1200 calorie successes?

NattySchmatty

5'3 and 172 lbs here. 1200 is a great number for me. On days I work out it's definitely closer to 1500, but sometimes no. I lose about 1 lb a week when I am not "trying" and when I really stick to it, 2 lbs.

shannonprovenzano2812

Of course it can be done on 1200 calories a day. That's the bare minimum for women, so yes, you SHOULD lose something.

oykucan

I am 5' (157 cm) and I lost nearly 30 pounds (13,5 kg) in 4 months.

sky2217

I have lost 6.4 pounds in one week I'm 5'4 but this is the third time I've done this diet without exercising and I've lost 30+each time I eventually lower my calories as my body adjusts to the calorie intake or if I'm in a hurry to reach a goal.

PowerliftingMom

Did almost 1200 calories exclusively, lost over 50 lbs. in a little over a year, did some serious damage to my metabolism and took me nearly a year to recover. NEVER diet for more than 3-4 months at a time. Take a week or so off then go back to a caloric deficit. I honestly should have sued that "so-called" diet coach who put me on that diet while I was training to be a powerlifter!

sugarlemonpie

Me!! I eat between 1200-1500 calories per day depending on exercise and how I feel. I've been doing this since April last year and have lost 40lbs to date at a consistent rate. I am 5' 4" with a starting weight of 193 and current weight of 153.

I have just recently been slightly increasing my calories a bit more the closer to goal I get, in order to hit maintenance calories once I get to where I would like to be so I don't gain.

Some days I feel hungrier so I allow myself to eat closer to 1400-1500. Don't beat yourself up if you eat over 1200 as that is the minimum you need to eat for the day! That mindset has allowed me to go on 2 vacations and get right back on the wagon.

easyvegan

I started out at 150 llbs and now I'm at 138.6llbs, and that was over 2 months although with Christmas and all the temptations I did fluctuate but maintains a weight of 140llbs, my goal is 135llbs so I'm confident that I'll be able to get it by the end of the month. After that I want to drop to either 130, or 125 but I am going to *kitten* the situation once I'm down to 135 llbs because I don't want to lose weight for the sake of it, I want to get toned and some muscle too!

What I love about eating 1200 Kcal is that it's really brought to my attention how much I used to snack, how out of control my portion sizes were and how calorically dense the foods I were eating too, it may not be a healthy way to live your life permanently but to rewire your brain into how to make better choices I'm so for it!

dramaqueen45

MFP gives me 1200 calories and it usually won't go lower than that I'm told. I am average height at 5'4" and have a sit down job. I don't think I could survive without starving on 1200 so it motivates me to exercise for 45 minutes to an hour a day, adding 200-300 calories which definitely helps quite a bit. I've had success with this calorie limit, but wouldn't if I didn't eat back exercise calories.

UltraVegAthlete

I started at 1700 a day last spring, but by summer I was eating 2-2500 a day and still losing weight due to an increase in activity. I’ve gained 10 lbs back since Summer but that’s because I binged several times a month and was less active. Now I’m back on track and excited to lose the winter gain

jenniferburton6802

I have been averaging 1100 to 1200 calories per day. Started Jan 27/17, as of today I am down 102 lbs from starting weight of 246.
I am 67 years old and fairly active for my age but have had no real issues with this calorie level as long as I watch my macros (especially protein)

scarlett_k

I have my basic calories set to 1200 but my Garmin adds exercise calories so I rarely actually eat that little. I have found over time that if I set the number higher then if I go over my calories I will go over more than if I have it set lower. It's like a higher baseline gives me permission to eat more... I know it's just my lizard brain playing tricks but keeping them low works for me. I've lost 21 kg so far.

motivatedmartha

Like others here I am at 1200 cals and eat back around 50% of my exercise cals. I lost 46lbs without suffering too much doing this but due to a mobility issue, alongside a few extended trips (each 7 weeks long) I have regained 20lbs. This is because I stopped being mindful of what I was eating - not eating crap but just eating too much - while I was unable to walk, swim or do any other form of exercise. Now fit and mmobile and back on to 1200 cals and rigorously logging and hoping that this time around I will maintain better. If I do a lot of exercise one day and don't eat back at least some of them I get really hangry and hubby's life becomes miserabl

ridiculous59

jenniferburton6802 wrote: »

I have been averaging 1100 to 1200 calories per day. Started Jan 27/17, as of today I am down 102 lbs from starting weight of 246.
I am 67 years old and fairly active for my age but have had no real issues with this calorie level as long as I watch my macros (especially protein)

Awesome weight loss!! I'm 58 and have lost 90 pounds on 1200 calories. Protein is the tricky one for me too. And it can't be protein from legumes or other plant sources or else I just feel sluggish. Maybe because the high carbs tilt my macros? I hadn't thought of that before. Thanks for the insight

brianna3152

I am 37/5'/196. I started at 230 on Oct 2nd 2017. I eat 1200/day Sun-Fri, then on Saturday I take a day off (without going too crazy). I lose roughly 0.5-2 lbs every week. I assume that will slow down once I weigh less. I don't pay any attention to macros and I am a vegan. I don't often feel too hungry unless I don't eat enough protein. I also have an Apple Watch, so I eat back whatever calories MFP tells me I can based on my activity through that.

sarahpedrys

I've been eating 1200 calories a day, but add 300 because I'm breastfeeding an older baby. I've been at it for almost a month, and have lost 8lbs. It's been maintainable for me. I'm 5'2" and 185lbs.

