Starving on 1200 calories a day
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+1, and good loss!TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »I am surely not a clown
I eat around 1200 and not hungry at all Except for the first 2 weeks i had 3 or 4 days that i was feeling hungry.
I eat back a 1/4 of by exercise calories so that gives me a bit extra. I eat a very balanced diet and i eat everything i want in my calorie allowance. I make sure i eat about 5 times a day. 3 meals and 2 snacks
And i drink about 2.5 liter water next to my 2/3 coffee and cup of tea.
For me protein helps to fill me up.
This is how it works for me, i cant speak for somebody else of course everybody is different. When you need more eat more, very simple.
I eat more when i feel my body needs more fuel.
I had a lot of weight to lose and i am doing great. Have no gravings etc.
lost 60 pounds and have about 50 to go.
I do 1200 and the only time it's ever hard is around my period, when I simply eat more calories. Lately I've fallen into a 16:8 intermittent fasting pattern (as in, pretty much everything but coffee and water are consumed in the evening).
If 1200 is difficult for you, you've probably put in the wrong activity level or should choose a less-aggressive goal. Either way, don't beat yourself up if you eat over that number.
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skinnyjessicag wrote: »Well, I've been actually eating around 1400-ish but still feel hungry
Is it normal to be hungry when you're losing? Kind of a stupid question, but I've heard that if you're hungry you're doing something wrong? Thanks for your feedback!
How often are you eating?0 -
Eat more so you are not hungry and then exercise those calories away rather than the other way around. Living on 1200 calories will cause you to get sick and run down after a few months, not to mention the mental fatigue of calorie counting on that small number.0
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Hungry can mean a lot of things.
Hungry as in starving, fainting and losing hair, not good.
Hungry as in want something to chew on because of habit, can be dealt with.
Hungry because of not having a balanced diet, can be dealt with.
Hungry as in anticipating next meal with joy, very good.
The body even does things that can be mistaken for hunger cues. Rumbling stomach doesn't always mean that you need more food. It can just be the digestion of your previous meal. People who make and sell food and snacks, would want you to feel hunger as often as possible, to sell more, and may try to convince you that you should never become hungry, that being hungry is some mistake. That is not true. We are supposed to go through several hungry - eat - satiated-cycles every day, that's normal, good and healthy.0 -
You are not doing yourself any favors there. If you are that active, there is no way you are going to survive on 1200 calories a day. 1200 calories a day is an amount for someone who is relatively sedentary. You need to eat more!
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arguablysamson wrote: »skinnyjessicag wrote: »Well, I've been actually eating around 1400-ish but still feel hungry Is it normal to be hungry when you're losing? Kind of a stupid question, but I've heard that if you're hungry you're doing something wrong? Thanks for your feedback!
I've done OMAD (one-meal-a-day) with around 1,200 calories to 1,650 cals per day. Took ten months to drop 173 lbs. Yes, the hunger will be there. Do not listen to any clown who tells you you won't be hungry. In time, you will adapt, though. Drop back on the exercise and your stress levels will drop, or else up the calories a bit. Otherwise, you'll release cortisol and will feel miserable.
Speaking of clown diets...
Context matters. Someone with 173 lbs to lose isn't going to necessarily go the same way as someone running marathons.
If the OP is finding hunger overwhelming at 1400, it's clownish to say, "oh, look, I lost more at 1200" do less exercise.
Do less exercise? Really? What awful advice without knowing her context.
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I would be starving on 1200 calories too.. Eat more.0
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Everyone has their own experiences of MFP but I tired to stay on 1200 calories but for me it was too little, I was shaky, light-headed and felt ill all the time - I weigh 158ibs and only need to get to 156ibs to be in the healthy BMI . I want to get down to 133ibs though as my goal weight and be smack in the middle of the healthy BMI range.
Personally I have now found setting MFP to 0.5ibs a week and then using Fitbit to measure my exercise has been amazing - I very rarely feel genuinely hungry and I have lost 1ib in two weeks so far.
If it takes all year to reach my goal, it doesn't matter as I can easily live with this "diet" or healthy eating plan as I prefer to call it. :-)0 -
Why do people insist on torturing themselves? (Rhetorical question, I know.)
Look, I get that it's hard to be patient. But you didn't gain those 45 pounds overnight. They're gonna take some time to lose.
Slow and steady is a good thing. You're trying to change your lifestyle and it needs to be something you can sustain indefinitely.
