How to deal with a massive 1,200

[juliahenry]

..calories?

I'm counting. and I'm sticking to 1200-1300 per day, just fine. It's working

Except on Friday. Then, dh and I have a sitter and are going out for dinner and a movie.

Please help me strategize. Should I:

1) say screw it and order/eat whatever? Hello cheeseburger and large buttered popcorn!

2) eat like nothing all day and then have like 1000 calories for dinner, stay on track but kinda go crazy for one meal?

Or 3) eat reasonably during the day and then order the boring-but-healthy option that fits within my calorie budget?

WWMMD?

Is there some brilliantly simple yet delicious solution that I'm missing?

And please don't suggest that I go exercise to earn extra calories. I do run but when I was working out for extra food, I was a little crazy and it's not a good plan for me. But any other ideas would be much appreciated!

[Susie]

1200-1300 calories, and you're running?

Eesh. That sounds a little extreme to me.

[Deleted]

I say screw it and go to town.

[Deleted]

I would eat a light breakfast and lunch and then have a cheeseburger and SMALL buttered popcorn. Portion control and all that.

[Deleted]

Nov 14, 2012 13:28:45 GMT -5 juliahenry said:

Is there some brilliantly simple yet delicious solution that I'm missing?

No.

[Deleted]

Wait a second, you're running?

Sometimes it's easier to lose weight when you eat more food. True story.

[gumi]

Nov 14, 2012 13:28:45 GMT -5 juliahenry said:

Is there some brilliantly simple yet delicious solution that I'm missing?

Balance.

You can have high-caloric days. You just need to balance them with normal days. It's actually good for the body to have more calories sometimes to keep your metabolism up. If you eat 1200 EVERY day, then your body will adapt. If you eat 1800 some days, and even 2200 some days, your body will not adapt.

And you will be happier because 1200 is not a lot of food.

[chessie]

The best way to go about this is meal plans and setup meals, small meals and snacks every few hours. Initially I try to keep it between 1500-1800 myself, I figure in hour-1.5 work outs with weights/cardio. For example mornings after work outs, I get 2 cups of oatmeal, with 2 egg whites to keep me full for 2-3 hrs, then I have another small meal, either yogurt/granola some nutrella w/ some protein, lunch- I go for small portion of chicken w/ veggies and late snack around 3- veggies, fruits or even protein shake. Its about keep fueling yourself though. I found the more I did not meal plan and prepare to feed myself healthy, set me to be off track quick and head for the candy machine.

[juliahenry]

Nov 14, 2012 13:33:01 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

Wait a second, you're running?

Sometimes it's easier to lose weight when you eat more food. True story.

For some reason this is working well for me now. When it stops working, I'll switch it up again.

[Deleted]

If you stick to that the rest of the week, I would just go to town! but I never say no to food..

[cjeanette]

I don't think you need to go wild or go boring. If you want the cheeseburger, get it and skip the popcorn.

[juliahenry]

Nov 14, 2012 13:37:14 GMT -5 gumi said:

Nov 14, 2012 13:28:45 GMT -5 juliahenry said:

Is there some brilliantly simple yet delicious solution that I'm missing?

Balance.

You can have high-caloric days. You just need to balance them with normal days. It's actually good for the body to have more calories sometimes to keep your metabolism up. If you eat 1200 EVERY day, then your body will adapt. If you eat 1800 some days, and even 2200 some days, your body will not adapt.

And you will be happier because 1200 is not a lot of food.

Sigh. I do switch it up a bit and I'm doing well re the running, energy, weight loss etc.

I just want a strategy for Friday night, not a diet and lifestyle makeover...

[gumi]

Nov 14, 2012 13:40:53 GMT -5 juliahenry said:

Nov 14, 2012 13:37:14 GMT -5 gumi said:

Balance.

You can have high-caloric days. You just need to balance them with normal days. It's actually good for the body to have more calories sometimes to keep your metabolism up. If you eat 1200 EVERY day, then your body will adapt. If you eat 1800 some days, and even 2200 some days, your body will not adapt.

And you will be happier because 1200 is not a lot of food.

Sigh. I do switch it up a bit and I'm doing well re the running, energy, weight loss etc.

I just want a strategy for Friday night, not a diet and lifestyle makeover...

I gave you a good strategy, IMO. Enjoy your night, practice moderation and dont worry about it. One night will not ruin your running, energy or weight loss - if anything, it will help.

[Deleted]

Either screw it or do the cheeseburger and no popcorn or do the popcorn but no cheeseburger.

[Roc A Bee]

For one night? I'd eat what I wanted.

[cjeanette]

Nov 14, 2012 13:40:53 GMT -5 juliahenry said:

Nov 14, 2012 13:37:14 GMT -5 gumi said:

Balance.

You can have high-caloric days. You just need to balance them with normal days. It's actually good for the body to have more calories sometimes to keep your metabolism up. If you eat 1200 EVERY day, then your body will adapt. If you eat 1800 some days, and even 2200 some days, your body will not adapt.

And you will be happier because 1200 is not a lot of food.

Sigh. I do switch it up a bit and I'm doing well re the running, energy, weight loss etc.

I just want a strategy for Friday night, not a diet and lifestyle makeover...

She just gave you a strategy. Have a higher caloric day. You are overthinking this.

