1200 Calories hmm
butttrffly
Posts: 19
I know a ton of people post about calories. But here I am and honestly I think I am starting to starve myself. I have stayed within the 1200 guidelines that I get but today I ate healthy all day and I only have 200 left. I do workout everyday and I am about to do My 30 minute cardio and strength dvd and then an hour walk that gives me about 300 calories back. I have been told that your are not suppose to eat your excersize calories back. Really?? I think I would starve to death. I wonder how some people get 2000 calories and I only get 1200 lol. Somedays I am under my goal and I am not hungry but today I want a good dinner. I am a self made chef and love food. I have tried some of the skinny taste recipes and none have replaced what I can make. I am generally a healthy cook besides the butter I sometimes put in. I miss my food, I miss potatoes and bacon. I am starting to think that the calorie count is wrong for me. I am 5'9 and I weigh 160 I am hoping to get to 150 or 145 I have been at this 3 weeks I can tell I have lost some weight but the scale at the gym is under repair until tomorrow to weigh myself so I have not done a weigh in, in 10 days. Do you think it is ok if I use the calories I lost in excersize? Do you also think I may have the wrong calorie count? I am at average weight for my height. I am not going for super skinny I am really just wanting to lose the belly fat and love handles I have aquired over the last year and fit back into my summer clothes. I am a bit of a rambler but at least I am not thinking about eating.
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Replies
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As long as there is a deficit at the end of the day you should be headed toward your goal. Depending on my workout I'll have an extra snack, but I try to end the day with calories to boot. Good luck with your weight loss, and remember these are only guidelines. You know your body better than anyone, and if you're hungry eat. The worst thing you can do is make your body think it's starving because then all of your food will turn to fat, and you'll have an even harder time.
Also, I know it seems trite, but you didn't gain weight in 3 weeks, and you won't lose it in 3 weeks either. I'm currently 50lbs overweight and I've been trying hard, but I've only lost 5 lbs (which I've probably gained back because I haven't been logging/ paying attention). Good luck!!0 -
You actually should net 1200 calories a day. If you exercise and burn off 300 calories, you are actually supposed to eat that back. The purpose of exercise is to improve health and physique, and to increase muscle mass and decrease fat. I get 1400 a day, and workout 300-400, and always keep my net above 1200. Actually, if your net goes below 1200 it can cause electrolyte disturbances, and some health issues, and is not safe. I don't always eat back all of my exercise calories, but I always make sure my net is 1200 minimum. Hope this makes sense. You probably are so hungry if your net is below 1200 a day. Good luck to you on your weight loss journey, but my advice, eat more!0
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Who in the heck told you NOT to eat back exercise calories??
At 1200 net calories per day, you are already in plenty of a deficit to lose weight. Some might even advise that you increase daily calories. At any rate, exercising when you are already eating fewer calories than you body burns in a day means that you should absolutely be eating back those exercise calories in order to have the energy to continue working out.0 -
I've always been told to eat all my exercise cals back, so I try and eat them all if I can (which is sometimes difficult if I'm full up), but I mostly try and leave a few green numbers.
When you complete your diary for the day, it says that you're not using all your calories up, and sometimes this causes a plateau.
Good luck. :happy:0 -
Who in the heck told you NOT to eat back exercise calories??
At 1200 net calories per day, you are already in plenty of a deficit to lose weight. Some might even advise that you increase daily calories. At any rate, exercising when you are already eating fewer calories than you body burns in a day means that you should absolutely be eating back those exercise calories in order to have the energy to continue working out.
^^ this.0 -
Who in the heck told you NOT to eat back exercise calories??
At 1200 net calories per day, you are already in plenty of a deficit to lose weight. Some might even advise that you increase daily calories. At any rate, exercising when you are already eating fewer calories than you body burns in a day means that you should absolutely be eating back those exercise calories in order to have the energy to continue working out.
