Thoughts on 1200 calories?

fitsporation96

Hello Everyone ????

Just a little post on 1200 calories, honestly I am still hungry on this amount so I think I will up to 1400/1500 as if I am hungry 1200 isn't enough, what do you think of the 1200 calorie diet, is it working for you, do you lose weight on higher amounts?


Edit : I am 5,3 and 117 - 120lbs

Thank you!

Meredith8684

It is way too low unless you are truly sedentary (like wheelchair sedentary). No wonder you're hungry. Check out your TDEE and reevaluate how much you actually need to eat. Just Google TDEE and put in your info, eat 15-20% or so less, and you'll lose weight.

chrs86

I can usually eat way less then 1200 and not feel hungry even on days when I'm burning through 600-800 at the gym. I think it might depend on your weight and if your body is used to a a low cal diet.

leahraskie

It depends on your current weight and height. I'm only 5 foot and 130, so 1200 should be good. Most of the time I eat less than that, mostly because I wake up so late lol.

BlueBombers

Lord no, I couldn't survive on that. I ate more than that when I was trying to lose weight, around 1600-1800. Now I am over 2000 calories at maintenance and am having no problems with that.

kenyainez

If you can eat more and still lose...my question would be "why?" LOL. Not trying to be facetious, just not a huge fan of excessive restrictions. Get'cha grub on girl! LOL ;-p

sassyjae21

1200 won't kill ya, but it's a little more difficult to get all your vitamins, nutrients/macros in at that level. If you're hungry, you def need to be eating more.

k8blujay2

I think that even as a 5'2" person 1200 calories is not enough. My BMR is just under 1500... thus I need to eat at least that much... otherwise I will go off on a murderous rampage.

mandicambre

I've been doing 1200 a day for a few weeks now (5'2 and 170 lbs.) It works well for me, but I'm really careful about what I eat: oatmeal for breakfast to keep my blood sugar level, snacks like almonds and bananas through the day, lots of vegetables, and lean proteins (chicken and ground turkey usually). I also make sure to get in all my water. But, I sit at a desk all day too.

I think if you're hungry, make sure you aren't eating too many empty calories first. But at your weight, you likely do need more calories, and if you're eating right and still hungry, I'd bump it up. Good luck!

deksgrl

You are already towards the low end of healthy weight range, you probably don't need to be dieting, you probably need to be working on body recomposition instead.

Aaron_K123

Hello Everyone ????

Just a little post on 1200 calories, honestly I am still hungry on this amount so I think I will up to 1400/1500 as if I am hungry 1200 isn't enough, what do you think of the 1200 calorie diet, is it working for you, do you lose weight on higher amounts?


Edit : I am 5,3 and 117 - 120lbs

Thank you!

I know this wasn't your original question but out of curiosity why are you trying to lose weight if you already weigh that little?

http://www.healthdiscovery.net/links/calculators/ideal_bw_women.htm

Even if you are small framed you are approaching underweight status. If you look pudgy or have high bodyfat at that weight it means you are very low muscle which means you probably should be eating a lot more and lifting weights if you want to improve your asthetic look and health.

Eating 1200 calories is going to do the opposite of what you probably should be doing right now.

sharonedwards773

Great post! Thank you!

darkguardian419

1200 is almost enough for dinner most nights...

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

You are already towards the low end of healthy weight range, you probably don't need to be dieting, you probably need to be working on body recomposition instead.

^^

If you're unhappy with your body I'd recommend lifting weights (or other resistance exercise) and eating at maintenance to very slowly lower your body fat percentage.

As for 1200 calories, it was too little for me. I lost weight on 1420 plus exercise calories, and now even that number seems incredibly low to me.

kshadows

No. Just no.

DanaDark

Given your height and weight, 1200 calories is not terrible for weight loss.

However, given your height and weight again, why are you going for weight loss?

If it is a body image issue, where you still think you could lose a few pounds, you should lose them very slowly (1/2 pound a week tops) OR switch to a surplus and put on some muscle.

This is where many people go wrong. They get down to their "Goal weight" and then still don't like what they see. This makes them try for an even lower number, eventually get overly frustrated at the difficulty, and give up or develop eating disorders.

