1200 calories

I have been hanging around 1200 for a while. I eat 3 meals a day and usually 3 snacks a day. I rarely feel hungry or deprived. It's all about finding the right combination of foods that work for you. I do a lot of meal planning and food prep to make it work for me.

Days I manage to stick to 1200 I typically have: breakfast- coffee & semi milk, fruit salad and low fat yoghurt or a small bowl of cereal and semi milk. (250-300) Lunch is either low fat soup and a sandwhich thin with low fat cheese or a large mixed salad with cold meat and a slice of toast with low fat cheese spread. (250-300) Dinner low fat recipe of typical family meal including lean meat, v small portion potatoes and 2 veg or a pasta dish. (400) Snacks include a piece of fruit or cereal bar late afternoon (50-70) and a small glass wine or beer in evening. (150). I haven't been doing well recently though. Too much beer!

SephiraAllen wrote: »

I have been doing 1200 calories since April, don't always make it, but most of the time I'm on target. I have my goals set up as 160 for Breakfast, 470 for Lunch, 250 for Dinner and then two Snacks of 160 each. I generally eat whatever I want, just less of it, but also try to stick to lean meats and lower carb options.

I also tend to wait as long as possible each day to start eating (usually at least noon, unless I'm just really really hungry). Just works better for me that way.

And, would you say your weight loss has been consistent?

Given your height and if your really sedentary, 1200 calories is fine for right now. I'm also short and was fine on 1200 a day for a few months. Once I increased my activity I then increased my calories, which is what you said you'd do. The main thing is eating more protein and veggies/fruits to keep you feeling satiated longer. I definitely ate (and still do) my fair share of bread and desserts and wine, but too much of it will increase my appetite. Just doesn't stay around long.

jennydelgado09 wrote: »

TeaBea wrote: »

jennydelgado09 wrote: »

JustRobby1 wrote: »

Judging by your posted picture, OP I am going to go out on a limb and guess that 1200 is nowhere near where you need to be even to meet your most basic TDEE needs. You will wind up getting lightheaded frequently and generally feeling lethargic and miserable. I know many people are in a hurry to lose weight. I get it. Trust me I do, but burning yourself out and punishing your body is not the right way to go about things.

I agree. But the pic is old lol. I just had a baby and been very inconsistent. So 1200 is what was calculated if i don't do anything. Which I'm trying to get back at it. And when i do I'll of course add 200-300 more calories

1200 is a default minimum before exercise. So if you are sedentary AND very petite or elderly.....this goal is adequate. But if you chose a high weekly weight loss goal then MFP bottomed out at 1200 to accommodate that request.

I put 1lb a week and sedentary since I've been so inconsistent with working out. And I am 4'11 so yes very petite.

I just want to get a general idea. I still plan to eat an extra 200-300 calories if I'm able to go workout. If not then 1200-1300 still puts me in a deficit. But having it set at 1200 and planning meals around that gives me room to add accordingly.

So many that comment do not understand the issues of being under 5 foot. 1200 calries isn't much but even then our deficit is actually less than 500 calories a day to begin with. Not only that but we don’t actually need as much food. Their first assumption is that we are aggressive with our weight loss and undereating.

I have never eaten that little though as it is great motivation to exercise when it gives you leeway and a treat every now and then.

To stay at that amount of calories you need to eat lots of vegetables and lean meat, When I was losing I'd go low lat dairy and add eggs for fat and protein. Wholegrains are great but you can't eat too many. Oats is my standard breakfast. I'd do it with almond milk, fruit and greek yogurt. Lunch and dinner were normally meat (or eggs) and vegetables (like 8 serves a day vegetables). With one I'll add carbs be it a small amount of bread, wraps, rice or pasta (wholegrain mainly as I find these more filling). Dessert depended on calories left but normally greek yogurt with a piece of fruit. A snack would be cottage cheese and vegetables.

Now that I am in maintenance I pretty much eat the same, just that my afternoon snack and dessert have as many calories as my other meals.

Nik1473 wrote: »

SephiraAllen wrote: »

I have been doing 1200 calories since April, don't always make it, but most of the time I'm on target. I have my goals set up as 160 for Breakfast, 470 for Lunch, 250 for Dinner and then two Snacks of 160 each. I generally eat whatever I want, just less of it, but also try to stick to lean meats and lower carb options.

I also tend to wait as long as possible each day to start eating (usually at least noon, unless I'm just really really hungry). Just works better for me that way.

And, would you say your weight loss has been consistent?

I've lost 78 pounds since I started in April. Every once in a while I gain a couple pounds back (especially if I have an off day or when it's that time of the month), but overall it's been a downward trend.

I get frustrated a little, because according to my TDEE calculations, I should be able to eat more than I do (like upwards of 1700), and still lose weight, but anytime I eat much more than 1200, I gain instantly. Guess it's mostly water weight, since it generally comes back off as soon as I drop back down to the lower calorie amount, but it's really annoying.