Losing at 1200 cals??

Johlawrence
Johlawrence Posts: 236 Member
in Success Stories
I have tried low cals and higher cals. Nothing seems to be working...so, I am going BACK to low cals (1200). Please respond if you've had success with this. I need all the support I can get. I've been using MFP since July 1st and feel like I should have lost much more than I have. I am so frustrated. Some people have told me to eat more, so I did, then some have said to eat less, so I have. I just cannot find what works for me. GRRRRR:grumble:
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Replies

  • JMarie5390
    JMarie5390 Posts: 26
    Have faith, this does work. I've lost most of mine through a lower calorie lifestyle, roughly 1250 per day. Every now and then I'll increase it to 1600-1800 on the weekends. Food for thought, take a look at Primal Blueprint and Paleo eating. I swear to it. It goes against conventional wisdom/eating but so many Doctors support this way of eating. http://www.marksdailyapple.com is a great website to look at, especially the success stories.

    Good luck and keep us posted!
  • nataliexxxx
    nataliexxxx Posts: 262
    Thats what I eat and I have had a lot of success, some days I eat more because of exercise and sometimes I have a treat but I try to stick to 1200
  • Pomroy89
    Pomroy89 Posts: 29
    I have tried low cals and higher cals. Nothing seems to be working...so, I am going BACK to low cals (1200). Please respond if you've had success with this. I need all the support I can get. I've been using MFP since July 1st and feel like I should have lost much more than I have. I am so frustrated. Some people have told me to eat more, so I did, then some have said to eat less, so I have. I just cannot find what works for me. GRRRRR:grumble:
    [/quote

    I'm in some boat... I'll add yu we can support each other x
  • AimersBee
    AimersBee Posts: 775 Member
    Did a quick scan through your diary.

    Almost never do you go over 1200 calories, 1200 calories is known to be at least a MINIMUM.. and when you do eat, your carbs are almost doubled compared to your protein.. (I have that issue)

    Eat at least 1200 calories at the very minimum I'd say.. and eat more protein to carbs, and you'll then probably see a difference.
  • Leeanne1974
    Leeanne1974 Posts: 207 Member
    Did a quick scan through your diary.

    Almost never do you go over 1200 calories, 1200 calories is known to be at least a MINIMUM.. and when you do eat, your carbs are almost doubled compared to your protein.. (I have that issue)

    Eat at least 1200 calories at the very minimum I'd say.. and eat more protein to carbs, and you'll then probably see a difference.
    That is a tip I haven't seen and will be trying that. I stalled for 2 months then lost when (out of desperation) i dropped to 900 a day.
    I lost a few pounds in a week. It worries me that that may be the calories I need to eat to lose any weight and that 1250 might be my maintenance calories.
  • aimeelouwhite
    aimeelouwhite Posts: 181 Member
    I agree with the above poster.... up the protein and lower the carbs a little. I find when I eat more protein I lose more and stay fuller. I have found that for me I actually need to eat at least 1400 a day (162cm and 79kg) and I always eat back most if not all of my exercise calories.. .those are the things that have worked for me... oh and cutting down on the sodium and drinking lots of water! Good luck!
  • emileesgram
    emileesgram Posts: 141 Member
    I have been at 1200 for almost 9 months now and it works for me. I do eat back my exercise calories. I also concentrate on higher protein lower carbs and sugar. I do cardio and strength training 3 times a week. I have lost weight at a pretty slow but consistent rate.
  • jennifermaffei17
    jennifermaffei17 Posts: 158
    I started back to it last Saturday. Worked out, for the most part, for 30 minutes every day and lost 2lbs.
    You can do it. Just eat back at least 95% of your exercise calories and drink plenty of water.
  • lilmisfit
    lilmisfit Posts: 860 Member
    I eat 1200-ish a day and eat back some, but not all, of my exercise calories. I've lost 27 pounds in 6.5 months. I do cardio and lift 5-6 days a week. I have my macros set to 40 protein, 30 fat, 30 carbs. It's been working well. I noticed that reducing my carbs and increasing my protein really helped me get over a plateau.
  • mspris2u
    mspris2u Posts: 161 Member
    I try to eat between 1200-1400 a day but sometimes I go over. I watch my sodium and straight calories more than anything else. I go to bootcamp 3 days a week and exercise on my own at least the other 3 days. I drink LOTS of water too. I don't eat as clean as I should but I've found what works for me. I've lost 17 lbs since I joined MFP. It can be done. You just have to figure out what works....
  • tasha_24
    tasha_24 Posts: 19
    Im eating 1200 a day and have lost 10lbs in 3 weeks so it does work, My only exercise is 20min on the treadmill 4 - 5 times a week, be patient it will work :)
  • suzmagana
    suzmagana Posts: 15 Member
    I lost 10- lbs in about 5 weeks at 1200 cal day and then NOTHING for the last month. Eating about the same. Working out about the same. I have friends who swear by the "cheat day" - 1 day a week of super high calories to "reset your metabolism." Have any of you done it? Do you see it making a difference?
  • Tedebearduff
    Tedebearduff Posts: 1,155 Member
    I have tried low cals and higher cals. Nothing seems to be working...so, I am going BACK to low cals (1200). Please respond if you've had success with this. I need all the support I can get. I've been using MFP since July 1st and feel like I should have lost much more than I have. I am so frustrated. Some people have told me to eat more, so I did, then some have said to eat less, so I have. I just cannot find what works for me. GRRRRR:grumble:

