1700 calories

Seems like 1200 as a starting place may be too low for you:

https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/1200-calorie-diet/

RovP6 wrote: »

If your goal is 1200 calories, try to stick to 1200 calories and not rely on additional activity to achieve fat loss. Also worth remembering that 1200 calories per day = 8400 calories per week. That can be split into 7 days of 1200 or you can cycle with low days and high days ie 4 days of 1000 calories and 3 days of 1450ish. Calorie cycling like this can help with adherence.

Without additional information about your existing weight it's difficult to assess if 1200 calories is too low for you. The general rule for fat loss is to set calories between ten and 12 times bodyweight so if we say you're at the lower end then I'm guessing you weigh about 120lbs?

That is not the way MyFitnessPal is designed to work. Agreed that1200 may be too low for this individual but without their stats, that is impossible to tell. They still can eat more than their allotted calories if they are exercising. If you are thinking about TDEE, then no, you don't eat any of your calories earned through exercise because they are calculated into the amount of calories you eat. Using MFP the way it is designed to be used, the calorie amount given is the amount of calories you eat before you exercise. Then, you eat some (most stick to about 50% but that varies by the individual) or all of the earned calories back. Where did you get the number of 10-12% of your body weight in calories to lose weight? I lose steadily at 1500-1600 net calorie. I am well above 150 pounds. I would be gaining steadily if I ate 10% of my weight in calories.

@jadu1536 Keep doing what you're doing assuming 1200 calories is appropriate for your height and weight. Adjust your calories after a month if you don't see the progress you are looking for or you are losing at too fast of a pace.

RovP6 wrote: »

If your goal is 1200 calories, try to stick to 1200 calories and not rely on additional activity to achieve fat loss.

Eeek! No way. I'm a five foot female and my weight loss amount was 1200 and my maintenance amount is 1370. If i didn't use exercise to boost my daily calorie budget I would have been completely and utterly miserable and fallen off the wagon a long long time ago because my calorie budget is measly without exercise calories. As it is, I'm 3 months into maintenance, have lost 32kg and frequently have days when I can eat more than 2,000 calories just because of exercise. Days when I don't exercise at all/as much, I eat less of course, but finding exercise I like and can do easily at and around the home (zumba on youtube, walks with the dogs) have been how I've lost weight and am endeavouring to maintain.

RovP6 wrote: »

If your goal is 1200 calories, try to stick to 1200 calories and not rely on additional activity to achieve fat loss. Also worth remembering that 1200 calories per day = 8400 calories per week. That can be split into 7 days of 1200 or you can cycle with low days and high days ie 4 days of 1000 calories and 3 days of 1450ish. Calorie cycling like this can help with adherence.

Without additional information about your existing weight it's difficult to assess if 1200 calories is too low for you. The general rule for fat loss is to set calories between ten and 12 times bodyweight so if we say you're at the lower end then I'm guessing you weigh about 120lbs?

Unlike other sites which use TDEE calculators, MFP uses the NEAT method (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis), and as such this system is designed for exercise calories to be eaten back. However, many consider the burns given by MFP to be inflated for them and only eat a percentage, such as 50%, back. Others, however, are able to lose weight while eating 100% of their exercise calories.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818082/exercise-calories-again-wtf/p1

GlobeYack wrote: »

But, I have always had weight problems throughout my life. I was underweight for most of my life then depression set in 6 years ago. It was then that my weight was going up and down. I started comfort eating which increased my weight dramatically. My life has been... dramatic, I suppose would be the word and it doesn't help that I can't really exercise although I try.

Just to say, I'm not strictly overweight but according to my BMI, I'm on the border of being overweight. I'm literally just on the edge of normal weight. But there are other contributory factors that may he accountable.

I also can't exercise so my options a restricted when it comes to it although I try to, I do regret it such as today. I'm already regretting my decision to exercise today.

Well then it's quite possible that your history of being underweight coupled with your other contributory factors and not being able to exercise is playing a dramatic roll in your calorie needs. An adult woman should be able to eat more than 1200 cals and lose weight unless she is some combination of quite short, elderly, undermuscled, very sedentary, already underweight, or dealing with a medical condition that affects metabolism and energy.

Far too many women think they need to eat very little to lose weight, and it often hurts them in the long run more than helps. Many of us are so enjoying having learned the lesson that we try to spread it to as many women as we can. If your doctor(s) aren't aware of how little you eat and your low appetite, you might want to mention it and see if you can work with an RD if you aren't already. Anyway, that's none of my business, but I just wanted to make it clear that while eating so little might be your normal, it isn't typical or honestly healthy for the vast majority of women.

SLL1803 wrote: »

1200 calories is far too low. Even MFP lists it as the absolute minimum

Do we know OP's stats yet?

1200 is too low for many people but not too low for everyone.
There are people that it is the right number for - we need OP's stats before deciding whether or not that could be her.