1200 calorie successes?

Thick_Chickk

Did anyone start off at 1200 calories to lose? How much did you lose? How long did it take?

apullum

I did, but I am *very* short (under 5 feet). I lost 100 pounds in 2.5 years. 1200 is a baseline that doesn't take into account exercise calories; on days I exercised, I ate my exercise calories back.

30kgin2017

Isn't every female diet 1200cal:D I did 1200 cal for about 6 weeks and then upped it to 1500cal for the next 5. Lost 10kg in 11 weeks but I exercised for 1 hour a day 6 days a week from week 3(which is why I ended up upping my cals to 1500 as 1200 was not enough).

dfein001

Over 10 pounds in 30 days.... using this to maintain a 1200 net daily with exercise. I am about to up that limit as soon.

middlehaitch

Yes. I lost 30lbs on 1200 a day plus about 200 exercise calories.

1200 cals was apropriate for me as I was sedentary, 5'1 and 130 lbs to begin with. At 130 I went from the top of the normal BMI range to close to the bottom 100-105.

It took a year to lose the weight and I have kept it off for 7 years.

Cheees, h.

littledainty

I've been logging since April on 1100-1200 calories, with a day off once a month or so. I'm 5 foot tall and started at 143. I've just hit 118lbs so it's been a slow race, and ultimately I'm aiming for somewhere around 105-110.

It works for me because I'm short and didn't have a lot to lose, so my deficit on 1200 is only about 300 a day unless I exercise a lot, and my appetite is obviously lower as a petite person.

When I was just starting out someone said to me "don't do anything to lose weight that you wouldn't do long term to maintain it". If 1200 is a very high deficit for you (ie you're tall or very active) it will just make things harder the long run.

KnitterNotAQuitter

My doctor put me on a 1,200-calorie a day diet, and I lost 24.6 pounds in the first month. (SW: 352.6, so I have a lot to lose.) I think I'm down a little from that, but haven't weighed in in a couple weeks. When I started, I also went cold turkey on junk/fast food, salt and added sugar, so I think that made it easier, because I can eat a lot more veggies. Sometimes I don't finish them. I have slipped a few times recently -- the holiday socializing has been rough! -- but I'm at such a deficit that there's only been one or two days where it made a significant difference. I also haven't been eating my exercise calories back. As I get more active, I might have to, but for now, I'm sticking with the 1,200-calories a day, and hoping to soon reach my goal of losing 10% of my body weight -- only 10.7 pounds to go. (Then, another 10%, then another 10%, etc., etc. Small goals. )

JennJ323

Yes. I've been on a 1200 calorie "diet" for a year now, I've lost 28lbs so far.

5'2"
SW 155
CW 127

DebLaBounty

Yes
I'm 5'6", starting weight 173. Lost 1 or 2 pounds a week for five months, now eat 1500 or so and am maintaining my weight at a range of 142 to 145 pounds.

debtay123

I eat 1200 calores without exercise- but most days I exercise by walking so I really eat about 1350-1450 calories and I still lose -somewhat slowly- but I am not going anywhere.

OHFlamingo

I'm confined to a wheel chair, and do not exercise. I'm 5' 5.5" SW 221 CW 185 (That's 36 pounds!) Started on 1200 calories on 5/20/17. I weigh, measure, and log every morsel I eat. 4 more pounds, and I finally move out of the "obese" category!

Iwantahealthierme30

I tried 1200 but don't feel well when calories are that low. I get dizzy, MFP recommends 1660 to me and I am losing 1.5-2 pounds a week.

brittneyalley

I eat 1200, and have lost almost 40 pounds so far. I started my journey in the middle of August.

GoldenEye_

I started on mfp and 1200 kcal a day the first of June, then had a 4 month period of maintenance starting in August and then started weightloss again at the end of November. I started at 159 lbs and have lost 17 lbs so far I usually do eat some my workout calories back, so tend to eat around 1300 kcal a day. I do free weights about 3x a week (at a beginner level, sticking to 17.6 lbs for most exercises), pilates 3x a week and running once a week, all around 30-45 minutes.

Sam29a

I was eating 1200 for about a year, brought it up to 1300 towards the end of the year. I lost 57 lbs in 1.5 years, (although last 3 months of that I eat really low - not through choice). I never exercised, at least not much. Did a month or so of the 30-day shred, otherwise completely sedentary.

