Do I stay on 1200 cals per day

jojo19812018

Hi, just a question if anyone can help. I started out on 1200 calories per day and have so far lost 10.5kgs (23 pounds) in 9 weeks. Do I stay on 1200 u til I reach goal? I have 45 pounds to go. I know the rate of loss will slow down but was wondering if people who started on 1200 just continue to lose to goal doing the same thing you started doing or does something need to change?
Thank you! 😊

apullum

You should not go under 1200. This is the minimum number of calories recommended for women. If you exercise, you should be eating back at least a portion of your exercise calories on top of that 1200.

Depending on your stats, you can likely eat more than 1200 and still lose weight. If you set your rate of loss to 1 pound per week, MFP will probably give you a higher calorie goal, unless you are very short, older, and/or sedentary.

Your weight loss will slow down as you get closer to your goal because your body will need fewer calories, and your deficit will therefore get smaller. The way to address this is to be patient and meticulous about weighing and logging all your food. Resist the temptation to go under 1200.

You should have MFP recalculate your calorie goal every 10-15 pounds or so, so now is a great time to do that.

kshama2001

With 45 pounds to go, change your weekly weight loss goal to a pound a week, which should give you more calories unless you are really really short.

Also see https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/1200-calorie-diet/

spiriteagle99

You're currently losing more than 2 pounds a week. That's a very fast rate of loss. At this point, with 45 lbs to go, you could increase your calories so you are losing 1.5 or 1.0 pounds a week. When you get down to only 20 lbs left, then go to .5 or 1 lb. a week. Adding in calories makes it easier to continue with the weight loss, and it also teaches you how you'll need to eat when you've lost the desired weight and want to maintain that loss.

jojo19812018

Thank you for the replies. I am short. 5”1 😞

apullum

jojo19812018 wrote: »

Thank you for the replies. I am short. 5”1 😞

I'm under 5 feet. I lost 100 pounds on 1200 plus exercise.

You don't need to go under 1200, and you can probably start with more calories if you decrease your rate of loss. However, if you are sedentary, then eventually you will probably be eating around 1200 (again, plus exercise) to lose the last few pounds.

If you exercise, you get to eat more

jojo19812018

Thanks so much and congrats on your loss!! I go to the gym 2-3 days per week and I’m a nurse in a dementia unit so no stop at work. How do I get I MFP to recalculate my calorie goal?

Panini911

I am under 5'1 and lost at 1300 plus exercise. now i am pretty close to my goal i am loosing at 1400 (plus exercise) but more slowly.

i mostly walk for exercise now that i can't run, i use a fitbit and eat half the exercise cals it gives me.

jojo19812018

Thanks so much. Do you mind me asking how much you have lost and how long it took?

apullum

jojo19812018 wrote: »

Thanks so much and congrats on your loss!! I go to the gym 2-3 days per week and I’m a nurse in a dementia unit so no stop at work. How do I get I MFP to recalculate my calorie goal?

Go back to your Goals page (My Home -> Goals) and just go through the setup again. It will recalculate based on whatever is entered for your current weight.

I'm guessing that your job involves a lot of walking and movement. If you are not using a fitness tracker to take into account your normal activity, then I would make sure your activity level is set higher than Sedentary. This will help account for the non-exercise movement that you do. Then, I would log intentional exercise separately. If you have a Fitbit or similar device, it should register your workday activity.

Also, it took me about 2.5 years to lose the weight, and I've been in maintenance for 1 year and 4 months.

jojo19812018

Thank you and well done!

lynn_glenmont

jojo19812018 wrote: »

Thank you for the replies. I am short. 5”1 😞

But you're still losing more than 2 lbs a week. Go with the reality of your results. Eat more.

jodietownsend03

I lost on 1200 calls a day over a year I went from 14.11 to 9.11 stone. I now weigh 10.4 and eat 1200 Monday- Friday and 2500 Saturday & Sunday it work for me Iv been 10.4 for two years now.

workinonit1956

Just for reference, I’m 5’2” and lost my last 20 pounds or so eating 1400 plus any extra from my Fitbit.

I think going with a pound a week plus exercise calories would be good for you at this point. It also helps as you approach maintenance to be eating a bit more.

jojo19812018

Thank you for your replies and well done! 😊

Cahgetsfit

I have nothing to comment apart from loving all the cats in the profile pics =^.^= I just want to smooch them all.

kshama2001

Cahgetsfit wrote: »

I have nothing to comment apart from loving all the cats in the profile pics =^.^= I just want to smooch them all.

I'd love to replace my kale with a cat but we can't agree on where to put the litterbox

apullum

Cahgetsfit wrote: »

I have nothing to comment apart from loving all the cats in the profile pics =^.^= I just want to smooch them all.

Here is my fuzzy grumpybutt:

Danp

jodietownsend03 wrote: »

I lost on 1200 calls a day over a year I went from 14.11 to 9.11 stone. I now weigh 10.4 and eat 1200 Monday- Friday and 2500 Saturday & Sunday it work for me Iv been 10.4 for two years now.

So you actually lost on 1570 calories a day then right?

njitaliana

My dietitian says if weight loss slows down, I can keep the same calories, but lower my carbs from 40% carbs to 30% carbs.

jojo19812018