Anyone else on a 1200 calorie diet?

JennyBilyeu
JennyBilyeu Posts: 51 Member
in Introduce Yourself
My mother always told me "if you're going to diet, never go below 1200 calories, because your body needs at least that much just to sustain itself". Ok...I'm good with that. So I figured, I will set my goal at 1200 calories. It's working great, and I eat healthy food. It's even good food...lol. BUT...I lack recipe ideas. Anyone else on a 1200 calorie diet that would be willing to share with others any recipes or food ideas they might have?

Replies

  • GiveMeCoffee
    GiveMeCoffee Posts: 3,556 Member
    Keep it simple find a REASONABLE deficit: Most people do not need to eat 1200 calories to lose.

    If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal
    If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal
    If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal
    If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal
    If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal

    Log your food accurately and honestly this thread will help:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide?hl=logging+step+guide

    Find an activity you enjoy doing - I found I love to ride my bike and lift heavy stuff :)

    Here are 2 more threads that will help take the time to read them:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here?hl=so+you're+new+here

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • awesomejdad
    awesomejdad Posts: 493 Member
    So your basing your Daily calorie intake on what your mom said? Why not base it on your own height, weight, age and activity level?
  • asdowe13
    asdowe13 Posts: 1,951 Member
    oops I misread this - I thought it said 2100 calories










    I'm out!
  • Joannesmith2818
    Joannesmith2818 Posts: 438 Member
    I was on 1200 at the start and yes I lost weight...of course. I am now maintaining and if I were to do it again....I would not have eaten so little. I will never do that again, because I now know it wasn't needed! I read all the posts, but obviously needed to come to that conclusion by myself :/.

    Edited to actually answer the question.....because Im a muppet.

    I like to eat quite simple food and jazz them up with spices and herbs and feta. So I often each feta and sunblushed tomato stuffed chicken breast with brown rice and salad. Or even chicken noodle broths!
  • AlwaysBigSteve
    AlwaysBigSteve Posts: 82 Member
    Keep it simple find a REASONABLE deficit: Most people do not need to eat 1200 calories to lose.

    If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal
    If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal
    If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal
    If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal
    If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal

    Log your food accurately and honestly this thread will help:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide?hl=logging+step+guide

    Find an activity you enjoy doing - I found I love to ride my bike and lift heavy stuff :)

    Here are 2 more threads that will help take the time to read them:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here?hl=so+you're+new+here

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    This +1 Lift and eat.

    But seriously on a side note my wife is 4'10" and has to either bust it at the gym or only eat 1200. If you're under 5' then you probably need to eat 1200 to lose. Honestly I don't know how my wife does it.
  • AlwaysBigSteve
    AlwaysBigSteve Posts: 82 Member
    I'll double post cause I needs the forum stats.

    If nothing else follow Scooby's three rules to weight loss.

    1. Exercise a bit more
    2. Eat a bit less
    3. Drink lots of water

    There you go, losing weight is as simple as 1... 2... 3

    It's so simple it's hard :)
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/
  • ninav1980
    ninav1980 Posts: 514 Member
    me, me!!

    well, technically, I eat 1200 on rest days and 1400 on workout days

    5'1 128 lbs for reference

    feel free to add me, my diary is open.
  • MegE_N
    MegE_N Posts: 245 Member
    I'm on 1200 technically, but I walk to and from work every day which means I usually eat around 1500 a day. I'm not doing as well as I'd like on this plan - only down about 15lbs since April - but it's sustainable and comfortable for me so I know I won't get frustrated and binge or give up.

    Feel free to add me.
  • asdowe13
    asdowe13 Posts: 1,951 Member
    I'm on 1200 technically, but I walk to and from work every day which means I usually eat around 1500 a day. I'm not doing as well as I'd like on this plan - only down about 15lbs since April - but it's sustainable and comfortable for me so I know I won't get frustrated and binge or give up.

    Feel free to add me.

    15 pounds in 3 months is awesome. Keep doing what you are doing!

    ETA - which is eating 1500 calories a day
  • akaMrsmojo
    akaMrsmojo Posts: 762 Member
    I don't eat below my BMR and I am not on a diet. I would do more research but your mom is right, you should never eat below 1200.
  • slouw10
    slouw10 Posts: 82 Member
    1200 is very low - I have tried it, and felt deprived most the time, I also found that if I eat 1300-1400 - I still loose weight, not as fast, but it is maintainable. Just a thought.

    You are welcome to add me, I do have changes to make - like eat a bit more veggies, and try to drink water:sick: , but am trying!
  • cathipa
    cathipa Posts: 2,991 Member
    I don't eat below my BMR and I am not on a diet. I would do more research but your mom is right, you should never eat below 1200.

