is 1200 enough?

alikonner
alikonner Posts: 67
edited December 24 in Health and Weight Loss
I have been eating around 1200 calories a day (according to MFP guidelines) and doing the 30 day shred for about a week and have actually gained a 1.5lbs! Am I doing something wrong? I have been reading about people upping their calorie intake but I'm not sure I know what's right and what to do!
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Replies

  • tizzie_14
    tizzie_14 Posts: 72
    Do you eat your exercise calories? If not, then try that. You should be netting a minimum of 1200 a day.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    In my humble opinion MFP settings aren't sacred. You're a young mom? You workout? In my opinion no. It's not enough. I'd suggest calculating your TDEE and BMR and then eating somewhere in between there. Futz with the exact numbers til you start losing.

    Don't forget the water.
  • MadeInDR022
    MadeInDR022 Posts: 260
    In my humble opinion MFP settings aren't sacred. You're a young mom? You workout? In my opinion no. It's not enough. I'd suggest calculating your TDEE and BMR and then eating somewhere in between there. Futz with the exact numbers til you start losing.

    Don't forget the water.

    THIS!

    A MFP pal had me look at this website

    http://calorieline.com/tools/tdee
  • tjungkunz
    tjungkunz Posts: 39
    I had to up mine to 1400-1500, especially when exercising, in order to drop some weight. I never eat ALL my exercise calories back, but definetly need some more on many of those days. Give it a try to add a little more, especially protein :)
  • Tandi_S
    Tandi_S Posts: 439 Member
    I don't believe 1200 is enough in most cases. What are your stats? When I started MFP, the auto config gave me 1270. That worked as long as I wasn't working out. When I started working out, the loss stopped because I wasn't fueling my body enough. I really do believe that a person should eat at LEAST their BMR.

    Better yet, estimate your TDEE and take off 10-20%. You can do this!
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    I personally did not think 1200 was enough when I tried it about a year ago. When I started on MFP I was set to lose 1 pound per week which gave me 1360 calories per day and that worked pretty well, but last summer I thought I would try to lower it to lose quicker and I just ended up feeling cranky, tired and lightheaded!
  • a_new_dawn
    a_new_dawn Posts: 517 Member
    I started off eating 1200 calories (and working out) and successfully lost 17lbs. My scale stopped moving so I increased to 1350 and a few days later I'd dropped a pound! It works! You dont need to starve yourself to lose weight.
  • RobynMWilson
    RobynMWilson Posts: 1,540 Member
    If you're gaining then you're def not eating enough. MFP is not the most accurate because everybody is different. It gives you a general idea but you have to tweak it to work for you. On workout days I eat 2000 calories (I burn around 300 cals per workout) and I'm 39 and maintaining my 136lbs so I would see at least 1400 cals per day. Try it for 2 weeks and see if there's a change...
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    It's only enough if you are 4'11" and sit all day.
    Always eat enough for the hullabloo!
  • blueyeb
    blueyeb Posts: 85
    Bump! :flowerforyou:
  • alikonner
    alikonner Posts: 67
    In my humble opinion MFP settings aren't sacred. You're a young mom? You workout? In my opinion no. It's not enough. I'd suggest calculating your TDEE and BMR and then eating somewhere in between there. Futz with the exact numbers til you start losing.

    Don't forget the water.

    THIS!

    A MFP pal had me look at this website

    http://calorieline.com/tools/tdee

    Oh wow! this is way different. I think I should try and up my calories for a little bit. Thanks so much!
  • MadeInDR022
    MadeInDR022 Posts: 260
    In my humble opinion MFP settings aren't sacred. You're a young mom? You workout? In my opinion no. It's not enough. I'd suggest calculating your TDEE and BMR and then eating somewhere in between there. Futz with the exact numbers til you start losing.

    Don't forget the water.

    THIS!

    A MFP pal had me look at this website

    http://calorieline.com/tools/tdee

    Oh wow! this is way different. I think I should try and up my calories for a little bit. Thanks so much!

    YW, if you need help figuring it out, message me. I got a bit confused with it myself when I went on the website...lol
  • alikonner
    alikonner Posts: 67
    In my humble opinion MFP settings aren't sacred. You're a young mom? You workout? In my opinion no. It's not enough. I'd suggest calculating your TDEE and BMR and then eating somewhere in between there. Futz with the exact numbers til you start losing.

