1200 calories a day
Replies
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deannalfisher wrote: »i'm only 5'2" so that's part of the reason I'm 1200-1400 calories per day. I used to always be hungry trying to eat this little...until keto. fat is the key to feeling full. It's not drinking tons and tons of water. It's satisfying your hunger. ketogains is a great resource.
I'm 5'3" and do 2600 a day...and weight stable (my goal)
Fat may make you feel full but not everyone
Yep, my morning oatmeal keeps me full for hours, and potatoes are probably the most satiating food for me. I could plow through one of those grocery store rotisserie chickens like it's nothing and be looking around for something else to eat
I have always tended to overeat fat, so keto wouldn't help someone like me. 5 -
deannalfisher wrote: »i'm only 5'2" so that's part of the reason I'm 1200-1400 calories per day. I used to always be hungry trying to eat this little...until keto. fat is the key to feeling full. It's not drinking tons and tons of water. It's satisfying your hunger. ketogains is a great resource.
I'm 5'3" and do 2600 a day...and weight stable (my goal)
Fat may make you feel full but not everyone
5'2", 45, and my weight has stayed stable this week eating 2500-4000 Calories. Fat not only doesn't make me feel full but because I don't have a gall bladder it empties me out for around 24hours if I eat too much.2 -
I couldn't do it at all was absolutely starving. I increased to around 1500 and still lost. That 300 made a huge difference to me3
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WinoGelato wrote: »hydechildcare wrote: »I eat between 1200-1300 calories a day. Here is how to do it with out feeling hungry. Vegs lots and lots of vegs. Limit bread, rice, potatoes and you will be fine. My doctor told me 1200-1500 calories are what women need. She also told me to limit and very small quantities of starches. Before eating the starches on my diet of 1200 calories I would be hungry all day. Now I eat most veges and protein and do not feel hungry all day.
No offense, but your doctor was wrong. There are plenty of women on here (some in their 40s and 50s, btw) who have reached their healthy goal weight and maintain on over 2000 calories a day. I'm 44, 5'4" 130 lbs and I maintain on 1800 per day and lost weight on 1500.
Not directed at you but just in general, we need to stop perpetuating this myth that all women need to be borderline hungry while eating like little fragile birds to be a healthy weight. Your body needs fuel, fat, protein, and fiber to be strong and healthy and active. And the majority of women will need more than 1200 to achieve that, even while they are trying to lose weight.
I'll get off my soapbox now
I will take your place!
I'm 5'2 and over 40 with a desk job and maintaining my weight under 120 lbs with a TDEE of 2200. I lost my weight (> 30 lbs) eating between 1600-1900 calories/day. The simple fact is that most people, even petite women, don't need to go as low as 1200 to lose. They either buy into that magic number, or they've chosen too aggressive of a goal for themselves (2 lbs/week is not realistic for someone with less than 50 lbs to lose) or they aren't eating back exercise calories.
What happens time and again in these situations is that people think they have to go all out with a big calorie deficit, they convince themselves jay dieting is supposed to be miserable and it's ok to be hungry, and they end up not sticking with it.... perpetuating this yo yo cycle.
As the wise rabbit once said, "the winner is one who eats the most and still loses the weight"
Same here. I'm just shy of 5'2, over 50, with a desk job, and maintain under 115 lbs. I was losing on 1600-1900 calories/day. Current TDEE is ~2000.3 -
Hi all, I'm shooting for 1200/day. Over the last year, I've actually gained 3 lbs! : ( My issue is that I was actually eating WAY more - particularly fats - because I wasn't measuring. I started measuring and I'm like, "THAT'S a tablespoon???" Wake up call. So, I'm working on it.
Here's my snag. I hate meat. I'm working on eating fish and my dr has me drinking a protein shake each day. But it's fruit, soy milk and protein powder coming to - 300 calories. It does not fill me up so I have an ounce of almonds. This takes me up to 463. At breakfast. And while a piece of ezekiel bread with peanut butter and some fruit fills me up until lunch, the protein powder doesn't.
