How do people cope on 1200 calories p/d?!

InnerFatGirl
InnerFatGirl Posts: 2,687 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I was on 1450. I feel like I am starving to death. There doesn't seem to be enough choices to fit into 1450 a day. I've just bumped them up to 1550. Sigh. It sure gets harder the closer you get, huh? I'm about ready to give up. Seriously.
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Replies

  • Brandicaloriecountess
    Brandicaloriecountess Posts: 2,126 Member
    I did it, I don't know how. But once I started actually eating I was a lot happier :) and stronger!
  • LadyL2012
    LadyL2012 Posts: 127 Member
    I do it mainly by filling up on lots of salad a veggies, which are low calorie even for a large amount. Also make sure my meat is extremely lean, so it fills me up with less calories.

    I admit some days I still go to bed hungry, but this is only temporary and I actually weirdly feel a lot more energetic and stronger.
  • kgb6days
    kgb6days Posts: 880 Member
    I'm on 1200/day. Some days I make it, some days i don't. Depending on my choices (veggies, fruits) I get LOTS of food. Other days doesn't seem like so much. Some days I work out just so I get to eat a little more - whatever it takes!
  • ccarre81
    ccarre81 Posts: 134 Member
    Load up on proper nutrition and you should be able to stay at 1400 net. Take a peak at my diary.
  • Brandicaloriecountess
    Brandicaloriecountess Posts: 2,126 Member
    I am still losing @ 1800 calories a day btw, so you don't HAVE to eat 1200 to lose =)
  • Drastiic
    Drastiic Posts: 322 Member
    Eat more vegetables and protein.
  • Caleysia
    Caleysia Posts: 23
    I have a 1490 calorie diet and to be honest I think it Is enough I'm never hungry. Ever and im not eating many veggies just lots of protein it fill you up a lot today I was 200 calories under and i so full
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    It's feasible, with a bit of planning. If you cut out bread, pasta, rice and potatoes, and watch your portion sizes, it's certainly doable.

    300 cal breakfast - eggs, smoked fish, porridge with berries, natural yoghurt, cottage cheese
    300 cal lunch - salad with a carefully chosen dressing - lemon juice and a teensy drizzle of good olive oil, or salsa
    300 cal dinner - lean grilled meat or fish with a pile of steamed veg
    3 lots of 100 cal snacks
  • ItsMeRebekah
    ItsMeRebekah Posts: 909 Member
    well i took a peak at your diary and noted quite a few cals that could be used for food instead of drinkish stuff... if you were to up your fresh veggies and add protein in i think you wouldn't be hungry as much!

    good luck!
  • MENichols5
    MENichols5 Posts: 176 Member
    I eat 1200 cals a day (plus some of my exercise calories) and I still eat bread, pasta (wheat), brown rice, and potatoes!

    I just watch my portions and plan ahead. Some days (mostly around my period) I feel more hungry than usual, but if I eat healthy, filling foods (with some treats thrown in), I maintain my calories without feeling starving.

    For example, tonight I will be eating 3/4 cup (uncooked) wheat pasta with sauce and 1.5 pieces of lite frozen garlic bread. I can easily fit this into my day and in fact, it's one of my go-to meals.
  • christopherpm
    christopherpm Posts: 75 Member
    www.bbcgoodfood.com have lots of healthy recipies available. I'm now on 1480 calories per day, but was on 1250. I'm male and 6 feet tall, so the prospect of eating 1250 calories a day was daunting, BUT it was actually quite easy. I'd start the day with a coffee (with skimmed milk), and a single egg omelette made with 1 cal spray oil - so breakfast was less than 100 calories.
    A 100g portion of strawberries mid morning was only 35-ish calories. I would eat between 350 - 450 calories for lunch, (normally a smaller portion of one of the BBC Good Food meals that was leftover), then for dinner, I would eat pretty much whatever calories I had left - again using BBC Good Food recipes, or modifying other recipes that I found replacing some ingredients with low fat or fat free versions. Then to finish, perhaps a Cadbury Light Chocolate Trifle for 130 calories.

    Of course, if you want to eat a couple of hundred more calories, do some exercise to compensate.

