Any ideas for a 1200 calorie per day diet

lmasasa
lmasasa Posts: 10 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Was looking for ideas on meals to keep within the 1200 calories per day.
Thanks
«1

Replies

  • Agi0817
    Agi0817 Posts: 19
    http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/weight_loss_diet_plans/diet_meal_plans/weight_loss_diet_meal_plan?pC=1200&pT=diet&pD=1
  • MaeRenee94
    MaeRenee94 Posts: 175
    Don't do it...1200 calories is a bad idea. And that's why you aren't getting replies
  • jhloves2knit
    jhloves2knit Posts: 268 Member
    Bump
  • Binkie1955
    Binkie1955 Posts: 329 Member
    I have an idea. don't do it. any body who thinks that dieting is about fasting just doesn't get the purpose of this site. get some education and start eating right.
  • kshiraakshara
    kshiraakshara Posts: 119 Member
    My diary's open and I eat 1230 calories/day, if you want to check it out. I do lots of omelettes or scrambled eggs for breakfast, big salads with protein (usually fish) or roasted fish or chicken with veggies for lunch, and save the rest of my calories for dinner and snacks.

    I use the recipe builder a lot so if you see anything that you want to try that doesn't have all the ingredients listed, message me and I'll send you the recipe :)
  • StacyReneO
    StacyReneO Posts: 317 Member
    My typical day...

    B: 2 hard boiled egg and a tbsp of real mayo -230 c OR
    1 scrambled egg and 2 slices bacon - around 200c OR
    1 egg and 1 medium avocado - around 300c

    L: Chipotle salad with steak, lettuce, pico and guacamole - 370c OR
    any salad with veggie & protein - 300-400c

    D: Marinated flank steak (4 oz) and a side veggie - around 250-300c (depending on your veggie)

    Snacks: Dehydrated (not dried) fruit from Costco - 35c a pack
    Gluten free toaster pastry - 160c
    Small piece of fruit - apple, nectarine or peach 55-60c
    Air popped popcorn - 31c per cup


    These are just some examples. My food diary is open to friends so if you want to friend me you can check it out! I also exercise whenever I can and I eat my exercise calories on those days, which may allow me another 200-400c. I usually use those at the end of the day or if I want a treat/extra calories earlier in the day, I make sure I do something to work it off.
  • MaeRenee94
    MaeRenee94 Posts: 175
    I didn't ask for peoples food plans. I asked for help on not feeling like I'm about to blow from so much dang food in my stomach.
  • StacyReneO
    StacyReneO Posts: 317 Member
    I didn't ask for peoples food plans. I asked for help on not feeling like I'm about to blow from so much dang food in my stomach.

    I was responding to the OP. And the OP didn't ask whether or not she should do it. She asked HOW to do it.
  • MaeRenee94
    MaeRenee94 Posts: 175
    I didn't ask for peoples food plans. I asked for help on not feeling like I'm about to blow from so much dang food in my stomach.

    I was responding to the OP. And the OP didn't ask whether or not she should do it. She asked HOW to do it.

    Holy crap I went to my topics and thought I was on my last post..
    I feel like an a** now!! I'm sorry!
    Ignore me : )
  • Katiedid717
    Katiedid717 Posts: 48 Member
    Vegetables are your friend.
  • StacyReneO
    StacyReneO Posts: 317 Member
    I didn't ask for peoples food plans. I asked for help on not feeling like I'm about to blow from so much dang food in my stomach.

    I was responding to the OP. And the OP didn't ask whether or not she should do it. She asked HOW to do it.

    Holy crap I went to my topics and thought I was on my last post..
    I feel like an a** now!! I'm sorry!
    Ignore me : )

    haha - no worries!
  • ferra11
    ferra11 Posts: 18 Member
    StacyReneO-I like the way your food plan sounds... Good job!
  • lazytolight
    lazytolight Posts: 38 Member
    For those saying don't do 1200, it's starvation, don't seem to know what you're talking about it. 1200-1500 is a respectable range for some women that have more sedentary lives. I'm on 800 by my doctor's orders (trying to figure out and mend a digestive disorder) and as long as I reach my macros set by him and my nutritionist and don't over exercise I'm fine.

    I learned to be more than satisfied on my low cal plan. Last night I made spinach lasagna rolls (for recipe google spinach lasagna rolls skinny taste) and had a large salad with it. My dinner was around 250 calories.

