1200 calories daily!

catzZxx
catzZxx Posts: 13 Member
edited November 24 in Health and Weight Loss
Im struggling to eat 1200 calories daily! i have 2 protein shakes from protein world 1 for breakfast and dinner with 2 cups of green tea, then i have tea i wont eat much as i feel full quickly half a chicken breast and some veg but i cannot eat a full plate , i eat around 600-700 calories daily will i still lose weight ? I cant seem to eat 1200 calories a day like this app is suggesting quite hard for me. I drink alot of water and aloe vera juice any suggestions? Or help thank you
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Replies

  • catzZxx
    catzZxx Posts: 13 Member
    Thank you , yes i used to eat more calories before but junk food obviously, ive been ill for a couple of days and it seems my stomach has shrink as i haven’t eaten anything, i just had greek yogurt granola and fruits i only could eat 5 spoons i feel full and if i tried eating more i feel like im pushing my self into eating
  • catzZxx
    catzZxx Posts: 13 Member
    Thank you for your reply, 1200 calories seems alot to eat ive tried messing about with this app of foods and i cant never get the 1200 goal its always less i used to eat protein shake for breakfast and dinner then snacks i would have 2 boiled eggs and some fruit then tea chicken and veg and it still doesn't add up to 1200 calories
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,130 Member
    catzZxx wrote: »
    Thank you , yes i used to eat more calories before but junk food obviously, ive been ill for a couple of days and it seems my stomach has shrink as i haven’t eaten anything, i just had greek yogurt granola and fruits i only could eat 5 spoons i feel full and if i tried eating more i feel like im pushing my self into eating

    You seem to be in the common all-or-nothing diet mindset, we've all been there, thinking we have to make drastic changes to lose weight. You will be far more succesful if you eat in a way that doesn't make you miserable (or ill) and that you can sustain long term.

    First off check if 1200 is suitable for you, a lot of people set themselves too high of a deficit when they start out, then lose the shakes and log your normal food accurately for a couple of days and look at sensible ways to get from your normal intake to your calorie allowance, this could be things like:
    • Drinking less calories - if you drink a lot of sugary drinks or creamy drinks, consider switching to diet/low cal versions, water or tea.
    • Portion sizes - it's very easy to underestimate portion sizes particularly when it comes to things like cereal, potatoes, rice, pasta, etc. Weighing out the correct serving sizes can make a big difference.
    • Watching the use of oils and condiments in cooking - these are things that are often over-looked.
    • Finding more filling foods - bulking out meals with lower calorie filling foods, for example where you might have had steak and half a plate of chips before, you still have steak and some chips, but you control the portion of the chips and add some steamed veg or large salad.
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,130 Member
    Out of curiousity @catzZxx what are your stats (age, height & current weight)
  • catzZxx
    catzZxx Posts: 13 Member
    Thank you for your help 1 more thing , can i eat junk food as long as i only eat 1200 daily or will that wont work? So for example if i eat a sandwich and crips for lunch then chips and egg or something for tea and just say that adds up to 1200 will i still loose weight? And like you mentioned i dont know how much calories i can eat , i am around 5ft 3-4 and i weigh 11 stone 3 and im 21 years old , all i did was put them into this app and it said 1200 calories
  • claire52975
    claire52975 Posts: 21 Member
    I'm 5ft 3 and 9st 7 and it gives me 1,200 if I set it to lose 1lb/week (set at sedentary). I find it hard not to go over some days! But my average for the week is 1,250. I've lost 5lbs in 2 weeks. So could eat more if I wanted to lose weight at a more steady pace.
  • MissyCHF
    MissyCHF Posts: 337 Member
    edited January 2018
    My height and weight is similar to yours, I am 11st 2lbs There is a vast difference in our ages but I can eat the 1200 calories I am allowed! If you're in the UK & don't want to cook, M&S make some well balanced ready meals. Track them here on MFP. If I can do it so can you. Come on girl,you can do it! :smile:
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,130 Member
    Yes for weight loss you can still eat any food to make up your calories, it doesn't matter what it is.

    That said for good health and nutrition you need a balanced diet, but that doesn't mean you can't include the occasional packet of crisps. Don't demonise foods and you'll find you probably will have a much more healthy relationship with them. I have had my pizza and beer nights once per week through the week, chocolate most days and still lost as expected. The difference now is I have a smaller pizza or split it across 2 days, I eat a chocolate bar or chocolate protein bar that fits my calorie allowance and my macro requirements.

