1200, and why it won't work

Great post! I was struggling at 1200 and just recently upped my calories. After reading all the science and many articles, I think I have discovered my problem

Perfect timing. I am struggling with perhaps a totally different problem than some others here. I had gastric bi-pass in 2004 and went from almost 300 lb. down to 180 lbs. I managed to keep most of it off until last year when I fell and tore the ligaments in my knee. After micro fracture surgery I spent two months in a wheelchair and gained back to 234 lb. I started this program the 4th of January and due to hypertension and borderline diabetes, I also eliminated all sugar and artificial sweeteners including all carbonated beverages and also processed foods. I have literally become a totally different person. I cannot recall ever in my life feeling like I had control over my own body like I do now. My energy level has stayed through the roof every single day and my family is completely shocked, almost as much as I am at how different I feel. However, even though the 1200 calories of food is not a problem, I am actually struggling to continuously having to tweak my daily menus to add more food as I work out more. I am doing stretching everyday, the treadmill twice a day for 20-30 minutes and light weight training to build upper body strength every two or three days. I have lost 7 lbs. so far and I have no illusions I will lose more than a pound or so a week which is fine. I guess the biggest issue I have is that in order to get all the extra calories (after today's workout I am supposed to be eating an additional 700 calories above the 1200 programmed) I have set myself up on 6 smaller meals rather than three meals and a snack. I rarely can finish a meal and in the evening, I have little room for the evening snack. I am just never hungry. I know I am probably not getting enough to eat compared to how much I am exercising and I am really concerned I am "starving" my body by not eating enough. Anyone have suggestions?

Nicely put. Thank you for posting.

I really needed to hear this!!! I lost weight on Jenny craig in 2007 before I had my son. they had me on 1500 untill half way and then 1200. then they told me I would need to stay on that to maintain. I really didnt struggle on the 1200 while I was eating meals that were planed for me, but trying to do it on my own was another story. So I did reach my goal and then became pregnant right after and gained it back during and after my pregnancy. So now I am at it again but I really have read so much that suggests starting pretty high in calories and then droping them gradulally. You really laid it out and what I got from it is the only way people will maintain is to eat where they can eat forever once they reach their goal. My question is do you think that there is a certain way that people should get their calories of does it really come down to calories in calories out. I know you cant eat candy bars all day but say if you eat some bad choices as long as you stay in your calorie range will you still lose?

Ok. So I'm curretly doing the 1200 calories and it is not working. I worked out for 4 months cycling 5-6 days a week burning 350-400 calories (per my heart rate monitor) and i only lost 5 lbs. My doctor put me at 1200, told me not to eat my exercise calories back and put me on a pill to help me stay at 1200. I'm currenlty trying to figure out what I should do. I'm 43 year old femail about 5'2" and currently at 210 lbs. Current goal is to loose 25 lbs. but ultimatly I want to loose 100 lbs.

I do not know your medical history or if you have any medical conditions, however, you may want to consult a dietitian and maybe find a new physician.

Secondly, knowing what your actual TDEE is of importance as this is where you can create your calorie deficit. Usually 15-20% below TDEE.

Take a look at this link. It offers great information and can offer some understanding. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/804485-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12?page=4

Thanks for the link. I just calculated my calories based on this link. Very eye opening. The calcs for Sedentary alone say I should be up to 1330 and with light activity up to 1596. So, I'm gonna increase my calories slowly along with my exercise intensity as aelunyu suggest.

Thanks Guys!!!

This post is phenomenal. Which model do you use for BMR and TDEE calculations? This is where my problem seems to lie. I get so many different answers that I'm just not sure how much to eat!

^ Same issue!

Please review this to aid in your questions! It offers great information and advice! http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/804485-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12?page=4

Did that. They show the 2 different ones which are literally over 1000 cals/day different. Hence my confusion!

I personally think that the calorie deficit should come from your actual TDEE (usually taking 250-300 calories from your TDEE to create the deficit.)
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Okay, I am just trying to get an understanding on this. So if my TDEE is 2005, then I should in intaking around 1705 calories daily, plus eating back those that I burn during exercise? I'm just trying to make sure that I understand it and am going in the right direction lol

No, if you use a deduction from TDEE, you don't eat exercise calories back as they should be figured in to your TDEE. Unless you figured it at sedentary. If you did, go back and run the numbers again with your workouts figured in.

Excellent post. Thanks!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
MFP has me on like 1900 a day, before exercise; and my grandma looked at my app and told me it was wrong and I needed to eat 1200.
I tried it. For a day. Doesn't work. I'm still so hungry after 1200 a day.