Who can stick to a 1200-1350 calorie diet/lifestyle?

I eat over that now but i did the 1300 for a while, didn't do it over weekends though but if u have a strict diet over the week its not that difficult. I have oats for breakfast, salad and a bread roll for lunch or chicken or fish plus vegs and some rice or sweet potato, same dinner and snacks cottage cheese and pinnaple, carrot sticks,fruit and lots of water…I wouldn't advise you to do it for over a month or two to drop the first pounds quickly but its not healthy on the long term. I eat 1700 calls and still lose some weight, just slower.

I did it. I ended up nearly having a panic attack when I was offered a piece of cake and had no excuse to say no. Then I put it all back on. Now I do about 1500 a day, I lose weight, I have enough energy for working out, I feel happier. But everyone is different. I think if you're questioning whether it's a good idea, you probably know it's not.

I stuck to it for a while. So did my sister. We weren't exercising so we thought it was ok since we weren't burning a lot of extra calories. We ate mostly lean meats and a lot of vegetables, and took multi vitamins. Things like chicken spinach salads with various vegetables like tomato, peppers, onions, mushrooms, a occasional sprinkle of nuts and beans. I felt full when I got use to it (as anyone would). I thought I was eating healthy. Our hair started falling out. Her teeth started getting lose. We stopped. Be careful. It's hard to absorb nutrients in a low fat diet. It's hard to feel full eating high fat on a low cal diet. Just remember a lot of nutrients are fat soluble so even if you're getting them, you're not absorbing them as well. I started eating more (I eat about 2000 now but I try to move more) and noticed that a lot of the low cal friends I accumulated at the time started running into stalls when I didn't.

I have mine set to 1200. I eat back exercise calories sometimes, but I'm small and don't burn that many so it's only 100-200 extra on average. However, on weekends I don't log and may be eating more.

I've been doing it this way for a couple years now and it's been great for maintaining my current weight. I eat whatever I want, but try to exercise portion control with high-calorie items. And I'm never, ever hungry. Most of my meals are vegetarian and made from scratch, while snacks are often things like fruit or nuts (but might also be a slice of cake or a couple glasses of wine).

Edited to add: My diary's open if you want to see examples. I took a break from logging for most of March, but yesterday's a good example of what I typically eat.

I eat around 1200 to 1350 calories. When my lifestyle needs more energy for one day I'll eat a bit more or if it's a celebration and I can't have a healthy option I'll just exceed my limit but then back again at 1200-1350. It's not that hard actually, and since I don't play sports making my only activity walking to school and back home and some thighs and abs toner exercises, I don't require big quantities. Plus, I'm not trying to LOSE weight, I'm trying to lose FAT to make my body as lean and strong as possible.

ADD ME! I JUST STARTED THIS ACCOUNT, I AM A GREAT MOTIVATOR! xoxo

1200 calories is just your base. When you workout, you earn the right to eat additional calories. So, if you want to eat more, be sure to workout and eat your exercise calories. If you don't workout, though, 1200 calories is possible... lots of salad/veggies, lean protein, and a little bit of good quality fats (olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, salmon).

I am not having a problem. In fact most days I have a hard time reaching the 1200.

It's not challenging when you skip all the "bad foods". I'm finding I'm much less hungry when I eat healthier stuff like vegetable soups. On the days when I eat chocolate or potato chips, I can't stop, it always makes me hungry again really quickly. When I cut out all of that, it feels like magic - no hunger anymore.

Today I ate 3 small slices of homemade cheese pie, some yogurt, fresh orange juice and a bowl of vegetable soup. That was slightly less than 1200 calories. I've been eating around 1100 calories each day for a week now, and doing some light exercise almost every day. On some days I ate fish or chicken. I'm keeping my profile private coz I'm ashamed, so I guess you can't see.

I'm in a rush to lose a few more pounds/kgs quickly because I really hate how much weight I put on this winter. After that I think I will start eating more, while still trying to lose weight. Been reading on the fabled "starvation mode" and came to the conclusion that I don't believe it's possible to gain weight if you eat less. xD But still, I wouldn't like to feel half-dead from starving. Also, how is 1200 the minimum number of calories to eat for both someone like me (5' 10'', slightly overweight) and someone short and tiny? I know some girls who need to eat only 1400 calories a day to maintain their weight.

Anyway, I'm also wondering what to do. I'm ashamed of the weight I put on recently and want to get rid of it quickly, but I'm also interested in a long term solution, because I've been yo-yo-ing for years, usually taking care of my weight as summer approaches and letting go during winter.

Who on MFP can stick to a 1200-1350 calorie diet?
Is it challenging?
What do you have for daily meals and snacks?

I know a lot of people consider it unhealthy and say you will gain the weight right back but I think I'm willing to give 1200-1350 a try!

MFP says in order for me to lose two pounds a week I would have to eat 1200 calories for my weight and height.

I was thinking maybe a little fruit for breakfast with eggs and oatmeal, a piece of chicken and lots of veges for lunch and some kind of chicken or fish with veges for dinner. For snacks, maybe like nuts, yogurt or fruit.

How did you come to pick 2 pounds a week? 1200 is as low as MFP will go....it's a DEFAULT...not a statement of "this is healthy for someone of this age & this size."

Weekly weight loss goals should be tailored to the amount of weight you have to lose....not on how fast you want to lose it.

Check out your BMR (basal metabolic rate) ....calories your body would use if you stayed in bed all day. If 1200 is lower, you might consider a lower weekly weight loss goal.

http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

I would rather eat enough calories to get all the nutrients my body needs to sustain itself.

I've been at 1200 for most of my time here and it's hard some days. I gotta make the most of all my calories to keep from feeling hungry so there's no room for empty foods. And I cheat every week. Knowing I have a day for giving in completely helps me deny cravings I just can't fit into my numbers other days.

2 pounds per week loss isn't reasonable unless you are very obese. If that picture is you, then that isn't the case.

1200-1350 is not sustainable for me, I get a headache, dizziness, weak, and can't think clearly never mind have enough energy to do anything physical. When I have a day like that then I just eat more the next day.

I can and you can too, if you eat 1200 calories NET. I do eat back my exercise calories (though not the high number MFP gives me.. I use another calculator) and I exercise 5-6 times a week.
So I basically eat around 1500 calories, no more than that though.
My tips are: Eat LOTS of fruits, they are so filling! Lessen your bread intake, eat smaller portions, but eat what you desire! I for example do even have chocolate cake sometimes - yes, on a 1200 calorie diet, to avoid cravings. It's all possible.

I don't and probably never will, I just see it ending badly and not just for me.

Would rather work out harder and get to eat more than have cannibalistic tendancies because I'm starving myself to lose weight the wrong way. No one really needs to be eating that low unless under special circumstance too.

I'm only 5'2 and I can eat 1800 calories and still lose weight. I think any lightly active person can lose weight eating at least 1500 calories, there's no need to eat any less than that.

Think of it like petrol ... you can't burn through more than whats in your car. So if you're not getting enough calories you're basically running on empty.