1200 Calories Per Day
amystev41
Posts: 16 Member
I'm ceartain this subject has been beaten to death however I'm back after a long hiatus so forgive me. Who is eating 1200 calories a day & how much have you lost in what period of time please.
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I eat 1200 on my low days. I guess I don't really count here because I try to average 1500 across the week. I'd lose a pound per week if I really stuck to 1200 calories, but that is a bit too fast for my body composition/weight.1
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i am last week i lost 2lbs feel free to add me4
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I eat 1200 right now. I'm shooting for 2 lbs a week. Early on I always lose a lot right off the bat. Then it levels out for me. Like first week was 5 lbs.0
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I am doing 1200 a day, low carb high protein. Started Nov 9 and have lost 11 pounds. I am working out approximately 5 days a week as well. Combination of H.I.I.T, weights, walking and running.1
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I need 1500 calories to maintain, i eat 1200 calories to lose. It's taken me a year to lose 20 pounds, so a little under half a pound a week.1
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I have done 1200 a day and lost....my will to live.
No really, it's not enough food for me (or for most people, honestly, and if you're exercising, you better be eatin' back those cals), and I lost my desire to work out, the ability to enjoy a meal out, let alone a scoop of ice cream on a summer evening, a cocktail on the weekends, etc, etc.
Don't be in a hurry to lose by slashing cals to the bare minimum. Be in it for the long haul, have some patience, and give yourself a small calorie deficit rather than a huge one. The inches will come off and be more likely to stay off if you set yourself more realistic goals.
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Amy is right on the money!1
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currently averaging 1200-1400, that's body fat reduction when you're already slim for ya!
I find that if i'm organised and mindful I get plenty of food, and can still budget for alcohol and treats when I want them. A focus on vegetables, filling protein and fibre and nutrient rich foods along with portion control is pretty important though. I will generally eat a little under my goals on workdays to give myself wiggle room on the weekends.0 -
Best not cut calories from your diet. Your body has a bare minimum it needs to survive, your BMR (basic metabolic rate). What you should be doing is looking at the nutrition going into your body such as carbs (do not cut these out), fats and proteins. They are all used different and your body processes these nutrients for different purposes. Eating 100g of fat vs 100g of sugar will have very different impacts on your body.
By starving your body of calories your body goes into starvation mode ans stores food as fat instead of using it for energy or repair. 1200 calories a day is dangerous and detriment to your health
Fuel your body for its basic needs and fuel your body for the exercise you do. Eat sensibly and exercise regularly and you'll soon be got and healthy without resorting to these dangerous quick fixes.2 -
I do 1200 as well (sometimes i miss behave and reach 1500). Focusing on High protien levels minmum 40% and dont pay much attention to carbs/Fats but i eat healthy. Roughly i loose 1kg. at the moment im not very motivated to go to gym due to Ankle sprain. but i tend to walk.0
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I have been eating 1200 cals a day since I started. I am down about 6lbs in the first 12 days. Since it isn't a ton of food I make sure that I eat a lot of veggies and drink plenty of water. I am not suffering at all. However, I am currently fairly inactive and am just starting that slowly. I generally eat yogurt and homemade granola for breakfast, lean meat and veggies for supper and my lunch varies. A can of tuna on salad greens and a cup of soup today. Yesterday I had a large chef's salad made with greens, cooked egg whites, chopped ham, cheese and dressing. It kept me quite full. Snacks are usually fruit or popcorn. I agree that if you are miserable you will not succeed. I have just started so I have that newbie enthusiasm....if/as that wanes I will make allowances and adjustments. That may mean my weight loss slows but I am in it for the long term, for my health, so I am ok with that. I figure I didn't put on an extra 40-50 lbs overnight so I can't expect to lose it overnight either 5
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Best not cut calories from your diet. Your body has a bare minimum it needs to survive, your BMR (basic metabolic rate). What you should be doing is looking at the nutrition going into your body such as carbs (do not cut these out), fats and proteins. They are all used different and your body processes these nutrients for different purposes. Eating 100g of fat vs 100g of sugar will have very different impacts on your body.
