1200 is really difficult
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StarlightAria wrote: »billieljaime wrote: »My meds right now PREVENT me from eating too much and KILL my appetite.....
I cant WAIT to eat FOOD again..... You guys are SO LUCKY to be healthy and to be able to eat in a healthy range.....
Folks killing your self at 1200.... I dont get how you do it.... I feel like crap right now......
Dont mess with your health....rejoice in living because it could all change, one day one moment in time could alter your health, then you end up like me, on a life time of regimented pills that mess with your body, your appetite, your hair, your hormones....
Take care of your selves, take your weigh loss slow and serious, dont rush things. Give yourselves the biggest defecit you can, not the smallest. Eat well when you can, but eat a pop tart or donut when you want and dont beat yourself up for it. Life is too short.
It just kills me with all this debating. You guys are so lucky and you dont even know it. To walk around healhty and to function and to have the ability to tinker with your calories as you want. I dont have that. I have a brain injury and when my meds get adjusted it kills my apetite and I go through weeks or months at a time where I can barely eat or I over eat it sucks.
You are so lucky and you are killing it by wasting your time trying to speed ball weight loss and feeling hungry on 1200 when you could have a slower effect and be happier with a few hundred more calories.
Be serious here OP.
We had a rational discussion and the OP decided on a higher number. :huh:
What do you mean exactly? I altered my goal to 1.5lbs lost per week, and it gave me 1530 which is more sustainable to me. What's not rational about that?
What do you mean, what do I mean? Exactly what I said. We were accused of debating and I said that we all had a rational discussion and you decided to eat more. There's no hidden meaning.
Oh okay I though that you meant what I decided upon wasn't rational when you meant that we had a rational discussion and not a debate. My misunderstanding. I'm sorry.0 -
65 is amazing. Thanks for your input.librarydebster wrote: »I'm on 1400 calories and believe me, I wouldn't go any lower. It's tough to get enough protein and nutrients the lower you go and I don't want to take supplements. I eat lots of fruit and veggies and usually lean meats/fish/chicken, I exercise a lot so I can eat more than 1400 and that works well. I have type 2 diabetes and I control mine very well with exercise and diet. No medication and my levels are normal. I lost 65 pounds on 1700 calories but now I'm finding I needed to lower my calorie intake a bit.
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dickysherman wrote: »I'm on a 1,200 calorie / day diet, too, and I feel your pain. One thing that's really helped me is walking for 30+ minutes. The longer I walk, the more calories I earn. If you have access to a treadmill, stationary bike, elliptical machine, etc, it's really helpful to watch TV while exercising (it makes you forget you're exercising). And the endorphins released by the exercise make you feel great (I can't emphasize enough the positive affect this has on one's state of mind) . If 1,200 is too low, then up your calorie count but eat lean meat and good vegetables. In my humble opinion, the type of food you eat is more important than keeping calories so low. I wish you all the best!
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IIFYM [If It Fits Your Macros] Reverse Dieting. Check it out. It really can be a life saver0
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I also have a calorie limit of 1200 and I'm currently 5'5 and 214. If you decide to stick to your weekly weight loss goal & calorie intake limit, then I'll give you some tips that help make the change easier for me.
First, I would suggest that you try not to focus so much on the fact that your trying to lose weight. What I mean by that is...throughout your day (at work, at home, at the gym, at the store..where ever) think about the moment that you're in at the time, not "Omg, I'm on a diet". That gets your mind off the fact that you're even hungry. Focusing on the fact that you're trying to lose weight all day may make your journey more misreable. Instead, train yourself to think about your "food & diet life" when it's time to prepare &/or eat. Remember, health & weight loss is a lifestyle not a quick fix. So if you really want to meet your goal, you have to pretend like the goal is not even there (if that makes any sense).
I'd also suggest drinking more water throughout the day which might help satifsfy your hunger. I carry my water in a 2.2L water bottle & have it with me almost everywhere that I go. I've found that a person is more likely to drink water when it's sitting in front of them as opposed to having to get up & find it or fix it. I freeze my water over night & it thaws & stays cold throughout the day which makes me want to drink it more often.
