Daily 1200cal ideas

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Replies

  • gem5639
    gem5639 Posts: 90
    1200 cals per day only does one thing, sends your body into starvation mode!! At least 1800-2000 cals of the right food CLEAN food, with exercise and you will lose weight and better still manage to keep it off

    Starvation mode, yeah, people like to go on about starvation mode all the time here, that is basically because it gives them lots of excuses to eat, eat, eat.

    Some of us don't continually think about food, those that eat lots are the ones that do that.

    And I have lost over 5 stone since eating 1800-2000 calories every day and training hard. It wasn't until I ate more of the RIGHT foods that I noticed any decent change, not just to the scales, but whole body shape. So I know exactly what I am talking about. Eating 1200 makes the scales look smaller, but it isn't pure fat loss - it's muscle loss that makes it look smaller and then if you decide to eat RDA of 2000 to live a normal life for the rest of your life you find you put weight on because your body isn't used to it anymore.. 2000 of clean foods isn't eating like a pig, it is fuelling your body properly. And funnily enough I have a friend who is fully qualified in nutrition and Personal Training and HE does know exactly what he is talking about - he has only ever had one client in his career who was overeating, majority of them (and mainly women) undereat - therefore body stores fat.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    1200 cals per day only does one thing, sends your body into starvation mode!! At least 1800-2000 cals of the right food CLEAN food, with exercise and you will lose weight and better still manage to keep it off

    sorry but this is dead wrong...do some research....You cannot go into starvation mode eating 1200 calories a day. You have to eat NOTHING for 72 hours to see initial starvation mode effect, and even then it is minimal...

    do you pressure wash your food or put in laundry? I personally hand wash all my food for clean eating...
  • Amyp7777
    Amyp7777 Posts: 79
    One of my favorite lunches is a pouch of wild caught pink salmon mixed with hot sauce stuffed in a bell pepper with some salad on the side. If you are hungry early, try starting the day with Scramblers or poached eggs. I like soft poached eggs with a runny yolk; I just don't clean the plate with toast and end up getting some yolk for flavor but rinsing a lot away. I eat almost no bread and I do not snack during the day time. Doing that, I can have just about any breakfast or lunch that is reasonably light.


    MAN, I love that idea for salmon. Noted.
  • BluejayNY
    BluejayNY Posts: 301 Member
    The reason it has your goals set to 1200 is because you have it set to lose to much weight. Set it to one pound a week and you won't be satting yourself up for failure by having such a low daily calorie count. You don't have to eat that little to lose weight. My wife is 4'10'', older then you, and she loses weight eating 1500. If your shorter then that then maybe i am wrong, however i am willing to bet you just put in a weight loss goal of 2 pounds a week and did not put your activity level in correctly.

    Every one is different and you have to find what works for you. If you try this 1200 stuff and your hungry then stop and take a better more long term approuch that will not only bring you results but not leave you feeling hungry and that will allow you to keep the weight off even after you start eating like a normal person again.

    I am set to lose .9 lbs a week and it has me at 1200.

    I eat around 1200-1350 pretty reguarly. I have 3 meals and 2-3 snacks a day. Some of what I eat is health food and some of it is fast food. I am by no means perfect
  • Koldnomore
    Koldnomore Posts: 1,613 Member
    My diary is open if you want some ideas. Ignore the high calorie things. Most of my lunch items are @300 calories. My lunch today was about 220g of spinach and feta cheese lasagna (made from scratch) - less than 300 cals. I also love fish with couscous. I take some fish (usually sole or whatever I have) fry it up (or bake it) then combine it with some isreali couscous (the big pearls) some frozen veggies and some shrimp. I can have a HUGE dish of that for under 300 cals.

    Don't be scared to look at diaries for ideas. Even if someone eats more they will likely have 'meals' that you can adapt or combine. Look for high volume low calorie items.. veggies are great, big salads with tuna or other fish for protein. Lots of fish and chicken for dinners/snacks. Figure out when you are the most hungry and make sure you have an extra shot of protein around that time.

