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Original poster

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

187 replies

Lilacdreamowl · 16/01/2025 18:51

I’m two stone overweight. I’ve started calorie counting and upping up my steps and on couch to 5k in my third week.
i can’t stick to 1200 calories :( i find it very tough. I have one meal a day where i allow carbs that i like such as bread, rice or pasta as whenever I’ve tried very low carb it just doesn’t work. The other two meals I don’t have carbs.
im ranging between 1205-1500 this week.

Can I still lose weight if i do a smaller deficit instead? Wanted to hear other experiences on a smaller deficit and how long it took?

OP posts:
cardibach · 16/01/2025 19:37

Catza · 16/01/2025 19:35

Which of the items the PP listed aren't "actual food"?

Show quote history

They aren’t anything people would choose to eat. They are sad replacements for joy-bringing food and nourishment.

Catza · 16/01/2025 19:35

cardibach · 16/01/2025 19:34

How very depressing. I’m losing weight eating actual food.

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Which of the items the PP listed aren't "actual food"?

RaininSummer · 16/01/2025 19:34

I am always puzzled when lots of people say 1200 is too low. The reason I don't do diets with calorie counting is that I am only ever allowed 1257 according to sites like my fitness pal. If you are short, fat and sedentary this amount is about right to lose weight I think.

cardibach · 16/01/2025 19:34

HereForTheFreeLunch · 16/01/2025 19:00

Frozen veggies heated up with salt, pepper, lime juice is my simplest filler.
Boiled egg and spinach or brocolli keeps me going for ages.
Try it. Low calorie and filling.

How very depressing. I’m losing weight eating actual food.

ethelredonagoodday · 16/01/2025 19:32

Fast 800 works for me, as the food is very filling and tasty.

Bearbookagainandagain · 16/01/2025 19:32

GrandmotherStillLearning · 16/01/2025 19:22

You are aware we are meant to have 2000 calories not 1200 aren't you.
Healthy eating and a not too-out-there treat is fine usually. Perhaps swimming once a week or something like that and build it up to more.
Though without knowing if you have high cholesterol and on any meds, it's hard to say.
But a swim exercise tones every muscle really if stuck too.
So I eat carbs more than i should and have a sweet tooth and was a stone overweight. I lessend the cake and swam and lost it over 6 months. I changed evening sweet stuff for crackers and breakfast from toast to porridge with fruit.
Hope it goes well

Edited
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Very few adult women need 2000 calories. That would be for instance a 180 cm women of normal weight exercising 2-3 times a week.

1500-1800 is much closer to what a average women need in our society.

devilspawn · 16/01/2025 19:31

PlumpAndDeliciousFatcat · 16/01/2025 19:22

There may be some adult women with a TDEE of 1200kcal but I would venture that this is very unusual, even on Mumsnet.

Edited
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TDEE is energy expenditure, not calories in.

My recommended calorie intake to lose 1-2lb a week is 1200. I would say it's very common for people under 5'2"

devilspawn · 16/01/2025 19:29

GrandmotherStillLearning · 16/01/2025 19:22

You are aware we are meant to have 2000 calories not 1200 aren't you.
Healthy eating and a not too-out-there treat is fine usually. Perhaps swimming once a week or something like that and build it up to more.
Though without knowing if you have high cholesterol and on any meds, it's hard to say.
But a swim exercise tones every muscle really if stuck too.
So I eat carbs more than i should and have a sweet tooth and was a stone overweight. I lessend the cake and swam and lost it over 6 months. I changed evening sweet stuff for crackers and breakfast from toast to porridge with fruit.
Hope it goes well

Edited
Show quote history

2000 calories isn't true for most people, especially women.

I would be morbidly obese if I ate that, I'm short.

SushiWarrior · 16/01/2025 19:26

I can only stick to 1200 if I use ‘unhealthier’ upf foods so it depends what you are prioritising. If it’s purely weight loss with no regard to nutrition then it’s fine.

I have one sensible proper meal and then have low calorie soups/broths (cabbage/veg soup, miso, cuppa soups etc) and things like a massive bowl of sugar free jelly in the evening to stop me snacking. Low calorie chocolate bars (skinny whips etc)

it’s not very sustainable for me, I’m better going slightly higher calories and eating proper less processed foods.