You can also try eating fruit or low calorie snacks throughout the day to curb your appetite. I recommend Fiber One 90 calorie brownies & chocolate chip cookie bars They're awesome (especially after letting them warm for a few seconds in the microwave).
With the calorie limit, be sure not to starve yourself. Just make healthier food choices. Remember to incorporate protein, fiber, veggies good carbs & WATER into your diet. Everything else is really unnecessary if you really think about it. Now, I do not deprive myself of cookies or pizza or ice cream; however, I do eat it in moderation...as a treat not a meal (maybe a small something once a week).
What I've had to learn is...just because I'm not full, doesn't mean I'm hungry.
Miss lady, you are very capable of doing anything you put your mind to! Just stay focused, stay consistent & keep your eyes on the prize!
We're in this together!
Best of luck to you!
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I am also on 1200 cals per day for a 1 lb loss per week - in 50, 5'4" and aim for a total 20-25 lb loss. I'm down about 13 lbs, so my approach following MFP has been good (for me). I also exercise every day - sometimes it's just a hike for 50 min with dog, sometimes a tough series of HIIT with additional cardio, sometimes it's 30 min on the elliptical as I watch the news. The exercise is *really* important to me, because I eat back some of those calories and I'm immensely more comfortable.
Admittedly, it was tough of the first weeks but then I got used to the feeling of not being "really full". Drinking lots of water before meals helps. Having tea helps me wait until my next meal
if I want a snack. Discipline increases as you see (and become proud of) progress.
We are all different, but I believe that many of us need to shift our notion of satiety. Once you get going, it will likely get easier for you.
Alternatively, as many have suggested, slow down your projected loss and eat more. That's better than giving up! Courage!!!0 -
dmelissa1991 wrote: »I also have a calorie limit of 1200 and I'm currently 5'5 and 214. If you decide to stick to your weekly weight loss goal & calorie intake limit, then I'll give you some tips that help make the change easier for me.
First, I would suggest that you try not to focus so much on the fact that your trying to lose weight. What I mean by that is...throughout your day (at work, at home, at the gym, at the store..where ever) think about the moment that you're in at the time, not "Omg, I'm on a diet". That gets your mind off the fact that you're even hungry. Focusing on the fact that you're trying to lose weight all day may make your journey more misreable. Instead, train yourself to think about your "food & diet life" when it's time to prepare &/or eat. Remember, health & weight loss is a lifestyle not a quick fix. So if you really want to meet your goal, you have to pretend like the goal is not even there (if that makes any sense).
I'd also suggest drinking more water throughout the day which might help satifsfy your hunger. I carry my water in a 2.2L water bottle & have it with me almost everywhere that I go. I've found that a person is more likely to drink water when it's sitting in front of them as opposed to having to get up & find it or fix it. I freeze my water over night & it thaws & stays cold throughout the day which makes me want to drink it more often.
You can also try eating fruit or low calorie snacks throughout the day to curb your appetite. I recommend Fiber One 90 calorie brownies & chocolate chip cookie bars They're awesome (especially after letting them warm for a few seconds in the microwave).
With the calorie limit, be sure not to starve yourself. Just make healthier food choices. Remember to incorporate protein, fiber, veggies good carbs & WATER into your diet. Everything else is really unnecessary if you really think about it. Now, I do not deprive myself of cookies or pizza or ice cream; however, I do eat it in moderation...as a treat not a meal (maybe a small something once a week).
What I've had to learn is...just because I'm not full, doesn't mean I'm hungry.
Miss lady, you are very capable of doing anything you put your mind to! Just stay focused, stay consistent & keep your eyes on the prize!
We're in this together!
Best of luck to you!
