1200 Calories A Day??????
arabianhorselover
Posts: 1,488 Member
Okay. I am pretty new to counting calories. I didn't want to do it, so I didn't. Now, however, I FINALLY feel serious about losing weight. My question is, how can a person possibly get everything they are supposed to eat in a day nutrition wise in 1200 calories?
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Depends - I found that it wasn't enough for me. I was hungry, tired, grouchy - I need more fuel than that.
Did you set your weekly loss goal to 2lbs when you entered your info at MFP? If so, change it to 1lb a week - by your ticker on your profile it looks like you only have 35lbs to lose, so 2lbs a week is too aggressive a goal. This will also raise your daily calorie goal a bit.
Some people do the 1200 and swear by it, but many more say it's not enough, they can't stick to it, they're hungry, etc. I figure there's no way I can eat just 1200 a day for the rest of my life, so I upped mine.
MFP works great, as long as all the info you give it is accurate and realistic as far as goals. Pick a reasonable loss rate, eat your calories, and your exercise calories if you workout - that's important too, and the way MFP is set up to work. Your daily goal already has a deficit built in, so you could eat to goal, do zero exercise and lose weight. When you burn off cals through exercise you are creating a much larger deficit, which can backfire on ya and isn't good for you in the long run. That's why MFP will add the burned cals back into your daily goal. Your net cals should be at or close to goal each day.
Hope that helps - good luck!
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A couple things:
1200 is the starting point. With MFP you will "earn" extra calories if you workout. These extra calories don't show up until you log the workout.
Also, 1200 is as low as MFP will go. Example: If you plugged in "I want to lose 2 pounds per week" ..... MFP may have to go down to 1200 ...... If you plug in "I want to lose 1 pound per week" ..... you might get a higher number. The closer you get to goal, the slower the weight is going to come off. When you get to within 10 pounds of goal ..... 1/2 pound per week is a pretty decent number.
You can do quite a bit with 1200 calories. I workout so I eat more. It's just making everything count. I look for the highest protein, highest fiber everything. I try to cut out processed food, that helps a lot. Make veggies your new best freind.0 -
Okay. I am pretty new to counting calories. I didn't want to do it, so I didn't. Now, however, I FINALLY feel serious about losing weight. My question is, how can a person possibly get everything they are supposed to eat in a day nutrition wise in 1200 calories?
When you exercise, you get more calories...you're supposed to eat those and NET to your GOAL. Also, it's a pretty aggressive approach...how much do you have to lose? Everyone just automatically picks the most aggressive approach because they want to go fast. If you don't have a lot to lose, it's probably too aggressive for you and your body isn't going to respond very kindly to a big calorie deficit if you don't have the requisite fat stores to back it up.
Also, yes...it can be very difficult to get your requisite nutrition with that few calories, particularly if you're sedentary and don't earn those extra calories to eat back. It can be done, but you really have to be on it as far as nutrition goes. I'm glad you're actually concerned about that fact...all most people care about is weight loss; they could care less about actually being healthy and getting proper nutrition. Kudos...0 -
1200 is the level suggested for people who want to lose quickly. It's not a huge amount of food, but it's not a Very Low Calorie Diet. You have to research meals. I'm sure there are some posts with menus on the forum.0
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Okay. I am pretty new to counting calories. I didn't want to do it, so I didn't. Now, however, I FINALLY feel serious about losing weight. My question is, how can a person possibly get everything they are supposed to eat in a day nutrition wise in 1200 calories?
The only way to do it is to become OCD and plan every little thing. As for me, I'd rather be patient and eat at 2000 calories, giving myself leeway and never having to plan anything. I just log what I eat.0 -
Okay. I am pretty new to counting calories. I didn't want to do it, so I didn't. Now, however, I FINALLY feel serious about losing weight. My question is, how can a person possibly get everything they are supposed to eat in a day nutrition wise in 1200 calories?
read these:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/931670-bmr-and-tdee-explained-for-those-needing-a-guide
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974888-in-place-of-a-road-map-2k130 -
Okay. I am pretty new to counting calories. I didn't want to do it, so I didn't. Now, however, I FINALLY feel serious about losing weight. My question is, how can a person possibly get everything they are supposed to eat in a day nutrition wise in 1200 calories?
I do it every day. I exercise too so that allows me to eat something more if I still feel hungry. Change doesn't come from your comfort zone. I have lost over 20 pounds and find I am fine with 1200 calories plus the calories I can eat back from exercising. Plus, if I feel like I need to eat something, I will, and not beat myself up about it.
