1000-1200 calories, anyone?

buglesalmoncatgirl
buglesalmoncatgirl Posts: 43 Member
edited March 2017 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello.

Have any of you been on a 1000-1200 calorie per day plan? Did you follow it strictly? What was your experience? (Plateaus, weight loss rates, sleep quality...)

It is what I am doing; I never had to go so low before.

Thanks kindly.
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Replies

  • buglesalmoncatgirl
    buglesalmoncatgirl Posts: 43 Member
    True. I am building up my workout routine gradually. I hit the gym 3 days a week and walk as often as I can.
  • kk_inprogress
    kk_inprogress Posts: 3,077 Member
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    buglesalmoncatgirl wrote: »
    Hello.

    Have any of you been on a 1000-1200 calorie per day plan? Did you follow it strictly? What was your experience? (Plateaus, weight loss rates, sleep quality...)

    It is what I am doing; I never had to go so low before.

    Thanks kindly.

    Why does it seem this is what you must do? What are your stats? Goals? What have you tried previously? Do you have a medical condition that would require you to eat at a lower than recommended calorie level (1200 is the minimum recommended for women)?

    QFT. Very few women should be eating that low.
  • solieco1
    solieco1 Posts: 1,559 Member
    edited March 2017
    addicted2cola wrote: »
    Yeah... I'd murder someone if my calories were that low. Then I'd have to take up that Santa Clarita diet to cover it up. Seriously, there's no reason you need to eat below 1200. Eat at a sustainable level and lose weight more slowly
    :)

    BWAHAHAHA! ^^^This. So much this!
  • DJ_Skywalker
    DJ_Skywalker Posts: 420 Member
    Mmmm all the candy, cookies and milk
  • crzycatlady1
    crzycatlady1 Posts: 1,930 Member
    OP what are your stats?
  • sahalbur
    sahalbur Posts: 18 Member
    I used to be one that would push for the 1200 calorie a day, however I found myself starving between meals or between-meal snacks, which made it easier to fail and gorge myself on unhealthy snacks, candy, etc. Plus getting to sleep was harder because I'd be hungry before going to bed, however I couldn't "afford" any more calories.

    1000 calories is going to starve your body. I wouldn't even attempt that one. If you have an exercise level of zero and hardly do anything, I think the 1200 calorie intake would probably work. However, once you start moving, working out, being active in general, you are going to require more energy... that you get from calories.

    Days that I have "rest day" I consume around 1400 calories a day. Days that I spend an hour and a half at the gym doing heavy lifting and cardio, I will consume up to 2000 calories. That system works for me.
  • fitmom4lifemfp
    fitmom4lifemfp Posts: 1,572 Member
    edited March 2017
    buglesalmoncatgirl wrote: »
    Hello.

    Have any of you been on a 1000-1200 calorie per day plan? Did you follow it strictly? What was your experience? (Plateaus, weight loss rates, sleep quality...)

    It is what I am doing; I never had to go so low before.

    Thanks kindly.

    1200 - 1300 is maintenance for me at my proper weight, so yes, I have to dip lower when I need to lose. It's normal for me, but I fall outside of the general norm. I don't think the experience is any different than anyone else though....I just have to eat a bit less than others. And I am a meticulous logger, weigh everything - after 12 years of journaling I know the drill, believe me. ;)