    quit listening to everyone else and find what works for you .... I eat around 1200 and I don't even log my food anymore cause it's just a habit now.

    A calorie deflect will show a difference no matter what so just find what works for you and keep at it.

    Some points I have heard of ppl not logging alcohol drinks ... if you do drink alcohol just know you could have had a full meal at the cost of only a few drinks.

    Also you don't have allot of weight to lose so it gets harder and harder the closer you get to your goal
  • becmwc
    becmwc Posts: 1
    This is generally what happens to me when I am counting calories--I lose 5 lbs in one week--which is probably water weight, then I plateau for about 3 weeks with the scale not budging---I get discouraged and decide I might as well eat since I am not losing anyway--then I quickly gain back the 5 lbs and more. I did at one time lose 15 lbs on Atkins, but started gaining the weight back when I started adding carbs back to my diet--so now I have decided to do two diets at once---Mon-Thurs I am going to do 1200 calories, then Fri-Sun I am going to do Atkins .Let you all know how it works out--
  • marni35
    marni35 Posts: 20
    If you work out it's very important to eat back whatever calories you burn... otherwise it may mess with your metabalism. :) Good luck! This is what I do and it's working well!!!
  • texjenn
    texjenn Posts: 146 Member
    I don't usually go down to 1200 but stay around 1400 to 1500. I've lost about a pound a week.
    I would normally have a high calorie day once a week ~2000. It seems to work for me so my body doesn't think I'm in starvation mode.
  • adavis59
    adavis59 Posts: 285 Member
    1200 cals work just fine for me. I've been able to shed 34 pounds thus far and excited to lose another 15-10 pounds.
  • serzmulz
    serzmulz Posts: 10
    I feel I'm in the same boat, but while the scales are not really going down, I think I have loss inches, but never measured (stupid me). Everyone on here appears to have lost a lot quickly and I have been on it for nearly 5 weeks and it is like it is not coming off! I run up to 5 times a week, sometimes go over calories, but normally only on weekend. I eat lots of vegies and protein, not sure what I am doing wrong. Maybe just being impatient and need to give it time :-p
  • PunkyRachel
    PunkyRachel Posts: 1,959 Member
    find a medium, I try for 1250 net. If you can try and eat back you cals. if your not already. I usually eat 1500-2000, but exercise brings it down.
  • PunkyRachel
    PunkyRachel Posts: 1,959 Member
    I feel I'm in the same boat, but while the scales are not really going down, I think I have loss inches, but never measured (stupid me). Everyone on here appears to have lost a lot quickly and I have been on it for nearly 5 weeks and it is like it is not coming off! I run up to 5 times a week, sometimes go over calories, but normally only on weekend. I eat lots of vegies and protein, not sure what I am doing wrong. Maybe just being impatient and need to give it time :-p

