1200 calories :#
feelinglucky5
Posts: 7 Member
How does anyone make it on 1200? Day 4 and trying very hard to stay as close as I can to that number but it’s pretty deflating when I complete my diary log and up pops “Congratulations in 5 weeks you’ll be xxx” which is only 3 lbs way from my current weight...wth??? 
At that rate it will take me 10+ months to lose 30lbs! That doesn’t seem right. Thoughts, advice, experience?
At that rate it will take me 10+ months to lose 30lbs! That doesn’t seem right. Thoughts, advice, experience? 4
Replies
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The "In 5 weeks you'll weigh" function is pointless. All it does is project what you'll weigh if you eat exactly the same number of calories and expend exactly the same number of calories as you did that day. That's really unlikely to happen. I don't bother closing my diary, there's no real reason to.
As far as eating 1200 calories a day, could you give more information - gender, height, age, current weight, goal weight? How many pounds a week did you set your weight loss goal to? That'll give us a better handle on what kind of advice might be useful to you.
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30lbs in 10 months isn't bad at all, really. That's just under one pound per week, which is what's recommended for most people.
as far as the weight prediction thing, most of us just ignore it. It's almost never accurate because you're not gonna have the exact same # of calories every day.
Thanks for your response. You’re right! I think one of my problems is I want it now so 10 months from now seems like a lifetime 4 -
The "In 5 weeks you'll weigh" function is pointless. All it does is project what you'll weigh if you eat exactly the same number of calories and expend exactly the same number of calories as you did that day. That's really unlikely to happen. I don't bother closing my diary, there's no real reason to.
As far as eating 1200 calories a day, could you give more information - gender, height, age, current weight, goal weight? How many pounds a week did you set your weight loss goal to? That'll give us a better handle on what kind of advice might be useful to you.
I’m 45, almost 46. Female. 5 foot 1. 156lbs and I set my weight loss to 1.5lb per week.0 -
This is me in my inspiration dress. Got some work to do!4 -
feelinglucky5 wrote: »The "In 5 weeks you'll weigh" function is pointless. All it does is project what you'll weigh if you eat exactly the same number of calories and expend exactly the same number of calories as you did that day. That's really unlikely to happen. I don't bother closing my diary, there's no real reason to.
As far as eating 1200 calories a day, could you give more information - gender, height, age, current weight, goal weight? How many pounds a week did you set your weight loss goal to? That'll give us a better handle on what kind of advice might be useful to you.
I’m 45, almost 46. Female. 5 foot 1. 156lbs and I set my weight loss to 1.5lb per week.
Thanks! My advice would be to set your rate of loss to 1 pound a week - that will give you 4-5 pounds a month, and you'll get a few more calories to play around with. Also, make sure you're logging correctly - weigh all solids, measure all liquids, make sure you're selecting the correct database entries.7 -
BTW. You look amazing in that dress!2
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feelinglucky5 wrote: »30lbs in 10 months isn't bad at all, really. That's just under one pound per week, which is what's recommended for most people.
as far as the weight prediction thing, most of us just ignore it. It's almost never accurate because you're not gonna have the exact same # of calories every day.
Thanks for your response. You’re right! I think one of my problems is I want it now so 10 months from now seems like a lifetime
Those 10 months are going to pass regardless. You might as well be making strides towards your goal. I figure that if I am lighter than I was this month last year (or 3 months ago or 6 months ago), I'm doing well. All progress is a success.
I'm with the others on that predictor being useless.12 -
I eat 1200 a day. The first week or two is kind of awful but I adjusted. Part of it is learning how to space my meals. I do a big breakfast and dinner with only a small lunch. I don’t do snacks. And part of it is learning what foods are more filling than others. And I drink lots of water which helps me feel more full.5
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I would never ever be able to eat 1200 calories every day. My minimum sustainable is 1500 NET calories (meaning, 1500 calories plus exercise calories), so I would never subject myself to the 1200 calorie torture. It means slower weight loss, but it also means more consistent weight loss. I would reach my goal faster if I lose 2-5 pounds a month every month for a year than if I tried to restrict myself and burn out after two weeks, regained, restricted again, burned out again, regained...etc. It's a very unpleasant cycle that gives you the illusion of losing faster when in fact you're losing slower (or even gaining).14
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1200 calories is just the absolute minimum for women to eat. Maybe google a couple different calorie calculators and find what number is going to work for you. It may take a few weeks of tweeking to actually figure out what number works.
It took me almost a year to lose 35 lbs after having two kids so I think 10 months is pretty good.
I eat 1400 +/- calories a day and eat back all my exercise calories.
