how do i do only 1200 calories? freaking out!

My intake is 1,210. I find it easy on days when I exercise because if I burn 500 calories, technically I can eat 1,700 calories and be at my goal. On those days I usually have a higher calorie breakfast, and lower calorie lunch and dinner. And I go to sleep not long after I eat dinner (maybe an hour or two) that way I never get hungry enough to snack.

On days I don't exercise I have low calorie meals throughout the day. Breakfast usually consists of fruit and I do have to be careful on those days. However I try to exercise 5/7 days of the week. I only drink water, too (or once in a while a diet soda) so no calories come from drinking which is good.

But it depends, if you're still uncomfortable and no even losing eating so little calories a day then I would go back up a little. You don't have to eat at 1,200 cals to lose weight! It takes time getting used to.

OP.
What are your stats?
What if I told you you could eat way more and lose weight?
What if 1200 calories actually sets you back by up to a year on your journey?
What if in 2 weeks you could lose all water weight possibly dropping inches of your belt by eating closer to 2k a day.
Or
Hit search in the forum and type "been on 1200 and not losing" and see what I mean.

If interested I will do custom numbers.
Post:

Age
Height
Weight
Body Fat%
How often you work out

Age: 33 almost 34
Height: 5' 1.5"
Weight: ~135 +/- 1-2lbs
Body Fat%: 29.6% (according to your military BF%)
How often do you work out: Just getting back into it so trying for 3-5X/week. Currently 1-3x/week
Katch-McArdle: 1303 calories
TDEE: 1563.3 calories

Roughly how many calories should I take in? MFP says 1200 as well.

OP.
What are your stats?
What if I told you you could eat way more and lose weight?
What if 1200 calories actually sets you back by up to a year on your journey?
What if in 2 weeks you could lose all water weight possibly dropping inches of your belt by eating closer to 2k a day.
Or
Hit search in the forum and type "been on 1200 and not losing" and see what I mean.

If interested I will do custom numbers.
Post:

Age
Height
Weight
Body Fat%
How often you work out

Age: 33 almost 34
Height: 5' 1.5"
Weight: ~135 +/- 1-2lbs
Body Fat%: 29.6% (according to your military BF%)
How often do you work out: Just getting back into it so trying for 3-5X/week. Currently 1-3x/week
Katch-McArdle: 1303 calories
TDEE: 1563.3 calories

Roughly how many calories should I take in? MFP says 1200 as well.

Sorry...exercise: I try to walk 5 days a week during lunch hour for 30 minutes. I do several stand up exercises while at work (leg lifts, standing crunches, etc.). I'm trying to bike ride at least 1-3x/ week (so far saturday and monday recently). I plan on playing frisbee golf at least 2-3x.week as well as kayak either on lake or white water 1x over weekend.

I am trying a 14 day trial pass at local gym - did aquatic sculpt class last night and may try zumba tonight. Also trying to do at least 1 workout video 1-3x per week.

Stay busy and drink lots of water. I was always guilty of boredom eating. I am doing 1200 lately and I am always satisfied. You can check out my food diary if you want. I think I have had one cheat day in 2 weeks, otherwise I stay at/near 1200.

The target MFP set for me is 1200 calories a day, and if I don't indulge, I don't have a problem hitting it (on most days) -- the key is lots of veggies, not processed foods. Veggie dishes (where the primary ingredient is veggies, not a few veggies with pasta) are filling,nutriend-packed & low-calorie. But I do like to indulge, so I usually go over 1200 and "buy back" calories through exercise so I can enjoy my chocolate, etc.

i just refigured my calories from 1370 to 1200. i'd like to speed up my weight loss a bit. i was figuring 1 lb. a week now i'd like to try to lose 1.5 lbs. per week. the prospect of trying to stay at 1200 calories sounds so difficult. anyone have any advice? thanks

My advice would be to go back to the 1370.

i eat roughly 1200 cals easily....check out my diary if you like. its not that difficult. good luck x

If you don't think you can do it, just stay at a higher calorie intake. Losing a little slower isn't a big deal.

You could try some of these suggestions here, though. More veggies, or exercising a little more so you can eat that back. I eat a lot of veggies at meals to fill me up.

My diary is also open and I have been hitting around the 1200 cal mark you can take a look at it for some ideas as well-- Its about choices for me...sure I can have pringles with my turkey burger but will those few thin little chips for 160 calories fill me up as much as cup of baked spaghetti squash or steamed broccoli that has WAY less calories? NO way.. in fact I can eat BOTH the cup of broccoli and the cup of squash with my turkey burger and still be LESS then what those few pringles would have been..and feel FULL and satisfied

YES

OP.
What are your stats?
What if I told you you could eat way more and lose weight?
What if 1200 calories actually sets you back by up to a year on your journey?
What if in 2 weeks you could lose all water weight possibly dropping inches of your belt by eating closer to 2k a day.
Or
Hit search in the forum and type "been on 1200 and not losing" and see what I mean.

