I just don't get it - if it's so hard to eat 1200 cals, then why the weight problem?

Ok, I'm not talking about posts from ED recoverers or sufferers - for them I understand that 1200 feels like a LOT of food. But for the people posting that are overweight and struggle and have to STUFF their faces to get 1200 calories - why are they overweight to begin with? I would think that the majority of people gained weight from overeating and that yes - undereating can certainly hinder weight loss progress, I wouldn't think of that as the root of the problem. Yet it is a recurring problem among people on the forums! They just cannot reach 1200 calories! I wish I had the problem of having eat more calories in a day :) I struggle to cut to 1500 (which is the minimum for me as I'm a teen girl. And yes it's enough, I'm 4'11" and petite) and sometimes 1800 on work out days. It's a CUT. 

Could someone explain it to me please?

We've had one of these threads before.

Honestly, I think a majority (not ALL, and if you're one of the overweight people struggling to make 1200, just assume you're part of the minority instead) of those overweight who have this problem delude themselves into thinking that it's good to struggle to get up to 1200 calories.  I think they've allowed themselves to be brainwashed by adverts/magazines/whatever that eating little as possible = good instead of doing research to learn about true nutrition. 

Most of the people with this issue usually seem to make one of what I see as the three major dietary mistakes of those beginning to try and lose:

1. Eating "diet food", a.k.a. food-products such as items with splenda, 100 calorie packs, or weight watchers/atkins/etc items, with little to no nutritional value, except for what may have been mechanically injected into it.

2. Eliminating fat from their diet for no good reason.

3. Eating so little they're not even hungry anymore, and most likely secretly rejoicing that they're "eating like a skinny person" and not wanting more.

And, well, there you have it.  There are also many cases of eating disorders, full-blown or just some mild (or beginning) symptoms out there, especially on this forum.

It's not that hard actually. From things with "hidden" calories, such as fruit juices. And eating larger portions (which may not look large because of plate size). Also grabbing food to go while your rushing out the door, you might not consider what is going into that food item.

Basically your calorie intake is like a budget, and you don't want to waste that budget on mindless calories, like heavily starched foods and things. Using smaller plates will also aid in smaller portions, since you can't pile food onto a smaller plate.

I think this can be a problem if you are eating lots of fruits and veggies and/or cutting back the fat too much. I admit it surprises me too, given that there has to be a calorie surplus for weight gain. I think if you are eating healthy you end up eating a lot of bulk to get your calories in, and that can make people full. If you think about it, lots of high-cal foods are low bulk. Potato chips or Cheetos, snack cakes etc. But also things with healthy fats such as avocados, peanut butter, oils like olive oil, etc.

 

I think it has to do with what I call a 'feast or famine' mindset. When some people are not paying attention to how many calories they are eating, they eat alot (feast) have a surplus and gain weight. Then they diet, restrict their calories too much (famine), do not lose because they are not eating enough, get frustrated and then stop counting, eat a lot, gain weight and the cycle starts again!

So, I think the problem of getting to 1200 cals only happens when they are counting and making an effort to eat loads of low cal foods, but are restricting themselves too much.

I think the explanation is that some people have no control over food.   They either indulge completely or they attempt to abstain completely.  And since we need to eat every day,  that causes resentment.   The 'struggle' to get to 1200 calories is a mental one not a physical one mostly and, once the willpower fades (which it always does), they're back to square one.   Those people are destined to always have a problem because they can never find the happy balance between enjoyment and control.

It's only because people are eating different kinds of food than they used to. When you start counting calories, you grab the Quakes instead of the Ruffles or the orange instead of the french onion dip.  It's a lot easier to fill up on an orange and some rice cakes than pepsi and hershey's bars.  So... they fill up on a low amount of calories and then wonder... should I really be stuffing myself to get to my minimum calories?  Then they post about it because it just doesn't seem right... I know I did.  They're not doing anything 'wrong', they're just trying to figure out this whole minimum/maximum calorie thing.  They're also not doing it to make you feel bad.  

I have days where I realize after dinner that I am way low on calories for the day.  My target is 2000 calories and if the wife cooks a low calorie dinner I usually have to have a snack afterwards to get my calories for the day.  

However, you will never hear me complaining about it.  I am more than happy to have a few pretzels and a glass of milk after dinner.  Or some icecream or some other sweet for dessert just to get to my minimum!!

 

It is the days where I go out for lunch and have to have a salad for dinner that suck!!

