Those of you using my fitness pal/calorie counting

[Wenchelda]

If you're calorie counting and sticking to 1500 calories or less per day, what are you typically eating? I've been using mfp since early January and based on my current weight and the weight I want to be, it calculated I need to stick to 1580 calories per day. But I'm really struggling with this and go over most days. I am slowly losing a little bit of weight so I guess it is still working as even going over, I'm eating less (and better) than before. But some inspiration on what others are eating within the calorie limit would be most appreciated

I am having this on MFP at the mo. I'm exercising 4 x a week, three runs and one PT session. Have 7lb to lose.

Today for me:

Breakfast: Cuppa and 50g of muesli, both with skimmed milk.
Mid-morning snack: Walkers Sunbites with tablespoon of reduced fat hummous. Water.
Lunch: Wholemeal bagel with half an avocado, lemon juice and a roast chicken slice. Cuppa.
Mid-afternoon: Banana. Cuppa.
Tea: Homemade courgette risotto (portion is 50g dry rice). Water.
Evening snack: White chocolate rice cake. Cuppa.

A weekend day:

Breakfast: Superseeded small sliced bread x 2 with spread and jam. Cuppa with skimmed milk.
Lunch: Turkey salad roll. Strawberry fruit bar. Skimmed latte.
Tea: Salmon fillet with lime and chilli sauce, jacket potato with spread, broccoli and baby sweetcorn.
Snack: One Hotel Chocolat truffle (left over from Christmas!). Cuppa.

I love mfp. I eat my normal food but it keeps me aware of portion size and how many snacks
I'm on 1200 a day as I'm near my goal and am only 5'4".
I have 2 coffees, 3 cups of tea over the day with skimmed milk
Breakfast is a honey yoghurt with granola
Lunch is salad with lean meat, or a slice of Nutella on wholemeal toast if needing a sweet treat
Normal dinner is home made bolognaise, curry, etc with lots of veg like kale so it's filling with low calories
Snack fruit and possibly one biscuit.

I did have Pizza Hut pizza one day as we were at a friends party. I only went over my 1200 by 50 but I literally ate one yoghurt and 2 coffees in the day to save for the pizza! It did mean that on weigh in day I had only lost 1lb but a day later I've dropped 3 so I think that was water retention and it's evened out now.

Hmm maybe I will look more at 5:2. Have heard about it but note certain how it works.

I find it I eat slower I stay fuller for longer - I have no idea how this works but it was backed up by the recent episodes of Horizon.
Everyday I have a couple of big mugs of tea - even if I wake up hungry, a cup of tea with satisfy me till at last 11.00. If I had breakfast I'd be very hungry at 11.00 anyway.
Lunch - homemade soup topped with leftover meat or ham hock and a big slodge of greek yogurt - full fat.
Dinner - whatever I'm cooking for the family - fewer carbs and more veggies., one plate eaten slowly and no seconds.

I used MFP to begin with and eating like this gives me 1200 on a week day and probably 1700 at the weekend.

I don't snack and I don't eat sugar. I aim for 7 different veg a day. I have alcohol at the weekends.

The best diet for you is one that suits your lifestyle and appetite - I don't believe there is one diet to fit all. Some people need breakfast or they will snack all day while breakfast for me is the catalyst for snacking all day - you just have to figure it out for yourself.

I'm on 1300 a day.

On work days (4 days) I rely more on convenience. I have an Oats so simple instant pot with a handful of fruit for breakfast. For lunch I have a soup meal pot and have a normal family dinner (spag bol/curry/chicken and rice)
On non work days I have a brunch of eggs, mushrooms and spinach. For lunch I tend to have rice cakes with peanut butter and a salad. Dinner is usual family meal.

The way I work it is by bulking every meal out with salad or veg so I have a big plate of food, and don't feel deprived. I get through an incredible amount of spinach as can mix it in with hot food and it wilts down and is lovely. I also try to eat a salad (spinach leaves, tom, cucumber, beetroot, radish, spring onion) before I eat my main food and I tend to fill up without pigging on the carbs.

I haven't really been hungry yet but have had to overcome lots of bored/emotional hunger.

Also if eating out I just change the app to maintenence and stay within that. It means I can feel confident I won't gain (so no guilt) and I tend to lose anyway as it is only one day.