Does anyone else not feel satisfied?

I dont see how anyone makes it on 1200 calories a day and is still feeling good. I am a guy and that makes a big difference. My trainer recomended 1700 a day for me. I told him no way. I am very active and excercise every day. I went with 2000 and feel good and my energy is up and I am losing weight.

Eat what your body needs. Some people need much more than 1200 just because their basal metabolic rate is higher than others. You know those people who are skinny no matter what they eat, and they could be eating fattening pastries all day? You may have a high basal metabolic rate and able to eat more. I say eat at a couple more hundred calories and see how you feel and if that's not enough, go up a couple hundred more and see if you still lose. Just play with what feels right. I find if I add whole grains, like brown rice or whole wheat tortilla's, I feel much fuller for longer. You could also try something like that. I do the Insanity workout and it tells me to eat much more than 1200. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. Infact, that's another idea. You could vary your calorie limit from day to day. One day 1200, the next 1400, and then 1600 and then back to 1400, or something like that. It's supposed to keep your body guessing so it's not getting used to just the same amount of calories. Good luck!

I am eating on average around 1,200 calories a day right now. I feel satisfied, but I didn't the first week or so. I have also learned to have smaller meals or snacks more often to keep me from feeling hungry. Once I became adjusted to the fewer calories the cravings tend to stay away. Also, make sure you are drinking tons of water. I only drink water now almost entirely because I have found that with only a limit of 1,200 calories a day I need to save those precious calories for filing foods not wasting them on beverages.

I don't plan to always eat this few of calories but for now I am shredding the weight off and once I get closer to my goal will add back exercise calories and then once I reach my goal eat even more calories and strength train a lot more to tone up.

Two things: Are you NETTING 1200 calories a day or just eating that and then exercising there for netting less? Because you need to NET 1200 minimum.

Second thing: my body refuses to lose weight at 1200 calories net, plus it makes my brain feel foggy and makes me cranky. I'm much happier at 1350-1450. Currently my goal is 1460 (weigh 173lbs, sedentary, 5'7") but with exercise each day I eat usually about 1600 calories and I'm MUCH happier, and the weight still comes off just fine.

In 15 days I'll have been this one year and I just hit 69lbs lost this morning!!

What is your BMR? Eat that amount. My BMR is 1975 calories.

Me and my gf started ours one monday and are also on 1200 calories, we havent stopped moaning about how hungry we are all the time we have just put it down to the fact our body is getting used to not as much food lol

1500 is considered the minimum for males... and even that is a generic minimum, most require more.

Awesome advice. I've not been logging my exercise, so I'm guessing if I start doing that I will be able to eat more. Also, my BMR (as I just calculated it) is 1664. So 1200 seems pretty low.

Yes it is. My opinion, aim for 1700 NET.

I've found that what foods I'm eating makes a big difference in whether I feel satisfied or not. If I eat low nutrient foods (chips, soda, fast food, etc.) I want to eat way more than my calorie allotment. I never seem to reach a satiation point. But if I'm eating nutrient rich foods with plenty of fiber and good fats, I feel completely satisfied with less food. (Upping your protein also seems to work for some people, but not for me. It just makes my stomach feel heavy as well as unsatisfied.) I also seem to feel satisfied longer if I eat "light to heavy". For example, if I eat a big bunch of salad or fruit before I eat my carb and protein entree, that makes me more feel more satisfied than just eating more of the entree.

My goal's also 1200 calories NET per day, which I've found to be quite reasonable for my height and goal of getting back to a healthier weight. However, I agree that it is very tough to stay within 1200 with the typical food options we have eating out, no matter how "healthy" the choice! I've found that when I make my food myself, I can control the ingredients and menu options, and thus be able to eat more satisfying portions without going over my calorie goal. And when I feel a yearning for something indulgent, I just exercise more to earn some calorie points to eat whatever I desire! Some days, I run for an ice-cream, others, I run for a burger ;-)