Please share your 1200 calorie days with me!

HealthyVee

I am having a really hard time finding filling foods that keep me under 1200. I struggle after work and basically attack the first thing I see laying on the counter that is salty or sweet!! I need some ideas and tips on what I can do to not ruin my whole morning and afternoon of eating awesome! Two years ago, I started MFP and followed a 1200-1300 calorie a day program and did cardio and strength training for 1 hour a day, 5 days a week. I was feeling great and looking great! That was my routine for about 2 months, the weight was coming off slowly but surely one day I just lost all motivation and never got back on track.

HawkeyeTy

Well...

You should NEVER be UNDER 1200 calories a day...EVER.


What's your current weight? I see that's it at least above 200, yes?

I am betting you should be eating at least 1600...AT LEAST.

cwsreddy

Well...

You should NEVER be UNDER 1200 calories a day...EVER.


What's your current weight? I see that's it at least above 200, yes?

I am betting you should be eating at least 1600...AT LEAST.

at the very leastyleast.

if you're hungry eat more. simple.

FlaxMilk

Save 1200 calorie days for the times when you're not really hungry or having cravings, and eat more the other days. I say this as someone who does need to eat 1200 calories to lose weight, for the most part. Based on your ticker, 1200 is unnecessary for you to lose. (I wouldn't say this if you hadn't asked for some help. I am not anti-1200 calories, but the best plan is one you can stick with. And you just don't need to.)

HealthyVee

Thanks for the advice from those who replied and let me say that I had a major brain fart when I said under 1200 calories day. I did mean to say at 1200, trust me, I NEVER go under obviously that is the reason why I'm asking for help staying closer to this goal. I'm asking for tips and advice on how to satisfy my after work hunger and what others do. I've tried snacks, drinking water, everything. I don't exactly have time to sit and have a snack while I'm at work so I have to munch on my way home. Eating a string cheese and a banana doesn't cut it for me. Perhaps I do need to raise my goal, but either way, any tips and/or advice?

I'm also curious as to why you would think that I didn't need a 1200 calories a day for weight loss and others might? It would help me to know the explanation behind this, maybe my calorie goal is contributing to my trouble with weight loss. Yes, my ticker is at 200 lbs and has been for the last year. My scale isn't very dependable so the last time I updated my progress, it was inaccurate.

So for those of you who are on or close to a 1200 calorie a day plan, can you please share an example of what your daily meals and snacks are? Thank you!

Sunbrooke

I made up an example day for 1200 calories a while back for one of my friends. I keep moving it on my food diary because so many people seem to have this question. It is set for next Monday on my food diary. It should be open. It meets all of the nutritional settings for MFP and requires little cooking.

FlaxMilk

Thanks for the advice from those who replied and let me say that I had a major brain fart when I said under 1200 calories day. I did mean to say at 1200, trust me, I NEVER go under obviously that is the reason why I'm asking for help staying closer to this goal. I'm asking for tips and advice on how to satisfy my after work hunger and what others do. I've tried snacks, drinking water, everything. I don't exactly have time to sit and have a snack while I'm at work so I have to munch on my way home. Eating a string cheese and a banana doesn't cut it for me. Perhaps I do need to raise my goal, but either way, any tips and/or advice?

I'm also curious as to why you would think that I didn't need a 1200 calories a day for weight loss and others might? It would help me to know the explanation behind this, maybe my calorie goal is contributing to my trouble with weight loss. Yes, my ticker is at 200 lbs and has been for the last year. My scale isn't very dependable so the last time I updated my progress, it was inaccurate.

So for those of you who are on or close to a 1200 calorie a day plan, can you please share an example of what your daily meals and snacks are? Thank you!

The amount of calories you need is based on a lot of factors, including age, gender, and activity level. However, weight is also a big determining factor. Someone at 200 lbs needs a certain number of calories just to keep their bodies alive regardless of activity. I'm not sure what that number is without calculating it, but it's higher than 1200. That means that even if you didn't get out of bed and ate 1200 calories, that would be a deficit. As you lose weight, that number drops.

The way I eat is not "normal" so I don't think my meals would be helpful to you, but I hope you get some good ideas. :flowerforyou:

amberflo143

Hi There,

Feel free to friend me, my diary is open and I can stick around 1200 cals a day, when I workout I add a bit more. I mostly have the same breakfast and lunch and change up dinners.

I weigh everything and eat when I am hungry. But what the difference is now is I ask myself if I am really hungry or just bored... most of the time I am not hungry:)

IIIIISerenityNowIIIII

I have an open food diary and a 1250 goal which I am always under.

j6o4

Do you know know that japanese guy who does competitve eating? His advice to help people eat more was to eat all your carbs first then after eat your proteins, because protein is harder to digest than carbs so it gets you full faster.

So if you take his advice and do the opposite and eat your protein before eating your carbs, you will feel more satisfied. I tried this out and I believe it works. Protein really does curve your hunger.

devilwhiterose

I'm around 1200. I'm set up at recommended 1 pound a week, with a desk job. I work out nights and run on weekends.

My advice on feeling full? Protein. Eggs, chicken, steak, greek yogurt, string cheese... Lots of little snacks throughout the day too. An apple or orange here or there.

My diary is open and/or feel free to add me!

Annie_01

I am having a really hard time finding filling foods that keep me under 1200. I struggle after work and basically attack the first thing I see laying on the counter that is salty or sweet!! I need some ideas and tips on what I can do to not ruin my whole morning and afternoon of eating awesome! Two years ago, I started MFP and followed a 1200-1300 calorie a day program and did cardio and strength training for 1 hour a day, 5 days a week. I was feeling great and looking great! That was my routine for about 2 months, the weight was coming off slowly but surely one day I just lost all motivation and never got back on track.

I don't know if this will help...

My BMR is around 1450. I eat around 1580 (give or take). I am 5'6"...192lbs...age 61. I rarely eat back my exercise calories however. So far I have averaged losing 2lbs a week. I tried the 1200 and eating back some of my exercise calories but to be honest...I wasn't very good at eating them back. So I raised my calories to account for them.

I eat about everything...crackers, hummus, pizza, pasta...you name it...I eat it. I usually hit all my macros and micros...or close to it.

You are welcome to look at my diary. I will say though that I cook a lot so some days will look as if I don't eat veggies. I do...I just put them in things such as my turkey meatloaf...pasta dishes...casseroles.

I cook things that will last for several meals...baked chicken...turkey burgers...etc.

I love crackers so I found some that I can have to eat with hummus or peanut butter.

My diary is open so take a look if you want. If you have questions about just let me know.

I wish you luck.