    Don't be scared to get out and do a little activity for some extra calories. My base is 1400 but I eat close to 2000 just from my daily walking around work - it helps for those days when I'm feeling extra hungry. Keep a close eye on your losses. Most people with significant weight to lose can eat 1200 calories without problems for a little while and still keep a good rate of loss. When your rate starts to slow then you can re-assess and adjust as needed. I think I did it for a couple months when I first started (as most of us probably do) and re-adjusted after that as I was far too tired/irritable. You need to adjust constantly - at least every 10 lbs lost. Obviously as you reduce your weight you will need to either eat less or move more or some combination of the two in order to keep the losses steady.
  • I was at 1200 a day up until recently & then I changed my goals and now am at 1430 a day. I'm not sure where you're from, so this may not work for you, but I've discovered Pepperidge Farm 45 calorie bread. I can make a sandwich for lunch out of 2 cooked egg whites, a slice of fat free cheese, a sprinkle of Mrs. Dash seasoning, low fat mayo/Miracle Whip & 2 slices of the 45 calorie bread. Sliced tomatoes make it even yummier without many extra calories. Then I add a cup of fruit or raw veggies with my lunch & can stay pretty full for a few hours that way.

    Another thing I sometimes do for lunch is cook a healthy dinner the night before & warm up the leftovers for lunch.
  • 55in13
    55in13 Posts: 1,091 Member
    One of my favorite lunches is a pouch of wild caught pink salmon mixed with hot sauce stuffed in a bell pepper with some salad on the side. If you are hungry early, try starting the day with Scramblers or poached eggs. I like soft poached eggs with a runny yolk; I just don't clean the plate with toast and end up getting some yolk for flavor but rinsing a lot away. I eat almost no bread and I do not snack during the day time. Doing that, I can have just about any breakfast or lunch that is reasonably light.
    MAN, I love that idea for salmon. Noted.
    It presents best stuffed, but just as an fyi a lot of times I actually go ahead and quarter the pepper (4 strips), mix the salmon and Frank's Hot Sauce (or whatever) in a cup and spoon some into each pepper strip. It is easier to eat that way.

    Another note to OP or others - you need to figure out up front whether you function best by dropping things and eating a few good sized meals of mostly "regular" food (this is my approach - no bread, no day time snacks, light breakfast/lunch, regular family dinner) or a bunch of low calorie stuff you can graze on through the day.
  • bewilder82
    bewilder82 Posts: 11 Member
    Ok I have been on and off again for awhile on MFP but recently kicked it into high gear as I am getting married in 3 months! and want to look smashing in my dress ;) I've decided to recalculate my cal intake and am now at 1200 a day to loose 2lbs a week. What's been working for me is a meal replacement diet: 2 shakes, 1 meal and healthy(ish) snacks throughout the day. I did my research to look for a meal substitute that would be nutritious vs. just filling like slim fast. VEGA ONE... It's a little on the expensive side BUT for someone who has never done protein shakes before it's been working out really well. The taste is great and I mix with almond milk for a nice consistency (vs. water which makes it have a slightly gritty texture). I don't really consider myself on a "diet" per say but try to make better choices when it comes to my 1 "big" meal for the day and around 3-4 snacks in between. Hope this helps a bit ;)
  • brdnw
    brdnw Posts: 565 Member
    i do 1200 or so caloaries a day, and i eat pretty boringly but i'm very happy to do it.

    Breakfast: oatmeal ~110 calories
    Lunch: a large salad (tons of lettuce) w\grilled chicken and very light dressing ~600 calories
    after lifting i take a protein shake ~200 calories
    Dinner: i'll eat cut up fruit, like watermelon/strawberries/cantelope/pinneapple (idk calories).


    if i eat out i'll get a salad at panera, they have a fruit one that's only 350 or so calories and most are under 600.
  • operation_cute
    operation_cute Posts: 588 Member
    Include protien in every meal to keep you full till the next meal...
    breakfast ideas:
    1. greek yogurt (dannon light n fit greek is 80 cals) with a banana
    2. wheat toast with 2 fried egg whites and 1/4 shredded cheddar cheese
    3. oatmeal flavored with protien powder
    4. tomorrow oats - mix 1/2 cup water 1 container greek yogurt with 1/2 cup oats mix, let sit overnight in the fridge, enjoy cold in the morning (great summer time breakfast)

    Lunch Ideas:
    1. english muffin spread with 1 tbs peanut butter slice bananas on top
    2. baked green peppers - slice a green pepper in half dice your favorite lunch meat, sautee lunch meat and some sliced onions in a 1/2 tbs of olive oil flavored with wochestershire garlic and salt, fill green pepper with mixture bake on 350 till the pepper is soft top with a slice of provolone cheese, heat till melted
    3. dole ceaser salad topped with grilled chicken breast (I use the george foreman)
    4. black bean stir fry (makes 3 servings) - sautee 1 full small bok choy (or 1/2 a large one) 2 cups of greens, 2 cups of fresh spinich, and a sliced onion in 1 tbs olive oil, add 1 cup frozen corn about half way through, then add 1 can black beans sautee for a few min more season as desired during cooking. I serve it over 1/2 cup rice and top with 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

    Dinner Ideas:
    1. bean chili with no meat (see recipe below)
    2. chicken breast grilled
    3. seared basted chicken breast, season chicken, sear in about 1 tbs of olive oil per chicken breast, once seared on both sides pour in about 1.5 cups of chicken broth, cook until done on med-low heat turning about every 15 min and basting occasionally.

