1200 Calories A Day??????

Depends - I found that it wasn't enough for me. I was hungry, tired, grouchy - I need more fuel than that.

Did you set your weekly loss goal to 2lbs when you entered your info at MFP? If so, change it to 1lb a week - by your ticker on your profile it looks like you only have 35lbs to lose, so 2lbs a week is too aggressive a goal. This will also raise your daily calorie goal a bit.

Some people do the 1200 and swear by it, but many more say it's not enough, they can't stick to it, they're hungry, etc. I figure there's no way I can eat just 1200 a day for the rest of my life, so I upped mine.

MFP works great, as long as all the info you give it is accurate and realistic as far as goals. Pick a reasonable loss rate, eat your calories, and your exercise calories if you workout - that's important too, and the way MFP is set up to work. Your daily goal already has a deficit built in, so you could eat to goal, do zero exercise and lose weight. When you burn off cals through exercise you are creating a much larger deficit, which can backfire on ya and isn't good for you in the long run. That's why MFP will add the burned cals back into your daily goal. Your net cals should be at or close to goal each day.

Hope that helps - good luck!

Okay. I am pretty new to counting calories. I didn't want to do it, so I didn't. Now, however, I FINALLY feel serious about losing weight. My question is, how can a person possibly get everything they are supposed to eat in a day nutrition wise in 1200 calories?

When you exercise, you get more calories...you're supposed to eat those and NET to your GOAL. Also, it's a pretty aggressive approach...how much do you have to lose? Everyone just automatically picks the most aggressive approach because they want to go fast. If you don't have a lot to lose, it's probably too aggressive for you and your body isn't going to respond very kindly to a big calorie deficit if you don't have the requisite fat stores to back it up.

Also, yes...it can be very difficult to get your requisite nutrition with that few calories, particularly if you're sedentary and don't earn those extra calories to eat back. It can be done, but you really have to be on it as far as nutrition goes. I'm glad you're actually concerned about that fact...all most people care about is weight loss; they could care less about actually being healthy and getting proper nutrition. Kudos...

Okay. I am pretty new to counting calories. I didn't want to do it, so I didn't. Now, however, I FINALLY feel serious about losing weight. My question is, how can a person possibly get everything they are supposed to eat in a day nutrition wise in 1200 calories?

The only way to do it is to become OCD and plan every little thing. As for me, I'd rather be patient and eat at 2000 calories, giving myself leeway and never having to plan anything. I just log what I eat.

Okay. I am pretty new to counting calories. I didn't want to do it, so I didn't. Now, however, I FINALLY feel serious about losing weight. My question is, how can a person possibly get everything they are supposed to eat in a day nutrition wise in 1200 calories?

I do it every day. I exercise too so that allows me to eat something more if I still feel hungry. Change doesn't come from your comfort zone. I have lost over 20 pounds and find I am fine with 1200 calories plus the calories I can eat back from exercising. Plus, if I feel like I need to eat something, I will, and not beat myself up about it.

Okay. I am pretty new to counting calories. I didn't want to do it, so I didn't. Now, however, I FINALLY feel serious about losing weight. My question is, how can a person possibly get everything they are supposed to eat in a day nutrition wise in 1200 calories?

If I recall correctly, I think the whole 1200 calorie "rule" was that it was believed that was the minimum number of calories that needed to be consumed to ensure proper nutrition. It may be possible to get the non-calorie nutrients you need for fewer calories, but it probably entails being very detailed in your plans.

The main problem I have is that some people tend to gravitate towards it as a magical rule in lieu of actually doing the math and seeing what their caloric requirements are. I know someone who, when you incorporate the 500 calorie defecit, is looking at a target of just over 1300 calories. In my case, if I wanted to have that same 500 calorie defecit, I'd still be eating 2700 calories a day because you have to factor in the fact I'm bigger, younger, and more "aggressively active" than this other individual.

you don't have to. I lost all this weight eating over 1600..plus my exercise calories. I had plenty to eat, and plenty of variety...and didn't need to deprive myself of anything....just give it a bit more thought than I used to.

Isn't 1200 calories an absolute minimum suggested by MFP? On rare occasions I've had under 1200, I get a warning in red writing under my diary.

Anyway, back to the point. I couldn't survive on 1200 calories, even though it will be a while before I'm down to that many suggested calories. I would probably go with TDEE - 20% option.

If you are going with the MFP way, then exercise is the key to being able to eat more. I recently took up swimming (as well as going to the gym) and that gives me 500+ calories extra to eat back, plus the 300+ I earn in the gym.

Exercise is key to earning your food.

Good luck!

Okay. I am pretty new to counting calories. I didn't want to do it, so I didn't. Now, however, I FINALLY feel serious about losing weight. My question is, how can a person possibly get everything they are supposed to eat in a day nutrition wise in 1200 calories?

It is a lot easier than you think to get all nutrition on 1200 calories per day.

The problems arise when people still want to eat treat after treat, this is not possible on 1200. Eat all nutrition first and then if you have calories left over, THEN have treats.

but yes, not only is it possible, it is perfectly do-able, just some people beg to differ and do not like it.

Well said Di, I agree.

You CAN do this !
I just turned 55 this week.
Add me as a friend if you want.

You *can* get all your vital nutrients from a 1200 calorie diet. The only catch is that you need to be very picky about what you eat. If you feel that you can maintain that intake, have a go at it. If you try it and feel tired, dizzy, or just overall bad, then you'll need to up your calories. Play around and adjust your calories to fit what feels best and is most effective for you.

I get everything I need with 900 - 1000 calories a day. It all depends on WHAT you're eating. A 1200 calorie day could be a bowl of cereal, a sandwich, pasta, and a candy bar. OR a 1200 calorie day could be yogurt, a granola bar, crackers, string cheese, a huge salad, a bowl of soup, a banana, carrots, haddock, green beans, and jell-o. If you're eating low calorie foods (like veggies, fruit, etc.), you can eat A LOT of food and you can eat often throughout the day. That's what I do and my body has never felt weak, deprived, or 'starved' at 900 - 1000 calories.

I think there is no one size fits all magical calorie limit. The important thing is you track, become aware of what you eat, how many calories are in your food, and start to make better decisions about how you eat. Notice how you feel, are you eating 1400 calories and starving all the time? Eating 1200 and full all the time? Have energy and clear mind? You CAN do this, but its a choice you have to make every day. There will be weeks, maybe month's that you don't see the scale go down. Thats ok. When you get discouraged, look for those non-scale victories. I went almost of the 45 day's I've been tracking without losing weight. But I could walk faster, farther, had ton's more energy and exercised a lot more. I consoled myself that I was eating well, eating healthy foods in healthy portions, and making a lifestyle change. My *kitten* didn't grow this big overnight, its not going to shrink overnight either. You have the power to make this happen, or to not make this happen. How you make it happen will likely look differently than how others make it happen.

It was a struggle for me when I started at 1200 calories...and the calories were consumed quickly. I couldn't maintain that deficit for very long.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/TheEffort/view/fat-to-skinny-with-a-touch-of-psychosis-571278

Take a hard look at your fitness goals and determine if its worth it to start your deficit there.

Okay. I am pretty new to counting calories. I didn't want to do it, so I didn't. Now, however, I FINALLY feel serious about losing weight. My question is, how can a person possibly get everything they are supposed to eat in a day nutrition wise in 1200 calories?

It's possible if you eat plenty of fruit, veg and lean meats.