1200 CALORIES IS ALL I GET?!?!?! HELP - NEED IDEAS

ChangeIsADecision

So I changed my fitness and pounds to lose per week goals - and now i'm only allowed 1200 CALORIES A DAY!!! I was having trouble staying under 1300 before!!! But I need to jump start my body again b/c I've been stuck between 151-149 lbs for a few months now! One of MFP "peeps" suggested lots of fruits and veggies b/c there are so many that are low calorie. Just looking for ideas - What are some of your favorite veggies? I need "free" food ideas.... that's the only way to go with this new plan!

Jxnsmma

The more you exercise, the more you get to eat... Thats how I cope. I stay active and work out to burn at least 500 calories a day and then you get to eat 1700! Celery and cucumber can be eaten in copious amounts and add up to next to nothing on your diary...

SavageFeast

Light soups, cucumbers and popcorn

Crochetluvr

The only veggies I dont eat (because I dont like them) are brussels sprouts, beets, cucumbers, radishes and maybe a couple uncommon ones. I am not eating corn or peas because of the starch. Everything else is pretty much fair game. But I love steamed fresh spinach!

AmyParker979

The nutritionist that I saw on Saturday mentioned changing up your diet. If you are a routine eater (mostly chicken, mostly broccoli, etc) change it up - also, make sure and eat most of your calories and not drink them (smoothies and protein shakes). Changing up your workout routine helps too. Those might help your plateau.

mmills4

Not really sure about the "free" foods but I enjoy 1/2 cups cottage cheese 2% with sea salt (90 calories) and a large tomato (33 calories) as either a snack or meal. It is very filling and really is a lot of food and only 123 calories you can also add oyster crackers (about 40) for only 60 calories. Good luck I will check your post occasionally to see what others say.

I am not really big on many fresh veggies (carrots, peppers, etc...) but I totally love fruit (strawberries, pineapple, etc...). Good luck!

kimmvpt

have you tried eating 1500 calories a day for a week. You might be eatting to less calories for your body. veggies will be your best friend other wise.

amybrauch

I love zucchini, mushrooms and asparagus. I eat them a lot.

kristenlees122

i make monstrous humongous salads and shove all my veggies in there.. cucumbers, carrots, peppers, onions, spinach, radishes, mushrooms.. thats a typical salad for me. chuck in some protein, otherwise it doesnt fill me up.

erickirb

With the amount you have to lose your weekly weight loss goal should only be 0.5lbs/week. this will give you more cals, plus you get to eat back the cals you burn from exercise.

JamesonsMommy

I eat a TON and easily stay within the 1200.. You are more than welcome to take a look or add me.. Just don't judge me today.. I didn't get a chance to eat breakfast...lol

* Last week is what a normal week looks like for me.. This weekend was crazy busy so there is a lot of crap food...lol

laceylou0702

Sometimes eating more calories will help jump start your body as well & I'm not talking like fast food calories (although they can be yummy...) Try to up your protien & eat 1500 calories for a week or two you are still in a deficiate to lose weight and you won't be starving it's a win / win!

Stompp

If the problem is being full, check out shirataki noodles I just ordered some, so I can't vouch totally for them, but I'm hearing good things so far.

LastSixtySix

I'm in the 1200-1399 calorie range and have learned to get full on all of those free foods. Red peppers, purple onion, carrots and chopped celery are a fav. For cooked veggies I love asparagus ( just heat the pan, put a tsp. of olive oil in it, drop some aspargus and stir fry it for like 5 min or less, the toss sesame seeds on top before taking it out of the pan. Eat immediately!).

In order not to starve my body, I was told by my nutritionist NOT to go under 1200 cals a day. She told me I can go to the low side two days (near to 1200) and then the third day eat closer to 1399. She said that way my body doesn't get set in what to expect each day.

-Debra

medaglia_06

Make sure 1200 calories is correct for you. Calculate your BMR and TDEE and in between the two. You should not be eating under your BMR. Good luck!

tinksmommy2006

I love zucchini, mushrooms and asparagus. I eat them a lot.

Add onion to this and we are best friends ....:flowerforyou:

Andrea681

I personally don't have a problem staying under 1200 calories but I eat a ton of lean protein, fruits and vegetables. I stay away from processed foods and I exercise everyday burning an average of 600 calories per day. I typically eat back about 200 of those calories. When I first started MFP I had a hard time staying within my calories but as I've lost weight and changed my lifestyle I've found that I prefer to eat healthy foods and I don't have an issue. Try eating lots of vegetables and fruits as snacks. Feel free to add me if you'd like. I keep my diary open for ideas.

Hang in there, it will get easier!

lporter229

The more you exercise, the more you get to eat... Thats how I cope. I stay active and work out to burn at least 500 calories a day and then you get to eat 1700! Celery and cucumber can be eaten in copious amounts and add up to next to nothing on your diary...

I agree with this. If you are having trouble sticking with the calories on your plan, you can always add more by exercising.

As for veggie ideas, I love steamed veggies (fresh or frozen), with a dribble of olive oil, lemon juice and some chopped fresh basil.

Also cucumber and carrot sticks with hummus. Sauteed spinach and garlic. Or make fajitas and load them with mostly veggies (onions, mushrooms, peppers and zucchini). Also veggie omelets. I could go on forever, but I am lucky enough to be a veggie lover...

