1200 calories a day
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I'm 5'2" and comfortably do a 1200 net day once or twice a week, but a lot of my social life centers on food and drink and I don't want to give that up, plus I think it would take more discipline than I'm interested in using to stick to 1200 every day. Plus it's unnecessary! My TDEE less 20% is about 1900 right now, so on days I don't go out I range between 1200 and 1900 and it's all good, and I try not to go out more than twice a week. I actually have been losing almost 2 pounds a week this month averaging around 1900/day, but I've got a pretty decent amount to lose still (I'm ranging between 183-185 right now). I've been gradually reducing my average calories as I lose weight, but I don't intend to ever go as low as 1200.4
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I'm doing ok at 1200 a day. I drink mostly water except for the occasional strawberry lemonade at del taco, only 35 calories! And the Carne asada street taco is only 180! One is good enough for me, I ate 2 previously and felt sick as it was too much. I think a lot depends on what you are using your calories on. I've been eating at least one boiled egg a day too alternating between yolk and no yolk.
But I just started so I'm still learning what foods keep me full longer.5 -
The only way to feel full and satisfied on 1200 a day is if your nutrition is on point all day -- there's basically no room for junk food (high calories but little satisfaction) or liquid calories, like alcohol. I'm just barely 5 feet tall and at a healthy weight. I can do 1200 for a few days but I always end up super hungry, even when I'm eating protein, healthy fats, veggies, etc. I bumped my calories up to 1300 and I find that much easier. That extra 100 calories makes a big difference to me!7
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hydechildcare wrote: »I eat between 1200-1300 calories a day. Here is how to do it with out feeling hungry. Vegs lots and lots of vegs. Limit bread, rice, potatoes and you will be fine. My doctor told me 1200-1500 calories are what women need. She also told me to limit and very small quantities of starches. Before eating the starches on my diet of 1200 calories I would be hungry all day. Now I eat most veges and protein and do not feel hungry all day.
No offense, but your doctor was wrong. There are plenty of women on here (some in their 40s and 50s, btw) who have reached their healthy goal weight and maintain on over 2000 calories a day. I'm 44, 5'4" 130 lbs and I maintain on 1800 per day and lost weight on 1500.
Not directed at you but just in general, we need to stop perpetuating this myth that all women need to be borderline hungry while eating like little fragile birds to be a healthy weight. Your body needs fuel, fat, protein, and fiber to be strong and healthy and active. And the majority of women will need more than 1200 to achieve that, even while they are trying to lose weight.
I'll get off my soapbox now
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Is there anyone who is losing weight who are surviving off of 1200 calories a day and when I say surviving I mean feeling full and satisfied .Also are you dropping two pounds a week from doing this ?
I was definetley surviving on 1200 calories. I enjoyed the food I ate. Greek yogurts(chobani flips) honey roasted almonds,pecans. Banana smoothies with peanut butter. Fruit. When i excercised to a 20 minute strength training dvd by jillian Michaels I ate back half. I started walking my son to school and went up to lightly active. Started incorporating loooong walks,i dont include those in my diary. I use those calories to lose weight and leave room for error. I also am at a - 500 or more calories, for weight loss, ( i forget what thats called sorry) but its very much possible to survive and be satisfied on 1200 calories. I drink lots and lots of water and I eat ,alot if protein. I believe thatvis what has helped me lose ,10 lbs in 30 days. I feel great. Not stsrving or anything.4 -
I've been hitting around 1,100 calories a day, been dieting for 2 weeks, and have lost 3 pounds.
Protein! I hit the gym in the morning and have a protein shake, and have protein for luch (eggs or chicken in my salad), and a veggie turkey/chicken, and rice for dinner. It keeps me full.