    Snack ideas:
    beef jerky 80 cals (pay attention to serving size, its really small, but packs a lot of protien to keep you full)
    dannon light in fit greek yogurt
    apples and 2 tbs peanut butter
    baked apples



    Bean Chili
    Makes 12 servings about 150 calories each

    1 bag of 14 bean "soup mix" (no seasonings)
    1.5 cups tomatoe juice like v-8
    1 can rotel tomatoes (don't drain)
    1 can diced tomatoes (don't drain)
    2 cans hunts tomatoe sauce (not speghetti sauce)
    season with cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt

    add everything to a crock pot, cook on high for 3 hours, then low the rest of the day, if started in the morning will be done by dinner time :)

    I served it over a cup of rice and added a 1/4 shredded cheddar cheese to the top :) So good!!
  • rosemaryhon
    rosemaryhon Posts: 507 Member
    1200 cals per day only does one thing, sends your body into starvation mode!! At least 1800-2000 cals of the right food CLEAN food, with exercise and you will lose weight and better still manage to keep it off

    Are you sure of this ^^?
  • brdnw
    brdnw Posts: 565 Member
    1200 cals per day only does one thing, sends your body into starvation mode!! At least 1800-2000 cals of the right food CLEAN food, with exercise and you will lose weight and better still manage to keep it off

    Are you sure of this ^^?

    they're not, you have to be starving to be in starvation mode, that's sooo silly to say. if you don't eat for like 10 days your body will go into starvation mode.
  • kmash32
    kmash32 Posts: 275 Member
    1200 cals per day only does one thing, sends your body into starvation mode!! At least 1800-2000 cals of the right food CLEAN food, with exercise and you will lose weight and better still manage to keep it off

    Are you sure of this ^^?

    they're not, you have to be starving to be in starvation mode, that's sooo silly to say. if you don't eat for like 10 days your body will go into starvation mode.

    Per my registered dietition and doctor there is such a thing as starvation mode but you only go into it when you are eating under 1200 a day. Your body will temporarily store the fat in your body, eventually your body goes out of starvation mode (stops storing the fat) and starts to eat your fat and muscle (anorexia) but that doesn't happen for days.
    My dietition has me on a 1200 calories a day if I don't exercise and 1500 calories a day if I do exercise. I lost 15lbs in 6 weeks doing this. I had a horrible month and put some back on but am now back on track. I think my diary is open if you want to take a look. I generally eat about 250-300 cals for break, 350-400 cals for lunch, 100 cals as a snack and 400-500 cals for dinner.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    1200 cals per day only does one thing, sends your body into starvation mode!! At least 1800-2000 cals of the right food CLEAN food, with exercise and you will lose weight and better still manage to keep it off

    Are you sure of this ^^?

    they're not, you have to be starving to be in starvation mode, that's sooo silly to say. if you don't eat for like 10 days your body will go into starvation mode.

    Per my registered dietition and doctor there is such a thing as starvation mode but you only go into it when you are eating under 1200 a day. Your body will temporarily store the fat in your body, eventually your body goes out of starvation mode (stops storing the fat) and starts to eat your fat and muscle (anorexia) but that doesn't happen for days.
    My dietition has me on a 1200 calories a day if I don't exercise and 1500 calories a day if I do exercise. I lost 15lbs in 6 weeks doing this. I had a horrible month and put some back on but am now back on track. I think my diary is open if you want to take a look. I generally eat about 250-300 cals for break, 350-400 cals for lunch, 100 cals as a snack and 400-500 cals for dinner.

    get a new dr and dietician...you have to eat nothing for 72 hours for your body to even begin to think about using muscle for energy...

    you can't be starving and eating 1200 calories a day ...that is like saying my car is out of gas but I just put ten gallons into it...
  • Hello,

    So I recently changes my goals on MFP and it now shows a goal of 1200cal a day. I need "daily menu" ideas, anyone eating this many calories a day that can tell me what they eat during the day? Specially packed lunch ideas that go with these counts would be great!

