I can't do 1200 calories!!!! I'm so hungry!!! Why?!?!
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I was on 1200 for the last couple of months and lost weight. I ate back almost all of my exercise calories, so actually averaged about 1500 calories a day. I will say this: it's possible, it's not necessarily uncomfortable for me, but I don't think it's sustainable any more. I'm 5' 6" and when I input a loss of 1 pound per week (starting weight 173, goal of 145 pounds), MFP said I could eat just 1200 calories. After losing 20 pounds, I just shifted down to losing half a pound a week and get a measly 1370 calories a day. I was hoping for more. I think I need more calories to function and to perform better during workouts.1
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I only eat 1200 but I'm 5 ft. I see these posts from women who are like 5'8 doing 1200 and I know they must be starving. I'm not hungry but I can also eat very healthy and get tons (tons) of healthy protein. I do light exercise (i.e walking, elliptical, some weights). 1200 can be easy (for shorter women) as long as you can make sure you eat the right foods and get your nutrients. My maintenance is only around 1600-1700 so...this is only about a 500 calorie a day cut for me. With 1200 calories size def matters! I also drop a bunch of weight then maintain for awhile so my body can get a break and adjust.5
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1200 calories a day can be really difficult. The last time I did that, was only because I was sick and didn't feel like eating. Set your rate a bit slower, you'll feel better in the long run.0
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Because it takes 1200 calories for a 3 year old to function. 1200 calories is below your BMR, the amount of calories it takes for your body to survive in a coma!!!! You need to calculate your TDEE numbers to get an accurate number of calories you need to consume. You are starving yourself. Your body will start to eat muscle, bone mass and even brain tissue when you starve it. Good luck11
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I'm pretty sedentary, 5'3," 125 lbs, and trying to get back to 110. 1,200 calories has been... miserable. Honestly I think I'm going to raise my caloric intake.2
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I tried 1200 calorie diets off and on all my life. I never lasted more than two weeks. Usually I didn't last three days. I just couldn't handle the constant sense of deprivation. I'd get obsessed with food. And as soon as I could, I'd eat everything I felt I'd missed out on.
I had a lot more success with low carb diets, where I didn't worry about calories at all, though I know that they work because you do actually cut your calories when you drop all the sugar and processed food. I also had success with exercise + calorie control. MFP works for me because I do enough exercise I can eat a lot, but because I log everything, I also control how much I eat. When I started with MFP I was given 1200 calories as my goal to lose a pound a week (I'm 60 and basically sedentary). However I exercise about 2 hours a day, so end up with 500 - 1000 calories extra. That I can live with.2 -
spiriteagle99 wrote: »I tried 1200 calorie diets off and on all my life. I never lasted more than two weeks. Usually I didn't last three days. I just couldn't handle the constant sense of deprivation. I'd get obsessed with food. And as soon as I could, I'd eat everything I felt I'd missed out on.
This is exactly how it went for me too. I lasted 3 miserable/hungry/obsessed days on 1200 calories
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Don't be afraid to increase the calories from what MFP has recommended for you. When I went with what MFP recommended for me (1600 calories/day for 2 lbs/week loss for sedentary), I ended up having eating binges 1 to 3 times per week. It turns out the correct calories/day for me for that rate of weight loss is about 2200 calories/day which explains why I couldn't stick to my diet for more than a few days without binging. Those calories/day calculations are just "estimations" based on averages and there will always be some who will need something different.3
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So this is my experience... when I was eating 1300- 1400 calories, I was so hungry all the time! Why? Because I was trying to spread out the calories throughout the day 3 meals plus snacks. That meant my meals were only about 400 calories give or take. It wasn't filling me enough. So now I eat my calories in one or two large meals. That gives me larger portions and it includes anything I want to eat, no restrictions on what I eat. I feel much more satiated after having huge meals, instead of having multiple small meals. Most days, I will consume one meal worth all my calories. This definitely works for me.
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1200 calories is not a death-sentence. I ate 1200 calories on sedentary days and I was fine. BUT my goal was only to lose 500g a week. Not 900g. And I filled up on lots of low-cal veggies. Readjust your goal or add in more exercise or become a volume eater. Or do all 3.1
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What does MFP recommend you eat?
1200 is too low. I tried it twice and ended up falling off the wagon because of it.
Eat at a small deficit then increase it slightly over time if you feel comfortable with it. Or else create the deficit by doing more cardio. It takes longer but its well worth it.
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When your blood sugar goes up then drops, you get hungry. Carbs raise your blood sugar. Cut the carbs and sugars, up the proteins and healthy fats. Fats and protein help to keep you full longer, and keep your blood sugar stable. My cardiologist told me to cut out processed food, carbs, sugars, and fruit. Instead eat vegetables, some berries, healthy fats, and protein. It's working for me and keeps my hunger down. Good luck!14
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mrspett323 wrote: »Because it takes 1200 calories for a 3 year old to function. 1200 calories is below your BMR, the amount of calories it takes for your body to survive in a coma!!!! You need to calculate your TDEE numbers to get an accurate number of calories you need to consume. You are starving yourself. Your body will start to eat muscle, bone mass and even brain tissue when you starve it. Good luck
These are the calories given by MFP so I doubt she is starving herself. Upping calories and reducing the amount of weight loss is advisable however if hunger is so much of an issue. That or play around with meal timing, protein, fibre and fat to find what is most filling.