    I do get quite a bit of exercise - and while I track that on my FitBit site, I do not concern myself with how many calories I burned and if I need to "eat back" any. I try to keep below 1100, and really do best if I stay closer to 1000. If I do a LOT of exercise, and I find myself hungry, I will eat what I feel is necessary. But it does not ever really match calorie for calorie. For instance, I consumed 1036 calories on Sunday, and did a 17 mile bike ride that morning - at a decent clip, in a stiff cold wind. My Polar watch said I burned 579 calories for that ride. (Who know how accurate that really is, but all we have to go by is these devices, so...) I never found myself hungry that day - and did not feel like I had to eat extra to cover the calories I burned. But some days, I do. Yesterday I walked 4 miles, and rode about 18 miles, for an hour on the stationary bike at the gym. I was starving when I got home from the gym, and ate what wound up being an extra 300 calories. But I don't plan the calories/do any math on that stuff. I just eat what I need to, to feel good. I try to make sure get in my protein, and not eat too much sodium at night - that's really all I concern myself with. Oh and I have taken multi-vitamins, for years. That's a daily norm for me as well.
  • ami4kids
    ami4kids Posts: 6 Member
    I sit at a desk all day, so I have MFP set at 1200 and if I don't exercise, I don't get that bump in calories, so I try to stay under the 1200. Is it bad for me to be on a 1200 cal diet? I'm trying to lose 6 more pounds. I'm 5'6 and 141 currently. I typically run 3-10 miles 5 days a week. (10 miles only once during the week)
  • VintageFeline
    VintageFeline Posts: 6,771 Member
    fitmom4lifemfp wrote: »
    buglesalmoncatgirl wrote: »
    Hello.

    Have any of you been on a 1000-1200 calorie per day plan? Did you follow it strictly? What was your experience? (Plateaus, weight loss rates, sleep quality...)

    It is what I am doing; I never had to go so low before.

    Thanks kindly.

    1200 - 1300 is maintenance for me at my proper weight, so yes, I have to dip lower when I need to lose. It's normal for me, but I fall outside of the general norm. I don't think the experience is any different than anyone else though....I just have to eat a bit less than others. And I am a meticulous logger, weigh everything - after 12 years of journaling I know the drill, believe me. ;)

    I do get quite a bit of exercise - and while I track that on my FitBit site, I do not concern myself with how many calories I burned and if I need to "eat back" any. I try to keep below 1100, and really do best if I stay closer to 1000. If I do a LOT of exercise, and I find myself hungry, I will eat what I feel is necessary. But it does not ever really match calorie for calorie. For instance, I consumed 1036 calories on Sunday, and did a 17 mile bike ride that morning - at a decent clip, in a stiff cold wind. My Polar watch said I burned 579 calories for that ride. (Who know how accurate that really is, but all we have to go by is these devices, so...) I never found myself hungry that day - and did not feel like I had to eat extra to cover the calories I burned. But some days, I do. Yesterday I walked 4 miles, and rode about 18 miles, for an hour on the stationary bike at the gym. I was starving when I got home from the gym, and ate what wound up being an extra 300 calories. But I don't plan the calories/do any math on that stuff. I just eat what I need to, to feel good. I try to make sure get in my protein, and not eat too much sodium at night - that's really all I concern myself with. Oh and I have taken multi-vitamins, for years. That's a daily norm for me as well.

    Are you teeny tiny?
  • fitmom4lifemfp
    fitmom4lifemfp Posts: 1,572 Member
    VintageFeline wrote: »
    fitmom4lifemfp wrote: »
    buglesalmoncatgirl wrote: »
    Hello.

    Have any of you been on a 1000-1200 calorie per day plan? Did you follow it strictly? What was your experience? (Plateaus, weight loss rates, sleep quality...)

    It is what I am doing; I never had to go so low before.

    Thanks kindly.

    1200 - 1300 is maintenance for me at my proper weight, so yes, I have to dip lower when I need to lose. It's normal for me, but I fall outside of the general norm. I don't think the experience is any different than anyone else though....I just have to eat a bit less than others. And I am a meticulous logger, weigh everything - after 12 years of journaling I know the drill, believe me. ;)

