1200 Calorie Diet

I don't know what I would do without Weight Watchers. It is a VERY healthy diet, mixed with accountability and great support. I suggest trying it. I'm a lifetime member that has recently gone back, and am down 10 lbs in 8 weeks. :) It works!!!

Good luck!
H.

Self.com has a calorie-counter/meal planner option on it. I think you need to subscribe to use it. It's only $12 for a year subscription and access to all the tools. They have online buddies and the SELF challenge. Another bonus is getting the magazine with motivating articles about healthy living and exercise.
Good luck!

Hi J.!
Go to http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/HealthyLiving/.
They will give you a menu for an entire day that will stay within your 1200 calorie diet. It is all very healthy!!

Good Luck!!!!
C.

i'm struggling to lose the last 15-20 pds after three children. i walk (fast pace) at least 4 times a week (try to)-- and i didn't think it would make a difference but i cut down on bread -- and try to avoid just your basic junk food/sugary food.
i am making myself eat yogurt and cottage cheese and such -- and you'd be surprised. after a few weeks of eating "properly" -- you lose the desire for the non-nutritional food. try to avoid some of the "power bars" because they are sometimes just candy bars -- you have to look at the nutritional value and the sugar. Oh, and one last thing -- give yourself a treat now and then -- weight watchers has great frozen treats --and 100 calorie treats. also the 94% non-fat popcorn helps a lot......and wait before you put anything in your mouth to prevent mindless eating. small meals throughout the day help........lastly, most importantly WATER WATER WATER...........lots of times when i think i am so hungry -- i drink a glass or two of water and i wasn't as hungry as i thought -- just dehydrated
(and try to avoid the t.v. at night -- read instead or do something else -- those food commercials are specifically put there for you to go to the kitchen from 8 until bedtime........)

Google search "1200 Calorie Diet"; that will give all kinds of sample menus to follow. And walking is always the best and easiest exercise. You can even walk the mall before it opens when it gets too hot to walk outside. I was also at the park yesterday and saw a YMCA "Boot Camp" for women, it didn't look to strenuous, actually looked kind of fun. Congratulations on your engagement! If you need support for the above, I've heard great things about Weight Watchers. God Bless!

Going to weight-watchers would be a very good idea. Something about the group meetings makes it happen. There are many ways to lose weight, and what works for you will be your own way - good luck in finding it. Shop for fat-free products, they really do taste good these days. IF you really care about this then you should be willing to make that sacrafice even tho its not much of a sacrifice since there are so many good fat-free low cal products to substitue these days. Use butter spray on bread/potatoes etc - it tastes great! you can eat most of the same things but cut the calories out of your diet with fat-free products. Fat free cottage cheese and fat free sour cream tastes just as good. Drink only SKIM MILK - fat free. Minimize bread or any baked goods, and eat only whole-wheat.
When you use something like cheddar cheese, just use less.
Look at the ingredients and the word 'whole' should be the first ingredient. Use fat-free mayo. Fat is a tasteless thing with no food value, it just adds calories. (yes there are some fat soluble vitamins but this requries a very minimal amount in the diet you would get no matter what). It requires getting 'mad' at anybody who tries to make you eat something or eat more - stand up to them. I am amazed at how people will work to sabotage a diet. Dont let anybody influence what you put into your mouth except you! Dont go out to eat at all. In a restaurant you dont know what you are eating. Any food in a restaurant, even the least fattening, still has more calories than something you would eat at your own house.
Read the label on everything you buy and know what you are eating. The thing that ultimately matters is the total calories per serving, but I would keep track of total fat grams and fiber grams. Write down everything you eat and add up the calories. Work to minimize fat and maximize fiber. Fiber is to make you feel full. If you pick up a product in the store and see it has over 10 grams of fat per serving, then look for another brand that has less grams of fat per serving.
Fat is the most fattening thing you can eat! fat calories are hidden, a lot of them are in baked goods or things that are creamy. If you have a weakness you cant resist, then dont buy it. Keep the temptations in your house out of your sight.
I recommend having some lean cuisines or healthy choice meals or cans of soup in the house so if you are hungry there is something to go for and you will know exactly the # cals you ate. Drink only diet soft drinks or none.
Exercise is great and required but it wont make you lose the weight, that will come from your diet. I think that liquid butter-spray tastes so great that I love it.
The good fat things you should eat are olives, olive oil, canola oil, nuts. (monounsaturated fat is very healthy for you). These have a lot of calories so not much.
The key to it all is portion control. portion control.
dont stuff yourself. decide before you eat how much you will eat and put that aside and then make a rule that you have to wait 20 minutes to eat more. Thats how long it takes the brain to register what the stomach just ate.
#1 rule is dont go to any all-you-can-eat buffet!!!!!!! dont do it! good luck. I took a college course in nutrition and I recommend that (but my professor was really fat).

