1200 Calories Menu Thread
 

I was wandering if we shared our menus daily for those with 1200 Plan thier menus ahead. I started and getting serious about my efforts and it would be grateful on getting some foods/snack ideas as well.

Sunday Planned 1200 calories menu.

Breakfast
1/2 c Fiber one cereal..60
1/2 c fat free milk...45
1 orange..65
----
170

Snack
1c chopped carrots...30
3c air popcorn...90
-----
120

Lunch
3c chopped lettuce... 30
1 capful reg thousand island dressing...140
1 slice wheat bread...100
2 boiled eggs...180
------
450

Dinner
3c chopped lettuce...30
1 capful thousand island dressing..140
2 links turkey sauages..110
1 med apple...72.
------
352

Bedtime snack
3c air popcorn...90

Total calories...1,182

I think you should be eating more than 1200 calories a day.

Eating 1200 calories a day at this point in your journey leaves you no options if you need to reduce calories a bit as you approach your ultimate goal weight.

At 200 lbs, I lost weight eating 1600 calories a day. As my weight loss slowed down as I approached goal, I was able to further reduce calories to 1400 very easily. I would have had no place to go at 1200 calories.

I think you will be hungry, deprived and frustrated quickly at 1200 calories a day.

It's always easy to reduce calories, why not start as high as possible and see what happens? In my opinion, it's always better to make sure you are eating plenty of nutritious foods to maintain optimal health, then to drastically cut calories and potentially miss needed nutrients.

I have to say, that in my experiences as a failed dieter (which I was for 20 years), starting low was ALWAYS how I started. Because I was so deperate to have the weight off I wanted it NOW NOW NOW and was willing to be hungry and to suffer. I could never maintain that motivation, that willingness to deprive myself. I always quit 1200 calorie diets, in 20 years, I never successfully maintained any meaningful weight loss.

YMMV.

I totally agree with Glory.


And umm OT - What is YMMV? :|

I eat alot more than 1200 calories.
I just wanted to tell you that I tried some fat free ranch dressing the other day that was really low cal and it tasted good. Also I eat protien bars. They seem to make me feel full on those days when I just can not get enough to eat. Good luck with the 1200 calories, it seems like if I get below 1500 I feel like I am going to starve and I usually eat close to 1700. Of course you can see from my ticker that my weight lose is slower than most people could stand :)

Your mileage may vary.

I usually say that to be clear that while I have an opinion, it might not be right for any one else. I don't think there's any true path to success and different things work for different people!

Thanks Glory and thanks also for being such a tremndous inspiration to me and many others :D

I don't think eating 1200 calories a day is even healthy. All that is going to do is make you feel weak, and sick. If you up your calorie intake to 1500-1700, but eat the right types of foods you might have an easier time staying on the diet.

I agree with the other posters, Liliann--1200 is WAY too low! Try 2000 to start--you will see a difference!

I did it!! Day 1 done and was not hungry or weak. I went for my 30 minute walk and I feel awesome!!! :)

I don't know why many folks fear of a 1200 calories plan. I used to did it in the past with Richard Simmons deal a meal cards back in 1980s..also again in 99 with the slim fast plan. Now am doing with real food at the age of 43.

I read on here that planning is the key..so am doing it each night on my notebook, calorie counter book and calculator. I feel hopeful and knowing I will make it now!!!! Yahoooo!!!!!

My motto is eat less and stay active...I also eat every 3 hours and that helps too!!! :)

Chow folks!!

I think eating 1200 calories a day can be perfectly healthy, if you eat the right calories. Unfortunately, I don't think your sample menu is an example of 1200 GOOD calories. You can't go that low and spend 180 of your calories on popcorn and 280 on salad dressing. That is almost 40% of your total calories for the day!

Not enough protein, not remotely enough veggies.

Also, while I do think there are plenty of examples of healthy 1200 calorie menus, how do you feel so far? At your current weight, I do agree that you don't need to go that low to lose. I'm not saying that it's necessarily bad, if you planned out a more balanced day. But I don't think it's necessary and you could still eat some of the things you like, such as popcorn, but add in a few hundred additional calories worth of veggies and lean protein and some healthy fats like olive oil or avocado rather than full fat dressing.

I am wondering if this plan is the right plan for you, how come this is your third time going at it? Just curious is all.

You know what? I started at 377 pounds and 1200 calories... for three days. Then I LISTENED to the chickies that HAD lost weight and UPPED my calories to 1800. And lost 155 pounds in one year. Now I'm eating 1500 calories.

You will last a heck of a lot longer at this if you are kinder to your body... A person your weight can lose weight FAST eating much higher calories...

Liliann, I know that you've struggled in the past with being able to stick with a plan for any length of time. I too think there is nothing wrong with 1200 calories as long as they're nutritious ones - but further down the road perhaps. Now at a heavier weight you will still lose weight while being able to eat more food and that's a good thing. We want you to be able to stick with this. Not for a day or a week or a month, but for many, many months. Why not add in some no fat yogurt, some fruits, roasted veggies, soups and the such. You can get a lot of satisfying, delicious foods to eat from another few hundred calories and therefore you won't be tempted to go *off* of your plan. And that's what the key to successful weight loss is - being able to stick with your plan - for months at a time. I hope you will at least consider it.

Lilliann - I worry that you'll be discouraged by the responses, and that's exactly opposite of how we want you to feel!

I hesitate to post menus, because I know that there are a lot of opinions out on these boards, and sometimes it's more important to just do something than to do it perfectly. Almost any food-specific post will draw negative comments, as some of us are low-carb, some low-fat, some vegan, some Atkins, most calorie counters. With that variety, it's tough to name many foods that would be acceptable to all.

However, I do encourage you to stick around. I've learned so much about food from reading the posts. Your menu does read like a typical old-school "diet" that someone whose weight is "normal" might stay on for three or four weeks to drop ten pounds or so. You write "lettuce," and I wonder if that's iceberg lettuce - which is almost totally devoid of nutritional value. For me, darker green vegetables (like spinach leaves) are tastier and more nutrient-dense.

My point, I guess, is this. You don't have to be perfect on day one. I just hope that you keep coming back, keep mixing it up and trying new things, and open yourself to suggestions from people who really know how to lose weight and keep it off. And enjoy giving and receiving support. You have a lifetime to devote to the weight control game (as do the rest of us!) After a week at 1200 calories, maybe try a week at 2000.

Good luck to you! And hope I see you here often.

I want to apologize on not listening...I should have and realized last night and this morning..went on a eating craze and felt down. so sorry and thank you..for the warning and advice from all to go higher calories. I am grateful for the warning and input.:hug: