1200 calorie successes?

Thick_Chickk · December 2017

Did anyone start off at 1200 calories to lose? How much did you lose? How long did it take?

apullum · December 2017

I did, but I am *very* short (under 5 feet). I lost 100 pounds in 2.5 years. 1200 is a baseline that doesn't take into account exercise calories; on days I exercised, I ate my exercise calories back.

30kgin2017 · December 2017

Isn't every female diet 1200cal:D I did 1200 cal for about 6 weeks and then upped it to 1500cal for the next 5. Lost 10kg in 11 weeks but I exercised for 1 hour a day 6 days a week from week 3(which is why I ended up upping my cals to 1500 as 1200 was not enough).

dfein001 · December 2017

Over 10 pounds in 30 days.... using this to maintain a 1200 net daily with exercise. I am about to up that limit as soon.

middlehaitch · December 2017

Yes. I lost 30lbs on 1200 a day plus about 200 exercise calories.

1200 cals was apropriate for me as I was sedentary, 5'1 and 130 lbs to begin with. At 130 I went from the top of the normal BMI range to close to the bottom 100-105.

It took a year to lose the weight and I have kept it off for 7 years.

Cheees, h.

littledainty · December 2017

I've been logging since April on 1100-1200 calories, with a day off once a month or so. I'm 5 foot tall and started at 143. I've just hit 118lbs so it's been a slow race, and ultimately I'm aiming for somewhere around 105-110.

It works for me because I'm short and didn't have a lot to lose, so my deficit on 1200 is only about 300 a day unless I exercise a lot, and my appetite is obviously lower as a petite person.

When I was just starting out someone said to me "don't do anything to lose weight that you wouldn't do long term to maintain it". If 1200 is a very high deficit for you (ie you're tall or very active) it will just make things harder the long run.

KnitterNotAQuitter · December 2017

My doctor put me on a 1,200-calorie a day diet, and I lost 24.6 pounds in the first month. (SW: 352.6, so I have a lot to lose.) I think I'm down a little from that, but haven't weighed in in a couple weeks. When I started, I also went cold turkey on junk/fast food, salt and added sugar, so I think that made it easier, because I can eat a lot more veggies. Sometimes I don't finish them. I have slipped a few times recently -- the holiday socializing has been rough! -- but I'm at such a deficit that there's only been one or two days where it made a significant difference. I also haven't been eating my exercise calories back. As I get more active, I might have to, but for now, I'm sticking with the 1,200-calories a day, and hoping to soon reach my goal of losing 10% of my body weight -- only 10.7 pounds to go. (Then, another 10%, then another 10%, etc., etc. Small goals.

)

JennJ323 · December 2017

Yes. I've been on a 1200 calorie "diet" for a year now, I've lost 28lbs so far.

5'2"
SW 155
CW 127

DebLaBounty · December 2017

Yes
I'm 5'6", starting weight 173. Lost 1 or 2 pounds a week for five months, now eat 1500 or so and am maintaining my weight at a range of 142 to 145 pounds.

debtay123 · December 2017

I eat 1200 calores without exercise- but most days I exercise by walking so I really eat about 1350-1450 calories and I still lose -somewhat slowly- but I am not going anywhere.

OHFlamingo · December 2017

I'm confined to a wheel chair, and do not exercise. I'm 5' 5.5" SW 221 CW 185 (That's 36 pounds!) Started on 1200 calories on 5/20/17. I weigh, measure, and log every morsel I eat. 4 more pounds, and I finally move out of the "obese" category!

Iwantahealthierme30 · December 2017

I tried 1200 but don't feel well when calories are that low. I get dizzy, MFP recommends 1660 to me and I am losing 1.5-2 pounds a week.

brittneyalley · December 2017

I eat 1200, and have lost almost 40 pounds so far. I started my journey in the middle of August.