I have lots of advice, I just don't always follow it myself! :)

The American Heart Association has a realistic diet that you USED to be able to find online - now they are selling a book called the "No-Fad Diet" - you can find it on Amazon or at www.americanheart.org. The best thing to remember is to eat more fruits and vegetables, less sauces and butter, and less packaged foods.

As for excercise, does biking hurt your elbows? Maybe try a regular bike as opposed to a speed bike (the handlebars are in different positions) and you can get a bike seat to carry your daughter. Otherwise, plain old ordinary running or walking works!

I take the One-A-Day Weight Smart vitamin.

Good luck!

A.
Fort Lauderdale

I have three children and I struggle with my weight from time to time. You should do your cardio in the morning before having anything to eat. Once your finished you should eat something like oatmeal or eggs. Then eat small meals through out the day. Lots of protien.... Little carbs and of course as little sugar as possible. If you want some ideas on dinners let me know... Hope it helps

I too was put on a diet. I was lucky enough that my doctor refered me to a nutritionist for help. ( at the time my insurance covered it)

Her advice was easy to follow. Read labels - cut out refined sugar ( or at least cut back) try to eat more whole foods instead of packaged processed foods. For example, for breakfast I have a smoothie ( 2-3 cups skim milk, fat-free vanilla yogurt, a banana & a 1/4 cup of blueberries, mix in a blender until smooth, then add ice & blend again. The ice will thicken it) within 2-3 hours I will have a small snack, a piece of fruit or veggies. Lunch I have a turkey wrap ( wraps are filling without all the bread) I make my own honeymustard to use instead of mayo. I'll also have a salad and a piece of fruit. Another snack of air popped popcorn, lightly salted ( or even better, add Butter Buds) Dinner I have chicken, fish or veggie burgers ( turkey burgers) a carb, like a sweet potato or rice & a salad. Another snack later of frozen fat free yogurt ( publix has the best frozen yogurt)

It's mainly about finding a better alternative to what you already eat. If you make meatloaf or tacos, burgers or hamburger helper, use ground turkey instead. It's not only better healthwise, it's usually cheaper. When you read labels,look at the serving size & try to match it. I had to get a kitchen scale ,myself. Us a smaller plate so you don't feel like you are eating less.Also,don't just check the calories & fat grams, look closely at the sodium content too. Fat free doesn't mean best! If it's high in sodium then you will just gain water weight - which brings me to the most important thing. If you switch out every glass of soda ( or juice for that matter) with a glass of water, you can lose 20 pounds over a year. You will gain energy though.Which will help with your cardio workouts.

For cardio I like to walk around the neighborhood or just turn on the music & dance around my living room like I'm in a club.There are some great dvd's out now so you can not only burn fat but gain some great dance moves!

