Moms with open diaries eating 1200 calories

MTgal477

Hey! I'm looking to add some more friends, particularly busy moms who are eating around 1200 calories a day, that have open food diaries. I'd like to get some more ideas on what I can cook for my kids and I that won't throw me overboard on my calories. Also, to see what kind of foods you're snacking on throughout the day to keep your hunger at bay. Thanks!

shadow2soul

I'm not eating 1200 calories per day, so my diary won't really be of much help. You should check out skinnytaste.com. The recipes are great and I haven't had any problems getting my kids to eat the recipes I've tried. The Chicken Taco Chili is a favorite in my house and it makes enough that I'm able to freeze single portions for quick meals later in the week.

MTgal477

Great, thank you @shadow2soul ! I'll check it out

mcesira

I usually eat a little more than 1200, but you're free to add me on. I'm a mom to 4 young ones & I agree it's a completely additional challenge with the young ones to care for. Also, I agree with shadow2soul, skinny taste is a super resource! Best wishes to you!

MTgal477

Ok, I'll add you @mcesira , thanks! I can still maybe get some ideas from what you're eating, and incorporate them into my stuff and make it work.

Linziyo

I'd be happy to be friends. I'm a mom of 2 and have my calories set to 1400 (although I usually only end up with about 12). Best of luck to you!

perkymommy

I'm at 1200 calories per day but I don't always track my whole day. I also don't eat what my children and husband eat (we have 5 kids, 3 live here still). I make myself something completely different 99% of the time so I may not be any help.

perkymommy

Here are some things I will snack on (not all in one day, lol) -

banana
grapes
1 ounce chips
shelled peanuts (.5-1 ounce per day)
jello cup
applesauce cup
cheese slice
1 snackwells devils food cookie per day to feed that chocolate craving

Bluepegasus

Feel free to add me, I'm on 1200 and I eat normal food as I have a husband and two kids who aren't on a diet! My diary is open to friends.

MTgal477

Thank you ladies! I've sent some friend requests!

LuckyNumbers

I'm also a mom shooting for 1200 calories a day, but my daughter is about to turn 2, so right now, she eats what we eat most of the time (at least for dinner), and doesn't protest too much. My diary is public, but feel free to add me.

katiehaley23

I'm a mom of a 20 month old. I usually eat 1200-1600 calls a day. Feel free to add me!

MTgal477

Thanks @LuckyNumbers and @katiehaley23 , sending requests! My kids are 4 & 6 and are picky, picky eaters! I try to get them to eat what I make, but they usually don't like it.

MILFaspirations

I have 3 youngin's. And I too have a hard time, this sure will help. Trying to stick to 1200.

kshama2001

@mntnwmn477 how tall are you and how much weight do you want to lose? Unless you are short, 1200 could be an overly aggressive goal. Lots of women get 1200 fixed into their brain when they could easily eat more and still lose weight.

NewMeSM75

I normally pick a lean meat that my entire family likes with a less healthy side and a healthy side. Kind of a good balance. I sent you a request. Also I make their favorites lighter. Like substituting half of potatoes with cauliflower for mashed potatoes. 2 percent cheese instead of full fat, etc.

jaxgirl001

Feel free to add me...I am only on day 5...but need some motivation to start my diary.

MTgal477

kshama2001 wrote: »

@mntnwmn477 how tall are you and how much weight do you want to lose? Unless you are short, 1200 could be an overly aggressive goal. Lots of women get 1200 fixed into their brain when they could easily eat more and still lose weight.

@kshama2001 I'm about 5'2" and started at 196 lbs and I'm currently 170....trying to get to around 130. MFP is what set my calories to 1200 because I wanted to lose about 2 pounds a week....I was on 1350 for a while, but the loss just felt so slow and I'm trying to "speed it up" a bit, that's why I adjusted it. And I don't get hungry, 1200 seems to be ok for me, I just like to know what kind of variety of foods I can eat that are lower in calories all that I can eat here and there without going over...I'm a snacker lol.

MTgal477

I just added you @jaxgirl001

jaxgirl001

Awesome!!

WholeFoods4Lyfe

Feel free to add me, but I'm not sure how much help I'll be. The only meal I eat with my kids is dinner. And I rarely snack. But go ahead and take a look

hnyzthms

You can add me..I'm changing to 1300 cals next Monday and know I will struggle with it so this may help me too x

TeaBea

kshama2001 wrote: »

@mntnwmn477 how tall are you and how much weight do you want to lose? Unless you are short, 1200 could be an overly aggressive goal. Lots of women get 1200 fixed into their brain when they could easily eat more and still lose weight.

This^

OP - if 1200 makes you cranky, hungry (whathaveyou) bump up your calories. It's more important to stay the course, than it is to lose quickly.

