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Friends with 1200-1500 calorie diets

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Replies

  • reachingforarainbow
    reachingforarainbow Posts: 224 Member
    I recently have been eating more like 1500, kind of varies. Some weeks I just need more food. And I allow for that. If your having trouble sticking to lowered calories, try to eat a maintenance for a week or two. Or even a day or too. (But still track your calories)

    Adding in excercise is pretty awesome and can help alot. Also if your activity level varies from day to day, I would suggest you get a tracker (you can get the app moves, for your cell phone, and its free, you just need to have your cell phone with you)
  • ukaryote
    ukaryote Posts: 850 Member
    Keep the junk food out of the house - less likely to cheat. Potato chips are my downfall.

    Fill up. And up and up! Lots of veggies with a pat of butter. Two cups of frozen veggies are filling and the pat adds much more flavor than calories.
    More protein! I keep around ready-to-eat protein like cottage cheese, tuna, and canned beans. I cook chicken, lean beef, and fish. The fish is pretty expensive so it is once per week.
    Fresh fruit for snack.
    Watch the carbs. A coupla sandwiches and a little pasta at dinner and you are outta there! I try to limit carbs to the morning and before working out.
    Spices! I just don't have time to do much cooking or preparing fancy salads. Frozen and canned vegetables can get boring. Cumin, pepper, oregano, 5-spice, whatever.

    Exercise, but don't depend on it to keep you in your calorie range. "You can't out-race your fork."
  • Mrs_Waddlez
    Mrs_Waddlez Posts: 5 Member
    Mine is set to the original 1780 that MFP gave me. I stay between 13-1600 please feel free to add me and loo at my diary for ideas :)
  • astroophys
    astroophys Posts: 175 Member
    Hey there! Feel free to add me! I generally eat between 1200 and 1500 cal (sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more). I generally make sure to eat veggies, fruits, lean protein (fish, for example), and butter or olive oil daily.
  • JazzFischer1989
    JazzFischer1989 Posts: 531 Member
    Feel free to add me if you'd like (or anyone eating 12-1500 cals)! I think you'll drive yourself crazy sticking strictly to 1200, though. Yesterday I ate closer to 2000, other days I'll eat around 1200. Realistically you're not gonna eat 1200 calories a day for the rest of your life so it's okay to eat more. Also exercise helps give you some extra wiggle room for more food.
  • Scotty2288
    Scotty2288 Posts: 1
    What i found helps alot is to have containers that have the right serving sides and make one for breakfast lunch and dinner. That way you don't have to think about it :)
  • FindingAmy77
    FindingAmy77 Posts: 1,268 Member
    that is what mfp gives me too. if it wasn't for my daily walks and the added calories I earn, I could never make it.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I aim for 1500- but I eat back- so I wind up around 18-1900- but I have my diary laid out pretty well so that my eat back calories are their own meal and or snack (like after gym- or snack) everything else adds up on its' own to about 1500- it sucks- but it's do-able.
  • smarieallen85
    smarieallen85 Posts: 535 Member
    I'm around there. Though very confused at the moment because I'm trying to figure out my TDEE method and not knowing if I should trust it. I jumped from 1200 to 1440 and might go higher.
  • shapelyJ
    shapelyJ Posts: 57 Member
    I'm also in that range. MFP has me set for 1210 Cal/day but I always try to eat back my exercise calories which lands me on a daily intake around 1300-1600 :)

    Add me :)
  • ainarsraciks
    ainarsraciks Posts: 166 Member
    Just do some more cardio and you can ate more and be fine.
  • ElkeKNJ
    ElkeKNJ Posts: 207 Member
    According to MFP, my maintenance level is at 1650 kcal, so I am here for the long run...
    First set at 1200 kcal, no longer starving at 1300 kcal, so that is what I aim for. Slowly, very slowly, losing the weight.

