1200 Calories

Hi there, how tall are you? You don't actually weigh that much and trying to lose 15 pounds is quiet ambitious! I say that as I am also 53 and weigh about the same but only want to lose about 8 pounds. I think losing too much at our age can make you look gaunt and can be ageing in the face! I too am finding it hard to lose weight at this age and like you feeling very hungry (and weak) on 1200 calories. I am tempted to swap to the 5/2 diet where you only have 500 calories 2 days per week but can eat normally the rest. There is quiet a scientific body of research that proves it has lots more health benefits than constant restriction which is really difficult to sustain. You also lose weight quiet easily. Good luck-otherwise try and exercise more to burn more calories so you can eat a little bit more!

I've been able to stay between 1100 and 1200 by eating a lot of non starchy veges. I add spinach to my one scrambled egg in the morning to help fill me up, or I will have a huge dark greens salad with a carrot, celery, bell peppers, cucumber, etc... along with a grilled chicken breast for lunch. For dinner my plate is always half veges.

I've eaten at 1200 cals, it can be done however I decided to eat more when I stopped losing - I ate more and started losing again. I am older and need less. If I was young I would eat at a higher cal level. I am MFP friends with a person who has lost 70kgs and has eaten above 1600 cals the whole time.

I haven't really had any issues eating 1200 for about seven weeks now. My main strategies are:
- Eat a lot of low-density foods, ones that take up a lot of space but not that many calories. Raw vegetables, shakes with skim milk, lean meats and fish etc. And if there's a lower calorie version of something, I generally take it. For example, Chobani 0% greek yoghurt has about 109 calories for quite a big serving of 180g, and it's easy to mix in some frozen fruit or a little bit of honey to still keep the calories low but have something filling and delicious.
- Don't have high calorie, dense foods in reach! At all. If it's not in the cupboard you can't eat it.
- Keep busy. I'm running around a hospital all day rather than sitting at a desk, so I honestly don't even notice if I'm hungry. Same if I'm at my other job. I'm not starving myself, still taking time out for meals, but then as soon as you're done with your meal, your mind is straight off food!

The only thing I occasionally struggle with is walking past all the high calorie foods I used to binge on in the supermarket, then the resolve wavers! But once you're out of there you can focus on the dinner you're going to make etc and it's all gone.

I'm pretty sure she is saying she is 5ft 3in tall, not 53 yrs old.

I've lost almost 30lbs eating at 1200 calories.

I found you just have to pick high protein foods to stay full and choose carbs wisely. For example, every morning i have a light greek yogurt cup with two spoonfuls of raw oats mixed in.

For lunch, a tuna wrap (light tortilla, tuna, light mayo, sugar-free relish), and a side of veggies.

Dinner, usually something like spaghetti with a side of veggies.

(Also I am a pescatarian, so i never worried about adding meat to the mix.) But most of the time, i still had room in my calories to have a glass of wine.

I tried it, and after 2 weeks was so miserable i upped my cals and now eat around 1500 a day, my main worry was i didnt want to lose too much to quickly ( i have a lot to lose) and it wouldnt be sustainable as a life style change.

I changed my goals to 1400 but stick mostly to 1200. That way, if I go over 1200, I'm not too upset. I have found most of my favorite foods can fit into my daily calories if i plan right. It really is about the planning and having things on hand that will fit.

I've found 1200 to be relatively easy -- the trick is to start off with only a pound a week (say 1360 cals per day or so) for a few months... and ease into 1200 -- because it is quite low and takes quite a bit of working up to. But eventually it becomes second nature.

In my opinion your best bet is a high-carb, big breakfast. It will keep you full for a long time, plus you'll be burning the calories throughout the day! Then, depending on your working hours/schedule, you could eat some protein around noon-afternoon (small chicken breast fillet, turkey breast fillet etc, accompanied by veggies) and at night something like cottage cheese, a yoghurt etc.

I'm on a 1200 calorie plan as well. I'm 5'5 and 170 lbs. My goal over the next 6-8 months is to lose 20 lbs. I had issues with a 1200 plan in the past because I didn't want to really change my eating habits. I wouldn't nix sugar, chocolate, and fast food, so my calories evaporated fairly quickly.

I'm back at it and it's been far easier this time around. Cereal bar for breakfast with coffee and/or water. Fruit, cereal bar, crackers, or nuts for snacks. Salad for lunch with small portion of chicken (no dressing) and a potato or beans to get me through the day until snack time. Finish it out with a sensible dinner. Last night I had baked chicken wings and sauteed asparagus. Someone already mentioned this, but I'll reiterate it. Don't drink your calories!

i been eating 1200 cals almost everyday not a problem here. i don't plan my meals all the time just eat when iam actually hungry which is every 3-4 hrs . i try my best not to let my snack cals get above 250 cals .. often iam left hungry eating snack cals above 250.. snacks do not keep me full at all so i eat more food then snacks and that way iam not horribly hungry during the day >that's just me! b4 152lbs *losted 27 lbs * thus far landing me at 125 lbs in a year

I am set to 1200 cals as well. I started at 276 lbs on july 23rd. Today I am at 232 lbs. By the way I to am 5 feet 3 inches. I have found it hard to eat 1200 cals. There are days I am much less. I eat a lot of salad. I honestly do not work out yet due to having health issues. Green tea is a big help. I still eat "normal" food just much smaller amounts. To help fight hunger I drink a glass of ice cold tea. Drinking things that are ice cold burns more calories than hot. Good luck with your goal. I will say this if you are to hungry after trying the 1200 cals a day I would up it to 1400 calories. You would be shocked how a 200 calories increase will make you feel.

" I will say this if you are to hungry after trying the 1200 cals a day I would up it to 1400 calories. You would be shocked how a 200 calories increase will make you feel. "

^^^^^ THIS ^^^^

If I only at 1200 calories a day, I would be hangry.