1200 Calories

MyViolet

So here is what I have noticed in my personal weight loss. When I started this venture I was eating less than 1200 calories a day to lose. I read that I really needed 1200 so 3 months ago I bumped up to 1200 and went to a stand still in losing, just maintaining. I was also making good food choices for the most part. This last 2 weeks have been really crazy and I am only eating 800-1000 calories again. Now I have noticed the scale has moved just a bit in the downward direction.

I am 5' 3" with a small bone structure. Is it possible that I need less than 1200 calories lose weight and still be healthy?

SHBoss1673

what is your weight and activity level?

MyViolet

116.4 as of yesterday. I have a desk job so I sit most of the day. 3 times a week I go to the fitness center and do 20-30 min of cardio and then 15 min of strength training. In the evening I am shuttling kids to their activities.

MyViolet

I only want to lose 5 more pounds as the hips to the mid thighs are still not toned!

Jenn070608

I am 5'4" and small framed. I cannot imagine eating less than the 1200 cals/per day. I think anything less would leave me hungry and frustrated. However, I do exercise regularly. Are you on a regular workout routine? What about fruits and veggies? Are you eating enough of those a day?

samanthakatecallan

You may not need to "lose" weight my trainer was just talking about how I need to spend more time weight training and less time doing cardio in order to get more toned and look leaner, because you are already at a pretty ideal body weight you are just lacking ideal body composition, because muscle is less dense than fat from what it sounds so maybe hit the weights and some pilates classes and keep eating how you are, just some thoughts, Good Luck !

jlm1182

Totally. Your basal metabolic rate would be lower than 1200 if you're 5'3" and 116.

SHBoss1673

OK so, I put the numbers in, and mind you these are going to be estimates only because I don't know your exact situation, but here's what I believe happened.

Firstly, you're on the lower end of your weight range for your height, weight, activity level, and age. You're RMR is around 1650 or so (this is your maintenance calories assuming no medical conditions that would alter it), so 1200 calories, under normal conditions, is a rather large deficit for you.

BUT

If you eat at a deficit that is larger than the amount of fat your body can utilize for a long period, your body will adapt and lower your RMR to fit the amount of available energy, over the course of weeks or months, I believe your body has lowered your RMR to fit the low calorie amounts you've been giving it.
That being the case, when you raised your calories to meet the 1200 net that you were talking about, it was actually more than your body was expecting, so it stored some of it as fat.

In order to get back to a normal level of energy usage (assuming that's the issue), you would need to SLOWLY raise your calories, over the course of 6 to 8 weeks probably, up to about 1600, keep it there for a few weeks to let your body reset it's metabolic rate, then give yourself a MODEST deficit, say around 250 calories or so.

I can give much better advice in personal messages if you're interested, but based on the limited info I have, this is my belief.

hope this helps,


-Banks

Please take note: I'm not a doctor or a registered dietitian, I am, however a certified personal trainer who's been studying nutrition, anatomy, and human metabolism for years, so I'm not just guessing, I'm working of research and practical experience.