I'm 5'2 btw.

taylormarysmith

I was skeptical when MFP recommended 1100 calories to me. I’m 5’7”. SW was 180 and I’m down to 150. Want to hit about 135. Regardless, it seemed low to me. I consulted my doctor and he helped me find a multivitamin to help with any nutritional vitamins I may miss due to such a low calorie intake. But overall, he was on board as long as I hit my fat and protein macros. To my amazement, I am eating between 1100 and 1300 and do not feel hungry - especially when I’m hitting those macros. I also exercise 3 or 4 times a week, and try to eat my calories back.

The first 15 pounds came off easily. A little less than 2 months. The remaining 15 were harder to come by. It’s been about 5 months. Hoping by April to lose the remaining 15.

TeaBea

Thick_Chickk wrote: »

Did anyone start off at 1200 calories to lose? How much did you lose? How long did it take?

The answer for you is based on YOUR stats. Mine aren't relative.

Let's say you are 200 pounds, 5'5" tall, 20 years old and sedentary. Your TDEE (maintenance calories) are estimated at 2,076 calories.

So 1200 would be an 876 calorie deficit (2,076 - 1, 200 = 876). Because there are 3,500 calories in a pound you could expect 3,500/876 = 3.99. Approximately 1 pound every 4 days.

Another example: let's say you are 150 pounds, 5'7" tall, 35 years old and sedentary. Your TDEE (maintenance calories) are estimated at 1,741 calories.

So 1200 would be a 541 calorie deficit (1,741 - 1, 200 = 541). Because there are 3,500 calories in a pound you could expect 3,500/541 = 6.47. Approximately 1 pound every 6.5 days.

Of course everything above is based on estimates. Sedentary is a range.....not just one value. Some people accurately measure food intake (digital food scale)....others just think they do. Exercise would increase the intake above 1200, but then calorie burns are estimates too.

1200 is a default minimum number. Sometimes it's based on your current size, sometimes it just means the user set an aggressive weekly weight loss goal.

susanp57

I'm 5'5" and ate at 1200 from March until I hit my goal weight in September, about 32 lbs. I usually ate back a portion of my exercise calories.

getoffin1year

1200 is doable for a low energy day or two. I shoot for a 1000 calorie deficit a day, some higher, some lower. Thats 7000 calories a week or two pounds. I dont think I'd be able to do 1200 everyday.

Tprez12

taylormarysmith wrote: »

I was skeptical when MFP recommended 1100 calories to me. I’m 5’7”. SW was 180 and I’m down to 150. Want to hit about 135. Regardless, it seemed low to me. I consulted my doctor and he helped me find a multivitamin to help with any nutritional vitamins I may miss due to such a low calorie intake. But overall, he was on board as long as I hit my fat and protein macros. To my amazement, I am eating between 1100 and 1300 and do not feel hungry - especially when I’m hitting those macros. I also exercise 3 or 4 times a week, and try to eat my calories back.

The first 15 pounds came off easily. A little less than 2 months. The remaining 15 were harder to come by. It’s been about 5 months. Hoping by April to lose the remaining 15.

Great Job!!! What are your macros?

Unknown

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ryenday

More successful than I realized. I’m down 40 ish pounds and MFP 2017 report tells me my average calories were 1195.75999... this year. I had about 6 days off (cheat days didn’t log).

Lol, I’ve written in these threads that I ate between 1000 and 1400, I’ve written I ate 1200 ish most days etc. Both true and both statements highly criticized for not being specific enough.

1195.75999 calories per day averaged in 2017. Not sure I could get any closer to 1200 if I worked at it specifically to be on the 1200 nose perfectly.

Pocket__Cthulhu

There are some good threads in the sticky section titled "Most Helpful" posts that I suggest you give a glance. Particularly the one about TDEE and BMR. For most people, 1200 is way too low. For most people, they will lose muscle mass along with fat on so low a number, which is why some are suggesting that. If your short and sedentary, and you can sustain it, good for you. Good luck on your journey!

aaron13autumn

I started off on 1200 after reading some calorie counting success stories, hadn't even thought about it at the time (calories didn't exist to me back then). Hadn't heard of mfp either so i just did it in my head or kept track of things in a diary. Noticed it was working and then heard of mfp, my calories were upped as I'm 5’11”.

Back in late 2013 I weighed roughly 250 pounds, come end of 2015 I weighed 154 pounds. Nowadays I hover around the 170 mark since I felt and was told relentlessly I was too thin.

So it does work

Anyway.. There's my little story

solieco1

taylormarysmith wrote: »

I was skeptical when MFP recommended 1100 calories to me. I’m 5’7”. SW was 180 and I’m down to 150. Want to hit about 135. Regardless, it seemed low to me. I consulted my doctor and he helped me find a multivitamin to help with any nutritional vitamins I may miss due to such a low calorie intake. But overall, he was on board as long as I hit my fat and protein macros.

