Need 1200 cal friends for accountability and support

I'm at 1200 cals.. and sometimes eat my exercise cals (I know.. it's bad).

How is eating exercise cals back bad?! O_o eating at 1200 cals is already bad enough (unless you're really short, thin and/or have a health issue).. NOT eating them back is bad!

As long as you eat above BMR (1200 cals is usually under BMR for most people) and below TDEE you will lose weight. No need to go to drastic measures. That default 1200 cal MFP setting is really crap.

Calculate BMR: http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

Calculate TDEE: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

I'm not gonna beat the the dead horse on the 1200 cal topic, you guys do what you want (and you will anyway).. but don't beat yourself up for eating back those cals! That is how MFP is supposed to work. Your net keeps it to where you don't eat over. Just be aware that MFP likes to over estimate calories burned.. so setting your cals to TDEE and trying to eat that or a little under usually works better.

If anyone is struggling with the 1200 cal thing and to really wanting to do it because you are cranky, headachy etc I suggest you check out these threads because there are better ways.

In Place of a Road Map: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974888-in-place-of-a-road-map-2k13

TDEE & BMR: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/680246-tdee-bmr-what-they-are-and-what-to-do-with-them

I just spent an hour reading and looking through all the sites he linked. So, my BMR (I'm at 193, goal weight 140) is 2000 and my TDEE is 2350. So, now I'm going to sound a little slow here, as long as I eat at least 2000 and always less than 2350 I WILL lose weight? I've lost 5 pounds pretty quickly on 1200 with weekly cheat days (another thing that blows my mind, my CHEAT days are still UNDER my BMR) but I have been worried about whats going to happen when I plateau. Should I continue at 1200 until it stops working and then switch? Or switch now?

Honestly? I would readjust your goals. Most people have a wider different between BMR and TDEE, so either the math wasn't done correctly, or you are very sedentary...Or, I guess, you could be tiny? But I'm guessing not tiny because of the 2k+ numbers.

1200 calories is not a sustainable goal for average-sized people. It is considered the bare minimum caloric intake recommended for non-medically monitored individuals with normal body functions. If you go from eating whatever to watching what you eat and restricting calories, you will lose fast, but it won't stay that way. The first 1-2 weeks can be high loss due to water weight and such being released (this is also dependent on the diet you had prior to starting) and then tapers to 2lbs or less a week, if you are doing it correctly.

Highly restrictive diets that are goal oriented well below the individual needs are very likely to cause rebound weight gain.

You have to remember. Setting a 1200 calorie goal means you will be training your body to work on 1200 calories. It may not get all its nutrients. It also means that you will have to maintain 1200 calories or do a monitored refeeding schedule in order to increase the calories without experiencing significant weight gains.

I eat close to 1200 calories a day. I try to eat right up to it and within 50 calories of it every day. Feel free to add me!

This is similar to what I am doing. I would love to join with you.

Hi! I'm doing 1200 now, feel free to add me, I'd love to see how other people are doing

My goal is also 1200 as well, and I tend to do a relatively intensive workout every second day (6ft3, weigh 157lb aiming for around 150lb. Weighing first thing every morning works very well for me.

A loss makes me want to keep the run going towards my target and a gain makes me even more determined to cut down.

My goal is 1250, if you'd like to add me feel free! Not too far off.

I am always up for new friends during similar adventures.

MFP is a calculator. If you put in incorrect information when you set up your account, it gives you goals that aren't appropriate.

IE: 1200 calories.

They refuse to change it though, not sure why that is.

OP, follow the sexypants link. Same for the rest of ya.

I'm at 1200, but when I don't exercise, I'm more like 1400, no more than 1500-1600.

I'm at 1200 cals.. and sometimes eat my exercise cals (I know.. it's bad).

How is eating exercise cals back bad?! O_o eating at 1200 cals is already bad enough (unless you're really short, thin and/or have a health issue).. NOT eating them back is bad!

As long as you eat above BMR (1200 cals is usually under BMR for most people) and below TDEE you will lose weight. No need to go to drastic measures. That default 1200 cal MFP setting is really crap.

Calculate BMR: http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

Calculate TDEE: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

I'm not gonna beat the the dead horse on the 1200 cal topic, you guys do what you want (and you will anyway).. but don't beat yourself up for eating back those cals! That is how MFP is supposed to work. Your net keeps it to where you don't eat over. Just be aware that MFP likes to over estimate calories burned.. so setting your cals to TDEE and trying to eat that or a little under usually works better.

If anyone is struggling with the 1200 cal thing and to really wanting to do it because you are cranky, headachy etc I suggest you check out these threads because there are better ways.

In Place of a Road Map: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974888-in-place-of-a-road-map-2k13

TDEE & BMR: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/680246-tdee-bmr-what-they-are-and-what-to-do-with-them

+1,000

Hello! I'm in the 1200 club as well, feel free to add me.

I'm on 1220 (5'10 and 199.4 as of this am) I started at 224 just prior to Christmas, really didn't get serious aside from quitting drinking Dec 21st - and upping water intake, then Jan 3rd started atkins (I'd done it before) at 218.6 , wasn't happy with atkins this time found my way here and took some time to fine tune the goal (started higher 1550) I eat back for exercise consistently though and I exercise daily (I walk 5-7km a day) so I'm averaging more in the 1500-1600 range after exercise - I adjusted to 1220 to cover days i don't get the exercise because my work life is pretty sedentary (at a desk most of the day)
Add me if you like, good luck with your goals either way

What do you mean 'You know it's bad?!)

Search 'eat more to weight less' in the forums. Believe it. Be happy

Hi all, Im pretty new to MFP and would love a few friends on here to keep me motivated! :bigsmile:
At the moment i weigh 119lbs, trying to get down to 112, which doesn't seem a lot but have definitely hit a wall.
Im 5 ft 5 and was, at my heaviest 158.2lbs, so i must be doing something right, just need help with this plateau!

Oh and my food diary is open to all friends!

Add me if you like
christy x

so many new users... so much work to be done.

here:

1. don't trust the initial setup that MFP provides. If you put in the wrong/inaccurate information, it'll tell you to eat an amount that may not be applicable.
2. Make sure you eat enough.
3. Figure out what works for you and is sustainable/healthy/long term.
4. avoid fads. don't buy in to any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"
5. Don't cut out anything now that you don't plan on literally giving up forever.
6. GET A FOOD SCALE. Weigh everything. No, seriously.
7. Get an HRM with a chest strap. You'll at least have a better idea of what you're burning. It'll be more accurate than the generic info in the exercise database.. and even more than the cardio machines. This is great for steady state cardio (run/walk/etc)
8. Don't go balls out. You'll burn out. I see 300 lb people show up here, instantly start working out and cutting their intake SEVERELY... trying to cut out all of their carbs at once.. whatever. Take it slow. Figure out how much you need to eat FIRST in order to lose.. then incorporate exercise.
9. Don't cardio yourself to death.
10. Take the information on the forums with a grain of salt. A lot of people that have been here for a while.. and have been successful, may seem jaded. They give out GREAT advice day after day, only to be met with people that refuse to listen.
11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
12. don't set time restrictions.
13. measure yourself weekly. Don't just weigh. Measure and take pictures.
14 BE PATIENT.
15. Avoid forum topics that have "1200" in the title. It's just full of butthurt. Lots of it.
16. If you ask a question on the forum, give as much information as you can ("yes, I have a food scale and weigh my food" is worlds better than "I eat a palm full of miscellaneous boiled chicken parts..sometimes.")
17. Be honest with yourself and honest with us.
18. This isn't a game, it's about changing your lifestyle. Do that.

pretty much that.

...and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:

the typical MFP users does this:
1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that.. then they work out on top of it.. creating an even bigger deficit.
5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, not losing weight.
7. Get on the forums, ask why they aren't losing.
8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
9. Argument ensues about who is right.

Now. That being said. These threads happen hundreds of times per day. Most times, and I mean really.. seriously.. 95% of the time.. people get the 1200 number because they don't put the right information in when they set up the account. There are a great number of people that are trying to help. I'm one of 'em.

I'm a hardcore advocate of actually finding out what works for the individual.. by means of other calculators, averages, time, practice, and patience.

Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.

Find out what you need: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

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

this could help.

1200 is my daily goal. I exercise 6 days a week and Sunday is my official rest day, although with 2 little boys there is a lot of unofficial running around.

I have to watch that I don't reward my hard work with an edible treat. I have not lost any weight yet, but I am noticing a difference in how my pants are fitting and I am feeling much stronger, so I know there is progress.

Support, and especially accountability are I what I need to reach my goal. My family is supportive but they are not necessarily the best at making me go to the gym or make the right food choices.

Please add me to the group!