Just so you know, unless I do a lot of exercise my calculated TDEE minus 500 calories is less than 1200 as is my BMI. Fortunately my metabolism is higher than the average for my weight. There is a thread in the maintenance forum on how much those that are vertically challenged are eating to maintain their weight and many are between 1200-1500.1 -
Go for high protein high fiber foods. For me high fiber bread and white fish like cod can make small meals with low calories.
Soups that will increase volume and occupy your stomach with water will help keep you going for more time.
Or foods like cabbage or other leaves that can fill you almost without calories.
Carrot snacks help too.1 -
So this is my experience... when I was eating 1300- 1400 calories, I was so hungry all the time! Why? Because I was trying to spread out the calories throughout the day 3 meals plus snacks. That meant my meals were only about 400 calories give or take. It wasn't filling me enough. So now I eat my calories in one or two large meals. That gives me larger portions and it includes anything I want to eat, no restrictions on what I eat. I feel much more satiated after having huge meals, instead of having multiple small meals. Most days, I will consume one meal worth all my calories. This definitely works for me.
This is my experience too, it works for me. If I start eating small meals I'll snack and graze all day and by the end of it I'm ravenous. For me if I'm not in "eating mode" food doesn't really cross my mind.1 -
I could never be happy eating at 1200 calories. I occasionally net 1200 after a particularly active day but I consume 1700 or more daily. It takes a bit more time to lose the weight but I don't hate my life.1
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I'm 5'4 and close to goal weight. To lose weight, I can't eat above 1400 WITH exercise. I have never tried not exercising but imagine I'd need to be in the 1200 calorie club, too. Also keep in mind that most of us under-estimate calories, so sometimes 1200 is a good goal to shoot for if you aren't weighing out every grape and carrot stick.2
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I can't see your diary so I'm not sure how you are using up those 1200 calories but I suspect you would be better off counting macros. I've only been doing it about 3-4 weeks but it's helped me so much. I feel like there is more flexibility counting macros than just straight calories. My daily calorie allotment actually went from 1400 to about 1650 doing IIFYM and I'm losing weight.
After years of believing otherwise, I truly believe the makeup of your calories has more to do with feeling satisfied and successful than just the number.5 -
I can't see your diary so I'm not sure how you are using up those 1200 calories but I suspect you would be better off counting macros. I've only been doing it about 3-4 weeks but it's helped me so much. I feel like there is more flexibility counting macros than just straight calories. My daily calorie allotment actually went from 1400 to about 1650 doing IIFYM and I'm losing weight.
After years of believing otherwise, I truly believe the makeup of your calories has more to do with feeling satisfied and successful than just the number.
Tracking macros doesn't matter a bit when it comes to weight loss unless you are in a deficit first. You don't get to eat more calories if you have good macros. You still could have eaten 1650, and not tracked macros, and lost weight. If you have perfect macros and are eating 5000 calories a day - you're going to gain.
However, someone might find that a certain macro combination makes then feel full and satiated longer - but you still need to be in a calorie deficit.7 -
quiksylver296 wrote: »I'd freak out and binge if I tried to restrict to 1200 calories.
I'm 42, 5'9", 170 pounds, and losing pretty well on ~1850 calories per day.quiksylver296 wrote: »I'd freak out and binge if I tried to restrict to 1200 calories.
I'm 42, 5'9", 170 pounds, and losing pretty well on ~1850 calories per day.quiksylver296 wrote: »I'd freak out and binge if I tried to restrict to 1200 calories.
I'm 42, 5'9", 170 pounds, and losing pretty well on ~1850 calories per day.
Tell me more! Do you exercise a ton?
I'm 42, 5'2", 125, MAINTAINING on 1200ish. I do take a lot of meds, but this is getting frustrating.0 -
yourfitnessenemy wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »I'd freak out and binge if I tried to restrict to 1200 calories.
I'm 42, 5'9", 170 pounds, and losing pretty well on ~1850 calories per day.quiksylver296 wrote: »I'd freak out and binge if I tried to restrict to 1200 calories.
I'm 42, 5'9", 170 pounds, and losing pretty well on ~1850 calories per day.quiksylver296 wrote: »I'd freak out and binge if I tried to restrict to 1200 calories.
I'm 42, 5'9", 170 pounds, and losing pretty well on ~1850 calories per day.
Tell me more! Do you exercise a ton?
I'm 42, 5'2", 125, MAINTAINING on 1200ish. I do take a lot of meds, but this is getting frustrating.
do you actually weigh your food?1 -
yourfitnessenemy wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »I'd freak out and binge if I tried to restrict to 1200 calories.
