1200 calories per day- How is it working out for you?

aprilhelmreich
aprilhelmreich Posts: 40 Member
edited October 2 in Health and Weight Loss
I am set to eating 1200 calories a day. That is for 2lbs a week. I have been doing this for 3 weeks now and have lost 3lbs.

I was wondering how others are doing with 1200 calories, if you eat your exercise calories, and how much weight you are losing or have lost?

I'm just wondering what works for you all even though I know all bodies are different. Thanks for sharing!

Replies

  • SouLThinking
    SouLThinking Posts: 308 Member
    I have a hard time hitting my goal of 1350. I actually am usually a little under the 1200 (not on purpose) about 5 times a week. I know that's probably why I stall for so long. I usually lose when I consistently eat at 1300 to 1500. I only have about 15 lbs to go though so it's getting harder. So, I guess my answer would be if you can try to hit your 1200 or even go over a little you'll probably see better results. I think the 1200 is just too low for people..and they tend to stall ...and if your exercising then your even running on less. I exercise about 3 times a week along with working full time and running after my kids.
  • Care563
    Care563 Posts: 61 Member
    I am also on 1200 calories. I am into my 2nd week. I lost 1lb the first and hoping to lose at least 1lb this week (thursday is weigh in day). I try not to eat my exercise calories and will eat them if I need a bit more that day. I was hoping the first weeks I would lose more. :( I am trying not to get frustrated and expect too much. I will see what happens in the next week. I am exercising at least 5 times a week.
  • Dickersondiva
    Dickersondiva Posts: 97 Member
    My net goal ended up being 1290 according to MFP calculations. I've only been on it for a week, but I've already had a 3 lb weight loss. However, I EAT my exercise calories, and then about 100-150 more (not intentionally..mainly because I keep drinking the salsa...lol). I have mine set at 2 lbs/wk as well, and initially I thought this would be low. But my initial weight loss could also be water loss, so I will have a better idea in a couple of weeks.
  • SaundraU
    SaundraU Posts: 77
    For net calories I am under 1200 but consume between 1200-1400 per my nutritionist - I have increased my activity level alot and do not eat back my calories (nutritionist says only to eat back around 100 of the exercise calories or you defeat the purpose) and after 21 days I'm at 4lbs down.
  • katiepie111
    katiepie111 Posts: 83 Member
    im finding it hard to even get to 1200 by eating healthy! i know i could have a few unhealthy snacks which would up my calories (im normally on 1050-1200 most days) but i want to do this healthily so am going to go and buy some natural peanut butter and try and eat more healthy things - ive only been doing this for two weeks, had a 1kg loss in the first week but i think that is just water weight.
  • change_happens
    change_happens Posts: 491
    Hi. I recently reduced my calorie intake to 1200 because I am unable to workout like I was before. Honestly, going from 1895-2300 calories a day to 1200 is literally kicking my butt. However, I am losing weight and I am not eating my exercise calories back.
  • paulaGetshealthy
    paulaGetshealthy Posts: 464
    At first I ate less than 1200 calories, but my weight-loss started slowing down so I now eat 1200 calories, and at least 100 of my exercise calories. I've lost 42 lbs doing this :)
  • hazelnut861
    hazelnut861 Posts: 390 Member
    I eat around 1200 on my rest day but a little more on exercise days. I never eat all my calories back. At first nothing was happening but I got my thyroid checked and I've lost 12 lbs in the 2 months since I've started meds so I think for a healthy person 120 could be enough combined with regular exercise.
  • ltlane
    ltlane Posts: 120
    i eat 1000-1400 calories 6 days out the week and have one maintenance day(2000cals) and it is working out perfectly
  • Brandi_Lee
    Brandi_Lee Posts: 46
    I'm only in my second week and i lost 4.5lbs the first week (mostly water weight i think). But i've found a lot of people I talk to say there success with weight loss is not eating big dinners. I've now taken to eating my largest meal at lunchtime. If I do eat after dinner it's something light with low calories and low carbs if any.
    But as far as 1200, it depends on the day. Most days I'm okay with that amount but there have been a few that I came pretty close to going over.

    It's all one day at a time.
  • acarter33664
    acarter33664 Posts: 53 Member
    I've been on MFP for about two weeks now and I've been on the 1200 calories a day plan. It has been okay for me. i'm never plain out starving, and when I work out, I don't eat all of my calories back. If I just want to indulge a little, I eat just a few back. So far, if the scale I weighed on is right, I've lost 5 pounds.
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    Once MFP gives me 1200 cal I switch to the next level I'm now at 1/2 lb/per week.

    My goal is to gradually increase calories until I learn how to eat properly at my maintenance calorie level.

