1200 calorie diet buddies wanted!

24

Replies

  • Lindsey1619
    Lindsey1619 Posts: 8 Member
    Hello. I'm on a 1000 calorie diet and would love the help as well. Goal is to lose as much weight as possible.
  • Hearndt
    Hearndt Posts: 40 Member
    I'm at 1200 too but I use the motivation of the calorie burn from exercise to keep me moving. Also I have a fitbit and it syncs with MPF to make sure I'm not over or under estimating my activity level, you'd be surprised. Sedentary is actually really hard to accomplish and even lightly active gives you more calories! I lost 50 lbs with mfp a few years ago but I gained 30 back and so am at it again, feel free to add me. I don't always make the smartest choices but I do accurately log and am really good with my water intake!
  • heronk224
    heronk224 Posts: 4 Member
    edited November 2015
    Hi all- I'm also at 1200 calories, so feel free to add me. I'm fairly petite so I'm having trouble losing weight even at this calorie level. Is anyone else having this problem? I'm trying to lose 15-20 pounds
  • fiddletime
    fiddletime Posts: 1,868 Member
    I'm 5'2" and 61 years old ( I think that puts me very close to "senior and petite" :smile: ). I'm on 1200 calories and lose about 3# a month. I eat most of my exercise calories back- about 75%. I've lost before but gained it back because I went too fast and had no idea how to maintain. I'm going slowly this time and with 10# to get to my goal weight I'm in no rush. My attention this time is to learn healthy eating habits for life. So that I can maintain my GW and stop the yo-yo.
  • susb
    susb Posts: 90 Member
    Sounds good fiddletime. Once you set up the healthy pattern in order to create the deficit to lose weight, all you have to do, once you hit your goal weight, is to add a few hundred calories in order to maintain.

    It is easier to count calories and stay in a certain area like1,200 or so to lose the weight. You don't have much wiggle room once you add back calories in order to maintain. When you go over what your body can't burn off, little increments of weight can sneak back on.

    That's why it is best to keep tracking until you have a pattern going.

    Susan
  • lizwooshy
    lizwooshy Posts: 110 Member
    Hello all,
    I would highly suggest setting less aggressive goals. While eating at 1200 cals may be the "fastest" way to lose weight, it is also the easiest to get burnt out.
  • coral08
    coral08 Posts: 2 Member
    I would love to join! I'm needing all the help I can get!!
  • susb
    susb Posts: 90 Member
    I don't love oatmeal but I know it works on many different levels. I had one serving of old fashioned oatmeal for breakfast with cinnamon, Truvia and whipped butter.

    It is one of my go to breakfasts that works and it produces a feeling of fullness that sticks with you.

    Susan
  • queenofpuppies
    queenofpuppies Posts: 189 Member
    edited November 2015
    I do:
    Breakfast 150 calories
    morning snack 100 calories
    lunch 150 calories
    afternoon snack 100 calories
    dinner: 500 calories
    beer or ice-cream 200 calories (I have at least one of them everyday)

    My biggest problem when I started was that I wasn't eating enough protein so I would get really hungry. Greek yogurt changed my world, I eat it every day now and feel awesome. I have been at 1200 for five months now and after the first two it started to feel normal and I stopped feeling hungry.
  • susb
    susb Posts: 90 Member
    I just ate a cup of grapes for a midmorning snack. This prevents me from getting overly hungry by noon. I will eat around noon. I did two miles. Have to get back to my writing! Yikes!
  • susb
    susb Posts: 90 Member
    Lunch:

    1/2 turkey sandwich n whole wheat. 180 calories
    1/2 cup of homemade chili and beans. About 150 calories
    Coffee for something sweet with NF half and half and Truvia.
  • susb
    susb Posts: 90 Member
    I fit that yogurt in from the start and cottage cheese and you're right protein matters; it helps to sustain you until your next snack or meal. I eat a lot of beans and soups too. All good stuff that work towards reaching your goals!

    Susan
  • Lori_16720
    Lori_16720 Posts: 3 Member
    I eat 1200 to 1400 calories a day. I've been on MFP for a month now and lost 12 pounds so far. I'm tracking everything I eat and that is helping me to keep my portions small and stay within my calorie limits. I don't have an exercise routine yet but would like to start doing 20 minutes of core strength training and walking 15 minutes a day. My diary is open. My goal this month is to add more veges. :)
  • susb
    susb Posts: 90 Member
    Sounds like a great plan!

    Awesome Lori!
  • KaterinaDokuzova94
    KaterinaDokuzova94 Posts: 83 Member
    edited November 2015
    TeaBea wrote: »
    LynneHolloman wrote: »
    I've been at 1200 calories for a month. I've lost 11lbs but gained some back. It's frustrating. I don't think I need to eat less than 1200.

    1200 (before exercise) is MFP's default minimum for nutritional purposes.

    It's really hard to get adequate nutrition for less than 1200. Unless your are very petite and/or a senior lady....1200 is the very least you should consider eating.

    I'm 5'5' and 54 years old....even I eat more.

    Really aggressive weekly weight loss goals make it hard for your body to support existing lean muscle mass. You can lower your body fat by a larger percentage if you take a moderate approach.

    Google your TDEE (maintenance) ...http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
    Anything less than that is weight loss.

    1200 isn't what MFP "assigns" based on height, weight, age.........1200 is a product of "I want to lose XX pounds per week." If you request a large weekly weight loss goal.....you get a small number of calories....it's just math.

