1200 calories a day HELP

Are your weight loss goals set to 2 lbs per week? That might be too aggressive. If you're unhappy, try changing your goal to 1.5 or 1 pound weight loss per week. It will take longer but you'll be happier

At first I had a difficult time with 1200 calories but I'm now getting used to it. Feel free to add me, my diary is public to friends. Last night was a bad example (just don't look at yesterday!). I plan it just right that I even have room for snacks at night! The one night for dinner I had an egg omelet and turkey bacon. Greek yogurt, bananas and almonds also help. My macros is set to lose 2 lbs a week, however, I tried changing it to 1lb a week but itll still gave me 1200 calories. You'll get used to it. If you're really struggling, try working out to earn calories.

Hi

Thanks for your comments. To be honest I was always told that to loose weight most women reduce their calorie intake to 1200?
Have I got this information wrong?

Yes. MFP calculates what you need to eat to lose a certain amount (.5-2 pounds a week) based on how tall you are and your current weight and slowly decreases it over time.

Personal example: I started at 343 pounds, 5'9" and ate 2,260 calories to lose weight. Now I'm at 300 pounds and eating 1,990 calories and still losing weight. And that's without exercise. If you exercise, you get to eat your calories back if you're using MFP the way it was designed. You most likely do NOT need to start things off eating 1200 calories unless you're very short, or you can't seem to lose weight eating more.

I don't know why but MFP set up the goal cal on the level of 1270 daily for me... No idea why because until yesterday i was on level 1400 and today when I logged in it was 1200 (so i just changed losing goal to 1 lbs instead of 2 and it wento to 1270 per day)...still don't know if i can make it, hm?

Hi Lady :-)
I have always had 5 or 8 pounds that I thought I would look better without. Through High-school I ate a strict 1200 cal a day diet. I was always a little flabby, but thin.
However, I felt tired and listless. I think I was borderline anorexic.
A few years ago I read some articles on how we kill our metabolism as young women and then if we eat a 2000 cal diet a day we gain weight.
I slowly began fixing my metabolism. I increased my calorie intake by 100 a week. I introduced lots of healthy fats to my diet. (coconut oil, avocado, grass fed beef, salmon etc) I started having a TON more energy. I felt better. My skin went from uber dry to soft. my face cleared up a lot. My hormones balanced and my period became less painful (YAY...sorry if thats TMI)
anyway, I still wasn't happy with my body. No matter how much cardio I did I still looked soft in the thighs and tummy (although I was thin.)
Then last year I discovered the Olympic weight set in my gym.
I started Strong Lifts 5X5.
OMG!! I firmed and " toned " and my waist chrank :-)
I am in love with lifting.
Right now I eat 1800-2500 calories a day with most of them coming from healthy fats and protein, although I do eat oatmeal every day and whole grain bread/tortillas.

SO I suggest you don't do a drastic calorie cut. Just eat healthy, eat at a low deficit and lift heavy things and do a little cardxio too. With consistency you will have the body you want. I guarantee it.

Oh- one thing. I am 1335 right now, which sounds heavy, but I am at my most fit and thin yet. The scale really is just a number. measure your success in inches not pounds. When you are lifting you make muscle which give you that lovely lean look but not so small numbers on the scale...

Ok, some of my wording "you'll get used to it" is somewhat true. If you're used to eating everything and anything you want, any calorie reduction will take getting used to. Your body will adapt, especially if you are eating the right foods. By all means if you're not feeling well doing it then you should definitely eat more!

Hi

Just wondering really what meals people have during the day to achieve 1200 calories a day. I am either going slightly over or under.
As well as finding I am eating the same boring things over and over again.

Feel free to message me as I could do with some more friends to motivate me, and I would like to think I motivate others too

Many thanks

Quinn1990

I'm using slim fast (3-2-1 plan is designed for 1200 calories), as it's a really easy way to keep track of calories because you only have to worry about one meal a day, which is a 500 calorie one. For that, I just browse allrecipes.com healthy section and go from there. It's really easy to get right at or within 100 calories of 1200 every day.