Are you tracking Fiber in your food diary? I swapped out Sugar and Sodium for Fiber and Iron (I'm anemic). Protein shakes alone don't fill me up either - I need fat and fiber in them as well.
Here are some combinations that I find very filling:
Any thoughts or ideas on this? I have been reading that it's less about calories and more about WHAT you're eating. If you eat 1,500 calories of veggies, meat and fats it impacts weight loss positively. If you've got refined carbs in there but you're eating 1,200/day you can gain. I don't know if this is a thing, but I'm asking
I would lose on 1200 calories of junk if I could stick to it, which I couldn't because 1200 isn't enough calories for me in the first place and I don't find junk filling at all. I could have 1200 calories worth of pizza or ice cream at a sitting and feel hungry again the same time I'd feel hungry after 400 calories of fish, potato, and broccoli.
Here's a meal suggestion for you - tuna, cottage cheese, lettuce, and lots of your favorite salad veggies. My tuna comes packed in oil otherwise I would add a little olive oil or mayo.2 -
Hi all, I'm shooting for 1200/day. Over the last year, I've actually gained 3 lbs! : ( My issue is that I was actually eating WAY more - particularly fats - because I wasn't measuring. I started measuring and I'm like, "THAT'S a tablespoon???" Wake up call. So, I'm working on it.
Here's my snag. I hate meat. I'm working on eating fish and my dr has me drinking a protein shake each day. But it's fruit, soy milk and protein powder coming to - 300 calories. It does not fill me up so I have an ounce of almonds. This takes me up to 463. At breakfast. And while a piece of ezekiel bread with peanut butter and some fruit fills me up until lunch, the protein powder doesn't.
Any thoughts or ideas on this? I have been reading that it's less about calories and more about WHAT you're eating. If you eat 1,500 calories of veggies, meat and fats it impacts weight loss positively. If you've got refined carbs in there but you're eating 1,200/day you can gain. I don't know if this is a thing, but I'm asking.
Calories count most for weight loss.
What you eat matters for nutrition and satiety.
I'm a vegetarian, and don't need to use protein shakes unless I'd like to, and I get plenty of protein.
Is there a reason your doctor has you on the protein shake other than getting supplemental protein?1 -
i'm only 5'2" so that's part of the reason I'm 1200-1400 calories per day. I used to always be hungry trying to eat this little...until keto. fat is the key to feeling full. It's not drinking tons and tons of water. It's satisfying your hunger. ketogains is a great resource.
I'm 5'1" and eating 1800 to create a 400 (or more) calorie deficit.
Height has nothing to do with how many calories you eat.
Also? I always used to be hungry and have mad cravings until I put more starch back in my diet. I wasn't properly fueling my workouts and my body was rebelling.
Starch is my key to feeling full.
I'm posting all of this to illustrate the statements about satiety can't be made in any way other than representing individual experience. Because satiety is completely individual.5 -
I've lost 37 pounds in a little over 90 days eating 1200 calories a day, no problems. But I'm only 5'3 and don't do any physical activity. Keep my protein up and carbs low- like under 120 a day.3
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I just started 1200 calories and below a few days ago plus exercise. I thought I was going to be hungry but surprisingly I'm not. For breakfast, 1 cup black tea or coffee, 1 cup nonfat milk, 1 serving whole wheat cereal. For lunch, 1 cup brown rice and 1 small fish with veggies and soup made from calamansi juice, it is like lemon. For dinner 2 slices of bread, 1 slice of turkey bacon,1 serving of butter or 1 cup nonfat milk and 1 serving of whole wheat cereal plus some tropical fruits. I would drink more than 8 glasses of water for the whole day.0
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I've been on JC and it's 1200 calories. I feel full all the time and sometimes can't even eat what I'm supposed to because I'm so full. I think it's just about what I chose to eat - before I was on this and on a 1200 calorie diet, I was starving. I think bread and sugars just make you hungrier.2
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5'3'' and currently 189lbs, with 54lbs to lose. I'm doing 1200 calories for a while and I feel fine. I eat at least 300-500g of vegetables daily, and my protein intake is high. I've cut down considerably on the carbs (but over 8 months' time) and my energy levels feel elevated. Some nights I am unable to finish my dinners as I feel stuffed, so I make sure to eat vegetables, protein and starch, in that order.
