How do you people stay at 1200 a day??

I agree that food choices have a large effect on satiety. Protein keeps me full and by avoiding sugary foods (or low nutrient quality foods like pizza) , I avoid spikes in blood sugar which prompts cravings. If I do not eat "clean" to put it that way, I can easily clear away 3000+ calories of junk food. But when I focus on the healthiest foods, and low carb, my appetite is way lower and my cravings are almost nonexistent.

Eventually I'll add some grains and a little bit more carbs to my diet, and up my activity. Its a challenge, that's for sure. I'd love to eat whatever I want and be full at 1200 calories but it doesnt work that way for me.

Staying at 1200 seems easy to me now because my appetite has shrunk since I started watching what I eat. Also, it's easier for me because I'm very small (5 foot 0, 106 pounds) so I require a lot less calories to functions. What really helped me is that I eat VERY often (probably every 2 hours) in really small amounts. Those people you mentioned who are only eating one meal...that's REALLY bad for your metabolism and I wouldn't recommend it. If you're having trouble I'd recommend eating a little bit very often, and if you're still having trouble try out some negative calorie foods. For example, apples, bananas, cantaloupe, and many other fruits take more calories to digest than they actually contain. You'll feel full, but it won't hurt your weight loss efforts. Good luck!

I quit going by what MFP told me because it was too low. Couldn't do 1300 calories. I figured out my TDEE and took a 500 calorie cut. Then I got a Bodymedia Fit and actually my TDEE is more like 2200-2400 a day. I'm still losing weight, eating healthy and feel a lot better eating around 1600-1800 cal/day.

I usually eat 1200-1400 calories per day. As long as I do my own cooking and stay away from processed foods, I have no problem. Never hungry and usually have room for a small low fat ice cream cup (170 calories) for a bedtime snack. I stick to lean meats and eat lots of fresh veggies. I suggest going to some of the healthy cooking websites and finding some meals that you like. The recipes are usually for 4 servings, so make one and you have dinner for that night and 3 more meals waiting to reheat and eat. cookinglight.com has many of my favorites.

A lot of it is around combining foods. Fat and protein is the thing that sends the "I'm full" signal to your brain the fastest. When I struggle to feel full, I try to eat something fatty.

Studies have shown that you will be hungry to eat the same weight of food a day, regardless of calories. Go for bulk! Fruit and veg.

Overnight snacking can get me too. I work weird hours and overnights sometimes. What I find helps is actually pre-packaging my food into servings. So, cereal, measured out, in ziploc bags of one serving. It makes it much easier when I have the munchies to pick ONE thing rather than winding up with 3 servings of cereal in one go.

Lastly, it takes a while for your body to get used to having less in one day. Going from 3000 calories a day to 1200 is going to feel TERRIBLE. Cutting back slowly is more realistic.

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).

You say that you are MAJORLY OBESE. Why in the world would you only be eating 1200 calories a day? Did you set up the GUIDELINES correctly?
Did you even bother to set up the guidelines?

We know the answer tot that. I can't speak for others, but one reason I was "MAJORLY OBESE" was that I knew everything.
When a person knows everything, why bother changing?
I had to get stupid to unlearn a few things, then saw results eating more and enjoying life.
The starvation, crash diet route is a fast lane to nowhere.

Instead of people trying to help the thread starter how to stay UNDER 1200 calories, maybe Someone should explain how to use the site and eating right.

Why is "your way" right? Some of us are on doctor recommended diets at 1200. That isn't right? I'm sorry, I didn't see the MD after your name.

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).

You say that you are MAJORLY OBESE. Why in the world would you only be eating 1200 calories a day? Did you set up the GUIDELINES correctly?
Did you even bother to set up the guidelines?

We know the answer tot that. I can't speak for others, but one reason I was "MAJORLY OBESE" was that I knew everything.
When a person knows everything, why bother changing?
I had to get stupid to unlearn a few things, then saw results eating more and enjoying life.
The starvation, crash diet route is a fast lane to nowhere.

Instead of people trying to help the thread starter how to stay UNDER 1200 calories, maybe Someone should explain how to use the site and eating right.

Why is "your way" right? Some of us are on doctor recommended diets at 1200. That isn't right? I'm sorry, I didn't see the MD after your name.

