1200cals a day challenge!

ynarmous
ynarmous Posts: 34 Member
edited April 2015 in Health and Weight Loss
Good day everyone! I am new here! And I am trying to do 1200 cals a day challenge, I started yesterday but it was not as good as I expected I was able to consume 1500cals. SO I am trying to try to be more uptight with 1200cals a day. My current weight is 135lbs and my goal weight is 115lbs. I am only 5'3. And I will try to do exercise 3-4x a week. I was up 145lbs last summer however I lost weight by doing insanity workout by Shaun T for 2 months with no diet. But was able to maintain my weight throughout the year. Now I am highly motivated again and wants to lose more until I reach my goal weight. Join me in my journey and lets motivate one another! :)
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By the way thats my before and after photo. The first photo was taken 2010 in my prom night, that is probably my biggest I looked like I just gave birth when I was just a 16year old. The other photo was when I lost weight, last year, yes I am toned I have little abs because I did insanity workout for 2 months that even if I didn't reduce what I eat, I actually ate alot during that time, I still lost weight and looked toned but still heavy.
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Replies

  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
    Why not just eat at 1500 cal a day? I just plugged your stats into a calculator and you will lose weight on that.
  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    Why would you want to challenge someone to eat 1200 calories a day?

    It's not really an accomplishment.
    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    Why not just eat at 1500 cal a day? I just plugged your stats into a calculator and you will lose weight on that.

  • rosnigetsfit
    rosnigetsfit Posts: 569 Member
    First, great job on your weight loss. You seem active and young. 1200 cal/day is really low for an active woman. Try eating 1500 cal day as what they've suggested.
  • steffaniexo
    steffaniexo Posts: 14 Member
    You really don't want to consume 1200 calories a day. I consume a bit less than 1200 if I'm having a good day. Eating 1200 is really nothing, you feel so tired and weak. Just eat healthly.
  • Sweet_Heresy
    Sweet_Heresy Posts: 411 Member
    It would be a challenge for me to not kill anyone if I just ate 1200 calories. Does that count?
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Ryudori wrote: »
    It would be a challenge for me to not kill anyone if I just ate 1200 calories. Does that count?

    me too...wow

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Where did you get 1,200 as a goal?
  • PeachyPlum
    PeachyPlum Posts: 1,243 Member

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    I'd starve to death on 1200 calories a day.

    I'm 5'2" and 108 lbs, and I eat 1775 calories per day at maintenance. 1200 calories is way too low for you, especially if you're working out 3-4x per week.
  • shannonmaines
    shannonmaines Posts: 14 Member
    Take a look at this article...1200 calories is the absolute minimum calories a woman can consume without the body suffering negative consequences... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sophia-herbst/1200-calories_b_4816597.html
  • shannonmaines
    shannonmaines Posts: 14 Member
    Take a look at this article...1200 calories is the absolute minimum calories a woman can consume without the body suffering negative consequences... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sophia-herbst/1200-calories_b_4816597.html

    so your one post was this? interesting

    Gotta start somewhere, right? I just started posting in the community...not really sure what you get out of knocking my 1st post but hey whatever makes you happy :smile:

  • mbarton85
    mbarton85 Posts: 4 Member
    i am at generally the same current weight and also want to be around 115/120 (also 5'3"). my goal daily is 1200 calories, but I usually eat more than that. MFP set my calories at that level when I signed up. 1200 at least gives you some parameters. If it were set higher, I would likely go above THAT calorie goal, so 1200 goal gives me some wiggle room. don't beat yourself up when you go over 1200 :)
  • ynarmous
    ynarmous Posts: 34 Member
    Thank you for you comments. But when I signed up on MFP what I have to eat for the day is set to 1200 cals, so I taught I just have to follow it. I actually haven't tried complying with it yet. The first day I was able to consume 1500cals a day, yesterday I was able to consume about 1350cals. Im asian so I eat rice twice a day and it really help keeps me full for long.
  • ynarmous
    ynarmous Posts: 34 Member
    Take a look at this article...1200 calories is the absolute minimum calories a woman can consume without the body suffering negative consequences... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sophia-herbst/1200-calories_b_4816597.html

    Thanks for this! I already read it. It was so hard for me to consume just 1200cals a day, I usually go up to 1500cals. But here on MFP it is set to 1200cals/day when I signed up.. So I thought I just had to follow it.
  • ynarmous
    ynarmous Posts: 34 Member
    Where did you get 1,200 as a goal?

