A Week st 1200

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in too! 50, 5'4" and 142. Aiming for 135. I use LoseIt too - very easy tracker.

Would love some tips on how people satisfy night-time snack cravings, as after dinner is always my moment of weakness.

Me too. The only thing that really works is to use mouthwash after dinner. It makes everything taste awful!

[Anonymous]

I can’t believe how much protein everyone is eating. I’m averaging about 50 g a day and that’s after I really focused on eating more protein.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in too! 50, 5'4" and 142. Aiming for 135. I use LoseIt too - very easy tracker.

Would love some tips on how people satisfy night-time snack cravings, as after dinner is always my moment of weakness.

Me too. The only thing that really works is to use mouthwash after dinner. It makes everything taste awful!

I have a strong ginger herbal tea, which I find helpful. I also drink it plain--so I do think it not having a sugar spike is helpful.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I ended today with 1230 and I did an intense workout, so I am curious how I will feel tomorrow. I am not concentrating so much on protien but more eating things that make sense--so getting some fruit and veggies. I am feeling better physically although!

[Anonymous]

Due to life circumstances, I have been around 1200 long enough that my appetite is gone. I did lose weight. But it is hard to function because my blood sugar is often low or I’m tired. When your brain isn’t getting fuel, it can’t operate at full power.

[Anonymous]

Are you all planning to maintain 1200 long term? I rapidly lost a weight at 1200/day. It starting piling back on at 1400-1500, and became harder than ever to get off. I don’t know that what you’re doing is healthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in my early 40s, about 5'2 and 143lbs and I am tired of the weight gain. I lift weights twice a week and do intense cardio once at week (at least) plus walking. I decided to take a week and basically stay at around 1200 calories to see if I am really over-eating a crazy amount or if it is hormonal fro. Peri-menopause. So far I was at 1330 yesterday and I am at 1225 today. Anyone interested in joining me for the week?

I am 59. I was 5’8” and am now 5’6”, due to some spinal issues. I have been eating 1200-1300 calories a day since the new year. I walk 70-80k steps a week and get 300 minutes at my target heart rate. I have lost 30 pounds as of this week I would love to lose another 25, but the weight loss is slowing down. If I make it another 25 pounds, I should be a size 14. We will see where I land. I fully expect to have to stay at this caloric level for the rest of my life to maintain whatever weight I get to.

Good luck to everyone!

[Anonymous]

Yesterday was tough, and I ended closer to 1800-2000 cals. And my weight was up 2 lbs this morning. (I know people say it doesn’t register this quickly but for me it does seem to.)

I’m already thinking about food but trying not to eat until lunch so I can maybe have a satiating dinner. I might quit because I feel like I’m going crazy trying to eat so little. How do you all do it and manage feeling hungry all the damn time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. For menus I am trying to eat a lot of the same foods to make it easier.

So breakfast tomorrow will be a corn tortilla, 1 egg, a pepper jack cheese square, and half a banana with black coffee. That is about 210 calories.

Lunch is an egg, greens, cauliflower hashbrowns, a square of cheddar. That is about 270.

Plain yogurt with the other half of the banana and a tsp of honey. 175 calories.

Dinner will be a steamed bun and some steamed dumplings. That calorie count is about 380. And a 100 calorie cookie for dessert with plain herbal tea.

I am going to buy some mushrooms, peppers, and more mixed greens to add to the mix this week along with a bunch of fruit. I found out a cup of grapes is only 100 calories and that is a lot of grapes. I am writing everything out on my phone the night before and thinking ahead about days when I am at the gym.

If you eat such low calories, your protein needs to be much higher. This looks like you don’t even get 80g in the entire day. Target 100+ and ideally significantly more than that to make sure you order e muscle mass. And of course lift weights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yesterday was tough, and I ended closer to 1800-2000 cals. And my weight was up 2 lbs this morning. (I know people say it doesn’t register this quickly but for me it does seem to.)

I’m already thinking about food but trying not to eat until lunch so I can maybe have a satiating dinner. I might quit because I feel like I’m going crazy trying to eat so little. How do you all do it and manage feeling hungry all the damn time?