    It's the rate of loss (presumably you've chosen 2lbs per week) you choose as well that dictates your calorie allowance, with 10-15 pounds to lose to get to a healthy BMI you will probably find weight loss will be slow and you may only be able to achieve around 0.5-1lbs per week.

    Your maintenance at sedentary is around 1800 calories so you should be able to lose on 1300-1550 per day.
  • sytchequeen
    sytchequeen Posts: 526 Member
    Yes for weight loss you can still eat any food to make up your calories, it doesn't matter what it is.

    That said for good health and nutrition you need a balanced diet, but that doesn't mean you can't include the occasional packet of crisps.

    You just said what I was going to say.. :)

    Yes, a sandwich and crisps and chips and egg (if within your calorie limit) can fit into a weight loss plan, however good health is not the same as scale weight. Skinny-fat is a thing.
  • catzZxx
    catzZxx Posts: 13 Member
    Ahh thats great I thought you would have to eat healthy and boring haha, well im having my chinise night and beer tonight and im having a chinise omelette but that is only around 300-400 calories as i checked on here so not too bad and it will be under my calorie goal still!! Haha just cant get used to this diet a week ago i was scared on eating toast or cereal so id force myself not to have anything as i know bread it bad for you , i guess i could still eat my shakes well i have to now i have 2 tubs and i might aswell finish them or i lose money with some crips and chips or something just to add to the calories im missing , so is it 1300 calories daily i should eat?
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    Bread is not bad for you @catzZxx unless you have an intolerance personally to gluten/wheat.
    1300 calories if that's what MFP gave you then yes, that's what you should eat plus any exercise calories.
  • sytchequeen
    sytchequeen Posts: 526 Member
    catzZxx wrote: »
    i know bread it bad for you

    I avoid bread and pastry, because from experience I know if I eat it I can suffer from heartburn. Bread is bad for me. But that doesn't mean it is bad for you too! Yes, I watch my carb intake, but that is because that is MY way of monitoring what I eat, it isn't the only way.

  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,130 Member
    catzZxx wrote: »
    Ahh thats great I thought you would have to eat healthy and boring haha, well im having my chinise night and beer tonight and im having a chinise omelette but that is only around 300-400 calories as i checked on here so not too bad and it will be under my calorie goal still!! Haha just cant get used to this diet a week ago i was scared on eating toast or cereal so id force myself not to have anything as i know bread it bad for you , i guess i could still eat my shakes well i have to now i have 2 tubs and i might aswell finish them or i lose money with some crips and chips or something just to add to the calories im missing , so is it 1300 calories daily i should eat?

    Another diet myth - bread isn't bad for you! It's just not something you want to be eating as a meal, every meal because it's quite high calorie. Everything is fine in moderation!

    Nothing wrong with protein shakes to supplement your diet, they just aren't ideal as a meal.

    Go into goals and choose either 0.5 or 1lb per week loss which ever you prefer and it will update your calorie allowance.
  • marysabetournay
    marysabetournay Posts: 69 Member
    Wow, I have a hard time staying below 1470!!
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Keep in mind that is it already difficult enough to get the required nutrition(protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, fiber) your body needs on a diet less than 1200 calories, even if eating "good" food.

    So yes, you can lose weight eating 1200 calories of junk food, but you run a high risk of becoming malnourished by missing one or more of the components I mentioned above. If you are eating 3,000 cals to lose, it is much easier to fit in "junk" and you would most likely hit your daily nutrition requirements.

    So OP, once you are back to healthy I would urge you to eat nutrient dense foods for the majority of your diet. if your diet is only 1300 cals, that gives you about 100 calories worth of room for non nutrient-dense foods.
  • catzZxx
    catzZxx Posts: 13 Member
    @marysabetournay hmm i used to be like that but im motivated to my diet so everything i thought was bad i would not eat it i feel full easily my stomach dose not need food anymore its strange i will even get full with a cup of tea i could easily drink tea and no food , but im trying to eat my calorie intake now to see what happens when i hit the scales in a week cross fingers!
  • pattyhouse1970
    pattyhouse1970 Posts: 51 Member
    I'm 5' 5'5". I'm currently 144 pounds. I struggle to stay under 2000 calories. I cannot wrap my head around struggling to eat over 1200. My breakfast and lunch alone are usually more than that. I have a protein shake for breakfast (1 cup almond milk, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/2 cup strawberries, 1 scoop ProteinOne protein powder, 1/4 cup oatmeal). That alone is 310. Yesterday, I had a homemade crockpot breakfast casserole and it's over 700 calories. So every day this week (except for today), I've had over 1200 calories before I even thought about dinner.

