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try setting it to lose half a pound a week

I tried to start at 1200 in the beginning too. It was an exercise in frustration. It's not enough, and in the future if you need to create a deficit in calories you have no where to go. I used a calorie calculator (I think there is one on MFP but I googled one) to figure out how many calories I was using just to basically live a day. I think it was 2300 for me. From there I arbitrarily chose 1800 calories. I went to the gym 6 days a week. Tried to eat clean. Did not eat my calories back. In three months I had lost about 25 lbs. Then the weight loss slowed down. I continued going to the gym. Saw a PT a few times changed my exercise routine. Added circuit training and weights and fitness classes to push me. Continued to eat clean as much as possible and lowered my calories to 1500 daily. Still not eating exercise calories back. I did that for two months and kept everything else the same except lowered calories to 1350 per day. That's as low as I will go, I think. Still eating clean as much as I can. And now occasionally eating back some exercise calories. I average 2 lbs lost per week since I started, and have lost 51 lbs this way. I'm pretty sure I was having 3000 calories days, so even 1800 was a huge improvement. I chose 55% carbs, 30% fat, and 15% protein. I mostly stay within that but carbs are sometimes high. Hope this helps. It's not exactly a scientifically proven answer, but it worked for me! Oh, and I talked to a nutritionist too. I didn't agree with all her thoughts, but she had some really good ideas.

I always keep mine at 1200 a day. In 14 months, I've lost 81 lbs and feel a whole lot better!

First, I make sure that I eat filling foods. For example, I get more on my plate if I have 50 calories worth of carrots than if I have 50 calories of butter. Personally, I still eat carbs, but in much smaller portions. And, I add veggies to them, such as cauliflower mixed with a serving of pasta covered with sauce makes a decent meal.

Second, I don't always count the calories for all my non-starchy veggies. I like Weight Watchers' philosophy of veggies being "free" foods. On the other hand, I definitely count anything I add to veggies. For example, I make great baked zucchini sticks. So, I count the calories for the breading.

Third, exercise. It doesn't have to be anything strenuous at first. Walking is a wonderful way to burn calories AND know that you're doing something good for yourself. Walk for half an hour and you'll get another 100 calories or so (depending on your weight and the speed at which you walked). But, even walking at a leisurely pace (like shopping) will earn you extra calories.

Fourth, treat yourself. Every day, I have something yummy. My current favorite is the "Lil Drumstick" ice cream cone by Nestle. Just 120 calories for a nice treat (that's usually how I spend some of the extra calories I earned by walking).

Hi! My goal is also 1200 a day. At first I thought...hell no!!! But once I found new foods I enjoyed that I could eat with meals or snacks I found it wasn't so hard. I ate more than I ever had before in the weight loss game and wasn't hungry. I started by going to the store and not buying "diet" foods, but buying foods that were healthy and that I knew I liked. Then I'd try an occasional new item, some made the grade others not. I found as long as I had variety it worked well,oh, and it was ok to eat a cookie if I wanted. You can do it!

Mine says I should be at 1420 a day to lose 1 pound a week. I find myself going over by just a tiny bit once or twice a week. But I chose to adjust it to 1/2 pound a week, and now it gives me 1600 a day. Now I'm almost always under, because I rarely even want to eat 1600 a day. Except for this week, of course.