1200 calorie meal plan for road trip?

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Replies

  • 0somuchbetter0
    0somuchbetter0 Posts: 1,335 Member
    Anywayyyyyy....

    Forget using me as an example, since I'm "altered" (and all bariatric patients are exactly the same and are lumped into the same "altered" category) and therefore exempt from normal human digestive functioning. *eyeroll*

    Using a "normal" 49-year-old menopausal 5'3" 175lb woman as an example, 1200 calories NET really isn't that low for weight loss. Of course 1200 isn't much, so it would be advisable for this hypothetical woman to exercise so she can eat a little more.

    As for the 22-year-old OP who only has 5 lbs to lose, she could probably net more than 1200 and still lose weight, but I don't know all the details of her circumstance so I'm not offering my opinion on that.

  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    For lightly active, "Scooby" TDEE calculator sets BASAL MR at 1475, for the 49 yo, 5'3" 175 pounder.

    2029 daily calories to maintain.
    1826 to lose 20 pounds in a year.
  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    why is this thread, even a thread????

    I've been wondering the same thing.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    You can't mention 1200 calories and NOT be lectured here for 'doing it wrong'. It's impossible. Even if you don't ask anything about 1200 except what to eat, the lecture happens. Even if you know full well (and people do) that you don't *have to* eat 1200, you can choose slower losses and eat more.

    Which is so funny given the software here spits out 1200 to virtually anyone sedentary, female, not obese and trying to lose weight (which I assume Sara is not).
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    edited December 2014
    Not sure why I'm jumping into what is already a trainwreck... I just wanted to add something that may be helpful for OP or others who may encounter this thread...

    If you use activity settings recommended by MFP they are often based on your work. Many of us with desk jobs choose sedentary, thinking that is accurate. I did that at first, set my goal at 1 lb/week, and was given 1200 cals to work with. I ate my exercise calories back, but still almost always went over, yet I was still losing weight. I started reading in the forums about TDEE, upped my goal based on some calculations of what seemed more realistic, kept losing and got to eat more. I got a FitBit and realized that because I average around 12,000 steps/day, I am far from Sedentary, regardless of my job. I readjusted my activity settings in MFP, and it calculates my maintenance (without exercise) to be 1,900 cals/day. According to FitBit, I burn around 2,100 cals day with just walking as my main source of activity aside from running around with my kids which correlates nicely to MFP's calculations. I'm 40, 5'2 and 123 lbs (now after losing 30 lbs doing things this way). I lose weight eating around 1,900 cals day. I am not running marathons, spending 2 hours in the gym daily, or lifting like a beast (although I hope to one day).

    OP if you are walking on the treadmill for 1.5 hrs, then no, you aren't sedentary. If you get this sort of exercise daily, look into a TDEE calculator and readjust your goals based on that, as well as the fact that you only want to lose 5 lbs, you shouldn't have more than a 250 cal deficit to lose about 0.5 lbs/week.

    As others have said, stories like mine above are probably far more common where people could and should be eating more and still losing weight, than those who really truly are sedentary or have an extremely low BMR based on age and other factors.
  • 0somuchbetter0
    0somuchbetter0 Posts: 1,335 Member
    She's sedentary and wants to lose more than that:

    BMR 1475
    1771 daily calories to maintain
    1328 to lose 46 pounds in a year

    Hey, what a coincidence! The hypothetical lady's cal requirements are 1328 and I normally have mine set at 1300-1350. Whodathunk.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    You can't mention 1200 calories and NOT be lectured here for 'doing it wrong'. It's impossible. Even if you don't ask anything about 1200 except what to eat, the lecture happens. Even if you know full well (and people do) that you don't *have to* eat 1200, you can choose slower losses and eat more.

    Which is so funny given the software here spits out 1200 to virtually anyone sedentary, female, not obese and trying to lose weight (which I assume Sara is not).
    We should just tell them eat at Mcdonalds, and let them learn what is more appropriate for them.

    People should have the right to have success or failure without being inundated with knowledge.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    But 1200 isn't dangerous. No one considers that 'knowledge' besides some forumites.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    honestly, I think we should just validate.
  • SomeGirlSomewhere
    SomeGirlSomewhere Posts: 937 Member
    edited December 2014
    Fast Food Options
    Wendy's chili----small = 180 calories, large = 270 calories
    Subway----anything on the Fresh Fit menu
    Chick-Fil-A---grilled chicken cool wrap, grilled chicken nuggets
    Taco Bell----grilled chicken or grilled steak soft tacos...just make sure to order it FRESCO style
    **These are just the things that I would order if eating at the above places. Really you can find something that will work at ANY fast food place if you take the time to go to their website and read the nutrition info they have posted.

    If I were forced to eat from a gas station I would likely either get string cheese or a package of pistachios since not much else they would sell there floats my boat. But again, just read the labels on the different snacks there until you find something that has the approximate number of calories you are planning to eat at that particular time.

    Good luck and have a safe trip! :D
  • paris458
    paris458 Posts: 229 Member
    I went on a road trip, most gas stations have vegetable and fruit snacks and almost all fast food restaurants have salad.