    Thanks
    Nat

    This isn't exactly a packed lunch but it is my favorite recipe to eat and make, in fact I'm going to have it for dinner:

    Protein Pancakes:
    1 scoop protein power
    1/4 cup buckwheat flour(I think any flour would do well, I used to used oat flour)
    1/2 cup egg whites
    1 egg
    1 cup spinach
    1 tsp baking powder
    Cinnamon and stevia to taste

    This totals around 360 calories for a fair amount of pancakes. I would say it makes 6-7 four inch pancakes, or 3 really really big pancakes.
  • andresconejo
    andresconejo Posts: 264
    Usually i eat around 900 cals, my diary is open, feel free to check it out
  • sarapopefitness
    sarapopefitness Posts: 52 Member
    I'm also at 1200 per day (plus the calories gained from exercise, of course).

    I'll tell you what I ate today, to give you some ideas (I'm a creature of habit so this is pretty typical for me):

    ~Breakfast rarely over 300 calories:

    *Smoothie (homemade: banana, plain/greek yogurt, frozen fruit, juice, milk) - around 240 calories
    *Tea with honey and milk

    ~Lunch is usually around 400 calories:

    *Can of cloverleaf tuna (85g) - flavoured (had dill/lemon today, it was great!)
    *3 Wasa Rye crackers (these are awesome to top things on since they have fibre, no fat and only 70 calories for 3)
    *Sugar snap peas
    *Grapes
    *Pretzel sticks

    I almost always need an afternoon snack:

    *Oikos greek yogurt (80 calories)

    By the time I get to dinner I often only have 300-400 left. I usually exercise, and that gives me more calories to spare. But if not, I have a simple dinner like Thai Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps (MY FAV!)

    I like most of my calories during the day, and have a light dinner and light evening snack. Everybody is different, this just works for me.

    :)
  • sarapopefitness
    sarapopefitness Posts: 52 Member
    Usually i eat around 900 cals, my diary is open, feel free to check it out

    I really hope you mean 1900.
  • Lynn_babcock
    Lynn_babcock Posts: 220 Member
    I used to have baked chicken breast, slice and 2-3 ounces of it.. 2 tablespoons of avocado, leaf lettuce, tomato slice. Low calorie and pretty good. Oh, bake the chicken with OLD BAY original or blackened. The flavor is great! Today I just had a breakfast sandwich.. 100 calorie high fiber english muffin, 1/4 cups shredded low fat mozzerella cheese, 4 slices ham (about 60 calories worth), 1 whole egg + 2 egg whites. I just love those things anytime of day.
  • __Di__
    __Di__ Posts: 1,658 Member
    One of my favorite lunches is a pouch of wild caught pink salmon mixed with hot sauce stuffed in a bell pepper with some salad on the side. If you are hungry early, try starting the day with Scramblers or poached eggs. I like soft poached eggs with a runny yolk; I just don't clean the plate with toast and end up getting some yolk for flavor but rinsing a lot away. I eat almost no bread and I do not snack during the day time. Doing that, I can have just about any breakfast or lunch that is reasonably light.

    Eggs are such an excellent food, they are one of my absolute favourites!
  • __Di__
    __Di__ Posts: 1,658 Member
    1200 cals per day only does one thing, sends your body into starvation mode!! At least 1800-2000 cals of the right food CLEAN food, with exercise and you will lose weight and better still manage to keep it off

    Starvation mode, yeah, people like to go on about starvation mode all the time here, that is basically because it gives them lots of excuses to eat, eat, eat.

    Some of us don't continually think about food, those that eat lots are the ones that do that.

    And I have lost over 5 stone since eating 1800-2000 calories every day and training hard. It wasn't until I ate more of the RIGHT foods that I noticed any decent change, not just to the scales, but whole body shape. So I know exactly what I am talking about. Eating 1200 makes the scales look smaller, but it isn't pure fat loss - it's muscle loss that makes it look smaller and then if you decide to eat RDA of 2000 to live a normal life for the rest of your life you find you put weight on because your body isn't used to it anymore.. 2000 of clean foods isn't eating like a pig, it is fuelling your body properly. And funnily enough I have a friend who is fully qualified in nutrition and Personal Training and HE does know exactly what he is talking about - he has only ever had one client in his career who was overeating, majority of them (and mainly women) undereat - therefore body stores fat.

    I didn't say you ate like a pig, I said I did when I put weight back on.

    and you are wrong re storing body fat, if the body needs energy it will use the fat that the person has already stored from eating too much.

