is 1200 calories/day really enough?

I eat 1500 calories no matter what (whether I exercise or not) lost over a pound a week (averaged out) in the 3 months I have been working on it)

I am 5'3 and started out at 185. I have been working hard to lose 60 lbs for 3 months now with a 1200 calorie diet. I have lost 29 lbs to date. It's not just about losing weight, it's about being healthier overall and making a life style change. You MUST commit to watching what you eat! That's not to say you can't still enjoy junk food from time to time, in moderation, you will be fine. Stick to serving sizes with everything you eat. My Dr. told me that your main course at dinner time should be no bigger than the palm of your hand and your veggie portion should be double that. It's been hard to be so disciplined, but it is getting easier. I have a very physical labor job and always burn my daily allowance of calories. I also don't eat my earned calories most of the time. Just cut down on the junk, for example, have 1 or 2 cookies instead of 4 or 5. It's all about personal discipline and commitment. Eat healthier and you will be healthier! Keep up the good work

Hi there, i am also on 1200 calories diet and i find it very easy to stick with it.

I sometimes find 1200 calories to be enough...




....for dinner!


Go to the first post in this thread, do the calculations, and enjoy losing weight without starving yourself and screwing your body up:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

Ditto, I'm following IPOARM and losing lots of inches.

I'm on 1200 and it's fine by me.
I am still eating heaps, it all depends on WHAT you eat! I am learning fast that some small meals can be calorie rich, where some large meals can be calorie poor. It is all about educating yourself on food - I ate chocolate all week (along with veggies) and STILL lost a kilo, no extra exercise.
(1kg = 2.2lb)

any advice about how you overcame this problem?

My wife is also on the 1200 calorie goal and finds it hard to stick by, too. I'm a guy and standing 6' and began this program at just under 210 pounds, but with my goals and body type, I'm still on a 1500 calorie a day goal. It's hard some days, but on most days I net well under that.

I think that it's very important to have a "free day" - a day where you just kinda blow off the diet and eat what you want, but don't go overboard (it is very possible to kill a weeks worth of exercise and dieting in a day). I decided to make my free days on Friday, because I just feel like coming home from work, relaxing and eating delicious food for the rest of the day before going into the weekend. if you have this free day, it makes staying within your calorie goal for the rest of the week much easier I have found, plus you have something to look forward to during the rest of the week.

Another thing, after you stick to your daily calorie goal for a few weeks, your stomach does "shrink" and get used to less food.

Good luck!

I have found that pre-logging (logging my food for the day ahead of time) helps me avoid going over a low calorie goal.

I sometimes find 1200 calories to be enough...




....for dinner!


Go to the first post in this thread, do the calculations, and enjoy losing weight without starving yourself and screwing your body up:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

Seriously.

I'm not exaggerating either. I'm a woman, I'm short, I'm not abnormally active, I have a desk job, and I have a thyroid problem. I have all the major excuses. But on big workout days I can easily have a 1200+ cal dinner. Disclaimer though- I do save my calories to backload the day. I like to eat in the evenings. I lost most of my weight at 1650+exercise. I'm nearing maintenance, so I've slowed to 1950 now.

If that's your net calories then it might be enough, but if you're talking gross calories then I don't think so, unless you're a chihuahua with internet access.

Read up http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

No

It's not that hard at all in fact. Just make better choices.




Sorry but I'd shoot myself if I went anywhere near 300 cals for the day. That's how I got fat in the 1st place.

To each their own. I'd be threatening to shoot myself on your diet, too. I get why you'd say that. It's a seratonin problem, most likely.

It's not that hard at all in fact. Just make better choices.




Sorry but I'd shoot myself if I went anywhere near 300 cals for the day. That's how I got fat in the 1st place.

huh?:huh:

Lack of energy from a VLC diet so couldn't manage to type an extra 0 I think.

Amazing though how many people just assume (even with looking at my diary) that I eat 300 cals a day...... trolls come back out to play I guess.

Amazing though how many people just assume (even with looking at my diary) that I eat 300 cals a day...... trolls come back out to play I guess.

They are trying to tell you that you give out bad advice. Have a cookie.

To the OP, any plan that you can't stick to is a bad plan. 1200 is probably too little for you. You are going to need to teach yourself to create a deficit and maintain a deficit from your TDEE for weight loss. First thing is to calculate it. See the link posted. Then eat 10% less ON AVERAGE per week and see how much loss that generates. Stick to it for at least two weeks before making any adjustments.
Consistency is important - it isn't about dieting, it is about learning to live in a healthy way. Find an activity that you enjoy and do it.
Get good at it. Make it a life plan.
And going over at 3000 for a day? It does not matter in the long run of things, if you are generally consistent, one splurge every once in a while won't kill you despite what sad-pants above says about "shooting yourself". How awful and what bad advice.
Really, stick to something realistic and you'll have a great loss, fitness and a great life.

Good luck!

I have my ups and downs.. today I ate a ton more than I should've (not healthy choices at dinner or snack...eek) but I am a bit concerned 1200 calories/day without exercise is too low?
Maybe I am not trying hard enough. I normally exercise quite a bit and I'll eat my calories I burned so I eat maybe 1500 or so. but I also GO WAY OVER my calories, particularly on days when I do not exercise. I'm all over the map!!!!! ughhhhhhhhh I ate over 3000 calories today...but I did not make healthy choices and did not exercise today.

Is anyone else finding 1200 calories really difficult to stay around? I end up pigging out on junk at the end of the day which (as you can see in my diary...) completely ruins my hard work eating better earlier in the day.

any advice about how you overcame this problem?

Eat nutrient dense, calorie light foods - way more low sugar fruits and non starchy vegetables than you are eating, really stuff yourself with these at each meal and snack. Whilst bananas are healthy, for the same calories you could eat nine 80g to 100g servings of fruits and veggies in the full rainbow of colours for the same amount of sugar. Your body needs vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and essential fatty acids for optimum health, energy production and a strong metabolism.

And fewer items with brand names and ingredients, protein and healthy fats confer satiety, a bagel and cereal bar or does not. I don't see oily fish and only very limited other healthy fats, may of your meals are are carb heavy and protein light so get lean protein into each meal and snack. Keep processed/ junk/ sugary stuff down to no more than 10% of daily calories which is one small snack.