1200 calories too low?
clarejohnson2010
Posts: 2
I am 5ft 9 and weigh 12st 1lb, I have started using this app 6 days ago and it recommends I consume 1200 calories a day, is this too low? I want to loose body fat and gain muscle, so I am stsrting exercising more and pilates, ive seen mention of tdee, I don, t wanr to loose weight too quickly, can anyone advise me? Thanks
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Replies
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Did you select 2lbs a week weight loss?
If you did then please change it to something slower.
Remember your goal is plus exercise calories.0 -
I'm 6 inches shorter and not very active. The 1200 is doable for me but I have to fill that hunger between meals with lots of water. Make sure your activity level it set where it should be, that you have the correct height entered in, and lower your goal to 1lb per week.
I can just manage but at your height and activity level trying to maintain a 1200 calorie diet will be tortuous.0 -
If you selected 2 lbs/wk loss, it's too restrictive, especially when you want to only lose 20lbs. So yes, 1200 is too little for you.
If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal
And if you would like more information about TDEE CLICK HERE!!
:flowerforyou:1 -
You will lose muscle eating that few calories.0
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Lasmartchika wrote: »If you selected 2 lbs/wk loss, it's too restrictive, especially when you want to only lose 20lbs. So yes, 1200 is too little for you.
If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal
And if you would like more information about TDEE CLICK HERE!!
:flowerforyou:
All of this. Plus unless you're lifting weights for the first time, you won't be gaining muscle while eating in a calorie deficit.0 -
Same advice as above. If you are 5'9" you are likely to need more than 1200 cals. I try to get to 1200 cals per day, but I eat about 2000 cals/day and burn out 800 cals on a treadmill.0
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New to all of this ... but wont the calorie allowance increase once he does the exercise that is planned.
1200 may be your basic but you will be rewarded when you enter in the exercise you plan to do to increase the muscle...??
No exercise no treats
On COLD days (we are in winter in a cold house) 1200 is difficult to VERY difficult when its a bit warmer its easier for me.0 -
I am 5'4 and on 1200 calories a day. First two weeks lost 5kg. Today fortnightly weigh in NOTHING LOST. Going to do 1000 calories from now on. My body seems like it allows me only to eat like a sparrow. I am 77kgs.0
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Be careful your body doesn't go into starvation mode where it hangs on to the fat in your body. Try eating slightly more calories for one day to keep your body guessing. Then return back to 1200 calories after. This should kick start your metabolism.0
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richndawnj wrote: »Be careful your body doesn't go into starvation mode where it hangs on to the fat in your body. Try eating slightly more calories for one day to keep your body guessing. Then return back to 1200 calories after. This should kick start your metabolism.
Starvation mode won't happen, and your metabolism doesn't need kickstarted.0 -
richndawnj wrote: »Be careful your body doesn't go into starvation mode where it hangs on to the fat in your body. Try eating slightly more calories for one day to keep your body guessing. Then return back to 1200 calories after. This should kick start your metabolism.
Unless you are dead or have a thyroid problem, a metabolism does not need to be "kick started".
Also, starvation mode is a myth.0 -
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Thanks for your opinion on this0
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kathrinecogan wrote: »I am 5'4 and on 1200 calories a day. First two weeks lost 5kg. Today fortnightly weigh in NOTHING LOST. Going to do 1000 calories from now on. My body seems like it allows me only to eat like a sparrow. I am 77kgs.
What? Don't do that. Weigh and log all your food and eat 1200+
And do some research.0 -
Thank you everyone you have all been really helpful. I had selected to lose 2lb per week so I will adjust this. I am going to start resistance training and some light weights as it is my body fat % and shape I want to change, to be more toned and stronger rather than what I weigh.0
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clarejohnson2010 wrote: »Thank you everyone you have all been really helpful. I had selected to lose 2lb per week so I will adjust this. I am going to start resistance training and some light weights as it is my body fat % and shape I want to change, to be more toned and stronger rather than what I weigh.
Excellent0 -
kathrinecogan wrote: »I am 5'4 and on 1200 calories a day. First two weeks lost 5kg. Today fortnightly weigh in NOTHING LOST. Going to do 1000 calories from now on. My body seems like it allows me only to eat like a sparrow. I am 77kgs.
Do not go down to 1000! Your body needs way more calories than that! Please do not go below 1200! 1200 is still too low for most people!0 -
THIS!Did you select 2lbs a week weight loss?
If you did then please change it to something slower.
Remember your goal is plus exercise calories.
And THIS!Lasmartchika wrote: »If you selected 2 lbs/wk loss, it's too restrictive, especially when you want to only lose 20lbs. So yes, 1200 is too little for you.
If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal
And if you would like more information about TDEE CLICK HERE!!
:flowerforyou:
1200 is too low for most of us. I'm about your age and an inch shorter, and I eat 1800-2000 cals a day and lose. Food is fuel! And the TDEE method was a great move for me.
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clarejohnson2010 wrote: »Thank you everyone you have all been really helpful. I had selected to lose 2lb per week so I will adjust this. I am going to start resistance training and some light weights as it is my body fat % and shape I want to change, to be more toned and stronger rather than what I weigh.
Great plan! Good luck! There are lots of great resources here for women and weights, so look around!0 -
If you are looking at preserving muscle, meeting your protein macro is going to be very important.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130829110430.htm0 -
clarejohnson2010 wrote: »Thank you everyone you have all been really helpful. I had selected to lose 2lb per week so I will adjust this. I am going to start resistance training and some light weights as it is my body fat % and shape I want to change, to be more toned and stronger rather than what I weigh.
Well I'm 5'10 and I eat approximately 2,000 calories/day. I weigh quite a bit more than you at 250lbs but I still think 1200/day is too low.
If you want to change BF%, honestly light weights won't help you. Maybe a bit at first but you don't have that much to lose. Try strong lifts which is a 5 x 5 program . . . or new rules of lifting for women. Lift heavy. Those 3lb things are not helpful for most people.
Further, you cannot "tone" your muscle. Your muscles are naturally just that shape, it's when you lose BF that you can begin to see the shape of your muscles because the layer of fat rests on top of the muscle. The only way to "tone" essentially, as so many people like to call it, is to lower your BF and change your body composition.
I've gone from 340 to 250lbs, so I had a lot to lose and I did it over 2 years. I'd like to hit onederland at some point but at almost 100lbs lost I'm pretty happy right now. It's not the end goal, but it's amazing all on its own.
Also, if you want to build muscle you really cannot eat at a deficit. If you want to increase muscle mass you have to eat at a surplus. Just something to consider.
Feel free to reach out if you ever want to.0 -
clarejohnson2010 wrote: »I am 5ft 9 and weigh 12st 1lb, I have started using this app 6 days ago and it recommends I consume 1200 calories a day, is this too low? I want to loose body fat and gain muscle, so I am stsrting exercising more and pilates, ive seen mention of tdee, I don, t wanr to loose weight too quickly, can anyone advise me? Thanks
Did you select the most aggressive rate of loss (2Lbs)? That may not sound like a lot, but that's a 1,000 calorie per day energy deficit...it's aggressive.
Did you select "sedentary" for your activity level...and are you really sedentary?
Do you exercise? You need to account for that activity somewhere as well.
1200 calories per day is generally appropriate for an overweight to obese female who is sedentary and doesn't really do any exercise. Or shorties and/or oldies.0
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