Who has only 1200 calories per day?

I have 1230. I eat 6 small meals a day, and can keep it around that level, or a bit above on exercise days. It's about eating quality calories, and not wasting your calories on drinks and empty foods. I could probably eat a bit more and still lose weight, but I'm aiming for 1.5 lbs a week. I'm 5' 7" and 159 lbs. I'd like to be about 135 and muscular. I eat more protein and less fat than MFP recommends, but I still stick within the calories.

It's all about knowing your own body. Some people lose at 2000, some don't lose unless they are under 1200. I say, know your body. Find that place where you can lose, but feel good. And by 'good' I don't mean not hungry. Face it, if you are losing weight, you are GOING TO feel hungry. Your body does not like to lose! But keep it to where you don't feel like you are starving or want to jump someone for their food.
My body is happy at 1200. I can lose at a good pace, not feel too hungry, and if I go a few days and feel I need a break, I have a day of higher calories. The higher cal day actually keeps my loss going. I am sure though, to get right back on my 1200 the next day, and not fall back into bad habits. I keep myself motivated by weighing daily and logging my weight and cals each day on a calender. That way I can look back and keep myself accountable.
Do what works for you and keeps you safe and healthy!

At first it was hard to do because I didn't realize how many calories I was putting in my mouth a day. It was amazing to me to find that I can eat healthy and feel full. I've been trying biggest loser recipies and found alot of them to be very very filling. I am on my feet all day moving but not getting to the point where I am burning calories doing it. I've made the change in my house to buy only good food. No more chips, cookies, muffins, things of that nature, cause if they're here I will eat them...sad but true. We have alot more fresh fruit and yogourt and always make sure to keep cold water in the fridge. My biggest struggle thus far is POP....i could live on it and have a few bottles (591ml) a day. I know once I kick that habit I'll do better. So when I feel hungry or need a snack I can stya in my 1200 calorie alotment by picking healthy, low calorie alternatives. At first I thought on such a fixed income as I have working that I couldn't afford to eat healthy...well once I stopped buying all the crap I had money for fruits, veggies and ground turkey instead of beef. So it can be done! Good luck everyone!

My calorie count is set on 1210 calories per day and I have found that amount to be completely satisfying. In fact, I usually do not consume them all but rather have difficulty keeping my other components such as fat and carbs in check. I snack twice a day on fruit on whole wheat choice and peanut butter. And I eat 3-4 servings of vegetables and fruit per day, which are low in fat content, carb content, and so on. Also I have begun substituting one meal, usually lunch with a protein bar (this helps keep my daily calorie intake in check). I recommend CLIF builders bars (or LUNA bars, they are from the same company but are targeted for women and are lower in calories, fat, carbs, and so on. The Smores and Cookies and Cream are so yummy! And these are great if you are trying to dedicate yourself to workout because they are packed with around 20 grams of protein!

I have been on my fitness pal for a while, my account was accidentally deleted and I had to create a new one this week, but before my calorie count was also 1200 or 1210 calories per day. I hope this helps!:happy:

If you are smart with what you eat, you should not have to skip a meal at 1200 calories. I have been on 1200 calories for a while (I did this last year and lost 30lbs, but gained a little back the past 2 months, so I'm tracking again). I am stingy with my calories during the day as I know that my dinners are usualy the highest calories. I have 1 egg and 2 pieces of light bread in the morning. The protein and carbs carry me through until mid-morning. I have a veggie snack (1 cup of celery is like 30 calories) Sometimes, I use a 1/2 serving of hummus with it (another 30 calories). Lunch is a salad - spinach and red romaine, olives, sometimes last night's meat leftovers, carrots, etc. I use a light dressing (I don't like a lot of dressing so that helps ). In the mid-afternoon I have another veggies snack or a yogurt. Dinner I try to have a protien (chicken or meat or something) with veggies. I sometimes have enough left for a beer or some popcorn

When I am riding my bike (a normal ride for me can burn >1000 calories), I have to up the carb intake or I can barely make it through a ride, and the next day is miserable.

Hope that helps. Mostly, listen to your body. If you need more, then do it. Just make smart choices about it.

It's what you eat that adds up to 1,200 calories per day that determines if you are hungry on a diet. Really, I force myself to 1200 every day and sometimes I can't reach it.

My BMR is only 1557, so setting mine to 1200 makes sense for a net intake level.

I've been following 1200 for 2 weeks as set by MFP and find that if I eat the right types of food, it is possible to not be hungry all day. I also eat more when I exercise. MFP says that I burn 1600 a day just living so it would make sense that if I want to lost weight I would need to eat under that. When I am at my target weight I will then look to maintain, increasing the calories.

Eating 1200 and feeling fine jut makes me realise how I much I used to eat!

MFP set mine at 1200 which I find unsustainable long term, so I upper it to 1300 but have not lost any since then! I exercise to up my calories to a more sustainable level around 1500 a day. I'm only just overweight, and MFP only had me loosing 0.5 lb on 1200 cals ugh!!!

I am set at 1200 because I plugged in that I'd like to lose 2lb a week. MFP wont go below 1200 so it tells me I could lose 1.6/wk on 1200 ca. I am presently 5'10" and weigh 169.3. I was 191 when I began MFP on Dec 2. I feel my best at 150. That is the weight I spent most my younger years at. (145-150). I am 52. I have learned to stay within that ca range while trying to reduce. I find it workable. I am not walking around hungry. My issue is that I eat impulsively and compulsively...so I do better with a guideline like this. I need structure. The daily diary helps me. I try to plan the eating ahead of time to keep the numbers in line. I look forward to reaching my goal but have done that before. Maintenance is my constant challenge.

I always see people who have their calories set on 1200 per day. Why so low?

I weigh 160, am 5'5", and have mine set at 1600. That's without eating back exercise calories. I have my settings on lightly active, as I am a teacher. I generally exercise 5x/week. I could NOT get by on 1200 calories per day.

How do you all do it?

This is where I tell most people to start is 1600. Its better to create a deficit by working out than eating at 1200 and killing metabolism!

How did you manage to lose 100 lbs? Please tell me what you did.

Good advice. Mine is set there too

i had mine on 1,300 for 4weeks but now im on 1,750 i couldnt manage i was sooo hungry, i like to walk about 5mile aday & i never eat back exercise calories but i do make sure i eat 1,700 atleast each day. x

I have 1200 calories per day