Who has only 1200 calories per day?

foxygemini1

What are you eating to feel full and stay within your 1200 limit?

thistimeismytime

I have 1230. I eat 6 small meals a day, and can keep it around that level, or a bit above on exercise days. It's about eating quality calories, and not wasting your calories on drinks and empty foods. I could probably eat a bit more and still lose weight, but I'm aiming for 1.5 lbs a week. I'm 5' 7" and 159 lbs. I'd like to be about 135 and muscular. I eat more protein and less fat than MFP recommends, but I still stick within the calories.

angieread

I ALWAYS eat the calories I get from working out. On days when I don't workout, I definitely feel the limits of the 1200 a day. Otherwise it's not that hard. That helps keep me motivated to work out. :-)

vryanz

It's all about knowing your own body. Some people lose at 2000, some don't lose unless they are under 1200. I say, know your body. Find that place where you can lose, but feel good. And by 'good' I don't mean not hungry. Face it, if you are losing weight, you are GOING TO feel hungry. Your body does not like to lose! But keep it to where you don't feel like you are starving or want to jump someone for their food.
My body is happy at 1200. I can lose at a good pace, not feel too hungry, and if I go a few days and feel I need a break, I have a day of higher calories. The higher cal day actually keeps my loss going. I am sure though, to get right back on my 1200 the next day, and not fall back into bad habits. I keep myself motivated by weighing daily and logging my weight and cals each day on a calender. That way I can look back and keep myself accountable.
Do what works for you and keeps you safe and healthy!

vzucco

I have an extremely sedentary lifestyle, and only have time to really exercise maybe three or four times a week. I sometimes find it difficult to even reach 1200 and have to add an extra snack. And I'm not too restrained, I eat things like lasagna, pizza, etc. I just watch my portions and home-cook things in healthier ways. It can be done. And I'm not losing weight very fast either, it is at a very healthy pace. When I eat over 1200 my weight loss comes to a total stand-still. Everybody's bodies are different though.

HighHeel

At first it was hard to do because I didn't realize how many calories I was putting in my mouth a day. It was amazing to me to find that I can eat healthy and feel full. I've been trying biggest loser recipies and found alot of them to be very very filling. I am on my feet all day moving but not getting to the point where I am burning calories doing it. I've made the change in my house to buy only good food. No more chips, cookies, muffins, things of that nature, cause if they're here I will eat them...sad but true. We have alot more fresh fruit and yogourt and always make sure to keep cold water in the fridge. My biggest struggle thus far is POP....i could live on it and have a few bottles (591ml) a day. I know once I kick that habit I'll do better. So when I feel hungry or need a snack I can stya in my 1200 calorie alotment by picking healthy, low calorie alternatives. At first I thought on such a fixed income as I have working that I couldn't afford to eat healthy...well once I stopped buying all the crap I had money for fruits, veggies and ground turkey instead of beef. So it can be done! Good luck everyone!

Joellefitz90

Mine are set to 1400, but I actually try to have between 700-900 net calories. With at least 400 still remaining. I know its not good, and a lot if the time I'm hungry. But I need to lost weight big time, and this method seems to be working for me. I startes out 15 days ago.weighing 191, today the scale said 182.0 ! I'm only 5'3.

kbiggers11

My calorie count is set on 1210 calories per day and I have found that amount to be completely satisfying. In fact, I usually do not consume them all but rather have difficulty keeping my other components such as fat and carbs in check. I snack twice a day on fruit on whole wheat choice and peanut butter. And I eat 3-4 servings of vegetables and fruit per day, which are low in fat content, carb content, and so on. Also I have begun substituting one meal, usually lunch with a protein bar (this helps keep my daily calorie intake in check). I recommend CLIF builders bars (or LUNA bars, they are from the same company but are targeted for women and are lower in calories, fat, carbs, and so on. The Smores and Cookies and Cream are so yummy! And these are great if you are trying to dedicate yourself to workout because they are packed with around 20 grams of protein!

I have been on my fitness pal for a while, my account was accidentally deleted and I had to create a new one this week, but before my calorie count was also 1200 or 1210 calories per day. I hope this helps!:happy:

dalgal26

Me! And it has not been a problem for me as of yet. I sometimes even find it hard to eat all of them. But, I do my best! My husband talks about how much food I eat. He doesn't know how I eat it all and still stay at 1200. It is just the food choices that I make.

I do not feel deprived and I am never hungry. I am getting a balanced diet.

Every body is different. And you have to choose what is right for you. This works for me.

rubyrider

If you are smart with what you eat, you should not have to skip a meal at 1200 calories. I have been on 1200 calories for a while (I did this last year and lost 30lbs, but gained a little back the past 2 months, so I'm tracking again). I am stingy with my calories during the day as I know that my dinners are usualy the highest calories. I have 1 egg and 2 pieces of light bread in the morning. The protein and carbs carry me through until mid-morning. I have a veggie snack (1 cup of celery is like 30 calories) Sometimes, I use a 1/2 serving of hummus with it (another 30 calories). Lunch is a salad - spinach and red romaine, olives, sometimes last night's meat leftovers, carrots, etc. I use a light dressing (I don't like a lot of dressing so that helps ). In the mid-afternoon I have another veggies snack or a yogurt. Dinner I try to have a protien (chicken or meat or something) with veggies. I sometimes have enough left for a beer or some popcorn

When I am riding my bike (a normal ride for me can burn >1000 calories), I have to up the carb intake or I can barely make it through a ride, and the next day is miserable.

Hope that helps. Mostly, listen to your body. If you need more, then do it. Just make smart choices about it.

jsuaccounting

myfitnesspal usually gives me 1200 if I use their calculator. I usually eat more than that. I am 5'2 and 141. I suspect it is my height.