I'm 5'8 1/2'' and weight 132 (as of today). Just a couple lbs from my goal.5 -
I've done 1200 a day, it's challenging but once you get the hang of it, it's not as that bad. That being said I was whining to the doc about how slow my weight loss is at 1500 a day. He said you're short- you can do 1200 easily. I was kind of frustrated with that answer even though I knew it was the case. I'm going to go down slowly. I set it at 1400 for the next week or two. See how that goes then drop to 1300 if I think I can do it.2
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Most days 1200 isn’t that bad but I let myself go up to 1350 if I’m super hungry. That helps. I’m not particularly active right now. I’ll probably have to eat my workout points when I am lol.1
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I eat 1200 calories a day also. I try to keep my carbs also down some, which I think how curbs the hunger.0
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I agree with @amusedmonkey. I made it a goal to try and lose weight on as many calories as possible. Because if I'm constantly hungry it's not going to work. This journey has to be sustainable.3
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I use the 1200 calories as my "net" calories target. I am usually at or a bit below that number because of the amount of exercise I do. Gross calories are usually betwee. 1350 and 1500.0
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"If you want sustained weight loss you have to include exercise. Period."
This is 100% false ... and is so ignorant it discredits the remainder of the post.
Then the poster says:
"The science will always be the same: calories in versus calories out. in order to lose weight you simply have to burn more calories than you consume. "
This is true and is exactly why working out is not necessary for weight loss1 -
62 years old, 5'7 and until recently pretty sedentary. I aim for 1200 cals per day plus 50% of anything I have earned through exercise. The 50% is because I think the database overcooks the figures it gives and I don't use a tracking device. Most days it's very do-able, some days I am hungry, in which case I decide whether I have been eating too low or whether I'm just bored and adjust accordingly. I am a bit of a volume eater so I make sure my plate is loaded with veg or salad at meal times - if I don't I get the nibbles after about an hour!
This cold snap is making me hungry though so I will up the exercise to earn a few more cals to play with. Apart from 7 weeks on a road trip holiday, where I was careful but didn't log, I have been following my plan for around 10 months straight. 1 -
motivatedmartha wrote: »62 years old, 5'7 and until recently pretty sedentary. I aim for 1200 cals per day plus 50% of anything I have earned through exercise. The 50% is because I think the database overcooks the figures it gives and I don't use a tracking device. Most days it's very do-able, some days I am hungry, in which case I decide whether I have been eating too low or whether I'm just bored and adjust accordingly. I am a bit of a volume eater so I make sure my plate is loaded with veg or salad at meal times - if I don't I get the nibbles after about an hour! This cold snap is making me hungry though so I will up the exercise to earn a few more cals to play with. Apart from 7 weeks on a road trip holiday, where I was careful but didn't log, I have been following my plan for around 10 months straight.
And how much weigh were you able to lose? I’m the same age and height and have been struggling. My daily calorie is 1330.0 -
Not enough information. How do you measure 1330 calories? Digital food scale is most accurate. How long have you not been losing? Close to goal weight means weight loss will be super slow. That also means water weight (which fluctuates quite a bit) can throw the numbers off. Weight loss won't be linear.4
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1200 calories is not going to be sustainable for everyone either. and if you dont have a lot to lose I dont think its safe to eat below BMR(heavier obese people may get away with it for a short time).most peoples BMRS are going to be more than 1200 unless an outlier.I know for me that 1200 is a little less than my bmr at 1272. I could definitely not eat that little. not even when Im sick. my body would suffer so would my energy and my workouts. even seentary I couldnt eat so little and Im only 5'6 `1/2(Im 44). so if you are feeling hungry or dont find it sustainable and are miserable find a higher calorie goal that still allows you to lose weight but at a slower rate,which is better in the long run.you want to be able to stick to your deficit and not feel like its torture. if it feels like torture or seems too hard to do then find something you can work with calorie wise.2
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amberellen12 wrote: »motivatedmartha wrote: »62 years old, 5'7 and until recently pretty sedentary. I aim for 1200 cals per day plus 50% of anything I have earned through exercise. The 50% is because I think the database overcooks the figures it gives and I don't use a tracking device. Most days it's very do-able, some days I am hungry, in which case I decide whether I have been eating too low or whether I'm just bored and adjust accordingly. I am a bit of a volume eater so I make sure my plate is loaded with veg or salad at meal times - if I don't I get the nibbles after about an hour! This cold snap is making me hungry though so I will up the exercise to earn a few more cals to play with. Apart from 7 weeks on a road trip holiday, where I was careful but didn't log, I have been following my plan for around 10 months straight.
And how much weigh were you able to lose? I’m the same age and height and have been struggling. My daily calorie is 1330.
