1200 Calorie Diet

Well, I started a 1200 calorie diet 3 weeks ago... And so far it has been the best thing for me to lose weight. I have lost 11 pounds and still going. And it's really not that hard to do, ya just have to watch what you're eatin. I also try to make sure to get at least 15g of protein with evey meal, and 2 snacks a day to keep me going. I layed up my cokes and have swapped to only drinking water. So far the results are showin for me and my clothes feel so much better!! Yay!!! I have about 24 more pounds to go before I'll swap over and do enough calories to maintain my weight. Wish me luck!!!

Good work!

Here's a tip: have you tried Coke Zero? I *love* Coke, can't stand diet Coke, but I love Coke Zero better than any other Coke and it doesn't have any calories. (It can take a week or two on Coke Zero to start liking it better.)

I've lost 32 pounds in 6 months. Couldn't have done it if I'd had to give up Coke. Once I've lost all the weight I want to lose and can go on maintenance, then I'll cut back on how much Coke I drink.

Good for you on sticking with a 1200 caloric intake.  How are you doing it?  Do you eat things that can be measured?  I've been trying to do 1200 but with difficulties.  I've been making casserols which is hard to measure out in the food log.  I don't always get all my water in, don't drink soda, try to walk everyday.  Any tips?

loveshopping,

I lost 35 pounds now, by creating a loooong list of good-tasting, lower calorie, lower fat foods that I could eat, plus I eat lots of fruits and vegetables.

You can sign up for a free daily newsletter at www.hungry-girl.com . It will give you new product ideas. Plus, click on their "Chew the Right Things" for archived ideas.

I got to eat corn on the cob with Smart Balance Buttery Burst spray. Yum, that was good when corn was in season. I use J & D's Bacon Salt on veggies (plus a few sprays of zero calorie Buttery Burst). I make mashed potatoes using the Over the Moon (I think that's the name) milk plus Buttery Burst, no butter, bacon salt then serve with a real good, low calorie gravy---its scrumptious, I don't even miss the butter.  Vitalicious muffins, chocolate and other varieties, are soooo good. Popchips instead of potato chips.

This week I found giant purple "Christmas Grapes" that are the best grapes I've ever had.

Here's a great, easy low cal. dish: Cook turkey breasts in crock pot on lowest setting. Spray crock first so it will be easier to clean afterwards. You'll know when its done because you take 2 forks and pull it apart. Then add low sugar BBQ sauce like Krafts. That's it, its so good if you don't overcook it.

I even made a low cal., quite good potato salad.

I couldn't have done it without all the good foods I could eat.

Good luck. You can do it!

classyferret,

Thanks for the info.  I'll have to try your ideas.  My problem is that I hate to give up on what I'm used to such as frying chicken for chicken parmiagana, loading everything with butter, pasta and breads, etc.  I know that I don't eat enough fruits and vegetables.  I like to have chips. 

If you saw a picture of me, it would be hard to believe that I weigh as much as I do.  I did try to upload a picture but with no success. 

The weekends are always the hardest for me with everyone home from work and school.  I don't always plan our meals at home.  We did go for a hike today for two hours, but ended up eating out. 

I know, its hard! I didn't used to eat so much fruit but as I started eating more, I then craved fruit, especially. That's the good thing: if you can force youself to stay with it for a few weeks your body will adjust and won't want so many calories, won't want much fat, and will want fruit & some veggies (I still don't eat many veggies.) I find the best fruit for whatever season. Honeycrisp apples are so sweet, crisp and delicious that I eat 3 a day. Right now there's something called Christmas Grapes, giant purple, only available October and November. They're hard to find--my local Shop 'n Save carries them whereas Giant does not. They're purple giants, so good you won't believe a grape could be this good. If you shop around you can find yummy red raspberries all year long.

Pasta's high calorie. Instead of bread you can buy Pepperidge Farm Flats or something similar, 100 calorie. Actually, one piece of fried chicken may not be so bad. But, Kentucky Fried Chicken sells a grilled chicken breast that's tasty, 180 calories if you eat the skin (I don't).

