How do you people stay at 1200 a day??

I think that everyone is different and that the quality of the calories counts as much as the numbers. Focus on your healthy habits and you will find the right amount of calories for your needs.

I used to find it exceptionally hard to stay under 1200 as well. I struggle with hypoglycemia, so when my sugar drops I have to eat! What works for me is eating about six small meals per day, although it varies how often I need to eat depending on my symptoms. I try to keep snacks at about 100 calories and carry things that I know make me feel full, such as almonds (I buy Emerald's 100 cal packs so I don't over do it) or string cheese. Find any way possible to substitute less healthy ingredients in your recipes; for example use wheat flour instead of white, splenda or agave syrup for sweetener, etc, you can save many calories if you're creative about it. Just watch your portions and pay careful attention to packaging when you're grocery shopping. Drinking club soda with snacks or meals also helps me feel fuller and eat less; there are some really good flavors of sparkling water if you don't like straight club soda. Keeping hydrated helps you feel less hungry. Maximizing calories burned during workouts is also important; if you like to take walks move your mid section and arms and vary your pace. The elliptical burns a lot of calories. Some of your basic household chores can burn a lot of calories as well, though some people don't like to count that on MFP.

I am like you. When I eat 1200 calories a day I am hungry, angry, I feel weak and lose my hairs. Now I eat 1700 calories and will never go back to 1200

Yesterday was the first day i blew it!! Olive garden salad was deceiving!!! Then i had homemade icecream before i knew i was too high!!

I eat hard boiled eggs, yogurt, all the veggies i can, fruit , turkey, tuna, chicken and salads! Very rarely am i hungry. When my family starts snacking i grab the broccilli or cauliflaur!

Feel free to look at my diary! Good luck!! You can do it, but you do need your exercise calories to eat back.

Don't lose heart :flowerforyou: . You aren't the only one! I have a huge appetite and I cannot stay under 1200 either. I get headaches and acidity if I eat under 1200. Its wayyyyy too low for me. Since I need to eat more, I work out so I can have more food and still net under 1200 cals. Up your calories to 1400 or 1500 and begin working out slowly, little by little every day. Soon you'll be able to work out more and keep your net calorie intake near 1200.

I just started and this is my third day, but I have been eating about 90% clean foods, staying around the 1200 cal mark and have not felt hungry. Maybe it is your food choices. You can add me as a friend and see my diary. Hang in there. Like others have said, I eat 100 cal. snacks like almonds or walnuts to stave off cravings.

I eat 3 meals and 3 snacks a day. You just have to eat low calorie foods and watch your portions PLUS exercise. I would go over 1200 every single day if I did not exercise, I probably actually eat around 1500 and then exercise anywhere from 300-600 calories a day off.

I have been doing this for a long time and I can not stay under calories, no matter how hard I try. How do you people do it??? I looked at some of your diaries and that ones I looked at.....one ate one meal a day and some vitamins, one ate protein shakes twice a day and a salad for the other, the others complain about not being able to get to 1200 a day, one eats pizza and goes over and still says he/she loses two lbs a week.

Don't you people get hungry??? How do you do it?????? I know, yes, my exercise is not where it should be and I"m working on it (majorly obese here so I'm working at it) but the diaries I was referring to didn't have any exercise calories listed in at the bottom....

Don't you get hungry?????? I'm beginning to think all these numbers maybe too complicated for this brain to figure out, too (like another post said).

Hello there, I am on a 1200 calorie a day limit as well and it is actually fairly easy for me. I do not by any means eat nothing but protein shakes and vitamins, or only have one meal a day. I actually tend to eat a lot. What helps me most is exercsing off excess calories. I do a workout video every morning 5 times a week, You are more than welcome to take a look at my diary and friend me. Its a whole lot easier to stick to it and do well when you have great and encouraging accountaility partners here on the site. The 1200 calorie a day goal is very attainable. Dont give up! Whatever you do. DO NOT GIVE UP!! You can do it. 1200 calories a day is easy if you're eating the right things

I have been doing this for a long time and I can not stay under calories, no matter how hard I try. How do you people do it??? I looked at some of your diaries and that ones I looked at.....one ate one meal a day and some vitamins, one ate protein shakes twice a day and a salad for the other, the others complain about not being able to get to 1200 a day, one eats pizza and goes over and still says he/she loses two lbs a week.

