1200 calorie diet plus exercise- is it okay?

hai_immissemma
hai_immissemma Posts: 13
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm completely satisfied hunger-wise at a 1200 calorie per day budget, but for the past few weeks, I've also been going to the gym and burning 250+ calories 4 times a week. Is this safe and/or effective? When I'm done losing weight, will I gain back the weight I lose if I keep eating healthy and working out without counting calories? I'm worried that my metabolism will drop and I'll plateau.

Replies

  • missy5277
    missy5277 Posts: 88 Member
    im at 1300 calories a day and workout 6x a week for a calorie burn of 550 per day at least, i usually eat 1100-1300calories a day and seem to be losing just fine. i have lost 13lbs in 7wks
  • daves160
    daves160 Posts: 600
    There are a few factors here. First, If you aren't hungry then I would say don't eat.

    If you are worried about metabolism slowing, exercise will keep it revved up. Eating 5-6 meals per day also keep your body working and burning at a higher rate. I don't want to be misunderstood here. It does not "increase" your metabolism, it keeps it working at a higher rate than it would otherwise be if it were "at rest".

    Bottom line, I think you should let your own body tell you what is working for you.
  • Starleng1
    Starleng1 Posts: 142
    bump
  • emmab0902
    emmab0902 Posts: 2,338 Member
    If it works for you and you feel ok then it's ok.

    People will come on here and slaughter you for not eating exercise calories, but you are an individual and you need to do what is best for YOUR situation - we are all different and the general rules dont fit everyone
  • jonikeffer
    jonikeffer Posts: 218 Member
    I try to eat most of my exercise cals back, since I'm set to 1200 cals/day too. I'm 5'0" and currently 139. If you're only burning 200-250, you might be OK, especially if your 1200 cals are nutrient dense and not "crap", and if you are especially small. However if you find yourself not losing, or losing big at first but then ceasing to lose anything after a few weeks (and it can't be explained by anything else you're doing), try bumping your cals up to at least 1200 NET. That would mean eating 1400-1450 cals if you are burning 200-250. You might be OK with only eating 1200 before exercise, but generally you want to net at least 1200 unless you're unusually tiny&short.
  • hai_immissemma
    hai_immissemma Posts: 13
    @ emmab:
    I feel okay / pretty good usually, sometimes a little tired and sore from working out, but nothing to complain about, since my days are very busy anyway.
    @ joni:
    I'm a little shorter than 5'2, and (newly) 112 pounds, and my frame (bone-wise) is on the small side, but my body's good at storing fat and bad at building muscle, so I look a little heavier than I am. My weight loss is interrupted a lot because I usually don't get below my current weight before getting careless and gaining back to around 115 / 116 pounds. I'm trying my best to avoid that, so that's why I'm worried that what I'm doing is not sustainable.
    (I know, my weight doesn't change much, but it looks like a few pounds make a big difference since I'm petite)
  • otalip
    otalip Posts: 15 Member
    I am 5 2" and 155 lbs. I just started two days ago i spin every day for 60 minutes. I am on 1200 calories so should I eat my spin calories of 460 extra calories or not? I am very hungry and i gained one pound...sorry but I am weighing myself everyday. I'm not sure what to do I do not want to sabotage my efforts yet I want to lose so badly. I'm looking for an ultimate 20lbs weightless. Can anyone help me ?
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