1200 Calories? Really?
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1) I think a lot of the problem with a new lower caloric intake is that we have to change what we are eating not just the amount. There are so many great things you can make/eat that are very low in calories. You might not love them and you might need to learn out to make them, but they will help a lot.
The trick is identifying things to eat a little more of - Roasted vegetables, soup, homemade no butter popcorn, stuff like that. Said another way, if you want to fill yourself up, do it with stuff that won't hurt your total. If you are still hungry after a lunch, have carrots. If you are still hungry after dinner, have a banana.
Along these lines, you have to cut out the little things that add up: Coffee creamer, butter on your bread, etc. This is adding up to 500-1000 calories a week.
2) This isn't true for everyone but I find that when I work out and burn 300-600 calories I am not really any more hungry than I normally would be, so if you can implement the above and work out, I think you could turn a corner.
3) Keep at it and I am sure you will do it. The trick is just peeking around that corner so keep working at that and when you do you will be so excited you won't turn back.
- Eat more of the good stuff
- Cut out the little crap that adds up
- Work out more, but that doesn't always mean eat more.0 -
GRAELWYN~ I have to agree with you. I like to help new people and although questions may seem repetitive, this sounds like it's the op's first rodeo. I was there myself a little over two months ago and kind people on here helped me out. I have some good inspirational friends on here and I have actually taken a few off that offered anything less. I will help anyone that I can...0
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I have absolutely no idea how on earth anyone sticks to 1200 calories a day. I would end up eating a body part I would be that hungry. Completely mental.0
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If you have a nutritionist who told you to eat 1700 to 1800 daily, that's what you should be eating. A professional knows a lot better than a website that will automatically put EVERYONE on a 1200 intake if they list their activity as sedentary or their weight-loss rate at 2/week. From "My Home", click goals, choose custom goals, and adjust your goal to what your nutritionist told you. Check to see if you should eat back your exercise calories (I would think not, but I'm not your nutritionist).Hi All, I just started MFP about 10 days ago and based on my level of activity, my NET calories that I should be eating per day works out to 1200. I'm 5'7 and weigh 237 lbs. Maybe I'm not getting this, but it appears that if I ride my bike and burn an additional 500 calories, or do some kind of exercise that burns, I can then eat dinner - just kidding, then my caloric intake goes up to what I consider 1700 to 1800 calories a day (what my nutritionist said I should be eating). Does this mean that if I have one day where I don't exercise, I should restrict myself to 1200 cals per day if I want to continue to stay on track?
Also, at what point (pounds lost) should I reevaluate my caloric intake or adjust it???0 -
Hi All, I just started MFP about 10 days ago and based on my level of activity, my NET calories that I should be eating per day works out to 1200. I'm 5'7 and weigh 237 lbs. Maybe I'm not getting this, but it appears that if I ride my bike and burn an additional 500 calories, or do some kind of exercise that burns, I can then eat dinner - just kidding, then my caloric intake goes up to what I consider 1700 to 1800 calories a day (what my nutritionist said I should be eating). Does this mean that if I have one day where I don't exercise, I should restrict myself to 1200 cals per day if I want to continue to stay on track?
Also, at what point (pounds lost) should I reevaluate my caloric intake or adjust it???
#1. read the forum rules.
#2. search forum for 1200 calorie posts.. and eating exercise calories back.
#3. if you find nothing, THEN post.
Im sure you may find SOMETHING about it... maybe one or two posts..
Wow, that is a bit harsh! I guess you never asked a question when you were first starting out without searching thru all the tons of forum posts first. Way to make new people feel welcome on here. How about losing the sarcasm and nastiness.0 -
I have absolutely no idea how on earth anyone sticks to 1200 calories a day. I would end up eating a body part I would be that hungry. Completely mental.