By starving your body of calories your body goes into starvation mode ans stores food as fat instead of using it for energy or repair. 1200 calories a day is dangerous and detriment to your health
Fuel your body for its basic needs and fuel your body for the exercise you do. Eat sensibly and exercise regularly and you'll soon be got and healthy without resorting to these dangerous quick fixes.
Starvation mode in this sense is a myth.2 -
Be forewarned, this is only MY opinion, not an indictment on people who have different nutritional and motivational needs. That said....
When I first decided to lose weight a few years ago, all I was interested in was seeing the number on the scale drop. I was very successful in my first attempt, losing 60 pounds in less than six months. I was not very big to begin with, so I had to eat a very restrictive diet to do this. I had no interest in exercising and this was because people on this forum were always promoting their weight loss plans that had no physical activity and they were losing. Thinking I had found the magic bullet for weight loss, I turned my calories down to 1200 and plugged away.
And yes, I lost. I lost weight nearly everyday- as long as I stuck to the diet. If I went out of town for vacation or took a weekend off from counting, several pounds would reappear and take weeks to get rid of. I also started to notice pain in my joints and muscles. I went overseas on a trip to bury a family member and that was the end of counting calories. I was just too restrictive, and I went kind of crazy after that. I was so hungry and I missed eating full meals so much. I stayed away from counting calories for almost 2 years after that and gained some of the weight back.
This time around, I am focusing on fitness and health. I am taking a much more scientific approach to weight loss and made sure I knew my proper BMR, TDEE, body fat percent, bone density and other important numbers before I decided how many calories I actually need. I eat between 1500 and 1800 calories depending on the day and workout (lifting, running, stair climbing, etc) 5 times a week. I focus on my macros so I can help my body as much as possible during this process. I want to lose fat, but I also want to grow my muscles and improve my metabolism. Sure, I'd love to look like a super model in a few weeks, but that sort of loss is not realistic and it doesn't last. If your diet isn't something you can do for life, the results will be temporary. And I know a few people are rolling their eyes right now and thinking "whatever, I just want to look better." That's fine. Just know that without making it something you can realistically do all the time, you will only look better until you eat your fill again a few times. For me, that is just not a way to live. But I'm not 20 anymore and I am concerned with my health and longevity more than how I look to others.
By the way, on my new, higher calorie diet, I am still losing. I might not lose quite as fast (sometimes I lost seven pounds in a week the last time around) I can already see the results. My waist is smaller, my thighs are trimmer and my endurance has grown exponentially. I'm also eating at a 20% deficit from my TDEE, but I am never hungry. In fact, because I focus on macros, I sometimes get too full to finish my meals. It doesn't feel like I'm on a diet. It feels like I'm taking care of myself for the first time in years. My body feels great and my mood has lifted tremendously. I am taking good care of myself and giving back to this body that has given me so much.
Yes, you can lose weight at 1200 calories because that's how science works, but fast isn't always better. It depends on what the end goal is. If you're willing to wait, do it slowly and focus on health, you will look better as a result, even if it takes longer and it will last longer because it will become a habit. If you just want to lose pounds for an upcoming event, by all means cut as much as you want out of your diet. Just be aware that when you lose like that, you will lose muscle along with the fat, so you might not like how your body looks once you're at your goal.
Just a few (tons) of thoughts on it. Again, this is just my experience. I wish I had discovered the slow and steady way of losing weight years ago though because if I had, I wouldn't be overweight now. Having patience with yourself is such a difficult thing, but it does pay off.12 -
" If your diet isn't something you can do for life, the results will be temporary. "
Totally agree with AFGP11.
I am counting calories and keeping the 1200 as a guide, not a goal. I'm doing about 1300/1500 calories a day. I estimate I was way over 2000 calories before, so it's a great change and my new waist shows it!
My moto righ now is "eat a litle bit less, move a little bit more" so I cut soda and candies and other stuff that was not healthy at all. Then I try to choose my meals mostly among veggies y finally, I started walking much more than before.