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Wow! You are getting responses from one end of the spectrum to the other! Yes, it is possible to get proper nutrition at 1200 calories, and it is easy to earn more calories by exercising, so you can determine how much or how little you get to eat. I've been eating 1200 calories (with a couple hundred extra most days from exercise) for more than two months now and have lost 2 lbs per week every week. Some days I'm hungry as heck, though, and you will just have to learn what works best for you. For me, a hearty breakfast makes all the difference in the world. When only eat yogurt for example, I'm starved by lunch, and then can't seem to get satisfied all the rest of the day.
And, I don't believe you have to become OCD, but it does help to log everything so you can see your patterns. Luckily, MFP makes this very easy, and almost fun!0 -
Okay. I am pretty new to counting calories. I didn't want to do it, so I didn't. Now, however, I FINALLY feel serious about losing weight. My question is, how can a person possibly get everything they are supposed to eat in a day nutrition wise in 1200 calories?
If I recall correctly, I think the whole 1200 calorie "rule" was that it was believed that was the minimum number of calories that needed to be consumed to ensure proper nutrition. It may be possible to get the non-calorie nutrients you need for fewer calories, but it probably entails being very detailed in your plans.
The main problem I have is that some people tend to gravitate towards it as a magical rule in lieu of actually doing the math and seeing what their caloric requirements are. I know someone who, when you incorporate the 500 calorie defecit, is looking at a target of just over 1300 calories. In my case, if I wanted to have that same 500 calorie defecit, I'd still be eating 2700 calories a day because you have to factor in the fact I'm bigger, younger, and more "aggressively active" than this other individual.0 -
Thank you all so much. At first I did put in that I wanted to lose 2 pounds a week, but upon further thought, I changed to to 1. The calorie count didn't change.
Not sure I can do any of this, since I am 52, and have been a compulsive overeater since I was a teenager, but I have to try.0 -
Well, I wan't able to do one of the body fat test, since I'm at work and don't have all the measurements, but the one I did shows a whopping 43.5% body fat! I think that is a bit more than I actually have, but anyway the next test showed that even if Sedentary I could have 1500 calories.0
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Okay. I am pretty new to counting calories. I didn't want to do it, so I didn't. Now, however, I FINALLY feel serious about losing weight. My question is, how can a person possibly get everything they are supposed to eat in a day nutrition wise in 1200 calories?
It is a lot easier than you think to get all nutrition on 1200 calories per day.
The problems arise when people still want to eat treat after treat, this is not possible on 1200. Eat all nutrition first and then if you have calories left over, THEN have treats.
but yes, not only is it possible, it is perfectly do-able, just some people beg to differ and do not like it.0 -
you don't have to. I lost all this weight eating over 1600..plus my exercise calories. I had plenty to eat, and plenty of variety...and didn't need to deprive myself of anything....just give it a bit more thought than I used to.0
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You can do quite a bit with 1200 calories. I workout so I eat more. It's just making everything count. I look for the highest protein, highest fiber everything. I try to cut out processed food, that helps a lot. Make veggies your new best freind.
That's comforting to know because on days when I don't do anything but stretch and walk I don't go above 1200 - 1800 calories. It kind of worried me but I guess it's OK as long as you aren't spending 4 hours in the gym.0 -
Isn't 1200 calories an absolute minimum suggested by MFP? On rare occasions I've had under 1200, I get a warning in red writing under my diary.
Anyway, back to the point. I couldn't survive on 1200 calories, even though it will be a while before I'm down to that many suggested calories. I would probably go with TDEE - 20% option.
If you are going with the MFP way, then exercise is the key to being able to eat more. I recently took up swimming (as well as going to the gym) and that gives me 500+ calories extra to eat back, plus the 300+ I earn in the gym.
Exercise is key to earning your food.
Good luck!0 -
Thank you all so much. At first I did put in that I wanted to lose 2 pounds a week, but upon further thought, I changed to to 1. The calorie count didn't change.
Not sure I can do any of this, since I am 52, and have been a compulsive overeater since I was a teenager, but I have to try.
Eat at your BMR, you'll be much happier!0 -
Okay. I am pretty new to counting calories. I didn't want to do it, so I didn't. Now, however, I FINALLY feel serious about losing weight. My question is, how can a person possibly get everything they are supposed to eat in a day nutrition wise in 1200 calories?
