Mumsnet Talk

I started my diet healthy eating plan and 30DS 2 days ago.

I'm finding it so difficult as I'm always hungry. I totted up how many calories I have ingested today and it is about 900. And my main meal is dinner with a snack before bed time too. How on earth do people survive on 1200cal a day??!!

Am I so hungry because I started doing exercise? I had a protein breakfast, a small sandwich made with wholemeal bread and a small slice of cheese and a big bowl of carrot soup for lunch. A couple of squares of dark chocolate and a pear. And 3 coffees with no sugar. All that should have been filling no?

Just goes to show how much I was overeating before. I was lucky not to have been gaining weight I think (saved by me still BF perhaps).

How do you all deal with hunger?

I was doing 1200 cals a day and didn't lose weight.

You need more foooooood!

I'm not aiming for 1200cals a day at all. That would kill me! I have 2 small DCs to look after, so I need some energy.

You will stop beign so hungry after about 2 weeks as your stomach shrinks. However, you do need to eat your exercise calories if you are this hungry methinks. I would only not do this if you are not losing after several weeks.

Drink lots and lots of fluids - will help suprress the hunger pangs I think. And think about how you're using up your calories - for instance you can have an enormous green salad with v little dressing plus some cherry tomatoes, handful of new potatoes etc for the same amount of calories as a few choc biscuits - making sure you combine protein with a small amount of carbs will fill you up for longer.

you won't lose weight if you're not eating enough and always hungry. If you're hungry, eat! Just eat fruit or veg, like snack on melon/pineapple/grapes etc if you're hungry between meals.

@choceyes also, it will get easier as you get more low calorie filling meals under your belt. I speak as someone on 1200 calories a day (Disclaimer: I am 5'2'' and tiny boned).

For example I am having sausages, mashed sweded and peas and gravy tonight. 350 calries of the right stuff fills up a plate!

dinky - I think I'd rather have and be more satisfied with a couple of choc biscuits actually

I've been drinking lots of coffee and water, whereas normally I'd only have one cup of hot drink and hardly any water.

I think before I've been eating nearly 1500 cals most days even before dinner .
My DD is nearly 18 months, but still takes quite a bit of Bfeeds, so I think I have her to thank for not having put on loads of weight.

I like to keep most of my calories for the evening as that is when I tend to snack most.

Thanks for the tips...keep them coming!

I want to get some sugar free jelly in, so I can snack on that in the evenings. Can't find it in cornershops and no times to go to the supermarket...sigh.

tardisjumper - I am also 5'2 and small boned . Pre DC I was 7.7 stone and looked good on that. I have about 8-10 lbs to lose.

I know choc - me too But they cause sugar spikes and crashes which lead to overeating or being starving again - filling up on protein plus carbs will give a slow release of energy (think GI diet) which really does help curb the feeling like you're starving the whole time. Honest. While you're till bfing you need to be careful about trying to lose weight - I found I couldnt really shift the last stone of weight to lose until I stopped bfing DS2.

more protein = less blood sugar swings + cravings, so in turn means less calories

try it! really, eating more protein and good fats makes you eat less, a few nuts or nut butter, a dash of full fat cream. Keeps you feeling full.

Add some roasted almonds or a tea spoon of cream to your carrot soup, Ditch the bread and have more cheese at lunch, swap the pear and choc for an avocado, or have the pear and choc with a few nuts.

Sort your blood sugar out and the calories take care of themselves!

I have lost 3 stone on the Paul mckenna way of eating and Iam NEVER hungry because you MUST eat when you're hungry with P.M.And no calorie counting or eating shit diet foods.

I lost loads of weight and lived on 1200 calories a day for months by having a large glass of water and a few slices of ham when I was starving . Also had a lot prawns as they are super low calorie.
1200 calories sounds very low if you are Bfeeding.

Forgot to say I find omelettes very filling.

I've dropped from a 16 to a twelve by walking for an hour a day and having a big breakfast.

One day I'll have beans on toast, the next a two large egg omelette (with onion, mushrooms, peppers etc). I alternate these two mostly, with the odd bacon butty thrown in.

I find that I'm not all that hungry during the day then. I mostly have soup for lunch (homemade), without bread, and a smaller portion of what everyone else is having for evening meal.

I'm convinced that the walking and the breakfast are the keys to my weight loss.

I'm on 600 cals a day. Very high protein, very low fat and carb and it's great. Very few hunger pangs! But certainly not for everyone! I do know how difficult 1200 cals a day is, I was on that with Rosemary Conley and while I did lose over the year it was slow and felt.... a bit like punishment. I'm far happier doing what I am now, have lost a stone in almost a month. Only 5 more to go!

Oh should add the 600 cals is a program, not something I'm doing by myself. Food replacement diet.

Oh if you are breast feeding you should add on 500 calories per day. That's more than you get when pregnant!

Make sure you have low caloried snacks in the house. I don't lose weigh if I don't have olives, oat caks, carrots, low fat dips and lean sandwich meats in the house. Smoked salmon too

I find yogurt is the answer, a tiny bit treat like - more so than a big bowl of salad anyway and the protein helps you stay full

I'm not on 1200 cals a day. I am just cutting out the sugar treats and having smaller portions with less carbs mainly. Still hungry though! Yesterday i think I had about 1500cals (an estimate as I don't weight anything) by bedtime, but i was so hungry I had to go downstairs and eat a few spoonfuls of hummous!

Thanks for all the tips, really appreciate it.

Scarf - can't beliebe you are on 600 cals a day

choc PLEASE check out Paul mckenna I 've lost the weight on a healthy diet believe me and it re-educates yr attitude to ALL food IT WORKS honest!!!

Again, I wholeheartedly back up ppeat. Get Paul McKenna, listen to the CD every day, see change.

Proof? I've lost 18lbs in 5 weeks. In that time I've had lots of healthy foods and fruit and veg. But I've also eaten toast, chocolate and takeaway pizza twice. You eat what you want; it's the attitude that changes. I can't recommend it highly enough and I have no intention of stopping.

I usually find weight loss incredibly hard.

ppeat do you think we should contact PMK and get commission?

Yeah good idea Kink !!

I think you need to reduce gradually, or accept that you'll be hungry for first few weeks. Also I think you would be fuller for longer with lean protein at lunchtime. As an example, ditch the sandwich & cheese and add pulses and dried soya mince to the soup. Or have an omelette instead of the sandwich, or yoghurt. I would be starving mid afternoon with that lunch.

If I eat 2000 I feel totally stuffed, but certainly had no problem eating more than that before....

Another one for Paul McKenna here. 2st off last year between December and May. No punishment, no deprivation, it's healthy and I eat what I want to eat. Come and join us