    1200 will be appropriate for a small percentage of women (petite, senior ladies).

    This + you can lose your menstruation from extreme cut of cal and of course at one point you will go crazy for food. Please girls don't do it to yourself !
  • olivetwistful
    olivetwistful Posts: 9 Member
    Sleep.

    That's my #1 tip for avoiding hunger pangs with a 1200 cal lifestyle. I'm under 5' & have to do 1200 to maintain. I also recommend taking a few days to yourself & just doing prepackaged meals to get used to eating like a small person.

    Living in a world with much bigger people leads the petite person astray, I feel, & body & mind eagerly embrace their greater consumption habits. But I always feel quite satiated & sharp after a few days of independent eating.

    Then I can rejoin them & not want their big portions & rich snacks!
  • jodidems
    jodidems Posts: 8 Member
    Also doing the 1200 calorie diet!! So hard but like some of the discussion, I am 5 feet tall so I really need to count calories to lose and not go over 1200. I do exercise, mostly running, decided to keep me motivated I made a jar and for every mile I go on the treadmill, I pay $1. Idk yet how I will treat myself with that money when I reach certain goals, but I'm looking forward to treating myself!! Feel free to add me as a friend, I need all the motivation I can get!
  • Darklords
    Darklords Posts: 3,175 Member
    Hi Ladies I am on a 1200 calories a day as well and would love the motivation. I find it hard to stick with it alone. Feel free to add me if you would like.
  • susb
    susb Posts: 90 Member
    Just a suggestion, I would go no lower than 1,200, that's about the lowest guidleline recommendation. The specialists probably want it higher.

    I eat on time and space my 1,200 or so calories each day. Honestly, I am never starving but, I eat on time and I have two snacks a day, midmorning and midafternoon to keep me from becoming overly hungry for lunch and dinner.

    I have to say it was critical for me to eat on schedule because that's when you can become famished.

    Here's a typical day for me.

    8:00 am 250-300 calories
    10:00 am snack 100
    12:00 lunch 300-350
    3:30 or 4:00 snack 100
    6:00 or 6:30 dinner 400

    It's is good for us to share; we can learn from each other.

    I've had great success with this method.

    Susan
  • luvwords1996
    luvwords1996 Posts: 90 Member
    I've been doing 1200 calories for 90 days and have lost 26 pounds. Once I adjusted to 1200 (which took a week or so), I have done just fine. I have 1-2 days a month where I am simply too hungry to eat 1200, so I switch to maintenance those days. It may be hormones, maybe not, but I figure my body is telling me it needs more, so I feed it. I simply do CICO. I don't deprive myself of certain foods (except regular pop). I walk 3-4 miles about 4-5 days per week. My diary is open, so feel free to browse. Glad to be on this journey with you!
  • susb
    susb Posts: 90 Member
    That's awesome!
  • susb
    susb Posts: 90 Member
    I agree about knowing when your body needs a little more.
  • Remilia_Scarlet
    Remilia_Scarlet Posts: 55 Member
    I've been doing ~1200 cal per day, too. Things are going pretty smoothly! I'm cool with anyone who has similar goals adding me.

    Have any of you read this forum? It has lots of great recipes: https://www.reddit.com/r/1200isplenty/
  • tiffanyfoundit
    tiffanyfoundit Posts: 130 Member
    I'm available for an add.
    Been doing the 1200 calorie game for a bit now.
    Some days it sucks sometimes it's easy. You will find what works for you and what your body needs
  • susb
    susb Posts: 90 Member
    I went out to eat last night I had a chicken salad with a cup of tomato soup, don't even know what was in the tomato soup, probably cream base. I am convinced, now, more than ever, that you can stay on track by planning ahead in your mind. This morning my husband and I are going to a breakfast diner. I will have 1 slice of whole wheat toast with one egg and coffee. I usually get grits and eat 1 1/2 pieces of toast. We don't have to do all or nothing, just less.

    I think this works for me because I used to graze all day and probably ate twice the amount of calories than I am eating now at 1,200. That's why it doesn't matter, every now and then if I creep over 100 or 200 calories, overall, I am probably cutting my calories in half.

    I lost another pound.

    Susan
  • f1tness4life
    f1tness4life Posts: 32 Member
    I'm on 1200 a day too!! Had a shocking day today - over 2000 calories!!!!! But back on track now - ill never buy loads of crap again!! 16 pounds to go.

    Will eat 200 extra calories when i work out.
  • Inds13
    Inds13 Posts: 11 Member
    edited November 2015
    Hi there! I started this week with 1200 calories too. Feel free to add me, I have an open food diary.
  • susb
    susb Posts: 90 Member
    I had a cup of homemade chili and beans for dinner. It was filling.
    I was active throughout the day.

    Susan
  • fiddletime
    fiddletime Posts: 1,868 Member
    edited November 2015
    I had homemade chili for breakfast, salmon for lunch, and am going to the movies and can fit in a large popcorn (without extra butter) and still be under calories. I did an extra hour of working out this am, cuz I really like lots of popcorn at the movies!!
  • Living360
    Living360 Posts: 223 Member
    susb provided a good breakdown of what a 1200 calorie day looks like. It's not much food. If you eat veggies you will be able to keep to the low count much easier. You'll feel fuller while getting water, fiber and nutrients. A vegetable soup is a great low cal fill in when hunger knocks on your door.

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