    I eat 1200 calories a day but I just dont eat bread so I can eat a lot more for that 1200 calories.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    But 1200 isn't dangerous. No one considers that 'knowledge' besides some forumites.

    I don't think I've ever seen anyone say that 1200 is dangerous. I think the vast majority of "forumites" as you call them think 1200 is unnecessary... Which I wholeheartedly agree with for most people. There are some who 1200 is appropriate for based again on height, age, and activity level. But I also think that a significant percentage of people who *think* they are sedentary because of misleading guidelines on MFP are actually not sedentary. I also think that many people (some of the same ones who incorrectly set themselves at sedentary) have unrealistic weight loss goals (set themselves to lose at 1lb or 2 lb/week).

    What I don't understand is why people wouldn't want to eat more food and still lose weight. If people had a better understanding of the process, and learned that they could increase the amount of food they eat by setting appropriate targets, logging accurately, and increasing their activity level even slightly - why wouldn't you want to do that? Why do people so vehemently defend 1200 calories when it is a lot more fun, and probably healthy, to go through this process eating upwards of 1500-2000 calories/day - even for short women like me!
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    Kruggeri wrote: »
    But 1200 isn't dangerous. No one considers that 'knowledge' besides some forumites.

    What I don't understand is why people wouldn't want to eat more food and still lose weight. If people had a better understanding of the process, and learned that they could increase the amount of food they eat by setting appropriate targets, logging accurately, and increasing their activity level even slightly - why wouldn't you want to do that? Why do people so vehemently defend 1200 calories when it is a lot more fun, and probably healthy, to go through this process eating upwards of 1500-2000 calories/day - even for short women like me!

    So much this...
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    edited December 2014
    But 1200 isn't dangerous. No one considers that 'knowledge' besides some forumites.

    Agree, hair and muscles are just not that important. LOL /sarcasm

    When I did 1200 calories, I lost a lot of hair, cranky, fatigued, dizzy spells, probably lost a lot muscles and who knows what damages I did then and in the past, also try getting the nutrition you need in 1200 calories, you can't. I am 5'2, 45 yrs old and so glad I listen/read what the "mean people" had to say about eating more.

  • Caddell
    Caddell Posts: 23 Member
    So back on topic. You can go to Wendy's and get two 4 piece nuggets and a value sized fries for less than 600 calories. It's possible to eat fast food and stay at your goal, you just need to plan ahead. But obviously packing healthier snacks and even meals would be better.
  • Maitria
    Maitria Posts: 439 Member
    Kalikel wrote: »
    RodaRose wrote: »
    Why does the husband get to decide the parameters of the trip? Make some changes.
    I took it to mean that he is, like me, a person who does not want to spend one more minute on the road than necessary. Hurry up, pee, get back on the road, fast-fast-fast, we are losing time! :) No, we aren't stopping to see the World's Biggest Horse Statue. No, you can eat in the car. No, we aren't stopping to ride a rollercoaster...or buy your cheap cigarettes...or see if Pepsi gives tours of the plant..or to see an antebellum home. No, no, no. Hurry, move, let's go!

    We are the people who turn three day trips into two day trips. We turn 23 hours into 18.

    We cannot be argued with.

    We also do most of, if not all, of the driving. :grinning:

    Meh. Adults treating other adults like children should expect the incoming tantrum or an unpleasant reminder of the other being an adult too. (Not aimed directly at you, but unless I'm part of a tour bus, there's room for compromise. I don't need to be herded.)
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    dbmata wrote: »
    honestly, I think we should just validate.

    What a great idea! This is awesome. Way to go!

    (Am I doing it right?)
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    jofjltncb6 wrote: »
    dbmata wrote: »
    honestly, I think we should just validate.

    What a great idea! This is awesome. Way to go!

    (Am I doing it right?)

    That's a good start. Don't forget suggesting lots of really labor intensive things that you would have to prep, pack, and potentially clean dirty tupperware dishes when you arrive at your destination. Because that's just what I want at the holidays, more work to do, more dishes to clean up!


  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    paris458 wrote: »
    I went on a road trip, most gas stations have vegetable and fruit snacks and almost all fast food restaurants have salad.

    I eat 1200 calories a day but I just dont eat bread so I can eat a lot more for that 1200 calories.

    Your profile pic makes me twitchy. Please to never actually fire a gun in that position. You could break a wrist/break a shoulder/lose an eye/drop the gun.

    However, if you ever do decide to ignore my advice, please have someone record it on video.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Kruggeri wrote: »
    What I don't understand is why people wouldn't want to eat more food and still lose weight. If people had a better understanding of the process, and learned that they could increase the amount of food they eat by setting appropriate targets, logging accurately, and increasing their activity level even slightly - why wouldn't you want to do that? Why do people so vehemently defend 1200 calories when it is a lot more fun, and probably healthy, to go through this process eating upwards of 1500-2000 calories/day - even for short women like me!

    the-world-may-never-know-128467127719.jpeg
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    Kruggeri wrote: »
    But 1200 isn't dangerous. No one considers that 'knowledge' besides some forumites.