    Oh, and most importantly of all - make sure you drink the 8 glasses of water.
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    This thread is making me hungry.
  • ShreddedTweet
    ShreddedTweet Posts: 1,326 Member
    I am on 1200 per day and I'm never hungry, some days I find it hard to even bump it up to 1200! If you're properly hydrated and you use your calories wisely on veg/fruit/non-processed foods it's not so difficult....
  • melissa10666
    melissa10666 Posts: 63
    It's hard at first but after a while you realise how much food you eat out of bordem/greed rather then what your body actually needs
  • timd50
    timd50 Posts: 19 Member
    Your eating a ton of carbohydrates and it looks like quite a bit of sugar too. That isn't going to be very filling. Eating a higher proportion of greens, fats, and proteins will leave you a lot more full for a lot less calories.
  • darias_mommy
    darias_mommy Posts: 127 Member
    it can be done and not feel hungry. my diary is open, take a peek if you like and I work out pretty hard 9more than i calculate on MFP). Everyone above me is right- lots of salads- try spinach it's filling and fruits. it's more a mind game than hunger thing. right now I am dying for dinner, but i'm holding on. good luck. Add me, if you want more support!
  • Bobby_Clerici
    Bobby_Clerici Posts: 1,828 Member
    This thread is making me hungry.
    Right, I ate 1200 calories....for lunch today....I coped just fine.
  • ggcat
    ggcat Posts: 313 Member
    Smaller portions of healthy food = more meals ( I eat every 3 hours)...liquids are huge in calories!!! Watch what you are drinking, and eat protein!
  • dough21
    dough21 Posts: 216 Member
    I eat 2,500 - 3,000 a day and still lose. I also exercise on my bike for over an hour and a half a day.
  • CaptainHandsome
    CaptainHandsome Posts: 127 Member
    you're more than halfway to your goal, you must be doing something right. no shame in going over once in awhile, it'll just make you work harder for it the day.
  • Ash_ah_lee
    Ash_ah_lee Posts: 116 Member
    Im on 1200 calories p/d but my net is 1060 sometimes 900.. I never eat my workout calories back and i feel just fine never hungry..
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I was on 1450. I feel like I am starving to death. There doesn't seem to be enough choices to fit into 1450 a day. I've just bumped them up to 1550. Sigh. It sure gets harder the closer you get, huh? I'm about ready to give up. Seriously.

    Give up? And do what?

    It's pretty simple really. If you want to eat more, eat more and lose more slowly (which honestly seems more practical than giving up altogether) or exercise so you can "earn" more calories and still stay at 1200 net.
  • tckldpnk
    tckldpnk Posts: 6
    I just started on the 1200 calories per day and my stomach growls like it never has before, lol. It's shocking to me how many calories I was eating before this. I couldn't even eat an entire snack sized bag of trail mix today for fear of going over my 1200 mark. But I know that I have to make better decisions about what I eat. Fruits, veggies, protein and 8 glasses of water will keep you full.
  • christopherpm
    christopherpm Posts: 75 Member
    You've got 180 calories in your morning coffee alone. That's a couple of snacks. You could try substituting for either a regular black coffee which would be 3 calories, or 12 calories if you had it with skimmed milk.

    Also, I notice that in today's diary, you had a lot of pre-packaged stuff - try making your own lunches and dinners.
  • Cornn
    Cornn Posts: 11
    I'm on 1200 a day and at first I felt a little hungry at the end of the day but my body adjusted. One thing that really helps is that I drink 72 + ounces of water a day and that helps to fill you up. Also, I make sure to eat foods that I know will keep me feeling full, especially protein. I also work out four days a week and eat those extra calories. I never feel hungry at the end of the day now.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    :laugh:

    i was just asking this yesterday when thanks to a midnight snack i ate on monday, i was left with around 1200 calories for tuesday. first 2 meals were fine but the last meal i was trying to think of what to eat with only 200 caloies left.

    i ended up waking this morning and eating a huge breakfast
  • RonneyKay
    RonneyKay Posts: 464 Member
    The doc actually put me on 1200 c/p/d...

    I feel alot better cutting out processed foods...
    eat alot "greener" or "purer"
    The doc also told me to cut wayyyy back on carbs (this is helping on so many levels, more energy, chronic pain, so no flaming please)
    When I eat salad, I usually don't log it, but I log everything else, because no one got fat from eating too much lettuce LOL
    (but thats my theory)

    some days its easier than others, but I really am happy with it, and it's working for me! :)

    Ronney
  • JosieRawr
    JosieRawr Posts: 788 Member
    Exercise n you earn more :) I eat quite a bit per day, (sometimes not so good choices) but I earn the calories I eat.
  • Sharyn913
    Sharyn913 Posts: 777 Member
    I am still losing @ 1800 calories a day btw, so you don't HAVE to eat 1200 to lose =)

    Agreed. I would starve at 1,200 per day. I usually exercise MORE just so I can eat more! =)
  • christopherpm
    christopherpm Posts: 75 Member
    Im on 1200 calories p/d but my net is 1060 sometimes 900.. I never eat my workout calories back and i feel just fine never hungry..

    You need to be careful with this, because your body could go into starvation mode which has a negative effect on your weight too.

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