Protein is definetley the winning factor i truly believe and live this. As a vegetarian on a unhealthy diet of too many sweets,I rarely ate protein. Nowww I eat protein shake in the mirning ,wheni walk i eat KIND bar, Clif bars, and the ThinkThin bars, 20 grams protein in one bar. They help sustain my 3 or 4 mile walks. And my weight has been coming off easily.4 -
Eat more protein ,and walk, and drink water!! You can add me if you would like. I also leave my diary open.1
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I'm 5'2 130lb and eat 1200 a day, have been doing so since the beginning of the year. I'm down almost 25lbs. I've never had an issue staying at this calorie count, I'm never starving or feel like I'm being deprived. I eat 3 meals a day, high protein filling meals and do just fine with that. I drink a lot of water also throughout the day. I plan to continue this until I reach my goal then I will adjust to maintenance.
I haven't been losing 2lbs a week.. sometimes its .6lb a week and sometimes it's 3lb.. it's kind of all over the place. But in 34 weeks I've lost 25lbs, so it works out to 1-2lb loss per week on average.12 -
hydechildcare wrote: »I eat between 1200-1300 calories a day. Here is how to do it with out feeling hungry. Vegs lots and lots of vegs. Limit bread, rice, potatoes and you will be fine. My doctor told me 1200-1500 calories are what women need. She also told me to limit and very small quantities of starches. Before eating the starches on my diet of 1200 calories I would be hungry all day. Now I eat most veges and protein and do not feel hungry all day.
No offense, but your doctor was wrong. There are plenty of women on here (some in their 40s and 50s, btw) who have reached their healthy goal weight and maintain on over 2000 calories a day. I'm 44, 5'4" 130 lbs and I maintain on 1800 per day and lost weight on 1500.
Not directed at you but just in general, we need to stop perpetuating this myth that all women need to be borderline hungry while eating like little fragile birds to be a healthy weight. Your body needs fuel, fat, protein, and fiber to be strong and healthy and active. And the majority of women will need more than 1200 to achieve that, even while they are trying to lose weight.
I'll get off my soapbox now
I think it depends on your body. I can not eat that many calories and lose weight. Eating meat, vegs, nuts, and high fiber bread. I fill up and feel full faster and longer than when I eat pasta and other carbs. I know that if I eat 1500 calories per day. I will feel sick from eating to much or will end up eating junk food to meat those calorie goals of 1500. It depends on your needs, like everyone else has said listen to your body. I listen to mine and this is what it is telling me from years of trying and failing. I have finally found something that works for me that I can manage with out the hungry feeling that normal is there.17 -
Is there anyone who is losing weight who are surviving off of 1200 calories a day and when I say surviving I mean feeling full and satisfied .Also are you dropping two pounds a week from doing this ?
2 pounds a week = a daily 1,000 calorie deficit. So if your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure/maintenance) is 2200 calories....then 1200 could be 2 pounds a week. If your maintenance is less than 2,200 calories then 2 pounds a week isn't going to happen.
My point is......not everyone can/should expect 2 pounds a week.
1200 isn't a magic number. It's just as low as the system goes for women......meeting nutritional guidelines. Some women are petite and inactive and do fine with 1200. Some women are elderly and inactive and do fine with 1200. If neither of these is you.....then you can expect to struggle a bit.
Large deficits make it harder for your body to support existing lean muscle mass. So you really aren't lowering your body fat % by as much as you could have. Google skinny-fat.9 -
hydechildcare wrote: »hydechildcare wrote: »I eat between 1200-1300 calories a day. Here is how to do it with out feeling hungry. Vegs lots and lots of vegs. Limit bread, rice, potatoes and you will be fine. My doctor told me 1200-1500 calories are what women need. She also told me to limit and very small quantities of starches. Before eating the starches on my diet of 1200 calories I would be hungry all day. Now I eat most veges and protein and do not feel hungry all day.
No offense, but your doctor was wrong. There are plenty of women on here (some in their 40s and 50s, btw) who have reached their healthy goal weight and maintain on over 2000 calories a day. I'm 44, 5'4" 130 lbs and I maintain on 1800 per day and lost weight on 1500.
