1200 calories!

anntasiab

I am 5'2" and eat around 1200-1300 calories a day. I usually go more toward 1300 because I still breastfeed my 1.5 year old at bedtime. I shop around for the lowest calories in stuff. So I get turkey sausage, turkey bacon, light syrup, etc. And of the light stuff, I make sure I get the lightest. Like I was just buying light Italian dressing the other day. The first bottle I grabbed was 2 tbs at 40 calories. I kept looking at different brands and found one that was 2 tbs at 15 calories, so that's the one I bought. I also try to go with one serving of whatever it is I am eating. I measure out my 3/4 cup of cereal, and measure 0.5 cup skim milk. I also bought a food scale, to be more precise. It's tedious, but it becomes routine. Boxed and frozen foods seem to have more calories, so I try to avoid those. I get diet sodas (0 calories) and make sure to stay hydrated. Staying on top of your thirst will prevent you from eating when you're not truly hungry. But to get specific, I'll give you an example day:

-Breakfast-
1 egg = 70 calories
2 oz turkey sausage = 120 calories
iced coffee:
3/4 cup gevalia concentrate = 15 calories
3/4 cup fat free milk = 60 calories
2 tbsp fat free french vanilla creamer = 30 calories

-Snack-
1 Greek yogurt = 80 calories

-Lunch-
grilled cheese:
2 slices multigrain bread = 90 calories
1 slice light cheese =25 calories
1.5 tbsp light butter = 52 calories
2 cups watermelon = 92 calories

-Snack-
1 string cheese = 80 calories
medium banana = 110 calories

-Dinner-
4 oz chicken breast = 187 calories
1.5 cup blanched broccoli = 80 calories
cheese garlic biscuit = 160 calories

-Snack-
light ice cream bar = 90 calories

All that totals to 1,261 calories, and then I have some calories filled in from drinking my drink mix, which is 5 calories per serving.

threec

You work your butt off to get your TDEE up to 1800-2200 and maintain a 500-750 calories from that