3 meals a day 1200 limit?

1 - 1200 calories per day will be difficult to maintain if you're eating a bunch of pasta and rice...those things are calorie dense and don't really keep you full for very long.

2 - If you go with 1200 calories per day, you need to focus on lean protein sources, lots of veg, some healthy fats, and limited grains/starchy veg, etc. There's also not a lot of room here for "treats" and/or flexible dieting

3 - If you find 1200 calories per day difficult, just remember that it is a very aggressive goal based on what you told the calculator you wanted to do...you can actually lose weight at a higher calorie intake and while the rate of loss is predictably slower, it's often faster and steadier in that people tend to have better overall adherence...in my long tenured experience her on MFP, people tend to go off the rails fairly regularly when trying to restrict themselves to a mere 1200 calories per day.

4 - do more exercise...when you exercise you increase your body's energy (calorie) requirements...thus you can accomplish the same goals with a higher energy intake.

Example, without exercise I would maintain on roughly 2300 - 2400 calories per day...which means to lose 1 Lb per week (500 calorie deficit) I could only consume 1800 - 1900 calories per day. With regular exercise I maintain on roughly 2800ish calories per day which means I can lose that same 1 Lb per week eating 2300 calories per day which is much more doable for me.

I haven't scrolled through every reply, but if no one has suggested it yet, try www.reddit.com/1200isplenty. That subreddit has lots of good low calorie nutritious menu ideas.

I'm set for 1310 to lose my last 10 pounds, but I find yummy things on there all the time.

I haven't read all of the posts yet, but my calorie goal is also 1200. It's REALLY hard to stay within that. All I have to say is: fruits and veggies!!! I have been finding different ways to incorporate more into my diet. My morning snack used to always be a granola bar. Now it's veggies and hummus. I eat a lot of salads with different veggie toppings for lunch. Fruit for additional snacks. Dinner is always veggie based. Maybe some pasta with veggies, rice and veggies...etc. I find broccoli really filling and delicious! So I use that a lot in my meals. Eggs are filling and low cal.

It's also helpful to get in exercise, of course. If you work out, you can eat more and not go over your goal!

1200 felt really low when I first started, and although it's still tough, it's gotten me to eat much healthier, and I love it! If you're also cooking for your family, you may have to make something different for them, if they aren't looking to cut back on calories as well. But a great place to look for family friendly and calorie friendly recipes is Cooking Light. They have some great healthy recipes, and they're super easy!

And once you get the hang of it, you'll do really well!

Vegetables! And they are COMPLEX carbohydrates which means they are dang good for you. Avoid the white food (rice, potatoes, bread, pasta) which are empty calories that just cause your blood sugars to spike and all that jazz. Three or four ounces of roasted meat (chicken, pork, fish, beef) and a heaping pile of bright, crunchy, delicious vegetables will do more for you than you know.

I dieted successfully on 1200 a day when I lost about 25lbs 12 years ago. By the time I had a regular workout routine in place though, that number of calories wasn't enough. I actually lost more weight when I stepped up to 1450 a day and had one workout per day (either jog/walking or lifting weights). I was 5'3" and 145lb at the start for reference.

I ended up with a small selection of meals I loved and would just rotate through them. I also knew exactly what I could order at fast food restaurants (I was a law student at the time and knew that some days just would NOT allow for cooking, etc) and had some favorite frozen meals stashed in the freezer for days when I made it home, but didn't have any energy. I ended up being pretty close to vegetarian at that time. Now days, I'm up to 135lbs, but the only way I feel comfortable on 1200-1400 calories is if I cut out refined carbs but keep meat. Every body is different and your eating history will help determine how your metabolism works (and thus, what food choices will have the best impact). My thoughts: don't feel obligated to listen to anyone who gives you advice that is absolute like avoid all white food, avoid all red meat, avoid all dairy, etc. (Including me!)

My go-to meals:

Frozen: Amy's Whole Meal Enchiladas, Amy's Lasagna, Kashi Go-Lean meals.
Fast Food: Taco Bell fresco menu, Jack-in-the-Box pitas (I don't think they have them anymore though, which is a shame)
Homemade:
No-noodle Lasagna (it's really just a casserole, but it's very very good) http://allrecipes.com/recipe/no-noodle-zucchini-lasagna/
Sesame Beef (Pan fry thin flank steak, add a little sesame oil, serve over a bunch of spinach and a little brown rice.)
Egg & Bacon cups for breakfast (http://onceamonthmeals.com/simple-paleo-egg-cups/)
Moo Goo Gai Pan with fake rice (http://funwithrealfood.com/?p=369)

I don't know if its psychological but I'm going for only .5 kg loss a week - so my target is 1500 cal (6280 kjs).
I have been able to eat whatever I want although I have cut down the quantities.
Its only early days but I'm happy with this and I have kept well within my limits.
I know from a lifetime of dieting that I am an "all or nothing girl" so in the past if I followed a restrictive diet and broke it - I would throw in the towel and abandon it that day and start again tomorrow - which I often didn't
So I'm hoping an increase in my target calories will result in my staying on the right track and finally - even though it will take longer - lose the 44lbs I need to.

The last time I used this site I had a limit of 1200 cal and had great success, losing 30 lbs. in six months. After gaining most of is back I've returned with still 1200 cal. limit, and looking for meal ideas. This thread has been very helpful!!!

I love the website skinnytaste.com and that is where I get all of my recipes from. I am also striving to eat between 1200-1350 calories a day.
For breakfast I usually make: Broccoli and Cheese Omelets. You can make enough for the week and it is fast/easy when on the "go" in the morning. I will pair this with a fruit.
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2009/03/broccoli-and-cheese-mini-egg-omelets-2.html
For lunch I usually have leftovers of whatever I made the previous night.

Last night I made stuffed pork tenderloin
Good Luck on your journey!!

MFP makes everyone start off at 1200, just the way it works.

frostyswife wrote: »

My limit is 1200'calories for the day need some meal ideas. I don't like fish and suffer from IBS so nothing spicy etc please. Like basic foods as feeds rest of my family n kids are fussy lol we love pasta and rice and chicken. Any ideas welcome thank you x

Just some ideas – these are actual meals I make for myself with ingredients and portions that keep things under 250 calories. I do eat over 250 at times, but these are some of my go-to low calorie ideas.