Is 1200 calories too little?

pinkcupcakecouture
pinkcupcakecouture Posts: 5 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I've eaten 1200 calories a day for as long as I can remember. Somedays it can be miserable so I will typically eat back MFP exercise calories, putting me at closer to 1400. I'm at a good weight for my height but it seems like even those low numbers have me at maintenance level. It's very frustrating/confusing. I gain weight VERY easily and I'm terrified of ending up back where i started. I've ended up on that road a few times.

Replies

  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    It totally depends on the individual. Besides body size things like genetics, medications, medical disorders, and others can affect how many calories you need to lose or maintain your weight.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    It depends. Are you very short? Your profile pic looks like you are?

    Do you weigh all your food on a food scale? Maybe you aren't eating the amount of calories you think you are.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
    It totally depends on the individual. Besides body size things like genetics, medications, medical disorders, and others can affect how many calories you need to lose or maintain your weight.

    This^^^

    1200 gross is honestly probably too little for you, especially since it sounds like eating back exercise calories isn't something you do normally so it sounds you're really netting closer to 1000.

    Do you get 200 extra cals from exercise you do outside of you job? What is your daily activity level set at?
  • ald783
    ald783 Posts: 688 Member
    I think you need to just play around with your calories a bit and see how many you can eat and not gain (or lose, not sure if you're trying to lose more or just maintain). You can try increasing your intake by 100 at a time and see how that works.

    Some people will disagree with this but I also don't think all calories are created equal in terms of how efficiently your body can burn them. If I eat a bigger percentage of calories from protein, or get more fiber, I tend to be able to eat a bit more and maintain.
  • Karihappy
    Karihappy Posts: 116 Member
    I hear you, OP. I'm only 5'1", and I seem to be in maintenance at 1300-1400. Sometimes I feel like chucking it all and saying to heck with it, but then I realize I've lost over 40 pounds (before this weekend, where I GAINED 4.4 pounds!), and that I feel so much better and look so much better and that it really isn't that hard since I'm eating food I love. It will never be fair that I can't eat what my husband does every day and stays thin (bacon, potato and eggs every morning, ice cream, cookies, bread, salami, peanuts, protein bars, etc.), but I also have to realize that's what got me to over 200 pounds to begin with. Don't get so down that you say to heck with it. Be happy you are at a good weight that you feel good at. It looks like you have lost a lot of weight. Be proud of yourself, and keep on keeping on. :)
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  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    edited June 2016
    What height are you? if you are at a good weight then its time to reverse diet and slowly add extra calories so you can find out your true TDEE - it takes several weeks to detemine true TDEE, don't be cutting calories if you see a hike on the scale to begin with either, just let your body get accustomed to more food.

    I'm 5ft 2 /46yrs and maintain my goal range 128-132lbs eating 2100-2300 calories a day (I'm very active)
  • JLPersall
    JLPersall Posts: 43 Member
    I just had to say awesome loss! You look fabulous :smiley:
  • katemartino8
    katemartino8 Posts: 17 Member
    Hi! There are many other factors in weight loss other than calories in and out, like stress level, sleep quality, nutrient deficiencies and quantity and types of food you're consuming. It's difficult to say exactly what you can do, other than trial and error to find what works best for you.

    I have a group for positive support and weight loss/lifestyle tips beyond calories and macros, so if you'd like a friendly and motivating space to enjoy the journey of losing weight, join in!
  • koreangurl
    koreangurl Posts: 59 Member
    Depends on the person but 1200 is pretty low for the average joe :)
  • mallygirl420
    mallygirl420 Posts: 66 Member
    I'm at 1200 to achieve a 2 lb weight loss a week goal (per my MFP recommendation). But I exercise daily and eat those "earned" cals too. I'm 5'4, 27 years old and 145ish lbs.

  • SamanthaLouiseMence
    SamanthaLouiseMence Posts: 663 Member
    I don't think height matters. I'm 5"1, 25years and I struggle to eat 1200 a day
    I'm usually in the 900 cals, by making myself eat, but I make myself eat 3 meals a day as I used to only eat 1 meal a day which wasn't very good
  • melonaulait
    melonaulait Posts: 769 Member
    If you feel hungry, weak and miserable eating 1200-1400, you should most likely eat more. Could it be that you need to switch up the foods you eat? Are you getting enough nutrients etc?
  • pinkcupcakecouture
    pinkcupcakecouture Posts: 5 Member
    I'm 5'4 pretty active, I workout 4 days a week average different forms of cardio and strength training. I'm a hairstylist, so on my feet most of the day when I'm bored I walk circles around the salon I don't like sitting still lol. But yea it seems I'm always hungry, it's 2 am and I'm up with hunger pangs and trying to go back to sleep and ignore it.
  • DebSozo
    DebSozo Posts: 2,578 Member
    I did an extended diet of 1200 calories and eventually plateaued. I was miserable too because I could eat a lot more and maintained at a higher calorie range before I restricted. I do think my body acclimated to the lower calories.

    It took a while for the readjustment, but now I can maintain at 1600-1800. That means I still have to drop back down to 1200 or to lose more weight. I'm scared to do the low calories because I don't want my body to get used to the low calories again. So OP I hear where you are coming from.

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