how to stay within 1200 calories day

lucerorojo

I couldn't do this. I've lost 41 lbs, with 59 to go. Once i got in the 1200s I had to change my goal. Now I eat 1500-1600 net and lose 1 lb. per week. I am "lightly active" on MFP, but also work out at least 50 minutes daily. I always eat back all my exercise calories. But even at 1200 per day, it was too little food. I did it four 4 days and then upped my intake!

Sharon_C

RecognitionT wrote: »

How anyone does it is beyond me.

Yeah sure I get women need a little less energy than men to function in general for a variety of reasons, but I can't imagine staying within a 1200 window throughout the day.

Most of the time Ive busted 1200 by lunch hour.

I just pre-logged breakfast and lunch and I'm at 1200. No way could I eat only that in a day. I'd be hangry!

Tesha231

I use the 1200 as a guide and feel better when I have the choice to eat "burn" calories, which I normally eat half of those earned. I also won't "go hungry". If I am truly hungry, I will choose healthy carbs, lean protein, almonds, with water to satisfy the pang even if I go 100 or so over on calories for the day. I cook mostly from scratch so more certain of what is in the food I eat, using healthy substitutes for many creamy/soupy ingredients. This results in larger servings for your calories/macros. Hope this helps.

endermako

I definitely can't do 1200 only because i'm considered "active" on MFP. I'm currently at 1450 and trying to work up to 1650 and still lose.

Chunkahlunkah

My calories yesterday came in at just under 1200. (Please keep in mind that I'm only 4'11" and don't have that much to lose. 1300 calories a day is only a 250 calorie deficit for me.)

My eating usually falls into one of two patterns:
1. One "large" meal of around 600-800 calories and then several small meals/snacks to reach 1300.
2. Two meals of around 400-600 calories and one or two small meals/snacks to reach 1300.

What I ate yesterday:

B: Chobani coconut yogurt. Cup of tea with a little milk.

L: 430 grams of cauliflower florets with 0.5 T of Kerrygold butter and hot sauce. Two Wasa crackers with Wild Planet sardines smashed on top with lemon juice. Celery with one Wholly Guacamole mini cup. One piece of Cabot sharp cheddar.

Late afternoon snack: Bluebonnet protein shake. (This is rare for me, but I have a tub to use up. I'm not fond of the stevia taste. If I buy protein powder again, I'd get the unflavored kind.)

Dinner: One beef taco from Moe's with sour cream and guac.

This came to about 1180 calories, but I'd guess it was probably more like 1280. I was totally full!

Whether this calorie level is doable really depends, I think, on how much of a deficit it is for you. It's a small deficit for me, so it doesn't feel bad from a hunger standpoint. (I'm not hungry at this level.) What sucks is how it eliminates so many choices bc it's hard to fit in calorie bombs. But that's the difference between losing and maintenance for me. The base of my maintenance eating is basically this calorie level, but on top of it I have high-calorie meals/treats a few times a week.

amgreenwell

For me it is small meals throughout the day, lots of protein and veggies. I eat almost all my exercise calories back but most people say shoot for eating 1/2 back.

bedwellchris

I have an English muffin and 1-2 eggs for breakfast. Then usually a banana during the morning. Lunch can be a salad with protein, maybe pretzels, a Lean Cuisine meal, and some fresh veggies. Snack usually is nuts, cheese, or a piece of fruit, and dinner is 3-4 oz protein, vegetables, rice/potato, fresh veggies, and maybe fruit at night. It is hard for me to get to 1200 calories each day. When I start exercising again, I add more protein, more snacks. It works for me as long as I use MFP each day.

cwolfman13

missscrim78 wrote: »

does anyone else struggle to stay within 1200 cals per day? And also do you eat back your calories burnt with exercise?

You're supposed to because exercise activity isn't included in your activity level...exercise activity should be accounted for given that it increases your body's energy (calorie) requirements. Why do you think MFP adds them to your GOAL when you log it if that wasn't what you're supposed to do?

Dame_sans_merci

I initially started on the minimum for my stats in order to lose 2lb per week. But after 3 weeks I found that I wasn’t eating as much fresh fruit as I wanted (just 2 pieces per day) so I changed it to 1.5lb loss and got 1500 cals per day on the premise that I would use the extra for fruit. THEN I read up a lot about damaging metabolism long term by under-eating calories so I changed it again to 1lb loss per week which gave me 1750 cals per day. This is working brilliant for me. I am finally at a stage in life where I realise that if I want to keep the weight off, I need to do it slow and steady. After 8 weeks I am over 1 stone down, I never feel hungry, I eat what I want which is good quality healthy foods with the odd smaller size treat meal thrown in. Because I am doing it slower my stomach is actually shrinking this time and I get full up much sooner than I used to. I am a happy Easter Bunny.

Think about your goal and whether you will stick to the plan to reach that goal by being on 1200. If it feels like a chore, try changing your weekly loss to something smaller and giving yourself more calories to play with. X

TeaBea

missscrim78 wrote: »

does anyone else struggle to stay within 1200 cals per day? And also do you eat back your calories burnt with exercise?

1200 calories is a default minimum number from MFP before exercise....so yes, you are expected to eat calories back. One of the reasons you eat exercise calories is to keep the calorie deficit in check. Too large a deficit (over time) will make it harder for your body to support existing lean muscle mass. Do you want a lower body fat %?

Because 1200 is a minimum - that means you may be able to lose weight while eating more. You could be very petite and sedentary......if so 1200 is about right for you (you're not elderly by your picture). But if you find 1200 difficult choose a lower weekly weight loss goal and get a higher number. Low fat-high volume isn't filling for everyone......I do better with with a decent amount of fat

Whatever you choose, find something you can live with for awhile. Weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint.

scrappy25

Exercise, then eat back your exercise calories. Win Win. You will feel better, look better, and have many other ancillary benefits.

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12

If you’re a short female (like me!) I think 1200 is reasonable. I aim for this and it usually breaks down as:

Breakfast - 100 kcal - packet porridge oats cooked with water
Lunch - 300 kcal - tinned soup
Snacks - 200 kcal - 2 x 100kcal snacks usually pretzels and popcorn
Dinner - 600 kcal- usually protein and mountains of veggies

If I’m busy I don’t get round to the snacks so I come in under but usually i hit 1200 a day.

I’m vegan and am happy to eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch everyday. I don’t drink anything but water and black coffee usually so don’t count that.

I’m 5ft 2ins if I really stand up tall, and I have a desk job. I’d love to eat 2000 calories but I wouldn’t be a healthy weight if I did because my body just doesn’t use that many calories. Provided I plan my meals I don’t feel hungry on 1200 calories. I do miss wine though :-)

Francl27

RecognitionT wrote: »

How anyone does it is beyond me.

Yeah sure I get women need a little less energy than men to function in general for a variety of reasons, but I can't imagine staying within a 1200 window throughout the day.

Most of the time Ive busted 1200 by lunch hour.

Ditto. Never had to eat less than 1650.

tayusuki

Nutrient dense foods! I find it rough if I blow on my calories on non-dense carbs because I'll get hungry a few hours later and be out if calories for the day.

So...I eat lots of seafood, veggies, chicken, Greek yogurt. They're all a great bang for your buck. I'm not hungry most of the time.

Also, I'm very short and my maintenance is about 1500, so I have no choice but to adapt! If you medically can do cardio, I suggest it so you can eat a little more! (Strength training is great too).