1200 cals a day

I'm 5'3 and lose eating 1750 a day. The extra 100 calories each day isn't going to make a major impact on your weight loss because you're (likely) in such a large deficit to begin with.

Think about it this way: food in the US is allowed up to 20% error in nutrition labeling so you're already eating a range of calories between 960 calories and 1440 calories if you're on a 1200 calorie diet and obsessively exact with your weighing/measuring. So, is 100 extra calories really going to blow everything? It might slow down your weight loss a little bit, but it will probably be pretty imperceptible, so why suffer for it?

I used to go by 1200 cals a day, and I found it extremely hard to keep at that, so I just ended up binging all the time. Then I kept reading out about TDEE, got curious and did some research a bit. I found out that all you need to do is extract about 500 cals from your daily maintenance cals in order to create a big enough deficit in your diet to lose weight.

My TDEE/maintenance cals a day was 2000, so I decided to put my goal at 1500 cals a day.

I've been doing it for quite a while now, and it's absolutely amazing! I don't feel starved or hungry, I still have space for my favourite foods like chocolate and other crap like that, and I can afford to have bigger portions. AND I'm losing the weight!!! Sometimes I even forget that I'm counting cals! I love it. And I would highly recommend the method I'm doing instead of sticking to the stupid weird 1200 cal a day that MFP automatically sets you.

Here, I've even found the link for you to check out (coz I'm nice like that :drinker: )

http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html

This is quoted from a TDEE website:

"If we eat more calories than our body requires, we will gain weight.
If we eat less calories than our body needs, we will lose weight.
Unless we know exactly what our TDEE is, we have no way of knowing how many calories to consume to burn body fat or gain muscle. The TDEE Calculator is perfect for this exact reason. The TDEE calculator tells us how many calories we should consume to accomplish our goals in an effective and efficient manor. In other words, the TDEE calculator allows us to get the best results, in the least amount of time, safely.
Use the TDEE Calculator to figure out how many calories your body needs to function at your current activity rate. From there, subtract 15-20% from that number the TDEE Calculator provides in order to see how many calories you should eat daily to burn fat and lose weight at a steady pace. It is not recommended that you subtract more than 25% from your TDEE calculation. The TDEE Calculator will help you stay clear of dropping calories too low."

Good luck hun! I was exactly in your position and this saved me in every possible way. That's why I feel like I need to tell you about it. Hope I helped

I love coffee! My goal is 1,180 cal. a day (I'm 5'1") and once you cut out the coffee it's so easy. I eat three meals and two snacks a every day, and today I only ate 700 calories and still feel full! It helps to drink just milk, no coffee, in the mornings:)!Good Luck!

Even when I was on 1200 I still had my many coffees a day.

I love coffee! My goal is 1,180 cal. a day (I'm 5'1") and once you cut out the coffee it's so easy. I eat three meals and two snacks a every day, and today I only ate 700 calories and still feel full! It helps to drink just milk, no coffee, in the mornings:)!Good Luck!

Lol why?!?!?!?!

I'm 5'1 and eat 1800 calories

I'm 4'11-5'0(not sure)

and I admit that during the first time Ijoined mfpall I did was 1200 kcals. But I only do it for likke 3 daiys in a week. But mostly I combine it with exercise until now so that I can eat more.

So I suggest to you to eat at maintenance kcals(I did the maintenance kcals originally to beat my weight loss plateau)

But if u have a super low bmr kcal.. then you will really have to exercise to eat more.

Also wanted to add, I just glanced at your profile, and you don't have very much to lose to be at your goal weight, so your deficit definitely does not need to be that huge. I say keep your coffee, stay motivated, and just chalk that milk in your coffee up to extra protein for your muscles, and extra calcium for your bones.

When I started logging, I discovered that I was drinking 450 calories in vanilla creamer every day. UGH - that was a surprise.
I now drink my coffee with 2 artificial sweeteners. I am used to it now. The 450 just wasn't worth it for me.
I still look forward to my coffee in the morning too. Good luck!

Download the Sworkit app. It has loads of different cardio / strength routines that range from 5 mins to 1 hour (the 7 min workout is good). You can do one in the morning and one in the evening and the app marries with myfitnesspal, so you'll gain the extra calories back. Everyone has time for some exercise

As for exercise....you don't have to do it, but I strong recommend it for a couple of reasons - it accelerates your weight-loss, it allows you to eat MORE (more calories burned = more you can eat and still have net loss), and of course the health reasons for your body and muscle tone.

NOW with that said - it doesn't have to be anything crazy. Simple walking 30 minutes a day will work. It's how I started my first 3 months and when I dropped 30#, I had more energy and wanted to do more - then, I decided to run and join the gym but plain ole walking does the trick and you can do it almost anywhere.