So far lost 7 lbs since January first. I fill that I'm in control, and that I can keep this rhythm for a while. Some day I'll relay the diet to enjoy a soda or a candy again, but I hope I'll know how to keep a healthy balance by then. 1 -
I'm on 1280 right now, but just started back up again on the 3rd. I've done 1200 in the past and lost a lot of weight. I was also going to the gym 3x a week and walking, walking, walking whenever I could.0
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I do 1200 a day and have lost 4.5 since January 1...that's pretty quick for me as I am usually a slow loser! I'm primarily eating lean proteins, vegetables and fruits and have been enjoying it! Feels good to be in control of what I am eating after the crazy holidays!1
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I'm aiming for 1200 a day too but seem to keep ending up closer to 1500 or 1600 - does anyone have any good breakfast ideas that will keep me feeling fuller for longer? I normally have toast and some fruit but usually end up snacking later on and am struggling to find something quick and tasty. Thanks!0
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If I don't exercise, my limit for the last month has been 1250 cal. However, owning 2 Jack Russell Terriers gets me out at least twice a day, and I visit the gym 3 times a week for a light workout. I will eat back 25% or so exercise calories if I have done quite a bit or get cravings. Lost 7lbs in 4 weeks...0
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I'm aiming for 1200 a day too but seem to keep ending up closer to 1500 or 1600 - does anyone have any good breakfast ideas that will keep me feeling fuller for longer? I normally have toast and some fruit but usually end up snacking later on and am struggling to find something quick and tasty. Thanks!
Eat more protein. Neither toast nor fruit have much protein.0 -
Completely untrue.By starving your body of calories your body goes into starvation mode ans stores food as fat instead of using it for energy or repair.
If you are tall or active, yes. But not everyone's the same. Small sedentary people with efficient metabolisms, like me, won't lose any weight without getting close to 1200. My maintenance calories are only 1500. If I'm not watching my intake i naturally eat about 1700 calories which makes me gain. For another person, 1700 would be very low and cause fast weight loss.1200 calories a day is dangerous and detriment to your health
MFP's lower limit is 1200 because that CAN be a healthy amount for weight loss. We're not talking about under 1000 calories a day, which is not healthy for anyone. No adult is that small.
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I'm aiming for 1200 a day too but seem to keep ending up closer to 1500 or 1600 - does anyone have any good breakfast ideas that will keep me feeling fuller for longer? I normally have toast and some fruit but usually end up snacking later on and am struggling to find something quick and tasty. Thanks!
Protein, fat and/or fiber are filling. Different combinations for different people.
Try Greek yogurt, frozen raspberries, Fiber One cereal and chopped nuts........this has protein, fat and fiber.
Or - homemade Egg McMuffins - bake 9 eggs + 9 egg whites in a 9" pan. Cut into 9 squares. Freeze portions with a slice of Canadian bacon. Add a 2% cheese slice and a toasted high fiber English muffin.
I choose to eat more, but at 1200 you just about have to make every calorie count.1 -
I'm aiming for 1200 a day too but seem to keep ending up closer to 1500 or 1600 - does anyone have any good breakfast ideas that will keep me feeling fuller for longer? I normally have toast and some fruit but usually end up snacking later on and am struggling to find something quick and tasty. Thanks!
I'd be starving too. Toast and fruit...all sugar. Try getting a better balance of protein, carbs, and fat. Keep the toast, add an egg. Or ditch the toast and fruit and eat a couple eggs and 25g of avocado. Just shooting off ideas. I literally would never choose to eat fruit and toast in a deficit. I can't even deal with that in maintenance.1 -
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I work a desk job, but can't eat 1200 calories a day. It is too little. I have lost 6 lbs since Jan 2nd with 1400 calories a day and no workouts. ( end of quarter at work so I am exhausted and can't workout)0
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AmyRhubarb wrote: »I have done 1200 a day and lost....my will to live. No really, it's not enough food for me (or for most people, honestly, and if you're exercising, you better be eatin' back those cals), and I lost my desire to work out, the ability to enjoy a meal out, let alone a scoop of ice cream on a summer evening, a cocktail on the weekends, etc, etc.
Don't be in a hurry to lose by slashing cals to the bare minimum. Be in it for the long haul, have some patience, and give yourself a small calorie deficit rather than a huge one. The inches will come off and be more likely to stay off if you set yourself more realistic goals.
This is the best post/advice ever.1
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