having a hard time with 1200 calorie goal

I do 1200 net. I know it is unsustainable per se, but I set it that low in order to force me into exercise. I will open up my diary for a bit so you can see how it works for me.

Then dont do 1200. The key is to pick a deficit you can sustain. Have a smaller deficit i.e 1lb a week is maintenance -500 and then maybe do some exercise, which as an additional bonus will let you eat a bit extra. A 1500 cal a day is much easier than 1200.

dinia07 wrote: »

Maybe I should do 1500 cal. Thanks everyone. I think i shouldn't rush in losing 25 lbs excess weight. Anyway I just gave birth to my twins 8 weeks ago. Too tired and starving.

Definitely! Please don't be so tough on yourself especially when you're still recently post-partum. Your body is still healing and I can't even imagine how much work 8 week old twins are! You need to fuel your body. If you restrict yourself too much it will quickly become unsustainable and miserable. If you can lose on 1500 (or even higher) than do it. Make sure you set your profile to a small weekly loss rather than aiming for 1-2lbs a week and to reflect if you're breast feeding/pumping because that requires more calories. It's great to be motivated to lose weight but you also need to be gentle with yourself - you just grew two people!

Hi, I'm trying to lose 25 as well and had to up my calories from 1200 to 1500. I'll be maintaining for the rest of my life so wanted a diet\life style that I would stick to. It's working out great. You can try doing 1200 for 2 days out of the week and see how that goes. I was losing 2 lbs every 7 days on the 1200, it does work IF you can do it. I'm sure you will find a plan that works for you, just tweak it to suit yourself.
Best Wishes!!
Cheryl

I've been doing 1200 cals for 60 days for a 1lb a week loss and don't find it that bad. I manage 3 meals a day plus light snacking in the evening. On the days I exercise I only eat back about 20-70 calories.

Oh crumbs! If you have just had a baby, let alone two babes, all bets are off! Give yourself a chance to deal with this major change in your life properly nourished for the task. Congratulations!

I know what you are going through my twins are now almost 3
Don't push your self too much.
Try the 1500 cal

Focus on eliminating "bread, beer, pizza, pasta, cookies and cake". In other words, reduce bad carbs and empty calories. Next DONT eat after 6 pm. Lastly exercise 3 times a week for 30 min. Then if you must count calories, allow 1500-1800 a day.

Congratulations! It must be so hard to eat 1200 cals a day when you've got 8 week old twins. It sounds though like you're plucking numbers out of the air. Have you put your details into MFP and come up with that number? Firstly, I'd suspect that if you have you've set activity at sedentary and put a 2lb per week loss rate. I'd think that with twins you'll be at least lightly active. Set your weightloss to 1lb per week at the most and see what MFP sets your calorie goal at. If you can, weigh everything and make sure that what you think you are eating is correct. Finally, I'd recommend concentrating on getting your calories from protein rich foods that keep you satisfied longer and bulking up the plate with vegetables, if you do this, you may find that you have calories left for daily treats that help you stick to your diet.

peedubb23 wrote: »

Focus on eliminating "bread, beer, pizza, pasta, cookies and cake". In other words, reduce bad carbs and empty calories. Next DONT eat after 6 pm. Lastly exercise 3 times a week for 30 min. Then if you must count calories, allow 1500-1800 a day.

Nope. Just no to all of this. The time of the day that you eat is irrelevant for weight loss. And this OP has three kids under one years old...so pretty sure she should eat dinner whenever she gets a chance! While exercise is great for health and fitness, it's not required to lose weight. And there is nothing inherently wrong with carbs. If you can fit a slice of cake or beer into your daily allowance and it's enjoyable for you then great.

These kinds of 'rules' might work for you but they are not objectively true or useful for everyone.

I tried 1200 quite a few times and it became just too stressful and defeating when I go over it. In the past 13 days I've done 1600 and it's so much more manageable. Since I also try to hit 10,000 steps a day I also have activity calorie deficit. So far I've lost 6 lbs (which I'm sure 3 -4 are water weight lbs).

If you have an 11-month-old and twins babies I think you're already doing weight lifting every day. You know...pick up kid, put down kid, pick up other kid, put down other kid, pick up both babies, move babies over there, pick up other kid, put down other kid when a baby cries, pick up one kid to change diaper, put down kid, pick up another kid... Not to mention picking up toys all day long, lugging babies in carriers to the car, lifting 11-month-old into and out of car....etc., etc. Omg.

Eat more. You will be happier all round. Try to get enough sleep (hahaha, aren't I a hoot?), stay hydrated. Go for walks with the stroller if you can. Pat yourself on the back for managing all that goes along with having three young children!

peedubb23 wrote: »

Focus on eliminating "bread, beer, pizza, pasta, cookies and cake". In other words, reduce bad carbs and empty calories. Next DONT eat after 6 pm. Lastly exercise 3 times a week for 30 min. Then if you must count calories, allow 1500-1800 a day.

Wow, so much bad advice in so few words!