1200 calories = more likely to have problems?

I think it's also important to note what you're eating and not just how many calories. I have no trouble with 1,200 calories a day. I try not to worry about whether I'm eating enough or why I don't feel hungry. I'm losing weight and I feel good so I think I'm doing okay. I only whole grains, fruits and veggies, and proteins like tofu, chicken, and salmon. I eat what I like but I don't eat any processed or prepackaged snacks. For me, I get more bang for my calories with an apple than pretzels. My doctor recommended having at least 15 grams of protein at every meal and to not go for more than 5 hours in between meals, and I find that this really helps me to not get hungry.

1200 cals worked for me for the first few months, but instead of crabbing about my plateau I upped my calories and started losing again. Woohoo! Imagine that!

I did the same thing. One thing people don't get is this:

Depending on your weight and your goal for weight loss, MFP sets your limit at 1200 calories. I am 145 and want to be 135. Goal was set at sedentary (per the advice of many on MFP) and lbs/week was set at 1 lb.
What if we're thinner and just have a few pounds to lose (myself) in order to achieve your goal weight (Which, by the way is not 100 lbs like many...I just want to be back to 135)...so when the goal is set, it's not like we personally enter this information and set it at 1200 calories.

I did try it for a while and, like many, found myself hungry and grumpy all the time....so I upped the calories and I'm feeling better and sticking with my routine. Weight loss is a martathon, not a sprint.

Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha

BTW- in order for me to lose 1lb/week, I have to eat 1200. When I work out I get some back.

to lose .5lb/week I get around 1400. I try to eat between 1200-1400 depending on the day..

Weight loss isn't easy when you don't have much to lose... =/

Which is why it's recommended to switch to a half pound a week when you're as close to your goal as you are.

BTW- in order for me to lose 1lb/week, I have to eat 1200. When I work out I get some back.

to lose .5lb/week I get around 1400. I try to eat between 1200-1400 depending on the day..

Weight loss isn't easy when you don't have much to lose... =/

Which is why it's recommended to switch to a half pound a week when you're as close to your goal as you are.

Definitely. 10lbs to lose and a 250 calorie deficit would be just about right.

I do 1200 and I'm not starving. might be the ones that live off of lettuce:)

Yay!!! Another MFP thread where somebody is claiming to know everything about nothing.

I think most of you understood what I was trying to say.

For the others that are insistent that 1200 is the *only* way to accomplish your goals...if you ultimately reach and maintain, then awesome. No, really...congrats. However, if it doesn't work out for you, don't give up entirely. Instead, reconsider your conclusion that 1200 is the *only* path. (In the words of a wise old philosopher, "There is another.")

I don't have much to add because for me due to size and weight 1700 a day is 2lbs a week and I've been losing it faster, and lots of inches......................

I just got excited by the Star Wars reference there. That is all.

Just thought I would chime in and agree with the original post as well. I am 5'4" and 138... three pounds from goal. I have broken every plateau by increasing my calories and am actually still losing at 2100 per day. I work out pretty consistsantly and from the very beginning of this process I have never netted below 1500 with a typical intake of 2000-2500. The best part? I am not cranky at all. I can easily fit in holidays, parties and unexpected meals out. It has been a completely doable lifestyle change and will be soooooo EASY to maintain. I am currently expirimenting with how high I can go until I maintain. Fingers crossed for 2500!!!

I think most of you understood what I was trying to say.

For the others that are insistent that 1200 is the *only* way to accomplish your goals...if you ultimately reach and maintain, then awesome. No, really...congrats. However, if it doesn't work out for you, don't give up entirely. Instead, reconsider your conclusion that 1200 is the *only* path. (In the words of a wise old philosopher, "There is another.")

1200 isn't the only way, but it is a good way for some. I doubt I ate much more than 1200 net while losing. I really don't know because I was not counting calories. But once I joined MFP I wasn't eating about that. And I lost approx. 2 lbs per week. Then the loss slowed but I still lost beyond my original goal without even trying. I've maintained it for 1.5 years.

i found it very hard at first....but i think gradually it does get better. ive actually been at a drive thru with my kids and not ordered anything for myself because i wasnt hungy or i had healthier dinner at home. of course i do have bad days and i want to eat everything in sight but id say on a day to day basis once u get used to it, its not so hard.

It's not necessarily the calorie count's problem specifically; it's that the majority of the people who are having problems those same repeat problems haven't done much research -- they just think MFP is a magic formula. They type in the numbers and follow it and see what they want. It is connected to a number of problems: people who are already quite trim trying to lose very fast, people who are still fairly overweight but don't know how to read their fluctuations, people who don't understand how to build their calories in a healthy way but only know how to cut, cut, cut.

It's a bit of a case of "didn't read the fine print."

Plenty of people use the 1200 calorie as a base line and do quite well. But the majority of "I have a problem" threads come down to lack of research, IMO.

Totally agree.. It's the magic pill. Just come here put in some numbers get an answer. Not too many people will actually read more than that. The problem with MFP is that they have a very limited way to 'estimate' how many calories you get. If you chose to lose '2 lbs/week' It gives EVERYONE 1200 calories (almost). There is so much information available, and so few people even bother to look at it.

Still. I think the big problem is people think they can achieve sustained weightloss goals without exercise.

You can lose weight fine without exercising. Exercise is for general health and body composition - has nothing to do with weight loss. Not everyone is capable of 'working out' some people take small walks, some don't do anything. I agree that some exercise will help you to lose weight but from what I see there are far too many individuals who thing they have to do everything, cut out everything and exercise like mad..and because they are not eating to fuel all that mad exercise they lose nothing..Get the diet under control first..THEN worry about other stuff.

How to be successful on MFP...

1. Calculate your numbers, do your research, find out what you should be eating.
2. TRACK your food..everything - even if you go over, just get in the habit of tracking. Don't stress about anything else.
3. Once you have your tracking going then start looking at your food and deciding what you can change to make it a 'little' better. Don't try to completely re-vamp your whole diet. Just change one or 2 things. buy a scale if you don't have one.
4. Keep tracking and changing little things until you can manage to stay in your allotment without any problems and THEN maybe worry about adding activities. Don't feel you have to work out 7 days a week. Start small, go for a walk, do something you LIKE and if you are on a plan which requires you to eat more when you exercise then do so.
5. Just keep going, changing LITTLE things here and there

I don't understand why anyone would want to eat 1200 cals. It seems like snacking all day and not real meals.

Word.

To ya mutha.

I haven't had too much of a problem doing this but then again I have always been the guy who eats really slow small meals and does that a couple times a day. I just spread all my food out and make sure to put fruits and veggies in there and it keeps me full and happy. I have cravings for more food every now and then but I just convince myself that it isn't actual hunger and just be wanting to indulge.