is anyone else doing a calorie intake of 1200?

I definitely agree with the string cheese as a snack, if you pull it, it makes it last longer and I seem to savory it more because I had to work for each little piece :laugh:

Also, my little weakness is my crave for chocolate and I don't care for dark chocolate which are fewer in calories, so I eat the 100 calorie back S'mores and it is just enough to cure my craving.

And yes, when you exercise, when you log it, it will add more calories (including it would also increase your protein, carbs, and etc). Exercising will increase your daily limit.

I am doing this also and just started a few days ago. I have decided that a good alternative when eating breakfast cereal is to use "Almond Dream Almond Milk" instead of regular milk. It tastes good, however it is watered down tasting. I find that it is better that skim milk and it is only about 50 calories for a full 8 oz. This helps me to actually eat breakfast because I usually don't have time to cook anything and I can't drink regular milk because I am lactos intolerant. Hope this helps others w/ the same problem of not having breakfast, it is a hard habit to break!

I'm at 1200 as well before exercise. I've been using MFP for a year off and on, and I find that when I'm fully dedicated it works for me. This is the final time that I will say off and on lol I'm sticking with it for good. I lost 20 pds last time by eating 1200 when I don't exercise and then eating about half of my exercise calories.

1.) I make breakfast my largest meal of the day, always high in protein and fiber. Use egg whites, veggies, meat, oatmeal, whatever.

2.) Before you eat, drink at least one glass of water. Keep drinking water throughout the meal, this makes a really big difference.

3.) Lunch is a salad or soup and protein.

4.) Snacks are veggies or fruit.

5.) Try to make dinner exciting and flavorful so you don't have an urge to snack later.

6.) If you have a sweet tooth, take care of it. I have a peice of dark chocolate a day, otherwise I could totally see myself late night binging on chocolate hahaha

Hope this helps a bit :flowerforyou:

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?

Nope, my goal is 1 pound a week and they said it was 1200 calories a day.

I eat about half my exercise calories back.

i'm set to have 1240 a day. although i go over my about 100-200 on most days but i also go to gymnastics practice for 2 hours (i assume that i burn about 100-200 calories there.. hopefully).

Breakfast is 1 cup special k protein plus cereal or some kind of kashi cereal sometimes with a banana, or yogurt and a banana (around 250 calories)

Lunch is a salad (plain with maybe a sprinkle of chopped fresh vegetables and light vinigarette), with a piece of fruit, a small carb (like whole grain crackers), and a dairy (string cheese or yogurt)
(this is my biggest meal, usually around 400 calories)

Snacks are generally nuts and tea (150 calories)

dinner is usually very low cal (300-400 calories). chicken and vegetables, soup and salad, a frozen meal

I am on a 1200 calorie intake but am having trouble reaching it. So far, I am only hitting about 1000 calories a day which is not enough. It will take some time to adjust and figure out what I need to do to hit 1200 a day. I most likely will substitute lower fat items such as FF mayo and margarine with Butter and regular mayo. That will boost my fat and calories. I am also going to increase my carbs a little. I am too low on everything except I am over in protein. I never followed this type of eating plan. I have done weight watcher's and loved it but calories are much easier to track. To be honest I am not really counting calories. I am mearly eating healthy and making the smartest choices I can. That is by far the best thing anyone can do on a long term basis. Any idea how many calories equals 1 WW point? I am sure I can find that on the internet.

Good luck!!!

I am doing 1200 calories and I find the key is ALWAYS having snacks on hand. Apple slices, 100 calorie snacks, low sodium popcorn, grapes etc. Just be prepared...that way i never get super hungry through out the day and I feel like I'm eating all the time. Also for breakfast I've been eating 2 fried eggwhites and fried zucchini (add some hot sauce, yum!)...not many calories as long as you don't cook it in a ton of butter. I use maybe half a tablespoon of smart balance butter just to coat the pan....Also I recently started trying fish for dinner. it's lower in calories than chicken and tastes just as good. I had tilapia (super fast to cook) and used a blackening rub...it was delicious and still pretty low cal. I had brown rice mixed with corn, onion and cilantro too. I do the lean cuisine's everyday for lunch too...at least the calories are already counted for you:)
One last thing...if you feel like you want more calories...EXERCISE!!! If you burn 400 calories then you get to add that to your total amont allowed for the day. now all of a sudden you're on a 1600 calorie diet. That's motivation enough for me.

Everyone that has joined in the past few weeks need to look at this link. It explains everything from diets to excersize calories.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/23912-links-in-mfp-you-want-to-read-again-and-again

:flowerforyou:

When I set up my MFP, it tells me that I should have 1700 cal a day!!! Yikes I thought that was high. I have never gone over the 1200 range so I think that is more like it. Maybe I am just way bigger that all the rest. IDK

I am also @ 1200. I found it really hard to stick to that when I first started but then I got into a routine.

I normally eat .

Breakfast: ceral/oatmeal
Snack: Apple
Lunch: Soup with egg salad sandwich and a fat free jello pudding
Snack: crispy minis or special K cereal (without milk)
Dinner: normally chicken/fish with rice/no yolks pasta or mashed potatoes
Snack: smart pop popcorn.