The reality is that muscle mass is a MAJOR contributor to body composition. You can gain 10 pounds of muscle and actually look 10 pounds lighter than when you started (a 20 pound spread!).

Laurenloveswaffles

I can usually eat way less then 1200 and not feel hungry even on days when I'm burning through 600-800 at the gym. I think it might depend on your weight and if your body is used to a a low cal diet.

And that's why your ticker says 23 lbs. to go still?

babyj0

Hell to the no.
I did start off this way, being sedentary and moderately active... I lost a few noticeable pounds. But then it just stopped, and I binged. I was cranky all the time and super tired. 1,200 is way too low for me, and for most.

deksgrl

Given your height and weight, 1200 calories is not terrible for weight loss.

However, given your height and weight again, why are you going for weight loss?

If it is a body image issue, where you still think you could lose a few pounds, you should lose them very slowly (1/2 pound a week tops) OR switch to a surplus and put on some muscle.

This is where many people go wrong. They get down to their "Goal weight" and then still don't like what they see. This makes them try for an even lower number, eventually get overly frustrated at the difficulty, and give up or develop eating disorders.

The reality is that muscle mass is a MAJOR contributor to body composition. You can gain 10 pounds of muscle and actually look 10 pounds lighter than when you started (a 20 pound spread!).

^^ This. At my highest weight I was 13 pounds heavier than I am now. My pants are two sizes smaller though. To drop two sizes in only 13 pounds is body recomposition, I have less fat and more muscle.

adanc3rsmom

I am 5'7" and had gastric sleeve in March. I routinely eat about 1000 calories a day; sometimes less/more. We have to take a lot of vitamins, etc to meet our dietary needs... so, for someone not a bariatric patient... I would assume they would need substantially more.

KylaDenay

Given your height and weight, 1200 calories is not terrible for weight loss.

However, given your height and weight again, why are you going for weight loss?

If it is a body image issue, where you still think you could lose a few pounds, you should lose them very slowly (1/2 pound a week tops) OR switch to a surplus and put on some muscle.

This is where many people go wrong. They get down to their "Goal weight" and then still don't like what they see. This makes them try for an even lower number, eventually get overly frustrated at the difficulty, and give up or develop eating disorders.

The reality is that muscle mass is a MAJOR contributor to body composition. You can gain 10 pounds of muscle and actually look 10 pounds lighter than when you started (a 20 pound spread!).

This all the way.

ldb1606

Just started 1,200 calorie 4 days ago. I have been doing good so far. Trying to eat every couple of hours to spread it out. However I am wondering if I chose the right plan. I need to lose around 50 pounds. I am 198 and 5'7. I sit at a desk all day...and I mean all day. I just starting a running program running/walking intervals for about 2 to 2/12 miles. I figured I needed a good 7 days to see any results. reading all your comments makes me think I need more calories. I am so confused

tigerblue

Hello Everyone ????

Just a little post on 1200 calories, honestly I am still hungry on this amount so I think I will up to 1400/1500 as if I am hungry 1200 isn't enough, what do you think of the 1200 calorie diet, is it working for you, do you lose weight on higher amounts?


Edit : I am 5,3 and 117 - 120lbs

Thank you!

I know this wasn't your original question but out of curiosity why are you trying to lose weight if you already weigh that little?

http://www.healthdiscovery.net/links/calculators/ideal_bw_women.htm

Even if you are small framed you are approaching underweight status. If you look pudgy or have high bodyfat at that weight it means you are very low muscle which means you probably should be eating a lot more and lifting weights if you want to improve your asthetic look and health.

Eating 1200 calories is going to do the opposite of what you probably should be doing right now.

Careful--you may not know exactly what you are speaking of here. Yes, the main theme of your answer is good--OP should be trying to build muscle as that will improve the body more in the long run. But your facts are not quite spot on.

I am 5'2.5" and have a body fat of about 23%. According to the BMI charts, and the body fat recommendations, I am healthy. (I actually weigh right at 130). I am not close to underweight.

