1200 calories with Intermittent fasting

catherineroberts87
catherineroberts87 Posts: 27 Member
edited November 26 in Motivation and Support
I’m new to MFP, put in my details and recommended calorie intake is 1200, started doing that a couple of days ago along with intermittent fasting. My ‘eating window’ is 9am - 5pm which works great for me as I couldn’t go all morning without food. I’ve also cut down my calories to 1200 which I’m finding easier than I though. I’m Eating healthy meals/snack as well not junk.

I’m sedentry not exercising much right now as I’m recovering from a procedure so will start exercising lightly in a couple of weeks.

I’m 5foot1 and 132 pounds I want to get down to 112....but ideally 110 just to get under that 8 stone mark as well as get toned.

Finding it alright at the moment but just wondering whether 1200 is too low even though I’m short and sedentry??
Thanks

Replies

  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    edited April 2018
    If you're eating a balanced diet, nutritous food, I don't think 1200 is too little. But you have a normal weight, which means that weightloss will be slow, a pound, maybe half a pound per week. "Recommended calorie intake" is based on what weightloss rate you picked - not really a user error, it's understandable to want the weight off as fast as possible; MFP provides no clues and defaults to the minimum 1200 - if you pick a too aggressive rate, you get a recommendation of too little food, too.
  • catherineroberts87
    catherineroberts87 Posts: 27 Member
    Thank you for your reply:) I can’t remember what weight loss rate I put in but I realise at 132 pounds weight loss will be slow and steady. Ok just been reading loads of people saying 1200 calories is way too low so was a bit worried! But will stick with this and see how it goes

    Once I’m alright to start exercising I’m planning on working out in the mornings during the fasting period...so will I just have to add the calories I’ve burned to the daily recommended calories?...also should I stick with 1200 on the days that I don’t workout and only eat more calories on the days I do workout?
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    MFP is designed for you to eat back exercise calories, but exercise calories are also notoriously inflated, so eat back 50-75%, not all of them. You can also "bank" calories and for instance eat your exercise calories in the weekend.
  • sytchequeen
    sytchequeen Posts: 526 Member
    you are an inch shorter and 5lbs lighter than me. I have my cals at 1380 and only lightly active. I find I lose at a nice slow rate on that. I am aiming for under 130 (and no lower than 123 - from experience I know less than that does not sit well on me). Good luck.
  • catherineroberts87
    catherineroberts87 Posts: 27 Member
    Thank you! Lowest I’ve been in the past is 8stone1 but that was before I had my little one...even at that weight I still wasn’t happy with how I looked. I was eating fairly healthy and doing a lot of cardio back then but I’m hoping if I do some cardio but focus more on strength/resistance and continue with IF, keep within calorie recommendation and eat clean I’ll feel and look much better at 8stone this time around
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Just to make sure you don't waste precious mental energy on unimportant and potentially counterproductive things: meal timing (what you're referring to as IF) has no effect on anything beyond making sticking to your calorie target (and life in general) easier (or harder), and "eating clean" can mean so many things that it practically means nothing.
  • catherineroberts87
    catherineroberts87 Posts: 27 Member
    Ok then:) I’m finding the intermittent fasting makes the calorie counting much easier which can only be a good thing right? And by clean eating I just mean eating more fruit and veg lean meats, whole grains etc... basic balanced healthy meals, drinking plenty of water and cutting out the crap which is also a good thing right..? I realise it means different to everybody though and these faddy terms are overused but I guess it’s down to individual preference and what works for them.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Lovely to hear. Sounds to me you have it sorted out :)
  • littledainty
    littledainty Posts: 25 Member
    I'm five foot/115lbs and losing on 1200-1300/day (plus exercise calories when I need them as I'm very active. It's not too little as long as you're eating the right foods-which it sounds like you are. When you're petite like us low calories are fine as long as you aren't using them on junk as you won't get the nutrition you need (even more important if you're in recovery). I take a couple of multivitamins just to be sure.

    Sounds like you're doing awesome . My goal is about 110 too so feel free to add me for some short support :)
  • catherineroberts87
    catherineroberts87 Posts: 27 Member
    @littledainty hey that’s awesome well done!:)How much have you lost and how have you done it? I could do with some tips to stick with this, I tend to manage a week or so then fall off the wagon
  • activities1
    activities1 Posts: 3,475 Member
    I’ve been doing 1200 cal since September and you get used to it. Lost 40 lbs so far so it’s possible! Good luck and feel free to add me
  • alcomer
    alcomer Posts: 101 Member
    I'm at also doing 1200 calorie with IF, 18/6. I have lost approx 6 lbs in 5 weeks, but I only had 11 pounds to lose total, so I suspect these last 5 with drop off slowly. IF works for me, and I feel great.
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