New To MFP, starting tomorrow 1200 calories/day
tracymd11
Posts: 7
It's like I want more than anything to do this and to lose 15 pounds but no matter how much I tell myself this, I always manage to mess it up and cave into cravings and extra unnecessary food. I need to convince myself that I don't need food. I eat out of boredom and due to cravings mostly. I need a buddy or someone to help me through this. More about me: I'm 36, female, about 5'5" and 145 pounds. Highest I've ever been. 130 is a good weight for me. I am medium frame and athletic, I do have muscle under my fat layers so anything under 130 is hard for me to get to and maintain. I have two busy kids and a full time job so exercising is usually out of the question. Almost never home and no time. Most of my food is prepackaged stuff.. I plan to eat something like this each day:
Low carb bagel 100 cals
coffee or mocha 60 cals
Fiber one bar or fruit with yogurt
Turkey sandwich on light wheat bread
carrots and hummus or apple
popcorn (100 cal bag) and skinny cow icecream
I have no room for cheating or anything extra. I know this doesn't all seem healthy but it will work for my lifestyle.
I just hope I don't cave into anything!!!!
Low carb bagel 100 cals
coffee or mocha 60 cals
Fiber one bar or fruit with yogurt
Turkey sandwich on light wheat bread
carrots and hummus or apple
popcorn (100 cal bag) and skinny cow icecream
I have no room for cheating or anything extra. I know this doesn't all seem healthy but it will work for my lifestyle.
I just hope I don't cave into anything!!!!
0
Replies
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Why 1200 calories, you don't have much to lose so set yourself for about .5 a week. Don't overstrict your food.
I used to deal with cravings all the time, it was because I tried to tell myself I can't have something. Once I realized that if I can eat anything I want just in smaller portions, the cravings are gone.
You can lose without exercise, but is it important yes, and we are all busy but if it's important you find a way to fit it in your schedule.
If I followed the meal plan you put below I would be crankier than I am normally, and give up by the 3rd day (if I made it that long)
Check out these 2 threads they might help you:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1175494-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
Good luck to you0 -
I have two busy kids and a full time job so exercising is usually out of the question.
I call BS on this. You make time for what you want to make time for. Kids go to sleep and alarm clocks can be set for 5am.I have no room for cheating or anything extra. I know this doesn't all seem healthy but it will work for my lifestyle.
Well, you said it
I just hope I don't cave into anything!!!!
You will. Perfectly mapped out 1200 calorie days don't work.0 -
"I need to convince myself that I don't need food."
Well you're starting off wrong with this comment. You actually do need food to live. And you don't need to only eat 1200 calories to lose weight. Maybe you need to read more here before you start something extreme.
Also how do you figure you have layers of muscle under the fat if you dont work out?!?0 -
You have to MAKE time. I'm a single mom of an energetic pre-teen kid, work a full time job, run a company on the side and write for a magazine. I used to think the same...no time for good nutrition and exercise. Guess where it got me??? Now that I have re-assessed what I am doing, I can spare an hour a day for exercise, I still get everything done including 6-8 hours sleep a night and I have tons of energy. Incorporate exercise with your kids. Kids typically love spending time playing with their parents. Look for ways to increase activity in your day without traditional exercise - taking the stairs, walking down a corridor to talk to a colleague instead of email, parking further (a good one for me, is the mall with my daughter...she'll walk the length so many times whilst shopping.....I do it with her)
And you need good nutrition - you have be healthy for your kids and as an example to them.0 -
Let me add here, I get up at 4am every day to get ready for work and I don't get to bed til 11pm when kids are done with homework. I have 0 time in my day for exercise. It's not BS. Before I was working, I worked out daily for 2 hours a day and I was happy. Now it's totally different. Even when I get up at 3am and try to workout, I can barely move I'm so tired. I get very little sleep as it is.
1200 calories a day is what this site recommended to me when I filled in all my info.0 -
I am very muscular, by genetics, I guess. I also used to workout a lot and used to be a three sport athlete. The muscles seem to still be hanging around, but now the only difference is I have too much fat covering the muscle. And as i age, I'm sure that doesn't help.0
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Let me add here, I get up at 4am every day to get ready for work and I don't get to bed til 11pm when kids are done with homework. I have 0 time in my day for exercise. It's not BS. Before I was working, I worked out daily for 2 hours a day and I was happy. Now it's totally different. Even when I get up at 3am and try to workout, I can barely move I'm so tired. I get very little sleep as it is.
1200 calories a day is what this site recommended to me when I filled in all my info.