ETA: On salads, try yogurt based dressings instead of mayonnaise ones for fewer calories

htolen

Honestly, if you've gotten stuck on a plateau and you've only been eating 1300 calories, you are probably plateauing because you are eating too few calories. I don't know your height/weight stats (well, you said where your weight has been stuck...), but your body may be holding on ferociously to those precious pounds because you aren't giving it enough calories to feel comfortable letting them go. Run your numbers past the BMR calculator on fat2fitradio.com and see what it tells you about your Base Metabolic Rate and what your calorie goals should be. I was stuck for about a month on a plateau when I was eating just 1200 calories a day, and after changing my calorie goals to about 1600 a day (plus exercise calories) I have started losing again. It did take a week or two at the higher calorie level to see the pounds come off again (probably took my body that long to figure out how to process nutrients properly again), but I feel much better, have a lot more energy, and am seeing much better success. Good luck!

mccollumse

I eat a lot of Progresso Light soups. ~140 calories per can and taste good.

beachloe

For me, exercise is the key. I normally burn between 400 - 600 calories per day so that I can eat more.

omearac

Cardio and strength exercises will burn fat and build muscle while increasing your metabolism which will allow you to eat more. Stay active, that's the key!!! I exercise everyday alternating muscle groups so that my muscles don't get used to the movements and to give them a rest. I make sure that I burn the equivalent of one meal a day - 400-500 calories. While diet is extremely important, exercise is the KEY to losing weight and keeping it off!!!!

glennstoudt

Move more.
And maybe some different non scale goals?
Good luck

Leimaro

To lose weight I have 1300 calories to consume without exercise. If I think may go over, I eat foods that make me feel full but low in calories, like fruit or veggie smoothies, air popped popcorn, fruits, salads, etc.

betteringmyselfeachday

When you eat healthy, it is a lot harder to stay under calories then you would think.

Instead of pasta, I do spaghetti squash.
I do berries: black, strawberry, blueberry, etc.
I do grapes, bananas!
lettuce is pretty much a freebie at 10 cals a cup!
Switch to whole grain bread (they make some that are under 50 cals) instead of white bread
Limit your amount of dressings, dips, etc
NO SWEETS!
Water, green tea, and sometimes add in a gatorade (if your working out hard your body needs a boost). You can always try flavored water packets (5 cals a piece).


Do most, if not all your grocery shopping in the produce section.

You can always look at other peoples food diaries for suggestions!

somedaysoon84

POPCORN! it is usually my go to after dinner snack. a whole bag of butter lovers is about 112 cals, and i can't finish a bag by myself, so everyone gets in on the action. if i'm having a craving for sweet.... i'll toss in a TBSP of choco chips (80 cals) while the popcorn is still hot.

otherwise i eat TONS of cucumbers. and celery with no fat ranch. cucumbers are great cut up in white vinegar, a little salt, sugar and dill. leave in the frig overnight. we call them QUICKLES

strawberries are about 50 cals per cup, and i love them with low fat/ no fat yogurt. i eat that a lot as part of my breakfast

I have the opposite problem, that i have a hard time eating to 1200 after excersize (300-350 cals a day), total 1500. i almost have to cheat with snacks some days.....

and salads!! i make my own dressing, so i can control cals, and fats. but i have been known to eat a whole bag of salad in one sitting.... i wouldn't recommend that..... but salads are pretty much guilt free if done right!

Jotell

I actually had a plateau problem all last week. After my group workout with my team at the gym my trainer who is also my nutritionist had told me that for women we are to eat 100grams of protein a day and if you plateau eat more protein till you start losing again. By eating lean means (if you're not a vegetarian) or eat more soy or tofu for your protein if you are vegetarian. Greek yogurts are also very filling and low in calories if you get the light greek yogurt. My favorite brand is Zoi Greek Yogurt.

lindsay0515

Honestly, if you've gotten stuck on a plateau and you've only been eating 1300 calories, you are probably plateauing because you are eating too few calories. I don't know your height/weight stats (well, you said where your weight has been stuck...), but your body may be holding on ferociously to those precious pounds because you aren't giving it enough calories to feel comfortable letting them go. Run your numbers past the BMR calculator on fat2fitradio.com and see what it tells you about your Base Metabolic Rate and what your calorie goals should be. I was stuck for about a month on a plateau when I was eating just 1200 calories a day, and after changing my calorie goals to about 1600 a day (plus exercise calories) I have started losing again. It did take a week or two at the higher calorie level to see the pounds come off again (probably took my body that long to figure out how to process nutrients properly again), but I feel much better, have a lot more energy, and am seeing much better success. Good luck!

Agreed! My body doesn't like 1200 calories (and neither do I!) so nothing was happening for me. I upped my calories to at least my BMR each day and I'm losing - and I feel wonderful!

Psychoanalytic

Honestly, if you've gotten stuck on a plateau and you've only been eating 1300 calories, you are probably plateauing because you are eating too few calories.

This.

rextcat

apples:bigsmile: cuz i hate my dentist....on a purely professonal level:bigsmile:

islandnutshel

Exercise and Eat more