1200 Calories a day!
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I stick to 800 to 900kcal. The hard part is to find nutritious food, so you can have less calories, while still getting all the nutrients - but is helps you building a healthy diet. You should be fine with 1200kcal.
It's disturbing that you're starving yourself. It's distressing that you're on the internet telling other people it is ok to do so.0 -
I'm set at 1200 too....and it's not a number I would have chosen! It was assigned to me by the app. I would have went with 1500. I add in all my activity calories and let myself have cheat meals about once a week (though they don't always push me over on calorie count). The thing that is odd to me is that Garmin Connect will often say I have a few hundred activity calories, but when I look at MFP they only add a few calories for extra steps. I know they're synced correctly because other data is in both apps.
Anyway, I had 14 lbs to lose and am only 5'0" so maybe that's why I'm set so low. I've enjoyed reading the responses here but I'm pretty sure most of us at 1200 are there because the app said so, not a random choice. :-(0 -
Does anyone know what my total daily cals should be to lose weight? I am female and currently weigh 188.8kg/ 261lbs. My height is about 1.68-1.70/5ft6-7. The suggested calorie intake was about 1200 cals.
Feel free to add me.0 -
I'm set at 1200 too....and it's not a number I would have chosen! It was assigned to me by the app. I would have went with 1500. I add in all my activity calories and let myself have cheat meals about once a week (though they don't always push me over on calorie count). The thing that is odd to me is that Garmin Connect will often say I have a few hundred activity calories, but when I look at MFP they only add a few calories for extra steps. I know they're synced correctly because other data is in both apps.
Anyway, I had 14 lbs to lose and am only 5'0" so maybe that's why I'm set so low. I've enjoyed reading the responses here but I'm pretty sure most of us at 1200 are there because the app said so, not a random choice. :-(
Keep in mind with MFP, those calories are pre exercise. When you exercise, you are supposed to eat more calories. And how many lbs per week did you select?
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Does anyone know what my total daily cals should be to lose weight? I am female and currently weigh 188.8kg/ 261lbs. My height is about 1.68-1.70/5ft6-7. The suggested calorie intake was about 1200 cals.
Feel free to add me.
What did MFP give you? Do you exercise (if so, what kind and for how long)? Do you have any medical conditions (hypothyroidism, PCOS, etc..)?
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Does anyone know what my total daily cals should be to lose weight? I am female and currently weigh 188.8kg/ 261lbs. My height is about 1.68-1.70/5ft6-7. The suggested calorie intake was about 1200 cals.
It all depends on how much you need to lose and how quickly you want to get it done. The general guidelines are .5 pounds of weight loss per week for every 25 pounds you are over your goal. There's a fair bit of debate on goal weights, and it's certainly not an exact science, but a smart approach seems to be based on lean mass and body fat percentage. Assuming you're looking to lose 100+ pounds, you can safely go 2 pounds per week, or approximately a 1000 calorie per day deficit below your TDEE. Your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) is based on activity, height, weight, and age. Put in the data, let MFP crunch the numbers, and eat at that level while getting enough nutrition. Your MFP Goals will show you what your targets are.0 -
I'm set at 1200 too....and it's not a number I would have chosen! It was assigned to me by the app. I would have went with 1500. I add in all my activity calories and let myself have cheat meals about once a week (though they don't always push me over on calorie count). The thing that is odd to me is that Garmin Connect will often say I have a few hundred activity calories, but when I look at MFP they only add a few calories for extra steps. I know they're synced correctly because other data is in both apps.
Anyway, I had 14 lbs to lose and am only 5'0" so maybe that's why I'm set so low. I've enjoyed reading the responses here but I'm pretty sure most of us at 1200 are there because the app said so, not a random choice. :-(
1500 sounds more reasonable for you, if you are using TDEE method (not eating exercise cals back). with only 6 lbs to go you should set your goal to lose 0.5lbs/week and eat back at least some of the cals you burn from exercise.