Not directed at you but just in general, we need to stop perpetuating this myth that all women need to be borderline hungry while eating like little fragile birds to be a healthy weight. Your body needs fuel, fat, protein, and fiber to be strong and healthy and active. And the majority of women will need more than 1200 to achieve that, even while they are trying to lose weight.
I'll get off my soapbox now
I think it depends on your body. I can not eat that many calories and lose weight. Eating meat, vegs, nuts, and high fiber bread. I fill up and feel full faster and longer than when I eat pasta and other carbs. I know that if I eat 1500 calories per day. I will feel sick from eating to much or will end up eating junk food to meat those calorie goals of 1500. It depends on your needs, like everyone else has said listen to your body. I listen to mine and this is what it is telling me from years of trying and failing. I have finally found something that works for me that I can manage with out the hungry feeling that normal is there.
But you said your doctor told you 1200-1500 "is what women need". That kind of generalization is false.
Do you use a food scale for all solid food? When I started here I swore I was eating 1400 cals and not losing weight. Then I started using a food scale religiously and realized I was actually eating more like 1700-1800 cals per day. I also was sure I was a fairly active person, I did all the little tricks - took the stairs, parked at the far end of the lot, used the bathroom on the other side of the building. Got a Fitbit and was shocked to see I averaged only 4000 steps.
It's great you found something that worked for you! But it doesn't change the fact that far too many women go on 1200 calorie diets, get far too little food, give up before they would realistically see any change anyway, and think it's hopeless, and that frustrates me. I'm sorry I tied all this to your individual post, as I said, it was more me getting on my soapbox as opposed to arguing with you. I agree that there are ways to make your calories go farther by making smart choices, and everyone has to find the combo that works best for them. :drinker:23 -
I would say that you should adjust your goal to 1.5 or 1 lbs to lose in a week. If you are hungry and you are asking this question, I am guessing that it is not something that will be easy to do moving forward.
You don't want to burn out because you are going 110%.
Take it slow, and eat more calories if you are hungry.
I eat foods that are high in Whole Grains/Fiber for snacks. They make me feel full longer.
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hydechildcare wrote: »hydechildcare wrote: »I eat between 1200-1300 calories a day. Here is how to do it with out feeling hungry. Vegs lots and lots of vegs. Limit bread, rice, potatoes and you will be fine. My doctor told me 1200-1500 calories are what women need. She also told me to limit and very small quantities of starches. Before eating the starches on my diet of 1200 calories I would be hungry all day. Now I eat most veges and protein and do not feel hungry all day.
No offense, but your doctor was wrong. There are plenty of women on here (some in their 40s and 50s, btw) who have reached their healthy goal weight and maintain on over 2000 calories a day. I'm 44, 5'4" 130 lbs and I maintain on 1800 per day and lost weight on 1500.
Not directed at you but just in general, we need to stop perpetuating this myth that all women need to be borderline hungry while eating like little fragile birds to be a healthy weight. Your body needs fuel, fat, protein, and fiber to be strong and healthy and active. And the majority of women will need more than 1200 to achieve that, even while they are trying to lose weight.
I'll get off my soapbox now
I think it depends on your body. I can not eat that many calories and lose weight. Eating meat, vegs, nuts, and high fiber bread. I fill up and feel full faster and longer than when I eat pasta and other carbs. I know that if I eat 1500 calories per day. I will feel sick from eating to much or will end up eating junk food to meat those calorie goals of 1500. It depends on your needs, like everyone else has said listen to your body. I listen to mine and this is what it is telling me from years of trying and failing. I have finally found something that works for me that I can manage with out the hungry feeling that normal is there.
you don't need to eat junk food to hit 1500cal - I avg 2600 a day and aside from a cookie or cupcake the vast majority of my food is healthy grains, lean proteins and fat - and i'm 5'3". 148lbs11 -
1200 -1300 calories a day works for me - but it's maintenance. I don't get hungry. But I eat a lot of protein.8
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I'm doing 1,200 cals per week have been for close to three weeks now. I'm doing just fine and I'm dropping a lot of weight.... some nights I feel a little hungry, but nothing like I need to eat or I'll faint.