    Slow and steady is better in my opinion to lose weight especially if you have a lot to lose. If you lose it fast, you will probably lose muscle and your skin will be flabby. I weighed 145 when my husband and I got married 19 years ago. I *look* smaller now because I've done strength training along with cardio, so I have more muscle. I still have days when I pick up my own jeans and wonder who they belong to. (BTW, I lost 45 pounds in the past year. All while eating a lot more than 1200 calories every day...some days I have over 3000-- and that's Not when I'm working out).

    Another thing I do is measure my food. Granted I was better at it when I first started last January then I am now, but I still measure a lot of my food. I have a decent scale I bought from Walmart. It helps. Then you know that you aren't going over or aren't going under.

    Get feeling better (I don't eat hardly at all when I'm sick ieither, but make up for it when I'm better). Then try some of the tips everyone gave you.
  • 1houndgal
    1houndgal Posts: 558 Member
    catzZxx wrote: »
    Im struggling to eat 1200 calories daily! i have 2 protein shakes from protein world 1 for breakfast and dinner with 2 cups of green tea, then i have tea i wont eat much as i feel full quickly half a chicken breast and some veg but i cannot eat a full plate , i eat around 600-700 calories daily will i still lose weight ? I cant seem to eat 1200 calories a day like this app is suggesting quite hard for me. I drink alot of water and aloe vera juice any suggestions? Or help thank you

    You are eating so little to fuel your body. Are you under a Dr's care? If not, you likely should be. Such a small amount of food intake is very concerning. Talk to your dr about your diet food intake.
  • 1houndgal
    1houndgal Posts: 558 Member
    catzZxx wrote: »
    Im struggling to eat 1200 calories daily! i have 2 protein shakes from protein world 1 for breakfast and dinner with 2 cups of green tea, then i have tea i wont eat much as i feel full quickly half a chicken breast and some veg but i cannot eat a full plate , i eat around 600-700 calories daily will i still lose weight ? I cant seem to eat 1200 calories a day like this app is suggesting quite hard for me. I drink alot of water and aloe vera juice any suggestions? Or help thank you
    catzZxx wrote: »
    Im struggling to eat 1200 calories daily! i have 2 protein shakes from protein world 1 for breakfast and dinner with 2 cups of green tea, then i have tea i wont eat much as i feel full quickly half a chicken breast and some veg but i cannot eat a full plate , i eat around 600-700 calories daily will i still lose weight ? I cant seem to eat 1200 calories a day like this app is suggesting quite hard for me. I drink alot of water and aloe vera juice any suggestions? Or help thank you

    How tall are you? How much do you weigh? Do you excercise or are you bed bound and how much? What are you sick with? I hope I am wrong, but I sense some serious red flags here. Hugs.
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,130 Member
    1houndgal wrote: »
    catzZxx wrote: »
    Im struggling to eat 1200 calories daily! i have 2 protein shakes from protein world 1 for breakfast and dinner with 2 cups of green tea, then i have tea i wont eat much as i feel full quickly half a chicken breast and some veg but i cannot eat a full plate , i eat around 600-700 calories daily will i still lose weight ? I cant seem to eat 1200 calories a day like this app is suggesting quite hard for me. I drink alot of water and aloe vera juice any suggestions? Or help thank you
    catzZxx wrote: »
    Im struggling to eat 1200 calories daily! i have 2 protein shakes from protein world 1 for breakfast and dinner with 2 cups of green tea, then i have tea i wont eat much as i feel full quickly half a chicken breast and some veg but i cannot eat a full plate , i eat around 600-700 calories daily will i still lose weight ? I cant seem to eat 1200 calories a day like this app is suggesting quite hard for me. I drink alot of water and aloe vera juice any suggestions? Or help thank you

    How tall are you? How much do you weigh? Do you excercise or are you bed bound and how much? What are you sick with? I hope I am wrong, but I sense some serious red flags here. Hugs.

    Read back through the rest of the thread all the info you're asking for is there. OP just had the common newb diet mentality that you have to live on rabbit food to lose weight, we've dispelled that now and she is aiming for a 1300 calorie balanced diet.
  • 1houndgal
    1houndgal Posts: 558 Member
    edited January 2018
    catzZxx wrote: »
    Thank you , yes i used to eat more calories before but junk food obviously, ive been ill for a couple of days and it seems my stomach has shrink as i haven’t eaten anything, i just had greek yogurt granola and fruits i only could eat 5 spoons i feel full and if i tried eating more i feel like im pushing my self into eating
    catzZxx wrote: »
    Thank you , yes i used to eat more calories before but junk food obviously, ive been ill for a couple of days and it seems my stomach has shrink as i haven’t eaten anything, i just had greek yogurt granola and fruits i only could eat 5 spoons i feel full and if i tried eating more i feel like im pushing my self into eating

    I think if you are sick you should end the (low calorie diet), as it could well be the reason you are not well.

