Need Help Staying Within 1200 Calories

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Replies

  • annemartin777
    annemartin777 Posts: 5
    Thanks so much for taking the time to write all the the details. I have spent so much money , time and heartache to loose weight that it is not even funny. I am trying to understand the whole theory behind weight loss. Thanks again
  • annemartin777
    annemartin777 Posts: 5
    Thank you so much for your help. I have lost 22 pounds on a another diet after spending a fortune before I came here to My Fitness Pal. Now I have 25 lbs to lose and I have hit a plateau. I am struggling with the chocolates and chips or ice cream. I am 5'4" I am thinking of getting a food scale like you suggested. I am guessing now with meat....it is size of a deck of cards. I spend a lot of time reading books on diet and nutrition. Some say Dairy is bad and to drink almond or soy milk. Some say corn is bad. So as you can see...I don't even know what to eat anymore. I have been working out 3 days a week ...an hour each day. It is in the evening and then when I come home, I feel hungry.I turn to sweets for comfort I guess because day to day life is stressful.

    I don't know if I should eat protein at every meal or not. I do eat snacks...mostly fruits. Then I heard too much fruits are not good either because it has natural sugars but it is still sugars. So here I am ....just confused. I am thinking of just eating cucumbers for my snacks because it has very low calories. A cup of bing cherries is 70 calories versus cucumbers 20 calories per cup.
  • xMuscles
    xMuscles Posts: 24
    Thank you so much for your help. I have lost 22 pounds on a another diet after spending a fortune before I came here to My Fitness Pal. Now I have 25 lbs to lose and I have hit a plateau. I am struggling with the chocolates and chips or ice cream. I am 5'4" I am thinking of getting a food scale like you suggested. I am guessing now with meat....it is size of a deck of cards. I spend a lot of time reading books on diet and nutrition. Some say Dairy is bad and to drink almond or soy milk. Some say corn is bad. So as you can see...I don't even know what to eat anymore. I have been working out 3 days a week ...an hour each day. It is in the evening and then when I come home, I feel hungry.I turn to sweets for comfort I guess because day to day life is stressful.

    I don't know if I should eat protein at every meal or not. I do eat snacks...mostly fruits. Then I heard too much fruits are not good either because it has natural sugars but it is still sugars. So here I am ....just confused. I am thinking of just eating cucumbers for my snacks because it has very low calories. A cup of bing cherries is 70 calories versus cucumbers 20 calories per cup.

    protein should be with every meal. food scale is a great idea. dairy is not bad for you unless it bothers your stomach. corn is not BAD, its better than eating potato chips. you're listening to people you shouldn't be. youtube layne Norton under biolayne. VERY intelligent man. check out fit people on MFP and look at their diaries.
  • annemartin777
    annemartin777 Posts: 5
    The TDEE calculation website is awesome!! Thanks so much guys.!!
  • lewandt
    lewandt Posts: 566 Member
    That's gonna be tough. Are you exercising at all? If so, you can add calories to your limit which will help. For example, a 45-minute run will burn almost 900 calories. Cycling is also a good way to burn off some calories. I burned almost 3000 calories yesterday on a 3 1/2 hour ride. That was a bit extreme, but you get the idea. Try and increase your fresh fruit and veg. intake and reduce the carbs. Check out www.cookinglight.com for some good recipes. Good luck!

    Do you use a heart rate monitor? a 45 minute run for me is like 400 calories and I am about half that for a 3 1/2 hour ride (and i ride hard!). Boy, i wish i burned that much!
  • RabbitMccool
    RabbitMccool Posts: 7
    Don't go by that 1200 number. Do your TDEE calculation instead - use this link http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    I just checked out this site!!! WOW, I had no idea I was undereating! LOVE THIS SITE! thank you for sharing!
  • alg42
    alg42 Posts: 45 Member
    I try to eat only 1200 cals a day and like most of the others I eat lots of veg, lean protein and bulk out my meals with pulses and seeds, which do make a difference and keep me fuller for longer. I also exercise nearly everyday, either Zumba or aerobics for an hour a day but obviously not everyone can fit this in so I used to walk most places when I didn't have time to exercise at the gym. Mostly, I don't feel too bad if I go over my calorie intake some days and just try to motivate myself to do better tomorrow. You can do it :-)
  • Peachy1962
    Peachy1962 Posts: 269 Member
    Making sure you get enough protein will help ward off hunger!! Butt he cravings for the carbs sugar is just that cravings!!! Not Hunger!
  • tashshep
    tashshep Posts: 1 Member
    I was having the same trouble and kind of fell off keeping track for a month! Thanks for bringing up this question in the forum! Hope you don't mind, i've added you as a friend!
  • MSmith74
    MSmith74 Posts: 24 Member
    I think he meant --- It is a marathon not a sprint. Slow and steady keeps the weight off. :)
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Thank you so much for your help. I have lost 22 pounds on a another diet after spending a fortune before I came here to My Fitness Pal. Now I have 25 lbs to lose and I have hit a plateau. I am struggling with the chocolates and chips or ice cream. I am 5'4" I am thinking of getting a food scale like you suggested. I am guessing now with meat....it is size of a deck of cards. I spend a lot of time reading books on diet and nutrition. Some say Dairy is bad and to drink almond or soy milk. Some say corn is bad. So as you can see...I don't even know what to eat anymore. I have been working out 3 days a week ...an hour each day. It is in the evening and then when I come home, I feel hungry.I turn to sweets for comfort I guess because day to day life is stressful.