    You have to remember one big factor here - namely, you are just 25 years old, I am 53 and have gone through the menopause - that may not seem like much to you, but wait until you are the same age or have gone through the menopause yourself and see if you are able to lose any weight the same way you do now - everything changes, whether you like it or not.

    If you undereat, the body will NOT store fat, I don't care who it is has told you that either. Undereat and you lose weight.

    Watch the broscience, it is the bane of this site.
  • kmash32
    kmash32 Posts: 275 Member
    1200 cals per day only does one thing, sends your body into starvation mode!! At least 1800-2000 cals of the right food CLEAN food, with exercise and you will lose weight and better still manage to keep it off

    Are you sure of this ^^?

    they're not, you have to be starving to be in starvation mode, that's sooo silly to say. if you don't eat for like 10 days your body will go into starvation mode.

    Per my registered dietition and doctor there is such a thing as starvation mode but you only go into it when you are eating under 1200 a day. Your body will temporarily store the fat in your body, eventually your body goes out of starvation mode (stops storing the fat) and starts to eat your fat and muscle (anorexia) but that doesn't happen for days.
    My dietition has me on a 1200 calories a day if I don't exercise and 1500 calories a day if I do exercise. I lost 15lbs in 6 weeks doing this. I had a horrible month and put some back on but am now back on track. I think my diary is open if you want to take a look. I generally eat about 250-300 cals for break, 350-400 cals for lunch, 100 cals as a snack and 400-500 cals for dinner.

    get a new dr and dietician...you have to eat nothing for 72 hours for your body to even begin to think about using muscle for energy...

    you can't be starving and eating 1200 calories a day ...that is like saying my car is out of gas but I just put ten gallons into it...

    I never said you could starve on 1200 calories a day as that is what I eat. I said under 1200, and by the way are you an MD or registered dietitian? Because if not I think I will stick with them. I also said that you have to be anorexic (not eat for days) for your body to use it's muscle for energy, but your body will start off by storing the fat first if you don't eat enough calories in a day.
  • 55in13
    55in13 Posts: 1,091 Member
    I never said you could starve on 1200 calories a day as that is what I eat. I said under 1200, and by the way are you an MD or registered dietitian? Because if not I think I will stick with them. I also said that you have to be anorexic (not eat for days) for your body to use it's muscle for energy, but your body will start off by storing the fat first if you don't eat enough calories in a day.
    Wow. Just, wow. Do you realize how totally illogical that is?
    Muscle only supplies 600 calories per pound and has an important job in your survival. Fat supplies 3500 calories per pound and its only job is to supply the body with energy during periods of eating at a deficit. It can only provide 31.4 calories per pound of fat per day, so if your needs go beyond that then there will be loss of lean mass also.
    I don't believe an RD told you that 1200 is a magic number for everyone.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    1200 cals per day only does one thing, sends your body into starvation mode!! At least 1800-2000 cals of the right food CLEAN food, with exercise and you will lose weight and better still manage to keep it off

    Are you sure of this ^^?

    they're not, you have to be starving to be in starvation mode, that's sooo silly to say. if you don't eat for like 10 days your body will go into starvation mode.

    Per my registered dietition and doctor there is such a thing as starvation mode but you only go into it when you are eating under 1200 a day. Your body will temporarily store the fat in your body, eventually your body goes out of starvation mode (stops storing the fat) and starts to eat your fat and muscle (anorexia) but that doesn't happen for days.
    My dietition has me on a 1200 calories a day if I don't exercise and 1500 calories a day if I do exercise. I lost 15lbs in 6 weeks doing this. I had a horrible month and put some back on but am now back on track. I think my diary is open if you want to take a look. I generally eat about 250-300 cals for break, 350-400 cals for lunch, 100 cals as a snack and 400-500 cals for dinner.

    get a new dr and dietician...you have to eat nothing for 72 hours for your body to even begin to think about using muscle for energy...

    you can't be starving and eating 1200 calories a day ...that is like saying my car is out of gas but I just put ten gallons into it...

    I never said you could starve on 1200 calories a day as that is what I eat. I said under 1200, and by the way are you an MD or registered dietitian? Because if not I think I will stick with them. I also said that you have to be anorexic (not eat for days) for your body to use it's muscle for energy, but your body will start off by storing the fat first if you don't eat enough calories in a day.

    Ok I stand corrected..and you are still wrong. Again, you have to eat nothing, zero, zilch, nada for 72 hours to be in starvation mode. Feel free to read the studies at www.leangains.com.

