How do you only eat 1400 cal. per day?

I try very hard to only eat around 1500, but if I eat any less than
that I get sooo hungry, even though on a sedentary, light activity day
I should only be eating 1200-1400 calories.  My average cal
consumption is about 1600-1700 calories.  I don't know if eating
like this will help me lose weight or not, but its soo hard for me to
not think about food all of the time, and I do eat plenty of fiber and
protein.

* Am I just weak willed? Does my stomach need to learn how to adapt to less calories?

Are you drinking lots of water?  That is one way to help ease hunger.  If you are not a water fan try it hot with some lemon in the morning.  It really does the trick.  Also up your veggies.  They are low in calories and high in volumne.  I use the small zuchinni's and squashes as afternoon fillers when I am feeling a little hunger.  Be sure to mix your protien with some fat as it will help ease hunger longer. 

I am on 1250 a day and I can barely eat that much.  Usually I am low and can treat myself to a glass of wine every now and then. 

Good luck to you!

Tammy :)

Hey!

It depends a lot on where your calories are coming from too. I find that if I eat lots of protein and high-fiber foods, I feel fuller.

I eat 1200 -1300 daily and I had a hard time at first.  What helped me is adding small salads w Kraft FF Italian dressing or raw veggies for my aftenoon snack. I also started incorporated more protein in my breakfast... And of course drink lots of water!

I felt like I was starving on 1200 cal. jut go down by 50 calories a day until you get it down to 1200.  I have found that once I get used to it I'm not starving.  I try to spread the food out so I'm eating all the time.  That helps.  I still go over once in awhile tonight I'm almost at 1700 but that doesn't happen very often.  Keep your goal in mind that is a great motivator. 

it took me 3 weeks to get used to only eating 1200 calories and it was 3 weeks of torture let me tell you!  but now it's been almost 2 months and i am having a hard time getting in the 1200.  If you are hungry try low cal snacks to fill in, i love green pepper strips and carrot sticks, and mushrooms, they are all low in calories and yummy and very filling!  Hang in there.. i know you can do it.. if i could do it anyone can. :)

You will also learn to replace some foods by others to reduce the number of calories. Like going from whole milk to 2% to 1%. Use butter substitutes, cook with olive oil or cooking spray, eat fibers (for me, oats work pretty well and make me feel full longer than other cereals), drink water, replace sodas by diet sodas (but not too many ;) ) , increase the amount of veggies on your plate and start by eating them rather than the meat or carbs. If you like jello, that's a nice little dessert that'sonly 10cal if you buy the 1/2 cups of sugar-free jellos.

I am still learning the tricks to reduce the nb of calories I ingest and still trying to reduce the amount I eat.

Good luck

C-

I had the same problem when I first started, but then I figured out that I was eating tooooo much at one time, and I think my stomach size stayed big, making me think I was hungry.  I starting splitting up my meals (not by a lot) but instead of my oatmeal and egg whites for breakfast,  I would eat my oatmeal at home and then eat my egg whites when I got to work (pre-made, ready to heat up in the micro)  Same thing with lunch and dinner.  Cut all of the foods you have in half, then eat one half and the other half an hour or two later.  I don't know why, but it works.

I agree - eat small amounts often.  My friends are high bulk, low calorie foods, like salad greens and other raw vegetables, Cooked green vegetables, fruit, and small servings of whole grains.  If I need a protein boost I have a hard boiled egg or just the white. Fat free dairy products help too, because they are high in nutrition. I stay away from foods that are high in calories for just a small amount, such as butter and oil and bacon.  I use them sparingly.  My allowance is 1300 a day, and I seldom feel hungry.

Good Luck, and remember, we're here for you
Claire

This is what I'm eating and it seems to help keep me full

breakfast: 1 cup skim milk and 1/2 cup fiber one cereal (or different serving size of another high fiber bran cereal)

mid morning snack: 1 cup yogurt (low fat kind keeps you feeling fuller longer than the fat free)

Lunch: weight watchers smart ones entree while drinking a bit of water between bites, chewing slowly and enjoying the taste

afternoon snack: either a fruit cup or lowfat string cheese

Dinner: anything I want but the catch is I have to stick to single serving portion sizes.

For me this averages between 1000 and 1200 calories per day. It might help you get an idea of something different to eat. Best of luck to you. :)

keep an eye on where you're getting your calories from and then try to make sure you're getting in all your food groups.   For me I was way up on starches; too much bread, pasta, and my "veggies" were corn and peas... Oops!

So moving things around a bit; switching to low-cal bread or wraps, my new veggies are green beans, broccoli, and carrots, and cutting out the pasta controling calories has been much easier. 

You don't have to starve to be low cal.   Just make sure you're getting the proper portions of all the food groups and staying balanced.

I've learned to cook my food differently. For instance, if I'm in the mood for fried chicken, I'll have a drumstick and make sure I remove the skin. I started eating steamed fish, instead of fried fish with breading. I no longer put gravy on my mash potatoes. I bake my french fries in the oven. I pull the cheese off my pizza. I get egg whites on whole wheat toast instead of fried eggs on a roll for breakfast. So basically, I still eat my favorite things everyday; I just eat them differently.

wow 1200

i myself am aiming for 1400 -that will give me the desired 2 pound per week fat loss.

i agree with almost everyone here, drink water. I never heard of the lemon thingy -im gonna check that one out!!! I drink a cup of water before i eat, and it really does the trick. So does eating about 5 or 6 cashews or almonds before the meal.

also i eat like 6 times a day, and do NOT eat pasta. I eat veggies because they are high in fibre and harder to digest.

we eat 'smart ones' meals. At first i was able to wolf er down in about 3 bites cause i was used to gorging on one or 2 big meals during my day. But now, i take my time and you get used to the portions. Especially if u drink the cup of water first.