Amy911Gray

It's what you eat that adds up to 1,200 calories per day that determines if you are hungry on a diet. Really, I force myself to 1200 every day and sometimes I can't reach it.

determined2lose89

MFP tried to set me at 1,200 originally but I changed it to 1,300. That was still too low. I'm trying 1,430 for the time being.

katm427

My BMR is only 1557, so setting mine to 1200 makes sense for a net intake level.

formersec

MFP assigned me 1200 calories and that calculation conforms to the points I was given by Weight Watchers and has been approved by my doctors. What I have found works for me is to vary over or under 1200 a day. I don't go too low or too high, and sometimes I'll eat back the exercise calories, some days not, sometimes only a few. The variations seem to keep the body from getting into a rut. I seem to hit plateaus unless I mix it up a little each day.

SEG22

I've been following 1200 for 2 weeks as set by MFP and find that if I eat the right types of food, it is possible to not be hungry all day. I also eat more when I exercise. MFP says that I burn 1600 a day just living so it would make sense that if I want to lost weight I would need to eat under that. When I am at my target weight I will then look to maintain, increasing the calories.

Eating 1200 and feeling fine jut makes me realise how I much I used to eat!

lohearn

1200 Calories and made it through my first week today day 8. I try to be creative at meal times low calorie foods that gives me a full feeling and always divide up the protein through my 3 main meals. It seemed to get easier as the week went. I do not eat my exercise calories because I need to loose this weight but if I go slightly over in calories I know I can exercise a little longer.

indrani1947

MFP set mine at 1200 which I find unsustainable long term, so I upper it to 1300 but have not lost any since then! I exercise to up my calories to a more sustainable level around 1500 a day. I'm only just overweight, and MFP only had me loosing 0.5 lb on 1200 cals ugh!!!

mikki629

I'm only mildly active, and only 5'3", so I'm set at 1200 a day. It's actually pretty easy to do. After I work out I normally have around a grand daily total of 1500 calories. I eat back about half of my earned calories, but try and leave some left over. I find it's daunting at the beginning seeing such a 'small' number. And cutting back is hard and frustrating. I did get hungry at lot in the beginning too. But once I learned what would keep me fuller longer without destroying my cal intake, it was all uphill from there.

Pattinan

I am set at 1200 because I plugged in that I'd like to lose 2lb a week. MFP wont go below 1200 so it tells me I could lose 1.6/wk on 1200 ca. I am presently 5'10" and weigh 169.3. I was 191 when I began MFP on Dec 2. I feel my best at 150. That is the weight I spent most my younger years at. (145-150). I am 52. I have learned to stay within that ca range while trying to reduce. I find it workable. I am not walking around hungry. My issue is that I eat impulsively and compulsively...so I do better with a guideline like this. I need structure. The daily diary helps me. I try to plan the eating ahead of time to keep the numbers in line. I look forward to reaching my goal but have done that before. Maintenance is my constant challenge.

mikki629

Eating 1200 and feeling fine jut makes me realise how I much I used to eat!

It's crazy isn't it? I don't even want to think about the calories I was eating before. I know though that my 1200 is so tiny compared to what it used to be. And I feel healthy and satisfied at the end of the day, instead of just full and uncomfortable. It's a real eyeopener when I compare the two lifestyles.

Helloitsdan

I always see people who have their calories set on 1200 per day. Why so low?

I weigh 160, am 5'5", and have mine set at 1600. That's without eating back exercise calories. I have my settings on lightly active, as I am a teacher. I generally exercise 5x/week. I could NOT get by on 1200 calories per day.

How do you all do it?

This is where I tell most people to start is 1600. Its better to create a deficit by working out than eating at 1200 and killing metabolism!

Stacyanne324

I think 1200 is the 2 pound a week setting. Some days I can easily stay close to 1200 (especially when I've worked out for at least a half hour) but I have mine set at a pound a week which allows me 1580 cals and gives me enough wiggle room for days that I don't workout. I try to keep it close to 1200 net though as much as I can.

Havend1

How did you manage to lose 100 lbs? Please tell me what you did.

trud72

mine is on 1200 but i also eat some of my exersice cal back to,
i eat loads if you don't belive just look at my diary....:drinker:

karin_s

Good advice. Mine is set there too

TrApPeDnFaT

On Biggest Loser behind the scenes it says
Meal plans: The trainers set a daily calorie limit for each contestant — around 1,200 for women, 1,800 for men.

and
High-calorie day Once a week women can eat 1,800 to 2,000 calories; men 2,500 to 3,000. The idea is to have something they love so that they won't feel deprived.

I figure if that is sufficient for them and they work out like 6+ hours per day I could never work out that much and it has seemed to work for me so far....

becky2967

i had mine on 1,300 for 4weeks but now im on 1,750 i couldnt manage i was sooo hungry, i like to walk about 5mile aday & i never eat back exercise calories but i do make sure i eat 1,700 atleast each day. x

ltlredfairy

1 am 5'2" and 134. I am starting to become a runner. Been working at it for a year and I want to get down to a better weight for running - 120 pounds would be nice. When I am not in a weight loss mode but a maintain mode my calories, with no exercise is at 1500. I do "eat back" some of my calories when I exercise. I use them to reward myself with a class of wine or other treat. I have started incorporating running and weight training so I do not get as hung up on a weight number as I do how I feel overall. How much jiggle is there when I am running? For me, the 1200 calories works because I drink a lot of water and eat soups or stews and those fill me up at lunch. For breakfast I enjoy a 100 calorie bagel or English Muffin with peanut butter - the protein is a must. It is all in the food choices. I like Luna Bars for those days when I crave a sugary candy bar. There are many options out there to help stay in the calorie allotment and still feel satisfied.

curious376

I have 1200 calories per day