I'll second this ^^^^^^^^0 -
You have to find out what works for you. Some people do ok without eating back their workout calories... When I first started MFP I didn't really eat them back and after the initial weight loss I plateaued. I started eating most of them back and I'm losing weight again AND i feel SO MUCH BETTER. Try eating them back and see what happens in a week or two0
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I have read that if you go below 1000 net calories for just one day out of the week, your metabolism will slow down and you won't lose weight. So you do need to eat some of your exercise calories back. I go for greek yogurt or some almonds a lot of times.0
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Eat those exercise calories!0
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I know a ton of people post about calories. But here I am and honestly I think I am starting to starve myself. I have stayed within the 1200 guidelines that I get but today I ate healthy all day and I only have 200 left. I do workout everyday and I am about to do My 30 minute cardio and strength dvd and then an hour walk that gives me about 300 calories back. I have been told that your are not suppose to eat your excersize calories back. Really?? I think I would starve to death. I wonder how some people get 2000 calories and I only get 1200 lol. Somedays I am under my goal and I am not hungry but today I want a good dinner. I am a self made chef and love food. I have tried some of the skinny taste recipes and none have replaced what I can make. I am generally a healthy cook besides the butter I sometimes put in. I miss my food, I miss potatoes and bacon. I am starting to think that the calorie count is wrong for me. I am 5'9 and I weigh 160 I am hoping to get to 150 or 145 I have been at this 3 weeks I can tell I have lost some weight but the scale at the gym is under repair until tomorrow to weigh myself so I have not done a weigh in, in 10 days. Do you think it is ok if I use the calories I lost in excersize? Do you also think I may have the wrong calorie count? I am at average weight for my height. I am not going for super skinny I am really just wanting to lose the belly fat and love handles I have aquired over the last year and fit back into my summer clothes. I am a bit of a rambler but at least I am not thinking about eating.
I am not a doctor, or a nutritionist, so am only giving you my opinion - for your weight and height, you are eating way to little at 1200 (you will get people arguing otherwise however). I am 5 6' and weigh 175lb and am on 1700 calories AND eat back my exercise calories and am losing weight.0 -
I have read that if you go below 1000 net calories for just one day out of the week, your metabolism will slow down and you won't lose weight. So you do need to eat some of your exercise calories back. I go for greek yogurt or some almonds a lot of times.
Thats probably an exaggeration.0 -
Drink LOTS and LOTS of water! AND what everyone else says
The water will help you to feel full and keep you hydrated as to not dehydrate. GOOD LUCK!!! 0 -
I know a ton of people post about calories. But here I am and honestly I think I am starting to starve myself. I have stayed within the 1200 guidelines that I get but today I ate healthy all day and I only have 200 left. I do workout everyday and I am about to do My 30 minute cardio and strength dvd and then an hour walk that gives me about 300 calories back. I have been told that your are not suppose to eat your excersize calories back. Really?? I think I would starve to death. I wonder how some people get 2000 calories and I only get 1200 lol. Somedays I am under my goal and I am not hungry but today I want a good dinner. I am a self made chef and love food. I have tried some of the skinny taste recipes and none have replaced what I can make. I am generally a healthy cook besides the butter I sometimes put in. I miss my food, I miss potatoes and bacon. I am starting to think that the calorie count is wrong for me. I am 5'9 and I weigh 160 I am hoping to get to 150 or 145 I have been at this 3 weeks I can tell I have lost some weight but the scale at the gym is under repair until tomorrow to weigh myself so I have not done a weigh in, in 10 days. Do you think it is ok if I use the calories I lost in excersize? Do you also think I may have the wrong calorie count? I am at average weight for my height. I am not going for super skinny I am really just wanting to lose the belly fat and love handles I have aquired over the last year and fit back into my summer clothes. I am a bit of a rambler but at least I am not thinking about eating.
I am not a doctor, or a nutritionist, so am only giving you my opinion - for your weight and height, you are eating way to little at 1200 (you will get people arguing otherwise however). I am 5 6' and weigh 175lb and am on 1700 calories AND eat back my exercise calories and am losing weight.
^^^ This. I eat 1700 also. And I eat my exercise calories, or at least half when I can. I'm 5'7" and 190.0 -
ALWAYS eat back those exercise calories! Listen to those above that say it too :happy:
I weigh 151lbs and I currently eat 1600 on NON-exercise days for a 0.5lb loss a week. And I eat my exercise calories back too.0 -
What everyone else said....eat! And a life without potatoes and bacon--- not worth living. Seriously, don't deprive yourself, fit the foods you love into your lifestyle. Nothing should be off limits, if you plan it in. Good luck!0
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EAT your exercise calories. Your MFP is set so that if you stick to the cals you will lose (ie a lb a week or 2 lb per week etc whatever you have set it to). That is if you eat all your allowed calories as well as your exercise cals.
If you only eat 1200 cals a day then exercise for 600 cals and dont eat them back, you are effectively only eating 600 cals = starvation.
Eat to live! :-)0 -
I say eat back most of your exercise calories. Try to leave a 100 calorie buffer but note I didn't today (only 50 cal buffer) But if you feel weak or hungry eat those exercise cals back..you earned them.0
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MFP gives you a calorie deficit and then you get your calorie count for the day, it is ok to eat back your exercise calories, I do all the time, at least enough to get me to net 1200 calories per day. Today I ate 1800 calories, but a few weeks ago I ate 2300 calories (when my calorie goal was higher, right now it's 1540 or so, was 1690)
if you're hungry eat, if you're craving something it is ok to have it, it's better to indulge a little than to go and pig out a hour later or day later, or whatnot.
i find it hard some days to eat even 1200 calories, but I still try to make myself.0 -
Someone said to not let your net calories fall below 1200. I have done that for a couple of days this week so if I happen to go over my 1200 calories on other days, then at the end of the week it should balance out and I should still lose, correct?
