1200 cals

zummerzet_lou
zummerzet_lou Posts: 159 Member
edited October 2 in Food and Nutrition
Help ... am trying to keep to 1200 cals a day, and yet again without eating dinner I've eaten my quota!

Need some low-cal food ideas please

Replies

  • juliapurpletoes
    juliapurpletoes Posts: 951 Member
    I only have one friend on 1200 cals and she is 4'8".....

    You only have 3 kg to lose....unless you are very petite, you may be trying to create TOO MUCH of a deficit......rethink your plan! and eat more so you don't go crazy.

    research this site, you will learn alot :)
  • ellie527
    ellie527 Posts: 7
    I have trouble eating enough to even reach 1000 most days! I usually just eat eggs, meat/fish and veg.
  • joanneeee
    joanneeee Posts: 311 Member
    I only have one friend on 1200 cals and she is 4'8".....

    You only have 3 kg to lose....unless you are very petite, you may be trying to create TOO MUCH of a deficit......rethink your plan! and eat more so you don't go crazy.

    research this site, you will learn alot :)

    QFT
  • CindiBryce
    CindiBryce Posts: 438
    I have trouble eating enough to even reach 1000 most days! I usually just eat eggs, meat/fish and veg.

    What? I could easily eat 1,000 in two meals. Sometimes more.
  • picinina
    picinina Posts: 76
    I'm 5ft and on 1200cals a day, aiming to lose another 7kgs (just to get with in a healthy BMI). If you're over, no big deal... just put your cross-trainers on and go for a run :)

    Good luck
    Picinina
  • shonasteele
    shonasteele Posts: 473
    If you're just starting out, change your goal to give you more calories (less of a loss) and ease into it. It made all the difference in the world to me starting out.

    Also, eat more veggies; make sure what you're eating has some fibre and/or protein in it to keep you full; lose most of the condiments and what you can't lose, replace with lighter versions; do some exercise to earn you more calories; lose the rice and pasta and potatoes, they're all killer on the calories; if you drink pop or juice, cut it out too, it's wasted calories.
  • deepac456
    deepac456 Posts: 18
    If you want to focus on 1200 cals a day then you have to plan your meals.

    Take makes approx 500 cal three times.

    Divide these properly in your breakfast,lunch and dinner making sure that each of it does not cross 500 cals.

    Even if you want to eat more you can any time exercise and gain more calories (without guilty since you had already compensated for the extra calories you will be eating) isn't it?
  • TWood10
    TWood10 Posts: 41 Member
    Small snacks and smaller meals have helped me--my meals are usually under 300 calories each...and then each snack about 100 caloories. I have the laughing cow cheese and just a few crackers for a snack--or 1/4 can tuna (with some boiled egg in it) with a few crackers for a snack. For meals--i do a lean cuisine for one meal most days (out of convenience) and then things like talapia and broccoli, turkey meatloaf and side salad, morningstar's chicken patty with bread, etc...that's how I do it, hope that helps!
  • KariQuiteContrary
    KariQuiteContrary Posts: 274 Member
    Well I was on 1200 Calories a day when I first started trying to lose weight however I usually ended up eating 1400-1600, because I ate back my exercise calories (only if I earned them obviously). I always keep a lot of high protein/low fat stuff around. Egg white omelets, greek yogurt (chobani or fage), 1% milkfat cottage cheese, activia light, blue diamond chocolate almonds, laughing cow cheese wedges (I LOVE mine with wheatables), lowfat cheese sticks, and VEGGIES galore (think grape tomatoes, cucumber, celery, baby carrots, sugar snap peas, etc). You'd be surprised how much food you can cram into a 1200 calorie allowance if you pic the right things. :)
  • MaryEffingPoppins
    MaryEffingPoppins Posts: 371 Member
    Here are some tasty ones



    http://www.self.com/goal/bootcamp/eat-your-way-slim
  • michedarnd
    michedarnd Posts: 207 Member
    I'm on 1200, too. For most weekdays, I just exercise the extra calories I eat off. I haven't managed to stay that low ONCE. It IMMEDIATELY put me at 5x/week exercising. On the weekends, when I have the kids full-time, I can just eat two meals, but I can't stay that low, right now. I just do a lot of cardio and weight training.

    I have a fair stock of Herbalife shakes. That's what keeps me from going over the adjusted amount with exercise. One meal a day is a shake, often times.

    I could probably stay lower if I had maintained the carbohydrate count recommended, but I don't lose weight with a lot of carbs. I need a higher percentage of protein, so the calorie count is REALLY hard for me to do.

