How to eat 1200 calories without starving?
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I am also on a 1200 calories, given to me by MFP. I have no problems with this so far, except for that two days this week I still had about 500 calories left and I had a hard time getting them in.I am also doing intermittent fasting.I drink ACV ,it keeps hunger away. My issue though is getting mobile, excersing. When I go grocery shopping this week ,im going to get snacks to help me get my calories in. I am worried about my metabolism getting wrecked.6
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I found it a challenge the first 7-10 days. Protein, drinking lots of water and keeping raw veggies ready in the fridge helped. I found that it wasn't enough some days and had to increase my intake. Need a sweet treat? Sugar free chocolate pudding (60cals) and half a banana does the trick. Just keep at it, you'll find what works for you. Good luck!1
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Bump up 100-200 calories and see if you feel better. If you only have 7lbs to lose 1200 seems unnecessary anyway4
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If you incorporate intermittent fasting, then basically you are skipping one or two meals. Try giving yourself a smaller eating window. It works for me when I was going over my calories per day. I prefer to have all my calories in one meal a day. Eating 1200 cal in one sitting is very satisfying. Then you fast for 23 hours. Look into it. It's great for loss or maintenance.1
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1200 does seem a bit too low though..0
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I don't think this is even a thing. If you ate it today you log it today. You can say you ate it next Tuesday but you didn't. You're only lying to yourself. Weight loss is science. CICO. If you want to eat more, exercise. If you keep eating more and logging it on another day you're never going to get where you want to be.I usually eat up to my maintenance calories and actually some days I eat more than my maintenance calories and log those foods in for the next day - so I have less to eat the next day.
It's a thing if you pay attention to weekly calories. As long as you stay within your weekly deficit, you'll still lose weight.0 -
I cannot stick to my goal even if I pre log the foods I will eat, I tend to eat other things along with them
Eliminate the following items: processed foods (especially sugar), anything fried, junk food, alcohol, added fats (butter/oil).
Eat lean meats, raw or lightly steams PLAIN veggies, limit carbs to only healthy complex carbs.
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I want to lose 7 lbs.
I am 5'9" and 135 lbs
With those stats you already have a BMI that is under 20. Why would you want to go any lower? Eat at maintenance and start doing a weights program if you are not already. This will give you a fitter, more toned body without putting you underweight which the 7 pound loss would come very close to doing.8 -
I cannot stick to my goal even if I pre log the foods I will eat, I tend to eat other things along with them
How does that happen? In general, I don't put stuff out on the table that I don't intend to eat. Out of sight, it doesn't jump into your mouth.
I do not pre-log food. My cue to the end of the meal is to leave the table and go to my computer to log. It is a pain in the neck and I'll be glad to not do it anymore, but for now it's necessary. Somehow, knowing that I'm going to have to log it keeps me from eating unnecessarily. And, I weigh every portion that hits my plate. Usually I come in between 1000 and 1200 unadjusted. Sometimes I use some (or most!) of my exercise calorie earnings. Yesterday I came in at 1400 total, but had earned 300 exercise calories so all was still good.
Choose your foods wisely, and you can cram quite a bit into 1200 calories. Fresh veggies are nearly free, and chicken and fish have very few calories for the protein.1 -
I would echo those who are questioning why you wish to lose 7Ibs when you are already at the bottom end of the BMI scale. Losing 7 Ibs would take you down to a BMI of around 18.9, only .4 points above the absolute minimum. I am curious as to why you wish to get down there? Are you an especially small build? I am at 128Ibs at the same height and for me, personally, it isn't a good look and came about more as a result of obsession with the scale than anything else. I do not intend to remain down at this weight.
If it is a better aesthetic appearance you want, I would strongly suggest working on your fitness and on getting yourself some lean muscle rather than weight loss. You are probably having self control issues because your body doesn't want to drop anymore weight given it is already a healthy weight. Just my opinion on the matter being someone of the same height.4 -
Eating lower-carb, with lots of green veg, will help keep you full longer. For some of us, eating carbs can swing our blood sugar and make us really hungry. (i'm so jealous of the above poster who eats a bagel thin and peanut butter for breakfast... if I ate that, I'd be on the floor in about an hour because I'd crash so hard.)
That being said, it doesn't really sound like you *need* to lose anything... I agree with the recommendations for exercise instead of eating such a low calorie count.0 -
BabyBear76 wrote: »I cannot stick to my goal even if I pre log the foods I will eat, I tend to eat other things along with them
Eliminate the following items: processed foods (especially sugar), anything fried, junk food, alcohol, added fats (butter/oil).