Don't you people get hungry??? How do you do it?????? I know, yes, my exercise is not where it should be and I"m working on it (majorly obese here so I'm working at it) but the diaries I was referring to didn't have any exercise calories listed in at the bottom....

Don't you get hungry?????? I'm beginning to think all these numbers maybe too complicated for this brain to figure out, too (like another post said).

Not ever hungry...if I get hungry, I eat. It's pretty simple. AND when I do get hungry, I don't go seeking junk food. I only workout on the weekends (going to start walking during the week again since the weather is calming down a bit)

Hi --- today is my first day counting calories and this is how I stayed within 1200. (just hope I do not snack too much before bed)

Breakfast: High fiber cereal + skim milk (I mixed 2 types of cereal -- about 1.5 servings and 1/2 cup milk); also had coffee
Snack: handful of almonds and 2 apricots
Lunch: I made a salad with some romaine lettuce, can of tuna, tomato, cucumber, feta cheese, salt, peper, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I also had a small chocolate biscotti (110 calories).
Snack: 1 cup of cherries
Dinner: I made whole wheat quesadilla filled with lots of sauteed veggies (peppers, broccoli, tomato) and a bit of cheddar cheese. I had a peach for dessert.
I also drank 8 glasses of water.
Generally if you make your own food using fresh ingredients, incorporate a lot of vegetables, eat whole wheat (I eat everything whole wheat --- breads, pasta, etc.), snack on nuts, veggies and fruit and watch portion size, it is manageable. I imagine doing this daily is challenging but if you exercise, you should be able to eat more.
Good luck!

Check my diary out, I eat 1200 a day. Every once in a while I will go over by one or two calories, and if I do, I exercise to gain that back. I don't eat my exercise calories back that often.

It's easy once you get in the swing of it, you just have to change what and how you eat. I eat a lot healthier than I used to, drink a lot more water than I used to, work out and exercise more than I used to and I feel better than I've ever felt in my life.

You need to look up low calorie recipes, and healthy snacks and replace the high calorie foods with those Feel free to add me if you'd like, I'm starting up a blog soon with low calorie yet filling recipes, that are easy to make!

Hi, I have porridge with low fat milk, fruit, slivered almonds and a teaspoon of brown sugar for breakfast. Soup and bread for lunch. Homemade usually veggie and lentil. A snack of yoghurt and more fruit about 4 pm. Then just whatever I am cooking for the family for dinner. I rarely eat take away, and never eat pre packaged super market meals. This way I know what I am eating and I am not having the hidden fats and sugars. I live Australia and we do not have the pre packaged mentality that seems to be in US supermarkets, although we are catching up fast! I do not find that I am hungry, especially after my hearty breakfast. Just try and cook from scratch, then you are eating real food. Your body with thank you. Good luck!

I drink water, I eat lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, lots fruit, spinach, lean chicken breast......but somewhere, oh somewhere I throw in a potato or some ranch or something that adds up..... I also tend to get up at night and snack because I can't sleep...THAT is what usually throws me wayyyyyyyyyyyyy over.....

Thank you all for responding....I just feel whiney today and am not seeing any progress and it gets frustrating....

Thank you though for your thoughts....I will take them to heart and keep them in mind and get to moving more.

Maybe you need to sort out this sleep issue as like you said the snacking at night is probably the reason why not losing. Perhaps a doctor can prescribe something or some natural products may help to get a good night's sleep.

There's a great book called Volumetrics. It focuses on eating large amounts of lower calorie foods until you are full (salad, soup, etc...) It is a great concept: choose low calorie foods, and eat essentially as much of them as you want! There are some great recipes in it to get started, too! I highly recommend checking it out, it has been quite helpful for me!

Don't worry too much about the 1200 mark either. Everybody is different...different bodies need different calories! You can always start slowly too...start at 1800, once that is comfortable, try 1500, and work your way down. Keep up the good work!!!

Edit: Ooops, looks like I posted this a bit late! Encouragement!! Support!! You're definitely not alone.!

Looks good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmYoY5rQ89U&feature=share

o lawd. girl, please check out my post. i asked the same question and i got 7 pages of commentary, advice and really good help. i'm just 3 weeks into this but these people are hardcore awesome and know what they're talking about!