Hi Lady :-)
I have always had 5 or 8 pounds that I thought I would look better without. Through High-school I ate a strict 1200 cal a day diet. I was always a little flabby, but thin.
However, I felt tired and listless. I think I was borderline anorexic.
A few years ago I read some articles on how we kill our metabolism as young women and then if we eat a 2000 cal diet a day we gain weight.
I slowly began fixing my metabolism. I increased my calorie intake by 100 a week. I introduced lots of healthy fats to my diet. (coconut oil, avocado, grass fed beef, salmon etc) I started having a TON more energy. I felt better. My skin went from uber dry to soft. my face cleared up a lot. My hormones balanced and my period became less painful (YAY...sorry if thats TMI)
anyway, I still wasn't happy with my body. No matter how much cardio I did I still looked soft in the thighs and tummy (although I was thin.)
Then last year I discovered the Olympic weight set in my gym.
I started Strong Lifts 5X5.
OMG!! I firmed and " toned " and my waist chrank :-)
I am in love with lifting.
Right now I eat 1800-2500 calories a day with most of them coming from healthy fats and protein, although I do eat oatmeal every day and whole grain bread/tortillas.

SO I suggest you don't do a drastic calorie cut. Just eat healthy, eat at a low deficit and lift heavy things and do a little cardxio too. With consistency you will have the body you want. I guarantee it.

Oh- one thing. I am 1335 right now, which sounds heavy, but I am at my most fit and thin yet. The scale really is just a number. measure your success in inches not pounds. When you are lifting you make muscle which give you that lovely lean look but not so small numbers on the scale...

This is so awesome and so positive! I love weight lifting as well.

But, the bold part....:bigsmile: :laugh:

Hi

Just wondering really what meals people have during the day to achieve 1200 calories a day. I am either going slightly over or under.
As well as finding I am eating the same boring things over and over again.

Feel free to message me as I could do with some more friends to motivate me, and I would like to think I motivate others too

Many thanks

Quinn1990

If you want to go with eating higher protein to fill you up longer?

Then 2 rashers of bacon + 1 egg for breakfast which is around 250 cals.

2 egg omelette with cheese for lunch around 250 cals

Pork steak with stir fry for dinner around 350 cals.

Add in all your snacks, exercise cals for more food and you have a great day of food.

Breakfast ideas:

2 large eggs and 2 Morning Star veggie sausage links - 220 calories

1 large egg, 2 slices of Sara Lee 45 calorie wheat bread, 7 grams of Smart Balance light butter spread, 2 tbsp of Smucker's Low Sugar jam - 235 calories

1.5 servings of Kellogg's Special K protein cereal and 1 cup of almond milk - 240 calories

Lunch ideas:

Hummus, alfalfa sprouts, and 2 slices of Sara Lee 45 calorie wheat bread - 350 calories, depends on how much you slather on there though, I like a lot of hummus on mine.

1 cup of black bean & corn salsa, 1 serving of Mediterranean Snacks brand baked lentil chips (22 chips) - 210 calories

Amy's brand frozen meals are usually pretty low in calories, they rarely go above 400 but the ones I usually like such as the black eyed peas, brown rice, and veggie bowls are around 290 calories.

Dinner ideas:

3 baked yellow corn taco shells, 1/2 cup black beans, 2 tbsp of light sour cream, .5 ounce shredded cheese, lettuce - 360 calories

9 Veggie Sushi rolls with wasabi, pickled ginger, and 1 packet soy sauce - 260 calories

140 grams of Dominex breaded eggplant cutlets, 1 egg, .5 ounce cheese, 2 tbsp salsa or marinara - 300 calories

Snack ideas:

Frigo Light string cheese (7g protein per stick, I usually eat 2 per day) - 50 calories

Baked apple slices with 1 tsp sugar and cinnamon - 95 - 115 calories, depends on size of the apple

Skinny cow Heavenly Crisp candy bar or truffle ice cream bar - 100-120 caories

Banana and 1 cup almond milk smoothie - 160ish calories, depends on size of banana

Seaweed chips - 10-60 calories depending on brand/flavor

Santitas tortilla chips (1 serving) and salsa - 150 calories

______________________

My goal is over 1200 but there are days where I net that amount with exercise. Make sure you're eating at least some of your exercise calories back, you need those to stay fueled!

ETA: As others have said, making sure 1200 is reasonable for you first is a good idea. I highly suggest thoroughly reading the links that Cindyinpg and dougthewookie posted. They are a great start for figuring out the amount of food you actually need.