GrandmotherStillLearning · 16/01/2025 19:22

Lilacdreamowl · 16/01/2025 18:51

I’m two stone overweight. I’ve started calorie counting and upping up my steps and on couch to 5k in my third week.
i can’t stick to 1200 calories :( i find it very tough. I have one meal a day where i allow carbs that i like such as bread, rice or pasta as whenever I’ve tried very low carb it just doesn’t work. The other two meals I don’t have carbs.
im ranging between 1205-1500 this week.

Can I still lose weight if i do a smaller deficit instead? Wanted to hear other experiences on a smaller deficit and how long it took?

You are aware we are meant to have 2000 calories not 1200 aren't you.
Healthy eating and a not too-out-there treat is fine usually. Perhaps swimming once a week or something like that and build it up to more.
Though without knowing if you have high cholesterol and on any meds, it's hard to say.
But a swim exercise tones every muscle really if stuck too.
So I eat carbs more than i should and have a sweet tooth and was a stone overweight. I lessend the cake and swam and lost it over 6 months. I changed evening sweet stuff for crackers and breakfast from toast to porridge with fruit.
Hope it goes well

PlumpAndDeliciousFatcat · 16/01/2025 19:22

titchy · 16/01/2025 19:10

1200 is what a toddler should eat

Or a short slim adult...

There may be some adult women with a TDEE of 1200kcal but I would venture that this is very unusual, even on Mumsnet.

TriangleLight · 16/01/2025 19:20

You should do a deficit calculated on the James Smith Academy free calculator

BountifulPantry · 16/01/2025 19:19

If your maintenance is around 1900 I would aim for 1700 and up steps/ exercise.

1200 is too low and insustainable IMO.

HellofromJohnCraven · 16/01/2025 19:17

I'm 5 foot and 57. The only way I lose weight is to stick to 1000 cals a day and I lose 1lb a week at that.
Over the years I have tried every diet.
Recently I used injections which helped me lose 2 st. I still only lost 1 lb a week and ate 1000 cals a day. The injections made it easier to stick to it.
What helps I find is to do 8/16. So I have 2 meals between 12 midday and 8 pm. I can get through to 12 easily, have 250 ish for lunch which leaves scope for a proper dinner.
I can live without alcohol, bread and sugar which helps.

Daisyvodka · 16/01/2025 19:16

Could you walk us through a typical day's eating, I used to believe all calories were created equal but god, it's so much more bearable on certain foods!
How much water are you drinking, and are you exercising at all?

Bearbookagainandagain · 16/01/2025 19:16

Lilacdreamowl · 16/01/2025 19:03

Says maintenance is 1890, I put sedentary as I have an office job

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1200 is too low (compared to your tdee and because you can't maintain it).

You'd be better off increasing your calories and increasing activity, particularly weight training for muscle gain.

Generally, what works for you is the right decision. Whether that's 1200 or 1500, it doesn't matter as long as it's a deficit.

Also, if you aren't already, I found that calorie counting over a week worked much better for me than over a day. I was less focused on the ups and downs.

ColinOfficeTrolley · 16/01/2025 19:15

Make sure you're hitting your protein goals. This is super important.

Also, 1200 is unrealistic. Even 1500 would make life so much easier for you.

Burntt · 16/01/2025 19:12

As long as you have a deficit you will loose weight.

I swear by spicy food. Add chilli flakes or chilli sauce to all my veg and it's more palatable and then I can eat more low calorie veg and need less carbs.

If you are struggling make a change. If it's too hard you won't maintain it

titchy · 16/01/2025 19:10

1200 is what a toddler should eat

Or a short slim adult...

BashfulClam · 16/01/2025 19:10

Oh i’m 45 as well.

BashfulClam · 16/01/2025 19:09

I lost 4 stone in 6 months on 1600-1700 use James Smith or Sean Casey for TDEE calories.

WarmthAndDepth · 16/01/2025 19:05

I lost 2st on 1200-1400 / day in my late 40s, with fairly limited exercise, eg just steps as opposed to proper workouts or swimming.
Intermittent fasting was a great help as was LCHF.
Good luck!

Original poster
Lilacdreamowl · 16/01/2025 19:03

PlumpAndDeliciousFatcat · 16/01/2025 19:00

What is your TDEE?

Says maintenance is 1890, I put sedentary as I have an office job

OP posts:
Noodledoodledoo · 16/01/2025 19:03

Aim for 1200 - 1600 for a 1-2 lb lose, sometimes you will be under sometimes over.

Original poster
Lilacdreamowl · 16/01/2025 19:02

MFP puts 1200 for 2lb weight loss a week. Maybe I need to lower it. 1lb a week puts me at 1600

OP posts: