5’4” sedentary females eat 1200 calories a day to lose weight.

You are 4 inches taller and workout daily. No wonder you are starving. It’s neither sustainable nor healthy.

Eat more calories.

That calorie total seems low and probably isn't sustainable. I eat mostly vegan and a large volume of food. The PP suggestion of Dr. Fuhrman is good. See also Michael Greger, Neal Barnard, Caldwell Esseltyn, and T. Colin Campbell.

Skinny taste https://skinnytaste.com/ has some great vegetarian recipes. Also progressive makes a line of lite soups that are very low calories. Homemade soups also seem to work well for me.

What I have found works best is to log what I’m eating and slowly I have figured out which foods leave me feeling fuller longer for the calorie count.

I also do log my exercise and eat those calories burned. Some people say not to do this or only eat half back but this seems to work for me.

I had 15 libs to loose and about half way there. It’s tough but you can do it.

I am vegetarian, trying to lose weight (I’m 45 and have crept up to 180, which pains me to write even anonymously).

I have found these meals keep me full:

1. Lots of greens with raw vegetables (broccoli, green beans, cauliflower) and homemade vinaigrette keeps me full. I will throw in some chopped almonds and avocado for more substance.

2. Oven roasted veggies (squash, green beans, sweet potato) and brown rice.

3. Steel cut oats with chia seeds, flax seeds and berries

4. Lentils - lentil soup, lentil salads

I have stopped eating bread and now when I have it once in a while, it feels so heavy.

Good luck! And wish me some luck, too!

Anonymous wrote:Up your calories. With your exercise intensity, 1200 calories is probably too low.

1200 always seems to be the “magic” number, but that does make sense that I’d need more to account for a bit of my energy output. I am physically tired at this level; not my norm at all. I’m probably being too impatient to lose some lbs before summer and trying to avoid spending on new (more appropriately sized) clothing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:- vegetarian
- some dairy
- no eggs
- 48, female
- 30-60+ min low to moderate intensity exercise daily

I am just so hungry! I’d love to see a sample day that’s not going to have me gnawing an arm.

You might want to check out Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s Eat to Live. If you can keep the dairy minimal and stick mostly to plant foods, you can eat huge amounts of veggies every day without exceeding your calorie goal. And if you are already at your ideal weight, you can probably increase that goal to 1500 without any issue.

Thanks! I’ll check it out.

Anonymous wrote:What is your current height/weight? What is your goal?

I am 5’8”
Currently 165
Goal is 145

Gained 30 in the past decade (child, ivf, thyroid disease, covid, stress...and your everyday emotional eating . I’d be happy back at 145. I have a good sized frame (broad shoulders, muscular arms) if that matters.

Anonymous wrote:What are you eating for protein?

Tofu, beans, lentils, and plenty of vegetables

Cereal + milk + fruit
Rice + veg/lentils + Greek yogurt
Toast + cheese + fruit

Plenty of black coffe + 1 chai latte

Anonymous wrote:- vegetarian
- some dairy
- no eggs
- 48, female
- 30-60+ min low to moderate intensity exercise daily

I am just so hungry! I’d love to see a sample day that’s not going to have me gnawing an arm.

You might want to check out Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s Eat to Live. If you can keep the dairy minimal and stick mostly to plant foods, you can eat huge amounts of veggies every day without exceeding your calorie goal. And if you are already at your ideal weight, you can probably increase that goal to 1500 without any issue.

What is your current height/weight? What is your goal?

You’ll have to eat more food. You will definitely be hungry because 1200 calories is mid-range for what they recommend my 35 pound 3 year olds calorie intake is, I’m not kidding (1,000-1,400 is recommended/average for 2-4 year olds). Don’t do this to yourself!

What are you eating for protein?

Up your calories. With your exercise intensity, 1200 calories is probably too low.

- vegetarian
- some dairy
- no eggs
- 48, female
- 30-60+ min low to moderate intensity exercise daily

I am just so hungry! I’d love to see a sample day that’s not going to have me gnawing an arm.