MFP 1200 calories for 2 lb loss per week

shyjaan

MFP set me up based on my sedentary lifestyle on a 1200 calorie diet which is supposed to help you lost 2 lbs per week. Has anyone lost 2 lbs per week using MFP of 1200 calories?

malibu927

If your maintenance is 2200 calories it's possible. But since 1200 is the minimum MFP will give you, 2 pounds per week is probably going to be too aggressive for you.

CoffeeNCardio

I have actually lost that almost exactly. I am same as you, put my goal to lose 2 lbs a week, that was in the beginning of september. My food diary is viewable, so you will likely see that I ate like crap and way too much for some of the beginning of september, it's now the end of october and I have successfully lost 15.5 lbs. I am also set at sedentary. I like to keep it that way because, while I do work out, I don't want it artificially raising my allowed calories if I have a lazy day. I'm probably more like in the bottom of the lightly active scale, but sedentary setting has kept me right on track.

CoffeeNCardio

Note also that I have felt awesome throughout the past two months. If there was any lethargy or anything, I would ABSOLUTELY raise my calorie count by changing my goal from 2 lbs/ week to 1.5, 1, .5 whatever to counteract that. There's absolutely no reason on earth for this process to be miserable if it doesn't have to be. You won't stick with it if it sucks

arditarose

Yeah, when I was heavier and had a TDEE of 2200ish I was on 1200 calories for awhile. I managed a few weeks like that. I preferred 1400 and a slightly slower loss.

KT_3009

I've been losing approximately 2lbs per week on 1200 calories per day.. But you do need to take into account how much weight you want to lose, your exercise level and your BMR. However if you are wanting to lose anything less than 30 pounds you should have a much less aggressive goal!

ICameToGetDown

Depending on your starting weight, beginning at 1200 may be too low. I assume you eat more than that now. Maybe do 1700 a week or so, then 1500 until you get halfway to your goal, then drop to 1200.

CoffeeNCardio

Yeah see I started in the obese category, so I had 65 lbs to lose for goal. Everyone is different. Set REASONABLE goals for yourself. Reasonable goals are both easier to obtain and can be much more fulfilling when you do!

MeiannaLee

I lost 2 pounds per week eating 1350

bri170lb

I started at 270 and am now at 195. I have lost an average of two pounds a week until recently. Now that I am lighter, I have been losing more like 1 to 1.5 per week. My goal is 150. I'm 5'8" and 52 years old. I work at a desk.

I try to exercise 3 to 5 times a week and have progressed from walking 10 miutes to jogging 5Ks and lifting weights.

shyjaan

Thanks ladies, appreciate the feedback!! I've got about another 45lbs to lose, I weigh 189.3 right now and lost 14.5 lbs so far since Sept 1. I'll try to play with the amount of calories I eat for the next few weeks and walk a little more!

blkandwhite77

3 weeks 6lbs lost (tomorrow is weigh in day for week 4) but so far yep 2lbs a week at 1200 calories for me

shyjaan

blkandwhite77 wrote: »

3 weeks 6lbs lost (tomorrow is weigh in day for week 4) but so far yep 2lbs a week at 1200 calories for me

That's awesome!!

CoffeeNCardio

. Lol just kidding I thought this was a totally new post and then I realized

blkandwhite77

8.4 lbs at end of week 4 crossing fingers it keeps going well

MarlyIc1

1200 calories will do it but I don't like it. Today I'm resting and that's all I have to eat, I'm starving! I don't know how you do it, it hurts..

CoffeeNCardio

MarlyIc1 wrote: »

1200 calories will do it but I don't like it. Today I'm resting and that's all I have to eat, I'm starving! I don't know how you do it, it hurts..

I find it totally comfortable, but I lead a pretty sedentary life, and I only work really part time (16hrs) so I don't have the added stresses of a full time job to weigh me down. Of course every person's caloric intake should match their ability to cope with the deficit. If it feels miserable you wouldn't stick with it!

amberlyda1

i cant stick to 1200 calories if i work out that day. Im just too hungry. Ive been kind of bad and havent lost any scale weight (but my inches are going down); but ive been lifting. When I was really sticking to the 1200 a day I was loosing 2 lbs a week.

Kideehabib

So if I am 164 pounds amd want to get to 130 pounds I should have a target of less than 1200 cal per day?

blkandwhite77

No you should never have a target of less than 1200. You at your weight will probably have a higher base rate of calories as you have less to lose. It will just take time. What is MFP telling you to have for daily calories based on your activity level and stats?

