What would a 1200 calorie diet look like

I'm not sure I understand the question... Do you know how unhealthy only 1200 calories is?

Well, this was mine today, despite the notion on here that nobody should ever eat just 1200cals. I had the same for lunch and dinner since I just made black bean soup. I usually have a big 40g protein shake for breakfast but I ran out! I ran out of fresh fruit too!

Breakfast
Vitalicious - Vitatops (Deep Chocolate), 1 VitaTop (55 g or 2 oz)


Lunch
Bush's - Best Black Beans Frijoles Negros*, 390 g
Mrs Renfro's - Black Bean Salsa, 0.25 container (462 g (2 tbsp) ea.)
Kroger - Diced Green Chile Peppers, 0.13 container (8 tbsp ea.)
Del Monte - Whole Kernel Corn (No Salt Added), 0.25 container (1 4/5 cups ea.)
Kroger - Santa Fe Style Tortilla Strips, 1/4 cup
Kroger - Fat Free Sour Cream / 2 Tbsp. / 20 Calories, 2 tbsp/ 30 g
Kitchen Basics - Unsalted Vegetable Stock, 60 ml


Dinner
Bush's - Best Black Beans Frijoles Negros*, 390 g
Mrs Renfro's - Black Bean Salsa, 0.25 container (462 g (2 tbsp) ea.)
Kroger - Diced Green Chile Peppers, 0.13 container (8 tbsp ea.)
Del Monte - Whole Kernel Corn (No Salt Added), 0.25 container (1 4/5 cups ea.)
Kroger - Santa Fe Style Tortilla Strips, 1/4 cup
Kroger - Fat Free Sour Cream / 2 Tbsp. / 20 Calories, 2 tbsp/ 30 g
Kitchen Basics - Unsalted Vegetable Stock, 60 ml

Snacks
Kroger - Multigrain Thin Sandwich Bun, 0.5 thin bun 43g
Kroger - Provolone Sliced Cheese, 1 slice
Oscar Mayer - Mesquite Smoked Turkey Breast, 4 Slices


Totals 1,210 235 22 74 56 44

Calories Carbs Fat Protein Fiber Sugar

This is another day from this week. Normally I don't eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch but I've been doing it more recently just because I've been making larger dishes. Usually I get closer to 100g of protein but this has been a rough week with a back problem so at least I haven't needed it so much after working out because I've been laying flat on the couch, lol.

Breakfast
Quaker - Life Banana Nut Bread Soft Baked Bar, 1 bar 42g

Lunch
Buitoni - Roasted Garlic Marinara Sauce 125 g, 62.5 g
Udi's - Gluten Free Pizza Crust, 2.1 oz (119g)
John Soules Foods - Fully Cooked Rotisserie Style Chicken Breast Strips, 42 G (3oz)
Kroger - Provolone Sliced Cheese, 1.5 slice
Garlic - Raw, 1.5 cloves
Veg - Green Onion, 1/8 cup chopped
Pepper - Banana, raw, 0.5 small (4" long)
Vegetable (Usda Facts) - Red Onion - Chopped, 0.15 cup
Red Bell Pepper - Red Bell Pepper, 0.15 pepper

Dinner
Buitoni - Roasted Garlic Marinara Sauce 125 g, 62.5 g
Udi's - Gluten Free Pizza Crust, 2.1 oz (119g)
John Soules Foods - Fully Cooked Rotisserie Style Chicken Breast Strips, 42 G (3oz)
Kroger - Provolone Sliced Cheese, 1.5 slice
Garlic - Raw, 1.5 cloves
Veg - Green Onion, 1/8 cup chopped
Pepper - Banana, raw, 0.5 small (4" long)
Vegetable (Usda Facts) - Red Onion - Chopped, 0.15 cup
Red Bell Pepper - Red Bell Pepper, 0.15 pepper

Snacks
Beverages-Silk - Pure Almond Vanilla , 1 cup
Great Value - Frozen Fruit, Strawberry, Peach, Mango & Pineapple, 1.33 cup
Tap Room 21 Brewing Company - Beer - Lager, 12 oz
Nature's Way Alive! Women's Energy Vitamin - Multivitamin & Multimineral, 1 tablet
Sustenex Gummies - Probiotic, 1 piece


Totals 1,209 149 37 53 17 63

Calories Carbs Fat Protein Fiber Sugar

Forgive me for asking..........no throwing of barbs or sniping.....Im merely responding innocuously

I have lost 50 pounds in the last 55 days or so. Since I started my circuit training and some strength training I can hardly net 1000 let alone 1200 or more. Its not 'zactly on purpose. I eat good. My diet is quite varied. I just find that by the end of the day Im tired, Im done working out and Im full and dont want to eat more. I suspect its working for me because I have a lot to lose. Im 6' tall and want to lose about 100 more pounds. Ive heard it said that the more you have to lose the easier it is to lose.....at least in the beginning.

