curious...whos doing 1200 cal a day??

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Replies

  • Sugar snap peas with 2 T. Hummus,air popped popcorn, for something sweet mash a banana and freeze it it awhile sprinkle with aT of raw unsweetened cacao nibs and 6 almonds that's my ice cream sundae ! I use almond milk for smoothies only 30 calories and packed with nutrition.Watch things like processed foods which contain a lot of sodium bad for blood pressure and make should retain water.Another good snak is fage zero fat Greek yoghurt stir in some blackberries tops with nuts.Don't forget seeds and nuts yes they are calorie dense but have the good fats and satiate you good luck.I have lost 22 pounds since Jan 3 by walking 60-90 minutes a day,weight training and 1200 calorie.Good luck.
  • Wow 1000 not good for your health
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    I started out at 1200 in 2011. I would stick to it for 5-6 days then go crazy eating for a couple of days. It was tough because I got really hungry even when I ate super clean. When I bumped it up to 1600 I was able to stick to it better and had energy.

    Now I lose at 1800-2000 calories. I lift weights 3-5 days a week for 45 minutes and do 30 minutes of cardio once or maybe twice a week.
  • Well im at 1000 Cal per day and i've been on that for the past 2 month and im doing okey , a 1000 Cal is really good or even 1200 if you pick up what you eat carefully , if anyone need any more info you can simply massage me

    Nobody wants to massage you :/

    1000 calories a day. Enjoy burning your lean muscle tissue and fibers.
  • PHDork16
    PHDork16 Posts: 12 Member
    I started a month ago at 1200 calories and have lost almost 4 pounds. I think 1200 is reasonable if you are starting at a lower weight. At 5'2" and a high weight of 137, even at 1200 cals/day it will take me a while to get to my goal. I eliminated a lot of sugar and try to eat "bulkier" foods (veggies, whole grains) so I am not hungry. It did take me a while to adjust to the amount of food I'm eating but now it seems *almost* normal. I also exercise most days and eat some of my calories back (often in the form of wine or beer!).

    Good luck!
  • Cakewalk25
    Cakewalk25 Posts: 71 Member
    I am, at first it seemed like way too little food, but I found once I cut out drinking calories and upped my protein and fat it was actually quite a lot of food.

    I cut out juice, sugared coffee, pop and empty calories of no nutritional value like candy, chips and cookies (though I will occasionally cheat if I have enough calories left). I cut way back on carbs and sugars and upped my protein and fat intake a ton. Now instead of carbs I'll have vegetables with my protein at lunch and dinner, and I try to snack on things like fruit, yogurt, cheese and almonds the rest of the time. I don't drink any calories except for unsweetened almond milk which is only 30 calories a cup.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    Well im at 1000 Cal per day and i've been on that for the past 2 month and im doing okey , a 1000 Cal is really good or even 1200 if you pick up what you eat carefully , if anyone need any more info you can simply massage me

    Nobody wants to massage you :/

    1000 calories a day. Enjoy burning your lean muscle tissue and fibers.

    He's not worried about where he loses weight from. He just wants to reduce the number on the scale. Forget body composition.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    I started a month ago at 1200 calories and have lost almost 4 pounds. I think 1200 is reasonable if you are starting at a lower weight. At 5'2" and a high weight of 137, even at 1200 cals/day it will take me a while to get to my goal. I eliminated a lot of sugar and try to eat "bulkier" foods (veggies, whole grains) so I am not hungry. It did take me a while to adjust to the amount of food I'm eating but now it seems *almost* normal. I also exercise most days and eat some of my calories back (often in the form of wine or beer!).

    Good luck!