    I don't know if I should eat protein at every meal or not. I do eat snacks...mostly fruits. Then I heard too much fruits are not good either because it has natural sugars but it is still sugars. So here I am ....just confused. I am thinking of just eating cucumbers for my snacks because it has very low calories. A cup of bing cherries is 70 calories versus cucumbers 20 calories per cup.

    I hear you with .... this food is good ..... this food is bad. I just try to eat as many "natural" foods as I can, I try to eat in a way that I can eat for the rest of my life. I don't worry about dairy or gluten, or natural sugar because I don't seem to have digestive issues.

    Eating protein with every meal is a good idea; greek yogurt, whole grains, beans, eggs, and cheese.

    Veggies AND fruit ....... both are good for you. It's good to eat a variety because they contain different nutrients. Cucumber are very low in calories .... but also rather low in nutrition.... I like to bring snack bags of veggies to work.... carrots, snap peas, red pepper strips, etc. ..... you can make a nice low cal dip with fat free greek yogurt & dry ranch seasoning.

    I eat corn now and then .... but I treat it as a carbohydrate (not a veggie) ....so if I'm having a hamburger (with a bun) .... I'll skip the corn on the cob. Better to have an ear of corn with a grilled chicken breast.

    As long as you make room for your sweets (and log them) .... you're ok. I use a dixie cup as an ice cream container, or buy Ghiradelli chocolate squares (the individual ones).... these are small portion sizes.

    Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and improve your mood. Look for a soothing yoga video ....Hulu.com has tons..... or do what I do walk, walk., walk (with Leslie Sansone). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjduJjO1pLg&feature=related
  • Zenjaeie
    Zenjaeie Posts: 95
    Hmm... I'm 4"11 and tried the 1200 diet and found it near impossible. Definitely not sustainable for me, but hopefully you have more luck! Try stocking up the house with watery veggies and fruit like cucumbers, tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, carrots, etc. You can eat a ton of em! And Don't forget protein, of course, which will keep you full longer- just focus on grilled fish and chicken and such.
  • chirosche
    chirosche Posts: 66 Member
    Hi,

    I found myself over the 1200 limit at first too. And with my intense workouts, I was starting to feel a little weak and hungry. What made all the difference is drinking my Green Magma, which is a barley juice powder. Actually, I've upgraded to the Magma Plus. Just 2-3 teaspoons of the powder in your favorite drink, like carrot or apple juice. Not orange juice or an acidic beverage. This is not only very nutritious for you, but it will take your appetite away and restore you after a vigorous workout. And keep your blood sugar from dropping. It has virtually no calories. I count carbs. It has 4 carbs. But I have to have it in order to keep at 1200 calories and be able to work out. You can take before and after or before or after a workout if you need it for energy.

    The good news is that when I work off 400 or more calories, as an example, any amount of calories actually, you get to EAT those extra calories and add them to your 1200. The cheapest place to buy the Green Magma is swansonvitamins.com. Actually the Magma Plus is even cheaper than the Green Magma. I've been taking this stuff for long time. It's my daily vitamins as well. Among other supplements I take regularly.

    I do plan to increase that though after after I get the weight loss going really good. I've just started. But this ain't my first rodeo.

    Hope this was helpful.
  • Stlarenas
    Stlarenas Posts: 90 Member
    I'm a 37 yr old mom of three.

    I shoot for 1220 NET calories a day and have lost 19 lbs since April 23. I am not really picky about what I eat and don't really feel like I am depriving myself at all. When I crave "junk" I keep my portions small and exercise more to offset the calories.

    I have calculated my BMR here http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ and it says I should be at 1391. But since I am still losing at 1220 and don't feel hungry all the time, I am not going to up my calories yet. I have a feeling I probably overstate my calories burned since I don't have an HRM, and understate my calories in slightly since I don't always weigh my food and use entries already in MFP that look "close" often. (so I may be eating closer to 1400 and just don't know it)

    But for now I am sticking with what works :)

    I log everything - feel free to friend me if you want to see my diary.

    And I drink lots and lots of water. Often when I think I am hungry I am really just thirsty and water seems to curb my temptation to snack.

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