1200 calorie count??

If throughout my day I eat less than 1200 calories 'goal' is it ok to leave them? I.e 900 n that's it?
Do I have to eat all my 1200?

Also the goal for fat, protein iron ECt on the nutrition tab, do you have to eat upto your goal or upto and under it?
Thank you
A very confused starving dieter :)

Replies

  • TxTiffani
    TxTiffani Posts: 799 Member
    What are your stats? (Height/weight/#s to lose to goal)
  • Justine2102
    Justine2102 Posts: 23 Member
    5ft2 and 13st2 And 1200 calories goal x
  • ElizabethOakes2
    ElizabethOakes2 Posts: 1,038 Member
    How tall are you, how much do you weigh? How much weight do you have to lose? Unless you're very petite or have thyroid or other metabolism issues or are severely obese and under doctor supervision, you probably aren't eating enough.
    Yes, your macros should line pretty closely, otherwise, you're going to end up malnourished.

    Instead of considering this a 'diet', why not make a lifestyle change of healthier eating and exercise, instead of starving yourself in ways that will cause malnutrition? :)
  • eeejer
    eeejer Posts: 339 Member
    a goal is something you hit, not miss.
  • chrrum
    chrrum Posts: 2 Member
    This depends very much on your individual body/lifestyle. What is your...
    - Somatype
    - Activity level
    - Workout regime
    - Goal
  • Justine2102
    Justine2102 Posts: 23 Member
    How tall are you, how much do you weigh? How much weight do you have to lose? Unless you're very petite or have thyroid or other metabolism issues or are severely obese and under doctor supervision, you probably aren't eating enough.
    Yes, your macros should line pretty closely, otherwise, you're going to end up malnourished.

    Instead of considering this a 'diet', why not make a lifestyle change of healthier eating and exercise, instead of starving yourself in ways that will cause malnutrition? :)
    I'm 5ft2 and 13st2, Iv always struggled and it's hard as I don't like salad and fruit, just veggies.
    Iv currently started a diet chef programme too, but 3 meals and 1 snack a day, which is the plan comes in sometimes at 900 cal.
    So I just wanted to know if I had to eat up to 1200.
    The last thing I want is to go into starvation mode.
    Thanks for your reply :smile:

  • JennEph
    JennEph Posts: 44 Member
    I'm almost the same @Justine2102 I'm 5'2", 125 lbs (that's recent) and had to lower my 1200 to 1100 seems to be working ok but apparently we're "starving" ourselves.....(I have a chronic illness makes it hard to eat most days other days I binge eat)
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    edited May 2016
    1200 is a goal to "meet." If you eat a little over, you lose a little slower, if you eat a little under you lose a little faster.

    But, there are a couple things to consider. 1200 is MFPs default minimum. This number is to help women meet nutritional goals. This can be a "safe" number for smaller women, but taller (or younger) ladies should eat more.

    Losing quickly can come with a steep price tag - a larger % of lean muscle mass loss.

    So - aim for 1200 (at least) if you are short once in awhile, not a big deal. If you are consistently short.....plan better. It's fine to slow weight loss down too. Do the thing that will help you stay consistent. Find a number you can live with for awhile.

    Macros - protein, fat and carbs. Treat protein and fat as a minimum. If you go over here, that's fine. Protein, fat and fiber are filling. Protein and fat are necessary for so many bodily functions.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    chrrum wrote: »
    This depends very much on your individual body/lifestyle. What is your...
    - Somatype
    - Activity level
    - Workout regime
    - Goal

    soma types are outdated.different types of bodies dont have any bearing on weight loss,its all about CICO
  • ElizabethOakes2
    ElizabethOakes2 Posts: 1,038 Member
    So at 13 stone, you're solidly in the 'obese' range, so 1200 calories is a good goal for 2 pounds a week. It's harder when you're short (I'm 5' 3", so I get the struggle.)
    You won't go into 'starvation' mode. It doesn't really work that way.
    JennEph, she's the one who said she was a 'starving dieter'- You shouldn't have to starve yourself to lose weight. :) You have to nourish your body.
    If you're still hungry after eating your 900 calorie plan, you probably aren't eating enough. Period. If the plan is working for you and you aren't hungry, and you don't feel fatigued, aren't having headaches, etc, and are losing no more than 2 pounds a week, you're probably fine to eat less. If you're fatigued, hungry, having headaches, or find yourself losing 3 or 4 pounds a week, you might need to eat more. *shrug*
  • chrrum
    chrrum Posts: 2 Member
    edited May 2016
    Where did you get the number 1,200 calories a day? By most calculators you should be closer to 1,500 calories for healthy weight loss. (http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/macronutcal.htm)

