Sorry to be the '1200' person

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Replies

  • katematt313
    katematt313 Posts: 624 Member
    I think 1200 calories can be doable. However, it depends on what you are eating.

    1200 calories of mostly lean protein and veggies is actually a good amount of food - you could probably eat 2 lbs of steamed fish or shrimp in a day and still be under your caloric intake goals. Eggs are only 70 calories apiece, and are full of good protein and some fat. By way of contrast, wheat bread, muffins, etc., are high in calories and not very filling.

    Make sure you are getting at least 60 grams of protein per day, but aim for about 100. After that, fill up on high volume, low cal stuff (raw veggies). So, basically, eat protein on salad for meals and snack on raw veggies for snacks with small amounts of low calorie/high protein dips - a tbsp or two of homemade hummus or bean puree (yum), strained greek yogurt with seasonings, etc.

    Good luck :)
  • lmclaren29
    lmclaren29 Posts: 6 Member
    I think 0.5 too - much more reasonable. My poor husband got the brunt of my hungry-grumpy this week LOL. This should help :)
  • sybabe35
    sybabe35 Posts: 99 Member
    That's a great idea! I just found a couple places that my insurance takes. I will have to give them a call when I get a chance.
  • _runnerbean_
    _runnerbean_ Posts: 640 Member
    I found the first few days on 1200 hard but everything settled after a week or two. I now eat back nearly all my exercise calories and choose foods that I know will fill me and keep my blood sugar steady. I eat nuts or cottage cheese for snacks, make sure I have a snack or small meal every few hours and do cardio every day. In short- stick with it and you will be fine in a few days.
  • noifest
    noifest Posts: 4 Member
    I'm also on 1200 diet

    on a typical working day

    Breakfast
    mini shredded wheats or mini wheatabix no milk as I snack at my desk 60g - 290 cal
    white coffee or tea no sugar

    Lunch
    1 egg mayo sandwich thin pocket thing 180 cal or a tin of soup with ryvitas 250 cal
    a bunch of grapes 60 cal
    a pack of quavers 99 cal
    a small bag of mini animal chocolate biscuits 110 cal

    Dinner
    2 reduced fat sausages 220 cal or a piece of pork steak fat and rind cut off 250 cal or half a pizza 390 cal
    steamed / grilled veg of your choice I have broccoli around 60 cal
    a side salad no dressing - hardly any calories

    a fruit or low fat yoghurt as snack 30 cal to 99 cal

    when I really have a sweet tooth I have a Milk Chocolate Cadbury Highlights - hot drink 44 cal

    cut down on white pasta and bread - have a portion of steam veg or a salad instead of chips or pasta
    as long as you have enough to keep you going and don't let yourself starve - there is nothing wrong in a 1200 cal diet

    eating cleaner and healthier have made my skin clearer too but it is a very boring diet.

    I sit at a desk all day my activity level is low so I have to take in less calories if I want to lose weight and don't exercise

    I always look at labels and see if there are lower calorie versions
  • blairf83
    blairf83 Posts: 33 Member
    My doctor actually put me on 1200 calories. I stuck it out for a couple of months... And... I did lose...

    I had to give it up- I felt horrible. lots of dizziness, just tired, my stomach had constant acid feeling.

    I went up to 1500 cal for a few weeks. Now I'm back around 1375 cal. Those extra 175 cal make a HUGE difference for me. I'm losing more slowly, but I can actually physically function and am getting more out of my workouts than I was in terms of building muscle.... I tried dropping back to 1200 again and was right back to ringing ears and dizzy spells during my yoga classes.

    Cant. Do it.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    ^ Read all the awesomeness of Trog. Eat the most you can and still lose. Take it slow. Enjoy it. Lose body fat and not just weight:flowerforyou:

    This!^

    Read Trog's post above.

    You don't want weight loss.....you want fat loss.
  • ereck44
    ereck44 Posts: 1,170 Member
    What Trog said! Great post by the way! I even learned from it--love the way you calculate TDEE!

    Also, LOG everything, and I mean everything, even when you cheat, even when you overeat, even when you forgot what you ate and then remembered, back log it then. There is no better teacher than the person who makes mistakes, and then learns from them. Get a lot of good supportive friends.

    If you eat when you are not hungry, ask yourself why? Are you stressed, are you bored, are you smelling it (if so, move yourself or the food.) Writing things down helps soooooooo much.

    Also listen to your body, if your stomach rumbles, then eat.

    Good luck and welcome~
  • agnes123333
    agnes123333 Posts: 7
    I need help!!!!
    So im on 1300 a day but the BMR calculator on the site is telling me mine is only 1333?!?! Can this be right? Surely not, other calculators always say around 1500-1800
  • dmiivanov
    dmiivanov Posts: 49 Member
    eat 1600 calories instead ... ;) but add (in addition to whatever you're already doing) 1 hour of steady pace walking in the morning on empty stomach while sipping water. Go to bed earlier and get up earlier ... Works like charm and you'll feel great if you're not doing this for more than a month. But have to do it EVERY single day even if its on the weekend or after party!
  • dmiivanov
    dmiivanov Posts: 49 Member
    I need help!!!!
    So im on 1300 a day but the BMR calculator on the site is telling me mine is only 1333?!?! Can this be right? Surely not, other calculators always say around 1500-1800

    See what's your weight after 2 weeks and how you feel.. If it's dropping too rapidly or you're feeling bad then increase your cals. Various sites would give me different answers too... By far the best way of doing this of course is (before you begin) is to track your calories for a week eating normally without trying to lose or gain and then cutting by an appropriate amount. No site can tell you a better number than your body ;)

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