I have set a goal of 1350 a day and I am always under. Usually right around 1200.

I try to cut the calories wherever I can. For instance I use simply smart fat free milk. It's good. It really does taste like 2%. I use splenda and never use sugar anymore.  I go for low cal veggies like broccoli or cauliflower instead of corn and peas. I added more fish to the diet and have very little red meat.

I will eat rice and pasta but for the pasta I for for multigrain 'plus' and limit portion size. Add lots of veggies to the sauce.

Um... whey protien. I drink a protien shake for breakfast and, if I'm low, one for dessert at night. The protien helps to satisfy.

And I drink 100+ ozs of water a day. Takes abit of getting used to but it helps.

I think it all boils down to learning how to eat right as opposed to "dieting". Try to eat more often but watch portion sizes and eat healthy things. This will keep the fires burning all day long too.

Example: A Big Mac without cheese is 576 cals
       &nb sp;       Broccoli is 27 cals per 1/2 cup
so, 1 big mac = 10.6 cups of broccoli

I used to go to McDonalds on Friday night with my kids. I figured out that my usual Big Mac, cheeseburger, lg Fry and a coke was 2100 CALS!

Anyway, that what I try to do.
Eric...

My trick when I'm feeling hungry is to have, if not some vegetables or some fruit, a large glass of water with 1-2 rice cakes.  It great because you don't have to eat just plain rice cakes; there are so many flavors now, and they taste so much better than they used to.  My favorites are Apple-Cinnamon or Orville Redenbacher's Carmel.  Both are only 35-40, depending on the brand you buy, and it's a nice snack (and filler).  They're so low in calories, I don't feel guilty even eat 3 if I want :).

Also, last night I tried a recipe from Weight-Watchers, 0-Point Soup, and it was easy and so good!  The soup itself doesn't contain enough calories to equal a point (about 50 calories to 1 point), so you can eat as much as you want.  To increase the calories a little, or add some different flavors or spices, you can try some lean turkey or chicken, and you can adjust the recipe if you want a few more vegetables than recommended for the recipe (I added more carrots, used canned green beans, and used sweet onion).  If you double the recipe, it can last a couple days, even a week, and with most soups, the "older" it gets, the better the flavor gets :).  Here it is :):

0 Point Weight Watchers Soup Recipe - Weight Watchers Garden Vegetable Soup

2/3 cup sliced carrot

1/2 cup diced onion

2 garlic cloves

3 cup broth (beef, chicken, or vegetable)

1 1/2 cup diced green cabbage

1/2 cup green beans

1 Tbsp. tomato paste

1/2 tsp. dried basil

1/4 tsp. dried oregano

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup diced zucchini

6-8 servings 1 cup         &nb sp;32 minutes/ 7mins prep

How to prepare the Garden Vegetable Soup:

·        In a saucepan, use nonstick cooking spray, saute carrot, onion, and garlic over low heat until softened (about 5 minutes).

·        Add broth, cabbage, beans, tomato paste, basil, oregano, and salt. Bring to a boil.

·        Lower heat and simmer, covered about 15 minutes or until beans are tender.

·        Stir in the zucchini and heat about 3-4 minutes. 

I haven't had a chance to try the 0-Point Tortilla Soup, but both my

boyfriend and I love Tortilla soup, so I can't wait.  I have only heard

good thing about this soup, so here you are :) :

Weight Watchers 0 Point Tortilla Soup Recipe

A great soup that fills you up and only 0 points on the WW program.

1  cup onions, chopped 

2  garlic cloves, chopped 

3  green onions, chopped 

2 (12  ounce) cans diced tomatoes 

4  cups low-fat chicken broth 

1/3  cup salsa 

1/2  red pepper, chopped 

1/2  green pepper, chopped 

3-4  celery ribs, chopped 

1/3  cup fresh cilantro 

1/2  teaspoon cumin 

1/2  teaspoon chili powder 

1/2  teaspoon basil 

4  tablespoons fat free sour cream 

4  tablespoons flour, to thicken 

9 servings        &nb sp;35 minutes 5 mins prep

I hope I helped a little, good luck and enjoy :) !!!

It depends on what you're eating.

remember lots of water.

fruits and veggies go a long way (a banana= about 100 calories a cup of grapes about 62 etc) l

ots of water,

try getting more protein, it helps curb hunger. when I get hunger I eat some turkey (3 slices for 25 calories) or some low fat mozeralla cheese (1/4 cup for 70 calories)

eating more small meals.

lots of water.

exercising makes me less hungery as well.

lots of water and vegetables yes..

here's a light snack I love for breakfast or a snack:  large plain rice cakes, spread with a tablespoon of light cream cheese and All Fruit (not jelly or jam), or cut up some kiwi fruit, banana or strawberries to put on top,

it's low calorie, nutritious and feels like a dessert to me.

Use common sense. Lots of lean meats, vegetables, fruit, and water. Don't fall into the american diet trap. Don't fry, sautee! Don't eat food with any type of breading because that makes the most healthy foods unhealthy. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY...DON'T TRY TO BE A SUPERHUMAN. WILL POWER IS A MYTH. IF YOUR CRAVING SOMETHING, THEN EAT IT, BUT BE SMART. 1 OR 2 COOKIES IS OKAY. THE WHOLE BOX ISN'T.

P.S. and try to listen to your body, not what everyone else and your anxiety is telling you. Eat when you are hungry. It took you years to fall into these horrible habits, it's going to take a long time for you to form better ones.