    For eating lower its all about portion control for higher calorie foods and supplementing the less food on your plate with lower calories foods. For example, I used to eat with my plate being mostly covered by the main meal/dish/entree, and then veggies or fruits on the side. I just swapped those and I'm getting roughly the same amount of food for less calories and higher nutrition.
  • zeetje
    zeetje Posts: 36 Member
    I have an idea. don't do it. any body who thinks that dieting is about fasting just doesn't get the purpose of this site. get some education and start eating right.
  • zeetje
    zeetje Posts: 36 Member
    well you have to start somewhere... I have just realized I wasn't eating right (Too much Proteins, too little carbs..) having a hard time to even reach 1200 calories.. no intention of fasting :noway: It's just a hell of a lot when you cut out bad carbs, sugar & alcohol etc
  • zrjp9
    zrjp9 Posts: 86 Member
    Plenty fruits, veggies, whole grains and when you eat meat do lean meats, and small portions.
  • Overridden
    Overridden Posts: 19
    For those saying don't do 1200, it's starvation, don't seem to know what you're talking about it. 1200-1500 is a respectable range for some women that have more sedentary lives. I'm on 800 by my doctor's orders (trying to figure out and mend a digestive disorder) and as long as I reach my macros set by him and my nutritionist and don't over exercise I'm fine.

    I learned to be more than satisfied on my low cal plan. Last night I made spinach lasagna rolls (for recipe google spinach lasagna rolls skinny taste) and had a large salad with it. My dinner was around 250 calories.

    For eating lower its all about portion control for higher calorie foods and supplementing the less food on your plate with lower calories foods. For example, I used to eat with my plate being mostly covered by the main meal/dish/entree, and then veggies or fruits on the side. I just swapped those and I'm getting roughly the same amount of food for less calories and higher nutrition.

    ^ that's how I started.
  • zrjp9
    zrjp9 Posts: 86 Member
    And you can look at my food journal too. I do a 1490 cal max per day. But also watch bc I do cardio about 4 dars a week. So even though my day may say 1300 that day could be 1600 because I may have burned 300 doing cardio.
  • MyJourney1960
    MyJourney1960 Posts: 1,133 Member
    start by figuring out how many meals/snacks you want a day - what fits into your lifestyle.
    then allocate the calories - let's say 100 per snack X 3 snacks, leaves you with ~300 per meal. it's not impossible - stick with larger portions of non-starchy vegetables (both fresh salads and cooked/steamed/roasted) such as lettuce, greens, tomato, cucumber, peppers, brocolli etc, and smaller portions of healthy/lean proteins and carbs like chicken breast, eggs, turkey, lean beef,fish, beans/lentils and whole grain pasta/bread/rice etc . use a kitchen scale - you may be surprised at how many calories are in a cup of pasta...

    reduce or eliminate empty calories - sugared drinks, battered/fried foods, etc but do find a way to "treat" yourself to things that you like just at lower portions.
  • SJVZEE
    SJVZEE Posts: 451 Member
    I've recently started transitioning to a whole foods, plant based diet and it's a struggle to even get to 1,200 calories a day. Since I'm in maintenance I'm trying to get in around 2,000 a day, so I'm having some trouble figuring out how to get more calories in-whole foods are very filling and are very low calories!

    Today I'm having a BIG green smoothie (kale, spinach, strawberries, blueberries, banana and plain yogurt), oatmeal with raisins, a large taco salad with flax seed instead of ground beef, 2 ears of sweet corn with butter, more blueberries and then sauteed mushrooms. My total calories for the day are 1,382. I added the oatmeal and raisins just to get my calories up.

    Focus on veggies and fruit as your main source of food and you'll easily be able to stay around 1,200 calories :)
  • riccoismydog
    riccoismydog Posts: 319 Member
    You can check my diary if you want. It's usually good. Weekends I tend to run wild, but Monday to Friday is usually 1200.


    Breakfast I have an omelette or steel cut oats. A protein and veggies or something light at lunch. Dinner is a lean protein and veggies again. Shake after working out or before bed. It's pretty easy.
  • lewandt
    lewandt Posts: 566 Member
    I am at 1200 calories a day. Every site i have gone to puts me at 1200, any more and i gain weight.

    My diary is open if you want to peek (not that i am all that healthy but i do try)
  • Katla49
    Katla49 Posts: 10,385 Member
    Did you set your own goals at 1200 calories, or did MFP or someone else do it? I've been very happy with successes based on MFP setting goals for me. I started above 1200 calories based on their advice and have gradually dropped weight, thus earning less calories so that I'm now at 1200, too. If I want to eat more, I can earn the food by exercising more and I've never felt deprived since I started this. I think feeling deprived is bad for success because it leads to quitting.