One reason is that how do you know if you can count the calories that mfp says you have lost to be actual...What if you are burning less than what mfp gives you, then you might be going over your 1200 anyway...and then you will not lose.
Any comments, help? Just wondering...0 -
EAT your workout calories you burned....I have been doing the program for 6 weeks and lost 8 pounds... I ususally burn 300 calories a day in exercise and YES i use my points in food. I would not do the program if I couldn't use my exercise calories.... no way.... USE THEM and you will totally feel better and lose weight!!!!
Jenn-Tallahassee Florida0 -
I have been told that your are not suppose to eat your excersize calories back.
Told by who? Every single reference on this website and in these threads says to eat your exercise calories back. The MFP calorie calculator even ups your "Remaining calories" when you add your exercise to it.
Regardless, whoever told you this.. they are not to be trusted about anything fitness related.0 -
You are definitely supposed to eat back your exercise calories. I'm on 1200/day and I'm only 5'0". You should definitely be eating more. Check your height, weight and goal settings. Cheers0
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I agree with everyone here who says eat your exercise calories. If you had MFP help you set up your profile, then the program has already given you a deficit to lose weight at a healthy rate. I have been on a diet targeting 1230 for since January and have lost 11 lbs. I am working out hard and trying to build muscle as well as lose weight so today I just increased my baseline calories to 1320; and I may go up again in a while if I am still losing with these amount of calories. Search the boards- there are some good posts about staying between your BMR and TDEE and you will still lose weight.0
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Thank Gawd for this topic, I was wondering the same thing. I have been hungry sometimes and have a extra 500 cals after exercise and afraid to eat them, jeez.0
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Here is a good post for those of you looking to eat more calories and still lose weight:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/518533-major-sucess-with-higher-calories0 -
And a life without potatoes and bacon--- not worth living. Seriously, don't deprive yourself, fit the foods you love into your lifestyle. Nothing should be off limits, if you plan it in.
THIS!!!0 -
I am 5'9 and 135 lbs. I eat 1300 calories a day.
You most definitely are supposed to eat those calories. If there is a green number, eat something. MFP calculates your exercise for a reason, and it's not just to look at the pretty numbers.
Oh, and you don't have to give up all of the wonderful bacon and butter, just decrease your portions!0 -
Since you are working out and exercising regularly, I think you should be able to bump up that calorie limit a couple hundred calories!0
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1st of all you are well within the health weight range....
Nothing wrong with wanting to lose a few vanity pound BUT NEVER JEOPARDIZE YOUR HEALTH FOR IT.
2nd
Since you are already in the healthy range probably best to set your goal to lose 1/2 pound a week.
The closer you are to your goal the slower you lose. No need to punish yourself with something completely unlivable.
3rd
Sounds like you really just want to firm up a little..I am not going for super skinny I am really just wanting to lose the belly fat and love handles I have aquired over the last year and fit back into my summer clothes
If you are not eating enough you'll lose muscle mass. Make sure you NET 1200
4th
Make it livable...
If you lose, but it's torture so you give up odds are you put it all back on PLUS MORE.
If I had to eat only 1200 I'd have given up (and I almost did)
Then I gave myself a range
ROCK BOTTOM: 1200 NET calories
TARGET LOSE: 1/2 pound a week
HIGH END: Maintain GOAL weight.
SAFETY VALVE: Maintain current weight (remember this changes as you lose so recalculate often)
When I was within 5 lbs of my goal every time I lost a pound instead of letting MFP take away calories I add 100 calories so that I'd be eating very near my goal weight by the time I got to my goal
5th
Your body is here to serve you. To be strong so you can live the life you want... go have some FUN.0 -
In my opinion, take EVERYONE's opinion with a grain of salt! LOL.....nothing on here is written in stone or is "expert advice"...everyone is different, goals, needs, ability to burn calories, how you gain muscle.....
Calories (the number) is not as important as WHAT calories you are consuming...(in my personal opinion)...I have done both, eaten workout calories back, not eaten them back...and lost FAT on both approaches..it is true that 1200 calories is the minimum you should consume, not necessarily "net"......take your time, try different approaches to "caloric intake" and find what works for you...ideally if you are consuming healthy clean foods your body can use effectively, taking in adequate amounts of water, and doing a combination of cardio and resistance training in your daily workouts you will gain muscle mass, you will lose fat, and at the end of the day you will be a happier healthier, leaner you...good luck in this adventure!0
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