HELP! Calories are kicking my butt...

Check into sites like skinnytaste.com for recipe ideas, or even the recipe section here on MFP.

I have the same calorie goal per day (1200) and usually pad that with exercise. I underestimate the calories burned (if the machine says I burned 500, I log it in at 425) and try to leave myself with at least 100 calories by the end of the night but I have no problem eating enough to make me full. Lots of vegetables and making sure you get enough protein is key for me... I also start my day with a shake that keeps me full till lunchtime.

I had a hard time sticking to 1200 calories. I found out that since I only had 10 pounds to loose I shouldn't have set it to 1lb per week, so I changed my goal to .5lb per week instead of 1lb and it helped so much in keeping me from being too hungry all the time.

StephEyeAm wrote: »

agreenid wrote: »

Check into sites like skinnytaste.com for recipe ideas, or even the recipe section here on MFP.

I have the same calorie goal per day (1200) and usually pad that with exercise. I underestimate the calories burned (if the machine says I burned 500, I log it in at 425) and try to leave myself with at least 100 calories by the end of the night but I have no problem eating enough to make me full. Lots of vegetables and making sure you get enough protein is key for me... I also start my day with a shake that keeps me full till lunchtime.

I am definitely trying to up my protein and am starting to incorporate shakes into my daily calories. Trying to find the balance between calories and exercise and hunger is proving to be very difficult.

When you exercise, are you eating more to keep your calories at 1200 net? Whether 1200 is appropriate for you is hard to know without more information like height, current weight and activity level.

But, if you are hungry a lot then what you are currently eating is probably too low.

Protein, fiber, vegetables. Eggs, yogurt, cheese. (I'm not quite reaching my protein goal, but I'm coming close and I pretty much never eat chicken.) High fiber cereal. If I drink too many of my calories I'm hungry. I have to be careful about protein drinks for that reason.

Everyone will tell you 1200 is too low, and it might be, but if you're short like me it might be appropriate.

I'm short and pretty inactive (lazy in my case) and I'm at 1200. I have 200 for breakfast, 500 for lunch and snacks and 500 for my dinner. I eat a lot of food but then I do load my plate with veggies and salad. I eat a ton of salmon but then you don't like fish so that doesn't help I suppose.

We all have that sweet spot and unfortunately it is very individual. Although the calculators give you starting point, it is trial and error and shifts as you lose weight. Good luck.

I have a very hard time keeping my calories down to 1200, too. In the last couple of weeks I've started exercising more so I can eat more but even then I am still over my 'net' by an average of 200 calories. So I'm still in a deficit, just a smaller one.
I am shorter (5'3") and have a desk job so categorized myself as 'sedentary'; the 1200 calorie allotment allows for .8lb/wk loss. Even going over, I have been losing just about a half pound per week. I do try to overestimate calories in and underestimate calories out, but I'd rather have a pleasant surprise than the other way around.

StephEyeAm wrote: »

I also noticed that a week or so ago when I ate more I actually lost weight, which I have heard before that if you eat more you can lose weight,

In the end it all comes down to math: you'll only lose weight by eating more if you are exercising away more calories than those extra you're taking in. CICO: You lost weight because you used more energy than you body took in - and well done, by the way!

StephEyeAm wrote: »

I am only 5'2", I am going to try logging my food for the entire day in the morning that way I know exactly where my meals/ snacks are at calorie wise. I generally eat between 1500-1800 daily and when I do a hard workout a little more if I feel hungry. I also noticed that a week or so ago when I ate more I actually lost weight, which I have heard before that if you eat more you can lose weight, finding that magic increased caloric intake that is very difficult for me. I appreciate all of your input!!! Thank you all!!!

Do you have a lot of weight to lose? If you do, in the beginning you have a larger margin for error simply because your body is bigger and it takes more to keep going. Once you lose weight, your margin of error becomes much smaller.

So right now, it could be a big range but that may change. If you legitimately ate between 1,500 and 1,800 and lost weight than that's your number. 1,200 is very low. You'd probably have to be about a 4'11 80 year old woman who is bed ridden for that. Your body needs food for fuel and not eating enough (in the long run) is just as harmful as eating too much.

Also - if you eat more than your body needs for maintenance you will gain weight. So this whole eat more to lose is a myth . . . you need to consume less than you burn to lose weight. It's really that simple.