    Don't forget the water.

    Yes, I'm a young mom.. and I don't work... so I'm usually around the house all day. I try to go for walks with the baby almost every day but it's just been toooooo hot for him lately. I have been doing the 30 day shred every day for about a week. I couldn't believe that it was enough.. I just got discouraged when I saw that I had gained weight! I am just new to all this and not sure how all these calculations go.. haha.. Thanks!
  • tbresina
    tbresina Posts: 558 Member
    It's only enough if you are 4'11" and sit all day.
    Always eat enough for the hullabloo!

    Whats a hullabloo?
  • hottottie11
    hottottie11 Posts: 907 Member
    water retention

    Personally, I would eat a little more than 1200, just to fuel your workouts and prevent the loss of lean mass.

    Also find it silly that she is gaining weight because she's not "eating enough". It's water retention, not fat (and DEFINITELY not muscle). I doubt that she reduced her metabolism so much that her TDEE is below 1200.
  • OSC_ESD
    OSC_ESD Posts: 752 Member
    ~ Everybody is different ... some people need more calories than 1200 to focus and feel their best, while others only need 1200 to be successful at losing weight. You have to tweak the numbers until you are comfortable and you find what works for you. Don't be bullied into opinions of eating more is better ... again, everybody is different.

    Just always remember the one " true " fact in this insane fitness craze .... You have to burn more calories than you consume to lose. If working out on a regular basis and you have a nice deficit ... you will lose. On days you do not workout ... you need to be more strict and know your numbers ... TDEE and BMR.

    3500 calories burned is 1 pound lost ... that is science. Sometimes I wonder, but science is science. Fluctuations are normal and should not be focused on unless drastic.

    I would be more concerned where your 1200 calories are coming from verses if they are enough. Are you hungry all the time ? Do you feel like you are starving ? If so, eat more dense foods such as one ingredient foods : Salmon, Chicken, Nuts, Seeds, Greek Yogurt, Berries and lots of Greens ! If you still find you experience hunger pangs ... gradually up your calories ... but be very aware of what your burn factor for the day is.

    It doesn't have to be hard .... once you understand the method to the madness ... you will see results !

    Best of luck on your journey !

    :flowerforyou:
  • Sharyn913
    Sharyn913 Posts: 777 Member
    I think a NET of 1,200 would be good, but not 1,200 minus exercise calories. Calculate your BMR/TDEE and go from there. Your body needs a minimum number just to function properly each day.
  • Kim55555
    Kim55555 Posts: 987 Member
    I have been eating around 1200 calories a day (according to MFP guidelines) and doing the 30 day shred for about a week and have actually gained a 1.5lbs! Am I doing something wrong? I have been reading about people upping their calorie intake but I'm not sure I know what's right and what to do!

    Join the group eat more to weigh less. I bumped a topic of mine titled. "I'm exercising, why am I still gaining weight"
  • cotso
    cotso Posts: 86
    1200 calories? maybe enough for breakfast!
  • tbullucks06
    tbullucks06 Posts: 128
    I was wondering the same thing myself. I like MFP more, but I was more successful losing weight on SparkPeople. I am starting back on here but I am nervous. So I guess if I do nothing for a day then 1200 is all I eat? But if I exercise then I should eat all of the extra calories?
  • GailEMac
    GailEMac Posts: 90 Member
    I started off eating 1200 calories (and working out) and successfully lost 17lbs. My scale stopped moving so I increased to 1350 and a few days later I'd dropped a pound! It works! You dont need to starve yourself to lose weight.

    ^^^ What she said :-)
  • Orient_Charm
    Orient_Charm Posts: 385 Member
    I lived on 1200 calories for 4 months, and mostly I didn't eat back my bunred calories. and I don't have any problem.

    I lost 16 Kg withien that time...
  • imchicbad
    imchicbad Posts: 1,650 Member
    when you excersize you will gain muscle. the inches will come off but the scale wont movie AT FIRST. Then the inches and fat fall along with the scale. dont get caught up in the numbers. Your clothes will tell you the truth.im at 1500- work out 3 -4 times a week for an hour. Im not starving, and im not worried if i miss a day. and the inches fell of, besides weight fluctuates 3-5 pounds on a daily basis. i was a 7/8 and now in a 3, lost a total of 7 inches 3 in the waist and 4 in the hips, and the scale didnt move for 2 months but my clothin size kept droping- " do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth" :huh:
  • Neahpata
    Neahpata Posts: 322 Member
    water retention

    Personally, I would eat a little more than 1200, just to fuel your workouts and prevent the loss of lean mass.

