1,200 cals per day is DIFFERENT for everyone..

EthanJeremiahsMama

Hi MFP! So i'd like to talk about those that are on 1,200 cals per day.. which I have been for the past 3 months and upped by 1,250 but I haven't reached that yet since I get so nervous on gaining weight I guess.. I only go to the gym 3 times a week (cardio)

So I notice that alot of you are on 1,200 cals per day.. some are under, some go higher or is just at 1,200 cals.. is it true that our body needs AT LEAST 1,200 cals per day so we don't go into "starvation mode?" I personally don't think..? I've ever been in starvation mode and most of the time i'm under 1,200.

I'd like to get anyones feedback on this.. I seen some posts with ladies on here who need LESS than 1,200 cals to lose weight along with the gym.. anyone here at least 5'4 and over with feedback?

What cal deficit per day helped you lose? Maintain? Gain? Thanks everyone.

Sassy_Cass

Hey,

I actually lose more when I eat more - you really need to do your own research into calories, I feel like MFP spits out the magic 1,200 too quickly. I have had a few personal trainers and a nutrition coach who said my minimum is 1,500 MIN and that's not really moving. So I eat, enjoy life and lose weight.

Good luck

amaodonnell

I was doing 1200 calories for about a month and I think my body did actually go into starvation mode because I lost absolutely NOTHING! I've upped it to 1400 calories to see if it will help. I think it is different for everyone, some people they have great success, I didn't.
I am terrified of gaining back what I have lost. I was eating 1740 calories a day and lost about a pound a week, then my doctor suggested lowering it down to 1200, but seeing no results, I am increasing a little.

Just do whatever you feel comfortable with, I'd do urge that you eat at least 1200

EthanJeremiahsMama

Hey,

I actually lose more when I eat more - you really need to do your own research into calories, I feel like MFP spits out the magic 1,200 too quickly. I have had a few personal trainers and a nutrition coach who said my minimum is 1,500 MIN and that's not really moving. So I eat, enjoy life and lose weight.

Good luck

Thankyou for the response! Idk I get so nervous with upping my cals since my body seems so used to being at 1,200 cals or under.. I guess everyone is different!!

emmabeckemeyer1

mine is 1520 I very rarely reach that. I do however make sure I get at least 1300 a day. Everyone is different and losses weight better at different calories

HeatherrSue

I'm 5'2" and now weight 134 but when I eat fewer than 1200 calories, I don't lose till I eat around 1300. It also depends on how much excercise I get in for the day though. You need to just do a week of eating fewer calories and working out, then the following week, eat more calories but try to mimic the same workouts as the week before and see how your body responds. Good luck to you

Sasssy69

Eat when you're hungry, stop when you're satisfied. Wait for the growl. Your body is designed perfectly. I eat when I'm hungry, and try my best not to over eat - I fail in this sometimes. I do count my calories, because at this point in time, I need to be aware of what I'm putting in my body. But I've lost weight before when all I did was eat when I was hungry and stop when I was full.

I also never eat breakfast because I am never hungry. I can usually go until about noon or one before I feel like I need to eat. When I have forced myself to eat breakfast in the past I have always, every single time, gained weight. Everyone's body is different. You have to do what works for you... I'm also on 1,200 calorie a day. I get about an extra 160 calories a day from exercise, but I rarely eat those. Because I'm not hungry for them. If I am, I will. I'm not going to force myself to eat when I'm not hungry. Seems like a waste of food.

bethdris

My cals have varied the last 5 months. I'm 5 9 and almost never hit 1200 cals (net) . I never went into "starvation mode". I only eat when hungry. Eating just to eat, is what helped bring me here!

sarah44254

Hi

I'm 5'4"

I logged my food here when I wasn't trying to lose weight. I was eating 2900 - 4000 calories a day. I was gaining weight at around 3 lbs a month.

I started to freak out, wanted to lose lots of weight, and ate 1200 calories a day for a month. I lost 7 lbs the first week and nothing for the following 3 weeks. I think the 7 lbs was all water weight because I quit soda and drank like a gallon of water a day (which I didn't do prior)

then I figured why eat so little? I'm hungry and grouchy. so I started eating 1400 a day. I lost about a pound each week for the next 2 months.

Then I started really playing around, not eating, eating a whole lot (2,300 or more) and seeing what happened. I pretty much maintained.

I started eating 1900 a day and really saw a great loss. Around 7lbs that month. Since then I have really struggled with the fact that I am almost never hungry. It has become very very hard for me to want to eat. Some days I eat 400 calories, some days I get hungry and eat 2000.

So overall, if I can force myself to down some food, I lose weight. When I don't eat much at all, I stay the same weight (and even gain some days if I eat high sodium or lots of carbonation)

So, 1200 doesn't work for me. 1700 or more does To maintain, at my activity level, would likely be 2200 or so. These numbers vary wildly from person to person and it might take you a few months of experimenting to figure what works best for you. And what works best might not last long since stuff changes and adapts as you change weight.

I'm not sure that eating less than 1200 is healthy for many people. I'm guessing you'd have to weight a small amount and be very small in stature (less than 5 foot) for that to be a healthy amount. If you are 5'4" I would simply assume that as a taller person you would need more energy.

Sasssy69

My cals have varied the last 5 months. I'm 5 9 and almost never hit 1200 cals (net) . I never went into "starvation mode". I only eat when hungry. Eating just to eat, is what helped bring me here!

Yep yep!

koosdel

I'm at 2,850 and still losing.

msjac23

I'm 5'4" tall, when I changed my daily activity from not active to active. MFP change my calories per to 1490. I also adjust my carbs/protein/fat intake from what MFP suggested to 40% Carbs, 40% Protein, and 20% Fat. Since I worked out 5 times week with 3 days of weight training I need more protein to feed my muscles. I also try to keep my food intake to 90/10 rule. Clean eating 90% of the time and Whatever I want to eat 10% of the time.

sarah44254

My cals have varied the last 5 months. I'm 5 9 and almost never hit 1200 cals (net) . I never went into "starvation mode". I only eat when hungry. Eating just to eat, is what helped bring me here!

I gained weight by eating 1 small meal a day for a week or so, then gorging out on food when I found the money/time to. Eating on a schedule and making myself eat a certain amount every day (often more than I want to eat) is what is helping me lose weight. I'm not even talking about starvation mode, but not everyone gains weight by eating too much all the time. Just wanted to throw that out there.