    I am 5'2 and weigh 125 and eat way more than you do!! I've done the 1200 calories before and so glad i don't anymore. I enjoy eating more to lose weight!! :wink:
  • . I eat a lot of sweet cereals, like lucky charms, mostly when I feel like I am in need of some ice cream or something else that is sweet.( A much lower calorie option)

    I love sugar free jello for this. I try to always have some in the fridge for that once a week sugar craving. I think an entire box is only 80 calories.
  • It's hard for me on some days to even reach 1200 kcal! I eat LOTS of veggies that are low cal but high-nutrient and high-water content. I eat lean meats, only eat 3-4 oz per meal (yes, I take the time to weigh and measure my foods, one serving barely the size of your palm). I stick with three main meals, maybe a mid-afternoon snack after my workout if I am real hungry. (And sometimes a banana or yogurt after my nightly circuit on occasion if necessary.) I try to avoid calorie-dense foods, often grains, because veggies contain many of the same ingredients, without the kcal. Bare bones, plain for many people, but I can taste all the subtleties when you lay off the sauces and use spices; when you skip unnecessary salts, fats, and sugars; and when you eat eat till you're full.
  • I am eating between 1300 - 1400 calories a day, but I can tell you what helps me. I drink lots of water and tea throughout the day. Try infusing your water with interesting things like fresh lemon and a dash of clove, strawberry and basil, cucumber and mint, a squeeze of orange juice to add variety so you don't feel downtrodden about having to just drink "water" all the time. I also drink lots of green tea (proven to boost metabolism) and at night I will drink a lemon ginger tea or a chamomile tea or something herbal. A lot of times we mistake thirst for hunger so I try to make sure when I get hungry I drink something first.

    I have pretty much cut out almost all processed carbs (breads, cereals, rice, etc.) so I use my calories on only the most low calorie, nutrient-packed foods. For snacks, I eat exactly 10 almonds or cashews at a time. And then I pair that with an apple or pear or banana, etc. I also eat tons of veggies with dip (babaganoush, hummus, tzaziki sauce). If I am having a craving for something really flavorful, I might have a buckwheat cracker with fat free cream cheese and sundried tomato. When I am craving something crunchy, I eat watermelon. When I am craving something sweet, I will eat No-Sugar-Added Strawberry yogurt or I pair my 10 almonds with 1 Tablespoon of dark chocolate chips. I hope this helps!

    Hope this helps!
  • NoLimitFemme
    NoLimitFemme Posts: 118 Member
    I'm at 1200 calories a day and it seems to work well for me. I also do Zumba or HIIT aerobics 3 times a week and strength training/weight lifting 3 times a week. I do eat some of those exercise calories back. I eat high protein and try to meet my macros everyday ... especially the sodium one so I can avoid any water weight gain. The only day that I stress sticking to the 1200 is my rest day and that's mainly because I lay around and chat with my husband on cam all day (he's deployed).

    My diary is open ... feel free to check it out.
  • PHDork16
    PHDork16 Posts: 12 Member
    "Christian Wife" - I'm glad you can eat more and lose weight. I can't! Thanks for rubbing it in!
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    Not me. 1600 here.
  • I have 1200 a day. I sometimes have a cheese stick for breakfast, chicken for lunch, and a hot dog at dinner. (Or oatmeal) This one brand of hot dogs has them at 45 calories a dog!
  • KateK8LoseW8
    KateK8LoseW8 Posts: 824 Member
    Netting 1250 4x a week, netting 1725 thrice a week. So half the week, almost. But I also run a lot, so even on 1250 days I'm typically consuming 1500-1700 cal.
  • 1princesswarrior
    1princesswarrior Posts: 1,242 Member
    I did that about a year ago(when I first joined MFP and didn't know better). I dropped a few pounds, and quickly. And my hair began falling out. And I had zero energy for anything besides my daily workout. And my skin looked horrible. The dark circles under my eyes (genetic) got a lot worse, and I was breaking out like a teenager. And my weight loss stalled. I was stuck at the same weight for six months.

    I increased my calories, and began lifting. I'm losing fat, and gaining muscle. I have a lot more energy, and the other problems are gone. Oh, and I'm not hangry all the time. There are days when I burn almost 1200 calories.

    Eating enough food to fuel your body is awesome. :smile:

    Same things happened to me, plus my nails became brittle. I started eating for my activity last July, my hair just started growing back and my nails are still breaking all the time. At least I have energy and I'm not grumpy all the time.
  • Im on a 1,200 cal a day "lifestyle" too. I eat a ton of veggies cause I am a vegetarian so it's pretty easy to stay below or at that number. For me, spinach has been a lifesaver and I have it nearly every day for lunch. Feel free to add me if you want.
  • XTSH
    XTSH Posts: 129 Member
    Used to eat 1200 cal a day plus exercising for 3days/week. Needless to say, it wasn't substainable so I gradually up to 1300, 1400 and now 1600 cal.
  • Hungry_Annie
    Hungry_Annie Posts: 807 Member
    I tried that once...was hungry all the time and weak.