I am incredibly sedentary as I am studying for finals and living in a dangerous place that do not allow for roaming around (lions, hyenas, etc). Fortunately I am moving within two weeks, and would gradually up my exercise level. Whilst doing so I will also up my calorie intake, as needed. I do not want to maintain a 1200 calorie intake for the rest of my life because it feels very restrictive and would be a problem socially, so over time with added exercise and knowledge I will increase it.
As for now I am coping very comfortably with 1200, and I think my body needed the shock to get my metabolism going. I haven't been losing at all for three months when I was eating around 1500.
I am weighing and tracking every bite that I eat, so I am not actually eating more than 1200.2 -
FeelingAlive wrote: »5'3'' and currently 189lbs, with 54lbs to lose. I'm doing 1200 calories for a while and I feel fine. I eat at least 300-500g of vegetables daily, and my protein intake is high. I've cut down considerably on the carbs (but over 8 months' time) and my energy levels feel elevated. Some nights I am unable to finish my dinners as I feel stuffed, so I make sure to eat vegetables, protein and starch, in that order.
I am incredibly sedentary as I am studying for finals and living in a dangerous place that do not allow for roaming around (lions, hyenas, etc). Fortunately I am moving within two weeks, and would gradually up my exercise level. Whilst doing so I will also up my calorie intake, as needed. I do not want to maintain a 1200 calorie intake for the rest of my life because it feels very restrictive and would be a problem socially, so over time with added exercise and knowledge I will increase it.
As for now I am coping very comfortably with 1200, and I think my body needed the shock to get my metabolism going. I haven't been losing at all for three months when I was eating around 1500.
I am weighing and tracking every bite that I eat, so I am not actually eating more than 1200.
Lions and hyenas are the best excuse for not jogging I've ever heard! I just live in a neighborhood with gang activity, now I feel really whiny for complaining! Best of luck with your finals, and your weight loss.5 -
rheddmobile wrote: »FeelingAlive wrote: »5'3'' and currently 189lbs, with 54lbs to lose. I'm doing 1200 calories for a while and I feel fine. I eat at least 300-500g of vegetables daily, and my protein intake is high. I've cut down considerably on the carbs (but over 8 months' time) and my energy levels feel elevated. Some nights I am unable to finish my dinners as I feel stuffed, so I make sure to eat vegetables, protein and starch, in that order.
I am incredibly sedentary as I am studying for finals and living in a dangerous place that do not allow for roaming around (lions, hyenas, etc). Fortunately I am moving within two weeks, and would gradually up my exercise level. Whilst doing so I will also up my calorie intake, as needed. I do not want to maintain a 1200 calorie intake for the rest of my life because it feels very restrictive and would be a problem socially, so over time with added exercise and knowledge I will increase it.
As for now I am coping very comfortably with 1200, and I think my body needed the shock to get my metabolism going. I haven't been losing at all for three months when I was eating around 1500.
I am weighing and tracking every bite that I eat, so I am not actually eating more than 1200.
Lions and hyenas are the best excuse for not jogging I've ever heard! I just live in a neighborhood with gang activity, now I feel really whiny for complaining! Best of luck with your finals, and your weight loss.
