Struggling with 1200 calories
HakunaMatata137
Posts: 63 Member
So I’m on 1200 cals/day right now. It’s actually working pretty good for me, because I workout a lot. So when I work out, I add anywhere from 150-500 calories to eat depending on my workout of course.
And it’s easy for me to stay at 1200 plus my workout calories. But I’m struggling with my rest days. On days I don’t move much (1-2 times a week), it’s SO hard for me to stay at 1200. I’ve literally tried so many times and I’ve wound up STARVING by the end of the day.
What should I do? Should I change my calorie goal? Or just suck it up?
And it’s easy for me to stay at 1200 plus my workout calories. But I’m struggling with my rest days. On days I don’t move much (1-2 times a week), it’s SO hard for me to stay at 1200. I’ve literally tried so many times and I’ve wound up STARVING by the end of the day.
What should I do? Should I change my calorie goal? Or just suck it up?
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Replies
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I am also at a net of 1200. I use some calories from my heavier workout days to carry over to my rest days. I average a net of 1200 for the week but almost never eat that little.
But I’m older, and work a desk job in my house and take less than 4K steps a day except tor purposeful exercise. 1200 as a net is correct for me.
It might be too low for you.4 -
most people can eat more than 1200 and still lose just fine. mine is set to 1200 but i also know my logging isnt always on point and i also dont care if i go over, and most days i do. ive lost 120 pounds, so im doing okay
depending on how much you have to lose, set your weight loss to -5-1.5 pounds per week (the closer you are to goal weight you are the closer to .5/week you should be).
3 -
Someone posted this excellent article the other day that can help a person evaluate if 1200 calories is really appropriate for them:
https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/1200-calorie-diet/9 -
You should not "suck it up" because it hurts your sustainability. The first and easiest thing to change is how you view your calories. Right now you are looking at them by day and you may benefit from looking at them by week. Doing it by week will help you distribute more calories to your rest days.
Also, as mentioned by others, 1200 may not be appropriate for you.6 -
I think you could eat up to your maintenance calories on those days; the week should end up being an overall loss✨3
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I try to stay under 1400 calories. Sometimes I have felt like I was starving after dinner. My daughter told me I might need more protein foods, or high fiber low calorie foods.
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On your exercise days, are you feeling like you "need" to eat back all your calories?
If not, maybe you could average out your calories over a week and eat that - so, you'd be a bit under your net goal on exercise days and eat those "leftover" calories on rest days.3 -
What are your stats? Where did you get the 1200 from? Have you tried upping the calories?0
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How much protein are you getting at each meal?0
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How quickly are you losing weight at 1200 calories? I am asking because in reality most people don't need to be that low for successful weight loss and losing too quickly can have negative consequences. If you are finding you are too hungry on your rest days there are a number of things you can do.
1. Average your calories out more evenly over the week so you are eating a bit less on exercise days and a bit more on other days.
2. Change your goals to a lower weight loss. If it is 2 pounds drop back to 1.5 pounds or if it is 1.5 pounds drop back to 1 pound. You are better off losing slower in a way that is sustainable because you are less likely to give up because it all becomes too hard.
3. Decide on non-exercise days that you will eat at a lower deficit or maintenance. Again this will make weight loss a bit slower but more success will be gained with something that is sustainable long term.3 -
How tall are you? Most people, unless they are women who are very short, sedentary, and/or older, can lose weight eating more than 1200 calories. If that description doesn't sound like you, try setting your rate of loss to 1 lb/week and you should get a bigger calorie allowance.0
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What are your stats? Where did you get the 1200 from? Have you tried upping the calories?
I am 5’3” and 175 lbs. I have a weird schedule and sometimes I hit 10,000 steps in a day, but sometimes it’s as low as 5,000 steps. So I set my activity level to “sedentary” and wanting to lose 2 lbs/week.
I’ve lost 35 lbs so far but I’m at a total plateau. For the past like 6 months actually
so I worried that upping the calories wouldn’t help me get past it 0 -
How tall are you? Most people, unless they are women who are very short, sedentary, and/or older, can lose weight eating more than 1200 calories. If that description doesn't sound like you, try setting your rate of loss to 1 lb/week and you should get a bigger calorie allowance.
