5'3" ladies and 1200 calories

I'm 5'1 and I tried the whole 1000-1200 thing for a couple years about. I lost weight on it but than stalled...not only that, I ended up becoming very deficient in many nutrients because I cut back so drastically. I actually ended gaining some weight back because I had just reached the point where I started really going on binges and also am suffering from the effects of not having enough things in my diet like protein, etc.

Currently, I'm eating 1600 calories and still losing I don't usually eat my exercise calories back unless I do a 700+ burn - than I 'll eat some of them back.

I can tell you I have soooo much more energy now than I did on 1200. I could barely get through a 30 minute workout without feeling exhausted and lethargic. I thought it was because I was so out of shape but it wasn't. Now, I can do really high cal burns for 45+ min and still feel "peppy" after it

I would suggest checking out the link another poster put up:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

It'll give you a detailed walkthrough (with pictures even) on finding your TDEE and calculating what you should be eating.

Also, if you are worried about the calorie intake, I also suggest you read this thread that has numerous people who met their goals and are maintaining. Some for years and they also provide their calorie intake and how often they work out.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/816542-let-s-hear-it-for-maintainenance



For more information about fitness and nutrition, I highly suggest checking out and joining this group:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress

Read all the stickies. It's great information to know.

chances are your bmr is over 1200. calculate your tdee, and go by that. 1200 really isn't necessary. i am 5'4", i can lose on 1500. i don't eat anywhere near that much, but if you are having a hard time on 1200, as long as you are putting out more than you are taking in, you will be fine

I am 5'1.75" and I have done the 1200 calories for about 5 months. And just recently upped them to 1320 only because I have lost 30 lbs and find that its harder to get the weight to come off now that I am getting closer to my goal. I think you need to experiment with the calories and do what is best for you. It all has to do with body type, age and how your feeling and what works for you.

Don't listen to everyone else do what you need to do to be successful or you will drive yourself nuts or let everyone on here who thinks they have the answer drive you nuts.

Good luck :flowerforyou:

I'm 5'2" and weight loss slowed down to a crawl for me at 1200 calories a day. I did a search on my BMR and ~1400 calories a day has been great. It's too cold to walk outside much and the holidays made it difficult to get to the gym regularly for the last month but the 1400ish calories a day has produced a dependable 1lb a week loss.

I am 5' 3" and when I was trying to lose weight (30lbs ago) 1200 calories didn't work for me and that was WITH eating back exercise calories. I was tired all the time and didn't lose anything. When I bumped up to 1600 with eating back calories that is where I lost weight. I now maintain at 1800-2200 depending on how active I am that day

I'm 5'3" and I'm on day 4 of the 1200 calorie diet. I'm freaking starving! Of course after only 4 days I haven't seen results, but I have been so cranky and tired all 4 days. This isn't going to work for me, a busy mom of 2 kids. I can feel my body going into starvation mode. My stomach has never growled louder! I'm thinking that I'll have to work out more so that I can eat more...

im 5'1" and i have a 1200 calorie diet. and its actually not that difficult as long as u avoid the take out and make sure to cook at home. and as long as u plan a head and watch what u eat u normally wont have to exercise much, ive lost 22lbs with like almost NO exercise just by watching what i eat. good luck

I am! I eat between 1200-1600 calories but lean more towards the 1200 calories...

Jillian Michaels was on Dr. Oz and she recommended 1200 for women and 1600 for men.

She recommended a minimum of 1200 and no lower, you can definitely go higher. I'm 5'2" and am having success with 1350 and eating back about half of my calories.

I'm this height and eat about 1700 a day and lose currently. I think about 10 pounds on MFP and 15 before, so 25 in 2012. I don't eat back my workout calories, IF I work out, which I don't do enough of haha. I did 1200 cals for awhile and could just never stick to it consistently and felt cruddy. I did lose weight but it wasn't maintainable for me long term. So I lose weight if I eat 1200... lose weight if I eat 1600-1700... You can guess which I chose, haha.

I am not really at the point of any achievement, but I have been to a lot of WW meetings and do know what to do. My issue is my stress level...so I have not been sucessful.

BUT if you are eating your 1200, moving and drinking all your fluids, and not losing....you should try increasing your calories....you body may be haning onto everything because it feels starved. When people plateau or generally don't have sucess normally when they increase they see a loss. The extra food fuels the metabolism and gets it working faster.

I know it sounds odd but eat back your exercise cals and see what happens. Also, I know when you eat 5-6 meals that works best too. Like having a little fire in you.....keep adding kidling and it keeps burning faster. Give it a try. I am not sure if you have ever noticed....being good for a week, then having a bad day then you loose 2 pounds. That is why the higher calories in boosted your metabolism and burned more.

I have started my journey again, I have to loose close to 100. I have been really good since starting and don't have scale in the house so I am going to just weight in at ww each week and see how I do. I use myfitness pal to track everything using the scanner and then at the end of the day or as I go I convert all my food over to my points.

Again, I am not speaking from sucess right now, but with years of trying I have learned a fair bit....just have to get the emotional side working, the brain.

Anyways give it a whirl I think you will see a difference, especially with water.

This anything over 1800 I wont lose, I think my amount is about 1500 only thing is its so hard to eat such a small amount of calories... im really struggling with my cals right now...

Am 5'3.5 and I eat around 1600 calories day. I do not eat back my workout calories, but if I have large burn, then I may eat about 100 calories or so. I started at 1200 calories and I did lose 30 pounds at first, but then my weight loss eventually slowed down. I tried eating about 1800-1900 when people told me I should eat more, but I GAINED so much weight that I jumped off that train, lol.

It took me a while, but it seems that 1600 calories is the best calorie level for me. I have been losing weight when I increased to 1600. The thing is that everyone is very different and what works for one may not work for others. Therefore, you may have to play around with your calories to see what works for you. Good luck.

I started MFP last Feb. It set my calories at 1200. I am 5'2. I wasnt aware you could change the amount MFP sets. When I first started 1200 was hard. But I lost weight quickly. Now slow moving weight off. Maybe I should try to up the calories. Problem is I am forcing self to now even eat the 1200. Usually 200-300 short.

Calculate your BMR and TDEE. I am able to eat about 1550 cals a day and still lose at a good pace. I exercise 4 times a week and typically don't eat my calories back, although if I'm particularly hungry I will eat some of them back.