Are you on 1200 calories Day?

1200 is the starting number (MFP's minimum). If you exercise, plan on eating 50-75% of exercise calories back (that' how MFP is designed).

I don't snack, and I don't eat back my exercise calories, either. I skip breakfast, have a light lunch, and get most of my daily 1200 calories for dinner around 6pm. That's it for the evening. At 5'5" and currently 170 lbs., with moderate exercise, this lets me lose about 9 lbs. a month (down 75 so far). So if I'm breaking all the rules, well, there you are, but I feel great.

I didn't plan it but my pattern is 300, 400, 500. It works for me But, I could imagine it the other way around too (500, 400, 300). For me the challenge is getting the space throughout the day right (e.g., same sort of gap between breakfast and lunch, and lunch and dinner, and dinner and bed).

I am on 1200 and I divide my food into 6 little meals.

thiosulfate wrote: »

radioheaded86 wrote: »

when trying to lose, i do about 900-950 calories a day and nothing except water after 6pm...and the loss is pretty quick...definitely can't be done for very long periods

this is so unhealthy

yes, i agree with u...i was just being honest tho /:

radioheaded86 wrote: »

when trying to lose, i do about 900-950 calories a day and nothing except water after 6pm...and the loss is pretty quick...definitely can't be done for very long periods

Same here. I can't lose weight eating the 1200 calories they give me. I only maintain on that amount. I have to eat around 1000-1100 at most.

I eat all of my exercise calories... I set my goal as 1300 but if I burn 400 - I eat 1700 that day. I started my program 2 weeks ago - so I'll see if it works for me. I'd like to lose 1lbs of fat per week. In the past, I used to go on crash diets and would lose the weight, however as soon as I would start eating normally (about 1,700-1,800 per day of healthy food) - I always gained all lost weight and some! So I don't want to destroy my metabolism again. On days when I don't exercise - I stick to 1,300 even though it's so bloody hard!

perkymommy wrote: »

radioheaded86 wrote: »

when trying to lose, i do about 900-950 calories a day and nothing except water after 6pm...and the loss is pretty quick...definitely can't be done for very long periods

Same here. I can't lose weight eating the 1200 calories they give me. I only maintain on that amount. I have to eat around 1000-1100 at most.

That's me too. Usually, what I do is split up the 1200 throughout the day. Mostly fruit and veggies, and a lean meat for dinner. I'm averaging about 300-400 calories per meal. And if I'm under, then I allow myself to have a snack. What I have noticed though, is that even if I'm under the 1200 calories in a day, if I'm eating high fat or processed foods, I weigh more the next day. If it's 1200 calories in fruit, veggies, and lean meats, then my weight goes down (this despite the calorie intake). So from my angle, it's as much of what you eat, as well as how many calories u eat. It should be a balance of both. If I know that Ive gotten close to the 1200 mark or over (since I don't lose on 1200 a day), then I will do about 30 minutes or so of exercise. The nutrition part of the diary is wonderful for trying to stick with healthy eating and a good learning tool. I think the key components is changing to healthier habits, that way it will be more long term. Haha but I still struggle with wanting to eat the bad for me foods. Sometimes it helps to substite foods (like switching to artificial sweetener and bananas are great for sweetening a smoothie). Good luck on your venture, darling.

With my body reaching equilibrium, I'm back down to 1235 to make those last ten pounds + half my exercise calories. I generally 'bank' exercise calories to spend on the weekends, when I know I'll be out to dinner or having brunch with friends so I don't have to stress about it if I eat a muffin or something.
I do 300 breakfast/ 250 lunch / 400 dinner, with a small snack between lunch and dinner to carry me through until dinner time, and another snack before bed.

But here's the thing- do be careful, and try cutting down your intake SLOWLY over a couple of weeks to get to that 1200 mark, especially if you've been eating over 2000 calories a day. It's really easy to leap into a restricted calorie diet and end up hungry and frustrated and quit. 1200 isn't appropriate for everyone, and if you find yourself getting headaches, or feeling fatigued, you might need to up your intake a bit.