How does one survive on 1200 calories per day anyway??
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I love 1/3 cup of oatmeal done in the microwave, sometimes with a sliced up apple and a pinch of cinnamon....that is very healthy and stays in the stomach for a long time!0
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I started out eating anything I usually ate but half of the portion I was used to. So, have your bagel with cream cheese but only one half with tea or coffee. My goal was manageable hunger. You don't ever want to feel starved or deprived. Instead of trying to "fill up" on lower calorie options, I ate just enough to stave off hunger. I think trying to fill up keeps the stomach stretched out and you revert to bad choices eventually. My snack list used too many calories so I reduced it to 2 small snacks @100 cals daily, 1,000 cals nutritious. If I ate all my calories by 2:00 p.m. I stopped eating, so I soon learned that I could shave calories off Breakfast and Lunch so there would be some left. I'm good with a turkey burger, thin sliced cheese, lots of lettuce, tomato, onions, mushrooms, etc. using half a bun if I need those 100 cals for later, for example. A chicken breast can last 2 days if shredded and combined with beans for a burrito. You still get the taste of what you like without going over calories.0
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I do.....no problem!0
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I do.....no problem!
I do too!0 -
I think you should try under 1500 Calories. Feel free to add me. I was told to stay under 2100 Calories. I thought that was too much. 1500 is actually not that bad at all. Try to keep busy and remember, You can do it.0
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1200 is a really hard place to start! I was supposed to start at 1600, and I found that to be hard. So I tried 1800 for several weeks which was good. Then it seemed that my body adjusted and I wasn't hungry; then when I went down to 1600 it was much easier. At that point I also had a much better idea of what/how much I should be eating and could make much better food choices. If you are used to 2000-2500+ calories a day, going straight to 1200 would a serious shock to your system!0
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I have no problem staying at 1200. My advice, no matter how many calories you are set at, is to log your food before you eat. YOu can see how much it is and avoid that surprise after.
Ditto! I try to enter tomorrow the night before. Breakfast, mid morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, evening. 2-3 cups of water with snacks lunch and dinner. So that is 8-12 cups of water and a cup of Tea in the evening. Bang for your buck foods! Whole grain cereal, Almond milk, yogurt, fresh fruit, fresh veggies, almonds, hard-boiled eggs, tuna, soups, chicken breast. Cut out the breads, sauces, spreads, juices.0 -
I"m surviving on 1200 calories by keeping carbs less then 30%. and REALLY pushing water (keeps you feeling full) and protein, protein and protein. most diet meals are carb based (esp w/ rice). I don't eat sandwiches, I just eat the lunch meat (and of course skip Mayo). every meal is thought out of how I am playing the percentages of carbs vs proteins.
I also work out everyday and am not hereditary in my job. its all about consuming water and protein.
good luck =]0 -
bump0
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Hello All,
I am not so different from many of the others on this site being that i know what I have to do, but everytime I enter in my food I feel like a looser, like OMG I only have that small number of calories showing on the screen and it's not even dinner time yet! Fresh veggies -check, water check, bagel uhoh, cream cheese - oh my you get the picture.
i think that my choices are ok until I track them and realize I am in the negative for the day...and HUNGRY.
Frustrated and feeling very blah. If you have any advise for what I am experiencing I would appreciate the help..thanking you in advance
tj
Dear TJ,
Calling yourself a "loser" is the very first battle you must tackle before taking your weight loss seriously. It all begins with love and self motivation. You are NOT a loser! Look at yourself in the mirror and say that you ARE a winner! Take a big look around you and point at all the negative things in your life and tell each thing that this is it! Im a winner and I am beautiful, and I love myself, and it's time to work on me! I can do this!
Take things slow. Everyone has great advice here, there's a ton of support. Dont follow your 1200 calorie diet right away but instead, start off slow with 1800 and work your way down. In time, your stomach will get used to smaller portions.
Just remember tj, losing weight is a pschological game. Try to love yourself and become a winner. The very first pound you lose will show you that and youll feel on top of the world. Good luck!0 -
I am surviving on about 1000 calories a day. It's all about choices. The doctor said I can either lose 100 lbs., or expect to have hip surgery soon (I'm 61 and pastor a church of seniors--I know what hip surgery is like) so I opted for the diet. First, I always keep a big bowl of salad in the fridge. Then I use Walden Farm salad dressings--great taste, healthy, and they all have ZERO calories! I eat shirtake pasta (Miracle Noodles) with Walden Farms pasta sauces--both have zero calories, so I can spruce them up with bamboo shoots, green onions whatever for lunch, and it usually falls under 50 calories. I eat 5 small meals per day. It takes getting used to, but once you do, you don't require as much food. Then I burn with Daily Burn. I do at least 30-40 minutes of cardio, the 50 minutes of yoga, and maybe even walk for 30-40 minutes on my treadmill. Again, it is all about choices. I actually have had several days when I was under 800 calories and not hungry, but I try to avoid going less than 1000--I don't want to go into starvation mode. Oh, and very important, I visit my doctor every 4-6 weeks so he can monitor my health and so far all it very good indeed. That's how I've done it, hope this helps you.0
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Hello All,
I am not so different from many of the others on this site being that i know what I have to do, but everytime I enter in my food I feel like a looser, like OMG I only have that small number of calories showing on the screen and it's not even dinner time yet! Fresh veggies -check, water check, bagel uhoh, cream cheese - oh my you get the picture.
i think that my choices are ok until I track them and realize I am in the negative for the day...and HUNGRY.
