Struggling to keep calories to 1200!!

ChelseyWoo88
ChelseyWoo88 Posts: 25
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello, new to this.
Finding it so hard to keep to 1,200 calories a day. When i look at my food diary i feel like most of my calories goes on tea and coffee and fruit! feel like there's hardly any 'real food' on there!
Help Please :)
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Replies

  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    Well, the first question is do you NEED to be on 1200 calories? How old are you, how tall are you, how much do you currently weigh, and how much weight do you want to lose? How much weight did you select to lose per week when you set up your MFP account?
  • alexistexas33
    alexistexas33 Posts: 121 Member
    1200 and you will starve
    I eat 1600-1800 a day and lost 28 pounds in 10 weeks
    Eating less than what you're used to will cause you to quit fast
  • ChelseyWoo88
    ChelseyWoo88 Posts: 25
    Hello, Yeah im sure i put it all in correctly its just the sticking to the 1200 thats the issue for me. its a great eye opener to show you exactly how many calories are in stuff aint it? Think im going to have to be more hungry and stick it out.
  • rocknlotsofrolls
    rocknlotsofrolls Posts: 418 Member
    I would make sure you're eating enough protein because it will help fill you up. Nothing like beans, chicken, eggs, etc to satisfy your hunger. Also, you can put AS in your coffee and tea.
  • ArkMom35
    ArkMom35 Posts: 225 Member
    I would find that very difficult also. After re-evaluating everything that mamapeach910 asked, if 1200 is really what MFP set you at, then exercise more for some extra calories.
  • ChelseyWoo88
    ChelseyWoo88 Posts: 25
    Hi Alexis, Yeah i think your right, i wanna loose a bit for holiday but im very up and down at the moment. it just seems to low.. :)
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    ChelseyWoo88 wrote: »
    Hello, Yeah im sure i put it all in correctly its just the sticking to the 1200 thats the issue for me. its a great eye opener to show you exactly how many calories are in stuff aint it? Think im going to have to be more hungry and stick it out.

    apparently you feel the need to punish yourself by being hungry...gotcha...

    *smh* I will never understand people who do this.
  • 8diamonds
    8diamonds Posts: 45 Member
    Hi there, I'm so glad you posted this, I feel exactly the same most of my calories seem to come from coffee also and I have been limiting myself to just 3, and trying to drink green tea instead. Did MFP set you at 1200 cals like myself?
  • ChelseyWoo88
    ChelseyWoo88 Posts: 25
    how is that punishing myself? im hungry because im sticking to it! if i was punishing myself i wouldnt be on here trying to change!
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    You only have 18 pounds to lose and are a young woman. You don't need to be eating 1200 calories.

    Please answer the questions I asked you, I'd like to give you some advice. Are you trying to lose 2 pounds a week?
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    So did you choose the most aggressive calorie deficit you could?
    2lbs a week?
  • ChelseyWoo88
    ChelseyWoo88 Posts: 25
    Hi, yeah it did. I love coffee and cant seem to function with out it lol. 3 sounds like a good idea though :)
  • LBuehrle8
    LBuehrle8 Posts: 4,044 Member
    She's saying you're punishing yourself by being hungry since you don't necessarily have to be hungry to lose weight. There are many of us who eat and feel satisfied and still lose weight. I have 18 lbs to go as well and I have my calories around 1450! I rarely ever feel hungry :)
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    ChelseyWoo88 wrote: »
    how is that punishing myself? im hungry because im sticking to it! if i was punishing myself i wouldnt be on here trying to change!

    You are hungry because you are eating too little food.

    I am older than you and eat 1800 a day and lose consistently...

    You are punishing yourself by staying hungry even tho you don't have to be.



  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    Okay, listen, with so little to lose, trying to lose 2 pounds a week means that you're going to lose lean muscle mass as well as fat.

    You don't want to do that.

    I know you want to lose weight quickly, but you want to be smart about it. You can eat more calories, still have your coffees, and real foods and lose weight.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    ChelseyWoo88 wrote: »
    Hi, yeah it did. I love coffee and cant seem to function with out it lol. 3 sounds like a good idea though :)

    Try the quote function. :smile:
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    ChelseyWoo88 wrote: »
    how is that punishing myself? im hungry because im sticking to it! if i was punishing myself i wouldnt be on here trying to change!

    no, you are hungry because you are not eating enough.

    dieting does not equal punishment…

    did you set MFP for one pound or two pound per week weight loss?

  • ChelseyWoo88
    ChelseyWoo88 Posts: 25
    sorry its hard to keep up. can i message you mamapeach?
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    ChelseyWoo88 wrote: »
    sorry its hard to keep up. can i message you mamapeach?