The app wont let you go lower than 1200. And this is a goal based on what the user inputted for their weekly weight loss goal (most people put 2lbs/week when 0.5 or 1 is probably more appropriate for the amount they have to lose). and the 1200 goal assumes you will be eating back the cals you burn from exercise.0 -
I'm 5'5" and MFP says the same - that I'm around 1200. I've definitely had to change how I eat, but I'm finding a lot of things I really, really enjoy and tend to eat the same thing for 2-3 days and then choose new foods. Always have breakfast and make sure you're having a lot of veggies and lean protein. I've started having veggies with breakfast too! Just look up your food beforehand at first until you get the hang of whats best for you to eat. Add me and we can chat some more
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let myself have cheat meals about once a week
As long as you log and pay attention to what you're eating, you're just eating above target--Not cheating.
Even if you choose sedentary in MFP, it assumes you have some level of activity, which is why Garmin Connect shows more activity calories than MFP. Do you have negative adjustments enabled? If you do, you'll see the effect at the start of the day when you've been in bed six or seven hours and not moving around, and will see where those "missing" calories went in moving them between Garmin Connect and MFP.The thing that is odd to me is that Garmin Connect will often say I have a few hundred activity calories, but when I look at MFP they only add a few calories for extra steps. I know they're synced correctly because other data is in both apps.
They really need to make the site and app pop up a warning when constructing a plan that says says you want to lose weight at 2 pounds per week when you're so close to goal. It will be extremely difficult and very frustrating and disappointing to try to lose weight at the same rate when you're 6 pounds over versus 56 pounds over versus 106 pounds over. Yes, you still eat at a deficit. Yes, exercise will still increase the deficit. Where it differs though is that your ability to create the same deficit at 50 pounds over a goal is very different than 10 pounds over that goal. The magic number--the deficit--is the same. Your ability to create it is what changes. Simply put, there's a lot more of you to keep alive at 50 pounds over versus 10, and there's a lot more of you to haul around.Anyway, I had 14 lbs to lose and am only 5'0" so maybe that's why I'm set so low. I've enjoyed reading the responses here but I'm pretty sure most of us at 1200 are there because the app said so, not a random choice. :-(0 -
What did MFP give you? Do you exercise (if so, what kind and for how long)? Do you have any medical conditions (hypothyroidism, PCOS, etc..)?
I have just started "dieting" again. Today is day 5. I am going to try and exercise at least 3 times a week, but I've been sentinel for so long, that I want to start slowly. So far I have stuck to this and have done: 60 minutes aerobics, which also included strength training, 60 minutes of zumba twice, and walking which I only include when I am going to/fro the gym as an exercise. As it was week 1, I needed to rest, because I was in a lot of pain. I have no body strength whatsoever.
I haven't got any medical conditions, that I am aware of.6502programmer wrote: »
It all depends on how much you need to lose and how quickly you want to get it done. The general guidelines are .5 pounds of weight loss per week for every 25 pounds you are over your goal. There's a fair bit of debate on goal weights, and it's certainly not an exact science, but a smart approach seems to be based on lean mass and body fat percentage. Assuming you're looking to lose 100+ pounds, you can safely go 2 pounds per week, or approximately a 1000 calorie per day deficit below your TDEE. Your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) is based on activity, height, weight, and age. Put in the data, let MFP crunch the numbers, and eat at that level while getting enough nutrition. Your MFP Goals will show you what your targets are.
I put in the data and saw the goals, but MFP told me my total calorie intake should be 1200, which seemed really low to me, as I am only starting off. I didn't realise it was meant to be about 1000 below my TDEE. I will check this.
I want to lose a lot, I want to be about 57-60kg/125-132lbs, but I want to be realistic and lose it in a safe way.
Thanks for you replies!