Really good advice here about not being super full does not mean hunger... Thanks0 -
I'm on 1210....5'4.25 age 27 started at 192 now at 187.4... The key is exercise.. If I know it's something I want that I'm not suppose to have I double my exercise. I've never gone into the red... The more active you are the more calories you can intake..0
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I am 5'1, 23 and 105lbs. I eat around 1200- 1300 calories a day. At first it may seem hard but I haven't had a problem. Just have to structure your meals. Eating more protein helps too.Healthy low calories snacks when you feel hungry.I work out about 5 times a week doing cardio and weight lifting. Good Luck!0
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Thanks for all the replies. I just can't seem to get the energy to exercise, it has to do with the insulin resistance where I get tired. I'm working on it and will be going to the gym 2x a week starting this Tuesday if my ophthalmologist gives me the go ahead (something is wrong with my eye) and getting back on the wagon tomorrow after a particularly stressful day today.0
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I'm 5'3", and my calories are set at 1200. The first few says were tough, and I wanted to just eat everything I could find. I refrained, though, and drank more water. After a week or so, 1200 became easy. I started eating more protein, and a lot less carbs. The weight has been nearly falling off lately, and I have noticed several days where I was WAY away from my calories, and had to have peanut butter and chunks of cheese to get to my calories so mfp wouldn't yell at me for starving! It just all . depends on what you're eating, and when.0
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I am 26 years old 5'2" 218 lbs (after having lost 12lbs on MFP) and my calorie intake goal is 1300 daily. I have the opposite problem I have a hard problem getting over 1000 and most days make myself eat snacks to make sure I get there. But I haven't been focusing on "dieting" but rather being healthier. I decided to cut back on carbs. I've replaced potatoes with sweet potatoes, pasta with zucchini and squash, rice and mashed potatoes with cauliflower. I drink a smoothie of fruits and vegtables in the morning since I am not a breakfast person (but that's not for everyone). I drink a glass of water with lemon juice right away in the morning and the water is great for you firat thing in the morning and that lemon is a real waker upper. I carry fiber bars in my purse if I am going to be out during snack or meals times, and I always have my MFP app on me when I go out for meals.
Honestly if you are having problems feeling satisfied by smaller meals now a supplement meal drink is going to be worse. I have been there tried that. It think (and is ONLY my opinion) you should look for healthier alternatives to ingredients in everyday recipes and that will save you calories as well as being healthier
. I hope this helps!! 0 -
I also bought a kitchen food scale. That has been amazing!! I never realized how much I was over calculating on little things like sandwich meat. That all adds up fast and if you are thinking you are eating more than you do I know from experience that sucks.0
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I'm 5'3", and my calories are set at 1200. The first few says were tough, and I wanted to just eat everything I could find. I refrained, though, and drank more water. After a week or so, 1200 became easy. I started eating more protein, and a lot less carbs. The weight has been nearly falling off lately, and I have noticed several days where I was WAY away from my calories, and had to have peanut butter and chunks of cheese to get to my calories so mfp wouldn't yell at me for starving! It just all . depends on what you're eating, and when.
Yes! Lol I always get that stupid message when I finish my daiary for the day haha. So I have some granola.0 -
I try to do less than 1200 on weekdays / days I don't gym... While it is a bit tough esply if there work dinners / drinks on those days, I've found 2 things that helped immensely with sticking to this goal - 1) intermittant fasting ie. start the day with coffee and skip breakfast- have 1st meal (lunch) a bit early to avoid biting off someone's head at work and 2) home cooked food - makes it easier to shave off a lot off calories from each meal (less oil, less carbs, more veggies) and still eat filling meals... Hope this helps... 0
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I agree with thise who said you should eat more. Obviously, 1200 is not enough. Also add exercise which will allow you to eat a little more and also could help with your emotional problems.
Speaking of which, you need to address your emotional issues stat if you want to lose weight and keep it off. Find a good counselor, and/or get some books on cognitive behavioral therapy. Once you address your emotional issues, the weight will come off much more easily. If you don't, you probably will not succeed.0 -
For exercise, look into programs like Starting Strength, Stronglifts 5x5, New Rules of Lifting For Women as a few examples. Strength training is great for your overall health and fitness and you can do it with just 3 days a week. Even eating at a deficit it helps your body to hit the best ratio fat loss to lean muscle loss in the process. Get some good walking or elliptical in for some cardio and your body will thank you.0
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chrisf1903 wrote: »I try to do less than 1200 on weekdays / days I don't gym... While it is a bit tough esply if there work dinners / drinks on those days, I've found 2 things that helped immensely with sticking to this goal - 1) intermittant fasting ie. start the day with coffee and skip breakfast- have 1st meal (lunch) a bit early to avoid biting off someone's head at work and 2) home cooked food - makes it easier to shave off a lot off calories from each meal (less oil, less carbs, more veggies) and still eat filling meals... Hope this helps...