    Try eating calorie dense foods for snacks and meals. And chicken noodle soup through out the day.

    If you don't eat much food, your body has a hard time assimilating your food. Your stomach can even get paralyzed (gastroparesis), which can make you feel ill and full too soon.

    I do hope you see a dr. Have you ever had an eating disorder?
  • 1houndgal
    1houndgal Posts: 558 Member
    1houndgal wrote: »
    catzZxx wrote: »
    Im struggling to eat 1200 calories daily! i have 2 protein shakes from protein world 1 for breakfast and dinner with 2 cups of green tea, then i have tea i wont eat much as i feel full quickly half a chicken breast and some veg but i cannot eat a full plate , i eat around 600-700 calories daily will i still lose weight ? I cant seem to eat 1200 calories a day like this app is suggesting quite hard for me. I drink alot of water and aloe vera juice any suggestions? Or help thank you
    catzZxx wrote: »
    Im struggling to eat 1200 calories daily! i have 2 protein shakes from protein world 1 for breakfast and dinner with 2 cups of green tea, then i have tea i wont eat much as i feel full quickly half a chicken breast and some veg but i cannot eat a full plate , i eat around 600-700 calories daily will i still lose weight ? I cant seem to eat 1200 calories a day like this app is suggesting quite hard for me. I drink alot of water and aloe vera juice any suggestions? Or help thank you

    How tall are you? How much do you weigh? Do you excercise or are you bed bound and how much? What are you sick with? I hope I am wrong, but I sense some serious red flags here. Hugs.

    Read back through the rest of the thread all the info you're asking for is there. OP just had the common newb diet mentality that you have to live on rabbit food to lose weight, we've dispelled that now and she is aiming for a 1300 calorie balanced diet.
    1houndgal wrote: »
    catzZxx wrote: »
    Im struggling to eat 1200 calories daily! i have 2 protein shakes from protein world 1 for breakfast and dinner with 2 cups of green tea, then i have tea i wont eat much as i feel full quickly half a chicken breast and some veg but i cannot eat a full plate , i eat around 600-700 calories daily will i still lose weight ? I cant seem to eat 1200 calories a day like this app is suggesting quite hard for me. I drink alot of water and aloe vera juice any suggestions? Or help thank you
    catzZxx wrote: »
    Im struggling to eat 1200 calories daily! i have 2 protein shakes from protein world 1 for breakfast and dinner with 2 cups of green tea, then i have tea i wont eat much as i feel full quickly half a chicken breast and some veg but i cannot eat a full plate , i eat around 600-700 calories daily will i still lose weight ? I cant seem to eat 1200 calories a day like this app is suggesting quite hard for me. I drink alot of water and aloe vera juice any suggestions? Or help thank you

    How tall are you? How much do you weigh? Do you excercise or are you bed bound and how much? What are you sick with? I hope I am wrong, but I sense some serious red flags here. Hugs.

    Read back through the rest of the thread all the info you're asking for is there. OP just had the common newb diet mentality that you have to live on rabbit food to lose weight, we've dispelled that now and she is aiming for a 1300 calorie balanced diet.

    Our posts crossed. I read the thread before the stats were revealed.
  • toxikon
    toxikon Posts: 2,383 Member
    edited January 2018
    If you can't reach 1200, add more healthy fats and proteins to your diet! Nut butters, avocado, butter, oils, red meats... :)
  • MissyCHF
    MissyCHF Posts: 337 Member
    toxikon wrote: »
    If you can't reach 1200, add more healthy fats and proteins to your diet! Nut butters, avocado, butter, oils, red meats... :)

    The OP has increased her calories, read the thread.

  • toxikon
    toxikon Posts: 2,383 Member
    MissyCHF wrote: »
    toxikon wrote: »
    If you can't reach 1200, add more healthy fats and proteins to your diet! Nut butters, avocado, butter, oils, red meats... :)

    The OP has increased her calories, read the thread.

    I did read it...? I was just giving OP some ideas on some high-calorie, nutrient-dense foods she could add to her diet.
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