So what if it takes a little longer? It won't feel so long when you're not hungry all the time. It'll just feel like your normal amount of food and normal daily routine, which is what you want.
And don't cut back on the running if it's something you love. Just make sure you eat enough calories to fuel it!
Totally agree, I have learnt this the hard way but hopefully now on the right track :-)0 -
eek 1200 is so low! I stick to 1500 a day and so far lost over 14lbs in 4 months (10% of my body weight). The key is to find something you can stick to long term (i.e. forever...), even if the weight loss is slower, and listen to your body. If you're hungry, EAT. Just make sure you eat the right foods, lots of protein and bulk out meals with lots of veg.
On the odd occasion that I'm genuinely hungry having already eaten my 1500, I have 100-200 extra calories that day (extra chicken, veg, or pasta with my dinner) and it tends to sort me out for a couple of weeks until I feel the need again. Although it's important to be able to differentiate between hunger and cravings.0 -
If you feel hungry then eat, just pick healthy items. Maybe at least bump up to around 1400. You will lose the weight as long as you are in a deficit. If you want to eat more, exercise more. You don't have to starve and make yourself sick to lose weight. I was doing it in the beginning but when I bumped up my calories, I felt better and found I was losing weight more efficiently. You didn't gain weight over night. You may lose a little slower but it will be the healthier route to take.0
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If you are training for/and/or running marathons, you probably need to eat more calories.
I am eating around 1400/day on maintenance. I was around 1200 while losing. I am 63, 5'2-3/4" and not doing anywhere near the amount of exercise you are doing.
I have to say that pre-MFP, I did not really remember ever being hungry. I ate all the time. I did not really know what it felt like to be hungry. I got to know when I needed something, and always have some fresh fruit or raw veggies to have a quick snack.
For me, my body got used to the lower calorie intake over time. It was difficult at first, as, before finding MFP, I was literally eating enough to feed two people, and it definitely showed.0 -
Thanks everybody for the replies- I'm happy to report that I'm down 2 lbs in 6 days after I started eating MORE! I haven't been hungry like a crazy person and I've had the energy to run again.
You guys rock!0 -
Lower your goal to increase your calories. Additionally, add in exercise to earn more.0
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If you are feeling hungry but trying to lose weight stick to high protein and high fiber meals. Protein and fiber help you feel full and stay full while allowing you to stay within your calorie intake boundaries. Also, healthy should not taste bad and I am a firm believer that if it does you are lacking some key nutrients (like healthy fats,vitamins, and flavonoids). Granted, if you are addicted to sugars and fats you will need to reset you tastebuds, however this should take about 2 weeks! Soon healthy will taste best.
Also remember that it's not all about the weight on the scale. If you ran a marathon in November I assume you work out regularly and have quite a bit of lean muscle on you! Muscle weighs more than fat so think in fitness. If you are starving your body is telling you you need nutrients and calories! I'd suggest going online to Myplate.gov and doing a very accurate diet log for as long as possible. There you can see a very detailed nutrient breakdown and see what you may be missing in your diet. Remember you need complete protein (14 amino acids) for your body to correctly use. Animal meats have complete protein so pick lean cuts. If not there are combinations of foods (like grains and legumes) that will allow your body to adequately use what you are eating. Good luck!!skinnyjessicag wrote: »Well, I've been actually eating around 1400-ish but still feel hungry Is it normal to be hungry when you're losing? Kind of a stupid question, but I've heard that if you're hungry you're doing something wrong? Thanks for your feedback!
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If you are starving them there is a problem, but it is okay on occasion to be a little hungry (as far as I'm concerned) but if it is keeping you awake or making you light headed, then eat something. My definition of a little hungry is going "hmmmm, I could sure use a sandwich and a cup of tea right now" or "I wonder if I have a banana in my backpack".0
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But get your calories right first0
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I'm saddened to see how many women here STILL buy that they should eat 1200 calories per day to lose weight. Sure, you might lose WEIGHT, but you're losing a lot more than just fat; lean muscle mass isn't easy to come by and ultimately retaining that muscle is the key to a healthy metabolism, not to mention eating enough to fuel it.
Unless a client of mine was a female under 5 feet tall, 100 pounds and taking a rest day, I would never have her eat that few calories. Its not sustainable and not healthy.0 -
Yup.I'm saddened to see how many women here STILL buy that they should eat 1200 calories per day to lose weight. Sure, you might lose WEIGHT, but you're losing a lot more than just fat; lean muscle mass isn't easy to come by and ultimately retaining that muscle is the key to a healthy metabolism, not to mention eating enough to fuel it.