Ah, South African problems lol. (Nah just kidding, I live on a game reserve so it doesn't apply to the country as a whole). Having the carnivores around can actually be quite good motivators for runners - IF you can run faster than them
Gang activity sounds horrid, though. All the best to you too! I'm going to forward and send you a friend request4 -
In the beginning of this journey for me (over a year ago) i started on 1200 calories and have lost over 75 pounds slowly. What I am now learning as I read and research, I probably have set myself up for a certain amount of struggle with my metabolism losing the weight on such low calories. I have been heavy lifting for 6 months now and have upped my calories to 1500 a day on non liftt days and more on those days. My weight loss has stalled but I am being patient, giving my body time to readjust to this. Learning how to fuel our bodies as opposed to feeding the beast....is a long road that cannot be cut short. good luck. BTW, I am 52 years old with a desk job. I had 100 pounds to lose so I am within 30 pounds of my goal.3
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Yup I'm doing it, I'm eating every couple of hours. Fruit, yogurt, string cheese, nuts, whole wheat toast. I'm not starving. I hope I can stick to it after I reach my goal weight but we will see
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Yup I'm doing it, I'm eating every couple of hours. Fruit, yogurt, string cheese, nuts, whole wheat toast. I'm not starving. I hope I can stick to it after I reach my goal weight but we will see
Be careful, if you stick to it after you reach your goal weight you will most likely continue losing.2 -
amusedmonkey wrote: »Yup I'm doing it, I'm eating every couple of hours. Fruit, yogurt, string cheese, nuts, whole wheat toast. I'm not starving. I hope I can stick to it after I reach my goal weight but we will see
Be careful, if you stick to it after you reach your goal weight you will most likely continue losing.
I don't plan on being as strict, I need to learn how to choose the right food and not just what taste great, like pizza and fries LOL0 -
amusedmonkey wrote: »Yup I'm doing it, I'm eating every couple of hours. Fruit, yogurt, string cheese, nuts, whole wheat toast. I'm not starving. I hope I can stick to it after I reach my goal weight but we will see
Be careful, if you stick to it after you reach your goal weight you will most likely continue losing.
I don't plan on being as strict, I need to learn how to choose the right food and not just what taste great, like pizza and fries LOL
If pizza and fries are wrong, I don't want to be right.... perhaps you could learn how to incorporate those foods in moderation in the context of calorie appropriate, overall balanced diet.3 -
WinoGelato wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Yup I'm doing it, I'm eating every couple of hours. Fruit, yogurt, string cheese, nuts, whole wheat toast. I'm not starving. I hope I can stick to it after I reach my goal weight but we will see
Be careful, if you stick to it after you reach your goal weight you will most likely continue losing.
I don't plan on being as strict, I need to learn how to choose the right food and not just what taste great, like pizza and fries LOL
If pizza and fries are wrong, I don't want to be right.... perhaps you could learn how to incorporate those foods in moderation in the context of calorie appropriate, overall balanced diet.
Yes that is what I am learning how to do. 1 -
Is there anyone who is losing weight who are surviving off of 1200 calories a day and when I say surviving I mean feeling full and satisfied .Also are you dropping two pounds a week from doing this ?
I have maintained 18 lb weight loss for past year or so with walking and goal of 1200 cals. I average about 1500 to 1800 cals actual intake which is still low for my body type. 1200 is always the goal.
I shop with meals in mind and do eat favorite foods. I'm not a regular snacker, mostly meals ..I try for 3 a day.
Portion control
Label Reading
My fitness pal
Stop when I reach those daily targets
Enjoy food
Enjoy exercise just as much
Water goal is a challenge but I keep water all around and it's my beverage of choice when dining out.
Do not weigh every day
Try again each day to eat better than the day before0 -
amusedmonkey wrote: »Yup I'm doing it, I'm eating every couple of hours. Fruit, yogurt, string cheese, nuts, whole wheat toast. I'm not starving. I hope I can stick to it after I reach my goal weight but we will see
Be careful, if you stick to it after you reach your goal weight you will most likely continue losing.
I don't plan on being as strict, I need to learn how to choose the right food and not just what taste great, like pizza and fries LOL
I love pizza and fries.. together...alone etc...but I have to decide if I want pizza or a soda? Can't have both or I eat veggie pizza or one less slice of pizza than usual. I delay food intake and try to see how it fits in my daily eating plan0
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