1200 calories

nicholejhx · November 2018

Currently reading mixed reviews on the 1200 calories diet and I’m fairly new to all this, I’m reaching my target of 1200 calories each day, however there are some days I’m left with calories left over, if I ate chocolate/biscuits/crisps ect within the calorie range will I still see a loss
Thanks

Panini911 · November 2018

what do you mean by "the 1200 calorie diet".

how did you choose 1200 calories?

Did you enter your info in MFP (hieght, weight, target weight, activity level, loss preference and see what it gives you?

1200 is the minimum an adult female needs to function. it's not a magic number or a special diet Eating below that is not ideal. If a day here and there you are not hungry that's one thing but under eating consistantly over time is not good for your physical health.

calories are calories. eating "healthy foods" is good for your health but irrelevant to weight loss. you can eat chocolate and chips and if you stay within calorie goal you will still loose weight.

are you weight food and accurately logging?

shadow2soul · November 2018

nicholejhx wrote: »

Currently reading mixed reviews on the 1200 calories diet and I’m fairly new to all this, I’m reaching my target of 1200 calories each day, however there are some days I’m left with calories left over, if I ate chocolate/biscuits/crisps ect within the calorie range will I still see a loss
Thanks

Yes.

However why are you at 1200 calories?

I'm curious and know that I couldn't stick to that few for very long. I would definitely end up binge eating after a while at that level and be fairly hangry.

Also did you know that the National Institute of Health only recommends losing 10% bodyweight over 6 months and then taking a maintenance break before continuing. What does that look like for you? Did you choose a weight loss per week goal that would have you losing more than that in 6 months? Picking an apropriate weight loss goal is important for sustainablity and even keeping the weight off long term.

Some general recommendations:

:drinker: No more than 1% bodyweight loss per week if you want mostly fat to be lost (also combined with adequate protein intake and strength training with progressive overload)

:drinker: For Sustainablity:
0.5lbs per week if you have less than 25lbs to lose
1lb per week if you have 25-50lbs to lose
1.5lb per week if you have 50-75lbs to lose
2lb per week if you have 75+ lbs to lose

Running2Fit · November 2018

Yes, technically you can eat whatever you want and as long as you are in a calorie deficit (so eating fewer calories than you need to maintain your weight) you will lose weight.

I eat 1200-1300 calories a day. But I’m also only 5’ and have 40 more pounds left to lose. That’s a very low calorie range for someone who isn’t a very short female. And it might not be sustainable in the long-term. How many calories you eat should be based on some “1200 calorie diet” it needs to be based on your height, weight, activity level, and weight loss goals. If you put your info into MFP it will give you an appropriate calorie goal for you specifically.

besmith11 · November 2018

@shadow2soul - I have been looking for the sustainability numbers you posted so thank you! Are they here somewhere on MFP?

maylingsmom · November 2018

@besmith11 11 - I found those numbers here. Scroll down the page.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/543090/1-6-lousy-pounds-hmph

maylingsmom · November 2018

oops

shadow2soul · November 2018

besmith11 wrote: »

@shadow2soul - I have been looking for the sustainability numbers you posted so thank you! Are they here somewhere on MFP?

There is actually 2 different versions floating around, but they aren't much different honestly.

Along with the thread above they are mentioned:
Rate of Loss Guidelines, Can Someone Repost?
Best Rate of Loss?
Calorie Deficit

It usually gets brought up when someone mentions a 1200 calorie goal since it is the lowest MFP will give someone. Or when someone mentions expecting 2lbs per week loss with a 1200 calorie goal, but they aren't losing that fast.

hammoudhabibi · November 2018

Even if you are on a 1200 cal. diet, you don't need to reach 1200 a day, it's not bad to have a few days being below the limit.

RAinWA · November 2018

hammoudhabibi wrote: »

Even if you are on a 1200 cal. diet, you don't need to reach 1200 a day, it's not bad to have a few days being below the limit.

Actually, being under on a consistent basis can be bad. It's hard enough to get enough nutrition on 1200 calories without undercutting yourself. If you are having days lower and days over so that your weekly average ends up at 1200, that's not a bad thing.

A day when you are sick and go under? Not a worry.

But most people don't need to go as low as 1200. Shoot, I'm 5'1", 140 pound, older female with a a sedentary job and, although MFP says I need to eat 1200 to lose any weight, I lose about .5 pounds a week eating 1500-1600 a day.

tinovillaro · November 2018

I tried it for a week, lost about a pound per day eating cabbage and proteins, drinking 1 gallon of water. My eating schedule was 16:8 intermittent fasting and 30 mins of walking daily.

Then my appetite came back with a vengeance. Not sustainable long term IMO.

mountainmare · November 2018

I have averaged 1200 calories since April 20. I do swing my calories--almost like a 5:2 IF, but when looking at my weekly totals I have been over for the week only three times--and two of those were planned diet breaks on maintenance. IF I my goal would be in the healthy range at the tippy top I would have 1340 cal per day. At 1200 calories MFP says I lose 0.6 pounds a week (and that seems pretty true). So yes--it seems to be sustainable for long term if you plan you meals to lose weight. I am short, female and not older--but really old. I did pick my goal weight in the overweight range (and I'm there!!) because I looked at maintenance calories, looked at my exercise calories and picked a level that I can be happy with.
So yes--I have done 1200 for 7 months---yes sometimes I am below--sometimes above but my weekly average is 1200. No you will not starve and then have to binge if you plan what you eat carefully.

kimny72 · November 2018

mountainmare wrote: »

I have averaged 1200 calories since April 20. I do swing my calories--almost like a 5:2 IF, but when looking at my weekly totals I have been over for the week only three times--and two of those were planned diet breaks on maintenance. IF I my goal would be in the healthy range at the tippy top I would have 1340 cal per day. At 1200 calories MFP says I lose 0.6 pounds a week (and that seems pretty true). So yes--it seems to be sustainable for long term if you plan you meals to lose weight. I am short, female and not older--but really old. I did pick my goal weight in the overweight range (and I'm there!!) because I looked at maintenance calories, looked at my exercise calories and picked a level that I can be happy with.
So yes--I have done 1200 for 7 months---yes sometimes I am below--sometimes above but my weekly average is 1200. No you will not starve and then have to binge if you plan what you eat carefully.

The second bolded statement is true only because the first bolded statement is true. For the majority of healthy women, and for all healthy men, calorie needs are greater than 1200 and eating that little is probably not sustainable for long. No matter how well you plan your meals, too few calories is too few calories. However if you are a short older woman close to the healthy weight range, your calorie needs may be lower and therefore you could eat 1200 cals sustainably.

bayhans · November 2018

@shadow2soul Very helpful post! Thank you

1200 calories

Replies

Categories