What are you people eating?

I've been reading posts from people who say they are eating approximately 1200 calories per day and that it is a stretch for them to get enough calories.  Some people even say that they are falling short of eating enough (1000-1100 calories per day).  My question is this:  What Are You Eating??!!!??

I think I am eating healthy, but my calorie intake is between 1600-1900 per day.  I work out four days a week for about 35 minutes (Curves circuit training).  I've hit a plateau and haven't lost weight in a month. 

Here's a breakdown of what I usually eat in a day:

Breakfast:  Multigrain cereal with bran buds and skim milk with a peice of fruit and a coffee with a dollop of 5% cream and 1 tsp sugar

Lunch:  Salad with lots of veggies and some protein (usually chicken or cheese) with a low fat low calorie dressing

Dinner: Grilled skinless chicken breast with steamed veggies and rice or a tofu and veggie stiry fry with asian noodles

Snacks:  low fat yogurt, handful of nuts, an apple, banana or orange

I drink 2 liters of water per day and I don't drink any pop or juice.

Its not like I eat tonnes of food, but I can't seem to go below 1600-1900 calories per day without being hungry.

What are you all eating??!

I'm one of those ppl who have difficulties not getting enought cal.

I'd skip the coffee and asian noodles to lower the cal if that's what you asking for.

Other things you eat are quite healthy and filling. So you should be fine.

I have also hit a plateau, its that last 5 pounds that I cant seem to get rid of. I eat apples, oranges, NON-fat yogurt, Zone bars, hard boiled eggs, tuna packed in water, meat - fat removed, veggies, raw almonds: all the things you seem to be eating. Things I avoid are cheese, fats (mayo, butter etc.), sugar & potatoes. Things I eat in moderation are breads, pasta, (starches).

I started mixing my vanilla creamer with soy creamer and sweeten with Splenda. I do not drink milk, only soy milk. I eat betweeen 1200 and 1500 calories a day. I am rarely hungry. I also walk 50 min about 5 days a week and am starting to ride my bike again for about 30 min when my knees permit, (bad knees), also- how tall are you? I am only 5' 3".

Anyway, good luck ?

hmilne, some people just have naturally small appetites.  And if you habitually deprive yourself of food for an extended period of time, you can train your body to have a small appetite.

If a person has a small appetite, then they shouldn't be eating low-fat or non-fat foods or low-cal foods. They can afford, indeed, they need to get the extra calories.

I find that when I'm staying at home I have an amazingly huge apetite, but when I leave the house I'm not at all hungry ;_;
I don't know why, and it sucks because I only leave the house twice a week.

I'm on the 1200 cal plan on days I don't exercise (1400-1500 on days I do). I eat similar to you, but not that many snacks. I wish... I might have just one snack, just one of the items you list under snacks, not all three. Or I might only have veggies as a snack, if that's all I can afford on that allowance. (a favorite is carrot sticks with pickles!). And I'm going to guess when you have rice or noodles you have a full cup? I only have 1/2 cup serving. Protein portions are just 3 oz. No cream or sugar in my coffee.

I'm 5'5 and 198lbs.  I've already lost 30lbs, but have plateued for the past month.  I don't want to eat less for fear that I will loose all will power and eat at night when I get really hungry.  I get crazy when I'm hungry and feel bitchy and tired, and then ultimately loose my ability to control myself.

I think I may have taken a more laid back approach to this whole thing and I would like to share it with you.  I am not saying it works for everyone because I haven't even lost as much weight as you, but it is working for me and maybe would give you a jump start.

The trick I'm using is this: THIS IS NOT A DIET.  This is a lifestyle change and - being that life is unpredictable and never perfect - sometimes I am going to be below my suggested calories and sometimes I will be above a bit. 

I should hold right around 1400, but some days I am just not hungry and others I am starving or we are going out or gathering for a special occasion.  What I try to do is be aware of my portions and stock up on the healthier stuff and then just have a bite or two of the not-so-good-for-me stuff.  I also don't beat myself up or pack up and go on a guilt trip if I eat a little icecream or a chocolate or two.  I am LIVING, not just existing to lose weight.  I don't do it every day, but if it's something that REALLY sounds good or that has sounded good for a while - I'll have a smidge of it!  Not a LOT of it, but some.

From what I understand, the body gets used to the same calories or exercise and plateaus.  I like to believe (and it may absolutely prove to be wrong, but it's working right now) that I am keeping my body on it's toes by not putting exactly the same calories or foods in it every day.  I just try to keep every few days to a week averaging 1400.

So maybe you can up your calories just a bit and jump start your metabolism?

I have also come to LOVE carrots.  They are convenient since you can buy bags of baby carrots, portable in a zip lock baggie, sweet, crunchy, take some chewing so they aren't just gone in the blink of an eye, provide good fiber and cost very few calories for a pretty full feeling.  I also have started adding a hard boiled egg to by breakfast because protien sticks with you a while and that is a good healthy choice.

I know I ramble a bit, but I hope this helps! :)

for me.. no meat, very little cheese and  milk... cheese is full of calories.. 

I think you need to up your exercise 1 day a week.   Instead of 40 minutes of cardio, aim one day for an hour and a half.   Just something to shock your system back into working harder.   It's gotten comfy though so it doesn't require burning any of your body fat off to get the job done.

So change things up!   If you use the eliptical machine, try the treadmill for a while.   If you just do circuit training, stop that and do something completely different.

If you ARE a cheese eater like me, get the string cheese.  It' usually mozzerella and most brands are around 80 calories.  It helps with my cheese cravings. 

I fill up on things I found on a Negative Calorie list ...