    I got that on MFP, it was set to that when I signed up lol
  • ynarmous
    ynarmous Posts: 34 Member
    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    Why not just eat at 1500 cal a day? I just plugged your stats into a calculator and you will lose weight on that.

    I am trying to do the 20lbs down challenge by 4th of July! :)
  • ynarmous
    ynarmous Posts: 34 Member
    First, great job on your weight loss. You seem active and young. 1200 cal/day is really low for an active woman. Try eating 1500 cal day as what they've suggested.

    Thanks for your reply. But thats what I saw on my MFP account when I signed up... So I just thought I would follow it. Although its hard and I always exceed up to 1500cals...
  • musicandarts
    musicandarts Posts: 187 Member
    The guidelines have been reset. You may want to go back to MFP goals re-enter your weight and goals. 1200 per day is not recommended as everyone else says. Go up to 1500 or more, and exercise a bit off.
  • savvyfantastic
    savvyfantastic Posts: 112 Member
    Congratulations on your journey so far!

    As others have pointed out, you managed a significant change with only 3-4 days a week of exercise and without changing your diet. Rather than significantly changing your diet, why not instead make some small tweaks to your current diet (1500 calories, maybe mix up the macros, even try slightly lifting it a little) and see where that takes you? You don't need to subject yourself to 1200 calories straight away when you already have results progressing.

    I train 4 times a week or so and am only dropping below 1200 calories two weeks away from my first bodybuilding comp. It is hell. I would not recommend it to anyone.
  • kailifr
    kailifr Posts: 1 Member
    I'm also trying to follow the 1 200 cal per day. I started 2 days ago, so far I feel fine, I don't feel hungry, I drink a lot and even have snacks!
  • ynarmous
    ynarmous Posts: 34 Member
    Congratulations on your journey so far!

    As others have pointed out, you managed a significant change with only 3-4 days a week of exercise and without changing your diet. Rather than significantly changing your diet, why not instead make some small tweaks to your current diet (1500 calories, maybe mix up the macros, even try slightly lifting it a little) and see where that takes you? You don't need to subject yourself to 1200 calories straight away when you already have results progressing.

    I train 4 times a week or so and am only dropping below 1200 calories two weeks away from my first bodybuilding comp. It is hell. I would not recommend it to anyone.

    Thank you for your reply! Would it be okay if I lift it to 1500cals/day if my goal is to lose 20lbs by 4th of July? That is actually my challenge to myself thats why I am trying to do this. Plus Im hitting the beach on the first week of May. I don't know what is the computation for it. I just followed what the MFP gave and the fitness first recommended. 1200cals/day. So.. Thats it.
  • ynarmous
    ynarmous Posts: 34 Member
    kailifr wrote: »
    I'm also trying to follow the 1 200 cal per day. I started 2 days ago, so far I feel fine, I don't feel hungry, I drink a lot and even have snacks!

    Hey! I also started doing 2 days ago but always exceed 1200, on the first day I got up to 1500cals, yesterday was about 1300cals.
  • _Justinian_
    _Justinian_ Posts: 232 Member
    My TDEE is 1934. If all I am doing that day is going to work and then playing video games or reading a book, then 1200-1300 calories that day gets me along just fine.
  • scookbey
    scookbey Posts: 84 Member
    Did you update your goals? Put in your new weight and weight goal. You don't want to torment yourself for no reason--just to be more accurate
  • Kaylee231
    Kaylee231 Posts: 2 Member
    ynarmous wrote: »
    kailifr wrote: »
    I'm also trying to follow the 1 200 cal per day. I started 2 days ago, so far I feel fine, I don't feel hungry, I drink a lot and even have snacks!