    I prefer my 1600 a day...and I still lose weight...anywhere between 1/2lb to 1.5lb a week...some weeks nothing but it's all good cause Im not hangry.

    Ditto this
  • SephiraRose
    SephiraRose Posts: 766 Member
    Yes. Doing 1200 cals, it's surprising how quickly those little buggers add up. When I have a sweet tooth I eat a fiber one protein bar coconut almond is my favorite. They taste almost like a candy bar.
  • ebayaddict0127
    ebayaddict0127 Posts: 523 Member
    I am. I lost 15 lbs during my first 5 weeks, so I guess an average of 3 lbs. per week. It's going fine for me. I don't feel hungry. I just choose the right foods.
  • sistrsprkl
    sistrsprkl Posts: 1,010 Member
    I also tried and it was just not sustainable. I'm pretty active and run after 2 toddlers all day, 1200 was not enough for me. I'm around 1600 now.
  • i am eating under 1200 calories a day (have been from the second week of January) and doing treadmill walk.

    i found that if i try to skip breakfast, i get hungry and develop "self pity" and over eat at lunch. so now i drink a latte with nonfat milk and eat a banana or a clementine or an apple for breakfast. i stick to lean cuisine or healthy choice meals under 300 cals for lunch and dinner. i do not feel full after these meals, so i microwave some frozen veggies (zucchini, broccoli florets, green beans or mixed stir fry vegetables) with a tiny bit of salt. when i am on treadmill or when i feel hungry or tired afterwards, i drink diet Snapple tea (it is surprisingly satisfying!) i do have my cheat days, but on average i have a stayed below 1200 cals and is not feeling hungry much.

    for exercise, i walk on treadmill 4mph at 10% incline, i do a total of 8 miles a day (in 2 sessions) i do this almost obsessively because if i become a bit lazy one day, i know i will feel lazier the next day and so on (happened before - i lost a bout 5 pounds and then became lazy and gained about 15 pounds!)
    i am losing around 3 pounds per week now.
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    Me! ....you know. Plus 500-700 calories a day. Which still had me drop 5 pounds in January.
  • girlpaint
    girlpaint Posts: 43 Member
    I probably average about that in NET calories. Feel free to take a look at my food diary. I eat a lot, including snacks and dining out a couple of times a week. I also work out 5-6 days a week to help keep the metabolism higher.

    I have found that over the past 3-4 months my weight hasn't budged very much. A little frustrating but I feel really good and healthy, so I'm not going to stress over it unless I start to gain of course.

    ______________________________
    Condo or apartment dweller? Join my group at http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/19640-condo-apartment-dwellers-unite
  • WhyLime113
    WhyLime113 Posts: 104 Member
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  • WhyLime113
    WhyLime113 Posts: 104 Member
    1260 used the mfp, it's working pretty well!

    As a man you should be eating a min of 1800
    I would say that's not necessarily true (I know some very small men, and if they ate that much they'd gain weight quickly)
    That said, most people should be eating way more than 1200 unless they've actually talked to a nutritionist or doctor.
  • I've done 1,200 and would get really hungry a couple times a week. I'm on 1,440 now. I'm doing raw veggies for snacks and sliced apple with just a touch of peanut butter. Maybe a teaspoon spread on thinly.
  • Roaringgael
    Roaringgael Posts: 339 Member
    I've been eating around 1200 (1300 and now 1250) for 5 months, I have a lot to lose - that's an important piece of information.
    Its not been hard for me - I wasn't able to exercise because of a knee injury.
    I've started exercising and I can see that it makes you hungrier than I was.
    I put those cals back in in case I want to eat them.
    So far I haven't but I definately will if I need to.

    I have averaged the .75kg (1.65 lbs) that MFP said I would.

    This is a marathon not a sprint. I intend to succeed. :smile:

    I read all the input on these forums religiously and research the internet and I pay attention to the people who are doing it - they know!

    Thanks everyone for all the great information.