1200 calorie questions

For the most part, I do. I don't always stick to eating only 1200 calories. When MFP gives you a goal of 1200 calories, it's a goal of 1200 NET calories. If I exercise, I need to eat more calories. Staying within the 1200 range of net calories is what keeps me from gaining weight or going into starvation mode. My typical meal is 300-400 calories (3 x's a day) with snacks (1-2 x's a day) between 300-400 calories. I've managed to lose 18 lbs, shrink a few inches and gain some muscle (I have body scans done to determine lean muscle mass and fat mass).

Fresh fruit and vegetables make all the difference. They provide sufficient bulk to satisfy with eggs, chicken, turkey or fish for three meals and two or three snacks. For instance, lots of fresh mushroom and a bit of chopped tomato will really bulk a couple of eggs up in the morning. For lunch and dinner fish in foil with squash, carrots, green onion, basil, lemon zest and some sun-dried tomato is wonderful. How about spaghetti squash with a fresh vegetable laden marinara. Or zucchini boats anyone? Take a large zucchini and boil it for five minutes, cut in half along the length and scoop out the inside (I like to use a melon baller), then add your favorite spicing and even a little meat if you need it, pack it all back in the shell and bake for 30 minutes at 325. I like to use feta, about an eighth of a pound of 97% lean turkey that I brown up, some cured lemon rind, some bok choy, and a few chopped grape leaves, with oregano and pepper (folks can salt to taste, but I do love to add a bit of anchovy paste when it is just the wife and I). Soups are wonderful ways to fill up for little caloric intake - try a gumbo with lots of tomato, okra and seafood - done well and without too much of a roux base you can easily come in far under 100 calories a cup. Good luck, once you stop thinking of pasta, rice, potato and bread as the basis of every meal, it starts to come easier and easier...

Oh and I eat at least 1200 calories, but often net far less. I have dropped 54 pounds just watching what I eat and assuring I eat at least 1200 to keep out of starvation mode and exercising at least four times a week for a minimum of thirty minutes. When we hike on weekends, etc., I make sure I do not leave more than 1000 calories out there, but I eat until I am sated and avoid unhealthy foods (though I will splurge when I have built up a big calorie deficit hiking or such and have something high calorie but still healthy - cheesy goodness, etc.) and I don't have any issues right now (the success far exceeds the temptation at this point).

I'm currently at a 1,200 calorie a day restriction and it seems to be working. Here is my usual meal plan on weekdays:
- For breakfast, I usually have an egg white omelet (no butter-I use Pam to grease the pan), with either a slice or two of wheat bread (depending on how hungry I am) or an egg white omelet with one slice of ham and no toast and a cup of coffee with Splenda and Fat Free half & half
-Lunch is usually light - a with Fat Free or low fat salad dressing and a coffee (same as above) - the coffee seems to sustain me until after work
-After work snack (around 5:30-6:00 pm) - Choose from fruit, veggies with low fat hummus (my own recipe), 2-3 rice cakes or a Dannon Light n Fit 6 oz yogurt
- Dinner - I usually eat whatever is still within my calorie limits - I love to cook so I will usually make something healthy - chicken breasts with veggies and whole wheat pasta (small portion) or just veggies and skip the pasta, fish tacos (grilled or baked, never fried and not breaded) with lettuce, diced tomatoes or fresh salsa on a whole wheat tortilla or if I just really crave the crunch, 2 hard taco shells (like Ortega or Taco Bell brand that come boxed)

Like another poster said, some days when I have time to work out I will eat back my exercise calories so that I net the 1,200. I try very hard to never eat less than that.

In summary, it really is possible but takes a little planning and it is difficult if you are someone who eats out a lot. I don't, so for me it has been very doable. Hope this is helpful.

P.S. I meant a salad for lunch .. Accidentally deleted "salad"... Also my exercise includes either 30 minutes on the stationary bike, a 40-minute Zumba dvd, Women's Health Total Workout in Ten dvd (4 ten-minute routines that you can pick and choose from) or a 20- minute hike or long walk.

Yup... the exercise definitely helps!! The main reason I exercise is so I don't have to eat like a bird. If you can live on only 1,200 calories, that 's great, but I know for a fact that I can't. So I usually add 600-800 calories to that a day because that's what I burn off in exercise. I do spinning, kickboxing and running.... one of those every day.