    Hey! I also started doing 2 days ago but always exceed 1200, on the first day I got up to 1500cals, yesterday was about 1300cals.

    I'm doing 1200, too! I started a week ago and almost always exceed the amount. As others have said 1200 calories is the minimum and if you are under it, MFP won't even let you complete your food diary for the day! My first day, I was about 1300 cals, but my second say, I only ate a bit over 800 cals. That's just how I am, though. Now, I've gotten to where I can stay at maybe 50-200 cals over the 1200 cal limit, and that is with fast food and snacks occasionally. As long as you aren't over eating on sweets and other unhealthy things all day, I wouldn't worry about going over the 1200 cals. Especially with how much you are exorcising. In my opinion, you look amazing! Keep up the good work, you don't wanna lose too much weight or you will look anorexic.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    edited April 2015
    ynarmous wrote: »
    Congratulations on your journey so far!

    As others have pointed out, you managed a significant change with only 3-4 days a week of exercise and without changing your diet. Rather than significantly changing your diet, why not instead make some small tweaks to your current diet (1500 calories, maybe mix up the macros, even try slightly lifting it a little) and see where that takes you? You don't need to subject yourself to 1200 calories straight away when you already have results progressing.

    I train 4 times a week or so and am only dropping below 1200 calories two weeks away from my first bodybuilding comp. It is hell. I would not recommend it to anyone.

    Thank you for your reply! Would it be okay if I lift it to 1500cals/day if my goal is to lose 20lbs by 4th of July? That is actually my challenge to myself thats why I am trying to do this. Plus Im hitting the beach on the first week of May. I don't know what is the computation for it. I just followed what the MFP gave and the fitness first recommended. 1200cals/day. So.. Thats it.

    Just wanted to add, you have not much to lose, the closer to your goal weight the harder it takes to lose, it took me several months just to lose the last 5 pounds to reach my goal weight. So don't be disappointed if you don't hit your goal by the 4th of July ( I don't set goal dates as they never happen then I get depressed). I agree with everyone else, up your calories!! I lost more weight upping then I did starving myself on 1200 calories and more then likely when you set up your goals up I bet you set it to 2 pound loss a week, change it 1 pound a week and then to a half pound a week when get closer to your goal weight.

    ETA: I lost weight eating around 1800 calories, I am 5'2 and 45 years old.
  • kellyj0729
    kellyj0729 Posts: 44 Member
    Just want to give my 2 cents....our stats very similar, I was 142 lbs at 5'3'' and I did 1,200 calories for most of 2014, I got to my goal of 115 lbs. I was definitely thinner, but my body fat % was still higher than I wanted. When you lose weight, you lose muscle as well as fat. I wish I knew what I knew now- I should have been doing strength training to build lean muscle instead of just cardio to lose weight. I don't see last year as a complete waste because I learned portion control, measuring food, understanding what I was putting into my body. BUT- I was evil, my husband said I was miserable- 1,200 calories I was HANGRY. I was in denial that I was hungry b/c I was consistently losing weight and didn't want to up the calories. Long story short, I upped my calories, hired a trainer, and have been lifting weights 3x week in addition to some cardio, yoga, running (whatever I feel like). I am happier with my body now than at 115 lbs. I look more toned and much firmer in my butt and thighs. I am currently 130 lbs and have gone from 26.4% body fat to 24.6% body fat in about 8 weeks. Good luck on your journey, but it's not necessary to consume only 1,200 calories.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    I'm 5"8 and mfp gave me 1200 calories, before the glitch.
    5"3 is tiny, to me anyway. So 1200 calories a day wouldn't be unheard of...
    Having said that, if you can avoid eating that low definitely do so!
  • dstein46
    dstein46 Posts: 28 Member
    I am 5'6" and also doing 1200 cals a day, have been doing it for the past 2 weeks, and before that I was doing 1000cals a day. I am much happier on 1200 calories a day and I also exercise 5-6 times a week. Losing that last bit of weight is hard but keep going because your doing great!!
  • ynarmous
    ynarmous Posts: 34 Member
    Kaylee231 wrote: »
    ynarmous wrote: »
    kailifr wrote: »
    I'm also trying to follow the 1 200 cal per day. I started 2 days ago, so far I feel fine, I don't feel hungry, I drink a lot and even have snacks!