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I net around 1200 calories a day...I always aim to EAT only 1200 but I push myself to workout really hard, so I don't feel bad if I net the 1200 instead. I'm 5'6" and 166lbs now...I've been a size 0-2 my entire life so the fact that I have gotten this heavy over the past 8 months is pretty crazy in my little world. I'd love to be friends! I'm pretty hardcore about keeping up with MFP these days!0
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Mine is set at 1250...I don't see a problem with it! Some days are harder than others but it's all about portion control and lots of water! I'm 5'2" 113lbs0
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I maintain at 124 lb with around 2000-2100 calories per day. Am 5'6. Honestly, I couldn't survive on 1200 calories per day. I'd die lol...0
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sandimejia25 wrote: »Supper excited to start a weight loss plan!
Need to stick to 1200 calories or less.
What is your plan??
No no no no no no no.
1200 needs to be the bare minimum. You never go lower. And 1200 is really only for very small people. (I'm only 4'11" 5/8 and I'm still losing weight on a LOT more than 1200).0 -
It also depends on age. My metabolism is slower. I am eating max 1200, sometimes falling under to 900, working out heavy for 5-6 days/week and still don't lose more than a steady 5-6 lbs/month. Which is fine as I don't want to get unnecessarily wrinkly. 0
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MFP also set me on 1200. I basically just cut out all the snacks I was eating because sometimes I would eat them just because I was bored. I'm a little over two weeks in and I've already gotten used to it. I've never counted calories before, but the moment I started doing so it encouraged to me to eat less because I hated seeing the numbers add up. Now I can't imagine going back to mindlessly snacking like I used to.
Here's a tip: always keep an eye out for low calorie alternatives, because they show up in surprising places. For example, I only realized a couple days ago that the brand of hamburger buns I buy have way less calories than two slices of the bread I buy. Now I make all my sandwiches with those hamburger buns, and it tastes just as good.0 -
1200 too I'm only 5'3".. Trying hard to stick to it0
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learningtolove wrote: »You must be tiny to stick to 1200 or less. Even at 5'3 when I got down to 110 lbs I had to eat 1500 to maintain.
Now I'm 145 and have to eat 1600 or under to lose.
Good luck!
Hum wonder if someone can help me change my calorie goal. I am just above 145 lbs. and MFP has my goal at 1200. I have tried many time to up it but it always reverts to 1200. To get around it I just eat some of my exercise calories and aim for between 1300 and 1400. But it does somehow feel like less successful than it would if the goal was set a wee bit higher. Silly mind games I know.0 -
Pinnacle_IAO wrote: »
1200 is a popular number, but sometimes it's not enough to eat, and a person loses weight too fast only to gain in all back.sandimejia25 wrote: »Supper excited to start a weight loss plan!
Need to stick to 1200 calories or less.
What is your plan??
Be careful!
You may want to look into the MFP recommendations for steady, safe and lasting results that might come slower, but again, your results are long-term.
Good luck to you, and welcome
and that's EXACTLY what happened to me. Now I'm currently on 1600 and still losing.... and most importantly - am not starving!0 -
courtneylykins5 wrote: »It's not too hard when you get used to it. But I don't have a plan per se other than saving most calories for a big dinner. I eat what I want and swap out higher calorie foods for lower calorie substitutions when I can and when they are palatable. Feel free to add me. My diary is open to friends.
I have seen this a lot on here saving calories for a big dinner , what I have been told is Breakfast like a king , lunch like a queen and dinner like a pauper - this is pretty much because you really don't need energy (much) to sleep , but more to fuel your body throughout the day ??0 -
As many has said here the MFP give you a suggest it is not a strict value and you can adjust it your self.
Myhome - Goals - change goals and say you want to adjust it manually then you can change it to somewhat higher. MFP suggest me 1580 but i know i feel better with 1800.
You have to try and see what you are comfortable with this should be done without doing any extra exercise to find out if you can eat this and feel comfortable. The exercise will then give you some extra, to have if there is some outside eating where cal counting is hard or if you feel give you some extra because it is going well.