What did you put in as your weight loss goals? 2 lbs/week or 1 lb/week?
As others have said, there is no reason you need to do 1200 calories. I am a busy, working mother also. I too started out at 1200 cal. I was miserable. I started reading on here about TDEE and having reasonable goals with reasonable deficits. Tracking everything, fitting in exercise, eating back exercise calories, etc. I am set at about 1700 cal/day and have been losing 0.5 lb/week - which is very reasonable since I only had about 25 lbs to lose.
Also, why starting tomorrow? Why not start today?0 -
Let me add here, I get up at 4am every day to get ready for work and I don't get to bed til 11pm when kids are done with homework. I have 0 time in my day for exercise. It's not BS. Before I was working, I worked out daily for 2 hours a day and I was happy. Now it's totally different. Even when I get up at 3am and try to workout, I can barely move I'm so tired. I get very little sleep as it is.
1200 calories a day is what this site recommended to me when I filled in all my info.
1200 is based on "I want to lose XX pounds per week" ...............it's just MFP's lowest DEFAULT number.
1200 is not a lifestyle change.....it's a diet. A lifestyle is something you are going to change forever. Eat less processed foods, eat more veggies, drink more water, move more.....these are lifestyle changes.
The problem with really restrictive diets is that people get cranky, people get tired, it sets you up for binging (been there done that).0 -
Let me add here, I get up at 4am every day to get ready for work and I don't get to bed til 11pm when kids are done with homework. I have 0 time in my day for exercise. It's not BS. Before I was working, I worked out daily for 2 hours a day and I was happy. Now it's totally different. Even when I get up at 3am and try to workout, I can barely move I'm so tired. I get very little sleep as it is.
1200 calories a day is what this site recommended to me when I filled in all my info.
Put your kids to bed earlier (11pm, really?). Use your lunch break (unless you're pulling 12hr shifts). I bet a dollar I could make it work, and I'm a single dad. If you're bored enough to eat, you can't be bored enough to exercise?0 -
MFP is quite notorious for setting calorie goals FAR too low, regardless of height and weight. For example, it told me to eat 1200, and my BMR (the bare amount of calories I need to LIVE) is 1280. And I am extremely tiny, only 5 feet. So unless you are smaller than me, or bedridden, it is almost a CERTAINTY that you are eating too little. (This can result in lean muscle loss, chronic fatigue, metabolism damage, and bingeing due to over-restriction.)
Go to
http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/
and enter your height/weight/activity level.
Subtract 10-20% from the number it calculates for you, and that is the number of calories you should be eating a day in order to lose weight. With this method you do not eat back your exercise calories, as they are already figured into your daily goal.0 -
I definitely get the busy schedule: I'm a mom that works full-time too. And volunteers weekly. And has a spouse, family, friends, etc. If you have kids that are doing homework until 11pm, I'm guessing they're older? While they're doing homework in the evenings, could you break away for 20-30 minutes and do a work-out video or some calisthenics (jumping jacks; push-ups; squats; lunges; etc) in the living room? I know it can feel like a vicious cycle of waking up; starting you day; working; going to bed; starting it all again but there is always time for what you want if you want it bad enough. I'm sorry if that sounds like tough love, but it's what I have had to tell myself on this (ongoing) journey.0
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I lost 13 pounds over a six month period. I did this by eating more than 1200 calories a day.0
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Eating that low calories will spiral you back to carvings again and again because your body is not getting all the nutrition it needs.Im only a half inch taller than you and i eat around 1900 ish calories to lose weight.my goal is slow loss,even if you want to lose .5 pound a week you can eat upto 1600-1800 ish calories based on your muscle,just make sure you eat lot of vegetables and fruits.Workouts can be incorporated,try long runs in the weekend if weekdays dont work for you,try taking the stairs,jillians 30 day shred only takes 27 minutes a day and you can do it at home.Where there is a will there is a way,cutting out preserved food will help you lose faster and also help with cravings.0
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I've been doing 1200 too and eat way more than that! I also have 2 kids who are involved in activites and what not. I walk the park while they are having baseball practice, go for bike rides with them, walk some nature trails, and even do wii dance or fit if it's raining. You can always use your lunch break to walk a bit too. If you want it bad enough trust me you will figure a way!0
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low calories for you. If you are active at all that is not enough. Recheck how many calorie you can have to be safe and eat well0
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I will up it to 1500 I guess. I put in I wanted to lose 1 pound a week. It said at 1200 I would lose approximately .9 lbs per week.
