any 1200 calorie success stories?

1…45679

Replies

  • HRLaurie614
    HRLaurie614 Posts: 260 Member
    I'm just under 5'1". When I first started here, I weighed 114 and my BMR was 1209. I was roughly the same level as i went down a few lbs. I weighed myself this morning...108.6. I redid my numbers and one site had my BMR at 1202 another at 1199....one one calc at 1150, I believe. I just aim to net 1200. I do sometimes have a hard time, but that's my goal. I eat back some, but not all of my exercise cal. Looking to lose .5-1lb a week and I only have about 4 more lbs to go, so it's a bit slow.
  • Dolci07
    Dolci07 Posts: 37 Member
    I am netting 1200 a day right now, but in no way could I keep this up long term. I do it every once and awhile to give me motivation when the weight is coming off slowly. I lose weight very quickly when I do it this way, it is just really hard for me to cut back that. much.
  • HSingMomto7Kids
    HSingMomto7Kids Posts: 345 Member
    I did 1200 calories before getting pregnant and that's how i lost weight. Depends on everyones body weight.
  • dewsmom78
    dewsmom78 Posts: 498 Member
    I am 34, 5'2, 134lbs and have been eating my TDEE - 20% (which is about 1500 calories per day), for over a month and have not lost a pound. I am also doing JM Body Revolution 4 times per week and running the other 2 days, with 1 rest day a week. According to everything I've read, I should be losing about 1lb a week. Nope, it's not happening.

    I am deciding to drop my calories down to 1200 and see if that will finally get me to lose a few pounds. When I was at my pre-baby weight last year of 125lbs, I maintained my weight very easily at 1200 calories per day with little exercise.

    I totally agree that 1200 works for a lot of people. Everyone's metabolism is different. I tried to follow the advice of eating above BRM or 20% below TDEE. It's not working for me. Time to try something different.
  • VeinsAndBones
    VeinsAndBones Posts: 550 Member
    XD Well unless you plan on eating 1200 a day every day for the rest of your life, good luck!! (That is of course your not 3'0 and completely sedentary)
  • Siege_Tank
    Siege_Tank Posts: 781 Member
    The question I have is: if you CAN eat more than 1200 calories/day and still lose weight, why wouldn't you?

    Because the difference is in how long it takes to lose the weight.

    I *can* lose a pound a month, but why would anyone settle for that??
  • bwnorton
    bwnorton Posts: 100 Member
    My entire program has been based around the 1200 calorie a day diet. I've had no stall outs. I suffeer no lack of energy. And, I'm not starving all the time.

    Here's my take on all this. We really don't know what our BMR is, unless we sign up for an indirect calorimetry test at a pulmonology lab. Even then, we really don't know how many calories your walk or hrm is over-estimating based on your age. So, it's one guess followed by another.

    I use a scale to weigh my food. And, I take into consideration that I do cardio 5 times a week. If I go over my calories, I don't lose as fast. So far, it's been a steady 1-2 pounds a week.

    I'm 49 and sit at a desk all day. When I looked at my calorie burn, it was slightly better than being comatose.

    Personally, I let the measuring tape, scale, dumbbells and bicycle be my guide. My waist is down to 33 on the tape measure, and I'm able to ride 15 miles in an hour on my favorite bike trail.

    In a few weeks, I am on maintenance. So, I'll have to make sure I stop losing weight and work on keeping the weight off.
  • sb4480
    sb4480 Posts: 199 Member
    Yep, 1200 and occasionally less than 1200 calories works just fine for me. I get plenty to eat and I'm definitely not hungry or starving myself. Now, I wouldn't suggest eating two 600 calorie muffins and calling it a day, but you can eat fruit, veggies, cheese, eggs, grains, or really, anything you like in moderate portions. Granted, some people need more than 1200 calories and I think a lot of it depends on your genetic makeup, your physical activity, etc., but others do just fine and are very well satisfied with their 1200 caloric intake.

    I don't skip meals and I eat my fair share of snacks. I just happen to 'like' a lot of the low cal foods. For example, I am perfectly content eating an entire can of green beans with half a pat of real butter and a dash of salt & pepper which comes to about 83 calories total. Add in a delicious Morningstar Farms Veggie Sausage Patty on top of half of a homemade, lightly buttered biscuit, and for dessert, a container of Activia 60 calorie yogurt and a juicy Cuties clementine and that entire meal is roughly 354 calories.

    A grilled cheese sandwich, using Aunt Millie's Light Wholegrain Bread @ 35 calories a slice and a slice of Kraft Cheese @ 45 calories, an entire pat of real butter, spread thinly on each slice of bread, and *GASP* half a can of Baby Coke, and you're looking at 171 calories of delicious. Accompany the sandwich with a bowl of veggie or tomato soup and you have a filling, satisfying meal.