Unless a client of mine was a female under 5 feet tall, 100 pounds and taking a rest day, I would never have her eat that few calories. Its not sustainable and not healthy.
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I'm 5'8" and have gone up to 133, I'm usually hungry when I eat 1200. Focusing on healthy fats and protein helps, as does drinking a lot of water and tea. I definitely have to leave some calories for an afternoon and evening snack.skinnyjessicag wrote: »Blissgage are you quite small? Maybe once the weight is gone 1200 will be satisfying?
But honestly, eat 1400 or so and lose a bit slower. You'll be happier, more likely to stick with it, and you won't make as big a change when you add some calories back later.
Oh, and baby carrots. Delicious, fun to eat, suuuuuper low calorie.0 -
I don't find myself super hungry very often. I have my goal set for 0.5lb per week, which for me is 1200 cal, plus I add in 100 cal for breastfeeding a toddler. Anyway, what helps keep the hunger away for me is eating small snacks/meals throughout the day, and always including fat & protein in my snacks. I find that if I'm eating enough fat, I'm more satisfied.0
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I was dizzy all the time on 1200 so went back to 1500 plus exercise cals. I'm down to 1400 now and still losing about lb a WK. Slow an steady is by far the better route.0
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Nonstarchy vegetables out the wazoo. Great big salads with 2 Tbsp of light dressing. These have very few calories but can "fill in the hole" so you don't fall over and die. Believe me I know the feeling. I'm oldish and short, and 1200 looks and feels like portions for a toddler. It's like I live on carrots and crumbs! So I've made friends with vegetables!0
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Agreed. I did the 1200 calorie thing last time and it messed with my head. My relationship with food was damaged because of it because it become functional rather than pleasure. I had the start of an eating disorder and got down to 47.5kg (104.72 pounds). It messed with my metabolism, put me in bed for six weeks for which I mostly slept (I was unemployed so no issues with work). It messed with my bones, my liver and gave me food intolerances that I never had before that worsen as I got older. Yeah, I was thin and I got there quick but it turned out there was no pot of gold at the end. Things were not suddenly "better" than they were before but hey I looked good in a bathers (sarcasm). I'm now eating 1500 - 1600 each day regardless and still losing weight (I gained it all back plus more).0
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Yeah, I took everyone's advice and have been filling up on protein & veggies. I'm happy that I have the energy to run again. I'm going start lifting weights to develop some upper body strength.
For me, 1200 was not something could do, so I've eating around 1600. The weight is dropping like crazy now!
You guys are smart
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I don't think 1200 calories is enough for most people! Google a BMR calculator and get a more accurate amount of calories you should be consuming based on your height, weight, body type, activity level, and how much you wanna lose, etc.0
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skinnyjessicag wrote: »
Yeah, I took everyone's advice and have been filling up on protein & veggies. I'm happy that I have the energy to run again. I'm going start lifting weights to develop some upper body strength.
For me, 1200 was not something could do, so I've eating around 1600. The weight is dropping like crazy now!
You guys are smart.
We are smart because most of us have made all these mistakes before and / or put all the weight back on plus more. Starved myself once, never again.0 -
I'm on a 1600 calorie diet and love it!!! I can lose weight, I feel amazing, I am not hungry.0
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Yes to this^^^^0
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The problem of feeling hungry on a 1,200 calorie is due to eating the so called "empty calorie foods" such as 70 calorie candy bar, cookies, too much white bread etc... It is important to choose the right foods. Just because it is a 1,200 calorie or 1,500, people might want to eat whatver they want and think they are still losing true weight. Muscles need protein and need to be conserved. I am doing really well on a 1,300 calories. I add a lot of high nutrient foods (super foods) in my meal plan like fruits, lots of vegetables, nuts, essential oils, dairy. The secret to a healthy calorie restriction is to combine certain foods that together will give you much more nutrients than the food alone. For example: rice and beans, peanut butter and jelly. It's always good to eat carbs and protein together along with fiber (apple). I take a glass of orange juice with 1 tea spoon of psyllium which is healthy and loaded with fiber, that is going to keep you fuller for much longer. Water is also the secret. Our bodies need H2O, so that being said, an adult should drink their weight divided by half in ounces, so the body can be flushed naturally, you stay hydrated, and you lose true weight and not water weight. I hope that helps ☺️0
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