We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

calories help please

crystal479
crystal479 Posts: 59 Member
edited October 2014 in Getting Started
I am 180 pounds it says I need to only eat 1200 calories seems very low is that right

Replies

  • sodakat
    sodakat Posts: 1,126 Member
    It could be "right" if you chose 'lose 2 pounds a week' and if you are short like I am.

    Choose a smaller weekly loss and you will get a higher calorie amount. Another reason for low calorie allotment is the sedentary setting for activity level. Change your activity level to get a couple hundred more calories.

    I weigh 180 and am eating about 1400. I am 5'2" and 64. I lose on 1400 calories. When I move more, I can eat more and still lose.

    55835802.png
  • ankdworak
    ankdworak Posts: 336 Member
    Actually 1200 is likely too low. You should be able to eat 1600-1700 as long as you are eating healthy. Feel free to add me, I'm happy to help in any way I can. ankdworak
  • RaspberryTickleChicken
    RaspberryTickleChicken Posts: 629 Member
    Entirely depends on your height.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    RaspberryTickleChicken wrote: »
    Entirely depends on your height.

    ^ This! Plus your age and activity level factor in too.
  • RaspberryTickleChicken
    RaspberryTickleChicken Posts: 629 Member
    edited October 2014
    kimny72 wrote: »
    RaspberryTickleChicken wrote: »
    Entirely depends on your height.

    ^ This! Plus your age and activity level factor in too.

    +1
  • Smitten823
    Smitten823 Posts: 20 Member
    Hi!

    Welcome :) Sodakat's post really hit the nail on the door - you can update the calorie intake based on your need / wants of weight loss. I agree that 1200 calories per day is very low. There are great forum posts about the 1200 calories - read thru them they are extremely helpful.

    Also from personally going 1200 calories a day to reading / learning and increasing my calories to 1550 - I prevented my body from going into starvation. Please becareful with maintaining such low calorie diet.

    I would recommend reading this thread - it really helped me out when i was starting on my jouney:

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants#latest

    Good luck on your journey!
  • dopeysmelly
    dopeysmelly Posts: 1,390 Member
    Smitten823 wrote: »
    Hi!

    Welcome :) Sodakat's post really hit the nail on the door - you can update the calorie intake based on your need / wants of weight loss. I agree that 1200 calories per day is very low. There are great forum posts about the 1200 calories - read thru them they are extremely helpful.

    Also from personally going 1200 calories a day to reading / learning and increasing my calories to 1550 - I prevented my body from going into starvation. Please becareful with maintaining such low calorie diet.

    I would recommend reading this thread - it really helped me out when i was starting on my jouney:

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants#latest

    Good luck on your journey!

    Yep. That link is gold.

Categories