Good Luck and take it easy the kilos did not come over night and will not go off overnight.0 -
I rejoined mfp in mid feb and till a few weeks back I was on 1200 diet! Believe me I have never felt so stressed and unhinged. I was under a lot of pressure to stay within that limit and if I couldn't then I used to whine and rant on my wall. But luckily, I have good support system here so some suggested to increase my goal to 1500 a day. Believe me, I am lot satisfied, happy and rant less about my cal intake 0
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I'm set at 1200 too....and it's not a number I would have chosen! It was assigned to me by the app. I would have went with 1500. I add in all my activity calories and let myself have cheat meals about once a week (though they don't always push me over on calorie count). The thing that is odd to me is that Garmin Connect will often say I have a few hundred activity calories, but when I look at MFP they only add a few calories for extra steps. I know they're synced correctly because other data is in both apps.
Anyway, I had 14 lbs to lose and am only 5'0" so maybe that's why I'm set so low. I've enjoyed reading the responses here but I'm pretty sure most of us at 1200 are there because the app said so, not a random choice. :-(
The "app" doesn't SAY anything or TELL you what to do.
YOU tell the APP that you want to lose 2lbs a week which may or may not be a suitable goal (hint: with 14lbs to lose and 5' tall, it is NOT a suitable goal), and the app tries to accommodate you without going below a minimum of 1200Cal a day before you eat back your exercise calories.
Given your height you may be one of the few people who legitimately need to eat at 1200 in order to lose; though in all probability you could increase that with a little bit of exercise.
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What did MFP give you? Do you exercise (if so, what kind and for how long)? Do you have any medical conditions (hypothyroidism, PCOS, etc..)?
I have just started "dieting" again. Today is day 5. I am going to try and exercise at least 3 times a week, but I've been sentinel for so long, that I want to start slowly. So far I have stuck to this and have done: 60 minutes aerobics, which also included strength training, 60 minutes of zumba twice, and walking which I only include when I am going to/fro the gym as an exercise. As it was week 1, I needed to rest, because I was in a lot of pain. I have no body strength whatsoever.
I haven't got any medical conditions, that I am aware of.
Based on your stats you could love as a higher rate, especially if you are exercising. The app gave you 1200 calories because you selected you wanted to lose 2 lbs a week. The app is merely a dummy system that is based off your inputs. What most people don't realize, or don't want to follow, is if you exercise, you are supposed to eat back exercise calories since the deficit is already baked in. Personally, I would start you at 1600 calories (probably just less than 2 lbs per week loss if you are exercising. I would drop carbs a bit and up protein. So I would put your macronutrients at 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fats.
Custom goals can be set here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/my_goals
And if you use this method, do not eat back exercise calories.
And for those who are new, I would check out the stickies at the top of the page, especially the ones below.
Calorie Counting 101
Logging accuracy, consistency, and you're probably eating more than you think.
A guide to get you started on your path to Sexypants.
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I stick to 800 to 900kcal. The hard part is to find nutritious food, so you can have less calories, while still getting all the nutrients - but is helps you building a healthy diet. You should be fine with 1200kcal.
800-900 is amount I used to eat when I had an eating disorder -.- 5'11" and I ended up being 125 lbs... please be careful !!0 -
I like food. a lot.0
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I find limiting carbs helps. I usually have a piece of fruit for breakfast so it's super low cal and then I can eat more for dinner or I'll have extra cals saved for a snack after I put kids to bed. High protein helps too. I had the worst diet ever yesterday and still stayed just under 1400. Bloated, but happy I didn't over do it, which is easy when there's a box of pizza in front of you!!!0
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Childfree1991 wrote: »I maintain at 124 lb with around 2000-2100 calories per day. Am 5'6. Honestly, I couldn't survive on 1200 calories per day. I'd die lol...
2000 would not be your net calories though.
OP can eat more than 1200 too - that is her net calories before any excercise.
And she is aiming for weight loss, not maitenance.
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KANGOOJUMPS wrote: »I like food. a lot.
Oh man me too0 -
I'm at 1200 to lose as well.
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