    If your former diet was basically healthy, but too high calorie, you can still eat most of your old favorites by tweeking the recipes and using portion control to keep your calorie count where you want it. If you need to learn more healthful habits, there is a lot of support here from MPF itself and from other users. Some people are abstainers who have to give up certain foods completely to be able to meet calorie goals. Others, like myself, are moderators. I've accomplished miracles in my life with portion control. Get a good food scale and disher/servers so that you can measure your portions and know for sure how much you're eating. I love the option of earning more food through exercise, or paying myself back for a little indulgence with exercise. I now habitually eat back part of my exercise calories, but not all of them.

    Last advice: DON'T SKIP BREAKFAST. It leads to later binging.
  • moustache_sally
    moustache_sally Posts: 3
    Try http://www.eatthismuch.com/
    You can enter a calorie amount and # of meals and it will give you foods that fit those numbers and other parameters you can set.
  • cstod74
    cstod74 Posts: 28 Member
    MFP has set me up as well for 1200 a day, some days are great and some are not..............basically I try to stay at 350 per each meal with 2 100 snacks,,,,,,,,,,,or toss it up.......

    I usually eat less in the morning and more lunch and dinner..............but this little figure might help you.:love:
  • kkerri
    kkerri Posts: 276 Member
    I am sort of sick of hearing how anyone who eats in the 1200 calorie range is an idiot who knows nothing about nutrition. For those of us who have desk jobs, problems that prevent hard core exercising, and/or who are nearing 40 (*cough*), 1200 calories is what it takes. I gain in the 1600+ range, sadly.

    Anyway, to the OP, I can easily do 1200 calories, but only if I eat low-carb. If I start adding in refined carbs, I get less bang for my buck and am hungry.

    A typical day for me would be something along the lines of:

    B - apple & string cheese
    S - plain greek yogurt w/splenda
    L - grilled chicken salad w/EVOO, vinegar
    S - almonds & apple
    D - grilled chicken, veggies (maybe 1/2 cup brown rice)
    S - protein shake


    If I eat like this, I lose and/or maintain. If I don't, I gain.
  • rachelmarie1
    rachelmarie1 Posts: 201 Member
    Hi! 1200 calories is pretty easy to plan, as long as you dont have any junk food around to tempt you. :) You can make eggs for breakfast, use pam instead of oil/butter to cook with. You can even add a little shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, or mushrooms to them to mix it up. For lunch you can have a grilled chicken salad. Use the rest of the tomato and mushrooms from breakfast. Pile it full of veggies by adding cucumber or peppers. For dinner, you can have a grilled chicken sandwich if you made an extra chicken at lunch. Add your veggies like lettuce and tomato. You can even make another salad to pair with your sandwich. Throughout the day snack on veggies or fresh fruit like apples. I hope this helps. Good luck! I would also try to plan your meals out ahead of time so you are more likely to stick to it. :)
  • kkerri
    kkerri Posts: 276 Member
    I was also most successful when I ate 1200 calories most days, but used Friday nights or something for an off plan meal.

    --> Getting back to this today.
  • mayonie1
    mayonie1 Posts: 296 Member
    I did 1220 and the target was 1240...but I was more on sugar by -13.
    Breakfast
    Kellogs Corn Flakes
    Danone low fat yoghurt
    Orange

    Lunchs
    Lettuce, cottage cheese, Avocado, tuna fish(sardines), green tea.

    Dinner
    Mashed potatoes, homemade chakalaka, Roasted pork,spinach.
  • LJGettinSexy
    LJGettinSexy Posts: 223 Member
    I'm on a 1200-1350 calorie diet per my doctor and I have pretty much been on target eating complete meals with portion control, except, lately I've been on vacay and enjoying myself without logging. However, it's pretty easy to eat 1200 calories per day but the snacking will take you over. You can eat a bran cereal or oatmeal for breakfast that's between 150-200 calories. And then if you limit your lean meat portions to 4-6 ounces for lunch and dinner with a serving of a side dish of 100 calories or less and a vegetable with light butter or a salad with light dressing, that's pretty filling also. A couple of servings of fruit and a light snack, I eat air popped popcorn for my snack cravings, which is a steal on calories, I'm pretty satisfied daily. I get in the mood for cookies and junk food, I just find lower calorie cookies or 1/2 brownies or something like that, but I still fit it within my daily calorie intake. Planning is the key to a 1200 calorie diet, and I keep my house full of my favorite lower fat, lean items to keep me on track. It's been working so far and I've seen the results, and so has everyone else. So you can look at my diary if you want, not lately though. LOL. Hope this helps and GOOD LUCk!

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