Having trouble staying under 1,200 calories
NotMika
Posts: 21 Member
I'm 5'3, 136 pounds with a sedentary job. I'm having a very hard time staying in the allotted 1, 200 calories. I basically either have to do a lot of cardio (which is not always possible to fit in) or I fall back on chicken breast and broccoli -- which doesn't always fill me up and I'm sooo bored of it. Any advise? I don't think I'm going to make it down 15 pounds at this rate.
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You are already within your normal bmi range, but you have your calorie deficit set very aggressively. Generally weight loss goes much slower when you only have a small amount to lose. Since you are having trouble staying at 1200, I would set your goal to lose .5-1lb a week instead so you can eat more even though it will go slower.0
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queenliz99 wrote: »
This was a great read. I think part of my problem as well is that keeping under 1, 200 calories has turned me into a complete cardio queen and I may be losing muscle mass in my effort to lose weight. Food for thought.0 -
You are already within your normal bmi range, but you have your calorie deficit set very aggressively. Generally weight loss goes much slower when you only have a small amount to lose. Since you are having trouble staying at 1200, I would set your goal to lose .5-1lb a week instead so you can eat more even though it will go slower.
I will consider this. The only thing is, I read that people tend to underreport calories so I wanted to give myself a stricter goal just in case I was accidentally leaving things out.0 -
Or you could eat something else besides chicken and broccoli... Plan meals with more variety, it's challenging I know.
Do you ever eat fish for dinner or beans or stuffed peppers?0 -
I'm having tri tip and a salad0
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If I can go to the grocery store on my way home from work I love grabbing a sole and frying it in olive oil and butter (I know... I know.... not the healthiest choice, but sooooo good and not THAT terrible for you). Maybe I should try out more fish recipes. I pretty much only eat beans in soups. I should try making more of those.0
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I eat 1200 (upped it to 1450 this week, but not for hunger reasons). I tried to get 100-120 grams of protein and 40g of fat and then filled the rest in with carbs. I found that those macros kept he fullest but allowed room for my favorite foods. If I don't maximize my protein intake I'm starving and snacky all day long.
Try 1300 if 1200 is too hard. Just a few more won't slow you down too much, but it might be more satiating.0 -
Fat is good though0
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Also, Skinnytaste.com has lots of great recipes and all the calorie counts. I can always find good options. And her stuff is really good.0
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You are already within your normal bmi range, but you have your calorie deficit set very aggressively. Generally weight loss goes much slower when you only have a small amount to lose. Since you are having trouble staying at 1200, I would set your goal to lose .5-1lb a week instead so you can eat more even though it will go slower.
I agree.0 -
You are already within your normal bmi range, but you have your calorie deficit set very aggressively. Generally weight loss goes much slower when you only have a small amount to lose. Since you are having trouble staying at 1200, I would set your goal to lose .5-1lb a week instead so you can eat more even though it will go slower.
I agree.
Ok, I changed it. Now I've got an extra 200 calories to play with every day, which will actually make a huge difference.0 -
You are already within your normal bmi range, but you have your calorie deficit set very aggressively. Generally weight loss goes much slower when you only have a small amount to lose. Since you are having trouble staying at 1200, I would set your goal to lose .5-1lb a week instead so you can eat more even though it will go slower.
I will consider this. The only thing is, I read that people tend to underreport calories so I wanted to give myself a stricter goal just in case I was accidentally leaving things out.
Do you use a food scale? Weighing your portions will help you to be more exact. Ultimately, there is always a margin of error, but you don't need to undereat to offset that. Also you should be eating back some of those cardio calories. In other words, based on your height, age, and (if your photo is recent) you seem pretty fit and active, you are struggling to stay under 1200 because your body needs you to eat more!
Just as a point of reference, I am 43 yrs old, 5'4" and 130 lbs. I am eating @ 1700-1800 cals to maintain ('cause I am lazier over the winter!), and ate @ 1,500 cals when I was losing (for one-half pound per week)0 -
You are already within your normal bmi range, but you have your calorie deficit set very aggressively. Generally weight loss goes much slower when you only have a small amount to lose. Since you are having trouble staying at 1200, I would set your goal to lose .5-1lb a week instead so you can eat more even though it will go slower.
I agree.
Ok, I changed it. Now I've got an extra 200 calories to play with every day, which will actually make a huge difference.
Oh, I didn't see this before I posted
Good luck! 0 -
You are already within your normal bmi range, but you have your calorie deficit set very aggressively. Generally weight loss goes much slower when you only have a small amount to lose. Since you are having trouble staying at 1200, I would set your goal to lose .5-1lb a week instead so you can eat more even though it will go slower.
I agree.
Ok, I changed it. Now I've got an extra 200 calories to play with every day, which will actually make a huge difference.