    Sure.

  • ChelseyWoo88
    ChelseyWoo88 Posts: 25
    i set it for 2 but i think im gonna change it now haha! :)
  • megomerrett
    megomerrett Posts: 442 Member
    Hi, first time I tried MFP I moaned about this to my husband. He said "that's why you've got to exercise". I'm 5'1" and weighed 11 stone in February (down to 10 stone 6 now) so am also on 1200 per day but I do eat back my cardio calories!

    Like you say, logging makes you realise when you're not using them so wisely (e.g. Wine!) an helps you realise what changes you can make.

    Friend me if you like.
  • ChelseyWoo88
    ChelseyWoo88 Posts: 25
    mamapeach910 wrote: »
    Okay, listen, with so little to lose, trying to lose 2 pounds a week means that you're going to lose lean muscle mass as well as fat.

    You don't want to do that.

    I know you want to lose weight quickly, but you want to be smart about it. You can eat more calories, still have your coffees, and real foods and lose weight.

    thanks, getting the hang of this now. so more calories but better things right?
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    ChelseyWoo88 wrote: »
    mamapeach910 wrote: »
    Okay, listen, with so little to lose, trying to lose 2 pounds a week means that you're going to lose lean muscle mass as well as fat.

    You don't want to do that.

    I know you want to lose weight quickly, but you want to be smart about it. You can eat more calories, still have your coffees, and real foods and lose weight.

    thanks, getting the hang of this now. so more calories but better things right?

    yes more calories, but you can eat what you want, just make sure that you hit your calorie and macro goals or the day and make sure that you are eating nutrient dense foods…..
  • ChelseyWoo88
    ChelseyWoo88 Posts: 25
    Thanks ndj1979 :)
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    1200 is fine but you're supposed to eat exercise calories back, or it gives you a huge deficit, which is really not necessary.

    Also, if you have too many calories in coffee and tea... cut what you put in them.
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    ChelseyWoo88 wrote: »
    mamapeach910 wrote: »
    Okay, listen, with so little to lose, trying to lose 2 pounds a week means that you're going to lose lean muscle mass as well as fat.

    You don't want to do that.

    I know you want to lose weight quickly, but you want to be smart about it. You can eat more calories, still have your coffees, and real foods and lose weight.

    thanks, getting the hang of this now. so more calories but better things right?

    Well, definitely more calories! I don't know what you're eating now. Do you drink the super fancy coffees or just coffee with milk and sugar? If you leave around 100 or so calories for coffee, you'll still have a lot of calories to play with for food.

    Focus on eating enough protein and fat to feel full, add some veggies and fruit, and save room in your day for a small treat here and there. That is usually a good balance between nourishment for the body and nourishment for the psyche.

  • naltadonna29
    naltadonna29 Posts: 1
    The 1200 calories is very difficult to stick with, and yes MFP will set you at this. It does not matter how old you are or if you only have a little or a lot to lose, it is still hard. My nutritionist who got me turned on to MFP had advised not to be so obsessed with sticking to the 1200 calories. She says that it is a guideline, and that if I was still hungry, the worst thing you can do is starve yourself. The body will start to store fat at that point and none of us wants that :) What she said is the most important, is that even if you stick within close reason, say 1600 or 1800, and writing down what you eat, and eating healthy, that is the most important. It's just a tool to make you more aware of what you are doing.
  • aldarris
    aldarris Posts: 1 Member
    I didn't know there are calories in tea and coffee. Are you adding sugar? Stop -- sugar prevents you from tasting tea.

    Dairy helps. A little 2-ounce piece of cheese keeps hunger away until afternoon.

    A big piece of meat (turkey, chicken, beef) without side dishes keeps one sated for the rest of the day and is easy on the calorie budget.

    And you should still have enough room for two oranges or apples.
  • bunnywestley81
    bunnywestley81 Posts: 178 Member
    If you haven't a lot to lose it may be better to set to 1lb a week or even 0.5lb.

    It sets you to 1200 as that is the lowest it will go. I think to actually lose 2lb a week I have to eat about 900 calories a day.
    It ain't happening.

    Actually on 1350 a day. I exercise for more.

    I have a lot of carrots, celery, cucumber, peppers etc with salsa, lettuce, melon and berries, low fat yoghurt, crackers, seafood sticks, boiled egg, prawns, soup...I snack a lot during the day rather than have meals as I'm at work and don't always manage to have a break as such so grazing suits me.

    What kind of coffee do you drink!? Didn't think it had that many calories?
  • ChelseyWoo88
    ChelseyWoo88 Posts: 25
    just your regular coffees. i dont know why im finding it so hard. the more i think about it the worse i get. small treats sound good. Thank you for the advice.

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