I'm no longer officially overweight. It feels wonderful!!!---much better than eating that stuff would feel.

Its a challenge, I know! Focus, focus, focus. Your health will be better with less weight and you'll look even better than you do now. Besides, when you get older it gets even harder to lose.

Congrats on not being overweight.  I'm still classified as overweight (borderline obese because of my height).  Do you find it hard to maintain your weight?

I've never heard of Christmas Grapes-sounds delicious.  I'll have to try to find those in Chicago when I head home this weekend.  We currently live in Ontario, Canada (my husband is temporarily working up here (for the past 10 years lol).

My life would be much better if I gave up starch.   It's very difficult losing weight when you are older, everything slows down.

Congrats on your 11 pound weight loss !!!! I am just starting my journey effective 11/11/09 my current weight is 175 and I want to get to 130 so I am also going down to a 1200 calorie diet wish me luck,  The first thing I did tonight was planned my meal for tomorrow.  I am really excited and pumped about my journey lets stay intouch I would love to hear about EVERYONES success stories..... Talk to you guys soon!~

What was your weight loss plan?  Would love some tips (Thanks for the Coke Zero info) cause I too love Coke

Good luck on your diet. It does make it a lot easier to get everything planned out. I have lost a total of 16lbs now. So you can do it. Just stick with it

The best things I've found that work out good for me is to eat things that you can portion out. Also, if you are going to eat out at a restaurant, make sure you look up and get nutrition info before you go there to eat. Have your meal planned out. Try to stick to the same amount of calories each day for each meal and get in some snacks. It's not as hard as it seems to eat 1200 calories, especially if you like vegetables. And drink water water water... try to stick off the cokes, even diest cokes have sodium (even if they are 0 calorie). So if you can live with just water or ever things like diet green tea and such, you'll be better off.

My daily mean plan consists of Fiber One or Kashi cereal with 2 turkey sausage patties. Lunch is a frozen meal, healthy choice or weight watchers, and then dinner is usually a grilled meat and vegetables. Snacks consist of things like yogurt, fruit, or string cheese. Just sit and plan out some meals and you'll be suprised at how many foods you can still eat on the diet.

Good luck everyone

True, I'm also on the 1200 calories diet.  I lost 4 kg in 2 weeks, and have not gained any of it yet.  I don't always eat three meals a day, I eat when I'm hungry, the moment does not really matter.  Plus I train, I jog and do stationary bicycle.

BUT...for a week now I can't seem to lose any bit of weight...  I was easily losing a kg per two days the first weeks, and did not feel a bit tired or hungry, don't worry.  But now I'm stuck in between 79-80 kg.  How come?  I can't even go below 1200 calories...  And it can't be a plateau, because 4 kg is not 10% of my overall weight.  Help please?

I've now been doing the diet for 3 months and have lost 17 pounds. My weight loss has slowed to about 1 pound every 2 weeks. But if you are working out and training you may also be building muscle at the same time, so weight loss may slow more for you, but you'll still be toning and gaining muscle. Try taking measurements and check them each week and see if you are losing inches off your body. And make sure you're drinking your water and making good food choices. That's all I know to tell ya. Hope it helps. Keep up the good work.

Classyferret,

Personally, I wouldn't recommend Coke Zero. It is made with artificial sweeteners which have been known to cause cancer on their lab animals. One type is Acesulfame K. Acesulfame K contains the carcinogen methylene chloride. Long-term exposure to methylene chloride can cause headaches, depression, nausea, mental confusion, liver effects, kidney effects, visual disturbances, and cancer in humans. It also contains Aspartame. Some side effects of this include headache, dizziness, change in mood, vomiting or nausea, abdominal pain and cramps, change in vision, diarrhea, seizures/convulsions, memory loss, and fatigue. All in all, these hurt way more than help. Better to stick with the water, if you ask me.