How do people eat 1200 calories?

[Anonymous]

Op I used to try to do This too, I really recommend against it. It’s not going to lead to health over time and usually backfires because it is just not enough food for an adult. In fact 1200 calories is about the recommended calories for my 2.5 year old each day. My toddler. In fact it says 1,000-1,400 so even more.. That is why you can’t do it. It’s not you. For me, learning more about intuitive eating and actually feeding myself regularly hugely shifted things for me. Sending good vibes your way.

[Anonymous]

Yup, when I had an eating disorder in college and lived on light beer and fat free frozen yogurt and seltzer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to get use to being hungry, plain and simple.

This. I use to eat at most 1200 calories per day. That is what I needed to do without having to exercise and lost 20 lbs. I recorded everything I ate. That’s how I learned which foods had more calories. I’d eat mostly vegetables, did not eat breads or high carb foods. Did increase protein intake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s easy actually. On my way to 2800, I have to pass 1200.

I'm on this plan

[Anonymous]

This is why I exercise. 5'3", early 40s, eat 2000-2500 every single day.

I don't have a naturally fast metabolism as I was obese for most of my life. I exercise for many reasons but food is definitely one of them!

[Anonymous]

I could not do it. I exercise a lot and actually love it (cardio and strength). I spend 8-9 hours a week exercising and I don’t have to count calories or worry about weighing myself or weighing portions. I enjoy working out, it’s stress relief, and gains make me feel confident. Dieting was miserable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everytime I try, I fail!! But this is my suggested calorie intake to lose any weight.

Protein for me. With some fat. A lot of eggs. And avoiding sugar to the extent I can.

breakfast
2 egg omelette with green peppers, mushrooms, onions, hot peppers and a bit of cheese
banana
half cup plain kefir

lunch
turkey sandwich with a bit of mayo
apple

afternoon snack
greek yogurt or hard boiled egg and celery

dinner
chicken or fish
small portion of rice
steamed veggies (usually two different kinds)

[Anonymous]

I stayed at 1,200 calories a day for a number of months about a year ago. It was the only thing that finally moved the needle, considering I’m a small person (5’3”) in my fifties. My weight had gotten up to 125 and I wanted to be back at 115, which I think is absolutely perfect for my height & frame.

FWIW, I lost the weight, and I’ve kept it off since April after returning to a normal amount of calories (~2,000/day).

Basically, I ate one meal a day, and I counted calories. I ate whatever I wanted, though. It was tough at first, but I soon became used to it. I didn’t feel hungry.

[Anonymous]

I eat 1200 - 1400 most days

Breakfast is 200-250 calories:
1/4c milk in my coffee
150 calories of egg beaters or egg whites + salsa or hot sauce
OR a mini bagel with 1tbsp peanut butter
OR a whole wheat English muffin with a bit of avocado
OR 2 links of turkey or veggie sausage and 2 scrambled eggs

Lunch - 400-500 calories
Can of soup - usually lentil + an apple
OR big bowl of spring mix / spinach with a chopped apple, a bell pepper, turkey lunch meat or rotisserie chicken, 10-15g olive oil, balsamic vinegar.
OR 2 50 calories Ole Wellness wraps with chicken or Turkey, mustard, and big handfuls of spinach

Snack - if breakfast and lunch were smaller, I will have an apple or a banana. If bigger, I’ll have 1 rice cake or 1 clementine.

Dinner - broiled salmon, chicken in a low calorie marinade, or roast pork loin.
Green veggie like brussel sprouts, asparagus or steamed broccoli
Lentils, brown rice or beans.

[Anonymous]

1200 isn't as challenging as it may seem. Each time I've tried to lose weight 1200 calories and exercise is what it took. I broke the 1200 into six small meals.

The hardest part of the day was at night since it was the longest stretch of not eating. Going to be early and drinking a lot of hot tea helps too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I frequently ate 1200 calories a day. When I was 20 and had disordered eating.

I would wake up, work out, drink coffee and water to stay full, eat a bowl of fruit maybe with yogurt, count a single serving of pretzels mid afternoon and measure a single serving of peanut butter to dip them in, eat another piece of fruit or raw veggie, and eat something like tons of veggies and a tiny piece of chicken for dinner, or a half serving of pasta with lots of broccoli and sauce. Then I'd eat a serving of fro yo with sugar free chocolate syrup and cool whip lite. If I knew I'd be drinking, I'd drink coffee and eat fruit and veggies only until dinner, which would be a 12' long subway sandwich with veggies only.

Those were very dark days.

I’m the PP who is now 5’4’’ 123. I also had seriously disordered eating in college. I was 5’3.5’’ 105-110. I did not eat grains in any form. I only had coffee with Splenda (never real sugar), vegetables, fruit, and lean protein (like cold cuts). Hummus with the veggies was ok in limited quantities. I counted my calories and ensured that I burned off everything in the gym every day. If I was hungry, snacks were sugarfree gum, Granny Smith apples, and baby carrots. Fro yo with no toppings was ok. It got to the point where I actually developed that hair on my arms that comes from not having enough fat.

I still count my calories, but eat a much wider variety of foods now.

Yeah, I was 5'7' and 104 at my lowest. It was not good at all. I wrote down my daily calorie count on post its. I'd count 5 calorie diet Snapples. Or mustard.

Today I am about 135 and a size 4 or thereabouts. I'm about 40. I do not weigh myself and tell doctors that I don't want to see the number. I want my clothes to fit and I watch what I eat and am active, but I am also healthy.

[Anonymous]

I actually find it difficult to find the calories to get to 1200 some days. The first week or two are rough, but your body adjusts. I use a food scale and track everything I eat. I also am a person of habit and eat the same breakfast and same lunch every day. If I crave something else, I mix it up. I find it really helps to just eat low calorie and not consume bread, rice, and pasta. If my family is having spaghetti, I use zucchini noodles instead (which is super low calorie!). The 100 calorie Orville popcorn bags are a great afternoon snack and keep me full until dinner. I also don’t eat anything within 4 hours of bedtime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I stayed at 1,200 calories a day for a number of months about a year ago. It was the only thing that finally moved the needle, considering I’m a small person (5’3”) in my fifties. My weight had gotten up to 125 and I wanted to be back at 115, which I think is absolutely perfect for my height & frame.

FWIW, I lost the weight, and I’ve kept it off since April after returning to a normal amount of calories (~2,000/day).

Basically, I ate one meal a day, and I counted calories. I ate whatever I wanted, though. It was tough at first, but I soon became used to it. I didn’t feel hungry.

That’s amazing it stayed off. It’s so hard to move the needle after a certain age. That’s where I am at!

[Anonymous]

This is basic physics...if your body is a Prius maybe 1200 works, but if you are a RAV4 you need a lot more, and if you are a Sequoia/Tundra more still. (Assumes activity levels are the same)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is basic physics...if your body is a Prius maybe 1200 works, but if you are a RAV4 you need a lot more, and if you are a Sequoia/Tundra more still. (Assumes activity levels are the same)

That's how a Prius turns into a Tundra over time. More, more, more...