Not once did I say I was right. Nor did I ever say I was a doctor. The thread starter is saying she is MAJORLY OBESE. I am merely suggesting that she is quite possibly doing something wrong.
I know I am a male and she a female, but when I was 80 pounds over weight(majorly obese), The guidlines allowed me 2100 calories per day, without any exercise. And that was for a 2 pound weight loss per week.
Now, I do not know her age, height or weight, but I can bet with certainty that SOMEONE, not a doctor, told her that she should be eating ONLY 1200 calories a day. Which is probably hurting her.

and if you're still having trouble try out some negative calorie foods. For example, apples, bananas, cantaloupe, and many other fruits take more calories to digest than they actually contain. Good luck!

This may be the most absurd thing I have ever read on this website.

I might be able to provide more advice if your diary was open, but if i needed to presume, i'd say that you're probably eating a lot of empty calories. I tend to eat a lot of filling foods that don't even contain many calories.

Example: I could eat 15 strawberries for lunch and that wouldn't even be 50 calories. Tons of veggies & fruits tend to also provide the same result. Or maybe you could try to eat more organic versions of the stuff you eat. Or whole wheat. Trader Joe's is a great organic store that provides pretty much the same exact meals with the same (or better) taste and with fewer calories and more health benefit!

You have made 22 pounds of progress and that's great! The exercise is what has made such a difference in how I feel. I have so much more energy and my mood is so much better! You can start slow. Just walk as far as you can and you will see that distance and pace improve. Work on a video and even if you can only do a few minutes, that is a start. get a one pound dumb bell and lift up your arms 10 times....Pretty soon you will be able to do 3 sets of 10 and maybe get a heavier weight....actually you can use a soup can.....

When you get hungry try to nibble on some protein and drink water with it....that will fill you up. Also, the more busy I am, the less I think of food:-) You can do this!!!

I'm not saying this works for everybody, but here's what works for me. I'm also morbidly obese, and on a strict, medically supervised eating plan, so maybe we'll find some similarities here. I don't eat back my exercise calories, and I typically take in (NOT net) around 1300 calories a day, sometimes more if I'm particularly hungry that day, but very rarely over 1600.

I eat protein first, or at least mixed in with my veggies, in the case of salad. I'm a vegetarian, too, so it's a little harder for me to get low-carb proteins, but I can do it if I set my mind to it. Some great sources I've found are hard boiled eggs, tofu, some cheeses (but be very careful here or you could wind up consuming a lot more fat than you meant to take in!), nonfat cottage cheese, and greek yogurt.

Pay attention to serving sizes. I can't stress this enough. Invest in good measuring cups and spoons, and even a food scale, if you are seriously committed. Buy smaller plates and cups...I borrowed some from my 6-month old granddaughter, and eventually bought a set of my own. My friends and family look at me a little funny, but it works for me anyway!

Try to cut down on the potatoes and ranch dressing. You don't have to eliminate them completely, but only have it once or twice a week, at most. Eventually, you'll find you've been so busy eating other good things that you haven't thought about eating those for weeks on end! Or try substituting mashed cauliflower for potatoes and make your own "ranch dressing" with a little greek yogurt and some ranch seasoning.

Most importantly, don't think you have to go all out to the 1200 calorie point right out of the gate. You may actually find that 1400, 1800, or even 2000 calories works better for you. If a certain level doesn't work, drop 100-200 calories a day once a week. I started out closer to 1800, but now I can easily stay in that 1300-1600 range without feeling deprived. This isn't about getting there fast...it's about making what you're doing stick. Feel free to friend me and/or look at my diary...I'm happy to share any tips I might have! :flowerforyou:

i tend to be around 1200 to 1300 a day. and i usually have a sandwich, a salad, a frozen meal, some fruit, and some sugary snack. i often eat lasagna, pizza, tacos, and cookies. the secret is replacing ingredients with healthier choices. my mom makes a sandwich that's 500 calories. mine are 150. if she makes tacos you're looking at 400 cals each. mine are 200 each.

just make healthier choices that are lower calorie and you'll get there. c:

When I started, I couldn't just eat 1200 cals, so I bumped it up to 1400 and then after I got used to that, went down to 1200 and it wasn't as hard. After I plateaued, I went back up to 1400 and eat back most exercise cals, and broke my plateau. Yay!