Need Help Reducing Calories With a Busy Schedule

I keep seeing posts where people are complaining that they're eating 1200 calories a day and not losing weight. Can we take a step back for a second? I CANNOT make it through the day on so few calories. I set my goal around 1500 and even that is hard for me to stick to. I usually do great at work because I can snack on fruit or nuts and take an hour to pick up a good lunch. But then when I leave the office my evening gets crazy (trying to fit in 1-2 hours at the gym and 2-3 hours of theatre rehearsals) and by the time I have a second to eat I'm so hungry that I eat way too much or I have to resort to fast food because it's the only thing I can manage to fit in. By the end of the day I'm usually up around 1800-1900 calories.

Just seeing that other people are able to reduce their calorie intake so much while I'm not is really discouraging. I could really use some advice from other people who have busy schedules about how you have managed to reduce your calories while still staying full and energized for your hectic day.

I know. A 1200 calorie diet is just not a possibility for me.I am in awe of people who can do that--not just because of time but because my body just flat won't put up with it. :)

I basically just carry food with me--fruit, nuts, a hardboiled egg, cheese, individually-sized yogurt, veggies, etc. Maybe you could pack a sandwich for the ride from the gym to the theater? I hate to add more to your day by suggesting planning, but seriously, it does make it soooo much easier.

I've been doing about 1500 a day for a month now, and while I do have days I hit 1700, I don't stress out about it too much.

Chances are if someone is eating a 1200 cal diet and trying to lose weight, they are exercising at some point too. Which creates a larger calorie deficit, and could put the body into a kind of starvation mode. I mean what CC calculates in terms of cals needed a day (based on your basal metabolic rate) is what your body needs to survive while you lie in bed all day in a coma, doing nothing.

If you add day to day activites, and what sounds like your busy lifestyle, you need wayyy more.

Have you tried changing around the percentage of fat/carbs/protein? Lowering carbs and upping protein should help with longer term energy, and feeling full longer. Big breakfasts? Snacking between meals on healthy well balanced food like fruit and veggies?

Don't stress about what other people can do - it's their life. Just worry about what makes your body feel good.

I don't really think there's a reason that fast food is a necessity. It doesn't take long to put together a sandwich as previously suggested. You say you can get a good lunch in, so you could just order dinner at the same time as lunch and take it to go, then eat it when you have the time.

I work full-time have two kids and two dogs and my life is crazy and stessful (I am sure half the people on here are the same) Sometimes I find it easier if I don't think in terms of meals....just ongoing nutrition all day....yogurt at 9:00, an apple dipped in pb at 11:00, a low fat cheese string at 1:00, veggies and low fat dip at 3:00....easier to throw lots of "on the go" healthy things in my lunch bag than to try to figure out an entire healthy low calorie meal to eat.  And I am rarely hungry because I am always eating!  So instead of thinking of only snacks to take and eat at work, expand the time frame...bring a cheese string to eat on the way to the gym, an apple to munch on in the car on the way to the theatre, a handful of almonds to sneak in during any breaks, a low fat/high fibre granola bar to eat in the car on the way home, etc., etc.  That way you are never ravenous (or even hungry) and will be able to avoid the fast food or eating too much!

I have slimfast meal bars that in theory should be great for eating in the car between activities. But despite the fact that the packaging says they control hunger for 4 hours, they're just like candy bars to me. I don't feel full at all after I eat one. So usually I end up having a slimfast bar with the intention of just having a small snack when I get home at the end of the day, but then I'm hungry for a full meal, so the bar ended up being just an extra 220 calories that did nothing!

Is my hunger in my head? Can I retrain myself to be satisfied by a slimfast bar?

Those so-called health/diet bars are ridiculously tiny and lacking in nutrional value, so I'd say no.  I'm never satisified with one of those; the sweetness just makes me crave another, which defeats the purpose.  I think you'd be better off splitting your dinner calories between your evening activities rather than making yourself so hungry for a full meal much later in the day.  I work late hours, so I always pack extra munchies like baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, berries, air-popped popcorn, etc in baggies.  Small or pre-cut vegs and fruit are great since there's no prep work, just grab a bunch from the fridge, ziploc, and go.  Also, having a variety of stuff keeps me from getting bored.   I basically "graze" on healthy food all day which keeps me from getting ravenous. What made me gain weight in the first place was that I always put off meals until I ended up overeating.  A bad habit, but not so hard to reverse with a little effort.  Hope this helps. 

It depends on what kind of "problem" you end up having to fight off. Are you the type that gorges when you hit that point of ravenous hunger? (I am) If you are, then you need to eat something before finishing up your activity, or you will be hitting that Taco Bell drive-thru at a moment of weakness. After a long day at work, I'd rather eat a big salad near work and then arrive at home moderately (read: controllably) hungry, rather than forgo any food and eat the entire kitchen clean.

If you're the type, though, that eats the same no matter how intensely you're feeling hunger, then more power to you! Avoid the Slimfast bars, salads, or whatever, and just head home after working out and theater practice, and make yourself a great meal.

I think the problem may have something to do with the fact that I'm hungry pretty much all the time. I go through phases like that. A few years back I had a span of about 6 months when I just had no appetite whatsoever and I lost 15 pounds without even trying. But right now I'm in a phase where I feel like I could be constantly eating. (So naturally if I go several hours without food I feel like I've been deprived for so long)

Things that work for me (I can sometimes get all of 4 minutes in the hospital for lunch!)

1. BIG breakfast, always - means I am rarely very hungry in the day

2. Making sure I get food in on a day when I am less busy - I plan food for the week at the weekend. If it's in the house, I can cook it, whatever time I get home. It's going to the shops that means I can't be arsed. (though in my case, I tend to NOT EAT if I have nothing in, which is stupid so I ensure I always have food in)

3. I cook double quantities for dinner and immediately afterwards I pack leftovers up for lunch the next day and put it in the fridge. I used to tell myself I'd do this in the morning but it never happened!

(I also have no idea how people have "trouble" eating 1200 calories. I could easily polish off 2000 a day if I didn't watch the olive oil when I cook, butter on my toast, bought a lunch instead of leftovers, wasn't careful with portions etc. But I do find if I've been supercareful all day and I've eaten three small lowfat meals and it's come to 1100 or something, then I get very frustrated, because I don't just want to "top it up" afterwards with crap, and I don't really keep crap in the house anyway. I don't have a sweet tooth so I don't really have cakes or desserts or chocolate around. I'm reduced to eating bits of toast after a meal, which is annoying. Sometimes I just drink more wine, haha.)

ps If you're doing 2 hours/day at the gym you may well need to eat 1800 anyway, right? I'm a 29 year old midget who is a healthy weight, I need to be on 1300-1500 to lose, you may be able to eat more...

odd, i find when i have busy days ( 8+ hours of classes, or waitress type stuff) i eat next to nothing. im too busy to stop and eat! if im just sitting at home on my day off and the kitchens right there.... not good for me