I’m 5’3”, 175 lbs. I have some days where I walk 10,000+ steps, and some days that I’m totally sedentary at like 4,000-5,000 steps. It depends on the day of the week and what I’m doing. Maybe I’ll try upping it to 1400 calories1 -
HakunaMatata137 wrote: »What are your stats? Where did you get the 1200 from? Have you tried upping the calories?
I am 5’3” and 175 lbs. I have a weird schedule and sometimes I hit 10,000 steps in a day, but sometimes it’s as low as 5,000 steps. So I set my activity level to “sedentary” and wanting to lose 2 lbs/week.
I’ve lost 35 lbs so far but I’m at a total plateau. For the past like 6 months actually so I worried that upping the calories wouldn’t help me get past it
With your stats, 2 lbs is too aggressive, it's really only appropriate if you have 75+ lbs to lose and are over 200 lbs. I'd guess you have maybe 40 lbs to go? Change to at least 1.5 (if not 1 lb per week).
Are you saying you haven't lost weight in 6 months? If so, you're probably not actually eating the 1200 cals you're logging. How is your logging accuracy? Using a food scale?
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1234699/logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide/p1
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634517/you-dont-use-a-food-scale/p17 -
HakunaMatata137 wrote: »What are your stats? Where did you get the 1200 from? Have you tried upping the calories?
I am 5’3” and 175 lbs. I have a weird schedule and sometimes I hit 10,000 steps in a day, but sometimes it’s as low as 5,000 steps. So I set my activity level to “sedentary” and wanting to lose 2 lbs/week.
I’ve lost 35 lbs so far but I’m at a total plateau. For the past like 6 months actually so I worried that upping the calories wouldn’t help me get past it
That's not a plateau... you've found your maintenance level. I guarantee you 1200 is not your maintenance calorie level, so I would suspect inaccurate and/or inconsistent logging. This is not an accusation or criticism- we've all been there. Logging is a skill that, like any other, takes education, the right tools, and practice. And I'm guessing you have some days where you relax and maybe don't log. It's skewing your data, is all. Buy a food scale and weigh everything you eat, make sure you are using accurate database entries, and log consistently- even your bad days- and I'm sure it will clear a lot of things up. 9 -
2 pounds per week is likely far too aggressive for you right now.
But if you aren’t losing weight now, it’s unlikely that eating more is going to help that.
How are you measuring your intake?4 -
HakunaMatata137 wrote: »What are your stats? Where did you get the 1200 from? Have you tried upping the calories?
I am 5’3” and 175 lbs. I have a weird schedule and sometimes I hit 10,000 steps in a day, but sometimes it’s as low as 5,000 steps. So I set my activity level to “sedentary” and wanting to lose 2 lbs/week.
I’ve lost 35 lbs so far but I’m at a total plateau. For the past like 6 months actually so I worried that upping the calories wouldn’t help me get past it
2lbs a week isn't necessary.
6 month with no weight loss means you're eating in maintenance.
Do you weigh your food with scales?4 -
HakunaMatata137 wrote: »What are your stats? Where did you get the 1200 from? Have you tried upping the calories?
I am 5’3” and 175 lbs. I have a weird schedule and sometimes I hit 10,000 steps in a day, but sometimes it’s as low as 5,000 steps. So I set my activity level to “sedentary” and wanting to lose 2 lbs/week.
I’ve lost 35 lbs so far but I’m at a total plateau. For the past like 6 months actually so I worried that upping the calories wouldn’t help me get past it
With your stats, 2 lbs is too aggressive, it's really only appropriate if you have 75+ lbs to lose and are over 200 lbs. I'd guess you have maybe 40 lbs to go? Change to at least 1.5 (if not 1 lb per week).
Are you saying you haven't lost weight in 6 months? If so, you're probably not actually eating the 1200 cals you're logging. How is your logging accuracy? Using a food scale?
X100
Select 1 or 1.5lb/loss a week and eat back exercise calories on days you exercise more
but also, get a food scale and use it for anything non liquid.0 -
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If you want to burn you need fuel 1200 calories aint much fuel0
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