Since last Christmas I have lost around 30 lbs even with the 7 week road trip in February/March last year. I am about 5lbs from where I think I will stop so have been happy to lose slowly over the last couple of months. I reckon I average around 1300 to 1350 with exercise calories.1 -
I have found the green giant riced veggies to be a great part of a low calorie diet. The entire bag has 80-100 calories. I add a little butter, hot sauce, and season it. Also you can add a protein (egg, chicken, whatever) and toss it in stir fry sauce to make a complete low calorie meal. Hope this helps.4
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I totally get you, 1200 is a tough goal to meet every day.
My current goal is 1300 and I find that difficult. But I give myself credit for exercise and allow myself to eat some of those extra calories. That and choosing low carb / low refined sugar, high protein, lots of fibre and water like I’m walking the Sahara. 🙃 And every now and then, at least once a month I have a high day. Not a cheat day exactly (try to avoid fast food / junk food bcs that stuff is like crack) but I go over my goal and it doesn’t seem to slow down my progress. You have to live a little!
Finding some activity that you can do every day will help since then you can eat more! In my opinion.
Wishing you success on reaching your goals.2 -
feelinglucky5 wrote: »How does anyone make it on 1200? Day 4 and trying very hard to stay as close as I can to that number but it’s pretty deflating when I complete my diary log and up pops “Congratulations in 5 weeks you’ll be xxx” which is only 3 lbs way from my current weight...wth??? At that rate it will take me 10+ months to lose 30lbs! That doesn’t seem right. Thoughts, advice, experience?
@feelinglucky5 - I lost 40 lbs doing 1200 -1300 calories a day. I’m on my last 10 lbs - I still eat 1200-1300 cals a day. Ive been incrementally increasing calories as I get closer to my goal.
If I eat nutrient dense foods, say chicken and broccoli/Brussels sprouts - it is a lot more filling and less calories then say a few slices of pizza. (To me anyway - I can keep eating pizza.)
If you aren’t satiated on 1200 calories / maybe include more fibrous vegetables? Look for foods with more caloric bang for your buck? Change up the menu to see how much food 1200 calories can be.
Today I had :
Bacon
Asparagus
Tofu
Smoked salmon
Nori
Chicken tenderloin
Cauliflower rice
Broccoli
Radish
Sautéed Rainbow chard
And I’m only at 1100ish calories - but many of the above are low cal foods.
One of the best things about being on my current way of eating has been experimenting with new foods / maybe there is some great foods that you will find make you happy, healthy and are within your dietary preferences.
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Are you all counting calories or are you in ketosis?
I've been doing the keto diet and have lost almost a Lb/day for the past 45 days.
Was at 304/ Now at 264.
If you're not doing the keto diet, definitely have a good look at it, BC I've tried all kinds of low calorie diets and found they never worked, this one is actually working awesome without having to workout like crazy or doing too much different from my regular daily routine.8 -
I use a digital scale and been struggling for quite a while months. At 187 goal is 140. Lost first 15 easily then stall out.
Ideas?0 -
How many calories are you eating? Physical activity?amberellen12 wrote: »I use a digital scale and been struggling for quite a while months. At 187 goal is 140. Lost first 15 easily then stall out.
Ideas?
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Just a thought about your calorie allowance and expectations. 1200 calories is the lowest calorie allowance MFP gives to women, regardless of your chosen weekly weight loss goal. I ran your stats through a TDEE calculator, assuming a sedentary activity level, and came up with about 1700 calories. That means 1 lb/week (a deficit of 500 calories/day) would give you 1200. So even though you are set at 1.5 lbs, that's likely not going to happen. And that's good, because with what you have to lose, you shouldn't be trying for more than 1 lb/week at this point.
I agree with the suggestions to apply yourself to accurate logging, preferably with the aid of a kitchen scale, and to eat back some of your exercise calories. You also want to pay attention to which foods you find the most satiating and don't spend the calories on ones that are not. Don't try to skimp, because when people try to eat too few calories, it can often backfire and the person may binge and end up undoing the progress they've made. Better to lose 30 lbs in a year than 0 lbs never (got that from somebody else in the forums, but can't remember who).
Edited: got it wrong! It's supposed to be "better 30 lbs in a year than 60 lbs never" (or something like that).
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davehouns99 wrote: »Are you all counting calories or are you in ketosis?
I've been doing the keto diet and have lost almost a Lb/day for the past 45 days.
Was at 304/ Now at 264.
If you're not doing the keto diet, definitely have a good look at it, BC I've tried all kinds of low calorie diets and found they never worked, this one is actually working awesome without having to workout like crazy or doing too much different from my regular daily routine.
keto isnt a low calorie diet per se. if you are losing 1 lb a day aside from water weight and beginning keto where it depletes the water and glycogen, then your calorie deficit is way too high. even doing keto if you are on MFP you are supposed to eat to your calorie goal. too little calories dont do anyone any favors and its not good for health unless under the strict care of a dr who is monitoring everything, when it comes to keto its nothing special for weight loss.6
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