Low-cal, filling food that can help >> Pack your meals with vegetables. Don't hesitate to include some for breakfast as well (the breakfast police hasn't issued an arrest against me yet for doing that, I swear ). You can pile a lot before reaching only 100 cals, after all. And, as others have said, healthy snacks. You'll probably have to do it the trail & error way for some time, to see what works for you (apples for instance are a no-no for me because they actually make me hungry) but once you've found filling snacks, they'll help a lot (as another example: 100g of cottage cheese + some raspberries work perfect in my case, better than any pre-packaged '100 cals snack').

As for the 1200 calories: really, it depends on your height and weight. If you're, say, 5'9 and 250 lbs, you'll be starving on 1200. If you're my height and weight, 1200 of well-planned foods can do. In between, well... trial and error.

I definitely agree with the warm vs cold foods. I swear by the cup a soups. They fill me up great, make me warm, and they are around 120 kcal for a big mug. Cold little bites like cheese just make me crave more.

Interesting, veggies for breakfast? haha. I'll have to try that! :-)

As for calorie goals; so 1,200 is an absolute minimum? Would you recommend more like, 1,300 or 1,400? I'm 5'7"/158/17yrs., and I try to go running twice a week, but it's very difficult...I live up north and right now my temperature reads 19 degrees! eek!

Thank you so much, this site is incredible! All this advice is amazing!

Hey!

IMO, definitely between 1300 and 1400. And, if you increase your exercise (say, run three days a week, or do some exercise DVDs, etc.) then you might be able to lose weight eating up to 1500. You'll have to do trial and error to see what works. Weight loss at your weight can sometimes be slower than for someone with more to lose, so be patient and stick with your plan.

1200 per day is the lower limit for any long-term plan, unless a person is under medical supervision. An occasional day that comes in below 1200 probably wont hurt anything--but you do want to give your body enough fuel and nutrition to keep your metabolism working efficiently.

Jay

It's your body, so it'll take some trial and error to find what works best.

But, perhaps for 2 or 3 weeks you ahould try adding 200 calories (maybe even as that early afternoon snack)? Test the results and see if things are going well. 1,200 calories is generally considered the bare minimum for even the tiniest of women. You seem a slight bit taller than average, so 1,200 (especially since you're 17) is a bit low IMO.

Also, while it's cold outside, don't forget that there are exercise videos and even movements that you can do inside your house, even in your own room if you don't want anyone watching. Put on some muzak, and move around a little, if nothing else. Might be a tad cheesy, but I've done it for fun before

PS - I also like the suggestion of warm foods. During the winter, especially. Soooo filling!

Yes, warm foods help me alot. I have a cup of stewed tomatoes for a snack and I am good for a long time.

Well yes, I do eat veggies at breakfast. After all, I come from a family where I was taught that eating Nutella on bread and hot cocoa for dinner was okay because it was cheaper than meat, so I've pretty much lost my ability to recognize what is deemed "correct" in that regard.

1300-1400 sounds good. Besides, you may have to use the 1200 B-plan later on for the nasty 'last five pounds' that annoy so many people. And if you lose on 1400, why get lower and run the risk of feeling hungry all day long on 1200 or worse.

You're young and you're tall. Try 1500 to 1600 calories a day and increasing exercise.

I also have that 4 pm hunger time. A string cheese or hard boiled egg, plus a cup's worth of fruits and or vegetables tide me over until dinner.

I'm glad you are trying to do this with health in mind. :-)

Hey there!

When I was your age, I would eat about 1800 calories a day and up my exercise to an hour to an hour and a half a day. I'd usually lose about 10-15 pounds a month. You have the advantage of a young metabolism on your side, so IMO you should work on speeding it up (via exercise) and only cut a few hundred calories.

Samick, everyone is completely right: you should start out higher and see how you go. I'd start with 1500 at a minimum and work on increasing your exercise. But even without exercise you should be able to lose at 1500. My very strong feeling is that it best to eat as many calories as you possibly can while sustaining a reasonable rate of loss. This means that if you can lose 1-2lb a week eating 1600 calories, then there is absolutely no reason to eat 1200 and be hungry and miserable. Additionally, there is an element of trial and error in all this. If I were you, I would eat between 1500-1600 for 2 weeks and then get on the scale to see how you've done. Depending on how much/little you lose, you can stay at that calorie level, decrease or even increase your calories. And, in the interim, you can work on being more active as well.

The important thing to remember is that losing weight and counting calories isn't a form of punishment. You don't have to suffer 'on principle' in order to lose weight. You're not cheating yourself by eating a reasonable number of healthy calories and it's not a sign of some deep lack of will-power. Weight loss is about embracing a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, about adopting a new and healthy approach to food, and about treating your body with respect. Punishment and suffering have no role to play.

Try adding an ounce of nuts in the afternoon. They are a good source of protien and actually some fiber also. They seem to hold my hungier off.

Aw thanks, that's inspiring. That's true, sometimes I take on the "no pain, no gain" (well, "no pain, no loss" lol) mentality and end up really overdoing it. Thanks for the insight!

I think it will be much easier if I work on upgrading my breakfasts, I had a 400 calorie breakfast today and only a cup of yogurt and some crackers for lunch and I'm not very hungry at all!

I guess it really is the most important meal of the day!

Good for you!

It is going to be a really, really good thing for you-to realize at your age that you can lose weight successfully, and keep it off, through a moderate diet and moderate exercise.

It took a lot of people here years of starvation and overexercising, followed by falling off the wagon with both (gaining back weight) to finally figure it out.

It is a really wonderful thing when it finally clicks-to know that starving and exercising 4 hours a day isn't a long term liveable lifestyle, and that moderation is the way to go for long term success.

You have gotten great advice here. I eat 3 meals and 3 snacks per day and still manage to stay at a good level for me to continue to lose. Eating small amounts every couple of hours also keeps the metabolism going. I have one of the progresso Light (0 points on WW about 120 calories) or a bowl of home made veggie soup mid morning most days. It sure helps and is low calorie. You would be amazed at how much food you can eat for low calorie content. Just make sure you are getting appropriate amounts of protein and fiber.

There is just no reason to go hungry while taking the weight off and you will be forming wonderful habits that will serve you well in the future!