Who has only 1200 calories per day?

RonneyKay

My doc put me on 1200 calories and Low Carb (I dont wish to hear opinions on this if they are not positive, I am following my doctors orders) I have alot of health problems and my doc put me on this to see if it will help. So far I am feeling better, less tired and draggy.

I am doing what works for me, it may not work for everyone.

My problem right now is meeting my 1200 calories:( I have no appetite, I had one of my meds increased in dosage, so I need to start getting protein shakes and stuff.

luwalmsley1983

Mfp set mine to 1220 for a weekly 1lb loss. For.medical reasons Im following a low gi diet and honestly I can't get over the limit at the minute but I'm full, satisfied and not hungry. Agree with the pp's a lot.of its down to WHAT you 'spend' those calories on.

I'm 5'4 started out at 147 aiming for 124ish. I'm down as sedentary as desk job.

I'm here to lose a bit butif it makes you feel any better I lost 3 stones a couple of years back in a similar way to this method it was set at 1400 a day for me.

I quickly realised good habits meant I had more food to sustain me, Ithink thats probably the best thing I took away from the experience, ehich may be why I am struggling to eat up my 1200.

Best of luck on your journey - friend if you wish

suelegal

I have only 1200, and I get plenty of food generally. I eat loads of veggies, either raw or steamed or grilled, which makes up the bulk of my food. I agree that it really does depend on what you are eating

foxxm

MFP automatically selected 1200 calories for me. I work out at least 40 minutes 5 times a week and I haven't seen much of a change in my weight. This is probably because I was using the "extra" calories burned from exercising and eating more than 1200 calories a day. So today I changed my calories to 900, that way when I factor in the calories from exercise my total calories will be closer to the 1200 mark.

gumigal82

Mine says 1200, but I do high intensity cardio (turbo fire) or circuit training w/weights five days a week. So I try to add a protein shake after my workout out, or eat healthy snacks during the day. I usually don't go over on workout days. On my rest days, I treat myself a little (allow a small dessert, drink when I go out, etc)--

kbee784

MFP set mine to 1200. I'm always under.

Elen_Sia

I'm 5"1' and sit at a desk every day for work. 1200 is sufficient for me on a non-workout day. I'm always full after every meal, don't go to bed hungry, and don't wake up ravenous. Lots of protein in my diet.

stopdropandlose

I'm supposed to eat more than 1200, but I have trouble doing that if I don't eat junk food. I don't like to eat and I feel full and gross a lot, so the thought of eating makes me feel sick. I wish I could eat more with loading up on junk.

crazybigchick

I am allowed 1280 but I usually end up eating around 1800. I can stay at 1200 for about two days then I end up PIGGING out. I absolutely can not eat that little and maintain my sanity. I am grouchy enough on a *diet*. lol I have NO CLUE how people stand it.

raybaileyct

Consuming 1200 at day is not a bad as one think if combined with lots of water. A typical breakfast is around 300, Lunch 350 and dinner and snacks at 550. I lost over 21.5 pounds thus far following this method; however I also work out 4-5 times per week and typical eat back some of my calories. It's really all about balance to me. I have my bad days but overall 5 days a week I am following this method. 4lbs to go

maryjay51

im in a body fat loss contest right now and trying to be very specific in what i eat, when i eat ect..i eat so healthy im not hungry . i eat six times a day. its crazy because i never ever had a problem eating tons of food. now i have to eat just because its necessary.. im under the care of a doctor and the doctor is blown away at how my my health improved. once this contest is over and im back to heavy weight lifting my calories will increase to help me meet my goals of weight lifting .. if i felt my body needed more calories i would definitely do that .

Kaylee_law_123

I'm on 1200 and manage fine without feeling hungry, as I am ceoliac and diabetic I also eat gluten free and sugar free so that may help me keep under :-)

Djnaz68

Hi Amy,
When I joined my fitness pal, the program set my Kcals after I entered the info it asked for. Believe me, I would like to eat more calories--interestingly, I ate more Kcals than 1200 before joining; only it was candy and crap. Now that I am eating veggies and really working to get the proper nutrients, I have trouble eating the full 1200. So far, I am just going with what the program tells me--i am really new to this so it may take some time. BTW, I love your before and after pics. Jeree

Nikkiray32

I am at 1200 because I opted to loose 2 pounds a week. If you opt to loose 1 pound or 1.5 the calorie intake will be more. Additionally, your lifestyle accounts for alot. I have a very sedentary lifestyle with the job I have been working the past five years. All of my other jobs were very active ( of course I didn't weigh nearly as much then). Fruits and vegtables have low calories and are very filling. Some days I do eat my exercise points. If I am not hungry I will not make myself eat.

Nikkiray32

I agree with you. I've knocked out alot of processed foods. I still have pretzels or goldfish, but I do more veggies and fruits. I used to complain that they costs so much more. They do, but if I have a banana or apple, I'm not hungry thirty minutes later. If I eat chips thirty minutes later I want to eat again.

xmandadollx

I am at 1200 calories only because MFP gave me that many to work with every day. I am not sure how the total is calculated but it probably has to do with goals, current weight, etc. I thought I would get more calories but I am going to trust that it knows better than me! I've tried everything else and this is my last resort

JayneDugger

I only get 1200 calories, but I exercise so that I can have more, otherwise, I would also feel hungry.

cindy4mica

I do, and it's torture:grumble:

yeabby

1200 is difficult when you eat foods that are high calorie or high sugar. If you are eating fiber rich and high protein foods primarily it 1200 is hard to get to.

deja_blu

I noticed that most people who have calorie limits of 1200, are smaller folks. They are under 5'3. I think the lowest setting for me was 1290 for a 2 lb/week (and I'm 5'9!). That means (to me and correct me if I am wrong) that I should have eaten 1290 calories at the end of the day. That means if I exercise, I need to eat those calories back or I will be in starvation mode and the breaking down of muscle will commence.

