Anyone else notice 1200 calories is not enough?

atownsend84
atownsend84 Posts: 14 Member
edited November 12 in Health and Weight Loss
I had to recently switch from a goal of losing 2lbs per week to losing 1 lb per week because 1200 cals was just not enough for me. It was ok if I could burn at least 300 calories with exercise, but days where I didn't go to the gym or just did a little bit of exercise (like walking for 20 or 30 mins), 1200 calories was not nearly enough. Anybody else notice this?
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Replies

  • epursey
    epursey Posts: 36 Member
    I FINALLY lost a couple of pounds and I notices now my goal is under 1300 :( I will admit I have not been the best about healthy eating but I am totally excited about my progress. But then to see I have even less calories I was so bummed. Although maybe now it will force me to make better snacking decisions.

    Yes 1200 is hard! I work out most days so I have a bit of leeway on calories.
  • agthorn
    agthorn Posts: 1,844 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/506349-women-who-eat-more-than-1800-calories-a-day
  • Classalete
    Classalete Posts: 464 Member
    I switched to 400 cals a day. It seems to be working really well.
  • kdranney
    kdranney Posts: 7 Member
    I'm right there with you! 1200 calories is really difficult. I just try to stay at 1200 with a good workout. If for some reason I don't have time for that workout, then I'm just over on my calories that day. I feel like if you are eating good, healthy foods and sometimes go over your calories it's better than starving yourself just to stay under 1200. Obviously I'm no expert, but that's my take on it.:happy:
  • IvoryParchment
    IvoryParchment Posts: 651 Member
    If you're trying to lose 2 lbs a week, yes, of course, 1200 is not enough. 2 lbs a week is a highly aggressive weight loss goal. What's the hurry?

    Do the math to see what your maintenance calories would be once you reach your goal weight. As long as you stay within that, you'll lose, and you'll be better prepared to continue to maintain the weight by having learned how to live within that calorie goal.
  • elainesmyth73
    elainesmyth73 Posts: 2
    rememeber to put in any house work you do whether its light or vigorous plus your walk and if you have a wii do the fitness on it i have also bought a game for the wii the biggest loser so will be starting it tomorrow
  • AZKristi
    AZKristi Posts: 1,801 Member
    1200 calories is not sustainable for me. My goal is 1340 per day. I usually eat back about 50-75% of my exercise calories (500 - 800 per day) depending on how hungry I am. I plan to go over my calories on friday when I go out to dinner with my husband. My weight loss has been pretty consistent at about 1 lb per week.
  • Crystal_Pistol
    Crystal_Pistol Posts: 750 Member
    I have a 1700 calorie a day MINIMUM rule. I net about that everyday. I tried 1200, nearly DIED. I start at 1700 and eat back my exercise calories too.


    EAT!!
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    Well... 1200 calories a day is half of what I normally consume each day.

    I would be threatening to eat my own limbs, small children AND neighborhood pets if all I could have in a day was 1200 calories. I think too many people set too high of a weight loss per week and end up with only 1200 calories - which isn't enough for most people. Don't get me wrong, there are some people who can easily lose weight on 1200 calories and can maintain it long term. But, for most people? It isn't something you can sustain for long term, healthy, successful weight loss.

    Lower your weekly weight loss goal and eat more food. Your body will thank you in the end!
  • Kincar
    Kincar Posts: 601 Member
    When I first started I tried to lose that much per week, but I realized I was too hungry to maintain it. I switched to 1 lb per week and haven't regretted it. I'm much happier at 1400 calories.
  • AZKristi
    AZKristi Posts: 1,801 Member
    rememeber to put in any house work you do whether its light or vigorous plus your walk

    This really depends on your settings. If you said you were sedentary, it may be appropriate to include this. If you said you were active, your diary settings may already include calories burned during normal day to day activities such as housework. Also, I am not sure I would trust MFP to calculate the number of calories burned by normal things. MFP usually overestimates calories burned compared to what my HRM says, and I am no slacker at the gym.
  • ReneeFromCanada
    ReneeFromCanada Posts: 4 Member
    1200 calories is not enough for me. I'm a 39 year old woman, 5'9" tall, and right now, I'm 174 lbs. I would be starving and dizzy from low blood sugar if I tried to maintain 1200 calories per day. I try to walk most days. I usually do 5 kms if I get out. But that's pretty much it for exercise. On walking days with the additional calorie allowance I get to have close to 2400 calories. I started on mfp 2.5 weeks ago and have lost 7 lbs and 2 inches off my waist.
  • BIGJIMMYU
    BIGJIMMYU Posts: 1,221 Member
    Weird, but some days it seems too much and other days it seems the opposite!
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    I felt like I was starving to death on 1200 cals. I think I lasted about 3 months. It kickstarted my weight loss, but I was utterly miserable. I struggle now on 1500 and that's maintenance!
  • atownsend84
    atownsend84 Posts: 14 Member
    Thanks for the advice, right now since I switched to losing 1 lb per week I can eat about 1500 cals and of course whatever calories I burn with exercise, and that is going much better so far. 1200 calories was just too difficult, and I was afraid that having that much restriction would make junk food cravings even worse being hungry all the time.
  • lacrossebuddha
    lacrossebuddha Posts: 1 Member
    I have been doing the 1200 calorie diet and so far I have seen some results. I usually just eat slowly during meals so I feel full.
  • beckylawrence70
    beckylawrence70 Posts: 752 Member
    It's enuf if you workout too, so u can eat ur exercise calories.....
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    Lol
  • nickyfm
    nickyfm Posts: 1,214 Member
    Nope :)
    But then again, I eat LOADS of low calorie foods like veggies, buckwheat ramen noodles, fruit. Have a peak at my diary. I only have one day probably every 2 weeks that I am a little hungry. Other than that my dinner bowl is massive because I beef it up with tons of veggies.
  • ishallnotwant
    ishallnotwant Posts: 1,210 Member
    I'm a much happier, more energetic gal since I adjusted my loss to .5 pounds per week and started eating a bunch of my exercise cals back. I can work out harder and longer now too because I have the proper fuel! It's a win/win situation.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    Why not eat right and create a deficit BY working out...instead of having to workout to eat?!?!?
    Convoluted MFP!!!!!

