1200 Calories

justaboat

Try lowering your current intake a little at a time (say, by 100 calories a week). Once you get to 1200 you won't be as hungry as just doing it all of a sudden and you will lose weight quickly.

KittiePerry

Hi, I'm 270 pounds and I eat 1,200-1,500 calories a day. 1,200 calories is quite doable. Do some research on filling foods, make sure you eat small portions through out the day, plenty of water, and keep busy! I find I eat a lot less when I indulge in my video games because I just don't want to get up and stop playing! Make sure you have little free time to just binge eat, I try not to eat anything at all until my stomach is growling at me as well not just when I feel a little hungry. I hope that helps, it's just my own personal opinion not something based in facts and such. But I seem to be doing good, I was 340 in February!

Ang108

jakeysnakey83 wrote: »

Hi all -

I'm wondering if anyone is a) actually able to eat only 1200 calories a day, and b) if so, is it really successful? How have you done it?

I'm finding that I am pretty hungry with only 1200 calories; I've planned out my meals for tomorrow and I'm already over 1200.

I'm 5'3 and 135 lbs, wanting to lose about 15lbs. I'm starting to get a little demotivated and am looking to hear your success stories.

Thanks!
Jaclyn

I have been eating 1200 calories since April 10th, 2013 and have never had a problem with it. I am over 65 and under 5 feet.
I make sure that I eat nourishing whole foods and make each calorie count. In all that time I have never eaten more than 200 calories over. I eat a wide variety of ethnic foods ( neither being American, nor living in the US makes that fairly easy ) and come from and live in a cook & eat at home culture. My diary is open.
I also practice IF ( 5:2 and 18:6 ) because I am a volume eater and am happier with two big meals than three little ones and snacks, but that is a personal choice, nothing more.
BTW: I also have lost 55 pounds even though I have no thyroid, have RA and active LUpus taking high doses of cortisone each day.

HealthyDreamy

BUMP

mgfarias84

Before I actually knew how many calories I was supposed to eat I was eating 1200 calories with small meals and many healthy snacks throughout the day. after about two weeks I was not feeling hungry anymore as long as I kept to my plan. In fact once I realized I was not eating enough it was a little tough to get used to eating my correct calorie amount because I felt full fast. I am a 30 year old 5'10" 278lb male and it was very successful but unfortunately there is a good chance it was not just fat I was loosing.

Fujiberry

Why not just exercise and eat more?
Your weight loss -will- stall at some point, and you'll be tempted to decrease your intake even more, which will most likely slow your metabolism. The name of the game is to eat as many calories as you can while still losing weight at a steady rate.

Even a few 20 min HIIT sessions each week will make a difference and will allow you to eat more.

sukid88

I've been able to eat 1200 a day without going hungry, but many days I do go over but I still continue to lose (I'm 5'2). I was able to lose about 40 pounds doing the 1200 cal a day. When I increased it to 1340 I continued to lose and I think I lost even faster, then brought it back down to 1200 to lose more.

I think you should increase your calories, then slowly bring them back down and you should still lose and not go hungry; it's okay if you go over some days.

I started at 172 and am currently at 125.8 doing just that.

kardsharp

I eat 1200 calories every day and I am feeing quite full. I eat a lot of fat and protein. Then small amounts of quality carbs. Please feel free to friend me.

elisa123gal

I have done the 1200 calories .but don't now…just want to eat more..and i find if i exercise i lose weight.

However..what i did was google "lowest calorie foods" and got a good list of things to eat..so i could eat more. Like scallops and shrimp…they are next to nothing.

deliacm

1200 is actually relatively easy if you make good choices. I started last March at 309lbs and have eaten at or slightly below 1200 every day since then. The key for me is lots of filling vegetables and high protein, lower carbs is a necessity. I drink a lot of water/tea throughout the day, as well. I've only ever been hungry on the days after higher carb meals. I also have calories left for dessert almost every night and never eat back exercise calories. I was at 197lbs as of the day before Thanksgiving last week, so it is possible and not depriving in any way.

NikonPal

deliacm wrote: »

1200 is actually relatively easy if you make good choices. I started last March at 309lbs and have eaten at or slightly below 1200 every day since then...vegetables and high protein, lower carbs is a necessity. I drink a lot of water/tea ...only ever been hungry on the days after higher carb meals...calories left for dessert almost every night and never eat back exercise calories...it is possible and not depriving in any way.

Similar story. CHOICES with regards to “nutrition” and portion size are crucial. I almost always save a few calories for that evening treat. Not done yet – but very close. Will base my final number on how I feel while also hitting my target "size."

Photos of some of my meals can be seen at:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10024389/fast-food-frozen-dinners-are-tempting-but#latest

As you can see – I am eating VERY WELL!

cycov

I usually do less than 1200. I eat the same thing everyday 80 calorie yogurt and a cup coffee for breakfast. 190 Calorie Frozen Meal with 2 cups of frozen Cauliflower 65 Calories (three cups if feeling hungry) and repeat for dinner. Rice cakes for snacks. If I get hungry at night I will add salad or soup. But rarely feel hungry. More times than not I feel stuffed.

williamsge

BUMP

eganita

Personally I will never do 1200 calories a day again (I was doing 1200 + eating back exercise calories at one point awhile back). It simply did not seem like enough food for me. I was constantly hungry and even felt weak at times.

I am generally very active and tend to workout roughly 5-7 hours per week. I used a TDEE calculator and calculated a range of about 1800-2000 per day and was losing about 0.5-1 lbs per week with that method. I don't think there's any reason why someone would NEED to do 1200 per day to lose weight, unless she were very petite, older in age, and was quite inactive. Perhaps your weight loss will be a little more gradual if you eat more calories, but I find that eating a higher level of calories makes me feel better (after all, food is FUEL for your body) and is more sustainable.

Good luck to you!

tiffanyrosborn

I have my diary set to 1210, but always end up netting around 1400. I do this because if I had my diary set to 1400, I would end up netting around 1600

It's not that difficult, but I do go over quite often. I found substituting things when you cook really helps cut the calories (turkey instead of beef or pork, egg whites instead of whole eggs, etc.)

SassyCalyGirl

My goal is set at 1251 and I'm not starving or hangry! I'm 5'5 and weight 120lbs. I have a very small frame and when I eat more I gain weight-I've tried it. It took me some time on maintenance to find the right number. I focus on protein first, it helps keep me fuller longer. I DON'T SKIP BREAKFAST! I do however exercise fasted. (A glass of OJ only for carbs to fuel my workout.) Then I always have a small post workout meal. I have plenty of room for healthy snacks during the day if I want them. I also include a glass of wine or a cocktail with dinner. I meet my macros and stay within my goal. It takes some planning but it is possible. I don't feel deprived in anyway.

Charliecatesq

I swaer this thread has made me more confused! I'm 5ft, 28 and wanting to lose about 70ish lbs. I am on 1200cals, eating back most my excercise cals and seemed to be losing steadily-ish (i have had a bad week with birthdays and events so not lost anything for a bit) but now i hear i can eat more and lose? I should eat less and lose? The whole process is confuddling

AnnaMaus

It's not easy. One great trick is to work out, and eat more!

SassyCalyGirl

Charliecatesq wrote: »

I s4waer this thread has made me more confused! I'm 5ft, 28 and wanting to lose about 70ish lbs. I am on 1200cals, eating back most my excercise cals and seemed to be losing steadily-ish (i have had a bad week with birthdays and events so not lost anything for a bit) but now i hear i can eat more and lose? I should eat less and lose? The whole process is confuddling

simply put-you have to find what works for YOU

Laurensanders30

Great post !

jessjoye

I have a very sedentary desk job so the 1240 or whatever it is, is basically what I plan for and I am HUNGRY...

So what I do is drink a lot of lemon water when I get hungry, I heard that sometimes hunger is your brain telling you that you are thirsty. If that doesn't work, well then I am really hungry and grab fruit/veggies/handful of almonds. I tend to be pickier about what I eat when I know there is less of it.

I always eat back my exercise calories too because it influences me to exercise more days if I get the chance to eat more!

I've also used my diary to look at what I'm eating and sometimes I can trim off calories and not even notice it. Such as get the sandwhich lettuce wrapped instead of a big roll, no butter, 1/2 salad dressing, etc. I found my health matters and its ok to be a picky eater!

CICO count! Good luck!

sexiestgee

Sometimes if u drink more water it will help.