1200 Calories too low?

mjb123
mjb123 Posts: 19
edited September 22 in Health and Weight Loss
Does anyone else think 1200 calories is too low? I noticed MFP automatically sets women at that number. I get WAY to hungry. I am 5"5' and weigh 148. I'm trying to get down to 135. I exercise about 4 times a week. Is there anyone else out there in my predicament? Thanks!

Replies

  • lukasmac
    lukasmac Posts: 216 Member
    you should be eating your exercise calories back... make sure you are

    if you feel its too low, scale back how much weight you'd like to lose weekly
  • DoralisM
    DoralisM Posts: 80
    Yep definitely too low... but this is the set rate if you are not active. You should set it to 1300-1500 if you are lightly active and 1700 if you are exercising 3-4 times a week.
  • cjengel
    cjengel Posts: 21
    I think that's a bit extreme - remember though, that if you burn about 200 calories exercising, you will be eating 200 more calories those days. Mine is telling me to eat 1480 a day, which is barely enough to get all the nutrients I need. You can always raise it a bit - you shouldn't be trying to lose more than two pounds a week! Good luck! :)
  • christina_theresa
    christina_theresa Posts: 290 Member
    Eating under 1200 calories can be bad for your metabolism. I try to eat half of my calories back from my workouts, otherwise I am hungry all the time!
  • edebock
    edebock Posts: 4
    I also find it's a bit low.
  • AdamATGATT
    AdamATGATT Posts: 573 Member
    Remember to go by your NET calories, as it takes the calories you burned during your workouts into account.

    I was in the 1200 - 1300 calorie range, post workout, and hit a plateau each time that has happened. I've had to bump up my calorie intake to between 1400 - 1500 or more, post workout, to achieve weight loss.

    It's different from person to person. A lot of this is experimentation.
  • ObviousIndigo
    ObviousIndigo Posts: 382 Member
    I was on 1200 and I stalled for over a month. I wasn't hungry at all but I was walking 3kms 7 days a week, dancing for 1.5-2 hours 5 days a week and doing strength training! I have raised my calories to 1400 and I am eating some of my exercise calories back... I ave started to lose again and I know my metabolism is working cause I am starving often throughout the day. Zig-zagging calories also works REALLY well!
  • trio25
    trio25 Posts: 34 Member
    I really struggle to get this low, fortunately with exercise calories I am normally okay. As others say, up it a bit if you think that works and lose weight at a slower rate.
  • marciehr
    marciehr Posts: 2
    I thought so too but now that I been at it for 4 months I have my routine set. 200 calories for breakfast, 350 for lunch a subway sanwich if pretty filling, a 200 calorie for dinner, and lots of snacks mostly fruit and raw peanuts in between my 3 main meals. I have lots approximately 20 pounds so far and working on the last 5. And yes exercise burning an average of 500 calories a day. It works just stick to eat, if you need to eat more make sure its fruits and vegies.:smile:
  • AdamATGATT
    AdamATGATT Posts: 573 Member
    I really struggle to get this low, fortunately with exercise calories I am normally okay. As others say, up it a bit if you think that works and lose weight at a slower rate.

    Slower rate? Ha!

    At the lower calorie intake, I was losing nothing. I've upped it, and am losing again. Which one is quicker? 0 or 1 lb a week?
  • Gallen88
    Gallen88 Posts: 171 Member
    My daily cals are 1350 but when i workout, i add more too it so most of the time, i eat over that cuz i have earned cals from my workouts
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