New to MFP... 1200 calories per day

Patttience

If that's you on the left, then 1200 is completely unrealistic. Just not smart. I don't understand how the mfp computer comes up with such low numbers for everyone. Or let me put it another way, its unrealistic to try to lose 2 pounds a week or more unless you are very very overweight. Yes you can do it but you will get hungry. And this is why a lot of people crack. Choose to cut your weight by half a pound and on the basis of my experience you will still lose fast than that for a while. Then you just reset your calories when weightloss slows as you lose weight.

Looking at you in the picture, if you are at least 5'5" then you can start by eating 1650 calories and still rest assured you will lose weight with no exercise at a steady pace for a while providing you are counting your calories accurately. I know this because i was able to achieve that and i think i was about your size or less when i started. Plus i was 50 when i started. You look younger.

daisyduke40

Good morning. I'm on 1200 per day. I have done it before and it works. Right now having a really hard time. I binge every chance I get. Not happy at all. Its easy to keep withing the calorie intake and not feel hunger. I guess today is a new start for me.

pinkiezoom

Another point about starting on the 1200, if you slow down on your weight loss, you really cant be cutting down any further on Cals, and remain healthy, so its lots of exercise and eat some back, which is not possible for some people. So it def depends on your circumstances, but a previous poster hit the nail on the head, if you can lose on 1700, wouldnt you rather

tbutt766

DianneLB1953 wrote: »

Hi Dianne, from another Dianne - 1200 seems difficult to begin with but it soon becomes the norm. I find if you don't eat processed foods or wheat products, you actually get a lot of food. I try to eat a couple of veggies with dinner and I love a small baked potato with just a half tsp of butter spread into it. Breakfast was the hardest for me because I used to eat a lot of breads, muffins etc for breakfast. I now have tried a few different 'pancake' recipes that i am finding filling. One of them - a ripe banana mashed with one egg and a bit of egg white, mix together and add a bit of cinnamon. Spray pan with Pam and make several small pancakes. You could top them with a bit of no sugar jam or even a tsp of maple syrup. The second one is 1/4 cup of pumpkin puree (not pie filling), mixed with one egg and some egg white and pumpkin pie spice to taste. Again cook with a bit of Pam Olive Oil spray and make several small pancakes. This is very nutritious. There are lots of tips and tricks and you will find what triggers your cravings. For me it is bread and bread products so if I stay away from them as much as possible, I find the rest okay. Also make sure you drink your water

Good luck on this journey and don't give up if you have a bad day or days - just dig in and keep going!

I am 48, SW of 191 and goal of 135. I started Oct 1st and put myself as sedentary. My goal is 1200 calories and I generally don't go very much over 1000. I never use my exercise bonus caloris and rarely feel hungry. I've lost 20 lbs in 7 weeks.

AskTracyAnnK28

melaniecheeks wrote: »

A typical 1200 calorie day:
Breakfast - 1 egg, 1 egg white, scrambled with some veg (mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach) 150 cals
Lunch - salad leaves with a tin of tuna or grilled chicken 250 cals
Dinner- jacket potato with chicken curry or chilli 400 cals
Snacks - string cheese, 2 rice cakes with a laughing cow triangle, a satsuma, Options hot choclate - 50 cals each.

Oh wow. No offense, but that sounds like the most boring food menu ever. I don't think I'd ever be able to maintain a diet like that for very long.

OP - there are lots of options out there. Feel free to peak at my diary for some good food ideas.

VeryKatie

tbutt766 wrote: »

DianneLB1953 wrote: »

Hi Dianne, from another Dianne - 1200 seems difficult to begin with but it soon becomes the norm. I find if you don't eat processed foods or wheat products, you actually get a lot of food. I try to eat a couple of veggies with dinner and I love a small baked potato with just a half tsp of butter spread into it. Breakfast was the hardest for me because I used to eat a lot of breads, muffins etc for breakfast. I now have tried a few different 'pancake' recipes that i am finding filling. One of them - a ripe banana mashed with one egg and a bit of egg white, mix together and add a bit of cinnamon. Spray pan with Pam and make several small pancakes. You could top them with a bit of no sugar jam or even a tsp of maple syrup. The second one is 1/4 cup of pumpkin puree (not pie filling), mixed with one egg and some egg white and pumpkin pie spice to taste. Again cook with a bit of Pam Olive Oil spray and make several small pancakes. This is very nutritious. There are lots of tips and tricks and you will find what triggers your cravings. For me it is bread and bread products so if I stay away from them as much as possible, I find the rest okay. Also make sure you drink your water

Good luck on this journey and don't give up if you have a bad day or days - just dig in and keep going!

I am 48, SW of 191 and goal of 135. I started Oct 1st and put myself as sedentary. My goal is 1200 calories and I generally don't go very much over 1000. I never use my exercise bonus caloris and rarely feel hungry. I've lost 20 lbs in 7 weeks.

Not too wise to consistently go under 1200 calories - you don't get your nutrients (scurvy anyone?)

acorsaut89

daisyduke40 wrote: »

Good morning. I'm on 1200 per day. I have done it before and it works. Right now having a really hard time. I binge every chance I get. Not happy at all. Its easy to keep withing the calorie intake and not feel hunger. I guess today is a new start for me.

But your post completly contradicts itself - if you're feeling hungry right now and binging that is part of the reason why you need to "start over again" and it clearly isn't easy to stay within the limit and not feel hungry; you're binging all the time as you said yourself. I eat approx 2,000 per day and I don't feel hungry or deprived, I can control my binges and urges and I'm still losing. It's all about moderation. Feeling like you have to cut this much is what causes a lot of people to feel so crazy and only thing about "cheating" all the time. If you allow yourself small portions of the foods you want, don't you think you will have an easier time staying on track than just to go crazy and cut way, way down? I do - it's what is working for me.

RoxieDawn

I would like to chime in on this. I am 46 year old female. My goals are quite a bit different however the 1200 calorie for me is aweful. I'm 5'4", 120 lbs and want to lose 10 lbs. Please do not laugh because back in June, I started with the female pre-menopause issues and it caused me and body to freak out. I am having to create a deficit to where I consume 975 or so. I have been exercising 5 times a week no big deal there just enough to get my heart, my muscles moving - I too marked my plan as sedentary. I gained 14 lbs in about 5 months due to my crazy crazy hormonal issues plus I did not know what in the world was going on and why I was not getting sleep, gaining weight, water retention, hot flashes from hell, night sweats and more... I have not lost, I have only been able to stop the weight gain and now I want to lose those extra pounds. No need to buy more clothes, I new ones already in the closet not worn yet. 1200 is hard and I am training my self to portion control, and eat a lot of empty calorie foods like raw veggies. Any one else in my boat? Any one not matter what your situation, can do the 1200/day. Give your self a week or two to adjust.....

MimiEckert

Lean protein will really help keep you full and satisfied so make sure to get plenty of it!

RoxieDawn

Protien shakes (whey protein) are part of my pre and post workout, as well. But this is actually consumed for most as my breakfast and post workout. Shakes do take up a lot of calories for the day and it does hurt for eating a sensible lunch/dinner.