leaf and is suddenly eating 'healthy food' like vegetables, lean meat, fruit, drinking water etc and finds the volume required to reach their calorie goal is actually larger than the volume of food and drink they were consuming before.

For example, there are far more calories in a can of coke and a cream bun than in 2 carrots, an apple,a tomato, a boiled egg and a glass of water - but you might find it harder to eat more of the latter.

Now I know you can top up with 'healthy' calorie dense goods like peanut butter, cheese, nuts,avocado. Or you can top up with ice cream or chocolate if you fit it into your calorie allowance.

But newbies don't always know this and so they can struggle to meet their calorie goal in their new food style.

Exactly. A fast food meal can easily top 1200 calories, and leave you hungry by dinner time. There have been days when I struggle to eat my allotted calories if I've stayed on track with healthier foods, which tend to leave me full and not wanting to snack much. Someone always has to chime in with a smartass remark, lol.

The problem isn't that you can't eat 1200 or 1300 calories per day. The problem is that you feel guilty for going over that, because you think you aren't allowed to eat anything other than "diet food" when you are trying to lose weight. Weight loss is not all salads, grilled chicken, vegetables, and agony.

Eat the food you plan on eating for the rest of your life. That does not mean "go stuff yourself with donuts and pizza all day every day as long as you stay within your calorie goal." It means eat now the way you want to eat in the future. If going to restaurants, or getting burgers, or ordering pizza with your friends is something that happens in your life and is going to happen in the future, keep doing that - just learn to measure portions, stay within your calories, and make good choices so that you aren't missing out on proper nutrition.

How do you get to 230lbs if you can't eat 1200 calories a day?

This question is always asked in these threads.

I think the answer is that the person has turned a new leaf and is suddenly eating 'healthy food' like vegetables, lean meat, fruit, drinking water etc and finds the volume required to reach their calorie goal is actually larger than the volume of food and drink they were consuming before.

For example, there are far more calories in a can of coke and a cream bun than in 2 carrots, an apple,a tomato, a boiled egg and a glass of water - but you might find it harder to eat more of the latter.

Now I know you can top up with 'healthy' calorie dense goods like peanut butter, cheese, nuts,avocado. Or you can top up with ice cream or chocolate if you fit it into your calorie allowance.

But newbies don't always know this and so they can struggle to meet their calorie goal in their new food style.

Exactly. A fast food meal can easily top 1200 calories, and leave you hungry by dinner time. There have been days when I struggle to eat my allotted calories if I've stayed on track with healthier foods, which tend to leave me full and not wanting to snack much. Someone always has to chime in with a smartass remark, lol.

The problem is not the "smartass remarks", the problem is the people who say they struggle to eat their calories, like you, have gone to extremes trying to eat "healthy" and start eliminating foods, food groups, fat, foods they love etc. None of that is necessary and you need to learn how to find a balance without labeling foods good and bad.

I don't know about OP, but I don't restrict or cut out the not so healthy foods. I try and limit them, which isn't always successful, but that's ok because I'm not doing this solely for weight loss. My comment about "smartass remarks" was just an observation that when someone asks a question like the OP, there is always someone who asks how they got fat if the can't eat 1200 calories. So many eyerolls for that.

It's been my observation and experience that small changes over time are best for long-term adherence. Going balls to the wall with diet and exercise changes is only going to cause a burnout, and possibly a binge at some point.

Also OP, you can eat more than 1200 calories and still lose weight.

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Sorry but if you're not restricting or eliminating foods and you can't eat 1200 calories then you need to plan better. Simple.

And I always question how macros could possibly be met at 1200 calories. Adequate nutrition at that small amount is hard to come by, unless you're going low-carb or something like that. I'd be eating chicken breast and fish at every meal if I had that many calories to work with.

If you're NETTING 1200 calories, well then, that's workable.

You've been on since December and you've lost 7 pounds. You are probably eating more than you think. Weigh and measure, its the only way to be accurate.

I never ceases to amaze me how heavy people who must have eaten quite a bit to get to the weight they are are suddenly "incapable" of eating enough

Can you make your diet diary public so we can see what you're actually eating? Also, are you measuring your food or just guessing? Hitting 1200 calories a day is extremely easy to do, unless you're eating salads without dressing.

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You've been on since December and you've lost 7 pounds. You are probably eating more than you think. Weigh and measure, its the only way to be accurate.

I never ceases to amaze me how heavy people who must have eaten quite a bit to get to the weight they are are suddenly "incapable" of eating enough

I see how this can perplex people. Here's the thing though. They aren't lying or even trying to be showy. It is possible to be heavy, to find yourself with a new plan, and not feel the need to eat 1200 calories, or even feel satisfied with less. It is not made up and it is possible. But what it is is temporary. You'll see people being amazed at how they can feel satisfied for a day or two on 1200 calories. But its unlikely you'll see anyone overweight and relatively new to a lifestyle change saying they've been following 1200 calories for a month and have never felt hunger.

OP- I'll validate your expression. I'll also warn you that its not sustainable. You will be far more successful if you find the right calories that can sustain you every day. There are some great tips in here about getting them in. Follow your body's cues. If you're not hungry in the morning, don't eat. But don't deprive yourself out of guilt. Parse out those calories (somebody can provide a link here for figuring out the correct number for you- I bet its higher than 1200) and eat them anyway. If its about feeling full, then eat something more calorie dense. Nuts, dairy, nut butter. If you feel you've already hit other macros, have some ice cream. Or bacon. Or bacon dipped in ice cream

You'll find your rhythm soon enough. Embrace it when you do. Steady flows rather than peaks and valleys is what is most sustainable.