But because of being short and because I carry most of my fat in my abdominal area :noway: , I will have to diet to a lower bodyweight and a lower body fat percentage to truly look slim. So you can't necessarily go by the charts. Some of the online calculators and charts even recommend a bodyweight of 104 lbs as okay for me, and I believe most say the optimal weight for my small frame is around 110-112 lbs. I am guessing that may be true for the OP also. Now, whether either of us will want to go that low is a personal choice, but those are healthy weights for petite females.

Also, when you drop below 130 lbs, and especially below 120 lbs, the number of calories to maintain body weight is significantly lower, especially after age 45. So 1200 calories to lose, depending on activity level, might not be crazy. Again, personal experience speaking here. In fact, if I don't work out regularly, I have to drop below that to lose.

So, OP, definitely heed the advice to strength train. Also, experiment with numbers, and use the highest number of calories possible and still lose slowly (1/2 lb per week, maybe).

But depending on your stats and activity level, 1200 may be reasonable for you. Yes it will be difficult, and you will have to make sure you eat healthy foods, and not junk, because you will be hungry all the time if you fill your 1200 cals with junk. There is just no room for junk on a 1200 cal diet.

I personally would prefer to up my activity a bit and eat a little more, but sometimes that is not possible, and you will have to investigate and track your intake carefully to find what works for YOU.

Best of luck, and I hope that you find that you can eat more than 1200 and still lose!

jkwolly

I can usually eat way less then 1200 and not feel hungry even on days when I'm burning through 600-800 at the gym. I think it might depend on your weight and if your body is used to a a low cal diet.

Ugh, this is just bad news written all over it! :huh:

marnijojo

Depends on how fast you want to lose, really.

My TDEE is 1735, so if I want to lose a pound a week, I need to average (or net) 1200 calories a day on average. This might mean eating 1400 and exercising 200 or if I am not exercising, eating 1200, or if I really am getting after it, I might eat 2000 and exercise 800....but again, this is 'on average' - I am not super-stringent about my daily numbers, but rather look at my entire week.

golden6911

I always thought 1200 cal was too low, even for my small 5'4" frame, but have found recently that if I concentrate on making sure I get high fiber fruit, veggies and protein, and avoid sugar as much as possible, I can eat that much and not be starving. I won't feel full at the end of the day, but I won't be starving either. It isn't easy, but it can be done.

jkwolly

Just started 1,200 calorie 4 days ago. I have been doing good so far. Trying to eat every couple of hours to spread it out. However I am wondering if I chose the right plan. I need to lose around 50 pounds. I am 198 and 5'7. I sit at a desk all day...and I mean all day. I just starting a running program running/walking intervals for about 2 to 2/12 miles. I figured I needed a good 7 days to see any results. reading all your comments makes me think I need more calories. I am so confused

Yes, you do! You need lots more.

Meredith8684

Just started 1,200 calorie 4 days ago. I have been doing good so far. Trying to eat every couple of hours to spread it out. However I am wondering if I chose the right plan. I need to lose around 50 pounds. I am 198 and 5'7. I sit at a desk all day...and I mean all day. I just starting a running program running/walking intervals for about 2 to 2/12 miles. I figured I needed a good 7 days to see any results. reading all your comments makes me think I need more calories. I am so confused

Check out http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants.

It sounds to me lie you're going to sabotage your weight loss by making it too hard on yourself. At that weight and weight, I'm pretty sure you could eat 1500-1600 and lose weight no problem. Which is WAY more enjoyable. Whatever you decide, the post above is super informative, and links to some great posts about how to chose your calorie levels. Good luck!

DameRhetorica

I've been eating mostly 1200 for the past 20 days, and it works for me. The trick seems to be eating a lot of protein overall (60g at least) and eating as close to 20g of protein at breakfast. When I follow this plan, I'm genuinely not hungry at the end of the day. I should add, I'm also not "full" in the way most Americans are trained to feel after each meal. I should probably also say, I'm 5', I do 30 min of cardio 6 days a week, and I'm mostly vegetarian. My main protein go-tos are legumes, leafy greens, nutritional yeast, and hemp shakes for lunch with the occasional egg and a sushi splurge about once a week.