    As for somatypes being outdated - don't believe the hype. I understand that many people consider this to be outdated, but actually it factors enormously into your macronutrient calculation. While calories in vs. calories out truly controls weight loss, different somatypes / metabolic types will have a vastly different emotional/hunger experiences on high-carb/low-carb diets. We all have vastly different metabolic engines and hormonal profiles.
  • sarahjen92
    sarahjen92 Posts: 64 Member
    What Elizabeth said! You need to eat no less than 1,100 to 1,200 calories. Since you're 5'2", I wouldn't go under 1,200. Keep in mind, if you do any working out/exercise, you need to eat back some of those calories as well. I try to eat back 50%, though some days it's more or less.
    Try to hit your macros as best as you can. The ones I try the most to keep high is protein and fiber. Carbs and fat come secondary, mainly because they're pretty easy to go OVER. You'll find that the more whole foods you eat, the easier it will be to hit your macros. Try to limit pastas and breads, and eat more healthy fats, protein (chicken, beef, eggs), yogurt, vegetables and fruit (watch your portions on fruit).
    You shouldn't have to starve yourself :)
  • Justine2102
    Justine2102 Posts: 23 Member
    JennEph wrote: »
    I'm almost the same @Justine2102 I'm 5'2", 125 lbs (that's recent) and had to lower my 1200 to 1100 seems to be working ok but apparently we're "starving" ourselves.....(I have a chronic illness makes it hard to eat most days other days I binge eat)

    It's hard isent it, iv always struggled, I'm an emotinal eater, which is sometimes hard to fight. Then you find your so unhappy about your weight. It's a vicious circle, for years this has been me.
    7 weeks ago a had my 2nd darling daughter and I want go get back to a decent size and weight. Thank you for all your replys.
    I'll eat upto 1200 now I know
  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
    edited May 2016
    Watch your macros.. try to get your recommended protein and fats and if you're under your calories it's not all that big of a deal for a day. You can also look at things over the period of a week. Take the last 7 days add all the calories together and divide by 7. If it's in the 1200 range you're doing ok. If you start feeling tired or lethargic then you might not be getting enough calories, but the 1200 number is just that... a number. Small framed women around the 5' mark sometimes eat less, at least in my experience. It's all good, just don't starve yourself because of some image you feel you need to be in the mirror. This journey is all about your health.

    But, if you are hungry, you're either not eating the right things or you're not eating enough.. and in that case I'd say go eat more up to your 1200 calories.
  • Justine2102
    Justine2102 Posts: 23 Member
    Thank you I'll keep that in mind I was very hungry so I are 2 boiled eat to too me up and haven't gone over the 1200 cal today, I'll try again with my macros, never seen those before, I'll try and get my head around it.
    Thanks again
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    chrrum wrote: »
    Where did you get the number 1,200 calories a day? By most calculators you should be closer to 1,500 calories for healthy weight loss. (http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/macronutcal.htm)

    As for somatypes being outdated - don't believe the hype. I understand that many people consider this to be outdated, but actually it factors enormously into your macronutrient calculation. While calories in vs. calories out truly controls weight loss, different somatypes / metabolic types will have a vastly different emotional/hunger experiences on high-carb/low-carb diets. We all have vastly different metabolic engines and hormonal profiles.

    I tried eating the way it told me for my body type because I did believe the hype at one time. it doesnt matter how I eat( body type wise) I still lose weight. if that were the case i would not have achieved a lot of the things I have ,because I dont eat for a certain body type.sure everyones metabolism if different but that depends on many many factors,same with hormones no one has the same amount of hormones and so on.
  • TxTiffani
    TxTiffani Posts: 799 Member
    Did I read that you had a baby 7 wks ago? If so, congrats Mommy;) Are you nursing? If so, you need to be eating more for sure. I'm 5'1 so I also get the struggle but I'm super hungry if I eat less than 1100-1200 cals. Plus your body is still recovering from a big event for your body and with a newborn you're prob not sleeping great either...restricting so low is probably not the best thing. Shoot for at least 1200, imo. If you 40-60lbs overweight then you can still lose pretty quickly eating more than 1200 cals;)