    My snacks include string cheese, apples, bananas, yogurt, nuts, hard boiled eggs, popsicles, fudgesicles, fresh fruit in season, yummy protein bars...lots of tasty things. In short, I can munch all day, depriving myself of nothing, and still stay within that 1200 calorie range.

    So, to all the 1200 calorie naysayers, I say "Come on over and spend the day with me! I guarantee you will not go home hungry and you will be shocked by the amount of food there is in 1200 calories!"

    Great post to show how much one can eat at 1200 cals/day. I bet you'd see even better results if you replaced the canned and processed (canned green beans and Kraft cheese?) with fresh/frozen and "whole" versions.
  • squatsandlipgloss
    squatsandlipgloss Posts: 595 Member
    I've eaten 1,200 calories for about 3 months and lost approx. 25 lbs doing it. Surely it works, but then I stalled, upped it to 1,500 and lost more.

    It works, but it is nice knowing that you can eat more and still lose ;)
  • jlfoster0427
    jlfoster0427 Posts: 86
    Everyones body is a little different. I couldn't really lose anything at 1200 calories. I was just miserable and putting on pounds here and there. I was only trying to lose a about 20 lbs and im sure if that had anything to do with it or not. I bumped it up to about 1450 and have been losing a half pound or more a week just like I wanted. Im not nearly as hungry, miserable and sleepy. I have heard some people lose at 1200 calories just fine. You just have to give it a try and if you don't see any difference try upping it a bit and try that. Its a bit of a guessing game at first sadly. Good Luck
  • Diamond05
    Diamond05 Posts: 475 Member
    Bump to read.
  • Liz_Mfp
    Liz_Mfp Posts: 172 Member
    At 5'4 and a normal weight, the average woman's BMR is 1200,
  • Divamomma
    Divamomma Posts: 66 Member
    Hi When I got pregnant with my 1st baby I was 195lbs by the end of pregnancy I was 225lbs I wanted a healthier life style I started going to the gym 1 hr 3-5 days a week with him in stroller while I worked out I was eating healthier lost 9lbs in 2 months but I was still flustered I got stuck at 180lbs so I called my doctor who recommend 1200 calories a day & I Got On Mfp These wonderful people on here help me get started & encouraged me on my journey I really started watching what I was eating I started sept 12 2011 by mach I was down to 167 lbs 33lbs lost then I found out I was pregnant again with our daughter- so it was a wonderful gift all around I was at a much healthier weight for 2nd pregnancy & I ate Healthier this time around Now I'm Back Hope This Helps & encourages you feel free to add me if you like :)
  • gogojodee
    gogojodee Posts: 1,243 Member
    I'm on in the making! I've always eaten 1200 - joined last year, had a litany of personal and work issues stopped logging in gained about 10 lbs and have lost about 8 since rejoining again almost a month and a half ago. I'm being serious this time and my diary is open. I'm 5'2" and 146 as of this am, 23 lb total loss since March '12. :)
  • egrusy
    egrusy Posts: 196 Member
    I'm 5'6" and started at 143, lost about a pound a week on 1200. Everyone's different of course; find what works for YOU :smile:
  • tigerblue
    tigerblue Posts: 1,526 Member
    I have a hard time on most days to get to 1200 on a healthy living diet; I am way too full and overeat, basically feeling ill..

    Give me crap to eat and I'm good to go! :)

    So true!
  • phyllisgehrke
    phyllisgehrke Posts: 238 Member
    I am on a 1200 Calorie Diet, most of the time I am under my 1200 calories.

    But due to a foot injury and arthritis, I do minimal exercise.
    Since I hurt my foot, I am doing Chair exercises and exercises I can do on my bed.

    I have lost 9 pounds in 30 Days.
    My key is to eat more often, even if it is just a snack.

    For example: This afternoon I had 2 ounces of blueberries, 12 Special K crackers with 1 tablespoon of Weight Watcher cream cheese.

    If I want chocolate, I have 1 dark Chocolate kiss.
  • schonkreuz
    schonkreuz Posts: 493 Member
    I have lost all of my weight on 1200-1300 cals. I never feel tired or hungry at the end of the night, it is all about eating the right things. It really frustrates me that people harp on about you cant lose weight at 1200 cals, and that you HAVE to eat more. For me if I eat more I gain weight, simple as that.
  • Joreanasaurous
    Joreanasaurous Posts: 1,384 Member
    The question I have is: if you CAN eat more than 1200 calories/day and still lose weight, why wouldn't you?

    Would you lose the same amount of weight in the same amount of time by eating more cals? I think the obvious answer is no. So that could be one reason.

    But can you now maintain that for the rest of your life? I can't. But to each their own. More power to ya
  • fuzzymop55
    fuzzymop55 Posts: 70 Member
    I eat about 1,200 a day but I am also keto, and I manage just fine. I lose about 1-1.4lbs a week. I always feel full \o/

Categories