1200

queenkala
queenkala Posts: 45
edited September 23 in Health and Weight Loss
is 1200 kcal really enough for the day??

i just dont see how that can be possible when everything lists 2000 kcal as standard for women. how does one even eat 2000 kcal in one day without pigging out. i just dont understand.

Replies

  • shannonshock13
    shannonshock13 Posts: 355 Member
    It feels like a good amount of food to me. My breakfast is giant, i snack all day long lunch is a decent size and dinner is smaller. But i never feel hungry or deprived.
  • hpsnickers1
    hpsnickers1 Posts: 2,783 Member
    2000 isn't standard for women. My BMR is only around 1500. USDA has my standard at 1800 but I have a desk job and am sedentary. It depends on how tall you are, your weight, and your lifestyle.

    And 1200 isn't a bad number if you are eating healthy. I can make a HUGE salad from the salad bar at work. It will include dressing, chicken or tuna or salmon. I can do it for around 400 calories.

    There is no way I could get 2000 calories in me unless I was eating things like pizza, fast food, etc.
  • scagneti
    scagneti Posts: 707 Member
    It's easier than you think or a lot of us wouldn't be here!! :laugh:

    Just off the top of my head:

    I'd have a toasted bagel with around 3 tablespoons of peanut butter and some jam with a big glass of 2% milk for breakfast. That's around 800 calories. For lunch, I'd either grab a slice of pizza or a burger so another 600 calories. For dinner, I'd have a plate of pasta (which would easily be 3-4 servings) with some meat or cream sauce and lots of parm cheese, which would easuly be around 800 calories. I'd usually have a bowl of ice cream for dessert (another 300 calories) and likely grab a snack during the day -- maybe a chocolate bar or a bag of chips (another 300 calories). That's 2800 and would be a pretty typical day :ohwell: :embarassed:
  • senloe
    senloe Posts: 8 Member
    I've been eating 1200 calories a day for the last month and after doing some research on low calorie yet healthy filling foods it is enough and I haven't been hungry.

    If you need to eat more than that go on a half hour walk - since you are burning more calories you can then eat a little more and still lose weight.

    I think that my BMR is around 1700 maybe even 1600 per day since I'm not that tall...
  • CARNAT22
    CARNAT22 Posts: 764 Member
    Hey,

    1,200 cals is fine (once you get used to it!!)

    I tend to have aprox 350 cals per breakfast and lunch, then maybe 450 for dinner.

    The only leaves 50 cals for snacks but I tend to use a yoghurt in my breakfast (or lunch) that I may not actually eat with that meal so I use that as an extra snack later in the day.

    CN
  • i said 2000 because thats what it lists on the back of food packaging. it even says it on the back of my weight watchers food.

    i dont think i stated it clearly in my first post, i was just wondering why food packaging says 2000 for women (2500 for men) and MFP has me down for 1200 to lose half a pound a week. and 1400 to maintain current weight.

    its just very confusing.
  • scagneti
    scagneti Posts: 707 Member
    i said 2000 because thats what it lists on the back of food packaging. it even says it on the back of my weight watchers food.

    i dont think i stated it clearly in my first post, i was just wondering why food packaging says 2000 for women (2500 for men) and MFP has me down for 1200 to lose half a pound a week. and 1400 to maintain current weight.

    its just very confusing.

    What activity level did you use on MFP? Remember, that does not include your exercise calories (MFP is a big believer in eating them back) whereas Weight Watchers seems to be using an all around general number.
  • i said 2000 because thats what it lists on the back of food packaging. it even says it on the back of my weight watchers food.

    i dont think i stated it clearly in my first post, i was just wondering why food packaging says 2000 for women (2500 for men) and MFP has me down for 1200 to lose half a pound a week. and 1400 to maintain current weight.

    its just very confusing.

    What activity level did you use on MFP? Remember, that does not include your exercise calories (MFP is a big believer in eating them back) whereas Weight Watchers seems to be using an all around general number.

    i dont have any exercise calories!!! lazy me... i work 10-12 hours a day at a computer and never have time to hit up the gym. so i'm generally just cautious about what i eat instead!!!
  • scagneti
    scagneti Posts: 707 Member
    i said 2000 because thats what it lists on the back of food packaging. it even says it on the back of my weight watchers food.

    i dont think i stated it clearly in my first post, i was just wondering why food packaging says 2000 for women (2500 for men) and MFP has me down for 1200 to lose half a pound a week. and 1400 to maintain current weight.

    its just very confusing.

    What activity level did you use on MFP? Remember, that does not include your exercise calories (MFP is a big believer in eating them back) whereas Weight Watchers seems to be using an all around general number.

    i dont have any exercise calories!!! lazy me... i work 10-12 hours a day at a computer and never have time to hit up the gym. so i'm generally just cautious about what i eat instead!!!

    Ohh! :laugh: I think if you ate 2000 calories on Weight Watchers without exercising, you'd be gaining! I think when they said 2000, they're assuming that you're exercising regularly. If you're not and have a relatively inactive job/lifestyle then MFP takes that into account (along with your height, weight, what you want to lose, etc) so it's a little more intuitive than a general catch-all number on a package. A 4'7" woman should NOT eat the same number of calories as a 5'9" woman and the Weight Watchers package wouldn't know any of your stats ahead of time to determine.

    So if you're not exercising and are relatively inactive, depending on your height and what you have to lose, 1200 is a good number for you.
  • esorcel
    esorcel Posts: 459 Member
    Most of the postings I have been seeing on MFP is to eat most of your exercise calorie. I think 1200 is fine, but if you are not losing weight at that amount, you may need to eat more. For me, I can still lose weight at 1300--1500 calories as Iong as I exercise that day.

    However, Woman's Day magazine had an article that made eating 1200 calories easier. It suggested to have 3 meals a day with each at 400 calories and you won't feel hungry. They claim that your body gets more of what it needs when your meal consist of that amount of calories. I used to eat less calories and found myself constantly hungry until I reached 800 calories. Since I followed this suggestion, I am barely hungry.
  • I am having trouble with 1200 as well. I selected lightly active since I work with children. I have a bowl of special K for breakfast, a lean cuisine for lunch and what seems like a reasonable dinner. Keeping dinner under the daily calories is what is difficult. I know I can't keep that up for forever. I have to leave something for a snack in the evening (popcorn or chips and salsa). It just doesn't feel like enough. I am hungry when I go to bed.
  • i have myself down for 1400 calories a day, i tried 1200 for a few days, and now im trying this. 1200 just leaves me wanting, even if i dont eat all the calories, i like knowing that i could have a couple left if i want something in the evening!
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