ChelleDee07

I started Jan 11th of last year at 260 lbs with the 1200 calorie/day. In 8 months and 4 days (Sept 15th) I had lost over 100 lbs. I have been maintaining since with a 1500 calorie/day during the week and relaxed (no logging, weight and eating more freely) weekends. I go up a little on Monday mornings and back at it and have my weight right back in check by Wednesday morning, sometimes Thursday.

WinoGelato

Amybcb wrote: »

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.

You're inspired by people who eat the minimum recommended calories for women and decide to stick with it? I'm also 5'2 and started out with a 1200 cal goal, but was inspired by those who ate more calories and still lost weight - so I aspired to be like them. I increased my calories, and my activity, and ended up losing my ~ 35 lbs eating between 1600-1900 cals and am now maintaining with a TDEE of around 2100. I also have a desk job, 2 kids and am 43.

Bootzey

I tried 1200 for months. Didn’t start to lose consistently until I upped it to 1400

Sam29a

WinoGelato wrote: »

Amybcb wrote: »

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.

You're inspired by people who eat the minimum recommended calories for women and decide to stick with it? I'm also 5'2 and started out with a 1200 cal goal, but was inspired by those who ate more calories and still lost weight - so I aspired to be like them. I increased my calories, and my activity, and ended up losing my ~ 35 lbs eating between 1600-1900 cals and am now maintaining with a TDEE of around 2100. I also have a desk job, 2 kids and am 43.

I wish I could motivate myself to be more active and eat more. I lost most of my weight on 1200 calories. Now losing the last few pounds very slowly on 1300 calories. I tend to join the gym for a month and then give up once the month is up. I just can't stick to it. Eating less is just easier, I hope someday I could make exercise a habit. It just hasn't happened yet.

Alzzi76

ChelleDee07 wrote: »

I started Jan 11th of last year at 260 lbs with the 1200 calorie/day. In 8 months and 4 days (Sept 15th) I had lost over 100 lbs. I have been maintaining since with a 1500 calorie/day during the week and relaxed (no logging, weight and eating more freely) weekends. I go up a little on Monday mornings and back at it and have my weight right back in check by Wednesday morning, sometimes Thursday.

your awesome!! well done

Alzzi76

I luv seening b4 and after pics. I hava a few of my own only its up down up down like a yoyo.. this time... (cross fingers).. it's going to be permanent!

aliblain

Yes, I’m on 1200 and managing well on it- eating plenty of veg and protein. Have lost 8 pounds in 20 days so far. I’m 5 foot 7 and do a desk job 3 days a week. The rest of the days I’m moderately active running after two children. I started out at 185 pounds and aiming for 140.

amfmmama

1200 is not the default for all women. I have put in to lose 2 lb a week. My starting weight was 227 and I am far from sedentary. My goal is 1310. I have lost pretty steadily since starting back up.

bbell1985

I'm 5'4" and just a slow person. Like...I'll barely run across the street if the light is changing.

I usually drive it home on 1200 calories for the last couple weeks of my diet. I see a huge difference/results when I do this. I don't cut on 1200 for extended periods of time though.

AMC110

amfmmama wrote: »

1200 is not the default for all women. I have put in to lose 2 lb a week. My starting weight was 227 and I am far from sedentary. My goal is 1310. I have lost pretty steadily since starting back up.

Exactly, I know factors such as height have an effect but it confuses me when someone says they started out at 1200 when they weighed about 260 lbs. I was given a calorie goal of 1360 when I joined and weighed close to 260 lbs. It only reduced to 1200 when I had gotten down to 228 lbs.

LivingtheLeanDream

dfein001 wrote: »

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.

You're a guy so your minimum is 1500 cals.

LivingtheLeanDream

I started off on 1200 but it wasn't sustainable (was always hangry!) even though I am only 5ft 2. I [only] had 20lbs to lose, ate 1450 plus exercise calories to lose 0.5lb a week.

aquamarinex

Am on 1250 a day since November and lost 13lbs but I think that's partly because I cut my carbs in my macros too to a third of what I used to eat. I have another 15lbs to go to get to goal weight of 126lbs.

SkimpyMrsCarter

I started with 1200 calories and lost 2lbs a week consistently, i lost 44lbs counting calories now i do intermittent fasting and that works even better for me.

firef1y72

WinoGelato wrote: »

Amybcb wrote: »

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.

You're inspired by people who eat the minimum recommended calories for women and decide to stick with it? I'm also 5'2 and started out with a 1200 cal goal, but was inspired by those who ate more calories and still lost weight - so I aspired to be like them. I increased my calories, and my activity, and ended up losing my ~ 35 lbs eating between 1600-1900 cals and am now maintaining with a TDEE of around 2100. I also have a desk job, 2 kids and am 43.

^^this
If I'd have tried to eat 1200 Calories I would have crashed, burned and given up before I came anywhere near my 142lb weight loss. I can count the number of times I ate below 2000 on one hand and I still lost at 1-3lb/week (obviously higher rate at the beginning and then slowed). While I freely admit that my activity level is not usual and is extremely high, I've been maintaining at an average of 3000 Calories (don't always log all food now and when I do it's to ensure I'm eating enough) for 4.5 months with a blip at Christmas that was sorted with a week of eating at 2500.

Why do people seem to aspire to eat so little? Seriously, you want to preserve as much lean muscle mass as possible so you don't need to keep eating so low.