It is a lot easier than you think to get all nutrition on 1200 calories per day.
The problems arise when people still want to eat treat after treat, this is not possible on 1200. Eat all nutrition first and then if you have calories left over, THEN have treats.
but yes, not only is it possible, it is perfectly do-able, just some people beg to differ and do not like it.
Well said Di, I agree.0 -
TONS of research and planning on what to eat.
Post, delete, change portions, blah, blah.
I have said good bye to potatoes for the rest of my life. yikes !
Even steamed baby reds.
Wow. Tough. But WILL, be worth it !
Day 13 today.
As each day goes by it will be easier to figure out meals.
I think.
I love to cook...hmmm difficult to figure calories.
Keep it simple. 0 -
You CAN do this !
I just turned 55 this week.
Add me as a friend if you want.0 -
I have been trying to budge the scale for yrs yes yrs... My thyroid went 6 yrs ago i gained 20 lbs i have lost 5 in 6 yrs..
1200 calories exercise zumba light wts.... water you name it... I think maybe its time to just quit for a little :{0 -
You *can* get all your vital nutrients from a 1200 calorie diet. The only catch is that you need to be very picky about what you eat. If you feel that you can maintain that intake, have a go at it. If you try it and feel tired, dizzy, or just overall bad, then you'll need to up your calories. Play around and adjust your calories to fit what feels best and is most effective for you.0
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When I set my MFP loss as 2lb/week, My limit was 1270 calories per day. And because it's a challenge to get close to the goal without going over, I would usually end up eating around 1000-1100 cals a day. Way too little. It made me super tired, lethargic and uninspired during workouts, even when I took vitamins and ate balanced healthy foods. At one point my weight totally plateaued for weeks, too, and actually didn't start going down again until I raised my goal to 1450 (1.5lb/wk).0
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I get everything I need with 900 - 1000 calories a day. It all depends on WHAT you're eating. A 1200 calorie day could be a bowl of cereal, a sandwich, pasta, and a candy bar. OR a 1200 calorie day could be yogurt, a granola bar, crackers, string cheese, a huge salad, a bowl of soup, a banana, carrots, haddock, green beans, and jell-o. If you're eating low calorie foods (like veggies, fruit, etc.), you can eat A LOT of food and you can eat often throughout the day. That's what I do and my body has never felt weak, deprived, or 'starved' at 900 - 1000 calories.0
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Im starving at 1300 alone!0
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I think there is no one size fits all magical calorie limit. The important thing is you track, become aware of what you eat, how many calories are in your food, and start to make better decisions about how you eat. Notice how you feel, are you eating 1400 calories and starving all the time? Eating 1200 and full all the time? Have energy and clear mind? You CAN do this, but its a choice you have to make every day. There will be weeks, maybe month's that you don't see the scale go down. Thats ok. When you get discouraged, look for those non-scale victories. I went almost of the 45 day's I've been tracking without losing weight. But I could walk faster, farther, had ton's more energy and exercised a lot more. I consoled myself that I was eating well, eating healthy foods in healthy portions, and making a lifestyle change. My *kitten* didn't grow this big overnight, its not going to shrink overnight either. You have the power to make this happen, or to not make this happen. How you make it happen will likely look differently than how others make it happen.0
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You *can* get all your vital nutrients from a 1200 calorie diet. The only catch is that you need to be very picky about what you eat. If you feel that you can maintain that intake, have a go at it. If you try it and feel tired, dizzy, or just overall bad, then you'll need to up your calories. Play around and adjust your calories to fit what feels best and is most effective for you.
^^^ Amen.0 -
It was a struggle for me when I started at 1200 calories...and the calories were consumed quickly. I couldn't maintain that deficit for very long.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/TheEffort/view/fat-to-skinny-with-a-touch-of-psychosis-571278
Take a hard look at your fitness goals and determine if its worth it to start your deficit there.
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Yes. New to mfp but have lost 13 lbs doing tdee - 20% AND I AM NOT HUNGRY! Use the Scooby, its easy.0 -
Okay. I am pretty new to counting calories. I didn't want to do it, so I didn't. Now, however, I FINALLY feel serious about losing weight. My question is, how can a person possibly get everything they are supposed to eat in a day nutrition wise in 1200 calories?
It's possible if you eat plenty of fruit, veg and lean meats.0
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