Calorie Budget Question

LisaGamerGirl

Hello friends!
I have a calorie budget of 1,200cals/day. I am 5'4" and currently at 120lbs. I'm really aiming to make it down to between 110-115lbs where I feel healthiest. I will achieve this through exercise and healthy, balanced eating. I was wondering if on this budget, having 6 mini meals a day at 200cals apiece is the way to go? Please let me know what you think! I'd like to feel satisfied and full on this journey!
Thank you for the input and feel free to add me

HMonsterX

It makes no difference whether you have 1 meal at 1200, 3 meals at 400, or 6 at 200. It's all down to personal preference. Try each way, and see which is best for you!

LisaGamerGirl

I heard though that binging a lot of calories at once is bad! Especially if you decide to eat that one meal late at night, all at once. I'd like to know if anyone has tried the kind of budgeting I'm trying to do or a more effective way for them at around 1,200cals. Thanks for your help @HMonsterX

erickirb

Timing does not matter much. But what I can tell you is that with the amount you have to lose your goal should be to lose no more than 0.5 lbs/week, and to make sure you eat the cals back that you burn. Having too large of a deficit when you don't have much fat to lose will cause you body to burn muscle to use as fuel. So very slow lose since you don't have much fat to lose is the way to go (Most likely this will be more than 1200 Net calories).

jaxdiablo

I personally feel better when doing a lot of smaller meals. If I do a giant calorie dump first thing in the morning or whenever I feel angry the rest of the day when I'm hungry.

I wouldn't even look at full meals for fill in. Maybe look at things like snacks - hard boiled eggs, fruits, beef jerky! If you're not worried about the other stuff and just the calories, I think smaller more frequent meals works better for the mentality of dieting.

LisaGamerGirl

thanks guys! and @erickirb, that's awesome advice! i had no idea! thanks

BrewerGeorge

This is counter to my usual advice, because for most of us with lots of weight to lose a calorie is a calorie is a calorie. You, however, have so little to lose that you might be in the range where things like macro composition and timing of meals actually make a difference for you.

Still, if I were you I'd stop weighing myself altogether. A pound or two of water weight one way or the other will give you false results. Go by measurements instead. Eat to maintain or slightly less and exercise to tone your body into the shape you desire. You might end up gaining 5 lbs of muscle overall and look a lot better than if you just lose 10 to reach a "goal weight."