I'm 42, 5'9", 170 pounds, and losing pretty well on ~1850 calories per day.quiksylver296 wrote: »I'd freak out and binge if I tried to restrict to 1200 calories.
I'm 42, 5'9", 170 pounds, and losing pretty well on ~1850 calories per day.quiksylver296 wrote: »I'd freak out and binge if I tried to restrict to 1200 calories.
I'm 42, 5'9", 170 pounds, and losing pretty well on ~1850 calories per day.
Tell me more! Do you exercise a ton?
I'm 42, 5'2", 125, MAINTAINING on 1200ish. I do take a lot of meds, but this is getting frustrating.
I'm 35, 5'3", 148lbs and maintain about 2500ish calories a day (also take daily thyroid meds) - its something I've been working on with an RD over the last year (when I started with them, I was eating maybe 1400 a day), they've slowly increased my calories and macros (when I started my carb intake was approximately 180g a day, as of this week, I'm up to an avg of 300g a day) - progressively small increases over the last year and a half2 -
VintageFeline wrote: »natasha7573 wrote: »I have 1200 calories too and I'm ending my first week tomorrow. It was a little hard the first 3 days but then my body accepted it. I'm 28 so yes, things are starting to move harder.
28 is not an age where it gets harder. At all. I'm 35 and I have always lost exactly as expected and I most certainly don't eat 1200 calories to do it.
I completely agree. I'm 49 and at maintenance. I started on here at age 47 and lost ~73 pounds. I didn't find it to be any harder to lose weight in my late 40's. I actually found it harder in my late 20's because I did restrictive diets back then and always gained the weight back, plus I was miserable the whole time.
I'm 5'3.5". I lost my weight with my goal set at 1350 and ate back most of my exercise calories so usually between 1400 - 1600 calories per day. OP you don't look like you have much weight to lose. I can't tell how short you are, but 1200 is not an appropriate goal for you.2 -
1. Vegetables, fruit dairy and grains are all carbohydrates.LinFlemmer331 wrote: »When your blood sugar goes up then drops, you get hungry. Carbs raise your blood sugar. Cut the carbs and sugars, up the proteins and healthy fats. Fats and protein help to keep you full longer, and keep your blood sugar stable. My cardiologist told me to cut out processed food, carbs, sugars, and fruit. Instead eat vegetables, some berries, healthy fats, and protein. It's working for me and keeps my hunger down. Good luck!
2. Absolutely not necessary for weight loss. All that is needed is a calorie deficit. If it's working for you and with your medical condition, then that's great.
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For me, it depends on the day and my mood. Some days I feel stuffed with only 850, and other days I can have 1800. But on average, I have about 1200 a day, with exercise. I drink a ton of water, so maybe that's why.0
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I lost over 100lbs on 1200 a day but i do log 400-500 exercise calories a day and eat them all back. So my *gross* calories per day is more like 1600-1700.3
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Thank you everyone!!! I'm only 5 ft 2 but...I'm going to bump up a little!1
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If ur hungry, eat! :-D Just avoid empty calories, they can make u even MORE hungry. Intermittent fasting helps decrease calorie intake, tho that isn't the goal of it. And it increases hgh, which increases fat burning. If u feel hungry, ask urself would u eat a boiled egg?If no, it's just a craving lol! If yes, u need food4
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It helps to divide the 1,200 calories into 3 meals of 300 calories, plus one snack of 300 calories or two snacks of 150 calories. Spreading the calories out over the day keeps you from being so hungry. That's worked for me, anyway.1
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deannalfisher wrote: »yourfitnessenemy wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »I'd freak out and binge if I tried to restrict to 1200 calories.
I'm 42, 5'9", 170 pounds, and losing pretty well on ~1850 calories per day.quiksylver296 wrote: »I'd freak out and binge if I tried to restrict to 1200 calories.
I'm 42, 5'9", 170 pounds, and losing pretty well on ~1850 calories per day.quiksylver296 wrote: »I'd freak out and binge if I tried to restrict to 1200 calories.
I'm 42, 5'9", 170 pounds, and losing pretty well on ~1850 calories per day.
Tell me more! Do you exercise a ton?
I'm 42, 5'2", 125, MAINTAINING on 1200ish. I do take a lot of meds, but this is getting frustrating.
I'm 35, 5'3", 148lbs and maintain about 2500ish calories a day (also take daily thyroid meds) - its something I've been working on with an RD over the last year (when I started with them, I was eating maybe 1400 a day), they've slowly increased my calories and macros (when I started my carb intake was approximately 180g a day, as of this week, I'm up to an avg of 300g a day) - progressively small increases over the last year and a half
How long have you reverse dieted? at what rate did you increase your calories? Did you show any weight gain and how long did you wait before you considered yourself stabilised and ready for the next increase? Inquiring minds want to know! ;-)0
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