Less than 1200

jennlloyd94

I'm just wondering how many of you find it hard to reach the 1200 calorie goal. I used to eat way more and then changed my diet to mainly veg/fruit and lost a bit of weight. And I've now started protein world twice a day but even having a big ish lunch I don't seem to reach my 1200 target. Especially today when I'm on the wards and seem to burn more than I take in! How are you suppose to eat when your so full...could I be drinking too much water in between and hence the full feeling?

MommyL2015

I find this (not trying to be rude to you at all, but...) really kind of funny. I sometimes have a heck of a time not going over 12 or 1300 because that's just not a lot of calories, no matter what food you're eating. I can't say I've ever been too full to eat a minimum of 1200 calories, ever. I've been experimenting with fiber supplements to try and prolong the food that I do eat so I don't get so hungry before my next meal. And I do drink a lot of water & tea during the day as well.

That said, protein is filling, so that could be why, if you're eating a lot of it. Try adding butter to your veggies or eating a dish of ice cream if you have room. Again, 1200 calories is really not a lot of food at all.

juggernaut1974

In a world with peanut butter and ice cream, it is NEVER "hard" to reach 1200 calories per day.

kamack1215

Try to incorporate a few higher calorie foods. As @juggernaut1974 mentioned, peanut butter is a great way! 2 tbls of that and bang! there is like 180-210 calories (depending on the type of course)

pie_eyes

My supper at night is usually close to 700 calories, so with 300 calorie lunch I get to it fine. I also drink alot

Unknown

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Pawsforme

I don't find it hard at all to meet (or exceed) 1200 calories a day.

Conversely, I also don't find it incredibly difficult to stick to 1200 (or even fewer) calories a day on most days as long as I make good choices.

But I'm very short and 52 years old. A couple of decades ago 1200 calories a day was a LOT harder.

malibu927

My goal is 1270 and I have a hard time keeping below it

brynnsmom

I eat a ton of fruits and vegetables and 1600 is a low day for me, so I really can't relate. The water could certainly be the culprit.

Michael190lbs

On Sundays I mow three large lawns usually logs 14,000 plus steps that is after my 30- 50 min 12- 20 mile daily ride on my stationary bike and 60 minutes of weights typically its noon at this point. The dogs will get two walks of two miles each walk by 8pm and I take the kids to the metro parks for a few hours with miles of walking running playing etc. I more than likely every Sunday end the day in a negative calorie for the day because I just don't eat enough. I do however meet my protein and Fat goals with a 24 ounce ribeye at the end of the day. I do try to make it up through out the week with extra calories and have somehow maintained..

distinctlybeautiful

juggernaut1974 wrote: »

In a world with peanut butter and ice cream, it is NEVER "hard" to reach 1200 calories per day.

This.

rankinsect

juggernaut1974 wrote: »

In a world with peanut butter and ice cream, it is NEVER "hard" to reach 1200 calories per day.

I read that in the stereotypical movie trailer voice:

"IN A WORLD.... with peanut butter and ice cream"

Serah87

Never.

Eating below 1200 calories is never a good ideal, even most people need to be eating way more then 1200 calories.

ETA: OP you are 21 years old, you most definitely should be eating way more then 1200 calories.

Kalikel

Other people have had this problem, too. It's hard to eat 1200 calories of fruits and veggies, especially if you don't add much fat.

Meat might help!

If you find yourself not making your goal and need some healthy calories, try juice. It's high-cal and very healthy. High-fat dairy is an easy way to add calories, too.

AnvilHead

In a world with peanut butter and ice cream, it is NEVER "hard" to reach 1200 calories per day.

Not to mention avocados, olive oil, nuts, butter, etc. I can't see ever having difficulty getting 1200 calories in a day unless I was deliberately (and painfully) restricting calories. There are plenty of calorie-dense foods to help reach that goal.

