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

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

Did you read any of the posts explaining it then?

I wrote one myself back on first page after someone else already asked this question

This is an example where the "moderation" argument actually makes sense.

Most people can't subsist on chicken and broccoli, so add a cupcake at the end of the day.

Although, for the very overweight, being a bit under isn't something to be concerned about. As far as the "you can't get your nutrition" line of thinking goes, they most probably weren't meeting their macros previously, anyway (just huge amounts of carbs).

Hello Hun, I have similar issue. Myou are not alone. I am 244 and 32.
Last night after dinner I ended at 990 calories ate for the day. I decided to treat my self with a cup of sherbet icecream. This put me at 1210 I think it was.
I usually try to have a small snack between meals. Like a few crackers with peanut butter, a cup of grapes, yogurt, or maybe a 100 calorie snack pack.

I'm more curious than anything . . . if you're 244 - which is within 15lbs of where I am - how the heck do you end up at 990 calories AFTER dinner? Unless this was net calories?

I eat 1,000 before I leave work. Granted that's not net because I go to the gym in the morning but still - my breakfast, lunch and snacks are around 1,100 every day.

I can't imagine only eat 990 for the whole day . . . does this include workout/exercise?

Hello Hun, I have similar issue. Myou are not alone. I am 244 and 32.
Last night after dinner I ended at 990 calories ate for the day. I decided to treat my self with a cup of sherbet icecream. This put me at 1210 I think it was.
I usually try to have a small snack between meals. Like a few crackers with peanut butter, a cup of grapes, yogurt, or maybe a 100 calorie snack pack.

I'm more curious than anything . . . if you're 244 - which is within 15lbs of where I am - how the heck do you end up at 990 calories AFTER dinner? Unless this was net calories?

I eat 1,000 before I leave work. Granted that's not net because I go to the gym in the morning but still - my breakfast, lunch and snacks are around 1,100 every day.

I can't imagine only eat 990 for the whole day . . . does this include workout/exercise?

It actually isn't that hard, especially if you don't eat much in the morning. So if you only have a banana in the morning and concentrate on lunch and dinner, then each meal could be 400 calories (not hard when it's smaller portions of lean meats and all fruits/veggies). I think one of the main issues, especially when new, is there is a stigma or perception that XX food is unhealthy such as red meats or starchy carbs. It's similar thought processes that try to identify sugars, refined foods or even fats as bad.

Are you measuring (weighing) your food? You really don't have to eat that much, one average banana alone will set you back 100 calories or so. Approximately the same for an apple.

Because, as said above, eating a small portion of pasta can equal 500 calories but you would have to eat a lot of fruit/veg foods to eat 500 cals worth. So it feels like I'm eating a lot more because the healthier food contains less calories individually

Hello Hun, I have similar issue. Myou are not alone. I am 244 and 32.
Last night after dinner I ended at 990 calories ate for the day. I decided to treat my self with a cup of sherbet icecream. This put me at 1210 I think it was.
I usually try to have a small snack between meals. Like a few crackers with peanut butter, a cup of grapes, yogurt, or maybe a 100 calorie snack pack.

I'm more curious than anything . . . if you're 244 - which is within 15lbs of where I am - how the heck do you end up at 990 calories AFTER dinner? Unless this was net calories?

I eat 1,000 before I leave work. Granted that's not net because I go to the gym in the morning but still - my breakfast, lunch and snacks are around 1,100 every day.

I can't imagine only eat 990 for the whole day . . . does this include workout/exercise?

It actually isn't that hard, especially if you don't eat much in the morning. So if you only have a banana in the morning and concentrate on lunch and dinner, then each meal could be 400 calories (not hard when it's smaller portions of lean meats and all fruits/veggies). I think one of the main issues, especially when new, is there is a stigma or perception that XX food is unhealthy such as red meats or starchy carbs. It's similar thought processes that try to identify sugars, refined foods or even fats as bad.

I am not talking about a stigma around foods . . . that isn't my issue.