As for working out, I am bored to eat because I sit at a desk for 9 hours a day and I do not have a lunch break long enough to get to a gym. I do walk, I do go up and down stairs, but for me, I need a good hard workout. A run, weights, etc...I do what I can. I wouldn't say I'm sedentary but at my job, the closest gym is 15 minutes away so that's already 30 min. and if I don't shower that would be a 30 min workout. But, I deal with ppl all day and need to shower.. I cannot go back to my desk sweaty and gross. I have to wear business clothing. There are many times I have down time at my job but I still have to be at my desk because that time is very random.
Anyway, I'm going to try to start with diet first and add whatever exercise I can later, if I can gain the time. As for my kids, my 6th grader gets home from her school at 4, then does a sport and is home around 6:30 or 7. She showers and does homework for 3-4 hours most nights. I usually have to help her with it, or help her study and she is a straight A student with the current way things are working so I'd hate to change that up on her. My younger daughter also does sports and usually at different days and times and different fields, gyms, etc.. so I'm always carting them around but never seem to have enough time in between anything to do any sort of workout. That is my life now... it could change in a few years.0 -
For me personally, I don't really restrict any foods from my meals. I do better not saying "ok, I can't have this, that, and the other thing." Once I do that, it seems that I crave all the foods that I have restricted myself from. If I want ice cream, cookies, cupcakes, or other "taboo" foods, I eat them. I juist don't eat the entire container of ice cream, the whole bage of cookies, or all the cupcakes. Moderation works best for me. I'm not judging, just offering another perspective. Best of luck to you.!!0
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I have two busy kids and a full time job so exercising is usually out of the question.
I call BS on this. You make time for what you want to make time for. Kids go to sleep and alarm clocks can be set for 5am.
I agree. I have two busy kids, a full-time job, I'm a full-time college student, and a house wife. There's definitely always time, you just have to make it.0 -
Hi There
I personally would:
Low carb bagel 100 cals <== stop as much bread stuff as you can, especially white bread. Get the weight watchers bread at Safeway
coffee or mocha 60 cals <== This is fine
Fiber one bar or fruit with yogurt <== I eat several a day
Turkey sandwich on light wheat bread <== Good
carrots and hummus or apple Carrots are very high in sugar, consider celery
popcorn (100 cal bag) and skinny cow icecream Pop corn is high in Salt and makes you want to drink more. Ice cream... just get over that
I am currently losing 1 pound a day on average. I am doing 1350 Calories and am finding myself falling asleep comfortably full with avg of 250 cals left over if I want to.
Drinks about 6 bottles of water a day the 16.0 fl oz size
Good luck!
Tom0 -
lmao Where is the "Like" button on this? You guys are tough! I like it0
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I also have my goals set to 1200 but I always end up eating between 1400-1600. I too sit at a desk 9 hours a day, but I'm getting back to the gym for half an hour every day after work. Hopefully doing some strength training will help me lose faster, and I know I'll need to eat more than 1200 a day especially when adding in exercise. I'm just scared that if I up my goal to 1400 I'll overeat by 200 calories like I do now because I get so hungry, but I can't be afraid to eat more. I have an eating out of boredom problem too!0
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Why 1200 calories, you don't have much to lose so set yourself for about .5 a week. Don't overstrict your food.
I used to deal with cravings all the time, it was because I tried to tell myself I can't have something. Once I realized that if I can eat anything I want just in smaller portions, the cravings are gone.
You can lose without exercise, but is it important yes, and we are all busy but if it's important you find a way to fit it in your schedule.
If I followed the meal plan you put below I would be crankier than I am normally, and give up by the 3rd day (if I made it that long)
Check out these 2 threads they might help you:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1175494-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
Good luck to you
From the last link (because this is my favorite part):
Final Comment: There is no perfect program and you should stop looking for it. You should instead look at ways to make your diet and your training as enjoyable as possible while still meeting your goals in a time-frame that's reasonable to you. Eat foods you enjoy while hitting your calorie and nutrient targets. Structure your meal timing and frequency to best match performance and preferences. Enjoy eating calories at night? Then do it. Prefer white rice over brown? Then eat it. Want ice cream? Then find a way to have some ice cream while hitting those nutrient targets (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/925464-fitting-it-in-giggity).0 -
I'm a single mom of two kids (6 and 8).
I work 40 hours a week
And drive about 1h45m total to/from work each day
I do not do mornings well and get up around 6:30.
I have a fairly big property - with a LOT of snow to shovel (no snowblower) in the winter, a LOT of grass to cut in the spring/summer/fall, and a LOT of leaves to rake in the fall. And I do it all by myself.
