1200kcal per day, how do I do it?

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Replies

  • FloridaBlues21
    FloridaBlues21 Posts: 10
    Protein has worked for me and let me tell you at the beginning I felt weak but as I started adding protein in all my meals I never feel starved...I've been here for a little more than a month and I have lost weight. I hope that you can give it try. Blessings
  • DebbieLyn63
    DebbieLyn63 Posts: 2,654 Member
    Wow, I dont think ive eaten under 2000cal in forever. Whats a typical day look like as far as a menu from Breakfast through Dinner on 1200 cal?

    My typical day is
    Breakfast- coffee with cream and sugar free flavoring. and an Atkins Daybreak bar (250 cals)

    Snack- Cocoa roasted Almonds, or beef jerkey, or a light cheese stick (50-100 cals)

    Lunch- Omelet made with 3/4 c Egg Beaters, ham or turkey sausage, cheese, filled with diced veggies- onions, garlic, Bok choy, spinach, mushrooms, and topped with salsa and Guacamole. (around 300 cals)

    Snack- Almonds, or a piece of fruit, or a protein shake or protein/fiber bar (50-150 cals)

    Dinner- Grilled chicken, baked fish, or pork. (4 ozs or so) with salad or steamed veggies. Occasionally Quinoa, or a soft taco made with Carb Balance high fiber four tortilla . (300-400 cals)

    Snack- protein frozen smoothie or shake, almonds, fruit, depending on how many cals and what macros I have left. (150 cal)

    As a 49 yo sedentary grandma, 1200 is not very far below my TDEE of 1600-1700, so it works for me, I don't feel starved, and I am losing about a pound a week fairly steady now.

    For a younger, taller, larger man like yourself, it definitely would NOT be enough food. But for me, it is just fine.
  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
    I would not ask how; I would ask why. I eat about 2000 a day, at 5'4, 45 years old, 135-ish lbs.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Isn't it against forum rules to promote and encourage eating so little?
  • Crystallee79
    Crystallee79 Posts: 6 Member
    Try eating 5-6 small meals a day. Fruit, veggies, lean protein, and the biggest help of all, at least for me, is to drink water! LOTS of water. I read that 75% of the time when you think you're hungry you're actually just thirsty. Good luck and stick with it!! :)
  • DebbieLyn63
    DebbieLyn63 Posts: 2,654 Member
    Isn't it against forum rules to promote and encourage eating so little?

    If you are referring to a 1200 cal diet, then no, since MFP puts that as the minimum allowed calorie goal. It would be a bit hypocritical of them to suggest 1200 for many people, then turn around and make it against forum rules to talk about it, don't ya think?

    Everyone needs to find the calorie and nutrition plan that is appropriate for their own body.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    never. even at my petite size i think I'd die eating that amount.
  • DebbieLyn63
    DebbieLyn63 Posts: 2,654 Member
    There may be a bit of a language barrier there. I don't think she is suggesting people to starve themselves, but simply pointing out that it is all relevant to what you are used to. For her, 1200 would be a lot of food since she is used to eating so much less. But I would agree that she is eating too little.
  • sprintto50
    sprintto50 Posts: 410 Member
    I manage easily by exercising almost daily, and eating back my exercise calories. That extra 300 or so makes all the difference, and can be burned by an hour's very brisk walk.
  • BaconMD
    BaconMD Posts: 1,165 Member
    Isn't it against forum rules to promote and encourage eating so little?

    If you are referring to a 1200 cal diet, then no, since MFP puts that as the minimum allowed calorie goal. It would be a bit hypocritical of them to suggest 1200 for many people, then turn around and make it against forum rules to talk about it, don't ya think?
    MFP should be changing their algorithm because for the vast majority of people, 1200 calories IS far too low. Doubly so with all the people who don't log their exercise calories and eat them back because "that defeats the purpose of exercising."
    Everyone needs to find the calorie and nutrition plan that is appropriate for their own body.
    Yes, and ironically, MFP doesn't help the slightest in that regard.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Isn't it against forum rules to promote and encourage eating so little?

    If you are referring to a 1200 cal diet, then no, since MFP puts that as the minimum allowed calorie goal. It would be a bit hypocritical of them to suggest 1200 for many people, then turn around and make it against forum rules to talk about it, don't ya think?

    Everyone needs to find the calorie and nutrition plan that is appropriate for their own body.

    It's not super clear, but MFP's "floor" of 1200 is for "net calories", not gross. The OP of this thread to me implies that she's looking for tips on eating 1200 gross calories, which in my opinion is a pretty sick intake.

    Ask the random newbie here what net calories are and their eyes will gloss over. A lot (maybe even most) of these people treat the 1200 as their gross calorie target. This is a big problem.

    MFP is not really helping in this regard. It's really just a simple calculator, and for the most part people's nutrition plan is self directed. Because it's such a naive calculator, a fair bit of comprehension is required of the user. This part is not very clear. People see the number 1200 and just blindly think they should eat 1200 calories per day.

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