Reaching 1200 calories

ashleyhardy08
ashleyhardy08 Posts: 9
in Food and Nutrition
I've been doing the lean cuisine diet; eating a small breakfast and a lean cuisine meal for lunch and dinner, and small healthy snacks in-between. But as if lately I've been only eating when I feel hungry and my body doesn't show signs that I'm hungry until I start to feel nauseous. I've been forcing myself lately to reach my 1200 calorie goal limit and it's been hard.I usually only eat about 800 calories a day. I feel like I'm forcing myself to eat. Is there anyway to overcome this? I feel like I'm going to have to start eating higher calorie meals in order to reach my 1200 calorie goal but i want to eat healthy.
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Replies

  • FitBirdie
    FitBirdie Posts: 2 Member
    This is also a challenge for me. I usually eat around 700-900 calories a day, so I am trying to slowly increase my caloric intake while making sure I'm eating the right foods for good nutrition.
  • cherrytulips
    cherrytulips Posts: 109
    I've been doing the lean cuisine diet; eating a small breakfast and a lean cuisine meal for lunch and dinner, and small healthy snacks in-between. But as if lately I've been only eating when I feel hungry and my body doesn't show signs that I'm hungry until I start to feel nauseous. I've been forcing myself lately to reach my 1200 calorie goal limit and it's been hard.I usually only eat about 800 calories a day. I feel like I'm forcing myself to eat. Is there anyway to overcome this? I feel like I'm going to have to start eating higher calorie meals in order to reach my 1200 calorie goal but i want to eat healthy.
    I am in the same boat. And even after forcing myself to eat peanutbutter, a banana, and milk, i still barely make 1100 cals. I don't know why it's happening
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    Just a quick FYI that this post will not go well.
    So on with it...

    Most 1200 calorie diets fall below your BMR.
    This is bad.
    You lose lean mass as well as fat.

    Boost the calories up to 1600 a day and lose the same weight at a more sustainable level and you not only get better nutrients but your energy levels will be high enough to get the best from your training.

    As you lose weight and improve lean mass you will be able to eat more.
  • Kbtucker3
    Kbtucker3 Posts: 5
    At first it was hard for me to only eat 1200 calories and now I am having a hard time making 1200 calories; it just seems like so much food to eat. Some days I make the goal and most days I fall below 1200 calories eaten.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    but i want to eat healthy.

    so ditch the lean cuisine.
  • jamielise2
    jamielise2 Posts: 432 Member
    Everyone struggles at different levels, and things that work for one person will not work for someone else. Having said that, what works for me is keeping my body guessing. So I try to make sure my net calories never go below 1200, but some days I can't eat enough. So for me, as long as the majority of days are between 1100-1400, I cut myself some slack. Try adding some string cheese or some salad with your entree (and don't worry about fat free dressing) to bulk up and add some calories.
  • kmaurath
    kmaurath Posts: 3 Member
    I agree with the above poster about ditching the LC. Also, try introducing more natural, whole foods that have more nutrition versus the stripped diet-type non fat, low caloric foods
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Eat more calorie dense foods instead of worrying over volume. And ditch lean cuisine if you can. If you make your own meal not only can you make it taste good to you (those things taste like cardboard to me) but you can control the calorie content. You don't have to eat diet food. And if you gradually add in your calories your stomach will stretch to accommodate, over time. It was hard for me at first, but so worth it not to be eating toast, yogurt, 100 cal popcorn, 4 oz protein and 4 oz veggie every day of my life. I started here at 900 calories and now I'm at 1440-- I have lost over 20 lbs since I increased my intake.
  • xcrushx28
    xcrushx28 Posts: 182 Member
    I have meals that are 1200 cals... LOL

    I'm not sure what to suggest here. If your not hungry and your eating that little you really need to introduce more foods. It sounds counterproductive but if you really are eating that little it will help.
  • glass2diamonds
    glass2diamonds Posts: 43
    lean cuisine's are not the healthiest things at all. I have this problem as well but I am also on an appetite suppressant. I have stayed away from fast food now for a few days and feel 100% better, I also ditched a lot of process food for making things and freezing them. Try some of the recipes posted in the forums, with that being said be careful with them I have came across some that are just not good at all.hey and your in the balitmore area so am I if you ever need a shoulder you know where to leave a message.
  • secrets_out
    secrets_out Posts: 684 Member
    Ok...this is a fat girl speaking...how in the hell do you have issues eating 1200 calories? ? Hello we had to eat a **** ton more than that to get where we are! Eat REAL FOOD!
  • WonderKP
    WonderKP Posts: 146 Member
    I have meals that are 1200 cals... LOL

    I'm not sure what to suggest here. If your not hungry and your eating that little you really need to introduce more foods. It sounds counterproductive but if you really are eating that little it will help.

    yes you do, Crush!
  • WonderKP
    WonderKP Posts: 146 Member
    i sometimes have problem too when I eat very 'clean' and healthy. And yet, on the days I eat pizza, or dessert, or drink i easily go over 1400, 1500 cals. Try to find a balance....Eat fatty (healthy!) nuts, maybe get protein drinks for extra cals. Whole wheat pasta is healthy, yet still higher in calories too.
  • simplebeauty
    simplebeauty Posts: 22 Member
    Set up a "schedule" as to when you eat...if you wait until you are nauseated then it's too late...your body is going into famine mode....if you find "it hard to reach 1200" just double up on what you are having...have 2 tbsps of peanut butter with 2 apples, or add raisins to celery and peanut butter.
    Ideally I try to keep my meals around the 350-400 cal mark and my meals around the 150-200 mark

    Picture your body like a "car"...if you waited until the tank was dry to fill up...you'd be SOL and stranded somewhere...
    your body's metabolism is like a car...it needs fuel to work and if fed effectively it will use fat as fuel as well and build lean muscle, leading to a slim, trim and healthy figure...
  • Jazzyrose77
    Jazzyrose77 Posts: 153 Member
    If you aren't hungry then don't eat. Most folks wish they could get full off lean cuisines.
  • auntdeedee87
    auntdeedee87 Posts: 706 Member
    I stopped reading at Lean cuisine.