A breakfast of two eggs cooked in olive oil, one slice of whole grain toast with a tablespoon of butter and a glass of orange juice or milk is close to 600 calories. A lunch of half an apple with two tablespoons of peanut butter is almost 300 calories. Throw in a protein shake or a handful of nuts as an afternoon "snack" and there's another 125-150 calories. That leaves a mere 150-175 calories for dinner to hit 1200 - and if the above was all I had to eat all day, I'd be wanting at least 1000 calories for dinner because I'd be starving!

jennlloyd94

I get what a lot of you are saying and I totally can see where you are coming from. I appreciate the tips, I think what doesn't help is that I do shift work. So I only have 2x 30 mins breaks throughout my 12.5 hour shift. Which means I eat what I would class as an adaquate lunch and I'm full on it. I have dried fruits, popcorn , rice cakes, wraps, soup etc and other snaking bits. But mornings I just have a quick shake/fruit because I start at 7.30 and need to get to work. And then I got home around 8.30/9.00 which is too late to eat a huge among so have a shake and something like beans or roasted veg. I dont feel like I'm painfully restricting myself. I'm never hungry,and I just drink plenty throughout the day. I take multi vitamins etc already. I dont eat bread so I don't have peanut butter unless I'm making a satay or something. Thanks again for your advice. I'll keep it in mind.

Michael190lbs

I find it hard to eat 1200 calories of fat a day but normally hit 900-1100 grams of Fat

Emily3907

juggernaut1974 wrote: »

In a world with peanut butter and ice cream, it is NEVER "hard" to reach 1200 calories per day.

Love this.

FWIW, my perfect day where I feel most satisfied is about 1500-1600 calories. I occasionally I have lower calorie days, but I have no problem meeting 1200 at a minimum. If at the end of the day I need more calories to get to 1200, I have a glass of milk (usually chocolate) or a protein bar.

cwolfman13

jennlloyd94 wrote: »

I'm just wondering how many of you find it hard to reach the 1200 calorie goal. I used to eat way more and then changed my diet to mainly veg/fruit and lost a bit of weight. And I've now started protein world twice a day but even having a big ish lunch I don't seem to reach my 1200 target. Especially today when I'm on the wards and seem to burn more than I take in! How are you suppose to eat when your so full...could I be drinking too much water in between and hence the full feeling?

fruit and veg are great...but there's a whole lot more to proper nutrition than fruit and veg. dietary fat is a highly essential macro-nutrient and if all you're eating is fruit and veg, you aren't getting your requisites...same for protein.

you are not getting proper or adequate nutrition.

amyf9

Just add a couple of spoonfuls of olive oil to some of your food if you're really finding it that hard, because seriously, eating 1200 calories a day isn't hard.

janjunie

Go to trader joes buy yourself a jar of cookie butter (or the new pumpkin cookie butter) put some on a spoon, stick it in your mouth and repeat as necessary. Just try not to eat the whole jar, as tempting as that can be, don't do it.

livelovebbg

I could eat 1200 calories worth of peanut butter in one sitting - try a spoonful of that!

dija15

jennlloyd94 wrote: »

I'm just wondering how many of you find it hard to reach the 1200 calorie goal. I used to eat way more and then changed my diet to mainly veg/fruit and lost a bit of weight. And I've now started protein world twice a day but even having a big ish lunch I don't seem to reach my 1200 target. Especially today when I'm on the wards and seem to burn more than I take in! How are you suppose to eat when your so full...could I be drinking too much water in between and hence the full feeling?

I have the same problem. I eat the three meals and sometimes a snack bu still do not get to 1200.

SamandaIndia

dija15 wrote: »

jennlloyd94 wrote: »

I'm just wondering how many of you find it hard to reach the 1200 calorie goal. I used to eat way more and then changed my diet to mainly veg/fruit and lost a bit of weight. And I've now started protein world twice a day but even having a big ish lunch I don't seem to reach my 1200 target. Especially today when I'm on the wards and seem to burn more than I take in! How are you suppose to eat when your so full...could I be drinking too much water in between and hence the full feeling?

I have the same problem. I eat the three meals and sometimes a snack bu still do not get to 1200.

I hear you. Especially when I have a lot of protein and green leafy veg. On an example day, I had bacon and 2 eggs for breakfast, a huge salad with grilled chicken for lunch then turkey cabbage rolls. That's about 300 calories a meal so 900 total. What I found useful and nutritious and mobile to add, is packs of assorted nuts and dried fruit or just extra fruit. Even 10 cashews or macadamia or almonds contribute both fat and protein plus extra nutrients. Hope that helps. Avocado is a good addition too, as are raspberries and blackberries.