    As deepac456 said, you have to plan your meals. Planning the day is the first thing I do every morning.

    Good luck! 1200 is almost ridiculously difficult to maintain.
  • Treed79
    Treed79 Posts: 28 Member
    I have trouble too. You just have to exercise and then you can eat the calories that you burn. My favorite meal is a Taco salad. I use about 2 c salad,1/8 c mexican cheese, 1/4 c salsa, 3 tbl olives, 1/4 c refried beans about 12 crushed tortilla chips and then about 3 tbl fat free sour cream. That fills me and it's around 400 cal. If I'm realy pinched for calories I leave out the refried beans. Then it's only like 340 cal. Good luck! You'll get a handle on it. It's all about retraining your body.
  • KatJette
    KatJette Posts: 5 Member
    Hi,

    First, check your profile and make sure you have set reasonable goals.

    Second, the closer you stay to natural foods, the better you'll succeed at eating your fill at 1200 calories. Avoid high cal, low volume foods like starches (bread, potatoes, rice). These are good in small quantities, but they are killers on the calorie counts. Eat lean proteins and fresh fruit and veggies. Stay away from high calorie cooking methods like deep frying or pan frying. Processed or prepackage food is also dangerous--read the labels well.

    One trick I use is to enter all the food I plan on eating that day before I eat it so I can tweak the foods to meet my calorie, carb, and protein goals for the day. That gives me a template to follow that I can change if I change my mind about what to eat during the day. At least it gives me something to base my food decisions on.

    If you find that you are still busting the calorie counts, exercise! Even a 60 minute slow walk can give you the extra calories you need.

    Good luck! You can do this!
  • Care563
    Care563 Posts: 61 Member
    I have trouble eating enough to even reach 1000 most days! I usually just eat eggs, meat/fish and veg.

    What? I could easily eat 1,000 in two meals. Sometimes more.

    seriously? I could eat 1000 in ONE meal :)
    I had 6 brazil nuts and they were 167 calories...that was SIX nuts. If I had 30 nuts it would of been over 1000....
  • dihar2
    dihar2 Posts: 29 Member
    I stay (most days) between 1200-1300 calories but I do not count non-starchy veg calories in that 1200. I make a green smoothie in the morning loaded with these veg and have a reasonable amount of steamed or baked veg at supper. My 1200 consists of my protein fat almond milk yogurt fruit etc. Works for me.
  • nrvo
    nrvo Posts: 473 Member
    0% Greek yogurt, edamame, extra-lean ground turkey, seasonal fruits & veggies, air-popped popcorn (or 100-cal bags), hard-boiled egg whites, water, water, water!
  • mathewb001
    mathewb001 Posts: 11
    Thanks to MFP, if I didn't exercise I would starve! :-p
  • ellie527
    ellie527 Posts: 7
    I have trouble eating enough to even reach 1000 most days! I usually just eat eggs, meat/fish and veg.

    What? I could easily eat 1,000 in two meals. Sometimes more.

    seriously? I could eat 1000 in ONE meal :)
    I had 6 brazil nuts and they were 167 calories...that was SIX nuts. If I had 30 nuts it would of been over 1000....

    I dunno, I thought I was doing something wrong in the calculating but I've triple checked.. I just eat til I'm full (good things, not crap) and it rarely goes over 1000 calories.. Maybe I just don't have a big appetite, I don't know
  • kristinathenina
    kristinathenina Posts: 142
    I am on 1200 a day, and am always full after every meal, feel free to friend me so that you can take a look at my diary. Try to make sure your eating the right foods, lowering fat and eating lean proteins.
  • kkellam1
    kkellam1 Posts: 182 Member
    I am on 1200 a day, and am always full after every meal, feel free to friend me so that you can take a look at my diary. Try to make sure your eating the right foods, lowering fat and eating lean proteins.

    Agreed. I have done an average of 1200 a day since February. It isn't hard if you stick to lean proteins and fresh veggies. Stay away from anything in a box or a can. Cook fresh and skip sauces. You can eat a tremendous amount of food and keep meals in the 3-400 range. Experiment, read, try new things. Eliminate the high calorie foods that dont fill you up. Honestly, I feel like I eat better tasting food and more of it than most people I know. You can do 1200 easily with planning.

    Of course, a big question is if 1200 is appropriate. For me it isnt about hitting that arbitrary number. That is just where my meals take me and it has been a comfortable range for me. If i eat more or less in a given day, so be it. How many calories to eat is a controversial topic here and I won't even attempt to offer advice on that. That is a personal decision to make.