[martygras]

Nov 14, 2012 13:37:14 GMT -5 gumi said:

Nov 14, 2012 13:28:45 GMT -5 juliahenry said:

Is there some brilliantly simple yet delicious solution that I'm missing?

Balance.

You can have high-caloric days. You just need to balance them with normal days. It's actually good for the body to have more calories sometimes to keep your metabolism up. If you eat 1200 EVERY day, then your body will adapt. If you eat 1800 some days, and even 2200 some days, your body will not adapt.

And you will be happier because 1200 is not a lot of food.

+1

Your metabolism can stall out if you're not switching it up.

[juliahenry]

Nov 14, 2012 13:42:21 GMT -5 gumi said:

Nov 14, 2012 13:40:53 GMT -5 juliahenry said:

Sigh. I do switch it up a bit and I'm doing well re the running, energy, weight loss etc.

I just want a strategy for Friday night, not a diet and lifestyle makeover...

I gave you a good strategy, IMO. Enjoy your night, practice moderation and dont worry about it. One night will not ruin your running, energy or weight loss - if anything, it will help.

Thanks. I'll aim for moderation. What I'm really working on is flexibility. If I end up too rigid, I get stuck.

[Deleted]

Get the cheeseburger without the bun. Problem solved.

[juliahenry]

Right. So I'm obviously over thinking this. I'll go moderate, and will try to choose well.

Thanks, everyone.

[pamela]

I'm also on a normal 1200-1350 diet (although not working out at the moment). When I have days like you're describing, I just go a bit lighter on my earlier meals and indulge within reason for the occasion. As in, eat the really tasty treat, but avoid the extra fillers like fries that are just meh. Remember it takes ~3500 extra calories to gain a pound, and that's above your actual caloric needs, not above the 1200. So yeah, enjoy the night out.

[steph96]

It is called a cheat day. I always assumed that everyone had those occasionally......whoops.

[juliahenry]

Nov 14, 2012 13:50:52 GMT -5 pamela said:

I'm also on a normal 1200-1350 diet (although not working out at the moment). When I have days like you're describing, I just go a bit lighter on my earlier meals and indulge within reason for the occasion. As in, eat the really tasty treat, but avoid the extra fillers like fries that are just meh. Remember it takes ~3500 extra calories to gain a pound, and that's above your actual caloric needs, not above the 1200. So yeah, enjoy the night out.

Thanks, Pamela. That's helpful.

[Susie]

If one cheat day blows your plan completely, that's a sign that your metabolism has already fallen off a cliff as a result of not taking enough calories in for the number expended, and you should work to bring it back up a bit. (At 1200-1300, it's a distinct possibilty.)

[juliahenry]

Nov 14, 2012 13:51:13 GMT -5 steph96 said:

It is called a cheat day. I always assumed that everyone had those occasionally......whoops.

I thought that's what Halloween was for. And thanksgiving. Ditto Christmas, NYE... See why I need to count calories?

[juliahenry]

Nov 14, 2012 13:55:55 GMT -5 Susie said:

If one cheat day blows your plan completely, that's a sign that your metabolism has already fallen off a cliff as a result of not taking enough calories in for the number expended, and you should work to bring it back up a bit. (At 1200-1300, it's a distinct possibilty.)

Nope. It's working just fine. 1200-1300 is not excessively low, and it isn't even a small amount of food (well, not with good choices). I find I can get a bit rigid though and I really try to avoid getting into that mindset.

[Deleted]

1200 calories is less than what is provided to refugees in camps.

It is low. And that's why you're proud of it and posting here instead of H&F where it's more commonplace.

[starlily]

I also aim for 1200 per day. I'd easy lightly, and high-protein, for your earlier meals that day, then have the cheeseburger & a small popcorn.

[juliahenry]

Nov 14, 2012 14:01:56 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

1200 calories is less than what is provided to refugees in camps.

It is low. And that's why you're proud of it and posting here instead of H&F where it's more commonplace.

?
Methinks you're reading way too much into this. You have no idea how tall I am or what I weigh or what my BMR is. 1200-1300 is a pretty common number for women trying to lose weight.

[Susie]

Nov 14, 2012 13:58:57 GMT -5 juliahenry said:

Nov 14, 2012 13:55:55 GMT -5 Susie said:

If one cheat day blows your plan completely, that's a sign that your metabolism has already fallen off a cliff as a result of not taking enough calories in for the number expended, and you should work to bring it back up a bit. (At 1200-1300, it's a distinct possibilty.)

Nope. It's working just fine. 1200-1300 is not excessively low, and it isn't even a small amount of food (well, not with good choices). I find I can get a bit rigid though and I really try to avoid getting into that mindset.

I maintain that it is if you are running. That is a key difference. The people who are posting above that they also aim for the 1200-1300 cal range, I don't know to be runners/athletes. Pamela specifically noted that she isn't currently working out while eating that little. It makes a big difference: at my size, for example, the difference in caloric needs for an active vs. sedentary lifestyle is about 500 cals/day.

If you burn 500 cals/day running, which is easy to do, you're asking your body to do everything else on 700-800 cals/day. That is crazy.

Even if you only burned 250 cals/day running, which is on the low end, you're still asking your body to make due with ~1000 cals/day. Still significantly less than 1200-1300 cals/day for a sedentary lifestyle, and still far enough outside the range of normal/healthy to warrant discussion with a doctor or dietician.

www.active.com/fitness/calculators/calories.htm is helpful. So is the H&F board.