Water is great. If your pee is light yellow then you are drinking enough, yellow is dehydrated, dark orange is serious dehydration (not your issue) but clear is bad- it means you have overdone the water and that can unbalance our electrolytes. Check the colour of your pee to make your own decision on hydration.

Christine_72

livelovebbg wrote: »

I could eat 1200 calories worth of peanut butter in one sitting - try a spoonful of that!

Same here...

scolaris

Yeah I don't get it with the 1200 calorie schtick. It's so unsuitable for anyone who isn't exceptionally diminutive, elderly, or sedentary. And I think most of the people who say it's easy to eat so little & they struggle to eat more are probably just eating more than they realize!

mkakids

jennlloyd94 wrote: »

I get what a lot of you are saying and I totally can see where you are coming from. I appreciate the tips, I think what doesn't help is that I do shift work. So I only have 2x 30 mins breaks throughout my 12.5 hour shift. Which means I eat what I would class as an adaquate lunch and I'm full on it. I have dried fruits, popcorn , rice cakes, wraps, soup etc and other snaking bits. But mornings I just have a quick shake/fruit because I start at 7.30 and need to get to work. And then I got home around 8.30/9.00 which is too late to eat a huge among so have a shake and something like beans or roasted veg. I dont feel like I'm painfully restricting myself. I'm never hungry,and I just drink plenty throughout the day. I take multi vitamins etc already. I dont eat bread so I don't have peanut butter unless I'm making a satay or something. Thanks again for your advice. I'll keep it in mind.

Too late to eat.....why? If you don't like to sleep on a full stomach it's fine to not eat close to bedtime. ....but if it doesn't bother you there is NOTHING wrong with eating late at night. I regularly have a LARGE snack literally 10 minutes before bed. I generally eat 60-70% of my calories between 6-10pm.

SamandaIndia

scolaris wrote: »

Yeah I don't get it with the 1200 calorie schtick. It's so unsuitable for anyone who isn't exceptionally diminutive, elderly, or sedentary. And I think most of the people who say it's easy to eat so little & they struggle to eat more are probably just eating more than they realize!

Personally, I am lttle, 5ft 4 inches and genuinely not hungry after 100 grams of meat or 2 eggs, for at least 4 hours. Yes I do weigh it. Surprising perhaps, but although difficult to comprehend, I am consciously eating, not because I am hungry but because I want a broad range of nutrients. I fully understand OPs post and also hear the disbelief too- understandable. Both realities can exist.

ritika33

Don't go the 1200 route, you are going to end up damaging and slowing down your metabolism. You'll lose weight (mostly water weight from not eating as many carbs) and then plateau very fast. You will also lose a lot of muscle if you don't maintain it and end up with a skinny-fat physique. A good rule of thumb is to eat ~10-12 times your bodyweight in lbs if you are trying to lose weight. So 1600 cals for a 160 lb person and so on.

Just my $0.02

dearmrsowl

jennlloyd94 wrote: »

I get what a lot of you are saying and I totally can see where you are coming from. I appreciate the tips, I think what doesn't help is that I do shift work. So I only have 2x 30 mins breaks throughout my 12.5 hour shift. Which means I eat what I would class as an adaquate lunch and I'm full on it. I have dried fruits, popcorn , rice cakes, wraps, soup etc and other snaking bits. But mornings I just have a quick shake/fruit because I start at 7.30 and need to get to work. And then I got home around 8.30/9.00 which is too late to eat a huge among so have a shake and something like beans or roasted veg. I dont feel like I'm painfully restricting myself. I'm never hungry,and I just drink plenty throughout the day. I take multi vitamins etc already. I dont eat bread so I don't have peanut butter unless I'm making a satay or something. Thanks again for your advice. I'll keep it in mind.

Meal prep is key. Make some overnight oats that you prepare the night before and can just grab in the morning. Store breakfast burritos, frittatas or breakfast muffins in the freezer and pop them in the microwave in the morning while you're preparing your shake. Even leaving the house early doesn't have to mean not eating breakfast. You could also incorporate calorie dense foods into your shake. Blend up some oats, add flax seeds, chia seeds or peanut butter.