    (BTW, MFP won't give you less than 1200 cal/Day so you get proper nutrition. If it's giving you exactly 1200 cal odds are you're not really on lose 2lbs/week

    Just so you don't get stressed.
    click the HOME tab>GOALS at the bottom of the right column you'll PROJECTED WEIGHT LOSE.
    and it will show the rate at which you'll probably lose.... You know everybody's different and all... yada yada )

    I know at 25 you kinda of want to hurry up and get there, but relax and go slow, stay healthy, In the end it's all about the maintenance. I want you to live a fabulous life, doing everything you want to.
  • Blaineybaby
    Blaineybaby Posts: 1
    I have been using the iPad app of this for 6 months or so now, and i set mine to 1200/day, loosing 1lb/week.
    I was 76kgs, and now am 60kgs......

    Reporting your daily intake is not only useful to see how many calories each food item has, but it teaches you the types of food to avoid, because when i compare myself to previous eating, i remembered how hard it was to concentrate and really grasp how bad the food was for me. Nowadays i like to check out a pretend days worth of eating- what it used to be and omg it was bad, no wonder i was larger.

    You cannot continue living as you did when on a daily basis the maths is right there staring you in the face.

    I have been doing poledancing now for a year (think what you want, i dont strip and hell! it has toned me up!) so when i wake up ill do a sit up combo to run the world by beyonce, do the same of an arvo, maybe some push ups, it only takes 10 mins max.
    I also - when i have the time, like to go for a half hour run. It doesnt matter how fast or slow you run, for me the most important thing was to NOT STOP, no matter how hard it was.

    Anyway, im feeling free, lighter and more sexier!

    Hope theres some motivation!
  • mbissey
    mbissey Posts: 25
    MFP has my level set for 1200, but eating that amount leaves me hungry and cranky with difficulty concentrating so I upped it. I average 1350-1550 calories per day regardless of exercise. It seems to be working for me. I've lost 10.4 lbs in 6 weeks. I'm very happy with it especially since I'm on several meds.
  • Jenscan
    Jenscan Posts: 694 Member
    MFP wants me on 1200 a day, but psychologically I just can't do it, so I manually upped it to 1250 (lol I know, it's not much of a difference!). I eat all of my exercise calories back and have lost 33 lbs since April - well over 1 lb/week even though MFP tells me the most I can hope for is about .8/week. I'm 5'3", so a smaller calorie goal makes sense.

    However, this isn't for everyone. Some people simply can't work such a low calorie intake. It really depends on the person. The usual advice is that the closer you are to goal, the smaller your goal should be; so really, while 2 lb/ week might be realistic for you at the beginning, it probably isn't for the duration. Keep reevaluating how you're doing as you go, and you'll be just fine.
  • Choirgirl37
    Choirgirl37 Posts: 255
    It has worked out really, really well for me. I won the biggest loser contest at work because I lost 28 lbs is 3 months.

    Now that I am into my 5th month, I must exercise more in order to maintain weight loss of 2 lbs per week. Sometimes I eat back all of the calories I earn from exercising, sometimes I do not. It just depends on what I'm feeling.

    Currently looking for more friends to join my fantastic network of a-mazing MFP friends. Add me!
  • splackk
    splackk Posts: 163
    I'm usually right around 1200 cals per day, but as I'm not getting much of any exercise right now and I'm only 5'1'' I think that's about the high end for myself.

    Most days I have no problem, but days that I haven't planned for at all tend to sneak up and bite me. It's very easy to pass 1200 when you don't have much choice but to eat out most meals or eat the same sandwich/fruit/some other food that doesn't need cooked or refrigerated every day week after week. If I don't plan at all or am going out with friends I often end up closer to 2000 cals, maybe once a week. But I don't usually feel hungry, so with a bit of advanced thinking I'm having no trouble. When I stick with it I lose about a pound a week, when I have more than planned I gain .5-1 pound but take it off in a day or two.
  • sweetsapphire85
    sweetsapphire85 Posts: 386
    I ate below the 1200 for the past 2 months and had no problem and continually lost weight (19 lbs) until this week. Nothing has changed but i have gained about 1-2 pounds in the past 3 days....which i'm hoping is just a fluke but now i'm eating at 1200 but am afraid now it will continue to climb.

    Exercising about 4 times a week now that i'm in school again (for 2.5 weeks was down for an injury prior to last wednesday) and just started back exercising again.

    I'm hoping it will help!

    ETA: i'm just over 5' and was close to 40 lbs over weight. Just to put it into perspective.
  • LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo
    LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo Posts: 3,634 Member
    At first it worked well for me but as I gaining more muscles in my body, I realized that amount is too small because my muscles alone needs 50 cals per lb of muscle to maintain itself. mine is at 95 lbs x 50 cals = 4,750 cals. I need tha amount just for my muscles alone!
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