I wish you all the best & if you need any more help you can email me directly :)

Hi J.! Have you ever heard of Sparkpeople.com? It is an
excellent free website that offers information to the questions you asked. There is also a calorie counter you can use with meal planning (all healthy items they suggest). There are millions of message boards filled with people who have been trying to lose it and keep it off just as you are, some much, much longer. You should check it out. I love it. Hope this helps! :)

Hey J.,
Kudos to you for staying on a 1200 calorie a day diet. The only way I can keep my calories low is to eat a lot of raw vegetables and at least 4 fruits a day. I had recently sprained my knee but I still lost 21 pounds because of the vegetables. Also, my knee is doing better because of a stationary bike. It is probably hard to get to a gym with a 5 1/2 year old, but you've got to do it for her sake. She needs to know that as a girl it is okay and good to take care of ourselves. I have 3 daughters and they come to the gym too because they need to stay healthy too. Hope this helps and good luck. YOU CAN DO IT !!!!!!! K.

I suggest Denise Austin, she has a number of workout vidoes and books that I swear by. She also has really good information about diets based on calories. My favorite book and video is Shrink Your Female Fat Zones. YOu can find her by searching the internet. I also have a really good multi vitamin called Vitality Gold. It is a cox of AM and PM packets. I love them they are really healthy and when I take them I have a lot of energy. WEll I hope some of this helps you. Have a wonderful day!!

Hi J.! I would love to help you. I used a fabulous program after my son was about 2 and half and I went down 2 sizes very easily. It also gave me more energy and mental clarity and I could keep up with him. It definately fits in with your caloric recommendation and will give you all the 90+ nutrients the body requires on a daily basis and much much more. It is organic and safe, unlike some of the other products that are out there. It also includes free coaching and support. Please call me and I will tell you more or you can e-mail me. ###-###-#### ; ____@____.com

Hi J.,

i would suggest that you eat alot of fruits and veggies.
i have a diet( the cabbage soup diet) that i did with my mom in the past that really works. and dont worry about the soup because i substitue it with chunky veggie soup. (anyways)

it is different from the one on the internet because they have chaged alot of things..... it takes some commitment and if you will be excercising it will go quicker.

and I would suggest that you ride bike for your cardio. Let me tell you; I started riding with my mom and thought it wasnt going to do anything.....but it really does. my clothes got looser and i was toning up.

for a good multi vitamin; you should go to a health food store and ask them; they will tell you the best thing for you.

let me know if you want me to sent you the diet.
and good luck....you can do it.
S.

Hi, J.!
Congratulations on your engagement!
I Wish you all Happiness!!!

I really feel for you! I gained a lot weight after 2 pregnancies, and tried to loose weight, by buying a book (Bill Phillips"Eating for life"), it's a very good book, but it takes a lot time to cook 5 times a day just for myself, then for family and trying not to try theirs food. Of course i went to gym, but when you eating not right even gym doesn't help. So i was looking for easy way, which don't take a lot time and effective. I saw a commercial on TV in gym about Nutrisystem. You saw it too probably. First thing i searched the web: http://www.nutrisystem.com/
I was thinking about this a few days. If you think you spend the same amount of money for your regular food, BUT they offer already prepared dishes, right amount and schedule!!!
That's all i needed! Fast, simple and taste really good!
I can tell:" NUTRISYSTEM IS REALLY WORKS!!!"
"Just stick with the program!"
Even if you don't go to gym it works, but with gym you can loose you weigh much faster, and not just a walk for 30 min, you really need a good workout!
This program also giving very good support online, you can call any time, talk to them, ask advices. Talk to Nutrisystem counselors ask suggestions about what workout you can do. Also you can ask advice any trainer in gym about workout, they can tell what exercises is better for you.
If you interested and decided to go for it i can send you a discount coupon, which program gave me for my friends and you can use it without any obligations. I just want to help you.
When you look good, yours self esteem is better and you can be proud of yourself, and raising great family and kids.

About good vitamins i can tell you for women is the best "Bee Royal jelly" - contents 28 natural vitamins and minerals!
there is a link where you can buy the best:
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You can take 1 or 2 a day. Even good for kids.
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Starving yourself NEVER works. Let me teach you how to eat to live long and lean.

B.
www.HeyYouGetReal.com

There is a software called Nutrition Rescue where you can plan your menu yourself and you can see how many calories each food has. This way, you eat what you want and don't go over your calories! Check it out at nutritionrescueusa.com It's very user friendly!

N.