Keeping within calorie range

Hey I'm on 1200 a day too and its so hard! If I don't exercise I find it really hard to stay within the cals. I have a terrible sweet tooth so I snack on chocolate which def doesn't help. I try to eat low GI food http://www.the-gi-diet.org/lowgifoods/ they keep me fuller for longer so I start with porridge (oatmeal) usually have mixed grain pitta (with ham and cheese) for lunch and brown rice (chicken/beef curry) for dinner. Fruit, extra veg on the side and diet coke! Diet coke is my saviour!!

I have 1400 calories, I cut way down when I started. The first couple weeks I was hungry all the time but my body has adjusted and what I am eating seems to be more sustaining. Eat lots of veggies, volume without so many calories Good Luck!

I am also on the 1200 calories...It is hard...most days I am just like you...starving to death, constantly thinking of food..and I drink a ton of water, and it does NOT keep me full.
Some days, I am fine, and dont have a problem.
I feel like I eat alot of food. I mean, at dinner, my plate is piled high, but very low in calories. Take a look at my diary, it may help give you some insight.

cut out carbs and it'll be hard to get up to that many calories - just my experience.

even if you just cut down on refined sugars, or high glycemic index foods, chances are you won't be hungry as much.
increase fiber to feel fuller for longer.
snack on things like cottage cheese and celery.
have several small meals / snacks throughout the day - it takes less calories to never get hungry rather than eat when you're starving...

either lower your weekly weight loss goal as was already stated or exercise more (you get to eat more when you exercise) or I would suggest a combo of both.

I don't have any trouble. I eat every few hours, I'm active every day and I don't really have trouble reaching NET 1260.

I also eat clean. I eat whole healthy foods. That is the best way to eat all day long, never be hungry and 'eat the rainbow' as they say to do.

The experts say it is best to eat every 2-3 hours.

i haven't been doing this very long, but yes 1200 is hard. sometimes i let myself have a few more calories, but not everyday. it seams to help. Chewing gum seems to help me as well??

Soup! I'm on 1200 calories and yes it is painful. But I use bouillion stock as a soup at 12 calories a cup. I also eat masses of lettuce with grated parmesan ( 1g goes a Looooong way) and it helps me think I am full.
I also eat a lot of carrots...
I do not cut out chocolate or indeed nor do I cut out wine etc I just have soda spritzers half and half. I never have milk in anything nor do I have any fizzy drinks - just water and black tea as I find it is drinks that have the most hidden calories.
Good luck!

Don't cut out chocolate. Just eat dark chocolate. It's very good for you.

Also, don't eat empty calories (diet soda, diet iced tea etc.) it just makes you crave a ton of sugar later on because you did not satisfy an actual craving for sugar.

Check out www.snack-girl.com and www.dailygarnish.com for healthy recipe ideas. Also, buy Everyday Food magazine--makes it very easy to log.

You would not believe how MUCH food I pack in my body each day for 1260 NET.

I am having a hard time staying within the alloted calorie range, I havent been on here in a while. While i have 1200 calories, how do you keep from getting hungry (this is the reason that i havent been able to stick with it for long). Oatmeal, bananas and that type of food does not keep me full like most people. I guess my body is strange. But there are times that i feel like i am starving to death. and i will drink the water like everyone says but it still does not help.

But when you are eating during the day, how does everyone else stay on track with their calories? What type of things do you eat and how often. I have an office job and I am trying to exercise. ( I know i can have my exercise calories back)
Can someone please enlighten a confused woman, Please

Bananas are high in carbs and excellent for bursts of energy, however, they will not keep you filled for long. Personally, I find foods high in protein keep me full and help me to wait for my next meal, rather than snack inbetween.

Eggs and chicken are two very good, protein foods.

It's NOT enough to live on. You couldn't net 1200 as a sustained amount for years on end without getting seriously underweight. The whole point in us all being here is to lose weight, so it's natural that at some point, your body is going to notice that. Hunger is NORMAL. There's no prizes for denying that.

What are you basing that on? Most days I actually TAKE IN NEARLY 2,000 CALORIES. I also typically burn 400-500 calories per day. So yes, I net 1260 when I'm trying to lose 1lb/week. I'm 1460 to lose .5/week and 1660 to MAINTAIN. And that's NET.

So you're telling me I'm starving myself?

Please. I eat all day long and NET 1260. How is NETTING 1260 not sustainable long-term? Show me some proof. Because I'm really eating close to 2,000 calories per day and doing something active each day. I am actually a very healthy woman!

As stated before you may have your cals set too low.

I have found that eating a snack between meals helps me. I try to get in fiber throughout the day too. For snacks try a protein and good carbs for example an apple w a serving of peanut butter. I also love laughing cow cheeses. They have them in small portions and they are great for snacks. Or string cheese... For me, a quality snack keeps me from being overly hungry at my next meal. And I drink at least 64 oz of water.

Sometimes I want to eat but I'm not actually hungry. I'm still trying to get over those hurdles.

This is just my experience and opinion. . Good luck to you.

To several of the posters as well as the OP.

Still hungry - great!

Means your metabolism hasn't dropped yet. That's a good thing.

While at a healthy weight you can live easily on a suppressed metabolism, compared to where it could be, I'm not sure why someone would want their weight loss slower than it needs to be by doing it before you reach healthy weight.

Because if your healthy estimated BMR could be 1500, and you eat 1200 (don't include exercise yet) constantly, and you get to the point of functioning fine, your BMR is NO longer 1500.
It is below 1200.

So now your orginal figures that got you to 1200 are not correct.

1500 BMR x activity selection of sedentary 1.2 = 1800 maintenance.
1800 maintenance - weight loss goal 2 lbs wk or 1000 calories/day = 800

Guess what, MFP stops at 1200 - you weren't going to get 2 lbs a week anyway.

So with true BMR now at 1200 x 1.2 (if that is even true) = 1440 maintenance.

So now you are eating at 1200, and your true BMR is lower than it could be, so now your deficit is really only about 240 calories.

1/2 lb a week, almost.

Gee, I wonder why stalls and plateaus happen? And any overeating is added on as fat to store, instead of raising the metabolism.

You just lost a potential of free 300 calorie burn each and every day. Plus the fact your daily activities don't actually burn the number of calories you think.

This is the WRONG direction. You can only follow that downward spiral for so long, you body will win, and you will lose your willpower, or muscle very easily.

Add in exercise, and especially not feeding the workout at that low level, you just accelerated the whole situation and made it worse.

I really find that exercising helps and the tools that show on your food intake where it breaks down carbs, protein, fat and sugars. is definitely a wake-up call. Increase your protein and fiber and try to cut back on fast carbs / sugar (which includes fruit).
One of my daily favorites in Chobani Greek Yogurt....tons of protein and it holds you. You may have to slow down your weight loss to allow for more calories per day. 1200 isn't much and your body may be in "starvation mode" - which in that case, you're going to hang onto fat anyway.

Good luck - hope this helps!

You could perhaps log your entire day before hand to see the end result.. adjusting all the portion sizes to make sure it's within acceptable range.