My issue is this: unless you are a 5'0 80 year old woman, this isn't enough food. And I am definitely not even hinting at starvation mode, I am talking about enough calories to keep your body running. I'm a 5'9 ~250 lb woman and my BMR is closer to 2,000 so I could eat that and still lose weight. I know for people who have a lot of lose you can cut under when when you start closing in on those kinds of numbers and you need to find food just to hit 1,200 it's slightly dangerous to your vital organs and your body's functions. I know it won't be right away, right away you'll lose weight but long term . . . not healthy. I have a hard time with women who think they should only eat 1,200 calories and set their goals accordingly. You need what your body needs, and that's going to be different than what my body needs or the next person's body needs.

You can eat veggies to your heart's content but you cannot sustain yourself on veggies for the rest of your life - great option and addition to food but low to zero protein content. If you have a lot of weight to lose, there's a "stigma" that you need to lose it as quick as possible, wake up tomorrow and you're a size 2. This isn't going to happen and setting your goals to this low is setting someone up for failure - women who lose a lot of weight really quickly will more than likely gain it back and then some, also known as a yo yo diet. The best, best, best thing you can do is simply moderate your intake. I didn't cut any foods - I started exercising (inlcuding spin classes and heavy lifting) and I eat proper portions and I don't cut foods. If I go over on my calories one day then I log it and move on. I don't stress over it and freak out. By eating normal portions of regular food and not going on these drastic diets, it's easier to maintain and if I want to eat some McDonalds, I'm going to eat it because by depriving myselg I will only crave it more and then I will end up eating like 2 quarter pounders or something.

You need proper nutritional portions and starving yourself (which when you're used to a 3,000 calorie a day diet is what this new diet is doing) you will be so miserable. If your caloric intake was high before, slowly lower it. That way, your body keeps getting the shock factor, so you don't plateau, and you won't be grumpy or miserable or spending hours thinking about what you "can't" eat.

I was also struggling to eat 1200 calories. My starting weight was 235 (EEEEK) and I was losing but not as rapidly as I expected. I was also getting headaches, although I didn't feel hungry. I am 5'7 female.

I decided to try to up my calories to 1,500 and make an effort to actually eat them, BAM! I lost 5 pounds in a week, (3 pounds in a week and a half at 1,2000) my headaches went away. I have more energy. I am sleeping great,

I do not know if this is your situation, but maybe try increasing your calories for a week and see if it helps. Good luck

Oh and I HATE breakfast but I try to eat something in the morning,Today all I could stomach was a spoonful of peanut butter.

ps. My tracker is off, I didn't add it until yesterday. I have lost 8 pounds total

I want to pop in here and do some opinion-ing.

My highest ever weight was about 200 pounds, I'm not at about 180 after going down to 160, and so I know the logistics of losing AND gaining weight.

I want to say that to those who seem to think saying "how did you get fat if you struggle to eat 1200 calories" is okay, that it's not. You have no comprehension of that persons lifestyle before they joined this website. It is so incredibly easy to eat the same AMOUNT of food and have a difference of thousands of calories. For instance, eating 500 calories of chocolate, or eating 500 calories of salad- but I can tell you, that there is no way that I could eat 500 calories of plain salad.

The problem is the "diet" culture that forms when people who are overweight are taught that the only things they can eat to lose weight are "diet" foods like salads, lean meats and vegetables- take it from a vegetarian, trying to live on only salad and boil vegetables was a bad idea.

This "diet culture" we perpetuate in our society teaches people (ESPECIALLY women) that you've failed if you dip into a row of chocolate occasionally, or that if you have a pizza with friends, you're repulsive and you're an atrocity to yourself and society. The reality is, that it's about balance. We wonder why so many people stack weight back on after they've lost, and I'm willing to bet half the reason is that they don't know how to balance their lifestyle. You have GOT to diet the way you want to live the rest of your life- you have to learn that treats are fine, but they have to be moderated. You have to learn your nutrition balances between calories gained from carbohydrates, fats and protein. You have to KNOW your body and KNOW what works for you, and you have to immerse yourself in a supportive environment that encourages and assists with that.

