1,200 calories.....ideas

I do 2 cups of almond milk (60 cal.) plus 1 serving of Slim Fast (chocolate) (110 cal.) to replace a meal. Total is 170 and I am satisfied for at least 3 hours, I am on 1,260.

Oatmeal keeps me full for hours. I eat the unsweetened instant with sliced apple for sweetener. You can add all kinds of things to oatmeal.

Vegetables, anything from sliced squash to steamed leafy greens, are low calorie and have bulk. I like to simmer a batch in vegetable broth or stir fry in a little olive oil.

I stay at 1200. I'm 5 feet tall, 41 and work at a desk. For me - the more I stay awake from prepackaged meals, the better I do. There's nothing wrong with them but I find I can pack my own to have more food for the calories.

I stick to lean proteins like fish, chicken, pork tenderloin, ground round plus lots of fresh or fresh frozen veggies.

For breakfast: oatmeal, precooked bacon (80 calories) with cheese toast (use 2% slices & 40 cal bread); turkey sausage with toast, omelets

Lunch: I try to fix enough at dinner to bring for leftovers. Chicken with frozen corn, had pork chop sandwich on 40 calorie bread with fiber crackers on side, sandwiches, wraps, salads.

Dinner: fish tacos using seabest frozen tilapia, corn tortillas, salsa. I season the defrosted filets with adobo seasoning with lemon and sautee in non stick skillet spayed with cooking spay. Toast corn tortillas in hot dry skillet.

Monday we had stuffed bell peppers using brown rice and ground round.

Tonight is pork tenderloin filets wrapped in bacon (180 calories) with sautéed squash and some other side.

Lean protein and fiber helps me. I can't eat salads day in and out. They're good but I need something that will stay with me.

I am on a cut diet for a bikini competition right now, and eating around 1,200 to 1,400 cals. I am never hungry. Feel free to creep my diary. I eat a lot of the same stuff from day to day though, for simplicity's sake. Some people might whine about my lack of variety. But it gets results, so I can't complain!

Protein, fruit, vegetables, and lots of water. Eggs, lean precooked ham, chicken, lean beef, yoghurt, raw and cooked veggies, and all kinds of fruits work well for me. Beans and lentils are quite filling for the calories as well.

cassiekimbrough104 wrote: »

I'm trying to do a 1200 calorie a day diet but feel like I want to eat 24/7. Anyone have any tips for meals/snacks that are low calorie but will make me feel fuller longer?

Veggies and fruits! For example, lots of cooked veggies with meals. Raw veggies with dip instead of chips. And fruits as snacks. My calories are lower than your's (average of 1,000). I never feel hungry. Am vegetarian by the way so I replace meat calories with low calorie, high volume fruits/veggies. And make sure to get plenty of sleep!

Is 1200 calories appropriate for you?

marenba21 wrote: »

I do 2 cups of almond milk (60 cal.) plus 1 serving of Slim Fast (chocolate) (110 cal.) to replace a meal. Total is 170 and I am satisfied for at least 3 hours, I am on 1,260.

I do this too, but I add a scoop of whey protein and ice to my smoothie. The ice gives more volume, and the whey protein makes me feel full.

I am at the 1250. It took about two weeks before I didn't feel like totally caving in. My diary is open, so you can look at what I eat. Some key foods that help me get along are V8, tuna and salmon packets, hearty soups with a lot of veggies, mushrooms, cottage cheese, apples, and watermelon are quite a few of my staples.

Giant salads. Lots and lots of greens as a base then weigh out favorite veggies on top plus low calorie dressing if you want it. Also make sure to add protein to keep you full longer. A few of my favorites are

Romaine, Pico de Gallo, salsa, shredded taco chicken, half a serving black beans, a Tbsp bolt house ranch. Optional Avocado if I have the calories for it.

Spring mix, half a serving blue cheese, less sugar cranberries, sun dried Tomatos, 4 oz steak.

Spring mix, apple, chicken, blue cheese, honey mustard.

Possibilities are endless just make sure to weigh out the more calorie dense ingredients. It's easy to over do it without realizing.

Also for breakfast, sounds weird but Oatmeal with 120 grams of cooked egg whites, plus Berries and cinnamon. So filling for around 250 cals.

It's doable if you load up on veggies, protein/fiber.

Water! I find it extremely helpful to stay hydrated. 8-16 oz before meals or if you feel hungry. Determining physical hunger vs emotional. I normally eat so fast but when I slow things down I notice I'm fuller faster.

KWlosingit wrote: »

It is interesting how everyone is different. Many people including my husband find soup filling. To me it does not fill me up and makes me more hungry. Only a heavy cream based soup with lots of potatoes and meat, or a soup that is almost all beans and meat is filling. Veggie soups with a broth base are worse then plain water to me hunger wise.

I am the opposite. I find soup completely satisfying, whereas I avoid salad whenever possible. For me it has been all about finding the foods that "stick" for me and keep me full. I wouldn't dare do oatmeal or cereal for breakfast, because those don't make me feel full at all. A boiled egg on some crisp bread crackers and I am good for hours.

Try different things and see what works for you, and adjust what doesnt. Just don't look at is as failure, rather practice at developing habits that will get you through the long haul.