Original Post by gi-jane:

I think the explanation is that some people have no control over food.   They either indulge completely or they attempt to abstain completely.  And since we need to eat every day,  that causes resentment.   The 'struggle' to get to 1200 calories is a mental one not a physical one mostly and, once the willpower fades (which it always does), they're back to square one.   Those people are destined to always have a problem because they can never find the happy balance between enjoyment and control.

You just described me!!! You are so right. It's a mentality that i am trying to change. In the past if i felt that i had eaten something unhealthy i would spend the rest of the day eating everything unhealthy. I felt as if i had ruined the day anyway and would start over the next day. i'm happy to say that i think that i have now overcome that and feel a whole lot happier for it!!

Honestly, that's me. I struggle to get UP to my calorie goal, only because I've changed the foods I eat. I'm now eating tons of vegetables and I've cut out many of the high-calorie, high-fat foods I used to eat. I fill up on a huge spinach salad at lunch which happens to have only 224 cals. (I'm also largely vegetarian). So at the end of the day I sometimes need a glass or two of juice, or some nuts to reach up.

I don't think I'm deluding myself, or that I have control issues, or that I'm in any kind of famine mindset. I think I've done a really good job of cutting out empty calorie foods, and haven't yet gotten creative enough to think of healthy options.

I would say it is what they are eating if you eat healthy foods then calories are a lot less like if you eat a huge salad as opposed to a Big Mac you will consume less calories.I believe it is what they were eating that made them overweight and now they are eating properly so you need more food to reach a certain amount of calories.does that make sence?

Original Post by bree9643:

Honestly, that's me. I struggle to get UP to my calorie goal, only because I've changed the foods I eat. I'm now eating tons of vegetables and I've cut out many of the high-calorie, high-fat foods I used to eat. I fill up on a huge spinach salad at lunch which happens to have only 224 cals. (I'm also largely vegetarian). So at the end of the day I sometimes need a glass or two of juice, or some nuts to reach up.

I don't think I'm deluding myself, or that I have control issues, or that I'm in any kind of famine mindset. I think I've done a really good job of cutting out empty calorie foods, and haven't yet gotten creative enough to think of healthy options.

exactly what I was trying to point out!I didn't read the replies before posting,you explained it very well!

Just last week I posted about this! I eat very healthy foods, as I have for a few years now but I'm just not eating enough! You could have a hand full of potato chips and consume 200 calories or eat 2 apples for it which is very, very filling. I was eating about 800-900 calories/ day and thought that was enough. I was informed otherwise. I just eat more of the good stuff now, which does feel like a lot of food if its oatmeal and carrots etc. There's no attempt to brag about low calories and extreme will power. It's a form of ignorance in need of enlightenment. There are some really negative comments on this board and that kind of hurts! Even when I wasn't consuming enough calories, I still got enough protein (50+ grams) and enough fiber (25+ grams). I was however lacking fat, which I have increased. It's definitely a matter of finding the right balance and what works for you! I don't believe it's always a direct attempt at starvation!

I posted about this when I first started on here...   yes I was/am overweight and yes once I started counting calories I found it very hard to get to my 1300 calories a day...  the reason being is once I started on here I quit with the eating 2 fast food meals a day...   scarfing on b-day cake at work...   all of the crappy stuff.  Granted I still splurge but nothing like I was before.  Thats why its hard to get calories up for some people.

I'm sure before I joined on here I was eating close to 3000 a day with all the fast food.  But once you start eating healthy sometimes it can be harder to eat up all the calories your supposed to..  I know it took me a couple months to get the hang of it.

i totally agree with the op. 

i really just don't understand how a very overweight or obese person can go from taking in 2500+ calories a day, to having to "stuff themselves" to get 1200. i actually get a little annoyed when i see those kinds of posts.

 

My theory is that many overweight people get really serious about losing weight and they eat all the things  they (not everybody)  really don't like.  I have tried this before and it is a formula for failure for me.  Now I stay at 1200 most days, have no trouble getting there, but I eat the same thing for my main meal as my husband............but half as much.  I can't keep up the raw carrot, spinach route, and I love apples but unfortunately they make me hungry.....sure it must be a blood sugar thing involving carbs.  So I agree meeting my calories allowed is no problem..........but I will do it without giving up things I really like.  I have made changes but not giving up tastes I really like occasionally.  I believe I can eat anything I want.............as long as the quantity isn't over the top or I don't do it too often.  Works for me but we all have to find our own way.     FORGOT EXERCISE IS CRUCIAL!

Original Post by eerica:

i totally agree with the op. 

i really just don't understand how a very overweight or obese person can go from taking in 2500+ calories a day, to having to "stuff themselves" to get 1200. i actually get a little annoyed when i see those kinds of posts.

