To find it too hard to stick to 1200 calories a day

unless you’re incredibly short that’s a very small amount for someone your age for weight loss. 1200 which MFP kicks up for most people isn’t sustainable for most people.

kick it up to at least 1500. You can spread it over the week too - a day at 1200 which isn’t much fun you get to then have 1800 the next day. Unless you’re training for a marathon don’t eat back all calories you’ve “lost” from exercise - they’re meant to be an addition - subtract circa half.

we don’t put the weight on overnight we won’t lose it overnight too. Best advice I ever after a year of restrict then binge which left me no lighter actually having realistic patience is what worked.

Facts speak for themselves. Nobody at a healthy BMI is ‘chunky’ in any objective sense. Health outcomes are actually better for those 8n the ‘overweight’ category, incidentally

That's your issue. 1lb is quite enough. Any more from diet alone is unhealthy. Low GI carbs (but fewer than you expect), high protein, some fats, lots of vegetable bulk and I can eat in deficit and not get hungry.

Target weight in lbs x 12 = calorie target a day.
My DS6 eats more than 1200 calories.

Do you know me and have you seen me?

Not to my knowledge you havent.

Who do you think you are to tell someone about themselves as if you know better than them!!!

Bizarre.

That's really low, you'll have some awful side effects. I've found intermittent fasting to be really good and it's also reduced bloating and cravings for me. I basically stop eating between 8pm and noon Monday - Friday. I don't overdo it at the weekends. Reduced alcohol and sugar.

5’3, 50s, BMI just in the healthy range, long days on my feet all day but not many steps.
If I eat more than 1600a day I gain.

Been on 1000 cals a day for 2 weeks and actually loving it. I am/was a sugar junky and currently enjoying the absence of carb lulls and over eating guilt! Clothes fitting better and scales kinder are a bonus
I’m drinking lots of water: A pint as soon as I wake up and a litre or more before lunch, then as and when after. Two meals a day - either protein meals or carb meals - rarely both together.
Couple of chocolates after my tea. Not getting hungry, enjoying food again and full of energy. Approach is loosely based on The human being diet.

Low call for a while doesn’t have to be miserable, and it’s not going to kill anyone!

That's the same number of calories as a 2-3 year old needs. Not an adult woman. No wonder you're finding it hard.

When I've put weight loss goals on my fitness pal it tells me 1200 calories too but it's a real struggle so I tend to fail. I think part of it for me is being so short so the put mine down to the minimum (they don't suggest below 1200). Maybe a different strategy is needed

You only need to lose two stone. With a small deficit it can happen in a more natural and healthy way.

Go low carb and eat loads of protein op. Drink shed loads of water.

I didn’t say it was. I said you weren’t chunky at a hair over 25.

That sounds like a great approach

Lift weights

1200 is hard. I found my sweet spot to be 1400. It was still a deficit and I still lost weight.

I think I was more successful because it fit better in my life and it wasn’t overly restrictive. It also allowed me to be more consistent.

Also make sure you are averaging… A 1600 day doesn’t ruin everything if you are a little lower on other days.

‘’My last bit of advice is to be careful about eliminating things… have the biscuit, eat the candy. Have pasta if that’s what you’re craving… just eat sensible amounts.

Calorie counting is brilliant. You can eat anything, and enjoy all food within your calorie targets

The MFP calculator is rubbish. Go James Smith

I dont think its unhealthy to aim for a BMI of about 23 plus, dont be so ridiculous. I also know what I feel better at
I am chunky at the current weight, I didnt say I would be chunky at my goal, my stomach is completely out of proportion for the rest of me at the moment, the half stone sits there and is bloated, you dont know anything about me.

Its also unhealthy to have a waist size as big as mine and the asociated health risks of weight being big on the stomach and waist not only do I know this myself and dont need to be told but my doctor and nurse have also said this.

I went from 10.9 stone to 8.8 stone in 6 months using Nutracheck, 1400 calories and literally no additional exercise. I still ate pizza and cake but much smaller portions than before.

I second the James Smith calculator. It gives you higher calories but also a higher protein target to reach. It works great.

The problem with eating little (1200kcal) is you’re more likely to binge at the weekend because you’re hungry. That will blow your deficit over the week.

You’d be much better off starting at 1700/1800kcal and doing this for a few weeks - as long as the scales are dropping, then stick with it. Then once you haven’t lost for a few weeks, slightly decrease your calorie intake.

I think it’s important to eat enough, especially as you’re doing c25k you’re going to feel more hungry as your body is using more energy.
As others have said - protein is important & will keep you fuller for longer.

Aiming for 1lb a week is much more sustainable. My daily allowance is around 1680 but I find if I eat enough protein, fruit and veg I have around 300 left to use or not.

Calorie counting rarely helps. Cut out ultra processed foods and try to eat 30 different fruit/veg/nuts a week

You aren’t chunky at that BMI (or half a stone over it). Stop pushing unhealthy body ideals.

Yep. I really need to learn not to engage.

I’m 6’ so I appreciate that I’m at the other end of the normal range but my BMR would blow their minds.

These questions always bring out undereaters who insist they can only lose weight on one bite of food a day. Some of the tips and hints belong on pro-ana sites.

There are some extraordinarily unusual metabolisms on MN.