So I have not so much been counting my calories as much as I am watching them, if that makes sense. But I find that If I do an add up at the end of my day I am coming up about 200-300 less that 1200. I am full, I have energy, and I don't feel the need to eat. I am also going with the idea that plain vegies are equal to 0 calories. Does any one else have an issue meeting a healthy calorie intake?

If I start my day late and have breakfast late, then yes, I find it difficult. I am currently full after only 800 calories so far- we all have days like that. Then, there are days with 2000 calories where I am RAVENOUS!

Ultimately, I've heard it's never a good idea to go below 1200 for a day since your body will think it's starving, and your metabolism will slow. Maybe try to slowly work your way up, so you don't negate your hard work? Like, have 900 tomorrow with a treat or something? I do believe you that you are full...maybe something light like a yogurt or some hummus?

I am still relatively new on this though. What does everyone else think?

You should be right around 1200 or so if you're not counting your vegetables. I would just continue on the path and re-evaluate your habits if you start feeling tired, hungry, or sickly.

vegetables and fruits are NOT 0 calories. a tomato is like 100 by itself. apples are 74. bananas are 100. even a plain lettuce salad is like 30 calories.

the ONLY things i don't count calories for are my gum, and popcorn. everything else, even one forkful of tuna stolen from my boyfriend's sandwich, gets counted.

i suggest counting veggie calories, you'd be surprised how many extra calories you can add by having a salad made with a whole tomato, whole cucumber (45 cals), some olives and chick peas or other type of beans. sometimes i'll even throw some cubed ham (self-cut, not store-bought) for protein. oh, and of course i use light dressing with no high fructose corn syrup.

Veggies are definitely not 0 calorie. Celery and iceburg lettuce are probably the closest though. With that being said, as long as you're eating a lot of veggies each day, you're probably closer to 1200 than you think.

Yep. Veggies have calories. I had a 2 pound salad the other day consisting of mostly veg and gained 0.4 pounds this morning!

I have a hard time making 1200 also. Maybe because I intermittent fast with a 4 hour eating window. I am also on low carb and that tends to take away hunger. It's probably best to eat 1200, but just sympathizing with ya, I know it can be hard.

Stay strong!