1200 Calorie Buddies?
ChampagneAndCherries
Posts: 4 Member
I’ve recently jumped back in the game (I got engaged a week ago- talk about motivation!) and am working a 1200 calorie goal.
I’d love to be “friends” with anyone else in the 1200 range who are also willing to share their diary- I’m interested in what your daily food choices look like and help support each other!!
I’d love to be “friends” with anyone else in the 1200 range who are also willing to share their diary- I’m interested in what your daily food choices look like and help support each other!!
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Replies
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Looking at your picture, you don’t look like you have much to lose. How did you decide on 1200 calories? That’s the bare minimum allowed for women.
What did mfp assign you, what rate of loss did you choose and how much do you have to lose?10 -
Hello! Also on 1200 calories, but I wouldn't recommend taking my diary as a basis, it's a bit all over the place at the moment! I would say that 1200 is not a lot at all and it disappears quickly - I check and log foods before I eat them so I can make a better choice if needs be (lesson learnt the day I ate 4 Lindt choc balls, realised they were 400 calories and then had to skip dinner lol!)4
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My MFP goal is 1220 calories (to lose .5 lb/week) - that's before any exercise. I eat about 1350 calories and I'm on goal for loss - 12.5 lbs in 6 months.
If you have less than 25 pounds to lose, you should set your goal to .5 lb/week. You should also eat back exercise calories, or at least half of them until you figure out if your loss is on track which usually takes 4-6 weeks of data.
My diary is open to friends. I'm always interested in new friends with open diaries, healthy weight loss strategies, and a desire for mutual support.
😀😀😀8 -
Hey OP, I'm just like you! I restarted on MFP in November 2017 after getting engaged, and I've been on 1,200 goal ever since. I lost 70lbs by my 12/28/2018 wedding date but am now at a 55-ish net calorie loss total.
I'll be honest, it is hard to stay under 1,200 calories. I don't eat breakfast, just a hot cocoa mid-morning at work. Lunch is small, under 300 calories. I have an afternoon snack at work, under 200 calories. Then dinner is my big meal that is usually 500-700 calories with a meat and protein, sometimes rice/quinoa. My diary is open.
Most days I do 30-60 minutes of cardio, so I do eat some of those exercise calories back. Especially after dinner or on the weekends. I don't eat all of them back because I think the machines over-estimate my burn and I like to ensure I maintain a deficit.
Good luck! Adding you as a friend
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@ellie117 - 1200 is an absolute minimum number of calories you should be eating. You should not be staying under 1200 a day.8
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Looking at your picture, you don’t look like you have much to lose. How did you decide on 1200 calories? That’s the bare minimum allowed for women.
What did mfp assign you, what rate of loss did you choose and how much do you have to lose?
OP has about 72 more pounds to lose according to their profile. A 2 lb/week rate of loss may still be appropriate, but switching to a 1.5 lb/week rate would probably be a good idea.7 -
Shortgirlrunning wrote: »@ellie117 - 1200 is an absolute minimum number of calories you should be eating. You should not be staying under 1200 a day.
Sorry, I shouldn't have phrased it as "under" 1,200 a day. I meant it's hard to not go over. I do not eat less than 1,200 nor do I advocate eating less than that.2 -
I’m a 57 yo on 1200 and it is harder for me to lose weight due to age and Bad joints. It is easier to do 1200 with eating home cooking in stir fries with shrimp/chicken, vegetable mixes, brown rice instead of white, and actual measuring food. Packaging says portions in container are more than actual in package. Due your big meal more at noon. I find in my diet I have a tendency to lack fat or protein, so I eat an hard boil egg for a snack or a individual snack envelope of tuna.0
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Also, sub in riced cauliflower for rice and eat sweet potato instead of white.2
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I love my white rice. You would have to pry it from my cold dead hands. 💀8
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llamakisses9896 wrote: »I’m a 57 yo on 1200 and it is harder for me to lose weight due to age and Bad joints. It is easier to do 1200 with eating home cooking in stir fries with shrimp/chicken, vegetable mixes, brown rice instead of white, and actual measuring food. Packaging says portions in container are more than actual in package. Due your big meal more at noon. I find in my diet I have a tendency to lack fat or protein, so I eat an hard boil egg for a snack or a individual snack envelope of tuna.llamakisses9896 wrote: »Also, sub in riced cauliflower for rice and eat sweet potato instead of white.
