Am I doing something wrong?

RitaPita519 · May 2020

Hello! Serious question here... I’ve seen some people say they’re been getting on with a 1200 calorie daily limit. My question is how!?!? I’ve started myself off at 1700 calories a day because I’ve tried doing 1200-1500 calories a day and end up failing because I felt so deprived and hungry all the time. So do you just have to deal with hunger? Do you have to eat multiple small meals throughout the day to feel satisfied? I’m genuinely curious because why am I still feeling so unsatisfied on a 1700 calorie limit!? I feel like that shouldn’t be the case!

Terytha · May 2020

Lots of veggies and berries. A whole bowl of broccoli is like 30 calories and a lot of food. I fill my sandwiches with cucumbers and spinach. Etc.

AnnPT77 · May 2020

Are you losing on 1700? If so, why go lower? Absent severe health conditions that require fast weight loss, there aren't merit badges for pure speed. Sustainability is important. Losing any meaningful amount of weight is a long-term activity.

Satiation is very individual. If you're persistently hungry, experiment.

If you're in the first couple of weeks, hunger may just be an adjustment period. After that, timing and composition of eating is worth experimenting with, to see if you can find a more satiating routine. It isn't the same for everyone: It's very individual.

Some people feel full if they eat relatively more protein, maybe spreading it through the day. Others find fats satiating. Still others feel full with volume, either high-fiber volume like veggies, or liquid-y things like soups or high-water fruits/beverages and (near-)zero-cal drinks (tea, coffee, infused water, water, fizzy water, diet soda, whatever).

Some people do best eating one big meal daily. Others are happier grazing on many small snack-sized meals through the day. And different people like everything in between: Two meals, three meals, snacks, no snacks, etc.

Some people even find that very specific foods are very satiating for them. Some common (not universal) ones are oatmeal/porridge, baked potatoes (low cal toppings!), rice, etc.

Experiment.

Your food diary can help. Notice when you feel more full, or more hungry/crave-y. What might have made the difference?

It could've been something you ate, or timing of meals/snacks. It could also be about inadequate/sufficent sleep; stress levels; boredom; emotions; habits; and more. (If the problem isn't about actual food/eating, the solution isn't, either. Instead, it's sleep, stress management strategies, therapy, meditation, new hobbies, substitute habits, or any number of other things.) Find the root cause, address it. Weight loss is multi-factor.

Me, personally: I'm a not very tall (5'5") li'l ol' lady (64). When I was losing weight from obese on down, age 59, 1200 was way too low for me. Even now, at 128-130 pounds lately, it'd put me in the hospital in a few short months (if I stuck to it). That's not true for everyone, but I'm not the only one it is true for. 1200 is not essential for everyone. Fast loss is not necessarily the best plan, either.

Figure out what works for you.

Best wishes!

kimny72 · May 2020

RitaPita519 wrote: »

Hello! Serious question here... I’ve seen some people say they’re been getting on with a 1200 calorie daily limit. My question is how!?!? I’ve started myself off at 1700 calories a day because I’ve tried doing 1200-1500 calories a day and end up failing because I felt so deprived and hungry all the time. So do you just have to deal with hunger? Do you have to eat multiple small meals throughout the day to feel satisfied? I’m genuinely curious because why am I still feeling so unsatisfied on a 1700 calorie limit!? I feel like that shouldn’t be the case!

The correct number if calories depends on your height, weight, lifestyle activity level, and exercise habits. The number of calories you're comfortable eating also depends on how you were raised and your hunger/satiety threshold. So it's quite possible the people successfully eating 1200 calories are smaller than you or less active than you. Or if not, perhaps they're simply people who think you have to suffer to lose weight or don't understand the dangers of fast weight loss.

I personally would be miserable eating 1200 cals, and I lost just fine at 1500.

What's important, is this - is you're weight headed in the right direction?

podperson1 · May 2020

I'm on 1200 calories and I don't find it too bad. Personally I tend to have something quite filling for breakfast (usually oats or eggs based), more of a snack around lunchtime, and then a bigger dinner. It's a lot about finding what works for you. I have cut my carbs down a lot as they were pretty heavy on the calories and fill up the plate with veggies and protein, once you start looking into different food options then it's not hard to have a filling and satisfying meal for 350-400 calories. Occasionally I do feel hungry, especially in the evenings as that's when I used to snack a lot, but most days I'm fine with it.

gauravsp7 · May 2020

I am going 1550 and I am 177lbs .. I think 1200 would be too low for me. I could probably do it for a few days but not sustainable.

Oh_hey_its_tam · May 2020

I am doing okay on the 1,200, but have to skip breakfast to make it work. I am following a 18/6 fast (a 16/8 works well too) so basically get my 1,200 calories in during those 6 hours (whatever hours you decide on) then fast for 18. That has heightened my weight loss for sure. Usually my lunch consists of a protein shake/almond milk & rice cake with 1 tbsp peanut butter. I try to save the bulk of my calories for dinner so I can feel full in the evening and eat somewhat normalish like the rest of the fam.
Good luck! If you're losing on a higher calorie intake, then I'd stick with whatever works for you.

Am I doing something wrong?

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