I have loads more energy than I did before, waking up a 6am and staying awake longer too. I guess it's finding what's right for your body and your needs. If I am hungry, I will eat.
Right now, I'd struggle eating more than 1200 cals as I've not been hungry.
In terms of dropping weight; it's all over the place. 13lbs in three weeks.. I'm guessing a lot of that was water weight. But, it's about finding what works for you 3 -
1200 calories a day and not feeling deprived depends on your body (size) and what you eat. If you eat very lean/low calorie protiens (mainly plain white fish or chicken), a ton of plain raw or lightly steamed vegetables and then just a cup of complex carbs (brown rice). That's a lot of food volume to hit 1200 calories a day. That's literally 6 meals a day of switching between 4oz chicken & 4oz cod, plus a cup or two (if leafy greens) of green, plain vegetables (raw or lightly steamed) and 2 of the meals with 1/2 cup brown rice.3
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I eat 1200 calories a day and as many have said here protein is key to being satisfied. I drink tons of water, get 10 hours of sleep a night and walk 6 days a week. I am satisfied on my diet probably because I allow myself a little dark chocolate every day. I have lost almost 44 pounds this way with only 27 left to go!9
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deannalfisher wrote: »hydechildcare wrote: »hydechildcare wrote: »I eat between 1200-1300 calories a day. Here is how to do it with out feeling hungry. Vegs lots and lots of vegs. Limit bread, rice, potatoes and you will be fine. My doctor told me 1200-1500 calories are what women need. She also told me to limit and very small quantities of starches. Before eating the starches on my diet of 1200 calories I would be hungry all day. Now I eat most veges and protein and do not feel hungry all day.
No offense, but your doctor was wrong. There are plenty of women on here (some in their 40s and 50s, btw) who have reached their healthy goal weight and maintain on over 2000 calories a day. I'm 44, 5'4" 130 lbs and I maintain on 1800 per day and lost weight on 1500.
Not directed at you but just in general, we need to stop perpetuating this myth that all women need to be borderline hungry while eating like little fragile birds to be a healthy weight. Your body needs fuel, fat, protein, and fiber to be strong and healthy and active. And the majority of women will need more than 1200 to achieve that, even while they are trying to lose weight.
I'll get off my soapbox now
I think it depends on your body. I can not eat that many calories and lose weight. Eating meat, vegs, nuts, and high fiber bread. I fill up and feel full faster and longer than when I eat pasta and other carbs. I know that if I eat 1500 calories per day. I will feel sick from eating to much or will end up eating junk food to meat those calorie goals of 1500. It depends on your needs, like everyone else has said listen to your body. I listen to mine and this is what it is telling me from years of trying and failing. I have finally found something that works for me that I can manage with out the hungry feeling that normal is there.
you don't need to eat junk food to hit 1500cal - I avg 2600 a day and aside from a cookie or cupcake the vast majority of my food is healthy grains, lean proteins and fat - and i'm 5'3". 148lbs
I sometimes wonder if people who complain about not being able to eat an extra couple hundred calories have ever heard of cheese.41 -
I have stayed under 1600 calories a day and have lost 22 lbs in the last 30 days. I am trying to follow a more "keto" diet approach keeping my carbs way low and protein way high. It kinda sucks but its working. Oh... I also have a lot of weight to lose which probably contributes to the loss. If you dont have much weight to lose it will probably be harder.4
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I get by just fine on 1200, I'm not losing 2lb a week from it but that's probably down to the fact that I'm going over my goal some days. You do need to be in the right mind for it though and eat filling foods. Most importantly, foods you enjoy too (but don't fill up on junk, the calories skyrocket fast. I'd rather eat 250cal of chicken than one single chocolate bar, you know?). You can still have a treat, just make sure you have calories for it. I have a 95 calorie "Little bar" by Cadbury usually once a day or so for example.
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