To the OP, I want to say I can relate to you so much. Even now, after over a year of using MFP, I struggle to make my 1200 calories. Before, indulging in ridiculous amounts of simple carbs, I'd power through 2000 calories and still not even be close to full. Now, when my staple food is vermicelli and stir fry style foods, I struggle a lot to hit the target. I have no doubt that some of it is leftover guilt and panic and anxiety from people around me telling me I was eating too much, that I should be cutting my calories further- people who didn't understand that portion isn't everything. People who didn't understand the impact that their words had on me, to the point where I spent quite a few weeks going into calorie deficits (exercising ANY food i'd eaten off, sending my MFP profile into the negative numbers) because I felt so guilty about eating anything.

Never feel guilty, but do try to make up your 1200 calories through healthy, nutritional mediums- nuts, fruits, grains, and hey, an amazing treat is a banana smoothie with some cocoa powder added- so good, still nutritional, and bananas help to fill you up because of their potassium!

My best advice is to learn more about nutrition as you go on your journey- keep the 1200 number in your mind, but also remember that while calories are important, giving your body the sustenance and nutrition it needs to function is also important, more important than anything. And don't let anyones negative comments impact you! You are doing so well, and you're doing an amazing thing for yourself. Keep it up xxx

Well said MelanieBester! :drinker:

I want to pop in here and do some opinion-ing.

My highest ever weight was about 200 pounds, I'm not at about 180 after going down to 160, and so I know the logistics of losing AND gaining weight.

I want to say that to those who seem to think saying "how did you get fat if you struggle to eat 1200 calories" is okay, that it's not. You have no comprehension of that persons lifestyle before they joined this website. It is so incredibly easy to eat the same AMOUNT of food and have a difference of thousands of calories. For instance, eating 500 calories of chocolate, or eating 500 calories of salad- but I can tell you, that there is no way that I could eat 500 calories of plain salad.

The problem is the "diet" culture that forms when people who are overweight are taught that the only things they can eat to lose weight are "diet" foods like salads, lean meats and vegetables- take it from a vegetarian, trying to live on only salad and boil vegetables was a bad idea.

This "diet culture" we perpetuate in our society teaches people (ESPECIALLY women) that you've failed if you dip into a row of chocolate occasionally, or that if you have a pizza with friends, you're repulsive and you're an atrocity to yourself and society. The reality is, that it's about balance. We wonder why so many people stack weight back on after they've lost, and I'm willing to bet half the reason is that they don't know how to balance their lifestyle. You have GOT to diet the way you want to live the rest of your life- you have to learn that treats are fine, but they have to be moderated. You have to learn your nutrition balances between calories gained from carbohydrates, fats and protein. You have to KNOW your body and KNOW what works for you, and you have to immerse yourself in a supportive environment that encourages and assists with that.

To the OP, I want to say I can relate to you so much. Even now, after over a year of using MFP, I struggle to make my 1200 calories. Before, indulging in ridiculous amounts of simple carbs, I'd power through 2000 calories and still not even be close to full. Now, when my staple food is vermicelli and stir fry style foods, I struggle a lot to hit the target. I have no doubt that some of it is leftover guilt and panic and anxiety from people around me telling me I was eating too much, that I should be cutting my calories further- people who didn't understand that portion isn't everything. People who didn't understand the impact that their words had on me, to the point where I spent quite a few weeks going into calorie deficits (exercising ANY food i'd eaten off, sending my MFP profile into the negative numbers) because I felt so guilty about eating anything.

Never feel guilty, but do try to make up your 1200 calories through healthy, nutritional mediums- nuts, fruits, grains, and hey, an amazing treat is a banana smoothie with some cocoa powder added- so good, still nutritional, and bananas help to fill you up because of their potassium!

My best advice is to learn more about nutrition as you go on your journey- keep the 1200 number in your mind, but also remember that while calories are important, giving your body the sustenance and nutrition it needs to function is also important, more important than anything. And don't let anyones negative comments impact you! You are doing so well, and you're doing an amazing thing for yourself. Keep it up xxx

Really good post.

Thanks, and sorry for typos in that long post. I gotta stop writing big essays in the middle of the night.

How quickly some people forget what it's like to start making changes.

Either that or they just lack any sense and manners.

I'm guessing it's the latter.

OP you have gotten some great advice here. I would also suggest reading some of the stickied threads to give you a little bit of further guidance and begin to educate yourself on making sustainable changes that you can stick with long term.

Good luck.