Negative calories was explained to me like this: you burn more calories eating/digesting the foods than the foods actually contain

The things on that list that I chose are as such:

apples, cranberries, mango, oranges, pineapples, raspberries, tangerines, strawberries, broccoli, carrots, celery, cucumbers, and lettuce. 

I try to incorporate the veggies into most meals and snacks. 

For instance, Today at lunch I'm having leftovers from last nights "stir fry" if you will... containing "stir fry" cut chicken breast (1cup) green peppers (1 cup chopped) mushrooms (1 cup slices) and zucchini (1 cup chopped) with a 1/2 capfull of Mrs Dash for seasoning.  I cooked the chicken and when it was done I added the veggies for just long enough to warm them. 

I'm also having an apple, sliced for easy work-snacking...

I also agree that (especially with the Curves routine) perhaps increasing your workout might help you a bit.  I plateaued after a week at curves and that was over 2 yrs ago. 

Right now, My work out consists of just bouncing around the house for cardio (normally to a techno soundtrack - fast paced music), my cruches routine and some stretching.  THen I walk at lunch almost every day with my boss - thats a mile so.

Hope I've helped a little.
:) 

please don't get me started on negative calories.. there's no such thing.

The idea is facsinating, but it is NOT scientifically proven. Eat these things because they're good for you, and or because you enjoy them.

Alton brown once said that cooking actually helps the body absorb more nutrients than eating uncooked raw veggies.

Pineapple and some other fruits are loaded with fruit sugar and do count toward your daily carbs.  I find it VERY doubtful that anyone could eat pineapple all day long and not gain weight from it.  The raw veggies are the only thing I could believe actually takes more energy to break down.

I feel your pain hmilne!

I am a very active woman, and I work out for an hour a day five days a week, and walk for 3-4 hours one day a week. I don't really feel like I overeat, but my intake is usually from 1700-1900 daily.

*shrug* I enjoy eating, and I enjoy eating well. I've found a way to do that which allows me to lose weight right now, and I plan to maintain the exact same lifestyle once I reach my goal. I am not willing to deprive myself and live uncomfortably in order to reach an unrealistic ideal. My goal is to be healthy, vibrant, and satisfied.

My diet has a LOT of variety, but here's today:

Breakfast: 2 lowfat reduced-sugar wheat blueberry muffins (I LOVE Cooking Light!), unsalted butter, 2slices turkey bacon, 1 kiwi

Lunch: Turkey sandwich on reduced-cal wheat bread, carrots and broccoli w/ 1/2 c. guacamole, Crystal Light Peach Tea

Snack: 1c. puffed rice cereal

Dinner: 2 boca burger patties on portabella mushroom "buns" (4 mushrooms), 2/3 c. long grain rice, 1c. peas, 1/2 c. lf cottage cheese, 1/2 c. canned pears

Snack: Chocolate pudding with skim milk, 1 apple, tea

Thank you ourladyofthehigways!!!  Tell me what you've found:

 "I've found a way to do that which allows me to lose weight right now, and I plan to maintain the exact same lifestyle once I reach my goal."

I'm going to start working out more and adding more variety to my workouts.  I enjoy eating well too and I don't want to give that up, but I just can't understand how some people can survive the day without passing out on only 1200 calories!  :)

My diet is between 1100-1300 calories (usually about 1200) daily.  An example of my diet is:

I drink green tea w/ honey and eat low-fat cottage cheese for breakfast.  Lunch is a half a sandwich (lunch meat and bread only), light string cheese and a fruit cup.  Dinner is 1/2 cup of peas and chicken breast and a glass of skim milk.

  I'm also a cheese and carb lover.  Carbs don't keep me full for long and/or it takes a lot to fill me up.  I do get very hungry sometimes and feel weak.....and then I binge later sometimes. Everyones's diet sounds great.  I want to eat more fulfilling foods!  

I have a low appetite so I can eat normal foods and still not be full.

But what would fill me up everyday (I usually eat more because I end up under but still):

Breakfast - 1 slice of toast.
Break at school - 1 slice of toast.
Lunchtime: Boiled egg or a tuna sandwich.
Break: Apple.
Dinner: Potatos, filleted fish, peas or/and carrots.
Break: 10 calorie soup

I do like things like cheese which gets my calorie count up and pasta, salmon, other fruits and vegetables, chicken, more toast, turkey, ham etc... ocassionaly the odd small bag of sweets if I'm being naughty. :P

Sorry, I found the Negative Calorie Information I was refering to here...

clicky

Take a peek.

:):)

hmilne

What I've found is a sort of equilibrium in my diet. Almost all of my carbs are from healthy sources like long-grain or brown rice, wheat pasta, or whole-grain breads. I still falter over sweets every now and then, so I try to budget that in by buying one or two truffles from an expensive local sweet shop. They're way better than a candy bar, and they hit the spot just as quickly.

I try to get my proteins and fats from healthy sources as well. Lots of protein, fish, lowfat cheeses and yogurts, seeds, nuts, etc. When I do splurge on a higher-fat product, I find the most flavorful stuff I can in order to maintain moderation.

It really is all about eating with your senses. Fresh vegetables that are in season are something to crave over like chocolate for me (my fridge is full of strawberries, artichokes, and asparagus right now!). Even the "unhealthy" stuff can be enjoyed more if it's just in small quantities. I'll take my 1-2 truffles over a bag of oreos any day! :D

Check out the Cooking Light cookbooks or website for some great recipes.

You've described a very healthy diet.  The problem is most likely portion size.  You need to carefully measure and weigh your food before you eat it and reduce the portion size of high calorie items.  To make up for that, increase the portion size of low calorie items, like vegetables.

Have a look at the World's Healthiest Foods!