    The MFP creators just want to see more "HELP i'm stuck and eating 1200 calorie!" posts!
    It's their sick game!
  • ishallnotwant
    ishallnotwant Posts: 1,210 Member
    Thanks for the advice, right now since I switched to losing 1 lb per week I can eat about 1500 cals and of course whatever calories I burn with exercise, and that is going much better so far. 1200 calories was just too difficult, and I was afraid that having that much restriction would make junk food cravings even worse being hungry all the time.

    Woohoo! Feels great, doesn't it? *high five* lol
  • papastu
    papastu Posts: 737 Member
    I switched to 400 cals a day. It seems to be working really well.

    and then take off your exercise cals too :tongue:
  • ishallnotwant
    ishallnotwant Posts: 1,210 Member
    I switched to 400 cals a day. It seems to be working really well.

    and then take off your exercise cals too :tongue:

    I switched to 4000 cals a day. now i'm never hungry! Yay! :laugh:
  • healthyliving_girl
    healthyliving_girl Posts: 290 Member
    I first started here and it gave be 1400 or something. I couldn't last on that. I upped it to 1750 to start...and was able to lose 20 lbs in 4 months. My lowest was 1570 at one point...and I was working out hard in order to eat..and that was when my scale seemed to stop moving.

    So...I moved it back up to 1750...even though the scale seems to keep going up and down, at least I'm not starving. HA.

    I figure I will need to move it down to 1600 at some point, but I don't think I'll ever go lower than that.

    I'm 5'5" - short, but I definitely need the 1600 at a minimum.
  • jlgobert
    jlgobert Posts: 41 Member
    1200 really isnt enough. If I had to maintain that few I would truly pass out from lack of nutrition. But then again I am not rushing my weight loss. I have done that before and lost a great deal of weight, but it all came back on becasue I could not sustain that way of eating. I have enjoyed this tool and has helped me recognize where I was gaining all my weight due to the foods I was eating. Oh I still crave some of them and I oblidge some of my cravings from time to time but for the most part I stick to my target calories and I have seen a good decrease in my size, but not so much weight for some reason. Pants falling off but weight only about 5 lbs different. Oh well I feel better. But don't kill yourse;f with the 1200 bump it up a bit so you dont feel so neglected and then when you lose your weight you will be able to keep it off.
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    I wouldn't even try - my experience shows me that anything under 1400 net cals leaves me hungry and grumpy so there is really no point in setting myself up to fail.
    Well done for choosing a more sensible calorie deficit, you are much more likely to find success this way.
  • islandjumper
    islandjumper Posts: 369 Member
    I've found it fairly easy to stay within 1200, but I eat a pretty clean vegetarian diet, so it works for me. If I burn a couple hundred calories I even have enough room for some kind of treat.
  • brown_eyes
    brown_eyes Posts: 1
    I've found it fairly easy to stay within 1200, but I eat a pretty clean vegetarian diet, so it works for me. If I burn a couple hundred calories I even have enough room for some kind of treat.

    Same for me. I found it fairly easy. I usually have a glass of water before meals so I feel fuller and I eat every few hours. I'm also vegetarian so finding good nutritious foods while not going over 1290 (my limit) hasn't been too difficult.
  • SmashleeWpg
    SmashleeWpg Posts: 567 Member
    Naturally it will vary person to person, but I really think it comes down to WHAT you're eating to reach your 1200 calories. I've recently cut out most starches (grains and starchy veggies), and I've been filling up on a lot of lower-sugar fruit (berries, apples, etc), leafy veggies, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy along with a couple of servings of healthy fats a day, and I'm STUFFED some days by the day I reach 1200 - 1250. My protein is always over 100 grams a day, and my carbs hover around 100, with fat coming in between 50 and 60. I take supplements in the form of vitamins, drink mostly water and tea, and I have a ton of energy! I work out 4 or 5 times a week varying strength and cardio, and I play on an indoor volleyball team. At the end of the day, I'll eat if I'm hungry, but I don't always feel the need to eat 1500 or 1800. Day by day, I say! :)
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