If interested I will do custom numbers.
Post:

Age
Height
Weight
Body Fat%
How often you work out

Age: 33 almost 34
Height: 5' 1.5"
Weight: ~135 +/- 1-2lbs
Body Fat%: 29.6% (according to your military BF%)
How often do you work out: Just getting back into it so trying for 3-5X/week. Currently 1-3x/week
Katch-McArdle: 1303 calories
TDEE: 1563.3 calories

Roughly how many calories should I take in? MFP says 1200 as well.

Sorry...exercise: I try to walk 5 days a week during lunch hour for 30 minutes. I do several stand up exercises while at work (leg lifts, standing crunches, etc.). I'm trying to bike ride at least 1-3x/ week (so far saturday and monday recently). I plan on playing frisbee golf at least 2-3x.week as well as kayak either on lake or white water 1x over weekend.

I am trying a 14 day trial pass at local gym - did aquatic sculpt class last night and may try zumba tonight. Also trying to do at least 1 workout video 1-3x per week.

Get into that gym and lift weights.
Continue the walking.
www.stronglifts.com for more info on what types of lifts to do.

I do lift weights, just not regularly. I will check out his program at www.stronglifts.com. IN the mean time...I get that 1200 calories is too little, but should I be aiming for 1303 or 1563 calories or something else? COnfused.

OP.
What are your stats?
What if I told you you could eat way more and lose weight?
What if 1200 calories actually sets you back by up to a year on your journey?
What if in 2 weeks you could lose all water weight possibly dropping inches of your belt by eating closer to 2k a day.
Or
Hit search in the forum and type "been on 1200 and not losing" and see what I mean.

If interested I will do custom numbers.
Post:

Age
Height
Weight
Body Fat%
How often you work out

Age: 33 almost 34
Height: 5' 1.5"
Weight: ~135 +/- 1-2lbs
Body Fat%: 29.6% (according to your military BF%)
How often do you work out: Just getting back into it so trying for 3-5X/week. Currently 1-3x/week
Katch-McArdle: 1303 calories
TDEE: 1563.3 calories

Roughly how many calories should I take in? MFP says 1200 as well.

Sorry...exercise: I try to walk 5 days a week during lunch hour for 30 minutes. I do several stand up exercises while at work (leg lifts, standing crunches, etc.). I'm trying to bike ride at least 1-3x/ week (so far saturday and monday recently). I plan on playing frisbee golf at least 2-3x.week as well as kayak either on lake or white water 1x over weekend.

I am trying a 14 day trial pass at local gym - did aquatic sculpt class last night and may try zumba tonight. Also trying to do at least 1 workout video 1-3x per week.

Get into that gym and lift weights.
Continue the walking.
www.stronglifts.com for more info on what types of lifts to do.

I do lift weights, just not regularly. I will check out his program at www.stronglifts.com. IN the mean time...I get that 1200 calories is too little, but should I be aiming for 1303 or 1563 calories or something else? COnfused.

>>>>>IMPORTANT!!! To get your numbers right please visit---> http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12 <---read the instructions. I lay everything out to help you have a true fat burning diet.<<<<<<<

Honestly, I wouldn't try to only eat 1200 - it's not enough for me. I started there, lost a little, and was hungry, tired & didn't have enough energy. Check out the group here called Eat More To Weigh Less: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/3834-eat-more-to-weigh-less

I'm 5' 8" & around 140lbs, and I eat between 1500 & 1800 calories a day (sometimes more), and I eat back exercise calories as needed (when I'm hungry or if I'm netting below my BMR). And I'm losing weight! The fat is coming off, I'm buying new clothes, I've got energy and I'm not hungry all day long.

Check out the group - there's no need to go hungry just to lose weight!

Yes, yes, yes! When you are filling up on fiber, nutrient dense, and water dense foods like fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, and lean protiens, etc, you WILL burn calories. It's amazing what your body can do when you provide it with the proper nutrition. Drink plenty of water, exercise regularly at the highest intensity you can safely manage, and EAT!!! Those pounds will fall off and you will be shredded in no time!

It's very easy to do. Soups, filling foods.. I eat 1200 calories a day and sometimes have some left over

Some days it is hard to get to 1200 calories. I have a Kashi cereal with fresh blueberries and light soy milk for breakfast, an apple as a morning snack, spinach with a tomato, Special K wheat crackers (12) with a Laughing Cow cheese and yogurt for lunch, and salmon, kale chips, roasted green beans for dinner. Then a TBS of peanut butter for my after workout snack and usually it isn't up to 1200. Then I will have a TBS of dark chocolate chips or a 100 calorie almond pack to get to 1200.

Is 35 pounds all you have to lose or is that number just a starting goal? If that's all you have to lose then don't push losing too fast, with only 35 to lose look more at .5 pound per week loss. You didn't gain it over night and you're not going to lose it overnight.

Good luck