If you want to double check your numbers....try these (reasonable) weekly weight loss goals:
Pound per week goals
75+ lbs set to lose 2 lb range
Between 40 - 75 lbs set to lose 1.5 lb range
Between 25-40 lbs set to lose 1 lb range
Between 15-25 lbs set to lose 1 -.50 lb range
Less than 15 lbs set to lose 0.5 lbs range

I ate 1200 when I was younger. It was popular back in the day too. My only snacks were veggies & sugar free "desserts."

MTgal477

@TeaBea I don't get cranky or hungry or anything like that when I eat 1200 or so, I'm just mainly looking for more "ideas" on what I can eat throughout the day, instead of the same things over and over. And I don't steer clear of any foods....because then I find that I crave them even more! If I were to eat only veggies and sugar free desserts, I'd never make it! Lol.

shadow2soul

mntnwmn477 wrote: »

kshama2001 wrote: »

@mntnwmn477 how tall are you and how much weight do you want to lose? Unless you are short, 1200 could be an overly aggressive goal. Lots of women get 1200 fixed into their brain when they could easily eat more and still lose weight.

@kshama2001 I'm about 5'2" and started at 196 lbs and I'm currently 170....trying to get to around 130. MFP is what set my calories to 1200 because I wanted to lose about 2 pounds a week....I was on 1350 for a while, but the loss just felt so slow and I'm trying to "speed it up" a bit, that's why I adjusted it. And I don't get hungry, 1200 seems to be ok for me, I just like to know what kind of variety of foods I can eat that are lower in calories all that I can eat here and there without going over...I'm a snacker lol.

What weight loss per week did you pick to get 1350 calories?

TeaBea

mntnwmn477 wrote: »

@TeaBea I don't get cranky or hungry or anything like that when I eat 1200 or so, I'm just mainly looking for more "ideas" on what I can eat throughout the day, instead of the same things over and over. And I don't steer clear of any foods....because then I find that I crave them even more! If I were to eat only veggies and sugar free desserts, I'd never make it! Lol.

I didn't steer clear of anything on 1200 either. But I do eat more because I'm trying to limit lean muscle mass loss....this time (over 50).

My point was, after you get a decent amount of protein, and you try to meet fat goals, 1200 doesn't leave room for very much in the way of snacks. Most of my 1200 calories was in meals. But I could fit in a 60 calorie pudding cup, some air popped popcorn, or some veggies.

julia0427

MFP has me at 1520 calories/ day but you can add me if u want. Lol.

Jrjenk3

You can add me! Jrjenk3 I'm a working mom of 2 kids. I shoot for 1200 calories a day.

MTgal477

@shadow2soul I think I had it set for 1.5 before I changed it

MTgal477

@TeaBea I'm always trying to do low carb, high fat/protein....I'm not strict on it, I'm just trying to keep my carbs lower. Which can make it hard to keep at my 1200 too.....right now my meals/snacks consist of coffee, eggs, sausages, cheese, lunch meats (salami, ham...), chicken, bacon, asparagus, broccoli, mushrooms, peppers, elk, deer, beef, pork rinds (YUM, lol), jerky, nuts and the occasional cookie
I'm just wanting to get some more ideas of things I could eat to switch it up a bit.

WinoGelato

OP as @kshama2001 said, 2 lbs/week and 1200 cals may be too aggressive of a loss goal for you, as the stats that @TeaBea pointed out, 1 lb - 1.5lb/week may be more realistic for you. Also, are you eating back at least a portion of any exercise calories you earn? Because your original post indicated you were eating 1200 cals, if that's all you are eating and then you are exercising as well, you would be netting below 1200 which isn't advisable.

For what it's worth - I'm a bit older than you, but same height (5'2) and started on MFP at 153 lbs with a goal weight of 125. I also have two small kids, but work outside the home at a desk job. MFP initially set me at 1200 to lose 1 lb/week, but I found it unsustainable for me as I was always over, even with eating back exercise calories. I was still losing though, so I started reading the forums about how 1200 is often too aggressive of a goal, even for petite women.

I changed my goal first to 1400, then to 1500, and that was net cals - so I was eating more like 1600-1800 and still losing a pound/week. That was with only walking a few times a week for exercise. Then I got a FitBit, and realized that as a busy working mom of two kids, I was much more active than I had thought, and was averaging about 10K steps a day. I was only about 15 lbs from my goal at that point, so I changed my settings to lose 0.5lb/week, and kept increasing my activity. I lost the weight I set out to lose, and am now maintaining below my original goal weight, around 120 lbs, and my TDEE is about 2200 cals/day.

So long story short - it is definitely possible to lose weight eating more, and as a busy mom, you really don't want to burn out because you are tired, hungry, etc.

Good luck!