    I don't think I've ever seen anyone say that 1200 is dangerous. I think the vast majority of "forumites" as you call them think 1200 is unnecessary... Which I wholeheartedly agree with for most people. There are some who 1200 is appropriate for based again on height, age, and activity level. But I also think that a significant percentage of people who *think* they are sedentary because of misleading guidelines on MFP are actually not sedentary. I also think that many people (some of the same ones who incorrectly set themselves at sedentary) have unrealistic weight loss goals (set themselves to lose at 1lb or 2 lb/week).

    What I don't understand is why people wouldn't want to eat more food and still lose weight. If people had a better understanding of the process, and learned that they could increase the amount of food they eat by setting appropriate targets, logging accurately, and increasing their activity level even slightly - why wouldn't you want to do that? Why do people so vehemently defend 1200 calories when it is a lot more fun, and probably healthy, to go through this process eating upwards of 1500-2000 calories/day - even for short women like me!
    I think people understand the process. The more you eat, the slower you lose, even kids understand it. They don't want to eat more because they don't want to lose slower. They're not dieting for the fun but for the results.

    They know that if they're logging 1200, they may well be eating 1500 (and most likely are), are would rather shoot for 1200 than travel with a food scale and shoot for 1500 (and likely hit 1800).

    They know it's temporary. They know that what level someone on the forum eats at or loses weight at or loses hair at isn't necessarily applicable to them. They know that if it was dangerous MFP would probably not be suggesting it. They know lots of diets recommend that level and lots don't even recommend counting calories, so people dieting go under it all the time, and don't wither away.
  • Mediocrates55
    Mediocrates55 Posts: 326 Member
    jofjltncb6 wrote: »
    paris458 wrote: »
    I went on a road trip, most gas stations have vegetable and fruit snacks and almost all fast food restaurants have salad.

    I eat 1200 calories a day but I just dont eat bread so I can eat a lot more for that 1200 calories.

    Your profile pic makes me twitchy. Please to never actually fire a gun in that position. You could break a wrist/break a shoulder/lose an eye/drop the gun.

    However, if you ever do decide to ignore my advice, please have someone record it on video.

    As a 3-Gun and IDPA shooter, I facepalmed. LOL
  • DerekVTX
    DerekVTX Posts: 287 Member
    Serah87:
    I actually currently aim for a net calorie deficit of 880 calories per day (1.8lb per week loss). Maybe you do not know what it is like to be morbidly obese, but when I finally got in control I had to get it done. Based on the good advice i received in here and with the MFP maximum recommendation of 2lbs per week weight loss, and confirmed by my doctor (That 2lbs a week is a healthy maximum weekly amount to lose)........1500 calories a day is the right amount to eat (not taking into consideration exercise calories - which i eat back). A lot of us on here have different goals.

    603Reader:
    I actually do lift weights.

    dbmata:
    No Wild White Knight appeared......just a few *kitten* :smiley:

    Ndj1979,
    Chart is just to show that the 1000 calorie a day deficit does produce a 2lb a week loss, in my case as well as for many others
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    DerekVTX wrote: »
    Serah87:
    . Maybe you do not know what it is like to be morbidly obese

    Actually I was morbidly obese, weighing 230 pounds. So I do know what it is like. Thank you. Lost 121 pounds and now maintaining.


  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    Serah87 wrote: »
    DerekVTX wrote: »
    Serah87:
    . Maybe you do not know what it is like to be morbidly obese

    Actually I was morbidly obese, weighing 230 pounds. So I do know what it is like. Thank you. Lost 121 pounds and now maintaining.


    boom-o.gif
  • DerekVTX
    DerekVTX Posts: 287 Member
    Serah87 wrote: »
    DerekVTX wrote: »
    Serah87:
    . Maybe you do not know what it is like to be morbidly obese

    Actually I was morbidly obese, weighing 230 pounds. So I do know what it is like. Thank you. Lost 121 pounds and now maintaining.


    Congrats :smile:
  • DerekVTX
    DerekVTX Posts: 287 Member
    If I were going on a road trip some of the things I would pack are:
    - Berries (Strawberries, Cranberries, Blueberries)
    - Apples, Oranges, Mellon.
    - Chicken Breast
    - Cucumber, Carrots, Tomatoes
    - Light Beer....LOL
    - And I would likely have one restaurant meal (just choose healthy).
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    honestly, I don't even know what we are debating anymore...gastric bypass, road trips, 1200 calories...this is like a thread of threads...
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    honestly, I don't even know what we are debating anymore...gastric bypass, road trips, 1200 calories...this is like a thread of threads...

    Sounds like someone^ could benefit from a detox cleanse.
  • sheepotato
    sheepotato Posts: 600 Member
    Serah87 wrote: »
    DerekVTX wrote: »
    Serah87:
    . Maybe you do not know what it is like to be morbidly obese

    Actually I was morbidly obese, weighing 230 pounds. So I do know what it is like. Thank you. Lost 121 pounds and now maintaining.

    Well done!

This discussion has been closed.