How bad is it to eat under 1200 calories?

I'm on the 1200 net calories as well and usually come under. I wouldnt recommend eating less than 1000 net calories. You need your nutrients to stay healthy and strong.

1200 cals is a good, healthy place to be. You do need all your vits and mins. Dont be scared to go over. If it happens, it happens. You not defined by a number. You are a person not a cals per day.

Im consistently under 1200 calories. I do take a organic multi-vitamin(to get all my vits and mins), not sure if that matters...

To the OP: It's not good to the best of my knowledge, though I'm guilty as well.

To the people replying: I'm eating at least 900 calories a day (mostly) but my net is much less because I'm just not hungry enough to eat more after all the exercise. I only ever used to eat out of boredom/I enjoyed it, outside of meals.

I feel the same why force feed myself if im not hungry...

I try to stay between 1000 and 1200 a day, but I normaly eat quite a bit, just a ton of low calorie foods such as spinich and brocalli, so im not hungry, and im not going to force myself to eat more if im not hungry

I average 1200 to 1400 and have seen steady size loss I'm not seeing huge pounds lost but my clothes fit better and I feel great.

Im consistently under 1200 calories. I do take a organic multi-vitamin(to get all my vits and mins), not sure if that matters...

That helps, if you get enough daily protein too, some oily fish 2-3 times a week and generally eat a variety of foods your nutrition will be more likely complete than someone eating 2000 calories who doesn't pay attention to these things.

removed my reply because pinkprincess700's below is 100x better than what i wrote.

good luck.

As someone recovered yet still struggling with disordered eating, I find it hard to eat when I'm actively trying to lose weight.

I try to get to my goal of 1200 calories a day, but I really, really, really do not want to go over it, which leaves me under a lot of the time. However, since I'm not heavily restricting (I used to fast for a few days at a time before treatment) is it okay to be under 1200 calories? I'm too *scared* to go over.

Ugh the line between healthy and disordered eating is so blurred!

Is coming in consistently under *bad* for me? What is too low of a net (I don't eat back my calories)?

I looked on your profile and saw you're recovering from bulimia and as someone who is also in recovery I can understand where you are coming from. I'm not in recovery from bulimia, but I have purging type anorexia so I understand how hard it is. I have been in and out of recovery for most of my life(diagnosed at six), but the only thing that has worked for me was taking it at a snail's pace. Up until last year's recovery, my dietician's plans were always eat more straight away but when I was discharged later on, I relapsed because I found it too hard to keep up with it because I was scared, so last year when I was sectioned they asked me what I felt I could cope with. I was used to fasting for days on end, eating an apple or a salad one day then purging it so I knew eating lots in one day wasn't something I was ready for at that moment in time. It started off with an apple or salad everynight, this wouldn't be a big deal for most people but for people suffering with eating disorders this would be a massive step, especially not purging it! A month later, lunch was added in too, then a month after that breakfast was too. Now I eat three meals a day and two snacks. It has been a long road, and I'm not even half way there, I still have alot of things to deal with mentally but I'm trying to put all my energy into making my health and self esteem better.

I would love to lose weight, I think that pressure to be skinny will always be there because you see girls like that and you want to look like them but I know my health is more important to me and skinny doesn't always mean healthy. I know you said you were in a treatment centre before, but are you getting any help now? Do you see a counsellor? I'm not trying to be rude so I really hope you don't think that, but I think maybe it might help you see things a little bit clearer. Focus on your health and I'm sure the rest will follow:) You've got this, keep fighting:) xxx

I think it's fine to be under once in a while if you are over it once in a while. Which means you need to stop obsessing about meeting your calorie goal exactly. It's a quideline, not a commandment.

THIS.

Listen to pink princess.

Also, there are plenty of girls who eat 2000+ calories a day here and aren't fat. Sounds like a lot of calories to people who are dieting, but it's not really.

We have all been told about the "starvation mode" your body goes into when you don't eat enough calories. I always assumed that was when you were starving yourself at 500-800 calories a day... but my (personal) reality is that I am only 5'2" and 1200 is not enough for me. When I am under 1200 my weight loss FREEZES. I plateau and even gain a bit. BUT if I eat between 1250-1350 calories the weight just comes off. I consider it my sweet spot.

My husband has a similar experience, but his calorie limit is a little higher because he's 6'2". BUT it's the same in that if he is under his daily calories he with not lose a pound, may even gain. Then he eats a little over the MFP suggestion and the pounds come off.

I know we all love to see "Some and so was under her calories for the day" on the mini-feed, but unless you did some serious exercise, it's NOT A GOOD THING to always be under your needed caloric intake. You have to feed your body enough good stuff for it to let go of the fat on our bodies.

If you go over your calorie goal you can and should exercise away the remaining. Jogging one mile burns about 100 calories! Walking it burns about 50 on average. Always remember when your eating so few calories that every calorie should be adding nutrients to your body. No junk food or processed food.