Will I really lose on 1200 a day?

I say do what works for you...We are all different, and I did that for awhile and sometimes still do...Some days more
I ain't complaining:)

I lost 60+ pounds in 11 months by only eating 1200 +/- 150 cals a day. You have to do it right though, simple good wholesome food (fruit, veg, lean meat, grain bread etc) but it is possible. I also gained muscle during this time. Some days, probably one in every 2/3 weeks I went over by going out for dinner or to a party, but it was just once during those weeks so it didn't affect me too much (I refuse to call it a cheat day, it was a life day!)

Good luck!

The problem with restricting calories so much is that your body feels like its being starved, when you increase your calories after that your body will want to store as much as possible to be ready for the next famine. The best way to avoid this is to eat more, but to eat more of the right things. I highly recommend you read the book, "The Smarter Science of Slim" by Jonathan Bailor. He provides the scientific evidence of how eating more of the right foods will not only cause you to lose weight, but also to lower your body's internal set-point, so that you no longer struggle with weight loss.

The key things in eating more is to avoid all sugar and starchy vegetables (that includes rice, potatoes, wheat, oats and corn etc.) Eat more protein. He recommends that you eat as many grams of protein as your weight is in pounds. So if you weigh 130 pounds you should eat 130 g of protein/day. (its a lot of protein and you will feel full).

Eat only natural fats like nuts and seeds and avocados. Avoid oils, butter and margarine.

And drink lots of water.

I am 5'2" and 52 years old (Its much harder for older people to lose weight) and have yoyo dieted most of my life. I am now losing weight on 1200 calories a day. And hooray...I am no longer starving!!!

I would hope that when people make "starvation mode" comments they are concerned rather than angry. I'm genuinely concerned that you'll damage your metabolism long term if you continue to under-eat regularly by 300 or so calories a day. I say that speaking as someone who strongly believes her long-term weight problems are due at least in part to eating too few calories when younger. I'm now in my 40s.

You're a (beautiful) young girl with your whole life ahead of you. Please take this slowly and eat the minimum recommended by MFP. At your age and height, you should certainly be able to lose at 1200 or more a day. I hope you achieve your weight goals, not only in the shorter term but for the rest of your life. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice everyone - have eaten 1200 yesterday and on my way to it again today. Won't be eating back my exercise cals tho - is that ok? x

I think your net calories should be no lower than 1200 (even that seems low). Therefore, if you're burning 300 calories exercising, then you should aim for at least 1500 food calories. You want steady, long term weight loss, not fast short term weight loss which will result in you struggling to keep your weight down later in life. Take it from one who knows.