Skipping a meal is never a good idea. Especially if you are saying that you still feel hungry from the meals you are having now. Skipping breakfast can lead to excessing snacking or overeating at lunch. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2014/08/27/should-you-or-shouldnt-you-skip-breakfast0 -
clperrault89 wrote: »chrisf1903 wrote: »I try to do less than 1200 on weekdays / days I don't gym... While it is a bit tough esply if there work dinners / drinks on those days, I've found 2 things that helped immensely with sticking to this goal - 1) intermittant fasting ie. start the day with coffee and skip breakfast- have 1st meal (lunch) a bit early to avoid biting off someone's head at work and 2) home cooked food - makes it easier to shave off a lot off calories from each meal (less oil, less carbs, more veggies) and still eat filling meals... Hope this helps...
Skipping a meal is never a good idea. Especially if you are saying that you still feel hungry from the meals you are having now. Skipping breakfast can lead to excessing snacking or overeating at lunch. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2014/08/27/should-you-or-shouldnt-you-skip-breakfast
Skipping a meal is fine. Meal timing is irrelevant for weight loss. Some people aren't hungry in the morning or practice 16:8 intermittent fasting.
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StarlightAria wrote: »Thanks for all the replies. I just can't seem to get the energy to exercise, it has to do with the insulin resistance where I get tired. I'm working on it and will be going to the gym 2x a week starting this Tuesday if my ophthalmologist gives me the go ahead (something is wrong with my eye) and getting back on the wagon tomorrow after a particularly stressful day today.
I am having some issues of my own that make exercise hard right now (mentally) but if you can just get out and walk, that's really all you need right now. And I should take my own advice.
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clperrault89 wrote: »chrisf1903 wrote: »I try to do less than 1200 on weekdays / days I don't gym... While it is a bit tough esply if there work dinners / drinks on those days, I've found 2 things that helped immensely with sticking to this goal - 1) intermittant fasting ie. start the day with coffee and skip breakfast- have 1st meal (lunch) a bit early to avoid biting off someone's head at work and 2) home cooked food - makes it easier to shave off a lot off calories from each meal (less oil, less carbs, more veggies) and still eat filling meals... Hope this helps...
Skipping a meal is never a good idea. Especially if you are saying that you still feel hungry from the meals you are having now. Skipping breakfast can lead to excessing snacking or overeating at lunch. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2014/08/27/should-you-or-shouldnt-you-skip-breakfast
Skipping a meal is fine. Meal timing is irrelevant for weight loss. Some people aren't hungry in the morning or practice 16:8 intermittent fasting.
Meal timing and Intermittent Fasting don't SKIP meals though. That person said SKIP breakfast.0 -
clperrault89 wrote: »Meal timing and Intermittent Fasting don't SKIP meals though. That person said SKIP breakfast.
It still doesn't matter. You don't have to eat breakfast. It's personal preference. I skip it all the time too unless I happen to be hungry that day.0 -
clperrault89 wrote: »Meal timing and Intermittent Fasting don't SKIP meals though. That person said SKIP breakfast.
It still doesn't matter. You don't have to eat breakfast. It's personal preference. I skip it all the time too unless I happen to be hungry that day.
I'm sorry I don't mean to "argue" but if OP is having problems feeling fulfilled by her meals, skipping them doesn't seem like the smartest way to go here. That is not going to help her snacking during the day or over eating at lunch (or the junk food she has access to at work during lunch).0 -
clperrault89 wrote: »clperrault89 wrote: »Meal timing and Intermittent Fasting don't SKIP meals though. That person said SKIP breakfast.
It still doesn't matter. You don't have to eat breakfast. It's personal preference. I skip it all the time too unless I happen to be hungry that day.
I'm sorry I don't mean to "argue" but if OP is having problems feeling fulfilled by her meals, skipping them doesn't seem like the smartest way to go here. That is not going to help her snacking during the day or over eating at lunch (or the junk food she has access to at work during lunch).
