1200 cal a day people please answer this...

CNParker

I eat when I'm hungry.I stay between 1100-1400. I eat 3 large meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner and 3 small snacks. Don't deprive your body.

0622cameron

That is why I never eat my exercise calories back because I exercise so late I don't want to be eating 600-1200 calories right before I go to bed plus I am not hungry. If I get hungry I eat a little something but not that much.

KettleBellHoe

As long as you get in 1200 of food your good, exercising it all off is good if your trying to lose a lot of excess weight but if you wanna lose weight more slowly and safely 1400 is a happy amount I find Don't try to compensate for the calories you burn because you would of countered the effort you just made by exercising.
-Kiera

Mommyof3texans

Jeeeeez I'm so confused!
I've never heard of eating back calories.... To me I feel like if your going to burn off calories then go home and eat them back...how does the weight come off? It's like you went to the gym, slaved and then came home ate and its like as if you never went....
I dont understand how this works and after reading a bunch of comments I see that its half half, some people eat them back some don't.....How do you know which is best for you?
help? LOL.

That's because the calorie goal they calculate here for you ALREADY has a deficit needed for fat loss.. so, if MFP says eat 1300 calories, you will lose weight on that amount. Now on a day you exercise 300 calories.. if you don't eat them back you are only netting 1000, which isn't even enough for your body to do what it needs to do if you laid in bed all day long.

tuneses

I eat when Im hungry. I always net 1100-1200.

This

prism6

I have been stuck,so I am eating more calories. I will be interested in seeing how it goes...

feltlikesound

I stay within the 1200 on days I don't make it to the gym, when I do work out I eat back the calories to the extent of my hunger. If I am hungry, I will eat up to the added calories by working out. Very rarely do I eat them all back. this is less conscious effort, more how my diet naturally goes now -- I eat when I am hungry, and my habits have led me to food choices that make it fairly easy to stay low cal.

I mostly use my exercise calories for wiggle room, like if my friends want to go out to eat, I will be sure to work out and be conscious of the amount of calories so that I have the extra "calorie space" for the restaurant food (or what ever). Similarly, if I've been craving chocolate all week, I will treat myself if I have the extra space.

I think people are failing to realize that the calories provided by MFP are a baseline for losing weight with NO exercise added on top -- you will lose weight just by sticking with those. For instance, if you have a 1200 estimate you probably listed your lifestyle as sedentary, which it likely isn't, and it CERTAINLY isn't factoring in the fuel your body NEEDS for an exercise regime.

ChasingSweatandTears

You need to be mindful and not starve your body. You will only know the balance of calorie intake and weight loss, it is your body. If you starve the body it will naturally start trying to keep a grip on everything you take in, even if you are exercising. I did see where someone posted that they take in 760 calories per day and are remaining healthy. That is pushing it. My wife weighs right around 115 pounds and she is alloted 1200 calories per day and burns between 600-900 through exercise. She usually ends up in the green with 400 to 500 calories left over. She has a small goal of ten pounds total weight loss and toning. This place is great for advice and many people have sound advice. Mine comes through reading and a minor in exercise science.

Does this mean she only nets 300 to 600 per day? I'm not judging, just curious if this Is what you mean.

happinessforevercm

I eat when Im hungry. I always net 1100-1200.

This. But If I am hungry after a workout or later at night I have a healthy snack just something small but then I try to drink some water to help the urge to snack, but I dont make it a point that I have to eat my calories back. Hope this helps

zukkiz

It has taken me a while but have finally understood that eating less is for losing weight, and exercising is for fitness. Combining them helps you lose inches as well as weight. It helps prevent the sagging skin.

I net 1650 a day. So that means I am, on some days, eating about 2000. I also breastfeed, so I have to add those in there as well. I am only 24 from my goal weight, and am feeling great. I don't feel deprived and I know that I will be able to eat like this from here on out.

As for eating late at night, it's a myth that if you eat late at night you won't lose weight. Even Dr. Oz, debunked this. If you haven't eaten enough calories then eating at night won't hurt you at all.

cmccorma

Bump

watboy

I eat 1400 I don't net 1400 I don't eat excercise calories back.

RuthRuby

I eat them back usually

JulieMI88

I don't eat back all my exercise calories. I eat partial of it back. On some days, I eat all of it back. Since I am already thin, I don't burn much off when I exercise and I try to under estimate to build a cushion.

At my weight, I can only lose half a pound a week safely. But since I only want to lose 3-5 pounds and want it to be over in a month, I try to lose a pound a week by not eating all my exercise calories back. I figured I will be done with diet before causing slow down of metabolism. I plan to eat all my exercise calories back for the last 2 lbs, because I really don't care if I never lose those 2 lbs. Two weeks gone and two more weeks to go! YAY!