    Hey! I also started doing 2 days ago but always exceed 1200, on the first day I got up to 1500cals, yesterday was about 1300cals.

    I'm doing 1200, too! I started a week ago and almost always exceed the amount. As others have said 1200 calories is the minimum and if you are under it, MFP won't even let you complete your food diary for the day! My first day, I was about 1300 cals, but my second say, I only ate a bit over 800 cals. That's just how I am, though. Now, I've gotten to where I can stay at maybe 50-200 cals over the 1200 cal limit, and that is with fast food and snacks occasionally. As long as you aren't over eating on sweets and other unhealthy things all day, I wouldn't worry about going over the 1200 cals. Especially with how much you are exorcising. In my opinion, you look amazing! Keep up the good work, you don't wanna lose too much weight or you will look anorexic.

    Thank you for your reply.. I think I'll just increase it to 1300-1400/day btw I think you should too :) , I actually eat alot for breakfast like 1 cup of rice, 3oz pink salmon, 1 hard boiled egg and 1 med orange. I eat average for lunch, I do have snacks. But for dinner I just have fruits or herbalife shake, or steamed veggies with oyster sauce... And I am far from being anorexic, Im actually a bit of chunky... I just naturally have small waist because I have an hourglass figure. My upper thighs are 23.5 in circumference. Woah. I have large thighs, legs and arms. So I dont really look that fat but I kinda am... And go girl, update me when you reach your goal! Thank you for your post.
  • ynarmous
    ynarmous Posts: 34 Member
    Serah87 wrote: »
    ynarmous wrote: »
    Congratulations on your journey so far!

    As others have pointed out, you managed a significant change with only 3-4 days a week of exercise and without changing your diet. Rather than significantly changing your diet, why not instead make some small tweaks to your current diet (1500 calories, maybe mix up the macros, even try slightly lifting it a little) and see where that takes you? You don't need to subject yourself to 1200 calories straight away when you already have results progressing.

    I train 4 times a week or so and am only dropping below 1200 calories two weeks away from my first bodybuilding comp. It is hell. I would not recommend it to anyone.

    Thank you for your reply! Would it be okay if I lift it to 1500cals/day if my goal is to lose 20lbs by 4th of July? That is actually my challenge to myself thats why I am trying to do this. Plus Im hitting the beach on the first week of May. I don't know what is the computation for it. I just followed what the MFP gave and the fitness first recommended. 1200cals/day. So.. Thats it.

    Just wanted to add, you have not much to lose, the closer to your goal weight the harder it takes to lose, it took me several months just to lose the last 5 pounds to reach my goal weight. So don't be disappointed if you don't hit your goal by the 4th of July ( I don't set goal dates as they never happen then I get depressed). I agree with everyone else, up your calories!! I lost more weight upping then I did starving myself on 1200 calories and more then likely when you set up your goals up I bet you set it to 2 pound loss a week, change it 1 pound a week and then to a half pound a week when get closer to your goal weight.

    ETA: I lost weight eating around 1800 calories, I am 5'2 and 45 years old.

    Woah. But thats totally okay. It really is a matter of lifestyle not just a short term diet plan. Thats what I am trying to do now. I eat the usual foods I eat but I just exclude some junkfoods I have before, but I still it eat occassionally... I dont set goals to date before too thats why I am trying to do it now.. And lets see if I could reach goals faster idk... Yes I am increasing my food intake now to 1300-1400cals a day... Thank you for your reply. :)