Questions for Those on 1,200 Calories per Day

jmv7117
jmv7117 Posts: 891 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Three questions for those on a 1,200 calorie per day diet:
1) I'm curious how long you plan on staying on a 1,200 calorie diet?
2) If you started your weight loss journey on 1,200 calories per day then increased and hit a plateau, would you go back to the 1,200 calories per day?
3) Once you have reached your desired weight, would you ever go back to 1,200 calories per day for a brief period of time (eg. 2 weeks) as part of your maintenance?

Replies

  • Mistraal1981
    Mistraal1981 Posts: 453 Member
    Hey there,

    1) I am 5'3" and currently weigh 145lbs. My goal weight is about 120. I am trying to reach this by a combo of diet (1200 calories) and bodyweight training (Jillian Michaels mainly, but plan to switch up to actual weight lifting when I reach 130.)

    2) a few months ago I upped my calories to 1400, same exercise routine, but lost nothing. I spent a lot of time trawling through the mfp food database and realised the amount if variance in food calories (ie, 100g of steak the calories varied wildly with about 200 calorie difference between the highest and lowest calorie count). As I was now eating much closer to maintenance I couldn't afford that level of variation in calorie count.

    I am now back on 1200 calories which I will increase to 1500 when I get much closer the my goal.

    3) my weight fluctuates, but if I see a permanent rise of about 5lb I would definitely switch back to 1200 until back at my goal.
  • acollis1
    acollis1 Posts: 167 Member
    1.) as long as it takes
    2.) I did increase at on point and hit a serious plateau. I don't seem to lose unless I eat low cal.
    3.) Probably won't do it forever, I would only go back if I felt I was gaining.

    That being said, I eat back my exercise calories so I am technically eating 1300-1500 cals/day but netting 1100-1200. I mostly eat lean proteins, veggies, and fruits. I actually eat ALOT in a day since I mostly eat whole foods and I never feel hungry. If I have some calories left at the end of the day I treat myself to my favorite frozen yogurt bars. I'm definitely not 100% perfect but I don't feel like I'm struggling :)
  • Veil5577
    Veil5577 Posts: 868 Member
    Until I am almost at goal

    Will increase a little once I am near goal

    Won't do it forever unless I start gaining again
  • jmv7117
    jmv7117 Posts: 891 Member
    1.) as long as it takes
    2.) I did increase at on point and hit a serious plateau. I don't seem to lose unless I eat low cal.
    3.) Probably won't do it forever, I would only go back if I felt I was gaining.

    That being said, I eat back my exercise calories so I am technically eating 1300-1500 cals/day but netting 1100-1200. I mostly eat lean proteins, veggies, and fruits. I actually eat ALOT in a day since I mostly eat whole foods and I never feel hungry. If I have some calories left at the end of the day I treat myself to my favorite frozen yogurt bars. I'm definitely not 100% perfect but I don't feel like I'm struggling :)

    I've found the same thing as bolded. I'm also thinking of going back to 1,200 calories a day if I start gaining. I don't eat back all of my exercise calories though.

Categories