    Just because someone is an MD does not make them a genius. Dr Oz is a cardiologist and 90 percent of the crap on his show is total BS.

    I guess I could go online and take a three month course and be a registered dietician..would you believe me then?
  • PepperWorm
    PepperWorm Posts: 1,206
    This thread makes me sad. Food is not the enemy.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
  • andresconejo
    andresconejo Posts: 264
    Usually i eat around 900 cals, my diary is open, feel free to check it out

    I really hope you mean 1900.

    No, 900, i'm actually getting back on track adding more calories every couple of weeks... this nad the next week i'll go for 900 and the next one 1000...
  • KellyyT
    KellyyT Posts: 41 Member
    1200 cals per day only does one thing, sends your body into starvation mode!! At least 1800-2000 cals of the right food CLEAN food, with exercise and you will lose weight and better still manage to keep it off

    Are you sure of this ^^?

    they're not, you have to be starving to be in starvation mode, that's sooo silly to say. if you don't eat for like 10 days your body will go into starvation mode.

    Per my registered dietition and doctor there is such a thing as starvation mode but you only go into it when you are eating under 1200 a day. Your body will temporarily store the fat in your body, eventually your body goes out of starvation mode (stops storing the fat) and starts to eat your fat and muscle (anorexia) but that doesn't happen for days.
    My dietition has me on a 1200 calories a day if I don't exercise and 1500 calories a day if I do exercise. I lost 15lbs in 6 weeks doing this. I had a horrible month and put some back on but am now back on track. I think my diary is open if you want to take a look. I generally eat about 250-300 cals for break, 350-400 cals for lunch, 100 cals as a snack and 400-500 cals for dinner.

    get a new dr and dietician...you have to eat nothing for 72 hours for your body to even begin to think about using muscle for energy...

    you can't be starving and eating 1200 calories a day ...that is like saying my car is out of gas but I just put ten gallons into it...

    I never said you could starve on 1200 calories a day as that is what I eat. I said under 1200, and by the way are you an MD or registered dietitian? Because if not I think I will stick with them. I also said that you have to be anorexic (not eat for days) for your body to use it's muscle for energy, but your body will start off by storing the fat first if you don't eat enough calories in a day.

    Ok I stand corrected..and you are still wrong. Again, you have to eat nothing, zero, zilch, nada for 72 hours to be in starvation mode. Feel free to read the studies at www.leangains.com.

    Just because someone is an MD does not make them a genius. Dr Oz is a cardiologist and 90 percent of the crap on his show is total BS.

    I guess I could go online and take a three month course and be a registered dietician..would you believe me then?

    if you could become a registered dietician in 3 months per online courses, i'd love to see that in action! if it was as easy as that, i wonder why anyone go to school for 4+ years if they could have those degrees in hand in 3 months.

    don't bring yourself down to the level of the crazy "starvation-mode" obsessed quacks and start talking nonsense. you start to sound just as crazy as they do.
  • alisam567
    alisam567 Posts: 34 Member
    Set yourself to lose 1lb a week, and sedentary, then eat back all your exercise calories. MFP reset me to 1240 when I'd lost 20lb but that was way too low 9even with crazy exercsie) so its now set to 1400 plus eating exercsie calories, and I'm still losing.

    Age: 37
    Height 5'5''
    Weight 165lb
    I agree with this. I started on 1200 eating back my exercise cals - fine when I am training! on a rest day 1200 was impossible without feeling seriously deprived! I am not prepared to feel deprived I want to eat the good stuff! Deprivation is always going to lead to failure (on the whole) however having read numerous posts on what I should be eating and calculating my TDEE I decided to ignore all the online calculators! Instead on a rest day I wore my HRM for 4 completely sedentary hours - (sleeping for two of those) so that I could work out an average sedentary calorie burn (i.e doing nothing) This came out at 106 cals per hour which I adjusted to 90 cals per hour to take into account I was awake for half the time, totalling 2160 in any given day. I now have my net cals at 1400 but make sure I eat 80% of my exercise calories and no longer stress if I go for a meal and make unhealthy choices! A bit of unhealthiness is soooo healthy now and again!! ;-) In reality this means I eat 2000 cals per day gross (at least). I plan my meals and eat 5/6 times per day. My weight loss has not been huge since i started on mfp (but over a stone since I started working out!) but my inch loss and body composition change has been immense. I think it gets tiresome when people preach at you for eating 1200 cals per day and you do have to do what you feel is right. But if you are struggling then give yourself a break.... it does work.