Iron_Feline

Hello Everyone ????

Just a little post on 1200 calories, honestly I am still hungry on this amount so I think I will up to 1400/1500 as if I am hungry 1200 isn't enough, what do you think of the 1200 calorie diet, is it working for you, do you lose weight on higher amounts?


Edit : I am 5,3 and 117 - 120lbs

Thank you!

I know this wasn't your original question but out of curiosity why are you trying to lose weight if you already weigh that little?

http://www.healthdiscovery.net/links/calculators/ideal_bw_women.htm

Even if you are small framed you are approaching underweight status. If you look pudgy or have high bodyfat at that weight it means you are very low muscle which means you probably should be eating a lot more and lifting weights if you want to improve your asthetic look and health.

Eating 1200 calories is going to do the opposite of what you probably should be doing right now.

Careful--you may not know exactly what you are speaking of here. Yes, the main theme of your answer is good--OP should be trying to build muscle as that will improve the body more in the long run. But your facts are not quite spot on.

I am 5'2.5" and have a body fat of about 23%. According to the BMI charts, and the body fat recommendations, I am healthy. (I actually weigh right at 130). I am not close to underweight.

But because of being short and because I carry most of my fat in my abdominal area :noway: , I will have to diet to a lower bodyweight and a lower body fat percentage to truly look slim. So you can't necessarily go by the charts. Some of the online calculators and charts even recommend a bodyweight of 104 lbs as okay for me, and I believe most say the optimal weight for my small frame is around 110-112 lbs. I am guessing that may be true for the OP also. Now, whether either of us will want to go that low is a personal choice, but those are healthy weights for petite females.

Also, when you drop below 130 lbs, and especially below 120 lbs, the number of calories to maintain body weight is significantly lower, especially after age 45. So 1200 calories to lose, depending on activity level, might not be crazy. Again, personal experience speaking here. In fact, if I don't work out regularly, I have to drop below that to lose.

So, OP, definitely heed the advice to strength train. Also, experiment with numbers, and use the highest number of calories possible and still lose slowly (1/2 lb per week, maybe).

But depending on your stats and activity level, 1200 may be reasonable for you. Yes it will be difficult, and you will have to make sure you eat healthy foods, and not junk, because you will be hungry all the time if you fill your 1200 cals with junk. There is just no room for junk on a 1200 cal diet.

I personally would prefer to up my activity a bit and eat a little more, but sometimes that is not possible, and you will have to investigate and track your intake carefully to find what works for YOU.

Best of luck, and I hope that you find that you can eat more than 1200 and still lose!

Actually he is pretty spot on with his advice.

At 5'2 and 117-120lbs she doesn't need to lose anymore weight - doing a recomp and gaining some muscle will probably help if it's a small amount of body fat she wants to lose.

Dieting down to get rid of the fat often just results in a very skinny frame - now that may be what the ops wants, but just in case - his advice is excellent.

Oh and I'm 5'2 and I lose on 1600-1800 calories a day. If I do nothing at all then I eat 1300 - but I mean nothing, just lie on the couch and chill. Most people can lose on more than 1200 a day.

Plus as you have less to lose you're goal should be to lose less - only 0.5lbs a week, so a much smaller deficit is needed. I'm on a 500 cal a day deficit and not eating 1200 calories.

Op eat more and go lift some heavy stuff - or look into progressive body weight exercises.

MomTo3Lovez

Given your height and weight, 1200 calories is not terrible for weight loss.

However, given your height and weight again, why are you going for weight loss?

If it is a body image issue, where you still think you could lose a few pounds, you should lose them very slowly (1/2 pound a week tops) OR switch to a surplus and put on some muscle.

This is where many people go wrong. They get down to their "Goal weight" and then still don't like what they see. This makes them try for an even lower number, eventually get overly frustrated at the difficulty, and give up or develop eating disorders.

The reality is that muscle mass is a MAJOR contributor to body composition. You can gain 10 pounds of muscle and actually look 10 pounds lighter than when you started (a 20 pound spread!).

^^This