Eat lean meats, raw or lightly steams PLAIN veggies, limit carbs to only healthy complex carbs.
Nope. This is all totally unnecessary. And the low fat is just plain unhealthy. Complete nonsense.
OP, as others have said, you are taking far too aggressive and restrictive an approach. You are already at a healthy weight. I think you would benefit from taking a look at your relationship with food and figuring out the best choices. If you don't like the look of your body at the weight you are, that is more likely a body composition issue best addressed by the right exercise program. If you like some treats, allow some within your plan.
It sounds like the problem is not with your weight but with your mentality towards your body and food.9 -
you are too tall and have too little to lose for 1200 calories and that IS why you are binging. Also, you don't sound like you like to exercise so eat 1500 calories (close to your 0.5lbs per week) and go for a 30 minutes walk after dinner to keep you from binging and to add a little bit of exercise. Also drink lots of water and in about 3 months you will be at goal weight.
I'm 5'10'' and have LOTS more to lose, I lost 20 lbs at 1320calories and had hunger head aches (2lbs/week loss on MFP). I lost 20lbs and then went to 1600 calories and I eat 75% of my exercise calories back and still losing 1.5lbs/week.
If you do like to exercise, then weight lift to tone and eat more!3 -
I'm short, so 1200ish is about it for me. I agree with the above. Eat lots of veggies, chicken, fish. Also egg whites, yogurt. I eat fiber one bars or cereal (be aware if you'll binge on that) for a snack sometimes. Eating out will def take you over 1200 though.0
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I've been doing 1,250 calories a day and honestly haven't been too hungry at all - maybe I owe some of that to the heat... I am not all that hungry when it is hot outside. Are you eating a lot of fiber and protein? Fiber and protein will fill you up and make you feel good. Also, have you ever heard of Açaí Bowls? They are amazing and super filling. I would highly recommend having one for Breakfast and it will hold you over until lunch. It is basically a smoothie in a bowl w/ fruit, and whatever add-ons (definitely add a tsp of PB or some other kind of nut butter). Lots of great recipes on Pinterest. Good luck!0
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lindsayomalley wrote: »I've been doing 1,250 calories a day and honestly haven't been too hungry at all - maybe I owe some of that to the heat... I am not all that hungry when it is hot outside. Are you eating a lot of fiber and protein? Fiber and protein will fill you up and make you feel good. Also, have you ever heard of Açaí Bowls? They are amazing and super filling. I would highly recommend having one for Breakfast and it will hold you over until lunch. It is basically a smoothie in a bowl w/ fruit, and whatever add-ons (definitely add a tsp of PB or some other kind of nut butter). Lots of great recipes on Pinterest. Good luck!
Satiety is a highly individual thing, so filling up on fibre and protein definitely isn't a one-size-fits-all kind of thing.
For example, some people find that carbs satiate them longer than either protein or fibre, so people need to experiment to find out what works best for them, bearing in mind that as long as they maintain a caloric deficit, they *will* lose weight.
Also, nut butters are very caloric, and might not be an appropriate choice for someone with such a limited amount of calories available to 'spend' each day.
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Totally agree that satiety is an individual thing.
It also makes a huge difference how big you are, how active you are, what you have to lose.
I'm only 5'3, and found 1200 really easy when I had a lot to lose. I also find it do-able if I am not that active and eat carefully even now, but MUCH harder, even eating identically to what worked before, and basically not possible for extended periods of time if active at all (which makes sense).
OP seems to be reasonably tall, or at least taller than me, and to have very little to lose. We don't really know about her activity. She's probably struggling with 1200 not because of bad eating choices, but because it's not the right goal for her.3 -
BabyBear76 wrote: »I cannot stick to my goal even if I pre log the foods I will eat, I tend to eat other things along with them
Eliminate the following items: processed foods (especially sugar), anything fried, junk food, alcohol, added fats (butter/oil).
Eat lean meats, raw or lightly steams PLAIN veggies, limit carbs to only healthy complex carbs.
Uh.
Why?0 -
The only way I can do it is by eating mostly fat and protein, and even then I can't do it every day. I eventually cave every time. I do better on 1300-1400 plus moderate daily exercise. I don't lose very fast but I can be more consistent.0
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