 

It's like everyone else said, it's a change in eating habits. It takes more nutritious foods to build up the calories. Some days I struggle to get to 1300- those are my oatmeal/salad/fish days. Some days I eat out for lunch like yesterday, indulge and get very full because i'm not used to restraunt sized portions, so I end up with 1400-1500 calories.. but I'm full at the end of the night, and only eat a small snack like half a pb&j or some yogurt just to stay in rhythm. I only go butt-wild on holidays and birthdays.. but even then I really doubt I do too bad.

I've trained myself to look at food and not think "must eat ALL of it" but to think "that looks really delicious, but I only need a little bit to be happy".

I work in a medical clinic, and Drug Reps bring free food and sweets ALL the time. I allow myself to always try something that I haven't had before, even if it's some sort of doughnut. The difference is I ask someone to split it with me. That way I don't miss out on life, but I can still work toward the life I want.

Original Post by gi-jane:

I think the explanation is that some people have no control over food.   They either indulge completely or they attempt to abstain completely.  And since we need to eat every day,  that causes resentment.   The 'struggle' to get to 1200 calories is a mental one not a physical one mostly and, once the willpower fades (which it always does), they're back to square one.   Those people are destined to always have a problem because they can never find the happy balance between enjoyment and control.

 Yes!  This is it for me.  I'm overcoming it, slowly.  When someone like me looks at the calories in the foods we are eatting, we get scared.  I mean truely scared.  It is a mental battle.  Logic tells us that any deficit and we wont gain and too much of a deficit is counter-productive, but we just can't make the logical side win over the emotional side.  I've had a few nights where planning dinner was just too overwhelming for me and I just went to bed with only 800 calories for the day.  Thankfully, that hasn't happened in over a month.  I was actually scared I had/was developing an ED, which I guess is a possibility.  People like me- We can overcome this!  We are not destined to always have a problem.  We have to overcome it!

Honestly, I've found this to be occasionally a little harder to do. I think its just that I don't snack much when I'm at work. I need to bring more snacks here with me. My breakfast is often a nutrition bar and some oatmeal, lunch is some soup or maybe just a slimfast shake (cuz I actually like them) and I don't really feel hungry enough to want snacks most of the time. I do have to be careful when I get home because if I go too light on dinner I won't get enough calories but if I go too heavy I've piled all my calories onto the end of the day which I know is unhealthy. So I'm really going to try harder to eat more during the day and see if that solves my problem.

Hey I know exactly how you feel! I used to find it quite hard to keep to a low calorie intake but after a while of going to the gym and stuff I really don't want any junk food, alcohol cheese or red meat and I've replaced pasta with lentils and yoghurt/milk to fat free versions. I eat a HUGE amount of veg every day after like a fruit and bran flake/muesli breakfast and find it really hard to get to 1200.

These forums are pretty awful in that if you say you are eating very low calories and find it hard to eat more people instantly jump on you and claim you have an eating disorder. I don't at all, I eat like 5 meals a day but because theyre mostly veg its a struggle to get it higher!

 

the thing is...these people aren't USUALLY eating well balanced meals [some do...don't get me wrong] they are eating salads and broth based soups, without added fats like nuts, olive oil, or much protein. They basically stuff themselves with vegetables which are extremely low calories, and they call this a "meal" because they had it at lunch. I'm sorry, a 200 calorie bed of lettuce with 1 tbsp of light dressing is not a meal, but to them it is. so, when it comes time to eat again they are barely hungry and as a result find it difficult to meet their intake. it goes back to what one of the other posters said, it's either one extreme or the other. they RADICALLY transform their eating and fill their calories with things that we can't really eat too much of...like lettuce, soup, oatmeal, cucumbers, etc. I also notice that many of them use water and diet drinks to fill space in their stomach. So, they're not "hungry" but often times their body's are hungry for nutrients and balance. We need healthy fats, and if you're consuming the 30% that are recommended then thats already 400 calories gone, and if you're telling me that it's difficult to eat 800 calories then that's B.S. One bowl of oatmeal, 2 fruits, 2 dairy products, 6 oz lean meat, and 1 serving pasta equals 800 calories. If you have that with a salad, topped with 1 oz nuts, olive oil dressing, and some low fat cheese for lunch, and then a low cal pudding or treat...you've reached 1200 calories healthily and without a lot of bulk. It is mental and it's about NOT WANTING to meet the goal, not actually being physically unable. So, that's my take on it.