    I have lost more inches than pounds, I get frustrated with the scale, I lost 6 pants sizes this year so far, but only 35 lbs. I just feel like that number should be higher.....then again I've always been real hard on myself too. I've been on here since end of January, so almost 8 months.
  • DesignGrrl
    DesignGrrl Posts: 147 Member
    I've done close to 1200 and have lost 30lbs since the beginning of May. When I started to stall for a couple of weeks, I upped my carbs substantially with chicken breasts and egg whites, and i cut out as much sugar as possible, and the scale moved again.
  • soyasee
    soyasee Posts: 19 Member
    Hi, I'm actually doing pretty well staying at around 1200 calories a day eating basically protein, low carbs & even fruit. I follow the diet from dietaccess. com, an 11 day on 3 day off diet, it's working for me. I have a lot of weight to lose.
  • cathylovestim
    cathylovestim Posts: 41
    MFP assigned me to 1300 calories and when I began a year ago, it took 5 weeks for me to start losing. I hung in there and lost 17 pounds by mid-November. Then in January I fell off the wagon. I gained eight back and I climbed back on. MFP does work. LOG EVERYTHING! Even when I have really, really bad days it helps me to see exactly what I am doing and it holds me accountable. Drink 8 glasses of water daily. MFP definitely works. Best of luck to you!
  • C00lCountry
    C00lCountry Posts: 282
    Have you considered if you are accurate on counting of the calories?
    I not sure if you have a food scale or how much effort you are putting in to being accurate.
    Just a thought.
    I know gettting a scale truely helped me out allot.
  • Clovis33
    Clovis33 Posts: 1
    Just a little advice to those only doing cardio. Add weight training. There is a lot of information out there on how to incorporate weight training into your regular exercise program. Research some and do what fits into your schedule. Also, if you are doing the same cardio (always running) you might want to change up what you are doing. Your body gets used to the same old routine. You need a challenge! To those not eating the calories that are burned...You need to make sure you eat those calories. Its especially important if you burn a lot of calories. You cannot lose weight in a healthy way if you are starving your body. And although the scale is a convenient measuring tool, the inches lost and the reduction in body fat is more important (just my opinion!) :) And NO DIETING!! It's a LIFESTYLE CHANGE :) Eat as clean as you can most of the time and treat yourself every now and then!! A great DVD program for weights is The Butt Bible. It has 3 levels of upper and lower body workouts and is great if you are one that needs the direct instruction :)
  • saraann4
    saraann4 Posts: 1,296 Member
    Just a little advice to those only doing cardio. Add weight training. There is a lot of information out there on how to incorporate weight training into your regular exercise program. Research some and do what fits into your schedule. Also, if you are doing the same cardio (always running) you might want to change up what you are doing. Your body gets used to the same old routine. You need a challenge! To those not eating the calories that are burned...You need to make sure you eat those calories. Its especially important if you burn a lot of calories. You cannot lose weight in a healthy way if you are starving your body. And although the scale is a convenient measuring tool, the inches lost and the reduction in body fat is more important (just my opinion!) :) And NO DIETING!! It's a LIFESTYLE CHANGE :) Eat as clean as you can most of the time and treat yourself every now and then!! A great DVD program for weights is The Butt Bible. It has 3 levels of upper and lower body workouts and is great if you are one that needs the direct instruction :)

    Although, I agree with the weight training..... Explain to me why I need to eat the calories burned especially if I don't have a HRM? It's all a guesstimate. Same with MFP exercise calories burnt. I don't rely on it. Just my opinion
  • pucenavel
    pucenavel Posts: 972 Member
    I've been successful at 1200. My best days are little/no breakfast (I don't like eating breakfast), light lunch and "caveman" dinner.

    I eat out for lunch, so I eliminate everything that is "high cost", like salad dressing, cheese, bread and starches. So, I have things like grilled chicken on a salad, chicken sandwich with lettuce for bun (or no bun), turkey burger with no bun, or steamed veggies/tofu with a small serving of brown rice (PF Chang's Bhudda's Feast for example).

    For dinner, my favorites are lean protein and loads of veggies - things like grilled chicken, fish or shrimp with grilled squash and zucchini, maybe a baked butternut, spaghetti or acorn squash.

    I also try to keep a big tupperware filled with cucumber spears, celery sticks, baby carrots, mushrooms, radishes, snap peas, cherry tomatoes and other fresh vegetables to supplement when I have the munchies.

    I use my exercise calories to allow for dealing with bread, ice cream and other treats.

    All that being said, it takes a lot of discipline to hold 1200, but when I do, it works. I figure if I can hit 1200 2-3 days a week, 1400-1600 3-4 days a week and eat without guilt 1 day a week, I'm on the right path and either maintain or lose 1-2 lbs. On weeks I actually do 1200 net the entire week, I'll drop 2-4 lbs.
  • nikkiw283
    nikkiw283 Posts: 90
    I am set at 1200 calories and I have lost 27 lbs since I started in May. It definitely works!
  • pucenavel
    pucenavel Posts: 972 Member
    Explain to me why I need to eat the calories burned ...

    If your car gets 25 miles to the gallon, and you travel 100 miles a week, you need 4 gallons of gas per week, right?

    If you decide to drive 10 miles extra each day, and you don't add more gas, you are going to be stranded on the side of the road sometime on Thursday.

    Does that help?
  • iggyboo93
    iggyboo93 Posts: 524 Member
    My first post. Currently what I'm trying is carb cycling. I read about it in Chris Powell's Choose to Lose book. Basically I combined high carb / low carb days, keeping my caloric intake to 1430 calories per day and doing interval cardio (30 minutes on the treadmill - walking 5 minute intervals with 1 minute running intervals) with weights thrown in every other workout. I'm down 4 pounds in my first week but I know much of that is water weight. 1200 calories would be too extreme - I'm hungry enough at 1430 calories - I am afraid that my body would shut down metabolically and go into starvation mode. I concur with the other posters - MFP makes it easy to log everything you eat. Weight loss has been most successful when I journal / log my food intake. I know I'm not supposed to weigh in every day but I do and I can definitely tell that I overate the previous day or didn't work out because I'll either stay the same weight or be slightly up.

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