1200 Calories??? Are you kidding me...lol

Cinflo58

I think they assign that 1200 calories to every woman. I FINALLY did my TDEE after mumbling to myself for months, "I don't need no stinking TDEE" and my calorie needs are 1640 calories - to maintain my weight. So if I do any exercise I should lose and I am alot older than you - 54!! Also, how could these teenagers and 20 year olds need 1200 caalories. It ain't so!

Anyway, if you eat less and exercise more you will lose. Tracking food makes you aware of how much you eat and it also helps if you weigh and measure your food because I really thought I was eating less than my real portions.

Beloreana

Normally I almost always watch my calories and 1200 can be alot if you fill it with the right bulk like high fiber foods and such.

But here is what really works for me: answering my body's cravings. If I feel like breaking my diet for a day and indulging in what I am craving, I do it. I have found that over time, I am less likely to overeat if I simply give my body what it is asking for.

So if I feel like sushi I have sushi. If I feel like a burger I have a burger or two. We often overestimate how much food we need when we don't answer our body's requests. In the past I have often found myself binge eating when I ignored what I really craved and settled for the "healthy" option. These days, I find that when I honor what my body is craving I actually order more food than I can eat.

I know this sounds counter intuitive, because in our consumer culture we're so used to being told what we want. I've found that if I take the time to really listen to what my body needs, I am more likely to eat healthy and follow caloric restrictions. And so far it has worked for me very well, better than a straight 1200 calorie diet where I completely cut out foods I love.

ssvierck1020

Does anyone know how to change the calorie requirement that it gives on here manually? After doing a bit of research I definitely should be eating around 1600 but this system puts in your calories for you by asking questions of current weight, goal weight, height, and exercise activity which is actually very silly.

judykat7

I have always struggled with that eating a meal while preparing the meal I am going to eat. I have found that if I chew gum or munch on celery while cooking it helps a lot. And be sure to have a drink handy while cooking.

trogalicious

Does anyone know how to change the calorie requirement that it gives on here manually? After doing a bit of research I definitely should be eating around 1600 but this system puts in your calories for you by asking questions of current weight, goal weight, height, and exercise activity which is actually very silly.

1.My Home
2. Goals
3. Change Goals
4. Custom

ssvierck1020

Thank you, I figured out how to increase my calories. By changing them to 1500 instead of the 1200 I was actually under that so Im a bit happier. Today I am going to try to incorporate yoga and see if I can get myself to like exercising. I hated gym class as a kid and I was never into sports. I do however like swimming so maybe I should check out local gyms for a pool.

2204givme

im
11weeks
preg
and i still only need 1400cals and i feel full and havnt gained during these3 months i think 1200 fine for someone dedicated to loosing as long as your eting good healthy 1200 cal can be filling

trogalicious

im
11weeks
preg
and i still only need 1400cals and i feel full and havnt gained during these3 months i think 1200 fine for someone dedicated to loosing as long as your eting good healthy 1200 cal can be filling

you're pregnant and only eating 1400 calories? No. Please talk to your doctors about what the baby inside you needs.

LauraKR77

I chose to increase my calories to 1400. I was ok on 1200 for a few weeks, then I found that I was way too tired and had very little strength.

The easiest way to make the most out of your calories is (IMO) to eat 'clean' for example, fresh meat and veg for lunch and dinner. You get a lot more food for your calorie allowance that way.

Keep trying, change your figures if it's too hard. It's better to lose weight more slowly and stick at it than to try and lose quickly and find it impossible to continue xxx

New to this site how do you change your figures, I cant find it anywhere? X

porky44

I quit somking August 31, 2012! Congrats to you for putting them down also. I feel 100% better since I did. I will be 45 yrs in exactly 30 days. This site calculated 1200 cal for me too. I tried it and my family, friends and co-workers all suffered because of it!!! I was very grumpy. I tweaked it a little and made my cal daily goal just under 1400 cal/day and i always end up being under. It is much better than the pissy hungry woman I was with fewer cals.

trogalicious

New to this site how do you change your figures, I cant find it anywhere? X

My Home > Goals > Change Goals > Custom.

jriehl08

1200 really isn't hard at all. I usually have a hard time getting to the 1200 min that MFP wants me to eat so my body doesn't go into starvation mode. 90 cal snack bars are your friend. I eat the great value strawberry ones and love them. Plus they really fill me up once I eat one.