Frustrated and feeling very blah. If you have any advise for what I am experiencing I would appreciate the help..thanking you in advance
tj
I'm in the same boat. I try to be good and then after lunch, It doesn't seem like I have enough left for dinner. Then I get frustrated. I do know that adding in calories by working out is a great way to eat more. I always get excited when I've worked out, have those extra calories and sometimes I don't need them all. Keep up the good work. You can add me as a friend if you want. I have just re-committed myself to being healthy.0 -
Maybe try a higher number of calories? Different people need different amounts of food every day- I work just fine under 1200 calories a day, I'm not hungry at all- but some people have to have way more! Try calculating your BMR and TDEE and going from that 0
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I have no problem eating 1200 calories a day. I eat all day long and I am never hungry. I eat dark choclate, ice cream and cappucinno almost every day and I have lost an average of 2.29lbs per week and down 4 pant sizes. I normally have 2 protein shakes a day, simply because they are so yummy. They total 300 calories.
I do at least 20min excercise 5-6 times a week. At the moment I am injured so zero (sux)
You are welcome to friend me.0 -
Hi I am 5' 2" and I have 1360 calories a day. I also find that doing exercise and eating my exercise calories gives me plenty to eat and I still lose weight. Don't if know if that helps0
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I find I'm less hungry if I up my lean protein intake. I'm on steroids for a medical condition, so I feel your pain about being hungry. It's as if we have to take a wolf out of the cage and walk him around the dining table 3 times a day.0
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1200 is a really hard place to start! I was supposed to start at 1600, and I found that to be hard. So I tried 1800 for several weeks which was good. Then it seemed that my body adjusted and I wasn't hungry; then when I went down to 1600 it was much easier. At that point I also had a much better idea of what/how much I should be eating and could make much better food choices. If you are used to 2000-2500+ calories a day, going straight to 1200 would a serious shock to your system!
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Very wise and sensible advice]0 -
1200 really isn't healthy for long-term weight loss diets. It's ok to do for a short time (like 7-10 days) because the big scale move will motivate you, but then up your calories by 200-300. Avoid processed foods, steer clear of breads and potatoes. Choose berries and melons over calorie-dense fruits like bananas. Go to the reports tab and calculate your BMR. That's the number of calories your body needs to just keep working. Don't eat below that.0
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I eat less than 1200 calories per day, and here I am, pretty much alive.
When body has lack of energy it uses saved energy from fat I found it good way to loose it with excercising... :drinker:0 -
I found it hard to stick to 1200 when I first started but it gets easier. You learn what is good and what is bad and so start to choose the right things. I've actually come in under that calorie count on occasions and had to think 'I need to eat more'. Stick at it, it will get better Add me as a friend if you want, you can look at my diary. I don't always manage to stick to the diet but I'm on track more than I'm off. 0
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key is to plan your food for the day before u actually eat it!0
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I think alot of it depends on the individuals body chemistry. I eat around 1100-1300 calories on average and never try to go above 1500. I am eating 4 or 5 times a day, with breakfast being my biggest meal of the day with around 450-500 calories.
I've lost around 23-24 pounds in a month. I won't credit it all to my diet, I always seem to lose weight quickly if I try a little, I guess everyone's chemistry is just different.0 -
by earning exercise calories to eat!0
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I was suggested to drink a gallon of water a day and I got almost that in yesterday and I ate half of what I normal eat and I was full! So maybe you arent drinking the right amount. I also drink a glass of water before I eat anything, so that way I eat way less! Anything is possible just keep working on it!0
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My sister in law lost 80 lbs in 7 months on 1200 calories and 80 grams of protein everyday. She didn't cheat!!0
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Yeah, don't go hungry! It just makes you less likely to stick to it. Exercise is great for adding a few hundred calories to your day. I've learned to keep a nice chunk of calories available for the evening since I hate going to bed starving.0
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Going to bed starving isn't good. I can't get good sleep when I am hungry, I wake up in middle of night!
But it isn't good to eat and go to sleep, it's perfect for gaining.0 -
Going to bed starving isn't good. I can't get good sleep when I am hungry, I wake up in middle of night!
But it isn't good to eat and go to sleep, it's perfect for gaining.
This is a myth it doesn't really matter when you get your calories if you go over you gain.
Going to bed hungry usually makes you more tired the next day so you move less which means you burn less which can cause weight gain. Feeding your body all day long staying within your calories is proven to be the best.0 -
So I'm 5'2 with a 1200 calorie goal. I workout most days. Recently plateaued for over a month and this week I began trying to make sure I eat about 1600 and the scale has started moving down again. Any other 1200ers please add me as a friend to share diaries. I'll take all the motivation I can get. Also i started a healthy cooking blog with calorie breakdowns to keep me motivated www.petitehealth.com0
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