For any given caloric intake, skipping some meals means the remaining meals get to be larger. So it is quite possible that skipping a meal will in fact leave a dieter feeling more filled/satiated.
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Starlight I feel for you. I did 1200 calories for about 3 months with all the self control you can possibly imagine. Mind I'm 5'8" and at that point in time weighed 185. Although I lost weight extra fast at first, I plateaued... FOR 3 MONTHS. I exercised and did everything you can name, drank more water and beat myself up about it.
I now am working on eating more to weigh less. It sounds kind of weird but think about it this way. What is your Total Daily Energy Expenditure to maintain your goal weight? I guarantee you it is not 1200 calories. It's likely at least 1650 or higher. Let's say you starve yourself and eat 1200 calories and get to your goal weight, your body will still think you can only eat 1200 calories, so when you go to maintain you have to up your calorie intake to 400 or more, what do you think your body will do with that?
I'm not telling you to pig out, what I would try in your case is move to 100 to 200 calories below what it takes for you to maintain your weight right now. Give yourself 4 weeks of that, and then take another 100 to 200 calories out of your day the next month, and so on until you get to your goal weight maintenance total daily energy expenditure.
Our journey is a marathon not a sprint.You will find with that with that many calories you won't be nearly as stressed out (I had a lot of hanger symptoms before), you can actually eat with your friends (oh yes, this is wonderful!) and you might even have the energy to exercise ( I took up rock climbing,kettle bells and running). Just make sure its more meat and veggies than anything else!
I hope this helps.0 -
oh and try http://eatmore2weighless.com/ this is where I figured my stuff out. Good luck!0
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Why not add a 1 hour walk every morning on empty stomach while listening to something useful on your phone? If you do it every day (regardless of the weather or if you had a party last night!), there's your 1.5 lb a week without any dieting. Add a mild 300 calorie deficit on top of that and tada! 2lb / week loss, which is within healthy boundary. That 300 calorie deficit is a piece of cake to maintain if you just start eating more fruits and vegetables coz that's fiber it'll fill you up and will make it difficult to overeat..0
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It is really hard to start with only 1200 but I actually ate less than 1000 calories today and exercised for atleast an hour. it is my fourth day on my diet. I know this is harsh but I am actually doing fairly well and am happy about myself. Some foods you should consider to eat below 1200 calories are: celery (if youre not fond of it and only eat it with peanut butter try eating it with laughing cow's light swiss which is only 35 calories per wedge), almonds (dont eat too much! Try limiting to a handful or two a day), graprfruits, blueberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, yams!, tofu!, chicken breast!!!
Idk if this is helping at all but I know what you're going through TT.TT-1 -
minjungjkim wrote: »It is really hard to start with only 1200 but I actually ate less than 1000 calories today and exercised for atleast an hour. it is my fourth day on my diet. I know this is harsh but I am actually doing fairly well and am happy about myself. Some foods you should consider to eat below 1200 calories are: celery (if youre not fond of it and only eat it with peanut butter try eating it with laughing cow's light swiss which is only 35 calories per wedge), almonds (dont eat too much! Try limiting to a handful or two a day), graprfruits, blueberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, yams!, tofu!, chicken breast!!!
Idk if this is helping at all but I know what you're going through TT.TT
The minimum intake recommended for women is 1200. If you want to dip below that, suit yourself, but please don't encourage anyone else to do so.
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minjungjkim wrote: »It is really hard to start with only 1200 but I actually ate less than 1000 calories today and exercised for atleast an hour. it is my fourth day on my diet. I know this is harsh but I am actually doing fairly well and am happy about myself. Some foods you should consider to eat below 1200 calories are: celery (if youre not fond of it and only eat it with peanut butter try eating it with laughing cow's light swiss which is only 35 calories per wedge), almonds (dont eat too much! Try limiting to a handful or two a day), graprfruits, blueberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, yams!, tofu!, chicken breast!!!
Idk if this is helping at all but I know what you're going through TT.TT
You worked out for an hour and only ate 1000 calories today? Yeah, please DO NOT encourage others to do that.0
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