I think those people do feel a little hungry all the time but learn that not every hunger cue needs to be addressed/satiated. You get used to living slightly hungry between meals and very hungry right before a meal. That’s what I remember most when I was at my best weight. It is something that becomes easier over time and the hunger noise starts to go away or become manageable. After having kids, I started eating or snacking whenever I felt hungry and that’s made me 10 lbs heavier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yesterday was tough, and I ended closer to 1800-2000 cals. And my weight was up 2 lbs this morning. (I know people say it doesn’t register this quickly but for me it does seem to.)

I’m already thinking about food but trying not to eat until lunch so I can maybe have a satiating dinner. I might quit because I feel like I’m going crazy trying to eat so little. How do you all do it and manage feeling hungry all the damn time?

I think those people do feel a little hungry all the time but learn that not every hunger cue needs to be addressed/satiated. You get used to living slightly hungry between meals and very hungry right before a meal. That’s what I remember most when I was at my best weight. It is something that becomes easier over time and the hunger noise starts to go away or become manageable. After having kids, I started eating or snacking whenever I felt hungry and that’s made me 10 lbs heavier.

Agree with all this. Hunger is normal. You don’t need to eat every time you feel slightly hungry. I don’t snack between meals. Am I hungry by the time the next meal comes around? Some days yes, some days no. I’m not going to starve by being hungry for a bit. I’ve been at the same weight give or take a few pounds for 30+ years (I’m 51 with 3 kids).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yesterday was tough, and I ended closer to 1800-2000 cals. And my weight was up 2 lbs this morning. (I know people say it doesn’t register this quickly but for me it does seem to.)

I’m already thinking about food but trying not to eat until lunch so I can maybe have a satiating dinner. I might quit because I feel like I’m going crazy trying to eat so little. How do you all do it and manage feeling hungry all the damn time?

I think those people do feel a little hungry all the time but learn that not every hunger cue needs to be addressed/satiated. You get used to living slightly hungry between meals and very hungry right before a meal. That’s what I remember most when I was at my best weight. It is something that becomes easier over time and the hunger noise starts to go away or become manageable. After having kids, I started eating or snacking whenever I felt hungry and that’s made me 10 lbs heavier.

PP and I love this! So much of the challenge (for me at least) is getting out of the victim mindset. It’s ok to be hungry and it’s not punishment or extreme. I think it’s rooted in childhood where I was taught to avoid hunger at all costs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love this and noticed getting 90-100g of protein is doable at 1200 calories and really helps. As does tons of veggies.
My day:
Coffee, 2 tbsp califia unsweetened almond creamer, 1 scoop Vital Proteins marine collagen
Breakfast: 1 egg + 1 chicken sausage
Lunch: 1/2 pita, 2 oz turkey, 30g avocado, mixed greens, 1/2 cup strawberries
Snack: 1/2 c almond milk, 1 scoop Garden of Life plant protein, 1/2 apple
Dinner: 3 oz shrimp, 1 c broccoli, 1 c mushrooms, 1/2 c pasta or brown rice, 1 tbsp chocolate chips
~1200 calories, 97g protein

Did you feel hungry?

My appetite really fluctuates. Feels fine this week but let's see how I am 3 weeks into this...

[Anonymous]

I am in OP! 49 years old, 5’2” and 149. Would like to get down to at least 120, maybe 115. I use My Fitness Pal (free version) to track and stick to 1,200. I don’t lose otherwise. However, I have to keep my protein low (45 g per day) and sodium low as well. I drink lots of water. I bought a walking pad to walk while working and I try to take an outdoor fast walk 3-5 times a week for an hour. I lift weights (starting out low) about 3-5 times a week as well. I started this about 3 weeks ago and I was at 155 then. I am hungry sometimes, especially in the evening but after dinner I brush my teeth and put in my retainers! I naturally “fast” 15 hours between dinner and breakfast on most days.

[Anonymous]

It's Thursday - we've almost made it through the week! A couple interesting resources that others might find useful:

I found this nutritionist on Instagram has some really helpful hints on how to plan meals with a mix of protein/veggies/crunchy/sweet: theweightloss.nutritionist

Also thought this NYT article was insightful, particularly the latter section discussing the role of processed foods: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/07/opinion/ozempic-weight-loss-drugs.html?unlocked_article_code=1.qk0.Y6I1.ZGUjnPhQ3wVJ&smid=url-share