The sunday before I started my life changing choice of starting MFP and exercising my lunch alone was 1300 calories breakfast was 700 and dinner was 1500 no including the 1000 calories for the thing of popcorn I ate or the 3-20 oz cokes I drank.

I really think its more finding good things that fill you up over just finding things in the calories you can eat. I eat a turkey wrap for lunch at work and I'm stuffed when Im done eating it and its only 180 calories total.

Good luck on your goals and keep a positive outlook on things. It will get easier after some time.

CM9178

this might be a dumb question... but
Is it better to eat, for example 1500 calories, and then burn off 300 with exercise, to net 1200.. or just eat 1200 with no exercise? Or are they basically the same thing, since you are still netting 1200??

This is why I'm asking... I'm currently eating 1200, no exercise.
I should be eating around 1500.. but if I eat 1500 and then burn 300 with exercise, I will still net 1200.. so is that pointless to do?
I don't want to eat back the exercise calories.

Let me further clarify - if I did exercise, it would strictly be cardio. But if I'm going to have the same result either way, I'd obviously prefer eating 1200 with no exercise.

psuLemon

this might be a dumb question... but
Is it better to eat, for example 1500 calories, and then burn off 300 with exercise, to net 1200.. or just eat 1200 with no exercise? Or are they basically the same thing, since you are still netting 1200??

This is why I'm asking... I'm currently eating 1200, no exercise.
I should be eating around 1500.. but if I eat 1500 and then burn 300 with exercise, I will still net 1200.. so is that pointless to do?
I don't want to eat back the exercise calories.

Let me further clarify - if I did exercise, it would strictly be cardio. But if I'm going to have the same result either way, I'd obviously prefer eating 1200 with no exercise.

it's better to eat 1500, burn 300 and then eat back 300 calories like we suggested in your thread, lol.

CM9178

this might be a dumb question... but
Is it better to eat, for example 1500 calories, and then burn off 300 with exercise, to net 1200.. or just eat 1200 with no exercise? Or are they basically the same thing, since you are still netting 1200??

This is why I'm asking... I'm currently eating 1200, no exercise.
I should be eating around 1500.. but if I eat 1500 and then burn 300 with exercise, I will still net 1200.. so is that pointless to do?
I don't want to eat back the exercise calories.

Let me further clarify - if I did exercise, it would strictly be cardio. But if I'm going to have the same result either way, I'd obviously prefer eating 1200 with no exercise.

it's better to eat 1500, burn 300 and then eat back 300 calories like we suggested in your thread, lol.

Ok, but I don't want to eat them back, I feel like that is pointless, because I worked out to burn calories and then I'm going to eat them. I just can't wrap my head around doing that.
If I'm going to net 1500 either way, either by eating them back or not working out, I'd rather just not work out. I don't see the point.

Also, by what you said, that would be the same as eating 1800, and then burn 300 and not eating them back.
No way I'm eating 1800 calories - that just seems insane to me.

Fr3shStrt

this might be a dumb question... but
Is it better to eat, for example 1500 calories, and then burn off 300 with exercise, to net 1200.. or just eat 1200 with no exercise? Or are they basically the same thing, since you are still netting 1200??

This is why I'm asking... I'm currently eating 1200, no exercise.
I should be eating around 1500.. but if I eat 1500 and then burn 300 with exercise, I will still net 1200.. so is that pointless to do?
I don't want to eat back the exercise calories.

