1,200 Calories Per Day?

I would start higher calories to see how you go. Why start off very low when you may lose fine with more calories. If things plateau down the track you have room to go lower in calories or increase intensity of exercise. Also perhaps don't follow the MFP suggested macros - too low in protein.

i'd say you should track how many calories you eat currently for 2 or 3 days first of all. if you currently eat 1800 calorie in a regular day you will struggle a lot to go down at 1200. You should make the transition and shave off a few calorie every days. You'll be starving all day long because it does take a few weeks before you stop feeling hungry every few hours.

1200 is feasible but it is hard to get into, you just need to learn to make smart choices. Don't cut down all fat because it's still good for you. Just use the good one like olive oil and and nuts. Make sure to eat good carbs, oatmeal for exemple is great, whole grain in general. Be careful with the snacking, fresh fruits and veggies are always great. I'm usually hungry after eating just an apple or celery for example, so I dip it in peanut butter or eat an few almonds with it..

Side salads with meals are great because your plate look more full, it makes you chew a lot and fills your stomach quickly, it's a mind trick for your brain. I got used to no vinaigrette in salad (use lemon and/or spices instead), or half-fat ceasar salad dressing (a family favorite), it's a well invest 50 to 75 calories in my book.

Good luck

1200 is really not sustainable. I'm 4' 11" and I felt hungry so I used my TDEE number and it gave me 1340. SO I just stick to 1300-1400 a day and I've been loosing slowly but I know I can do this for a longer and I don't feel deprived.. if you loose weight *too* fast in a non sustainable manner you will gain it back! Good luck!

I was at 1200 cals a day for a couple of weeks but I found it too tiring to watch so carefully to not go over that number so I went up to 1500. Lost weight every week on both numbers though!

I've tried 1,200 way back when. It amounted to me eating only 300 calories per meal, and about 150 calories per snack. I was starving and miserable, even when I ate back exercise calories. I had absolutely no energy, and could barely get through workouts (and worked out a ton so I could eat more! -_-)

I've personally found my body likes slow and steady more. Especially with a heart problem, if my blood sugar dips too low, or my body is straining from lack of energy, it can cause a really bad heart episode..and last time I was in the ER for it, that was a nice tall glass of nope I never want to experience again! So I like to stay fueled, and at 1,450-1,700 a day.

I would personally implore you to listen to your body, consult with a doctor, and find what is best for your body.

Every body is different - I lose weight at 1,350 net cal per day, but plateau at 1,200 after a couple weeks.
I've found that committing to a net calorie goal and then burning (exercising) to make up the additional calories works really well - I know that if I eat 1,500 calories, I need to engage in some activity that burns the extra 150 to bring my net back down.

I've recently plateaued so I cut calories down more (and started logging). I'm not "new" but i never logged faithfully. I'm trying to log my food now and I feel fine with the calories I'm eating even when I walk 4+ miles after work. No light-headed feeling or anything but I'm not losing weight. If you can see my diary can anyone give advice?

Hi. Going by the height and weight info you've given, your age in your profile and that you say you are a active gym rat (moderately active?) here's how the calorie numbers add up:

BMR (calories your body need to function daily) 1482
TDEE (total daily energy expenditure including activity level moderate) 2452

You want to lose 17lbs in 9 weeks so that' 1.9lbs per week or a calorie deficit of 950 calories per day
You could eat 2452 - 950 = 1502 calories per day and hit your goal provided you keep up the moderate level of activity

Calculations from http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

so you could up your daily calories.

17lb is a lot to lost in 5 weeks...

Yeah - how much will be fat....and how much will be muscle?

OP - fast weight loss often sacrifices lean muscle mass. Find your BMR and eat at least that. No way your BMR is 1200....I'm 5'5" over 50 & my BMR is higher than 1200.

For me personally, 1200 a day is just not enough to keep me from being hungry. I looked on scoobys workshop to see what their suggested calories was and it was like 1465, so I custom set my calories at 1400. I did the 1200 last year and I lost, but not really fast, even when I ate back my exercise calories. I seem to be doing fine at the 1400 so far, and I'm not as hungry. That's what's working for me.