Better Results with 1200 calories a or 1500 calories a day?

There is no one set calorie goal that will work for everyone. You need to figure out your own TDEE. I eat around 1600-1800 calories (2000-2200 on high cal burn days) and I'm 5'1.

If you want, check out this link by MFPer Heliotsdan - It'll give you a detailed walkthrough (with pictures even) on finding your TDEE and calculating what you should be eating.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

Or for a different version to figure out your TDEE, as well as some great advice...check out:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/833500-what-do-i-do-common-sense-cliff-notes
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/844040-raspberry-ketones-for-the-rest-of-us


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: (Read all the stickies. It's great information to know.)
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/865230-resources-and-references


For those eating below their BMR (which I think 1200 is below your BMR to be honest), not going to preach at you, but here's something you might want to look at:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/81391-starvation-mode-myths-and-science
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/859495-if-only-i-had-known?page=1#posts-12919931


Yes, this is can all be overwhelming and complicated , but you are more than welcome to ask questions on the post.
One of the things that I have found that has been one of the best methods for me to get fit is to understand fitness. To understand where all these figures, etc come from.

The good thing is once you get the hang of it - it is something you'll be aware of constantly and you'll get a better understanding about your eating habits.

So I HIGHLY suggest making the effort to take every chance to educate yourself. Even if you don't end up going with any of these methods, calculations, etc - at least you understand what they are, where others are coming from, and maybe they will still be able to help you figure out what is best for you.

I'm sorry but 1,200 is going to be too low for anyone who ACTUALLY needs to lose weight. Let's put it this way, a 20 year old who weighs 100 pounds and is 5'2" needs to eat 1200 a day to LOSE weight....

I've been circling the 1,200 mark for the past three weeks and have had no result at all, (apart from an initial loss (in one day) of 2kg, which was probably water weight) even with exercise!! i'm 21 and weigh 110kg, over 17 stone!

Before dieting i was sedentary, ate lots of yummy BIG plates of roast dinners, pork (the good stuff thats 800 calories a serving), chinese takeaways, full fat cheese, super noodles, garlic bread, litres of full fat coke.. I would say an average day was easily over 3,000 calories. So you would think i'd be shedding the weight as easy as breathing!!

I'm now upping my calories to just under 1,500.. will see how things go.

There is no one set calorie goal that will work for everyone. You need to figure out your own TDEE. I eat around 1600-1800 calories (2000-2200 on high cal burn days) and I'm 5'1.

If you want, check out this link by MFPer Heliotsdan - It'll give you a detailed walkthrough (with pictures even) on finding your TDEE and calculating what you should be eating.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

Or for a different version to figure out your TDEE, as well as some great advice...check out:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/833500-what-do-i-do-common-sense-cliff-notes
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/844040-raspberry-ketones-for-the-rest-of-us


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: (Read all the stickies. It's great information to know.)
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/865230-resources-and-references


For those eating below their BMR (which I think 1200 is below your BMR to be honest), not going to preach at you, but here's something you might want to look at:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/81391-starvation-mode-myths-and-science
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/859495-if-only-i-had-known?page=1#posts-12919931


Yes, this is can all be overwhelming and complicated , but you are more than welcome to ask questions on the post.
One of the things that I have found that has been one of the best methods for me to get fit is to understand fitness. To understand where all these figures, etc come from.

The good thing is once you get the hang of it - it is something you'll be aware of constantly and you'll get a better understanding about your eating habits.

So I HIGHLY suggest making the effort to take every chance to educate yourself. Even if you don't end up going with any of these methods, calculations, etc - at least you understand what they are, where others are coming from, and maybe they will still be able to help you figure out what is best for you.

Holy crap, that covers everything
/thread

:laugh: I was thinking the same thing. My puny little answer seems very. . . small. . . in comparison.

cheese grater. works every time.

I am doing 1200 and have lost 3lbs per week.
It can be hard to stick to 1200 if you are not eating sensibly but I find that I am pretty full after every meal and sometimes I have a hard time actually reaching the 1200 goal.
It also leaves me not feeling so bad if I go over 50 cals or so.

One personal side note. I had greater weight loss and fat loss doing 2500-2700 calories than I ever did at 1800 calories. I plateaued quickly on 1800 calories. Went 3 months without losing weight or body fat.

I am doing the 1200calories and finding it hard to eat it all. Not sure if it is because I am eating healthy, I only eat whole foods, no sugar, no bread. And I am usually under so it allows for some snacking for me, I have mostly salads with a squeeze of lemon for the dressing, tuna, salmon or chicken, but I do have whole milk with my oats and barley, as well as greek-yoghurt on my salad. I have fruit salad with greek-yoghurt as well. Last night I went to a BBQ and so I worked out extra knowing it would be tempting. Well I did alright, except for the cheese platter! So I hit 2000 cal but like I said I had worked for it, maybe not how it should work, but I think cheese is easier to burn than crisps! Plus I had a glass of wine. I lost 7pounds in 10 days I haven't weighed myself today, but I started about 14 days ago on MFP . I think I eat more now than i use to but that is because I was eating poorly, like a packet of noodles would be a meal for me before. A lot of the food choices are also low GI so I do feel fuller longer, and I am actually leaving food on my plate which I found hard to do in the past - I grew up with, 'think of all the starving children' My snacks are usually cheese (mm) and crackers Or fruit. The first 5 days I didn't see any weight shift which was not very motivating, but I kept thinking, I feel better, I don't have any aches and I feel energised, so I kept going. I have been reading the forums about TDEE but I don't fully understand it but one day I might talk to someone who does and can help me grasp it, because it seems a lot of people use it, But for now 1200 is working for me, I sometimes eat my calories earned from exercising other times I don't because I couldn't eat anymore!

1510 here plus eat back workout cals.. thing is, I can't make all those calories.. I mostly eat around 1400..on occasion, I go over...

I'm pretty small and extremly physicaly active. I've been doing 1200 a day and am losing weight at a slow steady pace. (.5 to 1 lb a week) I judge how many claories I need by the guidelines on this site and how I feel. If I'm truely hungry I eat even if I have consumed all my calories. For me, the trick is knowing when I am actually hungry or just want to graze.