I cannot, for the life of me grasp the whole concept of "eating back your calories". I know the whole starvation mode thing. I consume about 1300 calories average UNTIL I subtract my "exercise calories" then I bottom out with a net of 400 to 600. Everything I read here says that's not good. But isnt it more individual than that? Ive been consistently losing weight, I feel great, I have tons of energy, I dont crave anything, Im not overly tired and it just seems to be working.

FYI.......I have a couple health issues aside from the weight so I am doing this with a physicians approval as well as a dietician and nutritionist.

Thanks for any input

I don't NET 1200 either after working out. I'm not particularly concerned. I don't think that you can say that a strict 1200net necessarily applies to everybody. Will I eventually slowly add calories back? Likely yes, but right now I feel full of energy and am completely satisfied with what I'm eating. I have great workouts and an all around positive response to 1200ish calories. Sure, if I feel like I need more one day, I don't have an issue with consuming more but I'm not going to do so if I feel fully healthy, happy, and energetic as I do 99% of the time. My body is responding well both physically and mentally so I don't see a problem unless that changes.

I think that learning to stop eating when you are not hungry has been a big thing for me. I used to mindlessly snack in the evenings even though I ate pretty healthily during the day. Since I started logging my food I have cut out nearly all of this snacking.

I think each individual is an individual - stop eating when you are hungry, don't force yourself to eat more if you are full! Like Resty says - she has loads of energy and has the approval of health professionals - who am I to argue with that. In fact, I am relieved that this is so because we are all different and common sense must rule!

I'm not sure I understand the question... Do you know how unhealthy only 1200 calories is?

not true. 1200 calories is not necessarily unhealthy.

I'm (trying to) stick to 1200 cals. Add me if you want to look at my diary

Forgive me for asking..........no throwing of barbs or sniping.....Im merely responding innocuously

I have lost 50 pounds in the last 55 days or so. Since I started my circuit training and some strength training I can hardly net 1000 let alone 1200 or more. Its not 'zactly on purpose. I eat good. My diet is quite varied. I just find that by the end of the day Im tired, Im done working out and Im full and dont want to eat more. I suspect its working for me because I have a lot to lose. Im 6' tall and want to lose about 100 more pounds. Ive heard it said that the more you have to lose the easier it is to lose.....at least in the beginning.

I cannot, for the life of me grasp the whole concept of "eating back your calories". I know the whole starvation mode thing. I consume about 1300 calories average UNTIL I subtract my "exercise calories" then I bottom out with a net of 400 to 600. Everything I read here says that's not good. But isnt it more individual than that? Ive been consistently losing weight, I feel great, I have tons of energy, I dont crave anything, Im not overly tired and it just seems to be working.

FYI.......I have a couple health issues aside from the weight so I am doing this with a physicians approval as well as a dietician and nutritionist.

Thanks for any input

I don't NET 1200 either after working out. I'm not particularly concerned. I don't think that you can say that a strict 1200net necessarily applies to everybody. Will I eventually slowly add calories back? Likely yes, but right now I feel full of energy and am completely satisfied with what I'm eating. I have great workouts and an all around positive response to 1200ish calories. Sure, if I feel like I need more one day, I don't have an issue with consuming more but I'm not going to do so if I feel fully healthy, happy, and energetic as I do 99% of the time. My body is responding well both physically and mentally so I don't see a problem unless that changes.

You can also look at my diary My goals are 1000 and I dont have any trouble getting full or eating what I want.

Now do YOU have a doctor supervising your weight loss? 1000 calories IS an unhealthy goal: 1200 is a proven bare minimum across ages and heights. You don't have a huge weight loss, so I know you had to manually tweak your goal calories against MFP recommendations.

One foot long sandwich from subway, Jersey Mikes, or Quizno's.... That's it.

Mine has been basically that since January. My diary is open. I'm small so I don't need that much food. And if you see my pics I am certainly not starving myself.