Yep, at the start you definitely feel hungry all the time, but as you go on you find alternative foods to eat that can keep you fuller for longer. It really takes determination to stick to it. After my workouts I sometimes end up taking a route that goes pass a greasy spoon kinda joint. The smell does make you want to eat some ridiculously fattening and unhealthy stuff.0 -
I eat 1200 calories - i have mine set at 2 lbs a week - I've lost 40 pounds since june. I don't feel starving or anything like that - and I do not eat back my exercise calories, but, it is also not a huge deal if i go over sometimes.0
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It depends on what you're eating. At 1200 calories I had a good breakfast with gluten free oatmeal and tea w/sweet cream and sweetener, snacked on fruit or jerky, had lunch of turkey and cheese, snacked on nuts or fruit, and had a delicious dinner with lean meat, veggies, and a pretty large serving of rice or pasta, and still had room for a low cal dessert. I drank plenty of water and didn't feel hungry at all. I am slowly upping my calories now, not because I'm hungry, but because I'm near my goal and wouldn't maintain at 1200 but rather continue losing beyond my goal, which would leave me underweight.I have absolutely no idea how on earth anyone sticks to 1200 calories a day. I would end up eating a body part I would be that hungry. Completely mental.0 -
Hi All, I just started MFP about 10 days ago and based on my level of activity, my NET calories that I should be eating per day works out to 1200. I'm 5'7 and weigh 237 lbs. Maybe I'm not getting this, but it appears that if I ride my bike and burn an additional 500 calories, or do some kind of exercise that burns, I can then eat dinner - just kidding, then my caloric intake goes up to what I consider 1700 to 1800 calories a day (what my nutritionist said I should be eating). Does this mean that if I have one day where I don't exercise, I should restrict myself to 1200 cals per day if I want to continue to stay on track?
Also, at what point (pounds lost) should I reevaluate my caloric intake or adjust it???
Yes - it would be 1200 for non exercise days. Honestly, you can just average things out for the week if that's easier. If you exercise 1400 calories total for the week .. give yourself 200 extra calories each day.
It's all about what you can tolerate ... if 200 isn't enough ... use 300 ... and just lose a little slower (no biggie). Don't torture yourself, besides you might find it gets easier over time.
This is a really good answer. It's all in what you can tolerate. Everyone is different. When you eat at a calorie deficit either big or slight your body does go into a state of flux with hormones and such and it is different for each person. Also each person has their own issues or emotional eating issues or whatever that come into play. Your are tall so you have more room to play with up or down without getting hassled by everyone about eating too low, use that to your advantage.
As you get closer to your goal you will need to taper your calories up and the process becomes much slower (as if it wasn't slow enough to begin with!) But also taper up whenever you get burned out on a deficit. Eating right at maintenance is not backwards if you need the break from the deficit, and it's a better strategy than going crazy and binging.
Your body loses weight in chunks, not linear. I have found that you can do everything right and your weight loss seems to plateau but if you are patient and keep exercising and eating at a deficit (however slight) you will lose it, it will suddenly "whoosh". There are so many variables for the scale; water retention, digestion, hormones, allergies, sodium, carbs, water intake, DOMS, inflammation, the list goes on. People mistakenly think they lose or gain weight when they eat more or less because of these fluctuations.
Losing weight requires tremendous patience. You will not lose it when you want it or where you want it. The body does its thing. Some apparent plateaus can last a month or so. You cannot make it happen faster. You must focus on two things; calories and exercise. Nothing else matters. Scales and metrics don't matter. The day in and day out grind of exercise and calories are all that matters. It is not very exciting until things fall into place. You get your victories and you ride one victory to the next.
The scale is a trend tool. The scale is good but put it away and only check once a week and only use it as a trend tool. It will fluctuate, it does not matter. Take front side and back progress pictures at least once a month. You will see differences that the metrics won't tell you and it's that little bit of NSV that will keep you going until the next victory.
^^^^This is some of the best advice i have EVER read on this site. It is informative, well explained and accurate!!!0 -
I have absolutely no idea how on earth anyone sticks to 1200 calories a day. I would end up eating a body part I would be that hungry. Completely mental.
Right....i an working on adding some size, so 1200 wouldn't work for me either...0 -
Listen to your nutritionist. MFP is a calculator that doesn't know anything about you.0
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I have absolutely no idea how on earth anyone sticks to 1200 calories a day. I would end up eating a body part I would be that hungry. Completely mental.
I found that I adjusted to it pretty quickly. I'm a little concerned that I will have trouble upping my calories if and when I reach my goal weight because I'm so used to it now. Don't want to become anorexic.0 -
#1. read the forum rules.
#2. search forum for 1200 calorie posts.. and eating exercise calories back.
#3. if you find nothing, THEN post.
Im sure you may find SOMETHING about it... maybe one or two posts..
I just read the forum rules. You might want to re-read them yourself, particularly Rule 9:We explicitly allow members to post questions that have been asked previously by other members. If you see a member post a topic that you think has been asked before by another member, please respond politely or simply move on.
