How do you eat on 1200 cals?

woowit1
woowit1 Posts: 8
in Introduce Yourself
I have done weight watchers, slimming world and 5:2 plan, i seem to do well for a short time then when i near goal i throw it all away and gain all lost weight. Im currantly 11.1st and would like to lose 2st. I am not natural when it comes to exercise but i have said ill start with 3 15min sessions and up these as i get use to the plan. The only thing im unsure of is how to best break down the cals to enable me to still have 3 meals and maybe an eve snack. Then it will be the task of what meals are best to eat etc. Thanks xx:flowerforyou:
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Replies

  • kr3851
    kr3851 Posts: 994 Member
    I'm eating between 1200-1500 calories a day. 300 - 400 per main meal (3x a day) and the rest on snacks. It works for me - you just need to find out what works for you!
  • apotas
    apotas Posts: 1
    yes
  • woowit1
    woowit1 Posts: 8
    brill cheers, i dont have much time breakfast wise so prob lower to 200cal breaky, but then 400 lunch and 400 tea will leave 200 for snacks :)

    This is the daily allowence i have been given by the profile settings, so ill give it a try but does sound very low.
  • 00Simone00
    00Simone00 Posts: 5 Member
    Hi.

    I am in my first week too (have just lost 7.4lbs) and it is possible to survive on 1200 calories very easily just like the above poster. Just choose the foods you like and always plan it (I make my plan for the next day the night before).

    Good luck!
  • tonytoo
    tonytoo Posts: 307
    I think I do fine! My diary is open if you need to look.
  • 00Simone00
    00Simone00 Posts: 5 Member
    Oh and eggs are really good I have found - filling and low cal (66 cals).
  • woowit1
    woowit1 Posts: 8
    awww brill thank you, great loss well done x

    Thanks ill have a look x
  • woowit1
    woowit1 Posts: 8
    lol simone just was about to look at egg cals thought egg on toast for light breakie :)
  • MidniteDayDream
    MidniteDayDream Posts: 142 Member
    I eat 1350 a day. 200 for breakfast, 400 for lunch, 150 for after lunch snack, 600 for dinner. Any extra I earn from walking or exercising I add an after dinner snack in there. I eat a lot of veggies, leafy green ones! My profile pic is the lunch I had today. A half sandwich with miracle whip, basil paste, corned beef, salad and a salad with dressing and cheese. All for only 350 cals. Eat healthy and clean and it's possible.
  • scarlettgeorgia4
    scarlettgeorgia4 Posts: 88 Member
    "How do you eat on 1,200 calories a day?" You don't.

    this, its completely pointless and un-necessary ---
  • Oriole15
    Oriole15 Posts: 58
    I am not strictly on 1200 in so far as I eat most of my exercise calories and some days I go over but I usually try to break meals down as roughly 300 calories for breakfast, 300 for lunch a piece of fruit in the afternoon a tea throughout the day and the balance for dinner so I can have the same as everybody at home, just smaller portion.

    I prepare breakfast and lunch the night because my biggest pitfall is buying biscuits and sweets and chocolate at lunch to store in my desk and eating them all at once. I find it easier to not do that at home.

    Typical breakfast in winter is porridge with a chopped apple and some blackcurrants and when the weather gets warmer I like 150g plain yoghurt, berries and 25g oats (make the night before and put in the fridge and it's a bit like bircher muesli. I vary it a bit more at the week-end.

    Lunch is built around ham/ sliced beef/ egg/ tuna/ lentils with veg steamed in the microwave or salad or vegetable soup and some of my husband's homemade sourdough (he puts rye and spelt in it so it makes you feel nice and full as well as being tasty) or pumpernickel (mostly because it goes really well with soup).
  • David1406
    David1406 Posts: 63
    I'm just coming to the end of week 1 on 1200 cals per day. Not really been a problem sticking to it...even managed to 'save' enough calories for a whisky and diet coke one evening, although when it came to it, I had a cup of tea instead! Tomorrow's weigh in will be the key!! I tend to try and leave around 600/650 for evening, and 'steal' an extra 150 cals per day with exercise.
    It's really not difficult, and, strangely, I find it great fun steering my way through each day.
  • woowit1
    woowit1 Posts: 8
    Good luck with your weigh in, sounds like you have done great tho :) Im feeling more positive already 1200cals sounded very low to me, but i suppose thats how i gained weight in first place, lack of knowledge and understanding of cals and how i can use them x
  • TabithaMichelle85
    TabithaMichelle85 Posts: 92 Member
    I eat 1200 calories hey day but I also sleep a good portion of my day away since I work 3rd shift I get off work at 7 a.m. and then sleep usually until 4 p.m. midnight is my start over day and I usually bring low calorie snacks to work to snack on at night I use slim fast meal replacement shakes that are 200 calories for breakfast and lunch sometimes and then I have a nice dinner ....
  • Skrib69
    Skrib69 Posts: 687 Member
    I did 1200 for about 6 weeks and started to plateau so I adjusted my goal to lose 1lb per week. That gives me around 1500 a day which most of the time is fine. It is quite possible, but I wouldn't do it for too long.
  • shutterbug282
    shutterbug282 Posts: 588 Member
    I did for a little while, but I soon upped my calories. :)
  • emck3
    emck3 Posts: 6
    I think the best way to do it is to spend your calories on vegetables, protein and healthy fat like nuts. Reducing starchy foods will mean you can eat more. I try to eat non starchy vegetables, protein and fat in every meal in proportions of that order.
  • Slimdownmb
    Slimdownmb Posts: 130 Member
    go to youtube and type in

