Should I be eating my full 1200 calories?

You need to be eating at least that much, yes.

Try adding some fat. Avocados, full fat dairy, chicken thighs rather than breasts, oil, etc.

Most likely NO. You should calculate your BMR and make sure your net calories is not below that.

I'm pretty sure that if you go into your nutrients, that you aren't at 100% of your needs: protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals. Yes, eat your 1200 calories. It sounds like your are being very restrictive or limiting yourself to only diet type foods. Go eat a piece of meat, or some peanut butter, a handful of nuts, or make a cup of tea and pair it with some whole grain toast and real butter.

The question is, why would you not?

That is an excellent question.

Most likely NO. You should calculate your BMR and make sure your net calories is not below that.

Yup, this. Here is a good calculator, and there are others as well if you go back to all calculators.

http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/

i would not worry for one day, just eat more tomorrow if you are full today. At the end of the week it will all balance out as long as it is not a regular occurence.

In response to everyone this was just a question. I am like 50 calories below. It was just a question.

Unless you are very old and or very tiny you don't need to eat so little. It might be worth it to determine your TDEE and eat at a reasonable deficit from that. In the long run it's a much healthier approach. Just a suggestion.

I also tend to have this problem, like others said I wouldn't make this a habit. Don't be afraid to eat more, it will benefit you in the long run. Try eating some peanut or almond butter, a piece of cheese, or a higher calorie fruit like a banana. A handful of almonds is my favorite when I've noticed I haven't eaten enough.

The reason you may feel everyone is 'jumping down your throat" is that a lot of people here have very real concerns for peoples health and well being. They only speak out of concern
and the fact that this question is asked at least once a week (if not more) usually by young women.
Search the topic in the forums you will see how often it comes up.
I regularly eat around 1200 cals. I haven't been exercising and it is enough in any day. Long term people often break out and binge.
You would have eaten much more in the past and you probably will again.

i would not worry for one day, just eat more tomorrow if you are full today. At the end of the week it will all balance out as long as it is not a regular occurence.

It's not a regular occurance. And it honesty was just a question. I didn't expect so many people jumping down my throat. Next time I will just google a question like this.

I really don't think anyone was jumping down your throat, at least not intentionally. :flowerforyou:

My response to the "why wouldn't you" was just me expressing my love of food. :laugh:

^^this and to add to the no one was jumping down your throat. A few actually gave you some help. Do your research. Most people's bodies cannot properly function on 1200 calories a day. The way you asked the question let me personally to believe that was what you were trying to do. If you were asking about just today...then fine..that happens every now and then, it usually ends up balancing out another day. Learn about BMR and TDEE.

Not sure if you mean net cals or if you are just using mfp highest allowance for a deficit but I find its default settings for cals/macros to be completely naff! Try these links out...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/why-big-caloric-deficits-and-lots-of-activity-can-hurt-fat-loss.htm

Concerning exercise calories...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

Most likely NO. You should calculate your BMR and make sure your net calories is not below that.

I really wish people would stop saying this.

BMR is just how many calories you burn laying in bed all day. Not some magic minimum number your body "needs".

At about 100 over weight my BMR is ~2000 calories. I eat a net of 1700-1810 a day to lose 2lbs a week.

To answer the OP. Unless you are very short and close to your goal you need to eat at least 1200 NET calories.

Eating below one's BMR (likely calculated by an online calculator) is fine of that person is obese. Obese people are outliers since they have extremely high body fat.

OP, like the others have suggested, try to estimate your BMR and TDEE. Eat somewhere in between those two numbers to lose weight at a healthy rate. Eat enough to fuel your body, but eat less than what you burn. If you want to lose FAT, eat enough protein (0.8-1g of protein per pound of Lean Body Mass (LBM), which is everything in your body except weight) and incorporate some sort of strength training/heavy lifting program.


Please read this when you have the time: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

Best of luck to you! :drinker:

i would not worry for one day, just eat more tomorrow if you are full today. At the end of the week it will all balance out as long as it is not a regular occurence.

It's not a regular occurance. And it honesty was just a question. I didn't expect so many people jumping down my throat. Next time I will just google a question like this.

YOU ask the question, we answer and said no and to eat more. What did you want a pat on the back? :ohwell:

All the mean people of MFP, at it again! http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1088600-dear-mean-people-of-mfp?hl=mean+people&page=13#posts-18486704