    I could easily eat 1000 calorie meals also, but that is what got me overweight in the first place. Once I developed new habits, I found I can be really full of healthy foods and have consumed 300 or so in a meal.
  • michedarnd
    michedarnd Posts: 207 Member
    Just discovered the gem, Mahi Mahi -- high protein, LOW fat, 100 calories per 4 oz.
  • Richard170
    Richard170 Posts: 37
    I like Mahi Mahi but it is LOW fat so I eat Salmon a lot more often.
  • joeygirl84
    joeygirl84 Posts: 224 Member
    I try to eat foods that are really filling.
    Almonds for snacks...

    Salad with some chicken and light dressing... it's a low calorie amount really..

    Yogurt... cheese sticks... Snack on veggies...

    It's just a matter of getting rid of all the crappy food that have high calorie amounts and really do't fill you up. It's not easy at first but you'll appreciate it later :)
  • AnnieJ63
    AnnieJ63 Posts: 2 Member
    I eat yogurt for lunch and a Lean Gourmet type lunch, trying to keep the total calories between the two between 300-400. I treat myself to a skinny cow ice cream when I get home from work. This allows a good supper and maybe a snack with the extra 800 calories that I have to work with. Strawberries, sugar free cool whip and sugar free angel food cake are an awesome filler for low calories. This schedule works great for the work week, but has taken discipline.

    The weekend is harder, but I look hard for treats. McDonalds oatmeal is tasty and super filling for 250 calories. The fruit parfait is only 130 without the granola. Hang in and be resourceful, it keeps getting easier.
  • pa_jorg
    pa_jorg Posts: 4,404 Member
    Personally I think 1200 is too low. But if that is your aim, you should probably consider NETTING 1200, not just eating 1200.
  • 27strange
    27strange Posts: 837 Member
    If you are going to stick to 1200 calories you really have to plan out your meals. In order to get all the nutrient your body needs and so that 1200 is filling you enough without being hungry you have to eat the right things in the right amounts - this takes planning.

    If on 1200 calories I would suggest eating 5-6 mini-meals a day. Breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, evening snack. You will be eating less more often but it will keep you from getting too hungry and then gorging yourself. Also it will supply your body with energy throughout the day.

    You need to eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies. Low calories but feel you up and give you energy and essential nutrients.
    Great snacks also include yogurts, almonds, peanut butter. These foods are filling and don't have a lot of empty calories that leave you hungry in an hour.

    Also, drink tons of water 8-12 cups a day. Water gives you energy and fills you up! Water is important.

    When I first started out I did 1200 a day to jolt my body and get me in a better mindset....a typical day looked like:

    Breakfast 170cals: 1 egg and a banana
    Morning Snack 80cals: 1 light/nonfat 6oz yogurt
    Lunch 300 cals: turkey sandwich on whole wheat with lots of veggies (no condiments no cheese)
    Afternoon snack 100cals: carrot sticks and fresh fruit (an apple, cantaloupe, watermelon, grapes, etc)
    Dinner 450cals: chicken breast and brown rice. Fresh/frozen veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, etc)
    Evening snack 100cals: popcorn, more fruit or veggies, a yogurt, some almonds, etc

    This was plenty filling for me and didn't leave me hungry. I drank nothing but water and consumed 2 cups with each meal along with 2-4 more cups with my workouts.
  • nickiben
    nickiben Posts: 117 Member
    I was eating 1200, and not losing anything. I upped it to 1400 and started to lose weight. Make sure you eat your exercise calories, or do more exercise to get more calorie allowance
  • kkellam1
    kkellam1 Posts: 182 Member
    I should have mentioned this in an earlier post, but check out this link. I started this months ago and it's amazing the response to it. It's now on part 3. Honestly I haven't read it in a while, but start at the beginning and you'll see some amazing food ideas from a lot of contributors that will give you ideas for low calorie meals. You will see that you don't have to starve yourself to eat low cal, low fat. Most people have posted pics plus some basic calorie and nutrient info. Hope this helps.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/249225-what-do-your-meals-look-like-let-me-see-pics
  • michedarnd
    michedarnd Posts: 207 Member
    The biggest thing that I do is to nearly eliminate grains. I seldom do bread or pasta. I eat a potato ONCE IN A WHILE, but mostly, it's low-fat proteins, fruit, vegetables, eggs, and dairy.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories