1200 cals a day?!

GemW27
GemW27 Posts: 41
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey :)

Is anyone else on 1200 cals a day?

I'm finding it impossible.... It's ok on days I go to the gym (usually 5 x a week burning 600 cals each time) but when I don't I'm always over 1200.
It means every week I'm over my net amount.

Tips/advice/reassurance appreciated!
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Replies

  • lisajsund
    lisajsund Posts: 366 Member
    1200 calories a day is too low for most people.

    Do you know your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) or Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE)?
  • sophie94x2014
    sophie94x2014 Posts: 19 Member
    Im on 1200 a day and i am underweight! So 1200 isnt going to help me be a healthy weight really lol
  • TommyJensen1987
    TommyJensen1987 Posts: 95
    I am, but like you it is only possible because I also eat some of my exercise calories. It is certainly not a lot of food.
  • tayloryay
    tayloryay Posts: 378 Member
    You probably set too aggressive a weekly loss goal. With only 20 lbs to lose you should aim for 1 lb a week or less. You should look up your BMR & TDEE (look up Scooby's calculator for an easy one) and change your goals to one of those numbers, depending on if you want to eat back exercise calories or just eat a steady amount (TDEE).
  • GemW27
    GemW27 Posts: 41
    My BMR is 1412
  • Cashmere15
    Cashmere15 Posts: 1
    I'm on 1,350 calories and that seems a little impossible for me too. I'm used to eating almost 3000 calories a day. But what seems to really work for me is drinking water through out the day. Lots and lots of water! And having water while you eat helps you to eat less. I've been going over a couple hundred calories but I have to get used to not eating so much. But if I wasn't drinking water I would be going over more than a couple hundred. I hope this helped :) Keep up the hard work! Don't give up!
  • louiseajm
    louiseajm Posts: 21
    I'm trying to do 1200 calories a day. It's a struggle - breakfast is usually a piece of fruit, but most lunches and dinners are ok. Weightwatchers has some good recipes for 400-500 calories per main meal.
  • motivatedmartha
    motivatedmartha Posts: 1,108 Member
    1200 is the number of calories suggested to lose weight if you do NOTHING at all all day besides rest. If you do any form of exercise (doesn't need to be a 'work out') you will get hungry if you don't eat more. Do you walk anywhere during the day, clean house, shopping etc - these will require more energy - difficulty is working out how much.

    Why not have a nose around at other people's food diaries (friends or 'open' ones) and see how others are meeting their calorie targets and how they build exercise into their day.

    I am on 1200 target and try and eat back about 50% of my exercise calories. Add me if you like (UK so foods sometimes difficult to compare)
  • lisajsund
    lisajsund Posts: 366 Member
    I am, but like you it is only possible because I also eat some of my exercise calories. It is certainly not a lot of food.

    TommyJensen - a male should never eat below 1600 calories a day.
  • lindzalexis
    lindzalexis Posts: 44 Member
    I'm on 1200 calories a day. I exercise maybe 2-3 times a week - sometimes cardio but usually a 15-minute bodyweight circuit. Since my calorie burn is so low (usually 150-200 calories), I don't eat those calories back.

    I read a lot on here that 1200 is too low, but based on my height/weight and the fact that I only have about 20 pounds to lose, it seems to be pretty accurate. It's super hard, but I've managed to stay *mostly* on track for the last 10 weeks. I do have days where I'm closer to 1350, but I try not to stress about it.

    I eat a small, protein-rich breakfast, a small lunch, and then a healthy but good-sized dinner (steak and veggies, etc). I've cut out soda and increased my water intake. I also try to stay somewhat low-carb (previously I was eating pasta at least 5 days a week!). So far, I've only lost 6 or 7 pounds, but I'm happy with it.
  • _HeartsOnFire_
    _HeartsOnFire_ Posts: 5,304 Member
    Read this...
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/975025-in-place-of-a-road-map-short-n-sweet?hl=short+sweet+<span class=

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1175494-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants


    I eat 1800 calories a day and am losing weight. I eat/drink what I want. It's about moderation not deprivation. :flowerforyou:
  • bradXdale
    bradXdale Posts: 399
    I am, but like you it is only possible because I also eat some of my exercise calories. It is certainly not a lot of food.

    TommyJensen - a male should never eat below 1600 calories a day.

    I agree. When you super low calories like that for a long time it can mess with your hormones & mentally is an exhausting way to live.
  • Charlenetij
    Charlenetij Posts: 2
    People have lost weight on 1500 calories a day. Try that and see if you are more content. An extra 300 calories may make a big difference in feeling satisfied.
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    1200 is the number of calories suggested to lose weight if you do NOTHING at all all day besides rest. If you do any form of exercise (doesn't need to be a 'work out') you will get hungry if you don't eat more. Do you walk anywhere during the day, clean house, shopping etc - these will require more energy - difficulty is working out how much.

    Why not have a nose around at other people's food diaries (friends or 'open' ones) and see how others are meeting their calorie targets and how they build exercise into their day.

    I am on 1200 target and try and eat back about 50% of my exercise calories. Add me if you like (UK so foods sometimes difficult to compare)

    Only true if you actually fit the criteria of a 1200 calorie a day deficit. Most women should eat significantly more, and will still lose weight.
  • kyleleslie83
    kyleleslie83 Posts: 9 Member
    I eat 1200 per day on the days I don't exercise. For breakfast I have 1/2 cup of Fiber One, 1/4 cup of ricotta cheese and 1/2 cup of blueberries of strawberries. For lunch I always have a big salad with only vinegar for dressing - focus on spinach, romaine, fresh veggies. For protein I focus on garbonzo beans and egg whites and a little shredded cheese. This is an easy way to eat a lot of food without cosuming a lot of calories. This usually leaves me with about 600 or so for dinner/evening wine so its manageable. There is no question that its easier on the days I exercise. Also make sure you are drinking a lot of water. This will help you to feel full.
  • angelzxy321
    angelzxy321 Posts: 1,019 Member
    I'm on 1200 as well. Most days it's fine but some days I'm just ravenous and can't help but eat more so I exercise some to negate it. I think the only way it is possible to stay to 1200 is to make every calorie count. For me that means
    1 - only healthy snacks (for me this means high protein, low fat or something filling with lots of fiber)
    2 - low fats (fats have more than twice as much calories as carbs or protein)
    3 - lots of vegetables (very low on calories)
    4 - low calorie fruits to fill me up and add some sweet naturally to my diet (berries and apples)
    5 - and a whole lot of water
  • marca_june
    marca_june Posts: 37 Member
    I have been on a 1200 calorie diet for quite a while. I would lose a little, gain a little and didn't understand what was going on. It did finally make me actually think, MFP recommend that I use 1870 calories a day! Also when I sometimes ate a little less than 1200, a note would pop up telling me I was not eating enough that my body would go into starvation mode. I thought less was better. So this week I have upped my intake to 1400 to 1500 calories. I am anxious to find out how I have done when I weigh in on Wednesday!
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    HOly crap no....:noway:

    I couldn't survive on that...today I am barely surviving on my 1600 and will probably go up to 1700 depending on this evening.
  • GemW27
    GemW27 Posts: 41
    P.s. forgot to mention I'm 5'2"
    FML hate being small!
  • LadyWeaselofVT
    LadyWeaselofVT Posts: 77 Member
    Mine was calculated to be 1240 and it's a struggle for me. I've tried redistributing the calories over the course of the day and refining my diet and those changes are positive but I still go over by 100-200 calories some days.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    P.s. forgot to mention I'm 5'2"
    FML hate being small!

    I am 5'2. I lose 0.5 lb/week weight eating 1900-2100 cal/day. I net around 1700 cal/day. I too started at 1200 cal per the MFP recommendation and then started reading more on these forums about TDEE. Went onto Scooby's calculator to find my TDEE, and then raised my goal to 1400, then 1500 and was losing a lb per week. When I got closer to goal and after getting a FitBit, I raised it again to ~ 1700 based on a 250 cal deficit from my daily burn. Just because you are petite doesn't mean you are doomed to eat 1200 calories.
  • GemW27
    GemW27 Posts: 41
    Honestly I was considering not tracking my food at all anymore and just focus on eating healthy instead, because I can never keep it under 1200 anyway.

    Then on the other hand I tracked granola today and figured out my moderate portion was 100g and 500 calories!
    The ingredients are mostly clean/whole food but 500 is way too much for a 1200 a day diet
  • GemW27
    GemW27 Posts: 41
    P.s. forgot to mention I'm 5'2"
    FML hate being small!

    I am 5'2. I lose 0.5 lb/week weight eating 1900-2100 cal/day. I net around 1700 cal/day. I too started at 1200 cal per the MFP recommendation and then started reading more on these forums about TDEE. Went onto Scooby's calculator to find my TDEE, and then raised my goal to 1400, then 1500 and was losing a lb per week. When I got closer to goal and after getting a FitBit, I raised it again to ~ 1700 based on a 250 cal deficit from my daily burn. Just because you are petite doesn't mean you are doomed to eat 1200 calories.

    Very reassuring! Might try to up my daily intake and see how it goes - I've been stuck at the same weight for weeks now
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    change your settings to .5lb or 1lb per week. welcome to the world of still eating and still losing.

    ....derp.
  • corgarian
    corgarian Posts: 366 Member
    I would literally punch myself in the face if I decided to do 1200 calories a day. I'm at 1600, losing about a pound a week, and sometimes I'm still hungry. 5'5 175lbs.

    If you are fairly active and your workout you just need to eat more. your body is amping up and you're not giving it enough.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    1200 is math..........it's not a statement of someone my age, size, weight,.....should eat at least xxxx calories.

    1200 is a product of "I want to lose XX pounds per week" ......a 6' tall woman could get 1200 calories a day (never a man!) ..if she set her weekly goal high enough.

    At the very least....look up your BMR (basal metabolic rate).....the calories your body needs for basic function (heart, lungs, kidneys)...... if you are eating less than this (for awhile)....your body will use muscle mass for fuel. If you want (mostly) fat loss.....eat more.

    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
  • nosebag1212
    nosebag1212 Posts: 621 Member
    lol @ anyone who thinks they need to eat as low as 1200 a day to lose weight
  • GemW27
    GemW27 Posts: 41
    change your settings to .5lb or 1lb per month. welcome to the world of still eating and still losing.
    .5lb per month?! Way too low.....
  • GemW27
    GemW27 Posts: 41
    lol @ anyone who thinks they need to eat as low as 1200 a day to lose weight
    lol? Completely unnecessary

    My 1200 is based on MFP calculations for my height/current weight/goal weight - I didn't decide on 1200 off the top of my head
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    I'm 5'2". I lost my weight eating significantly more than 1200.

    I don't understand why people would willingly eat so little.

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