    I am for the moment searching for an alternative to pasta. I love it, but it is so expensive calorie-wise.
  • JenniDaisy
    JenniDaisy Posts: 526 Member
    I'm 1400 but up to 1600+ on days I run. I like to think I eat fairly well, I make practically all my meals from scratch but I tend to go over on fat regularly.
  • juneduggan1981
    juneduggan1981 Posts: 36 Member
    Hey,

    I am 1400 daily (although the goal via mfp is 1200 way too low). I am not the cleanest of eaters and have been managing so far to stay under calories. Only been doing it for 2 weeks. Last week lost 4lbs, great but due to get weighed tonight but im in for a gain according to my scales but will wait and see.

    I will add you and you can look at my diary but as i said not the best but going to try and focus on fat, carbs and protein intake and stick to my targets

    June x
  • DeanWallbit
    DeanWallbit Posts: 26 Member
    That's also my target net calorie :-)
  • Brunette_H
    Brunette_H Posts: 18 Member
    I have added you, as I'm on 1230 a day, although I also eat back approx 50% of my exercise calories.

    Anybody else please feel free to add me too. I cook most of my meals from scratch and, while not banning them by any means, I am trying to be careful about my carb levels.
  • hismogwai
    hismogwai Posts: 58 Member
    I set mine at 1600 because i am also doing Insanity, but i rarely go over 1400. I fall between 1200-1500 your welcome to add me =)
  • moparjer
    moparjer Posts: 125 Member
    I just reduced mine back to 1280/day as I wasn't losing and know this was the key. I'm very active at work but I think the calories were to high despite the activity. Feel free to see my diary (I do have bad days once in a while :)) and add me as a friend! Melinda
  • angelabethb
    angelabethb Posts: 33 Member
    MFP has me at 1400 calories a day because I'm sedentary at my job. It's difficult because I'm used to eating so many calories. But I try to eat as many veggies and lean meats as possible because they are low-cal and keep me full! The worst are high carb foods because they're calories dense and leave me hungry in a few hours! Also, don't drink your calories. I always go over if I drink alcohol or soda. Another thing that helps is planning out my meals. I do that every night before I go to bed, plan my meals for the next day, with a little wiggle room just in case I need an extra piece of fruit at the end of the day. Feel free to add me and take a look at my diary!

    Oh, cardio does wonders! If I have a half hour of cardio, it gives me back some calories without the hunger!
  • sportychic87
    sportychic87 Posts: 214 Member
    You can add me too, if you'd like. I have about 20-25 pounds to lose. I'm aiming for 1200-1400 calories a day.
  • olgasgarden
    olgasgarden Posts: 34 Member
    MFP has me at 1260 and i am struggling with these numbers.
    my current "philosophy" is that i need to run so that i can eat (adopted this "philosophy" from a friend).
    i am at 195 now and my goal is 160. i am 5' 7" been at it for 6 weeks now.
    Feel free to add me and take a look at my diary!
    I mostly try to eat raw veg/fruit and lean protein. Miserably failing on water consumption though :)
  • mom2nicknat
    mom2nicknat Posts: 56 Member
    Feel free to add me too - I aim to have anywhere from 1,200 - 1,350 depending on my exercise for the day. I love looking at other diaries for ideas as well. I eat clean for the most part.
  • bonneycc
    bonneycc Posts: 14 Member
    You can add me too. I'm set at 1550 and mostly stay under unless I exercise. I eat normal stuff except I cut back on fried foods. French fries are the only things I allow. I drink mostly water too. It has helped a lot. I was a diehard sweet tea drinker. I do my best to monitor the counts, especially when eating out.
  • Wenchiness
    Wenchiness Posts: 126 Member
    You are welcome to add my M&M snarfing self, or simply view my boring ole diary. I'm right in there every day.
  • cw106
    cw106 Posts: 952 Member
    mfp reduced me from 1640 to 1480. that small decrease due to reducing weight makes a huge difference.
    i do exercise on average 1000 cals daily tho and eat back about 20-30% now.
    diary is open. feel free to browse or add me.

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