I usually stumble out of the second kid's room by 9:30, often because I've fallen asleep while singing her to sleep.
Then 2 or 3 nights a week I go downstairs and spend anywhere from 30 - 45 minutes working out. A combo of some treadmill time, some free weight time, and some body weight exercises. Sometimes I'll do a workout on the wii (zumba or golds gym workout).
I usually get to bed around 12:30am. (And that is because I dawdle and chat while making the kids lunches after I workout).
Once a week I take an hour to kill myself at boxing.
Once a week I try to do a half hour run.
I am at maintenance now, eating 2000 cals per day (and all my exercise calories).
I am not trying to toot my own horn... I am trying to show you that yes, it is tough... but it is NOT impossible. And it doesn't have to be HORRIBLE.
It is totally possible, if you really want it.
Some Advice...
1) Tell yourself YES I CAN instead of "no I can't"
2) Set your goal to 0.5lb a week
3) Set your activity level to sedentary and log all your exercise
4) Eat back most of your exercise cals
5) Weigh and Measure your food AND be honest with yourself
6) Realize you are not doing a diet, you are changing your life and don't be in such a rush. You took time to get where you are. Take your time to get to where you want to be, and you're less likely to derail on the way.
And remember... you WILL fall down. There will be days that you feel like a failure. There will be days when you are too tired to be active, and days when the stress levels of life send you into a food fit. BUT LIFE IS NOT OVER. Don't let that be an excuse to stop.
Get up, dust off, and keep going.0 -
Hi There
I personally would:
Low carb bagel 100 cals <== stop as much bread stuff as you can, especially white bread. Get the weight watchers bread at Safeway
coffee or mocha 60 cals <== This is fine
Fiber one bar or fruit with yogurt <== I eat several a day
Turkey sandwich on light wheat bread <== Good
carrots and hummus or apple Carrots are very high in sugar, consider celery
popcorn (100 cal bag) and skinny cow icecream Pop corn is high in Salt and makes you want to drink more. Ice cream... just get over that
I am currently losing 1 pound a day on average. I am doing 1350 Calories and am finding myself falling asleep comfortably full with avg of 250 cals left over if I want to.
Drinks about 6 bottles of water a day the 16.0 fl oz size
Good luck!
Tom
1350 daily for a man with 16 pounds to lose? This is way under your BMR.
It's typical to drop a bunch of water weight right off the bat.....that's what the 2 pounds (most likely) are. But, weeks of eating this few calories will result in fat + muscle loss. Read the Sexy Pants thread JWhited referenced.....very informative.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1175494-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here0 -
Losing weight, and changing the habits that had us gain the weight is an ongoing process. You're done when it's lights out.
The first step is to change your mentality. Yes you can. Yes you'll have setbacks, but you'll bounce back. Yes some days will be hard, but you'll get stronger.
The only person who can make the changes, and make the choices is you.
Whether you decide you can or decide you can't, you're right.
I never thought I had time for exercise when I was heavier - two kids, a full time job, a house - how could I cram anymore in? I chose to make the time - I started with 25 minutes a day, doing Jillian Michael's videos.
I applaud you for being so dedicated to your oldest child's education; more parents should be involved. I would however be raising some serious questions about 3-4 hours of school work each night for a 6th grader. Some more effective use of class time, or a call to the teacher might shed some light and free up significant time for both of you. Tip: Sit down, read through the homework together, and get her working. Then tell her that you will come back in 1 hour to see where she is at, and help her in areas she needs it. This gives her some personal responsibility, and frees up time for you. Just a suggestion, take it or leave it.
As for prepackaged foods - sure, we all need to rely on convenience here and there, and the foods that you listed are not terrible, but a full day of food they do not make. You'll start to figure it out real quickly that for this to be a sustainable lifestyle, deprivation will not be the answer.
Instead of thinking of this as something short term - think of it as something permanent. Invest in yourself and everyone around you will benefit.0 -
I recommendation is don't over do the weight loss results. I know you see yourself in the mirror and want to shed those extra pounds now, but you got to realize that it took time for you to put that weight on and it will take time to take it off.
Here's the good news. Don't overdo the weight loss. Odds are you're at the 1,200 calories per day diet because that's the lowest fitness pal will allow you to go, and experts to boot also dont' recommend females going lower than that because it could cause pediment damage. Try for a weight loss goal of .5 lbs per week. Not only will you see a downward trend it will also give you a chance to get used to eating smarter.
Also, any amount of weight loss is super duper as long as it's consistently trending downward. You are make a lifestyle change for the rest of your life, that's smart.0
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