GoldenEye_ · December 2017

I started on mfp and 1200 kcal a day the first of June, then had a 4 month period of maintenance starting in August and then started weightloss again at the end of November. I started at 159 lbs and have lost 17 lbs so far

I usually do eat some my workout calories back, so tend to eat around 1300 kcal a day. I do free weights about 3x a week (at a beginner level, sticking to 17.6 lbs for most exercises), pilates 3x a week and running once a week, all around 30-45 minutes.

Sam29a · December 2017

I was eating 1200 for about a year, brought it up to 1300 towards the end of the year. I lost 57 lbs in 1.5 years, (although last 3 months of that I eat really low - not through choice). I never exercised, at least not much. Did a month or so of the 30-day shred, otherwise completely sedentary.

I'm 5'2 btw.

taylormarysmith · December 2017

I was skeptical when MFP recommended 1100 calories to me. I’m 5’7”. SW was 180 and I’m down to 150. Want to hit about 135. Regardless, it seemed low to me. I consulted my doctor and he helped me find a multivitamin to help with any nutritional vitamins I may miss due to such a low calorie intake. But overall, he was on board as long as I hit my fat and protein macros. To my amazement, I am eating between 1100 and 1300 and do not feel hungry - especially when I’m hitting those macros. I also exercise 3 or 4 times a week, and try to eat my calories back.

The first 15 pounds came off easily. A little less than 2 months. The remaining 15 were harder to come by. It’s been about 5 months. Hoping by April to lose the remaining 15.

TeaBea · December 2017

Thick_Chickk wrote: »

Did anyone start off at 1200 calories to lose? How much did you lose? How long did it take?

The answer for you is based on YOUR stats. Mine aren't relative.

Let's say you are 200 pounds, 5'5" tall, 20 years old and sedentary. Your TDEE (maintenance calories) are estimated at 2,076 calories.

So 1200 would be an 876 calorie deficit (2,076 - 1, 200 = 876). Because there are 3,500 calories in a pound you could expect 3,500/876 = 3.99. Approximately 1 pound every 4 days.

Another example: let's say you are 150 pounds, 5'7" tall, 35 years old and sedentary. Your TDEE (maintenance calories) are estimated at 1,741 calories.

So 1200 would be a 541 calorie deficit (1,741 - 1, 200 = 541). Because there are 3,500 calories in a pound you could expect 3,500/541 = 6.47. Approximately 1 pound every 6.5 days.

Of course everything above is based on estimates. Sedentary is a range.....not just one value. Some people accurately measure food intake (digital food scale)....others just think they do. Exercise would increase the intake above 1200, but then calorie burns are estimates too.

1200 is a default minimum number. Sometimes it's based on your current size, sometimes it just means the user set an aggressive weekly weight loss goal.

susanp57 · December 2017

I'm 5'5" and ate at 1200 from March until I hit my goal weight in September, about 32 lbs. I usually ate back a portion of my exercise calories.

getoffin1year · December 2017

1200 is doable for a low energy day or two. I shoot for a 1000 calorie deficit a day, some higher, some lower. Thats 7000 calories a week or two pounds. I dont think I'd be able to do 1200 everyday.

Tprez12 · December 2017

taylormarysmith wrote: »

I was skeptical when MFP recommended 1100 calories to me. I’m 5’7”. SW was 180 and I’m down to 150. Want to hit about 135. Regardless, it seemed low to me. I consulted my doctor and he helped me find a multivitamin to help with any nutritional vitamins I may miss due to such a low calorie intake. But overall, he was on board as long as I hit my fat and protein macros. To my amazement, I am eating between 1100 and 1300 and do not feel hungry - especially when I’m hitting those macros. I also exercise 3 or 4 times a week, and try to eat my calories back.

The first 15 pounds came off easily. A little less than 2 months. The remaining 15 were harder to come by. It’s been about 5 months. Hoping by April to lose the remaining 15.

Great Job!!! What are your macros?

1200 calorie successes?

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