1200 calories - is that reasonable?

I am at 1310 calories and that is really hard to do! I would probably try to consume at least 200 calories more than 1200... Are you working out too? That really helps as well.

You can do it! :) Stay focused...drink lots of water...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/471769-an-easier-way-to-setup-goal-calories-eating-for-who-you-wi

I'm 5'3" (also on a good day) and I think if I consistently ate 1200 a day I would starve!
How is your weight loss coming along? If you're not losing it could be that you're not eating enough.

Yeah, I'd be pretty hungry on only 1200 calories too! Up it to at least 1500. I hardly every reach my 1590 calorie limit, but I'm never hungry and I'm losing weight. I usually get to 150 - 400 within my limit. At 1200 I'd be so hungry and it'd be so easy to go overboard.

If you are exercising you can eat back the calories burned.

If not, change your settings to loose just 1 pound a week and you'll prob be able to have 1400 cals a day. I tend to try to keep my cals between 1200 and 1500, depending how hungry I am and I'm still loosing, slow but sure.

Hope this helps.

Over the years, I have found that 1200 is rough to start with. I kept track of what I ate for about a week just to get an average calorie count, so I could see what my tummy was used to consuming. I was taking in on average 2200 calories per day. Instead of cutting that almost in half right off the bat (and then scaring myself off my diet because it was 'WAY TOO HARD!' I started with 1600 calories. A deficit is a deficit. Eating anything less than what you normally do will jump start your weight loss. Then over time I lowered it to 1200, once I started feeling right about how much I was eating. I was also able to substitute foods with lesser calorie versions, helping the 1200 calories per day seem more reachable.

In my experience, anything under 1500 calories/day is fine unless you have some kind of deadline you're trying to meet. Don't forget that you can add back in what ever you burn exercising. You might just need to up the exercise a little in order to be able to consume a few more calories to help avoid feeling hungry.

I'm at 5'9 and it clocked me in at 1220cal. Yes its very hard, but it is managable! Vegetable campbells soup is only 160cal a can. I had two cans, and still had 800ish cal left for the day..and I was full. Most days I can go under 1220, but weekends I admit are rough..but thats ok. It'll be hard but belive me..the hard work pays off

Hi there.

Thanks for posting. I'm new to all of this...I got a FitBit on Tuesday and joined here because they share information. I am in the same predicament as you are in many ways...I am 6' and need to lose 80 lbs, and when I started watching calories, I would set targets that were too low, and would be SO HUNGRY throughout the day. This was pretty low...1000 calories or so. Too low for someone my size. My self-imposed target is now 1250 calories..very low and very ambitious, but I wanted to try it and so far it has worked. I'm still hungry sometimes, but it subsides. More importantly, I have energy to burn off at the gym, so in the end, the extra calories come off in that way.

I think in your case, you should consider moving your target to 1300 from 1200, if it means that you will have enough fuel to keep going. After all, a slightly slower loss is better than none, right? Just remember that your body is telling you something when you are hungry. I see that you are eating veggies and protein and drinking water to try to stay satisfied and full. I'm doing the same, and it works most of the time. I know from past failures that if I cut too much, it will backfire on me.

I guess I just wanted to encourage you, and tell you a little about my own experience since we seem to be struggling to find a reasonable, ambitious caloric goal. Don't be afraid to try 1300 - or some other number - and see how it works for you. If you aren't hungry all the time on it, and if that level gives you the energy to exercise and keep going throughout the day, then that's the level I would stick with! You can always cut it back once you've seen results. Just be mindful of your short-term and long-term goals.

You have a great smile, by the way! Keep smiling! My yoga instructor (yeah, I'm a big guy that does yoga) swears that smiling helps the body relax and helps the metabolism. Certainly doesn't hurt to try!

At 1200 calories it is going to force you to excersize because it is hard to stay at that amount. You will be hungry for a while, until your body adjust to 1200 calories. I have lost about 25 pounds, that way. Good luck sweetheart!

I am also 5'3", the 1200 calories doesn't seem to hard for me. Do you exercise, that way you can eat more.

I'm 5' 1/2" and mfp suggested 1200 for me. I almost always went over when i first joined mfp. Now i'm getting closer to 1200.....and ALWAYS eat my exercise calories.

Try 1500-1600 and see how it goes. I consistenly eat around 1600 calories every day and that number "works" for me. See how you feel and if you are progressing! Good luck!