Aggggggg! what the **** do you guys eat?

So how is it that by the time lunch is over I'm already constantly at between 700 and 900 calories? I'm trying to stick to 1200-1300 but only having 300 or so claories left for dinner and dessert (I have to have dessert... its not an option) doesn't seem like a lot to play with.

Even vegetabels add up fast....

suggestions?  

Umm well what did you eat today? and maybe someone can give you some suggestions on trimming the fat so to speak.

First of all, 1200 is the bare minimum for dieters. It might not be right for you. What are your height, weight, and age statistics? Unless you're a small, sedentary, middle-aged female, 1200 is probably too low.

Secondly, if you're feeling like you're not getting enough food, try switching to lower calorie density items. You can eat a lot of a low calorie density food, where as for the same amount of calories, you could only have a little of a high cd food. (Examples: four cups of broccoli has the same amount of calories as one tablespoon of butter. A big bowl of oatmeal has less than a small candybar.) Fruits and veggies tend to be low calorie density, along with oatmeal, 0% yogurt, fish, and some meats.

You say veggies add up fast, but I don't think they do. Which ones are you eating? Are you adding cals through cooking them?

maybe try adding a snack of celery and natural peanut butter some time in the afternoon? be careful watch your serving size on the peanut butter, but the celery is basically negative calories (it take more energy to eat celery than celery actually even contains), and is full of fiber which may help you feel fuller so you don't go overboard at lunch (or dinner).

Good Luck!!!

Emilia

breakfast: an apple (a really large one), a yog. (80 cals) and 2 wasa crackers (40)

Lunch: can of tuna, iceberg salad mix, carrot (one really large), honey mustard and another big apple

a handfull of corn pops.... like 40 calories worth.

6 oz of tim hortons hotchocolate mixed with coffee (I had to, my boss brought it) along with one half of a timbit and onehershey's kiss.

Normally I wouldn't eat this much junkie sugar but literally my boss was standing in front of me totting tims and saying eat it and brain storm with me!

Still, even on normal days I'm at about 700-800 post lunch and find it hard to cram in protein to a satisfying dinner/dessert that will put me under 1200 -1400.

A big serving of steamed carrots, boiled peas or green beans help keep supper low-cal yet filling. I usually make *at least* half my supper some of these veggies, without butter, but maybe some lemon juice and herb

that doesnt sound like alot of food! question is it the honey mustard thats tipping it over?

I know what it fells like! Some days are worse than the others. When I first started, I planned my day (my meals) a day ahead and I'd onyl eat whatever was on my plan and nothing else (3 meals and 3 snacks or 2 snacks and dessert if you like). It really worked for me, even when I felt hungry, I knew that it was a plan I needed to stick to.

My usual day (even though it might be different, I like cooking and it really depends on what I made)

Breakfast - Special K Berry cereal (1 cup), skim milk - 1/2 cup, fruit

Lunch - Salad with grilled  chicken (I grill several chicken breasts in the end of the week, then chop them, add any greens and vegies I want - lettuce, spinach, pepper, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers,etc, and also 1 Tbsp of dried berries or nuts) or If I have to eat out - Subway turkey breast and ham sandwich with vegies and no cheese or mayo. I add mustard. Also some grapes (1 cup - frozen work the best because I can't eat more than 1 cup - it is not always true for fresh ones), or apple or other fruit

Dinner -- Lean cuisine, or some fish with steamed vegies, or chicken with vegies, or some of my specials - casserols or smth else, depends on the mood, but I try to make everything low-cal, low-fat. (feel free to ask me if you need recipes or search on this site)

Dessert - fruit with dip (fat-free pudding with fat-free sour cream), low-cal muffins, smoothies

For snacks I usually eat fruit or 100 cal popcorn, or some nuts, or hummus with bran crackers ( I try not to go over 100 cal for a snack if possible)

Well, I hope this helps a little. Good luck, you can do it! And don't forget to get rid of all tempting foods in the house if posible, avoid fast food (I don't consider Subway fast food, because it is soooo good and good for you too),take a doggy bag and split your portion in half in the restaurants, and NO SODA!

 

I think that's great advice!

Some there that i shall be taking too

10bysummer your like 5"5 right? about 110lbs?

You should eat enough to keep you satisfied. If you end up over 1400, that's not that big a deal. Go for a walk or a jog or do some weight lifting.

But if you're still trying to keep the count down, I agree with Shanonna. Cut out things like honey mustard. Try and cut down on other things like cheese and mayonnaise. They taste great, but they add a lot of unnecessary calories.

but guys, my honey mustard is 10 calories a tablespoon.

How bad can that be?