MarlyIc1

clgaram720 wrote: »

MarlyIc1 wrote: »

1200 calories will do it but I don't like it. Today I'm resting and that's all I have to eat, I'm starving! I don't know how you do it, it hurts..

I find it totally comfortable, but I lead a pretty sedentary life, and I only work really part time (16hrs) so I don't have the added stresses of a full time job to weigh me down. Of course every person's caloric intake should match their ability to cope with the deficit. If it feels miserable you wouldn't stick with it!

True, everybody's different. Well I do cardio and lift weights 5 days per week, yesterday did 10km walk, today resting so I have to stick to 1200, maybe my body is hungry after that lol plus according to my details, I require 1400 cal to exsist, for bodily functions only, so not sure how healthy this 1200 calorie suggestion in my case is. Health is first.

shadow2soul

Kideehabib wrote: »

So if I am 164 pounds amd want to get to 130 pounds I should have a target of less than 1200 cal per day?

No. 1200 is the minimum for safe/healthy weight loss. Going below that you risk malnutrition which brings a lot of unpleasant side effects.
Set MFP to lose 1 to 1.5 lbs per week and eat to the calorie goal it gives you + 50% of exercise calories (adjust up or down as needed after about 4 weeks).

CoffeeNCardio

MarlyIc1 wrote: »

clgaram720 wrote: »

MarlyIc1 wrote: »

1200 calories will do it but I don't like it. Today I'm resting and that's all I have to eat, I'm starving! I don't know how you do it, it hurts..

I find it totally comfortable, but I lead a pretty sedentary life, and I only work really part time (16hrs) so I don't have the added stresses of a full time job to weigh me down. Of course every person's caloric intake should match their ability to cope with the deficit. If it feels miserable you wouldn't stick with it!

True, everybody's different. Well I do cardio and lift weights 5 days per week, yesterday did 10km walk, today resting so I have to stick to 1200, maybe my body is hungry after that lol plus according to my details, I require 1400 cal to exsist, for bodily functions only, so not sure how healthy this 1200 calorie suggestion in my case is. Health is first.

Oh for sure. I only do 1200 because A. I remain totally comfortable and feeling good while eating that B. I'm only 5'2" and my frame size is Small. Clearly someone taller than me with a medium or large frame at the same weight needs more. Age, activity level, size, weight goals, all these things come into account. And to say 1200 works for everyone would be patently absurd. Even someone my EXACT weight, frame size, activity level, age, and weight might not be able to do 1200 a day for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that there is no human on earth with the exact same hormonal makeup or insulin levels or any of that stuff identical to me. It's sort of like sleep that way. Some people absolutely must get 9 hours a night to function like a normal human, others feel awful sleeping that much and only do 6 cause otherwise they feel weird. The recommendation of 8 is a good place to start, not the end all be all, just like 1200 in this analogy is the 6 hr.

CoffeeNCardio

Kideehabib wrote: »

So if I am 164 pounds amd want to get to 130 pounds I should have a target of less than 1200 cal per day?

Ermagerd no. No, no no.

You have to get your measurement based on your own individual numbers. Caloric deficit must eb calculated to the individual, never just a number you hear. For all anyone knows, you could need 1600 just to keep your organs running. Either use the MFP calculation or go get your RMR, BMR/TDEE to make yourself a safe deficit. 1200 is the lowest. It's only good for a small portion of the MFP population, and even then only for a while in most cases. If you need info on how to get these, check out the getting started must reads or PM me and I'll throw you some great links.

LivingtheLeanDream

1 1/2 to 2lbs a week when you still want to lose 45lbs is fine...when you reach the 20lb to go you could then set your deficit to lose 1 1/2lb per week - but if you're managing the 1200 still thats different, eat back some (around 50%) of your exercise calories as well, fuel your body and it will reward you with more energy

Just so you know I'm 5ft 2" and am maintaining my goal weight eating 2100-2300 cals. So you wont always have to eat so low. When I was in weight loss mode I was happy to lose 1/2lb a week and eat 1600 cals + exercise cals. Everyone has to do whats right for them

Rockin2014

The first 12 weeks approx. I lost 2lbs per week while eating 1500 cals. I'm still eating in that range but losing a bit slower. Have lost 50lbs since start of March.