    1200 meal plan
    1200 cals meal plan
    300-400 meals

    ect
    helped me with my daily intake x
  • vbangura
    vbangura Posts: 1 Member
    I've been hitting the 1200. I usually do a quick breakfast like slimfast bc I'm too rushed for breakfast. Sandwich or salad for lunch. A nice dinner with veggies carb + protein. Sometimes I have extra for dessert. I've even gone out to like applebees and was under. I eat their weight watchers meals and sometimres a skinnybee margarita. The workout is key for me, though. Zumba, cycling. Try a group class. I think they're more fun than going it alone. More accountability.
  • tabbyxxcat
    tabbyxxcat Posts: 102 Member
    I agree with many of the other posts. 1200 is if you're sitting at a desk job all day, then going home and sitting the rest of the day until you go to bed. It's not very realistic for many of us.
    I sit around a good portion of my day, but I'm also on my feet during work almost every day or I'll go out and do something with my boyfriend/friends. I've found 1500ish is better for that kind of lifestyle.
    A lot of people that add daily workouts onto that often eat more like 1800-2000.
    It depends on your level. Play around with it and see what works best. Losing weight is a learning process.

    And then to actually answer your question:
    LIMIT YOUR PORTIONS!!!! It has done me wonders :) only put on your plate how much you want to eat, because a lot of people got in trouble with their weight in the first place from eating everything put in front of them.
    Eat high protein, low carbs. Protein keeps the body full, carbs are needed for immediate energy use so you need some to an extent but too much is a high contributor to not losing weight. Protein bars for snacks have been a godsend, they make me so full!!!

    Good luck! I know how you're feeling! In fact, we all do, we've been there.
  • lucyricky2
    lucyricky2 Posts: 450 Member
    I fill out my diary first thing in the morning. I try to get everything in line. I stick to it most of the time and it helps me to know in advance what I eat. I figure in a pure protein bar or a atkins bar which is a treat for me. I try to keep calories, sugar and fat within the range. I have many recipes that I make which I calculate on the recipe tracker. If i am out to far on something I try to readjust my menu. Planning to me is the key.
  • CrackedMojo
    CrackedMojo Posts: 15 Member
    My base is 1200 calories and I have no problem eating three meals and two snacks. My diary is open if you want to look, but lately I've been over due to exercise. Take a look at May 3rd and 7th for ideas.
  • drm180now
    drm180now Posts: 6
    Everything is relative. I am 6 weeks post VSG surgery and so eating 1000 calories seems great when for the first 4 weeks I was between 600 - 800 calories per day. I do think a huge key for me is the satiety I feel after very small meals which doesnt permit me to reach beyond my physical capacity limits of my new stomach. The VSG left me with 10% of my original stomach! Consequently, all the prior experience of eating 3000 - 4000 calories per day no longer applies. First, I cannot eat those quantities any longer. Second, my hunger hormones Ghrelin and Leptin have reset so that I dont get the cravings I did when I was 360 lbs. All of you who have had WLS should be getting these advantages too and much of this is adjusting your expectations to your new reality. Instead of my eating a Subway foot long sandwich, I make a whole sandwich and cut it in half. One half satisfies me thru lunch and if it is a good sandwich, I will eat the second half three hours later or for dinner.
  • crazy4fids
    crazy4fids Posts: 173
    I think the trick to being successful on 1200 calories, is to exercise so you have exercise calories to eat back. When I was on 1200 calories and didn't exercise, I was always hungry and cranky. Now I am up to a goal of 1470 calories, but with exercise, I am eating about 1800 calories a day.

    It seems to be working out well for me. I have been loosing .5-1 pound per week for the past several weeks.
  • irishblonde2011
    irishblonde2011 Posts: 618 Member
    I would suggest eating more than 1,200 to begin with. Don't forget you will have to lower your cals as you get closer to goal.
    I wish someone had told me this at the start.

    Good luck. :smile:
  • AJinBirmingham
    AJinBirmingham Posts: 497
    Oh and eggs are really good I have found - filling and low cal (66 cals).

    Yes! They're especially good value for calories if you add egg whites to them to bulk them up.

    I can do 1,200 calories/day only by getting in a lot of activity and eating those calories too. Even so, I do better with a calorie range of 1,200-1,500, so I can have a heavier day if I'm really hungry without labeling it a "failure," because if I fail, I'll binge.

    I also try very hard to keep my carbs under 55% and include as many plants and clean foods as possible, which naturally cuts me back on the nutritionally void, processed, sugary foods that I love.

    I hope that helps and wish you every success.
  • nomorebingesgirl2014
    nomorebingesgirl2014 Posts: 378 Member
    Bump
  • Blokeypoo
    Blokeypoo Posts: 274 Member
    I have done weight watchers, slimming world and 5:2 plan, i seem to do well for a short time then when i near goal i throw it all away and gain all lost weight. Im currantly 11.1st and would like to lose 2st. I am not natural when it comes to exercise but i have said ill start with 3 15min sessions and up these as i get use to the plan. The only thing im unsure of is how to best break down the cals to enable me to still have 3 meals and maybe an eve snack. Then it will be the task of what meals are best to eat etc. Thanks xx:flowerforyou:

    Hiya.

    I lost 2st on 1400 cals - don't go too low or it'll be another diet you break.

    Go for gentle loss and you can sustain it. I'm over a yr into maintenance after a lifetime of feast/famine diets.
  • Blokeypoo
    Blokeypoo Posts: 274 Member
    Oh and eggs are really good I have found - filling and low cal (66 cals).

    Eggs are good but cals depend on size, mine are around 80 cals.....sadly!
  • motivatedmartha
    motivatedmartha Posts: 1,108 Member
    Add friends with similar goals and who don't mind you looking at their diaries - that way you can see how others manage their food and exercise - lots of good ideas. Also - i find it easiest to manage if I don't use too much pre-prepared, processed food and read packets etc before it goes into my mouth. Good luck

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