I burn anywhere between 500-100 calories a day so I need ALLLL the food I can. I'll take some off your hands if you want. =P

ljcatch22

I only have 1200 calories a day because I'm pretty much sedentary. I'm in med school so not only am I in class all day, but when I get home, all I do is sit on my butt all day studying. I do however eat any exercise calories I get.

Honestly, when I first started, it was tough because I was used to eating a bunch of high calorie crap. Now however, I'm working on improving the kind of food I'm eating and it isn't all that hard. Fruits and veggies go a whole lot farther on filling you up. Also, I've cut down on a lot of the bread and dairy I eat since that was pretty much my main food source before I started. It's made me try new things and I feel a whole lot better. (I'm lactose intolerant but could eat cereal for every meal because I LOOOOVE it.)

Honestly, if you're struggling on 1200 calories a day, you're either not eating back your exercise calories, more active than you think you are, or eating the wrong things.

reicutie

I'm at 1200.. i chose to loose 2lbs/week.. i also set a deadline to meet my desired weight, so i really choose what i eat.. in case i eat more, then i have to burn those calories.. i have a very sedentary lifestyle.. i work from home 8 to 10 hours a day so mostly i'm in front of my computer and doesn't do much activity... i just started last week, and i lost 6 lbs already.. eating less than 1200 calories a day, other days a bit more.. but i'm also doing some cardio activities, mostly walking.. and when i get a craving for food, i drink water.. lots and lots of water.. i eat when my stomach needs to eat and not when my brain tells me i want to eat something..

hyde1977

1200 is what I started at....but that is only b/c I wanted to lose 2 pounds per week. You see it a lot b/c that is everyones goal! Just like what everyone else has said....

That said, I have never eatten 1200 calories....like you I would not be able to do it! I have always eatten back most of my exercise calories....that is why I exercised at first....so I could eat more :-)

There are going to be several different reponses....Everyone has to find out what works for them....

In my opnion I have done what is best for me......Yes I wanted to lose weight but I also wanted to keep the weight off...so as I have gone through my journey I have been increasing my calories and have not gained any weight (except over the holidays a couple of pounds...but that was the pounds of junk I was eatting) and.....I FEEL NO GUILT ABOUT IT!!!!!


If people are still on 1200 when they hit maintance and stop tracking the likelyhood that they will gain back the weight is higher! But again that is just my opinion!!!! I am sure people will freak out!

Watch any of the weightloss shows,- biggest loser or extreme makeover weightloss edition(Chris powell) they all say eat more lose weight! You just have to choose the right things and break it up through out the day to work your metabolism!!!!!

kcgslp

I am 5'3 currently 131 lbs (down from 155 lbs) with a goal of 125lbs. I have been on 1200 calories since I started on MFP.
I workout about 5-7 days a week. I run and take fitness classes. So typically I eat about 1400 calories. but If I miss a day of working out...it is REALLY hard to stay at 1200 calories. I try to stay at 300 cal each for breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner. I can do it all except dinner. I cant seem to find a good 300 calorie dinner.

Dmarten

My doctor set mine at 1200 a day. I eat what seems like all day, lots of fresh fruits and veggies and there are many days I struggle to get to 1200. I work out 45-75 mins a day , 6 days a week . You can do it, it will just take some time to get used too.

truNahlidge

I have mine at 1200..but i haven't made it yet. I'm 5'0, 139, and just started exercising daily.....

Raclex

No so... I eat whole foods, veggies, good fats, some fruit and do not eat processed foods nor sugar (except 1 tea spoon in my coffee). I would starve on 1200 calories a day. MFP set me at 1240, with very low protein and fat and very high carbs. Switched it to 30% carbs, 35% protein and 35% fat as well as lowered my sodium intake to 1500 mg. I've upped my calories to 1400 and am losing consistently. My body fat % has also dropped by almost 4% and I have NO problem reaching 1400 and would go for more! I work-out very hard, but only twice a week.

Edit: I'm 5'7'' and currently weigh 151.

KandieLantz

1500 here

MaximalLife

I always see people who have their calories set on 1200 per day. Why so low?

I weigh 160, am 5'5", and have mine set at 1600. That's without eating back exercise calories. I have my settings on lightly active, as I am a teacher. I generally exercise 5x/week. I could NOT get by on 1200 calories per day.

How do you all do it?

The reason people do it is a typical form of self-sabotage.
People hear and see all the poop in the media and elsewhere about losing weight fast.

And then there is that absurd TV show "Biggest Loser" - the modern encyclopedia of what NOT to do.
People need to heed the advice of those who have the fruit behind their philosophy.

In other words if you want success, do what successful people do.
You've lost over 100lbs - great job!

People need to hear you!

kwest_4_fitness

I land anywhere between 1150 and 1300, depending. I've never had any hunger issues. I follow the old WW points system and use MFP as a tool to log and watch sodium intake. I've lost 60 lbs so far and do not eat back exercise calories. I do both aerobics and mild strength training. I feel like I get plenty to eat and even have dessert and an evening snack every night.