    Please eat real food, and more of it.

    I say this with love. I am a junk food junkie, but I try to avoid the freezer section.

    Convenience is great, but with a little more effort and FLAVOR, you can lose weight-- and KEEP IT OFF. <3
  • effiek
    effiek Posts: 27 Member
    Yeah, i have the same problem--I like shakeology personally, because i can put a banana and some peanut butter in and it's a pretty solid meal!
  • hypersensitiveb
    hypersensitiveb Posts: 342 Member
    Are you exercising at all? If so you should be eating the cal they add for that too not just your 1200. Your body if most likely shutting down with as little cal as your taking in. That is inless your in bed or sitting all day. Throw some nuts on stuff or make some yummy smoothies to get more in. I need to work on these things my self to but I'm getting there. Good Luck!
  • madison5302
    madison5302 Posts: 11 Member
    I agree with the above poster about ditching the LC. Also, try introducing more natural, whole foods that have more nutrition versus the stripped diet-type non fat, low caloric foods

    I agree!

    7 words: Eat food, not so much, mostly veggies.

    I don't always reach my nutrition goals, but I always keep them in site.
  • laughingdani
    laughingdani Posts: 2,275 Member
    If you are in a pinch and have to eat LC meals make some steamed veggies (microwave if need be) and add them to the frozen meal after it's cooked.
  • hagamivida
    hagamivida Posts: 129
    I am in the same boat. I do eat healthy, I do exercise, and I know how to eat properly. I just do not have the appetite to consume more than 800 or so calories per day. Getting to 1,000 is difficult and requires me doubling up on protein drink mixes for the heck of it -like today. I think the problem we are having, or at least me, is a small appetite. I have been like this for several years, now, so don't think I have never heard someone explain BMR, starvation mode, or anything else said in the above comments, I just don't know how to fix it.

    People tend to tell you what you are doing wrong, like you don't know you need to eat more, and completely ignore ideas for helping you eat more of your healthy food (to the OP: Lean Cuisine is NOT. Sorry).

    So if anyone would like to share tips on how to stimulate appetite, that would be lovely. Otherwise... I don't want to hear more parroting of the same information I already know.
  • hagamivida
    hagamivida Posts: 129
    Personally, doubling up in my food would be awful. It is force feeding myself and it is just a crap experience. Maybe others can do it, but I don't seem to be able to.
  • kelfromhell
    kelfromhell Posts: 25 Member
    Adding a healthy fat can add some calories quickly....a serving of almonds? A little olive oil on your veggies? Your body needs fat, indulge in a little.....also,are you working out....work out enough and you'll start craving more food!
  • ATT949
    ATT949 Posts: 1,245 Member
    Did you increase your protein percentage?

    When I was losing weight, I swapped my % for proteins and carbs so I was at about 50% proteins. That helped me eat < 1000 cals per day and feel hungry only 5 times in 7 months.

    Things worked well.

    http://cbeinfo.net/weight.htm

    Good luck to you,
  • hagamivida
    hagamivida Posts: 129
    People use this to monitor their weight, (maintaining, gaining, and losing). Just FYI.

    And personally, I got fat from medication making my thyroid all but shut down.
  • LittleMissAngi
    LittleMissAngi Posts: 243 Member
    Eat more natural and organic. No processed foods. Up your intake to 1400-1600.
  • Kassieisproud
    Kassieisproud Posts: 149
    Try eatting healthy foods that are dense in calories like almond butter bananas or both :D also avacados whole wheat pasta and brown rice
  • BRFMcKay
    BRFMcKay Posts: 80 Member
    I feel like the OP is/was a troll. Obviously we all know that eating below 1200 calories constantly is never a good thing, if we can control it. So why ask that on this forum?

    And hagamivida, I am so sorry about your thyroid. And you aren't the only fat vegetarian. I'm a fat vegan!
  • kmozymoz
    kmozymoz Posts: 187
    I am having the same problem, but part of mine is due to a crappy digestive system that's been out of whack since last May. You might take a look at what kind of foods you're eating and figure out what makes you feel the best and what makes your stomach feel unhappy/not want more food. I find that when I eat more fresh foods (since I'm on the go a lot and tend to go for frozen, like Lean Cuisine), I feel better and more inclined to eat more.
  • dovesgate
    dovesgate Posts: 894 Member
    I would say to put yourself on a schedule - my schedule was really screwed up the last couple of years so I know that giving my body a certain time every day to expect food helped me to regain my appetite.

    You CAN do a 1200 calorie diet using Lean Cuisine for two meals per day. You may have to switch things up a little bit though.

    A typical day could be something like:

    Breakfast
    Chobani Greek Yogurt - Lemon (140 cal) with 1/2 cup granola (140 cal)

    Morning Snack
    28 Blue Diamond Wasabi Soy Almonds (170 cal)

    Lunch
    Lean Cuisine - Beef & Broccoli (270 cal)

    Afternoon Snack
    3oz fresh blackberries (half a package - 45 cal) with 2 tbsp whipped cream (25 cal)

    Dinner
    Lean Cuisine - Tuscan Style Vegetable Lasagna (320)

    Dessert
    1/2 cup Dryer's Fat Free Frozen Yogurt Vanilla (90)

    Grand total: 1200 calories.

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