Raw sweet potato has slightly more calories per gram than raw russet potato. Raw brown and white rice have nearly the same calorie count per gram. You can sub one for the other if you prefer the taste, if one option helps you feel full, or if one option helps you meet nutritional goals, but calorie count alone does not justify this advice.
Additionally, don’t “measure” your food. Weigh it using a food scale. Measuring cups and spoons are not accurate ways to gauge calorie intake.7 -
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I'm in the 1200 calorie boat as well. I am always looking for ideas to supplement my diet and change it up.
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My goal calorie limit is higher than that, but I easily stay at 1200 calories when I do the 16/8 intermittent fasting trick. Basically I stop eating at 7 or 8 pm and don't eat again until 11am or noon. This helps with hunger and cravings as well. I don't do the 16/8 every day, more like 3 times per week. But it might be a good option to consider. A quick google search will show you all the benefits of intermittent fasting. God bless you and your health goals!1
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I love my white rice. You would have to pry it from my cold dead hands. 💀
Haha, you can have all my white rice, and even brown rice. For some reason white rice is one of the foods that sends my blood sugar sky rocketing. So last year I gave it up, very sadly. Every once in awhile I sneak in some white baked and or baked sweet potatoe. I have found at times really annoying which foods can sky rocket blood sugar. But for me rice, even more so than pasta.1 -
My goal calorie limit is higher than that, but I easily stay at 1200 calories when I do the 16/8 intermittent fasting trick.
@ploomka
I don’t do IF, although I naturally eat within an 8 hour window.
Forgive me if I’m wrong, but my understanding of IF is that you still eat all of your calories but within a precise window of time.
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My goal calorie limit is higher than that, but I easily stay at 1200 calories when I do the 16/8 intermittent fasting trick.
@ploomka
I don’t do IF, although I naturally eat within an 8 hour window.
Forgive me if I’m wrong, but my understanding of IF is that you still eat all of your calories but within a precise window of time.
Nope, you're right. You're still supposed to eat all your calories. I think IF is a good way to stay that low, tho, since you're kind of eating everything at once. Sort of. 1 -
Looking at your picture, you don’t look like you have much to lose. How did you decide on 1200 calories? That’s the bare minimum allowed for women.
What did mfp assign you, what rate of loss did you choose and how much do you have to lose?
You’re kind! My BMI is 32, so I have about 50 lbs to lose to get to the “healthy” range. I’ve already consulted with my doctor and dietician who advised me that with my lifestyle, 1200 cals per day was healthy and reasonable.5 -
Forgive me if I’m wrong, but my understanding of IF is that you still eat all of your calories but within a precise window of time.
I misspoke. Actually what I meant was I have a hard time eating more than 1200 in my window. I’m not trying to stay under a certain amount.
That said, as far as calorie consumption on IF, if you are not fasting every day, it is natural (and good) to fluctuate your calories. Many people eat either no calories or under 500 calories on fasting days. I think it actually makes perfect evolutionary sense, as this is more in line with how most animals have always eaten.
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We are no longer cavemen. I personally don’t buy into the whole fasting thing. That’s just how I feel. I’ll do me, you do you. 😉
Do what works for you as long as it’s safe.6 -
Forgive me if I’m wrong, but my understanding of IF is that you still eat all of your calories but within a precise window of time.
I misspoke. Actually what I meant was I have a hard time eating more than 1200 in my window. I’m not trying to stay under a certain amount.
That said, as far as calorie consumption on IF, if you are not fasting every day, it is natural (and good) to fluctuate your calories. Many people eat either no calories or under 500 calories on fasting days. I think it actually makes perfect evolutionary sense, as this is more in line with how most animals have always eaten.
If you are talking about 5:2 - to clarify. There are 2 - 600 calorie days and 5 MAINTENANCE days. This averages out to a moderate weekly deficit for most.
If someone is eating zero calories days, then this wouldn't likely be a moderate weekly deficit. One of the issues with aggressive dieting is a higher % of lean muscle loss. Healthy weight loss lowers your body fat %. Intermittent fasting doesn't protect you from lean muscle loss.
Re: your previous post.....Google IF for all the "benefits." Don't believe everything you read. The vast majority of the so-called benefits aren't proven. They are merely anecdotal results. The problem with "my results were this" is the benefits likely had many reasons. Example - weight loss can result in better blood pressure, no matter the method. Adding regular exercise can lower blood sugar, even without weight loss. Someone selling a diet book has an agenda. They are going to chalk up 100% of the "benefits" to the diet they are selling.3 -
We sure aren’t!
That said, 3 meals a day didn’t become standard until the industrial revolution, and grazing and +3 meals per day is a 20th century invention.
IF and calorie intake fluctuations have been shown in many studies to increase BMR. There’s even some interesting studies regarding longer fasts, but I’m not really game for that, at least not at this point in my life. I’ve had great success with IF personally, but it’s not for everyone. It’s important for each individual to listen to their own body, hunger cues, and progress, and adjust accordingly.3 -
We sure aren’t! That said, 3 meals a day didn’t become standard until the industrial revolution, and grazing and +3 meals per day is a 20th century invention.
IF and calorie intake fluctuations have been shown in many studies to increase BMR. There’s even some interesting studies regarding longer fasts, but I’m not really game for that, at least not at this point in my life. I’ve had great success with IF personally, but it’s not for everyone. It’s important for each individual to listen to their own body, hunger cues, and progress, and adjust accordingly.
Speaking as a sociology professor with a degree in biology, please stop using pseudoscience to justify your personal food preferences. You can follow whatever eating plan you want. However, what is considered a “typical” and “healthy” eating pattern has varied considerably across history and cultures. Some groups have traditionally eaten one meal a day, others have traditionally eaten differently. It is also worth keeping in mind that the human lifespan used to be much shorter, and that we now live longer due largely to better nutrition and better sanitation.15 -
We sure aren’t! That said, 3 meals a day didn’t become standard until the industrial revolution, and grazing and +3 meals per day is a 20th century invention.
IF and calorie intake fluctuations have been shown in many studies to increase BMR. There’s even some interesting studies regarding longer fasts, but I’m not really game for that, at least not at this point in my life. I’ve had great success with IF personally, but it’s not for everyone. It’s important for each individual to listen to their own body, hunger cues, and progress, and adjust accordingly.
Speaking as a sociology professor with a degree in biology, please stop using pseudoscience to justify your personal food preferences. You can follow whatever eating plan you want. However, what is considered a “typical” and “healthy” eating pattern has varied considerably across history and cultures. Some groups have traditionally eaten one meal a day, others have traditionally eaten differently. It is also worth keeping in mind that the human lifespan used to be much shorter, and that we now live longer due largely to better nutrition and better sanitation.
I was just going to comment the bold statement.
For the 1200 calorie crew healthy eating and fitness should be a lifestyle you adopt. Is a 1200 calorie diet sustainable? Is intermittent fasting? Weight loss takes awhile. Can take a lifetime really...don't go for the quick fix do what will be viable long term.2 -
We can agree to disagree. I will continue to make my choices using research, data, and my personal experiences. The fact that something makes sense to me because it aligns with historical and evolutionary principles is a bonus.5
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I think you have to decide what your personal strengths are and use those. If you are insecure and have low self esteem, that can be a strength. Go to WW or any program where you have to get up and step on the scale in front of a crowd.
If you do well with denial and restriction then fasting and Keto are your friends.
If you are a person who enjoys you own choices and likes to treat yourself then CC is the way since you can substitute lobster for pork chops and get to your 1200 calorie target that way.3 -
I've seen this here and on other forums of various types, the OP didn't ask anyone to critique or advice based on your research or opinions, she was looking for like minded people to join her and share, GO BACK AND READ THE FIRST POST, too many wannabee nutritionist imposing their views.
I'm an intermittent faster, on a 1000-1200 daily goal, feel free to add me as a friend for recipes or chat, no judgement.7 -
For those interested, here are 4 published medical studies on intermittent fasting, including some data suggesting that intermittent fasting increased fat loss, and all data indicating that IF results in either less muscle loss or equal muscle loss to other calorie restriction methods. Would love to read other published data on the subject, if you have something to support or refute this research.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27708846
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19793855
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20921964
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/277376744
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