Let me further clarify - if I did exercise, it would strictly be cardio. But if I'm going to have the same result either way, I'd obviously prefer eating 1200 with no exercise.

it's better to eat 1500, burn 300 and then eat back 300 calories like we suggested in your thread, lol.

Ok, but I don't want to eat them back, I feel like that is pointless, because I worked out to burn calories and then I'm going to eat them. I just can't wrap my head around doing that.
If I'm going to net 1500 either way, either by eating them back or not working out, I'd rather just not work out. I don't see the point.

to build muscle, look good, be strong, be healthy, live long, enjoy life, etc

CM9178

this might be a dumb question... but
Is it better to eat, for example 1500 calories, and then burn off 300 with exercise, to net 1200.. or just eat 1200 with no exercise? Or are they basically the same thing, since you are still netting 1200??

This is why I'm asking... I'm currently eating 1200, no exercise.
I should be eating around 1500.. but if I eat 1500 and then burn 300 with exercise, I will still net 1200.. so is that pointless to do?
I don't want to eat back the exercise calories.

Let me further clarify - if I did exercise, it would strictly be cardio. But if I'm going to have the same result either way, I'd obviously prefer eating 1200 with no exercise.

it's better to eat 1500, burn 300 and then eat back 300 calories like we suggested in your thread, lol.

Ok, but I don't want to eat them back, I feel like that is pointless, because I worked out to burn calories and then I'm going to eat them. I just can't wrap my head around doing that.
If I'm going to net 1500 either way, either by eating them back or not working out, I'd rather just not work out. I don't see the point.

to build muscle, look good, be strong, be healthy, live long, enjoy life, etc

Ok, there are plenty of good looking, strong and healthy people who don't work out.

jraines1973

I’m also eating only 1200 calories. I find that I get the hungriest around 3:00. I don’t get home from work until 5:00 or after so by then I feel like eating everything I can get my hands on. What works for me is blueberries. There is only 15 calories for one serving (¼ cup) and they are great for you. I’ll put two servings in a baggie and keep it with me from 3:00pm until dinner.

karaharrison2012

I thought the exact same way as you in the beginning. If you stop the sodas and sweetened drinks (empty calories) its not hard at all. At first its hard, but I promise if you stick to it, you will begin seeing results on the scale within days, at least I did, that is what gave me the will to keep it up. I am 5'5 and started out at 185lbs in June 2012 its Feb 2013 and now I am 144. Went from a size almost 18 to a 8. I never thought I could do it. Still have a few lbs to go. But 1200 calories gets the job done quick, but one thing you must remember, its a lifestyle change, you go back to old habits you will gain it all back and then some. So stick in there, add me as a friend if you like, my diary is open.

Fr3shStrt

this might be a dumb question... but
Is it better to eat, for example 1500 calories, and then burn off 300 with exercise, to net 1200.. or just eat 1200 with no exercise? Or are they basically the same thing, since you are still netting 1200??

This is why I'm asking... I'm currently eating 1200, no exercise.
I should be eating around 1500.. but if I eat 1500 and then burn 300 with exercise, I will still net 1200.. so is that pointless to do?
I don't want to eat back the exercise calories.

Let me further clarify - if I did exercise, it would strictly be cardio. But if I'm going to have the same result either way, I'd obviously prefer eating 1200 with no exercise.

it's better to eat 1500, burn 300 and then eat back 300 calories like we suggested in your thread, lol.

Ok, but I don't want to eat them back, I feel like that is pointless, because I worked out to burn calories and then I'm going to eat them. I just can't wrap my head around doing that.
If I'm going to net 1500 either way, either by eating them back or not working out, I'd rather just not work out. I don't see the point.

to build muscle, look good, be strong, be healthy, live long, enjoy life, etc

Ok, there are plenty of good looking, strong and healthy people who don't work out.

I guess that depends on your definition of strong and healthy.