    Also find it silly that she is gaining weight because she's not "eating enough". It's water retention, not fat (and DEFINITELY not muscle). I doubt that she reduced her metabolism so much that her TDEE is below 1200.

    Yes, you are retaining water because your muscles are trying to heal themselves. Just keep with the program and you will start seeing results. Anytime you start or change your fitness program that will happen to a certain extent. You are definitely gaining muscle or fat. Barring a disorder you need to eat 3500 calories OVER your TDEE to gain fat. And a women would not gain that much muscle in a week, we just don't have what it takes to do that. Men couldn't even pack on the muscles like that.
  • moonfire628
    moonfire628 Posts: 56
    In my humble opinion MFP settings aren't sacred. You're a young mom? You workout? In my opinion no. It's not enough. I'd suggest calculating your TDEE and BMR and then eating somewhere in between there. Futz with the exact numbers til you start losing.

    Don't forget the water.

    THIS!

    A MFP pal had me look at this website

    http://calorieline.com/tools/tdee

    Wow, thanks so much for posting this website! I entered my stats, and according to Calorie Line, I need to be eating almost 2000 calories a day, after adding in my exercise. Holy... I was struggling enough getting to 1200, I have no idea how I'm going to get 2000. :'(
  • half_moon
    half_moon Posts: 807 Member
    Water retention. Don't worry about it. 1200 calories has worked out just fine for me thus far. Eating 2000 calories a day will NOT help me lose weight. Maybe some people have a high metabolism, which is fine, but that just sounds like an excuse to have less self control. Also, make sure you aren't weighing yourself after eating or in late afternoons. Morning is the best!
  • jynxxxed
    jynxxxed Posts: 1,010 Member
    I know this isn't really related to your specific question, but MANY people who I have known that do the 30 day shred lose inches way quicker than they're losing pounds. If you haven't already, measure yourself and keep track like that as well. :)
  • alikonner
    alikonner Posts: 67
    So I decided to up my calories to 1300 and start eating back some of my excursive calories... based on some things I've read and what some people are saying.. I know it's not a significant change, but I'm hoping that will help. I know people have not always lost weight on the 30 day shred.. and that might be somewhat of the problem.. but I'm going to see how this works now.

    Thanks for all the input! It really helped!
  • jensan37
    jensan37 Posts: 151 Member
    I was in the same boat as you... didn't lose any weight doing 30 DS for about 3 weeks and eating around 1200-1300 calories. Since then I've upped my calories to 1400-1500 and gone back to favorite cardio workouts- walking or step aerobics 5-6 times a week- and I've been losing about a pound a week. Good luck!
  • raerae514
    raerae514 Posts: 171 Member
    I have been eating around 1200 calories a day (according to MFP guidelines) and doing the 30 day shred for about a week and have actually gained a 1.5lbs! Am I doing something wrong? I have been reading about people upping their calorie intake but I'm not sure I know what's right and what to do!


    1. GET YOUR 8 CUPS OF WATER - Your muscles are constantly repairing themselves now that you're doing 30 Day Shred. If you don't get enough water, you will RETAIN water and it makes your weight go up. Also staying hydrated keeps away muscle soreness.

    2. MUSCLE WEIGHS MORE THAN FAT - If you've been doing it for a while, maybe you've gained 1.5 lbs of muscle already, maybe you're really good at it, who knows!

    3. EAT YOUR CALORIES - But don't go by what MFP is telling you. SO many people complain that the calories are off for them. I got a heart rate monitor and I learned that I was burning over 100 calories more during 30 DS than what MFP was telling me. And if you're netting only about 1000 calories a day, that is not enough, you need to eat more than that if you want your mussels to grow and your fat to go!

    This is from my own experience actually and it's my best advice. But form what you're saying I'm willing to be that extra 1.5 lbs is water weight. Drink more water and it'll be gone within a day or 2, I promise :)
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