Newbie - 1200 calories

I think it's great that you're working so hard toward your goal! Just an fyi...there are A LOT of forum posts out there about increasing your calorie intake to lose the most weight effectively. I would suggest reading up on them. When you're at 1200, you're cheating yourself because your body isn't getting the minimum it needs just to function (BMR) and you'll have a hard time gaining any muscle. I can say it worked for me to up my calories. I figured my BMR (a tool on MFP) and set my goal to that. It worked great!

I agree. Don't eat below your BMR and always eat your exercise calories. I don't eat less than 1500 (plus exercise calories) a day when I'm losing. I lost 25 pounds in 6 months before I got pregnant. It wasn't quite as much as I'd hoped for, but I never felt deprived, never felt hungry. Now I'm breastfeeding so I'm trying to eat maintenance plus what I burn from breastfeeding (about 1100 calories a day). In the first 6 weeks after my baby was born I lost the 15 pounds I gained during pregnancy plus an extra 15 pounds. I'm stalled right now because I can't seem to eat enough. After a couple of days of getting close to the 3000 calories I should be eating I notice I drop a couple of pounds.

I added you! I am really struggling with the 1200 calories a day. I have been eating very well, but 1200 is just not enough for me. I am liking the fact that a lot of people are saying to up the cals for weight loss results! Anyone else struggling-Feel free to add me

I'm doing 1200 calories too...for almost 2 weeks now - some days are easier than others for sure! Add me...I'd love to see how others are doing with the same goal!

I am on 1200 too. I have tried all other stuff because I thought I plateaued at one point. From eating more (I don't think thats necessary until you get near goal weight and loss stalls) changing macronutrients, exercising more etc. I have a desk job and not a whole lot of free time for exercise.

Just make sure you buy a food scale (I found out recently I was eating wayyyyy too much especially meats and that was my problem) I was thinking I was eating 1200. It took me while to figure out why my weight loss stalled. Apparently me eating more was ok when I weighed more but the more I lost the more it stalled because I was eating way over 1200. I bought a food scale and the lbs are melting away again.

I started at 201, and got down to 147 (5'8", 58 year old young guy). I've lost over 50 lbs, and 40 of them while using MFP. I'm a believer. I was on a 1200 cal diet too, but was able to eat a lot more, because I was fanatical about doing daily (7 day/wk) exercise...running outside or brisk treadmill walks. Exercise is the magic wand. Love those exercise credits! It really didn't take very long (about 4 months). Now, it's been about 7 months, and I'm still on MFP, still doing daily exercise, and even allowing a bit of weight gain...I kind of went too far. With exercise, 2000+ calories per day is easy maintenance. No fast food!!!, and go with lower calorie junk foods, if you must (I did)....Thinsations choc bars that are 100 cal's each or Fibre1 100 cal granola bars....have a few of them. Remember to drink low calorie high protein drinks after the work-outs (i.e. GNC). I can now run like the wind, for as long as I want to go. 30 to 80 minutes is the general range though. I feel good about myself, and went out and spent over $7,000 buying a bunch of new clothes....like a reward. I'm back to my university days weight & size. Hang in there....it's simply about commitment. I'm a very busy professional, and a minority partner in a business. You make time for yourself to take care of yourself. Just do it. Gary

I'm on a 1300 calories diet and I would like to have more friends like you with similar goals.
Feel free to add me. )

1200 cals here too. I replaced all my salad dressings, cheeses, condiments etc for the low-fat versions, changed out certain canned ingredients for lower calorie/fat/sodium choices etc. Also changed from white to wheat bread. NO FAST FOOD! NO BEERS!

weekends are my let down (

Even when I get to my goal weight, my bmr is going to be 1500 a day. 1200 is not always enough to maintain your body's functions if you are taller. I know my little sister who is a few inches shorter than me has a lower bmr like 1300 I think. 1200 calories to me is just kind of setting yourself up to fail miserably and then jump off the wagon completely with a binge.

Goodmorning, i am at 1200 as well. Please add me if you like.

me too 1200 here , 204, and have 40 pounds more to lose..feel free to add me..

I'm 5'7 and 221 lbs... I did the 1200 calorie diet for about a month. I was always STARVING and was barely losing .5 lb per week. I upped my calories so I now net 1400-1500 calories AFTER exercise and I'm loosing 1-2 lbs per week. So I usually get to eat 1700-1800 calories a day. Your body needs fuel in order to burn fat....

I started out wanting to lose 30 and I am down 11 so I still have some to go but I stick with the 1200 calories you can add me if you want

Thanks, I started at 170 on 1/27/12 and as of today I have lost 15 lbs. I restricted my food intake to try to average 1100 calories a day. I would like to loose another 5 lbs but have stayed where I am for too long. I am afraid that I will gain the weight back because I really don't know what to eat. I am 5'6" and I am 71 years old, per my fitness pal my BMI is just alittle over 1200, any suggestions?