    Agree. I've lost 22 pounds since 1/1/14 and ate between 1400-2000 calories per day depending on if I was working out. Figure out your BMR and TDEE -20% and stick between these numbers. Eat back at least 1/2 (if not all) of your exercise calories. Good luck!
  • JennyBilyeu
    JennyBilyeu Posts: 51 Member
    I was on a 1200 calorie diet before and it worked wonderful. Stress got the upper hand and I fell off the wagon for a few months. I find that 1200 calories works really well for me, as I eat good food, and even sweets, and can still maintain my 1200. And I'm not hungry. I don't feel like I am starving myself. Caloric preference is different for everyone, as long as it's not under 1200...lol.
  • qmmanager69
    qmmanager69 Posts: 71 Member
    I've been on 1200 for about 6 weeks now and find it's working great (down 15 lbs this morning). I'm 4'11', so anything more would hinder my 2lb loss/week, which I'm not ready to give up quite yet. For the most part I'm only consuming carbs that come from fruit/veggies, so that's helped significantly with keeping calories down. My hubby is an amateur chef and takes great pride in making meals I love that are under 500 calories (about what I like to consume for dinner). He makes an amazing mashed cauliflower w/garlic and cheddar (@100 cals/cup)....also chili with ground turkey (though I prefer vegan) makes a great lunch. Mainly for breakfast I'll eat either 1 cup vanilla greek yogurt w/fruit or a couple scrambled eggs w/spinach/broccoli. Lunch is generally chicken or tuna in a green salad, diced chicken and cooked veggies or again, greek yogurt w/fruit depending on what I had for breakfast. I snack once a day on a serving of nuts, have whatever amazing dish hubby prepares for dinner and then a <100 cal snack after workout.
  • Roaringgael
    Roaringgael Posts: 339 Member
    I started on 1200 cals.
    I lost weight and then started to stall, I took the plunge and upped my calories and kick started the weightloss again.
    I also exercise now - the 1st 4 months I couldn't exercise due to injury but started exercising 4 months ago.

    Anyway, there isn't anything wrong with 1200 cals just like some have said, you can eat more and still lose.
    I found I wasn't overly hungry until I started exercising and then had to eat more.

    Eat lots of vegetables, they are low cal, very nutritious - a plate full can be very few cals.
    Small amounts of meat.I personally don't like fruit much.
    I find that processed carbs make me hungry quickly so try not to rely on breads, grains etc.

    Anyway go for it and if you find that it isn't enough, know you can safely increase your cals.
    I follow my TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) minus 30% (because I had more than 25kgs to lose) its suggested only 20% under if you have less than that and I eat back some exercise calories if I want.

    Weightloss isn't totally like clock work, allthough regular losses are possible. I did find that I stopped lossing on 1200 and had to eat more to keep losing - sounds crazy but its true.
  • qmmanager69
    qmmanager69 Posts: 71 Member
    Zucchini "Pizza" (more like veggie lasagna):

    Shred 4 cups zucchini, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt, let sit for 10 minutes. Then squeeze all excess water from the zucchini.
    Mix shredded zucchini with 2 eggs (I think 1 would have been better), 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, 1 cup part skim mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup shredded lowfat cheddar cheese. Spread out in a 9x13" baking pan and cook on 400 for 20 minutes.

    Brown one pound of ground turkey with onions, peppers and spice to preference. Once the zucchini mixture is browned, top it as you would a pizza with 15 ounces of jarred tomato sauce and turkey mixture, topping with 1 cup mozzarella and 1/2 cup cheddar cheese. Bake for another 20 minutes.

    As prepared, a one cup serving = 311 calories (give or take), 20 g fat, 9 g carbs, 2 g fiber and 25 g protein
  • tiffanybrooks530
    tiffanybrooks530 Posts: 140 Member
    Im on a 1200 intake goal, but it took about 3 months just to get use to it.
    Was eating 1500-1600, after workout deficit 2-3 days a week and lost weight.
    Now down to 1200-1400 with short HIIT work outs 4-5/wk.

    For meals I find the simple the ingredients the lower the calories

    - shake 1-2 fruits + milk and/or protein powder
    - oatmeal + fruit & nut butter
    - greek yogurt plain or vanilla
    - 1/2 serving any starch
    - 1/2 serving animal protein
    - unlimited servings veggies
    - 1/2 to 1 serving dessert
    - 1/2 to 1 serving nuts
    - keep condiments to a min

    When eating at restaurants I usually stick to ordering appetizers
    or entrees where I can get veggies or salad as the side dish.

    When it gets boring it just means you need to get creative.
  • akaMrsmojo
    akaMrsmojo Posts: 762 Member
    I was on a 1200 calorie diet before and it worked wonderful. Stress got the upper hand and I fell off the wagon for a few months. I find that 1200 calories works really well for me, as I eat good food, and even sweets, and can still maintain my 1200. And I'm not hungry. I don't feel like I am starving myself. Caloric preference is different for everyone, as long as it's not under 1200...lol.

    With all due respect, you need to understand your BMR. You should not eat under too long. 1200 is not a magic number. You said yourself you fell off the wagon.

    My BMR is 1480, I never eat below that. I do not want to be skinny fat, where I lose more muscle. I am just saying research more.
  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
    bump

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