How to lose weight when I can't seem to stay under the 1200

I think your calories are set too low, especially if your work has you moving so much. I know several of us didn't start losing until we started eating more calories. There's no way I could stick to 1200 calories.

For 1200 you will have to cook your own food and not go to fast food. You have to do lean meats and lots of veggies or you will feel hungry all the time. Subway says they are healthy, they don't say they are good for a 1200 day calorie plan. You can make your own pizza, etc. and keep them much lower in cals then anything you can buy. Plus then you can add tons of veggies to fill you up.

I started here over 3 months ago at 1200 and thought I could keep up the fast food I had gotten used to. I learned very quickly that unless I wanted to be so hungry I could gnaw my arm off I couldn't do that. I hate cooking but it is a necessary evil if you are trying to drop lbs and be healthier.

I have been here for 170 days. The doctor, or should I say three doctors, told me 1000 calories a day to lose. It is hard but doable. Stay away from fast food, processed food, soda, white flour and junk in general.

I just started on this site 5 days ago because I want to lose 10lbs. The sites has my calories set to 1,220 a day and I am finding it very hard to stay under that. I am usually about 300-500 over that and I feel like I haven't even eaten that much. For example the one day I was 500 calories over and all I'd eaten was a 6inch subway sub and a grilled chicken sandwhich (and fries) for dinner. That isn't a lot of food, but still I was way over my mark. It's very hard to eat healthy when my parents plan our meals and we go out to eat all of the time. I try to choose healthy whenever I can (chicken over a burger, subway over other fastfood places, etc) but its hard. Another example, yesterday I was extreamly over my calories and all I'd eaten was a weight watcheres frozen meal for lunch and then pizza and breadsticks for dinner. I mean I know that pizza and breadsticks are high in calories, but it was what was for dinner.

I also try to exercize when I can find time, but thats hard between working and going to school. When I work I am on my feet constantly moving around for 4-6 hrs straight (I'm a cashier) so that has to be burning at least some calories, right? I mean this summer I plan to ride my bike and swim and stuf but until then I feel very limited in the exercizes I can do.

Any tips?

You haven't even been here a week. Give it time.

I agree, 1200 is just too little! Can you set it to lose 1 or even .5 pounds per week? If you lose more than that, it is gravy!
The point is to lose the weight and keep it off, which takes time.
Be more realistic because this is a life change, not a "diet". This is a great tool to get you into a healthier habit.

Good luck! You can do it.

Also, work out more so you can increase your caloric intake.

I'm on a 2027 calorie count, and I fight to not have 500 calories... almost everyone either works a full-time job, or goes to school, or both... I wouldn't use your job as a calorie burn, unless your a construction guy or doing lifting constantly.

You asked for tips, I've been up and down, but I've been successful when I need to.

#1, break free from the 'eat out tyranny'... little things can reduce your calories. the dressing you put on your sub, the cheese (almost 250 calories right there unless your using mustard, FAT FREE isn't CALORIE FREE) Cheese is 70 calores for two triangles. I personally eat the 6" turkey breast, double meat, no cheese, with mustard (300 total).... skip chips 160 calories... diet soda = 0 Calories or water.... there isn't another sandwich you can eat out and survive, nothing from McD or Wendy's is going to let you hit 1200 a day.

#2, BREAKFAST - EAT IT.... simple things like oatmeal, a banana and slice of cheese, there are lots of those suggestions on the net.

#3 - LUNCH - take it with you... 1 flour tortilla fajita size 80 calories, 2 oz grilled chicken breast 80 calories, lettuce, 1 tbsp Ranch dressing 60 calories (unless you can get FF Ranch, then 30) but thats 220 calories for a chicken wrap, add an apple and you have 300 calories and should be full.

#4 - SNACKS - need them, add 12-15 almonds in a small baggy for that mid-afternoon need (160 calories)

#5 - Dinner - if your eating pizza AND breadsticks, you CAN NOT win. There is more than enough bread in the pizza, and on 1200 calories, if it is a no meat pizza it should be about 200 calories a 12" slice (if you use a napkin to soak the oil off the cheese and bottom).

You can do it!! but it means taking control, and not letting others determine if you can achieve your goals.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/491087-my-gift-excel-spreadsheet-for-bmr-tdee-cut-build-and-ma


go check that out....it should help you.

When I lived with my parents as a teenager I desperately needed to lose weight but it was difficult since none of them ate very healthy. I yo yo'd a lot and didn't do it in a healthy way at all. And there were always temptations in the house. I asked them if we could get rid of all the junk food and start buying more healthy substitutes. My parents were not supportive, but maybe yours will be? Maybe you can have a discussion with your parents about how you want to be a healthier person and you need their support. Maybe they want to do it too!

