1200 calories. ..maintainable?

I've gone from literally eating nothing but crap... chips, crisps, white bread, noodles. .. I was depressed...! meh! to eating lots of salads, cous cous, fruit, cereal, clean proteins... I'm drinking at least 1.5 litres of water a day but always forget to log it. I'm full of energy, going for walks a lot more too. I'm finding it ridiculously easy to stay around 1200 calories, I'd struggle to eat more unless I start adding hummus to my salad, (vegan) spread on my toast etc... but should I add more calories? if so when. .? when my weight loss slows? my first weekly weigh in is tomorrow, I feel loads better, jeans much looser so only bothered about the figure on the scales as my bmi is too high at 37. it'll also keep me on track.
for the record, I'm 5ft and as of last Tuesday I was 189lbs.

Replies

  • KentWhiteRabbit
    KentWhiteRabbit Posts: 92 Member
    MFP will adjust your calories as you lose weight, but personally I'm 5' and 128lb (a few lbs off goal weight ) and I'm eating 1200 calories and eating back some exercise calories, i've been doing this since March.

    Once I'm happy with my weight my maintenance calories will only be around 1400, so in short yes 1200 can be done long term for those of us who are on the smaller side of life and not hugely active. It is however more important to make sure you get enough nutrients and the right balance (harder to do on smaller portions) but it sounds like you are on the right track there.

    It's all about eating what is right for you. You don't say how much exercise your doing, if you are doing a lot I'd recommend eating back a good amount of those calories. Listen to your body, it will tell you if you're not eating enough. Don't be put off by the 1200 is not enough brigade...they are always talking about an average person...we are not all average!
  • crose0056
    crose0056 Posts: 105 Member
    by base intake of calories is 1200. When I add walking as an exercise, this I mean as a 30-60min up to a 3 mile walk of 20min per mile I do eat back some of my calories. Has worked out good for me and put me back in the weight loss game was stuck at 150 lbs and have managed to drop 2 more since I started my walking.
  • ah great! Thanks for the replies :) I didn't realise MFP would adjust my calories, good to know, thanks! exercise at the moment is just the odd walk here and there, I'm about to start training to be a trampoline coach and I want to be able to get up on the trampoline easier and support the kids without feeling self conscious. I'll up the walking when I can and when my weight loss slows:)