New - Only 1,2000 calories!

From my dieting experience, it's hard to do such low calorie defecits. I tried 1500 per day, being a man, and found that very hard. I've been trying 2000, so 500 less than my RDA, and that's much easier. So i would suggest you go for about 1600, to be honest. So about 500 cals per meal.

I think you should still use this website, even if you ignore the 1200 and go for 1600 (or whatever), because, i have found out from experience that fat and sugar can be highly addictive, so you need to stay under your RDA of those. This website is the best way i have found of doing that.

I've been at 1200 calories for several months. I'm down about 47 pounds. Almost at my goal. The way I see it, if I go over, the only one who suffers is me. It's about making different choices. For instance, 2 slices of wheat bread for a sandwich is about 200 calories, but a low calorie wrap is only 80 calories. For me, it's SNACKING. I love food, I love to snack. Slowly, instead of chips & dip for a snack, I'll take some raw veggies or fruit. A serving of chips is about 150 calories, but a cup of baby carrots is about 10. Yes, I'll still eat some dip with those. If you're really struggling with the 1200, just eat what you normally would for a set period of time(maybe a week), and log it in. Then, you can choose a number between that and 1200 to start. Good luck on your journey!

Hi

I am new to MFP. I'm only looking to lose about 10-12 lbs by mid-October for a beach vacation. I currently weight 146.5 and I'm 5'3". I would like to get down to 135. I know I don't have much to lose but 1.2000 calories per day seems really low! I tried doing it about a month ago for a couple of days and I was starving!!! I've done weight watchers before and it allows you extra bonus points so you don't feel guilty when cheating. Is there such a thing as "bonus points" for MFP? Any tips on meal planning for 1,200 calories per day?

It depends on what you are eating. 1200 a day is doable, but if you are used to eating 1800 a day, you will feel like you are starving. My first week I only logged what I normally ate and then decided one or two things I could cut or replace to help me meet my goal.

I am 5'3" MFP gave me a goal of 1200 when I started.
*Fresh fruits and vegetables are low in calories. You can eat a lot of them.
*Chicken is low in in calories and high in Protein.
*DRINKS are a big part of calories if you drink anything other than water. I have a friend that drinks 4 bottles of MtnDew a day and can't figure out why she can't lose weight.

I work nights my meals are....
12am an Apple
2am an apple or some Carrot sticks
3am "lunch"... Special K chocolaty Delight + Special K oats & honey cereal ( this gives me most of my Iron I have a problem with)
Jello with fruit is 25 calories and has no sugar
Zumba days I add some Chicken and a Steamer

Dinner is Chicken or fish with a veggie usually Green Beans or Corn. (When I get up around 4pm)

A snack around 8pm usually a fruit or Vegetable..... sometimes Ice Cream after Zumba.


Your "Bonus Points" are the exercise calories you burn each day because MFP plans on you eating them back. A lot of people say the estimates are too high so I don't log things like cooking or cleaning unless it takes at least an hour.

Oh I also said my activity level is non existent. I currently do not exercise.

Then you will either need to eat 1200 to lose 1 pound a week, or change your goal to 1/2 pound a week and eat 1450 cals a day.
Sorry, but there is no magic pill that will make you lose weight without a deficit.

You may have a higher metabolism than average, if you are used to eating more than 1700 and maintaining. If so, then try eating more and see if you lose. MFP doesn't hold a gun to your head to make you eat 1200.

I also am only allowed 1200 calories a day. You may earn extra calories by exercising however most of the time MFP does a negative adjustment and takes it away. I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and normally can stay within my allowable calories. It is not always easy.

One of the biggest pet peeves on MFP and the cause of lots of controversy is the 1200 cals a day eating (not 12,000 I wish lol as in the topic header)

If you sign up with MFP and put your stats in and it gives you a goal, then why complain about it?

You can exercise and earn calories to eat more. It really is not rocket science.

Lot`s of people, including myself, have eaten at 1200 cals a day. Believe me, you can eat a lot of food.

I ate 1200 cals a day at MFP goals + exercise cals. I have been in maintenance 8 months or more and my MFP goal now is 1560 + exercise cals.

I have never cut out any food from my eating habits.

Yes, yes, yes ^^^^.


While I love fruit and veggies and found that easy to incorporate into my meals. I am 100% a planner and found it super easy for me to see what I was going to be eating for the day ahead of time.

I can go an entire day with only coffee for breakfast and a bottle of water at lunch.

Don't do that. That's the worst thing you can do. Spreading your meals out throughout the day is the best, easiest way to do it. I use bodybuilders as the example because they have nutrition down. I know some people who eat 5-10 thousand calories a day because their body burns so fast with the muscle and metabolism. And they eat 5-6 meals a day, at a minimum. If your body knows it is being fed regularly, it won't try to go into shutdown and preserve fat. Eat regularly and your metabolism will speed up gradually. I had my resting metabolism tested. My RMR as about 2250 calories/day. One way I did it was by eating 5-6 times a day in small meals. My body knows it will be fed so it can just burn away. And I almost never get hungry. Most times I have to force myself to eat because I know I need to. Eating very regularly in small amounts will do that.

I suggested on thing earlier that is a staple: oatmeal. Others suggested fruits and vegetables which are great. Lean meats. Fish is great. Just read labels of processed foods or avoid them as much as you can. And plan, plan, plan. And you can do it.