is anyone else doing a calorie intake of 1200?

My calorie intake is also 1200. I really do not do too much cooking because I am overseas and most of our meat is frozen anyway, but for breakfast my usual is oatmeal (the weekend I treat myself to waffles)
Lunch: wrap with mustard no mayo or cheese. Lately its been peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on whole honey wheat
Dinner: Healthy choice complete meals (have a very tasty dessert too) or I make meatless spaghetti or sometimes add turkey sausage. My snacks throughout the day are sometimes protein shakes or fresh fruit.

Also remember, that when you work out, that increases your calories too. Alot of people have different opinons about eating those. Me, I normally do not try to eat all, but I will go over about 2-3 times a week, (by 100-200 calories) but normally, I would have burned like 600-800 calories during cardio that same day also.

Hope that helps. Eventually, you get used to eating smaller meals. Tonight I haven't added all the calories yet, (still trying to calculate the homemade sauce) but I am baking t eriyaki chicken and some green veggies.

Also, I use that little weight esitmate at the end of the day to help guide me, if my weight stays within the same range then (5 week out estimate) then I know I did pretty well, if it goes up or down, I compare with previous days.

Hi there
I am on 1200 also. I find it hard to keep it to that, so I avoid fried stuff and I should be ok. Also doing some exercise in the evening resolves that problem. I normally have some granola for breakfast, an egg and soda bread for mid morning, a balanced meal at lunch time and then something light like a fresh soup or salmon and a salad for dinner.

I've been dipping in and out of it over the last year, but its a new years resolution of mine to get control of my fitness and weight so I plan to stick to it this time.

I am also on 1200 calories a day and do not find it hard (except for the holidays!) I have a neat breakfast recipe if you like oatmeal. It is a complete meal and very easy to make for the whole week. That way, I don't feel tempted to make anything new each morning.
I mix 2 cups of quick oats with one package of maple and brown sugar oatmeal in a large microwaveable bowl.
I add 1 cup of apple sauce, 1 cup of pears (which I puree first in the blender), 5 tbsp of flax seed, 40 grams of raisins and 2-3 cups of water.
Stir and cook in microwave for about 3-5 minutes depending on how you like your oatmeal.
Then I divide it up into tupperwares and let cool...works out to about 6-7 servings for the week.
When I am ready to eat it, I heat it up, add 1/4 cup vanilla soy milk and 1/2 cup of blueberries on top. YUUUMMMYYY!!
I also find that when I am running out of calories for the day, I get on my treadmill or I dance around the house!!! It becomes almost a game to balance out each day, but I am enjoying the challenge and I love this Fitnesspal.com!! It keeps me in line! Good luck.

I am also allowed the 1200 calories. This is only my 2nd day so not much input. I was WAY under yesterday, had 372 leftover. Not good, almost as bad as going over. Plus I haven't started the execise yet, trying to talk myslef into it for today.
The only other experience I have with weight loss is WW and I beleive that was also 1200 cals.
For me this seems like plenty, as long as I dont go out to eat or just use common sense and do what we all know we should be doing. Thats the hard part.
Doing what we already know and making good choices. Not much fun but better results.
We can do this,
Beth

I also find that when I am running out of calories for the day, I get on my treadmill or I dance around the house!!! It becomes almost a game to balance out each day, but I am enjoying the challenge and I love this Fitnesspal.com!! It keeps me in line! Good luck.

I love that quote!!!!! Sounds good to me!

I'm at 1270 before exercise. Does that count?

Anyway, most mornings I have a banana or Ensure, or both. Lunch is usually a low sodium Healthy Choice frozen meal. Dinner is home cooked. My diary is public if you ever want to check it out.

I'm doing it. But, I go over by about 400 calories on the days I exercise.

To hit 1200,here's what i tend to eat:

Breakfast:
Whole wheat toast with almond butter, or
oatmeal with almond butter, or
egg substitute omlet with veggies (onions, zuchinni, squash, etc), whole wheat bread with tad of smart balance.

Lunch:
salad with some type of leftover meat (small amount) or 1/3 cup of beans
1 cup of lower calorie (i.e. not a cream) soup
or bean burrito (measured out the beans) and topped with onions, salsa, sour cream, peppers, etc.

Dinner:
Grilled fish or 1/2 chicken breast or 4 ounces of lean meat
salad or cooked veggies
potato w/ salsa or just 1 teaspoon of sour cream.

Evening snack:
tea, sweetened with stevia.

Snack:
tangerine or apple or string cheese

The trick is to measure your food. Figure out what you really love (for me is sour cream), and work in just enough of those foods so you aren't deprived. Also, change up your food. Don't let it get boring.

I'm 1200 calories as well. I try to exercise daily and aim to burn anywhere from 350-500 calories at a time so I have a little wiggle room with the calories.

I weigh myself once a week on Fridays totally naked and after a trip to the bathroom! :bigsmile:

Breakfast
Syntha 6 protein shake

Snack
Cheese

Lunch
Turkey Sandwich
Fuji Apple

Snack
Carrots, or granola bar or edamame beans

Dinner
Salad
Chicken
Green Beans

Desert
Non Fat Fro-yo

Yes I have been doing 1200 for some time trying to off the weight. However, it is a slow loss. Anyway, what I do to keep satisfied is eat more protein than carbs. I am not into a no carb diet, just know that protein keeps me full longer and I don't get cravings. Have you customized your percentages within that 1200 calories? I have mine set at 60% protein, 25% carbs and 15% fat. This way at the bottom of everyday I can also check whether I maintain that percentage as well as the calories. Don't get me wrong though, most days I venture over the 1200, but at least I check it before the evening and try to make the overage up in extra excercise. Good luck and glad I found someone with this in common, thanks.

I am guessing the reason you guys are eating 1200 is because you're trying to lose MORE than 1 pound a week?? 1200 is fine every now and then but I think 1400-1500 calories is much better for your health, u need certain nutrients and vitamins and I don't think 1200 is good especially when you factor in exercising? Let's say you burn 300 do you eat 1500 that day since you gained extra calorie points or no?

I could see someone eating 1200 a day when they don't work out and if they don't lead an active lifestyle. As long as it's a meaningful 1200, not filled with junk and empty calories. If I burned 600 calories during exercise, I would most likely eat about 1600 calories that day. If you don't eat at least the majority of your exercise calories, you won't lose the weight, or at least you only will at first.