Starting weight loss at 1200 cals...so what happens next?

lauz45

I was just thinking, after reading threads on starvation mode etc, that say my initial goal is to lose 22 pounds, and i'm starting on 1200 cals a day, what happens when I lose 10-15lbs and hit a plateau? I can't drop my calories any lower than that, so what would I do? Calorie cycling or something similar? I'm more focused now on losing fat than pounds, but still wondering...

Atlantique

If you are only trying to lose 20 pounds, you should have set your goal as losing 1lb per week. Is that how you set it up?

DizzieLittleLifter

I didn't hit a plateau so I don't have any tried advice, but many people zig zag calories. Maybe someone will have some tried advice! Good luck!:flowerforyou:

MissRose888

Yeah, I hope there are some good answers on here, too. I started my weight loss journey at 234lbs with the goal to lose 2lbs per week. MPF set me at 1200 calories but I am wondering the same thing. Hopefully I won't hit a plateau right away since I have 100+lbs to lose....

Help!

killthepounds

Change up your diet. If you are focusing on just staying under 1200 that is fine. You could switch your intake routine to having lean proteins, vegetables and 1/2 cup of beans at each meal. The beans are filling and count for about 100 calories for each 1/2 cup. Cut out the complex carbs (whole grains) for a time to "trick" your body. Keep your body guessing and it will continue to burn the calories. Good luck!!

jonathandavid_t

No real reason why you should hit a plateau. Keep eating healthily and exercising (and EAT the calories you exercise; at your weight I don't think you can afford not to) and although the weight loss will probably slow, there's no particular reason why it should stop.

Erin_26

You exercise more!

nyctraveler

your supposed to decrease deficit as you lose more weight

Meaning...you will have to UP your calories

heatherlh83

Once you get to the last 10-15 pounds you'll want to change your goal to 0.5 lb per week, which will actually increase your calories a little.

michelegrayson

I am still at my starting calories of 1280 and I'm still losing. However,I burn about 800 calories a day and eat back most of them SO I think as I get closer to my goal (I'm within 10 lbs I think) I will just burn less but stay at the 1280 and net/net out.

lauz45

Thanks for the answers so far

Atlantique - I think I set it up for 2lbs a week, 1lb does sound more realistic though, i'll adjust it and see what it says.

It's ridiculous how long i've struggled to lose not-that-much weight...it comes off so slowly I usually give up, but i'm in it for the long haul this time. And I always eat back my exercise calories I really want to TONE up so maybe I should probably focus on getting good nutrition in and exercising than worrying about the numbers so much? I fall into the trap some days of thinking "oh i've got 100 calories left I can eat <insert naughty treat>" :noway:

Hopefully it'll just come off gradually until i've lowered my body fat and feel a lot fitter and healthier.

lauz45

Ah thanks everyone!

It's given me 1325 now, which sounds better 1lb a week all adds up!

OregonCowgirl

I actaully hit plateaus all the time, my dr said that you will come across them usually when its a weight you have stayed at for a amount of time before. He suggested just keep doing the same thing, make sure your diet is just lean meats, fruits, and veggetables for the days fallowing and even take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar a day and you should blast right through it all of a sudden within a few days.