Yay!0 -
You are already within your normal bmi range, but you have your calorie deficit set very aggressively. Generally weight loss goes much slower when you only have a small amount to lose. Since you are having trouble staying at 1200, I would set your goal to lose .5-1lb a week instead so you can eat more even though it will go slower.
I will consider this. The only thing is, I read that people tend to underreport calories so I wanted to give myself a stricter goal just in case I was accidentally leaving things out.
Do you use a food scale? Weighing your portions will help you to be more exact. Ultimately, there is always a margin of error, but you don't need to undereat to offset that. Also you should be eating back some of those cardio calories. In other words, based on your height, age, and (if your photo is recent) you seem pretty fit and active, you are struggling to stay under 1200 because your body needs you to eat more!
Just as a point of reference, I am 43 yrs old, 5'4" and 130 lbs. I am eating @ 1700-1800 cals to maintain ('cause I am lazier over the winter!), and ate @ 1,500 cals when I was losing (for one-half pound per week)
Thanks for sharing! I think I will invest in a food scale. My photo is from last week so yeah, hopefully accurate. I usually am pretty active, but I love cheese and dessert and cooking new recipes so sometimes I find it hard to strike a balance. With MFP I'm trying to lose some weight, yes, but I'm also trying to re-educate myself about what goes into my body vs. what I burn off and find the balance again. Thanks for your insight!0 -
If I can go to the grocery store on my way home from work I love grabbing a sole and frying it in olive oil and butter (I know... I know.... not the healthiest choice, but sooooo good and not THAT terrible for you). Maybe I should try out more fish recipes. I pretty much only eat beans in soups. I should try making more of those.
I love salmon, a lot. I "poach" it in the microwave, it's so easy! I put a salmon steak or fillet in a microwave safe dish, add a few tablespoons of water, season the fish (I like spicy, so I use cayenne, garlic and black pepper). Then I cover with a vented cover and cook for a few minutes. Time depends on how big the fish is - but generally 3-5 minutes. Cook it till it's done all the way through. NO added fat! I mostly eat salmon, but I cook other fish the same way, too.
Something to consider about your olive oil and butter method: are you actually consuming all the olive oil and butter? I'm asking because if you're measuring it out and logging it, but not eating it, you're over-recording it. That could keep you from being able to eat those calories with other foods.0 -
Sole fish is delish!
You could try to eat it with more interesting veggies; even frozen ones; mixed veggies, frozen corn, green beans, baked baby carrots are good w salt pepper and fresh squeezed lemon juice...
You could try some good salads and get creative with them, or sautée some baby spinach with onions.
One night a week you could have a few fried eggs or even an omelette "breakfast for dinner" lol!
Tuna salad with fat free Greek yogurt instead of mayo with chopped tomato and onion mmmm0 -
NaturalNancy wrote: »Sole fish is delish!
You could try to eat it with more interesting veggies; even frozen ones; mixed veggies, frozen corn, green beans, baked baby carrots are good w salt pepper and fresh squeezed lemon juice...
You could try some good salads and get creative with them, or sautée some baby spinach with onions.
One night a week you could have a few fried eggs or even an omelette "breakfast for dinner" lol!
Tuna salad with fat free Greek yogurt instead of mayo with chopped tomato and onion mmmm
Love all these ideas! And breakfast for dinner is officially going to be my new "came home from work late comfort meal" instead of my old stand-by - grilled cheese and a beer.0 -
Hahahahaaa! It's my go to when I'm too tired to really cool but want something that tastes good, fills me up and it healthy!
Rock on!
:-D0 -
Cook not cool0
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Lift weights if you don't already - each pound of muscle you build burns 50 calories more per day resting. Also maybe try a carb rotation or re-feed day once a week. I had a 2 month plateau, then ate way over calories one day on a veggie tray - next day and all that week, I started losing weight again. Your body may think it is in starvation mode and hold onto fat. I agree with the other people who said to try new foods & get creative with your cooking. Also eat more fiber - it fills you up better. Make sure you are getting enough protein, too - like a gram per pound of lean body weight (your total weight minus body fat).0
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I would change your weight loss goal to 0.5 lbs/week, start using a food scale, and start incorporating strength training.
How long have you been logging and eating at the 1200 goal? What have your results been so far?
For what it's worth I'm 5'2 and also have a desk job. I started at 153 lbs with a goal weight of 125 and was originally set at 1200 cals and thought it was too low. I changed my goal to 1400, then 1500, eating back my exercise cals and was losing 1 lb/week. When I got down to 135 is about the time I got a FitBit and realized I was more active than I thought. I changed my goal to 0.5 lb/week and 1650 net cals. I hit my goal weight and am actually maintaining now around 120 lbs with a maintenance of ~2200 per my FitBit.0
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