1200 calorie weight loss?

br1twaslyke
br1twaslyke Posts: 41 Member
in Motivation and Support
Hello everyone! I am new to the forum and weight loss.. I decided on the 11th of this month that it is time for a serious change! I am 20 years old and 239 pounds. I have been heavy my whole life and am finally ready to take that leap and be fit for my active toddler! I'm starting with a goal of 1200 calories a day. I have very little will to exercise, to be honest, and am hoping to lose weight strictly by cutting calories. I am doing 100 jumping jacks and 100 crunches daily, but I know this isn't burning many calories so I'm not really counting that. I have maintained 1200 calories a day so far, and surprisingly it is quite satisfying. I am a huge overeater, estimating my prior calorie intake at 2600 calories a day, easily. Just wondering if there is anyone out there who has had success with the 1200 calorie a day diet and how much you lost? My lowest weight was 180 pounds, when I magically shed 50 pounds in a year without trying. Assuming it was from being active after entering high school.. I would like to be around 150 eventually, but my first weight goal is 170.. Anyone with success please feel free to comment, I'd love to hear how you did it and what did/didn't work, thank you!

Replies

  • kaydeedoubleu1
    kaydeedoubleu1 Posts: 567 Member
    Hey! iv lost about 35kgs eating between 1200-1400 cals a day. Just note that as you may drop weight quickly, you will get loose skin which is why it is really important to exercise as well (helped me alot). Also, make your calories count. Eat things high in protein/unsaturated fats (good fats, like omega 3) as opposed to sugar and carbs. Try to eat as natural and unprocessed as you can. And fibre ++ and water ++!! Try to cut out wheat if you can, mainly bread/pasta. Try and limit your intake of potatoes, rice (brown rice is ok, but try substituting it for quinoa). Eat loads of veggies, limit your fruit intake.
    Don't have bad food in the house, and watch the calories that you drink. especially the sugar.

    You can do it!
  • br1twaslyke
    br1twaslyke Posts: 41 Member
    thank you for the response! I forgot to add that I have switched to drinking only water, also.. Was drinking about 2-3 cans a soda a day, so I'm hoping the water helps a little. I am going food shopping tomorrow and plan on getting a whole grain cereal for breakfast, yogurt for snack time twice a day, and a lean cuisine meal for dinner. I plan on this being my diet for the next 10 days so I can see how it works out! thank you again :)
  • SheBell4DaWin
    SheBell4DaWin Posts: 5 Member
    Hello. I have been using my fitness now for almost 3 weeks, and my calorie range is 1350. I have lost so far 5.4 lbs. I have two family members who lost over 30 pounds using MFP, so I know it works. A cousin of my only exercised a 1/2 hour every day and used my fitness to monitor his caloric intake. He lost 30 lbs. He looks great. Another family member of mine lost 80 lbs with a 1200 calorie intake. So I know it works. The key is just sticking to it. We're all in this together.
  • br1twaslyke
    br1twaslyke Posts: 41 Member
    that sounds awesome Cheryl! I am looking to lose around 80 pounds so it's great to hear that you personally know someone who was able to accomplish this on 1200 calories :) I plan on keeping it up for the remainder of the year, hitting my one week mark on Monday. I know it hasn't been too long but I've never stuck to a diet for more than 6 hours so it's a step up! I'm ready for a change :)
  • acogg
    acogg Posts: 1,870 Member
    You can lose weight at 1200 calories, but try to keep in mind that your body will WANT 15 calories per pound to maintain it's current state. At 1200 calories, your body will revolt and your fat cells will scream out (in your head). It takes a lot of will power to get through that time. It is much easier to lose if you eat 10 calories per pound of your current weight. It will be a little slower, but much more likely that you will stick with it. I learned this the hard way and I want you to succeed for the long term!:flowerforyou:
  • mamadon
    mamadon Posts: 1,422 Member
    I started out a year ago eating at 1200 calories, I am 5'4 and not a not a big exerciser either, mostly I take walks and use the treadmill. About six months into it I switched to 1300. I still continued to lose.
  • br1twaslyke
    br1twaslyke Posts: 41 Member
    thank you for the advice ladies :) Acogg, I have noticed that I am actually feeling very content on 1200 calories, even from day 1.. it was strange to me but I'm not complaining lol. I think my problem my whole life was cravings, not hunger... I am considering upping the calories to between 1200 and 1500 daily depending on if I feel particularly hungry on any given day, but so far 1200 has been ok. And that's great to know mamadon, so if I am ever not content with 1200 I can still have slightly more and still lose! that's encouraging :) My biggest question is that when I do the online calculators, it says I need about 2200 calories to maintain my current weight, but my BMR is only 1600.. So do I subtract the calories from my current weight maintenance or my bmr? I do not understand how I wouldn't gain if I was normally eating 2200 calories, but only burning 1600 a day since I am sedentary

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