1200 Calories!!!!

I started out with about the same stats. I put in .5 lbs a week and I can have almost 1800 calories and lose weight. I do supplement with exercise, but I found I wasn't so hungry with that amount of food and I was consistently losing. I would struggle with 1200 a day. I want this to be something I can do for the rest of my life so I figure slow and steady wins the race.

It may be setting your daily goal at 1200 calories per day because you selected to lose 2 pounds per week.

It's amazing when you realize how many calories are in processed food and restaurant food. 1,200 is what I was at when I started MFP. I would wake up hungry, I would go to bed hungry. It was hell but it was so worth it.

girlinahat wrote: »

try this calculator to get some ideas on what to set your goal to, as MFP tends to throw out 1200 as standard.

http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

If you are hungry then the chances of sticking to any weight loss programme are slim. Maybe start by logging your NORMAL daily diet for a week or so to see what you've been eating so far, which can be a bit of an eye-opener.

Most people will struggle on 1200 calories in my opinion. You'd probably find you could eat 1500 calories, not be hungry, and lose weight happily.

I'm SO confused!!! Maybe you can help?

I've been eating around 1200 calories a day for about 4 weeks now, and exercising at least 2-3 times a week (combination of speed walking, elliptical machine, light weights and some jogging). I've been ill for a really long time so I'm pretty new to the exercising aspect but I'm lost. I'm 5 foot 5, 9 stone 4 and a UK size 12. I CANNOT seem to get any thinner and it's driving me insane!!!! I'm not one of these 'secret eaters'. I know exactly what I eat and when and yes, I've had slips where I've had a slice of cake or whatever but I always slim my portion sizes or the food itself so I am at least less than 10 over my calorie limit for the day (exception being a meal out a couple of weeks ago).

Now, I've had a look at that calorie calculator thing and it's telling me that actually, I'm eating way fewer calories every day than I should be...so why the hell am I not getting any thinner???

Example day:
Breakfast - 1 scrambled egg on 1 slice Genius Toastie loaf (I'm a coeliac)
Lunch - chia pudding with homemade mango ice cream (1 cup frozen mango and just enough milk to cream it) and homemade nutty granola
Dinner - 1/4 roasted aubergine, 1/2 roasted small courgette, 1/2 roasted pepper, 1 Quorn fillet and a small amount of cheese, in a BFree wrap, with sweet potato wedges.

Am I still somehow eating too much??

I started at 1200 calories and was so unhappy because I was hungry all the time. I have set my calories higher twice now and have found a number that I am happy with and still lose. It will all depend on you, so I say go a bit higher until you find the right balance.

I'm averaging 1200 calories a day and walking between 2-3 miles 4x a week. For me protein, fiber and full fat is what helps me stay full. I do not eat back my exercise calories, however I use them when I go over occasionally.

I've also noticed if I don't eat an I between meal snack I'm hungrier.

You've got this.

You get a calorie count based on the information you put it. If you tell it you are a sedentary women, especially short, and you want to lose two weeks, you will get corresponding calories. The options then are to exercise to earn calories or reduce your per weigh weight loss expectations. I don't think the numbers are off that much, it is more an issue of people having high expectations of weekly weight loss, and also people not eating exercise calories back.

If you are hungry, consider lowering your weekly goal. Also, see what you are losing. If you are losing what you expect over the course of a month or so, you can see the numbers are correct even if you choose to change them.

1. If you are set to lose 2 lbs per week, change it to 1 lb, eat more calories, and lose in a less aggressive manner.
2. Your calorie goal is for if you do not do any exercise, MFP expects you to log your exercise and eat some of those calories back.

VikkiC31 wrote: »

girlinahat wrote: »

try this calculator to get some ideas on what to set your goal to, as MFP tends to throw out 1200 as standard.

http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

If you are hungry then the chances of sticking to any weight loss programme are slim. Maybe start by logging your NORMAL daily diet for a week or so to see what you've been eating so far, which can be a bit of an eye-opener.

Most people will struggle on 1200 calories in my opinion. You'd probably find you could eat 1500 calories, not be hungry, and lose weight happily.

I'm SO confused!!! Maybe you can help?

I've been eating around 1200 calories a day for about 4 weeks now, and exercising at least 2-3 times a week (combination of speed walking, elliptical machine, light weights and some jogging). I've been ill for a really long time so I'm pretty new to the exercising aspect but I'm lost. I'm 5 foot 5, 9 stone 4 and a UK size 12. I CANNOT seem to get any thinner and it's driving me insane!!!! I'm not one of these 'secret eaters'. I know exactly what I eat and when and yes, I've had slips where I've had a slice of cake or whatever but I always slim my portion sizes or the food itself so I am at least less than 10 over my calorie limit for the day (exception being a meal out a couple of weeks ago).

Now, I've had a look at that calorie calculator thing and it's telling me that actually, I'm eating way fewer calories every day than I should be...so why the hell am I not getting any thinner???

Example day:
Breakfast - 1 scrambled egg on 1 slice Genius Toastie loaf (I'm a coeliac)
Lunch - chia pudding with homemade mango ice cream (1 cup frozen mango and just enough milk to cream it) and homemade nutty granola
Dinner - 1/4 roasted aubergine, 1/2 roasted small courgette, 1/2 roasted pepper, 1 Quorn fillet and a small amount of cheese, in a BFree wrap, with sweet potato wedges.

Am I still somehow eating too much??

I think you're eating too little. Your body needs more fuel to keep your workouts going. If you are going to exercise even those 3 days a week you will need to eat a bit more on those days to compensate for the workouts. Also make sure you are measuring your portions correctly. It's a real eye opener when you see what a portion size LOOKS Like versus what YOU THOUGHT it should look like. Good Luck! It's certainly a journey.