OP: When I started I was at about the same BMI that you are. I set my goal to lose two pounds a week and got a similarly low calorie recommendation. It worked for a few weeks, but I felt hungry and deprived all the time. I knew from past experience that this was not going to work for me long-term, so I changed to a pound a week loss and increased my calorie goal to around 1700 calories a day. I am losing a bit more than a pound a week and never feel deprived. I can see myself eating at this level long-term, which is key to keeping the weight off after I lose it. Try to focus on keeping the weight off rather than taking it off fast.
There are a lot of people on here who eat 1200 calories a day (though I would bet most of them are shorter than you are) who will tell you that it is working for them and/or easy for them, but the important thing is that you find a calorie level that works for you. Check out some of the posts that other people who responded have recommended; I think you will find ways to lose weight while not feeling like you are hungry all the time. Good luck to you in whatever you decide.0 -
I am 5'11" and I stuck to a 1265 daily caloric limit for 3 months. I lost 35lbs in those 3 months, so it obviously worked.
Yes, it is not for everyone and YES it will take a huge amount of will power at first. But, you will adjust. And I never felt as if I was about to turn into a zombie and chew a limb off...0 -
OP: When I started I was at about the same BMI that you are. I set my goal to lose two pounds a week and got a similarly low calorie recommendation. It worked for a few weeks, but I felt hungry and deprived all the time. I knew from past experience that this was not going to work for me long-term, so I changed to a pound a week loss and increased my calorie goal to around 1700 calories a day. I am losing a bit more than a pound a week and never feel deprived. I can see myself eating at this level long-term, which is key to keeping the weight off after I lose it. Try to focus on keeping the weight off rather than taking it off fast.
There are a lot of people on here who eat 1200 calories a day (though I would bet most of them are shorter than you are) who will tell you that it is working for them and/or easy for them, but the important thing is that you find a calorie level that works for you. Check out some of the posts that other people who responded have recommended; I think you will find ways to lose weight while not feeling like you are hungry all the time. Good luck to you in whatever you decide.
agree, if 1200 calories wasn't relatively easy for me, i wouldn't do it either.0 -
We have to remember that we eat to live, not live to eat...My mindset was always to eat until I was always stuffed and so miserable that all I could just sit or lay around. That's a problem. Eating 1200 calories a day allows me plenty of everything I NEED to lose weight and be healthy while doing it. You cannot go to a fast food place and eat all of that stuff constantly and expect weight loss. It's a mindset. You have to really work at this. Anything in life worth having is worth working for and that applies with the body too. If you want a good, healthy functioning body then you have to work for it. We are all human and will have not so healthy moments. All I can think of is that I don't want my husband, kids or a caregiver doing everything for me one day because I didn't at least try to improve my chances of being healthy by eating better and exercising. My blood pressure was high and I took medicine for it prior to September. I have lost enough weight so far that I'm off the medication and I'm thrilled about that! I am a major foodaholic and if I can do this- anyone can...I promise!0
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Honestly, 1200 a day is too low for most people. I'm 5'4" and about 130lbs and 1200 is too low for me. Some people are fine with it, but if you're feeling restricted or hungry all the time, you're better off upping your intake. You'll lose weight slower, but you'll be more likely to stick with it and keep the weight off.0
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Go to scooby's calculator (http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/) and use those numbers. Enter in how much you regularly exercise... I'm at 2000 calories/day and that includes 3-5 days/week of moderate exercise but if there is one day I don't exercise, I still get my 2000 cals... With this you dn't eat back your cals, just eat the same amt every day.0
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If someone asks for advice and you have nothing to offer, why reply?0
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A 1200 calorie meal plan is not easy, but it can be done. I found that juicing fresh fruits and vegetables helps to make you feel fuller longer, and the fresh juice is much lower in calories than any juice from the store. A 16oz glass is about 60 calories, and it tastes better than store bought juice.0
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If someone asks for advice and you have nothing to offer, why reply?
Good point.0 -
I want to say this...you're only 10 days in. Going from whatever you did, to a 1200 calorie diet seems ridiculous. But, you're used to over-sized portions, probably. You're used to eating until you're stuffed, probably. You're not used to counting, and measuring, and only eating a little at a time. It takes some adjustment. Actually, it takes a lot of adjustment.