Plain honey mustard isn't bad, I think they thought you meant Honey mustard salad dressing 150-200 cals a serving.  It is a good idea to add in extra veggies and high fiber breads maybe. They do make you feel fuller.

If skipping dessert isn't an option, do enough exercise to burn off the dessert.

is anyone else around 1200-1400 calories? Would anyone mind sharing a day's meal plan?

Thanks guys!

I eat 1,200 a day.  Here is a typical day:

 

Breakfast -

Special K Cereal & Milk - 200

1 cup coffee w/ 4 tsp powdered creamer - 40

Lunch -

Healthy Choice Dinner - 220

Fruit Cup - 70

 

Dinner -

1 chicken breast - 110

4 Tblsp BBQ Sauce - 140

1 cup brown rice - 150

Broccoli - 50

Margarine 1 Tblsp - 60

 

Then, if I haven't gone over my 1,200 I have a low calorie snack.  This is a low calorie day, but some days it's higher.   This is just what I'm eating today.

I am only 5'2" and am down to 139 by eating more than I used to.  I am now up to 1500 (on a good day)...

Breakfast is usually oatmeal and fruit (200)

Lunch is usually peanut butter toast and fruit (400)

3pm snack is whatever I am craving... from chips to ice cream sandwich (200)

Dinner is meat, vegetable, starch (400)

Evening snack... again, whatever I am craving, from candy bar to popcorn (200)

 Breakfast Grape Nuts - Post Healthy Classics 1 serving  200

Lunch Five Layer Mexican Dip 5 servings 300 TJ blue corn chips 1 serving 140 Minneola Tangelo - Citrus 1 med. 70

Dinner BUMBLE BEE Solid White Albacore in Water 105  Seven Grain  2 slices 200  Cheddar Cheese  1 oz 113  Low Sodium V8 100% Vegetable Juice   8 oz 50  TJ's croutons X3 serving

Total Calories Consumed  1,253

 

I rarely eat this little, it was a rest day and I wasn't that hungry.  But it's an example of eating a good variety and find a way to get all my nutrients in.  The chips kind of blow it with fat though none is saturated and they really satiate my hunger for a while.  The tangelo and cheese are examples of me shoving something "extra" to fulfill my nutrient requirements within already planned meals that lacked something. 

I eat A LOT and I usually have a hard time getting my Calories above 1400.  I eat a bowl of cereal that finishes around 300 Calories, and about 4-600 for lunch (composing of a large salad, large servings of fresh/frozen cooked vegetables, and a lean protein), and a light dinner, usually just a vegetable and a meat.  Most of my starch happens in the morning for breakfast, and I try not to have ANY more starches.

Despite what many people might say, I personally think that apples are really caloric for a fruit!

Strawberries ALWAYS fill me up, so maybe you can try having that for breakfast.

Tuna also have a lot of calories... Safeway carries packets of Salmon that are only 100 calories each. Or maybe you can just have half a can of Tuna for lunch.

If you really want to snack, just get some sugar free jello. They are only 10 calories per serving.. so for example instead of having a handful of corn pops, you could have had 4 cups of jello!

 

Breakfast: usually 1/4 cup 2% cottage cheese and 1.5ish cups of fruit (around 140 calories or so)

OR 1/2 cup egg beaters with some veggies (around 75 calories) with either a piece of light wheat toast (40), English muffin (120 or so), sometimes fat free cheese (30-45)

Lunch and dinner vary like crazy, but some good, filling meals are: 2 cups cooked spaghetti squash (85) with 1/2 cup tomato pasta sauce (60 or so, I think); or another is a grilled portobello mushroom (I count these as 50 because I don't have a food scale yet and don't know exactly how much they are) on a light wheat bun (80) with some tomato, onion, lettuce, etc - those are pretty filling on their own, but are rounded out well with a salad or something like steamed broccoli or some spinach. Be sure to get protein somewhere.

Veggie stir fries are also really filling for the calories they have if you don't have to have a ton of rice.

I'm a vegetarian, if you can't tell.

I'm a 1200-1400 calorie girl.  Any rarely do I go over 1300.  Here's Saturday for example:

Breakfast:  1 cup of Crispix with 1/2 cup skim milk -- 150 calories

Morning Snack:  Pria Bar -- 110 calories

Lunch:  6 oz grilled Mahi Mahi (no butter or oil) and a baked sweet potato -- 340 calories

Afternoon snack:  Caramel Rice cakes 90 calorie pack -- 90 calories

Dinner:  Turkey taco (ground turkey, lettuce, onion, tomato, soft tortilla wrap) and a side salad -- 235 calories

Evening snack/dessert: Slim-a-bear ice cream sandwich -- 110 calories

Total:  1035