    I do get quite a bit of exercise - and while I track that on my FitBit site, I do not concern myself with how many calories I burned and if I need to "eat back" any. I try to keep below 1100, and really do best if I stay closer to 1000. If I do a LOT of exercise, and I find myself hungry, I will eat what I feel is necessary. But it does not ever really match calorie for calorie. For instance, I consumed 1036 calories on Sunday, and did a 17 mile bike ride that morning - at a decent clip, in a stiff cold wind. My Polar watch said I burned 579 calories for that ride. (Who know how accurate that really is, but all we have to go by is these devices, so...) I never found myself hungry that day - and did not feel like I had to eat extra to cover the calories I burned. But some days, I do. Yesterday I walked 4 miles, and rode about 18 miles, for an hour on the stationary bike at the gym. I was starving when I got home from the gym, and ate what wound up being an extra 300 calories. But I don't plan the calories/do any math on that stuff. I just eat what I need to, to feel good. I try to make sure get in my protein, and not eat too much sodium at night - that's really all I concern myself with. Oh and I have taken multi-vitamins, for years. That's a daily norm for me as well.

    Are you teeny tiny?

    LOL. Definitely not. 5'7". 61 years old.
  • akaguna
    akaguna Posts: 17 Member
    Hi! I am always put at 1200 calories and that is for a 1 to 1/2 pound loss a week. Scared to read what it would say if I wanted to lose 2 pounds per week. I have about 10 pounds to lose and I am 45. I could never go below 1200 and eat around that (and some exercise calories too) if I need it. Good luck.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    akaguna wrote: »
    Hi! I am always put at 1200 calories and that is for a 1 to 1/2 pound loss a week. Scared to read what it would say if I wanted to lose 2 pounds per week. I have about 10 pounds to lose and I am 45. I could never go below 1200 and eat around that (and some exercise calories too) if I need it. Good luck.

    Well, technically MFP won't go below 1200 for a recommendation, so you could put in 2 lbs/week and it would still provide you the same goal. With 10 lbs to lose you should be looking for 0.5 lb/week. You can improve consistency by making sure your logging is as accurate as possible, ideally using a food scale for all solid foods.

  • fretsnsoccer
    fretsnsoccer Posts: 13 Member
    edited March 2017
    Hi there,
    Currently I've been bringing in a lifestyle concept of a diet where everyday u want to eat like it's a general part of your life rather than physically acknowledging "oh it's another crash course diet"
    With that being said based on my weight and macros to lose 2lbs roughly per week I must consume 2100 cals weekly however we all know we are average body types / consumers and all the demotions of daily food can get in the weight so from a lifestyle concept I ahoot for around 1700-1750 cals a day (HEALTHY MACROS) that way if I unintentionally slip up have a drink eat a high carb snack have a piece of candy or get tempted with fast food there is some room in my calorie consumption to still "lose" weight weekly. Now keep in mind to really make vast changes within days you must be honestly 100% consistent. I'm not however when u add in discipline , weight programs specified to your lifestyle to grow muscle, and your general diet then shooting for low calorie days versus not caring what you eat everyday will always benefit you overall from a 90-120 day diet/workout program perspective.

    For all the nuances of eating low calorie days. Sleep won't get affected, physically weight loss you can see in the mirror will take place after about 5-6 days of consistent low cal days, and plateaus only occur from a muscular or strength standpoint, but diet...no. If you feel a little tired or weak in strength measure and calculate a few more carbs in your daily meal plan on days you are going to work out such as an orange or extra apple or banana to get that extra boost of fast energy as long as you are doing heavy weights that are relative to your strength levels.

    I'm no expert in the concepts of essentially IF (intermittent fasting) but I do know from personal experience My head is clearer more focused I have seen more strength gains and weight loss around the waist faster with eating lower calories daily then going on these fast meaningless weight loss diets the media pushes.

    Hope this helps! Let me know if you have more questions
  • buglesalmoncatgirl
    buglesalmoncatgirl Posts: 43 Member
    All great feedback. Thanks everyone.

    I am 5'4". 32 years old. I have yo-yo'd more times than I can track (lost and gained 20lbs at least 4 times). I suspect my metabolism is slower, if you subscribe to that philosophy.

    The MFP settings put me at 1200 for 2lbs per week, at 1370 for 1lb per week. To lose half a pound I need 1500-ish calories would be the amount to eat. Those are the numbers I am getting with the app.

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