One question I have is I am not sure why you are not just doing what your nutritionist told you to do?0 -
I do 1200 cals on weekdays and up it on the weekends, It works great for me, I am not hungry and if I work out alot I eat back the cals sometimes. I don't know why everyone bashes the 1200 cals.0
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Is this supposed to be ironic?If someone asks for advice and you have nothing to offer, why reply?0 -
1200 calories is crazy and even crazier if you are going to exercise. You will not be able to maintain weight loss at that calorie count. At your weight you most likely burn about 2000 2500 calories just doing nothing. If you are set at having a low intake at least try 1500 but you will find the more you fuel your body with good food choices and the more you exercise 1500 might not cut it either.
I would read the links others provided. Good luck!!0 -
I started MFP about a month ago. I'm 5"1', and starting weight was 178. I wanted to lose 2 lbs. a week. I workout 6 times a week. It put my at 1200 calories. Before starting MFP I was a meal skipper so hitting the 1200 was difficult if I ate healthy but after couple days I began hitting the 1200 calories. After continuing to workout and eat better and hitting at least 1200 with exercise (sometimes I eat back my calories earned and sometimes I don't), I wasn't losing anything... in fact I was gaining. Last week I decided to up my calories to 1300 and eat back at least half my calories earned. On the day I don't exercise, I eat 1300 cals. I've been losing 1.5-2 lbs. a week. I've been watching my fat intake more than anything else and I cut out my flavored creamer and went to fat-free.
I would not have believed it either - but when I upped my calories, I started losing. I wouldn't up them if I wasn't working out - but I think you have to take that into consideration when you counting calories. I would tweak your diet/exercise slightly and stay with it for a week and see what happens. Everyone's body is made up differently so I think you have to find what works best for you and yours.
Good luck.0 -
Listen to your nutritionist. MFP is a calculator that doesn't know anything about you.
This^
I was assigned 1200 calories because I entered sedentary and then entered a goal of 2 pound loss per week. At the time I was 226 pounds and I am knowledgeable enough about my own body to know that 1200 calories is NOT enough. So, I put in 1 pound loss per week. I still changed my own calories to what I want. I started at 1650 at 226, went to 1600 at 220, and then 1550 at 210.. I changed my macros too, which are more important for me than calories. Contrary to what someone else said, as our bodies get smaller we need to consume fewer calories, not more; UNLESS we get increasingly more active as we lose weight.
For 11 weeks, I have averaged a 2 pound weight loss. I am down to losing 0.5 to 1.5 pounds per week now and that is still a really quick weight loss. The way I eat is satisfying and sustainable. Being hungry and battling with food to minimize calories is NOT sustainable imo.0 -
I started MFP about a month ago. I'm 5"1', and starting weight was 178. I wanted to lose 2 lbs. a week. I workout 6 times a week. It put my at 1200 calories. Before starting MFP I was a meal skipper so hitting the 1200 was difficult if I ate healthy but after couple days I began hitting the 1200 calories. After continuing to workout and eat better and hitting at least 1200 with exercise (sometimes I eat back my calories earned and sometimes I don't), I wasn't losing anything... in fact I was gaining. Last week I decided to up my calories to 1300 and eat back at least half my calories earned. On the day I don't exercise, I eat 1300 cals. I've been losing 1.5-2 lbs. a week. I've been watching my fat intake more than anything else and I cut out my flavored creamer and went to fat-free.
I would not have believed it either - but when I upped my calories, I started losing. I wouldn't up them if I wasn't working out - but I think you have to take that into consideration when you counting calories. I would tweak your diet/exercise slightly and stay with it for a week and see what happens. Everyone's body is made up differently so I think you have to find what works best for you and yours.
Good luck.
Good advice in regards to increasing calorie intake.
BUT you don't have to cut the fat. In fact, increasing healthy fat will improve your health, make you feel fuller and more satisfied, and, for me, my high fat diet has resolved a very long list of serious health problems. If you are curious as to how much fat I eat (while experiencing a 2 pound weight loss average for 11 weeks) have a look at my diary. Of course, my success isn't just about the fat, but also about what I don't eat.0 -
I second the "in place of a roadmap" thread. I am 5'3", 233, and eat 1700, more if I work out particularly hard that day. I am losing just fine. There is no reason that you have to starve to lose weight.0
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A life-style change has to realistic and suit you in the long run, so start slow and keep in mind changes do not happen overnight. Start with the calories plan set for "maintain current weight" for a short while, see if you can stick with that little amount of food/calories. If so, slowly ease your body into the calories plan for "lose half pound per week", etc. Set (and commit to!) realistic goals that you can live with is more important than losing 2 lbs per week right off the gate. Good luck and keep it up!0
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