HI! May i ask what you have your protein and fat targets set to? Thanks

TeaBea

aaron13autumn wrote: »

I started off on 1200 after reading some calorie counting success stories, hadn't even thought about it at the time (calories didn't exist to me back then). Hadn't heard of mfp either so i just did it in my head or kept track of things in a diary. Noticed it was working and then heard of mfp, my calories were upped as I'm 5’11”.

Back in late 2013 I weighed roughly 250 pounds, come end of 2015 I weighed 154 pounds. Nowadays I hover around the 170 mark since I felt and was told relentlessly I was too thin.

So it does work

Anyway.. There's my little story

1500 is a default minimum for adult males. The problem with aggressive weight loss is you lose a higher % of (existing) lean muscle mass than you would had chosen a moderate deficit.

Thick_Chickk wrote: »

To everyone saying 1200 is too low or a default number.. I realize that it may be true for some. I've lost significant amounts of weight four times, once when I was 20 years old and the other three times after my pregnancies. I've been at this game for awhile and even at my highest weight, I don't lose on even 1500 kcals. The only time I can lose is on 1200 kcals. I was just looking for some motivation from others as I have to lose again.

OP - 1200 is a default for women. If you are elderly, very petite and/or very sedentary.....then yes you need to go that low. If you truely can't lose at 1500 calorie (and you are not very petite or very sedentary).....then see a doctor re: a metabolic issue.

The more likely cause of not losing on 1500 calorie is inaccurate logging. Perhaps you didn't stick with 1500 calories long enough to see actual results. Water weight will mess with the scale - higher sodium = water retention, sore muscles = water retention, time of month = water retention. Your waste cycle will impact the scale too.

See the flowchart in this thread...........
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10484320/why-i-am-not-losing-weight-flowchart

sheps1990

I lost a stone in 7 dedicated months with 1200 calories per day.

https://palegirlgoeseast.wordpress.com/2017/12/29/how-i-gained-and-lost-weight-in-china/

ridiculous59

Thick_Chickk wrote: »

To everyone saying 1200 is too low or a default number.. I realize that it may be true for some. I've lost significant amounts of weight four times, once when I was 20 years old and the other three times after my pregnancies. I've been at this game for awhile and even at my highest weight, I don't lose on even 1500 kcals. The only time I can lose is on 1200 kcals. I was just looking for some motivation from others as I have to lose again.

I have a desk job and so 1200 calories was my limit too. I've lost 90 pounds but it took me three years (life happens.....and that's ok). I would eat some of my exercise calories back, but never all of them. I couldn't lose on 1500 calories either. And like you, this isn't my first rodeo lol I am so envious of the people who can eat lots and still lose!!

1200 calories isnt a lot. But its totally do-able. There just isn't much wiggle room so you need to really focus on eating healthy. But you know that. You can do this

irishhealthy

Due to being 5ft 1 and on corticosteroids, plus not very mobile, 1200 is too much for me. Its hard to lose at anything less than 1100 for me. Its such an individual thing but for a healthy, mobile woman - 1200 is considered low. For me its too much.

Amybcb

Thick_Chickk wrote: »

To everyone saying 1200 is too low or a default number.. I realize that it may be true for some. I've lost significant amounts of weight four times, once when I was 20 years old and the other three times after my pregnancies. I've been at this game for awhile and even at my highest weight, I don't lose on even 1500 kcals. The only time I can lose is on 1200 kcals. I was just looking for some motivation from others as I have to lose again.

I have found the same to be true since having kids (and being 41 now!). If I eat more than 1200 calories a day, I just don't lose. I am short too (5'2") and I see many others around my height have been able to lose on 1200 and stay around that many calories so that is inspiring.

slimbyjune18

I’m 5ft4 and on 1200 too. I lost 56lb a few years back on 1200, I did eat back 75% exercise cals. I got out of habit of tracking & put back on 21lb.. restarted at end November (1200 again) and have dropped 6lb so far. I don’t have that much to lose (15lb now). It’s definitely manageable, I really plan ahead and make sure I build plenty of exercise in, which gives a bit more flexibility. It does work & I find I can eat v well on 1200, but I don’t drink fizzy drinks, eat that much sweet stuff etc. First couple of days I did feel hungry, but I’d kind of expect that. I also make sure I drink 2l water a day which really helps. Good luck!