I just started on this site 5 days ago because I want to lose 10lbs. The sites has my calories set to 1,220 a day and I am finding it very hard to stay under that. I am usually about 300-500 over that and I feel like I haven't even eaten that much. For example the one day I was 500 calories over and all I'd eaten was a 6inch subway sub and a grilled chicken sandwhich (and fries) for dinner. That isn't a lot of food, but still I was way over my mark. It's very hard to eat healthy when my parents plan our meals and we go out to eat all of the time. I try to choose healthy whenever I can (chicken over a burger, subway over other fastfood places, etc) but its hard. Another example, yesterday I was extreamly over my calories and all I'd eaten was a weight watcheres frozen meal for lunch and then pizza and breadsticks for dinner. I mean I know that pizza and breadsticks are high in calories, but it was what was for dinner.

I also try to exercize when I can find time, but thats hard between working and going to school. When I work I am on my feet constantly moving around for 4-6 hrs straight (I'm a cashier) so that has to be burning at least some calories, right? I mean this summer I plan to ride my bike and swim and stuf but until then I feel very limited in the exercizes I can do.

Any tips?

well there ya go then, pizza and breadsticks are high in calories, there is your answer. Look, WHAT you eat counts, if all you are going to do is eat fast-food, then you will use up your daily allowance of calories, it's as simple as that.

I, too, would be hungry if all I ate was what you ate, but I am not because I do not just have those things. Pizza and breadsticks are high in calories, calories that would have been better spent on chicken or fish with vegetables and potatoes, with fruit for dessert. Eggs for breakfast.... There are plenty of foods you can eat, however, if you eat nothing but fast-foods, then yes, you are totally correct, you will be very hungry, most likely break your eating plan within days and lose no weight to boot.

What's it to be?

Remove the fries, pizza, and breadsticks from your diet. And bread. You cannot eat fast food, or even eat out very often, and stay under 1200 calories.

You need to really use this site to see what kind of calories your food has in it, then change the food. Like everyone else who replied before me, add fruits and veggies (but mostly the veggies) to your diet. You can eat a ton of veg without adding very many calories. (A serving of lettuce is three cups and is under 50 calories, if I remember correctly.

Also, if you really are moving around and walking around all day, invest in a pedometer or iPod Nano to track your exercise. You may be burning more calories than you think and that'll add to the food you can eat. I had a JC Penney employee recently tell me that she started using a pedometer at work and found that she averages 5 miles of walking a day and has lost 15 pounds in a few months, without changing her diet.

Also, change your goals to 1/2 pound a week instead of one pound. And use the site to find out what your maintenance calorie count is. As long as you are under thank, you'll still lose weight, just not as quickly.

I knew I would forget something..... OP unfortunately, as tiring as it may be being on your feet all day, it is not aerobic, therefore, the calories you burn are your day to day living (albeit lightly active) - but they are not exercise calories.

If you insist on guessing at those calories that you consider burned and then counting and eating them back, you are just adding to your total, which will, in actual fact, be an overestimation making any weightloss even harder than it already is.

I would love to prepare my own healthy meals every day that include vegtables and such. I hate the fact that we go out to eat all of the time, but my dad hates cooking and is a VERY picky eater, so he just suggest we go out to eat most of the time. My parents can be quiet judgmental and would not be suportive if I brought this up with them. I have asked to buy more vegies before, and sometimes we do but my dad is one who would rather buy a bag of chips than a bag of vegies.

Then you need to check the website of the place you go to eat...so you know what is the best choice
Like eat a chicken sandwich with only 1/2 the bun...or no bun on top of a salad.....little changes even eating out will make big changes in your calories!!

Less then 1200 calories puts your body into hibernation and it will fight against loosing weight. Stay between 1200-1220 and be sure to eat all of your excerise calories. The more you are active the more you can eat.
If you find yourself at subway have a salad with meat instead of a sub.
Drink lots of water 8 x 8oz a day AND get rid of the caffine drinks like coffee, tea, cola even some of the clear pops have caffine.
READ the nutritional info on what you eat. Learn what foods fall in what calories categories this way you can choose wisely from what is presented for dinner, but ultimately you should learn to cook your own meals.
If you work, buy your own food and make your own meals.
I just had a large bowl (3.5 cups) of mexican stir fry ... 3oz chicken onions, mushrooms, corn, brocoli, carrots and salsa all for under 300 calories and it is FILLING.
Try a cereal with protien in it (Kashi) for breakfast. With 1% milk it under 300 calories and will fill you for the morning.

Most of all stick with it and ask the MFP members for support. We are here for you. You'll get 100 different answers, but find what works for you and your body.