This 1200 calorie minimum thing...

TourThePast

It seems daunting, but if it takes six months it's far more likely to stay off.

That is a good point.

So far I've lost 1 lb/week but as I get closer to my goal weight I know that will slow down, so I'm really trying to focus on seeing muscle definition as a reward, rather than weight.

The weight loss I'm talking about is 100% fat, I don't care how much muscle weight I put on, the more the merrier!
I have got a very long way to go before I even think about seeing any of that muscle definition though, 19lb doesn't sound much but when you're 4' 10" that means thighs that rub together and disgusting rolls of fat on my saggy stomach.

TourThePast

Regardless of the 1200 a day guideline, a quick look at your diary shows an awful lot of processed food - have you tried tracking your sodium? Maybe switch in a few more homemade meals would help.

I do want to eat more homemade food, I had time today so cooked from scratch for today and tomorrow, though I have been trying to choose healthy (ie ready cooked but without being processed) meals.

I do track my sodium and am always under the target set by this site; sodium and many other nutrients show up on my Android App, but doesn't seem to appear on the website.

kbeigls

My roommate and I are both doing this and have seen results but we don't eat our exercise calories. I stumbled across you post because I am considering going down to 1000 calories per day from the 1200. I feel like I'm overeating at 1200 calories. I'm 5'3 and i got my metabolic rate check and its 1050 calories per day with no exercise. On days that i don't make it to the gym, 1200 calories is too much. Getting your metabolic rate checked is easy, they offer it at most gyms or clinics.

Hope this helps!

TourThePast

I'm 5'3 and i got my metabolic rate check and its 1050 calories per day with no exercise. On days that i don't make it to the gym, 1200 calories is too much.

Actually your daily metabolic rate is what you'd burn if you did nothing but lie flat on our back and breathe all day.

To account for normal everyday activity, cooking eating, walking from room to room, walking upstairs a few times etc you add around 20% to your BMR, so if your BRM is correct (1050 sounds very low for someone your height) your daily requirement would be 1260 calories.

Since posting this thread I've reached a lot closer to my goal; I've increased my target calories to 1300 a day but am still not eating my exercise calories. Currently I'm still losing on average three quarters of a pound a week. It's going to take a long time to reach my goal weight - which I'll be lowering at some point - but I've come to realise that however much exercise I do, at this height and weight, my calorie burn is so low I'm going to have to monitor and control my eating for the rest of my life.

wise_laura

This totally helps Sara. I also suspect that the "minimum" 1,200 per day isn't right for me. I've been netting 1,200 calories RELIGIOUSLY for the last four weeks and only lost two pounds, even with drinking 8 glasses of water and hitting the gym 2-4 times a week.

I'm at 130 lbs (and 5' 3") and according to your calculation my minimum is 910 per day. I think I'll try 1,000 per day for a while!!

wise_laura

Ah I see, I HAVE been eating my exercise calories... Maybe that's where I've gone wrong.

mick5000

I find that just doing as the site/app tells you works perfect. Be sure to put any cardio exercise you do into the app and eat till you eaten your goal calories after exercise, I have been using this app for a while and doing lots of exercise and eating what I have burned off and I have lost 21lbs

josieblue416

I happened upon this and it's great info! I've recently lost 30 pounds on about 1200 calories (high protein, low carb) a day with just my normal cleaning/work routine. I reached a plateau at 129lbs, I then added some occasional jogging, yoga and Pilates (20 min a day only) and I've lost another pound so far I am at a healthy weight for my height (5'3") but I want my beach body (probably around 118-120 lbs) which is the "low end" of my healthy weight. But anyway, after doing this whole equation it came up to about 1200 calories which is what I've been doing. It works!

redheaddee

Honestly, I was reccomended around 1000-ish and I'm 5' tall :P

First off...NO. ^^^ You would be fed more calories by IV in the hospital than this.

I suggest reading this...
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/975025-in-place-of-a-road-map-short-n-sweet?hl=road+map

shadriel7

if its difficult for you to eat that much and you feel like you are over eating or stuffing yourself and feel full all the time - then you probably don't actually need to eat that much. i'm 5'7 and i hardly ever eat more than 1000 calories a day, even on the days i exercise - its rare for me to hit the end of the day and feel like i still need to eat more. i have a desk job and don't get much exercise outside of going to the gym

trogalicious

if its difficult for you to eat that much and you feel like you are over eating or stuffing yourself and feel full all the time - then you probably don't actually need to eat that much. i'm 5'7 and i hardly ever eat more than 1000 calories a day, even on the days i exercise - its rare for me to hit the end of the day and feel like i still need to eat more. i have a desk job and don't get much exercise outside of going to the gym

Cranquistador

Take your current weight times by 7 and that is your minimum calorie requirements.
At 200 lbs I need to consume at least 1400 calories to keep my body from going into starvation mode.
Hope this helps!
-Sarah

what the?


NO

Cranquistador

This totally helps Sara. I also suspect that the "minimum" 1,200 per day isn't right for me. I've been netting 1,200 calories RELIGIOUSLY for the last four weeks and only lost two pounds, even with drinking 8 glasses of water and hitting the gym 2-4 times a week.

I'm at 130 lbs (and 5' 3") and according to your calculation my minimum is 910 per day. I think I'll try 1,000 per day for a while!!

that is not wise, Sara.

heatherfernandes12

Thank you for this reply, it was helpful to me as well!