The 1200 Calorie Plateau

mmoyer1978
mmoyer1978 Posts: 124 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi. About three weeks ago, I dropped my calorie intake down to 1200. I had been eating 1500 for a long time and wasn't getting anywhere. I kept my workouts the same, typically burning anywhere from 700 to 900 calories per workout. I try not to eat back any more that 100 calories. I have stuck yo-yo'ing back and forth between the same 10lbs for a LONG time now (since at least March). I've stepped up workouts, dropped calories and am eating mote greens and lean proteins but I am still stuck. Over the course of three weeks I have lost 1.2lbs. Does anyone have an idea of where I am going wrong? Should I be eating more? Working out less? Where is my happy medium? Where is that step when I will finally get off the plateau and start losing again? Not to worry, I will NEVER give up until I reach my goal weight, but I am one FRUSTRATED health nut. HELP!!!!!

Replies

  • lisanorman6
    lisanorman6 Posts: 47 Member
    I have been EXACTLY where you're at! The following link was a total god-send related to calorie intake and where it should be. It also helped me realize that the # on a scale isn't what I (personally speaking) want to focus on. I've decided to focus more on my body fat percentage.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12?hl=ipoarm+2.0&page=1#posts-9495811

    1200 calories is more along the lines of what you should be eating closer to your goal weight. I, too, was only intaking about that and hit a plateau. I have since bumped my calories up to 1520 and the weight has started coming off. The bottomline was that I was not giving my body enough fuel. I suspect that you may be in the same position. When I bumped my calories up, it was kicking and screaming. My belief was that I'd gain weight, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that what I had read and investigated was true and it worked.

    If you find the link helpful but still have questions, let me know. It took reading it twice to really get a grip on it. :)

    Don't give up, you can totally do this!
  • mmoyer1978
    mmoyer1978 Posts: 124 Member
    I have been EXACTLY where you're at! The following link was a total god-send related to calorie intake and where it should be. It also helped me realize that the # on a scale isn't what I (personally speaking) want to focus on. I've decided to focus more on my body fat percentage.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12?hl=ipoarm+2.0&page=1#posts-9495811

    1200 calories is more along the lines of what you should be eating closer to your goal weight. I, too, was only intaking about that and hit a plateau. I have since bumped my calories up to 1520 and the weight has started coming off. The bottomline was that I was not giving my body enough fuel. I suspect that you may be in the same position. When I bumped my calories up, it was kicking and screaming. My belief was that I'd gain weight, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that what I had read and investigated was true and it worked.

    If you find the link helpful but still have questions, let me know. It took reading it twice to really get a grip on it. :)

    Don't give up, you can totally do this!

    So, after doing all the calculations, I should set my MFP settings to 2437 and eat 20% below that? Is that right?
  • BaileyBoo13524
    BaileyBoo13524 Posts: 593 Member
    If you are truly burning that much through exercise you need to eat MORE. Try taking your TDEE (you can find calculators online) and cut anywhere from 10-25% from that to see a loss. 1200 calories with working out as much as you do is ridiculous.
  • restoreleanne
    restoreleanne Posts: 217 Member
    I was there to I found if I eat between 1400 -1500 a day I will lose 2 pounds a week. If I go back down to 1200 I get no where.
  • mmoyer1978
    mmoyer1978 Posts: 124 Member
    If you are truly burning that much through exercise you need to eat MORE. Try taking your TDEE (you can find calculators online) and cut anywhere from 10-25% from that to see a loss. 1200 calories with working out as much as you do is ridiculous.

    Thanks. I figured my TDEE is 2437 (which about made my jaw hit the floor) and I changed my settings to 20% below that which is 1950. I guess we'll try this for a while and see where it takes me. I still think it's nuts that I am stuck because I'm not eating ENOUGH. I figured that was my problem, but still. CRAZY!!! Thanks again!

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