To think 1200 calories a day isn’t enough?

[Tigerwhocamefortea]

I have always been slim and been lucky not to carry weight, however after having my second DC I am at least a stone heavier than I want to be and need to do something about it.

I tried using Myfitness plan to log things and based on losing 2lb a week, which I thought was a sensible slow amount, it it tells me I can only eat 1200 calories a day! Surely this is far too few?

If I were you - with a history of disordered eating (which I understand is what you're saying in your update), I would try cutting out the chocolate and any other processed crap for a few months and doing some exercises targeting the tummy/bum areas and then reevaluate. It makes me nervous on here when anyone with a history of eating disorders wants to diet, especially when you are slap bang in the middle of a healthy BMI and were seriously underweight before at 7.5 stone.

@unburnished. Have you had checks for thyroid function, etc...? Only asking because a total of 3 friends recently, who were struggling with weight maintenance in their 50s, have turned out to have medical reasons for it (I'm sure you have had these things checked, but I now feel I should mention it to anyone).

Ok OP, honestly - you are heading back towards your eating disorder.
10st at 5'7 is a healthy weight.
8st7 is bordering on underweight.
You are breastfeeding a small baby. You risk underfeeding your child if you restrict now. Eat the damn chocolate and enjoy it fgs

@winepls it doesnt give me a TDEE. just carbs, protien, fat and total cals.

It’s not much but it’s doable, although wouldn’t while breastfeeding.
I’m also slim built and not overweight per se, but it’s all on my belly which isn’t healthy.

Just seen your update OP.

Given your background, I'd look at making healthy changes to your diet and starting to exercise and build muscle. What you're seeing around your waist may be un-toned muscle, not fat. It not, then a healthy diet should sort out your spare tyre. Going down to 9 stone at your height would put you dangerously close to being underweight and is not healthy or sustainable long term.

You've got a 4month old why would you want to lose weight anyway? If you're breast feeding you lose weight naturally . It's much better to just eat healthily. Don't worry about calories.

This is what I’m doing at the moment. MFP put me at 1250 for losing 1 lb/week as my base. I ‘earn’ calories with exercise and since I row every morning for about 15/20min I generally get an extra 200 calories.

I haven’t really changed what I eat, so mostly it’s doable by cutting out the extras.

It’s working though ... so I’ll give it that. I have lost a 1 1/2 st just by rowing over the past 6 months, but stalled, so I’ll do the calorie thing until I get to my goal (another 1 1/2st) then go back to just rowing since I know I can maintain with just the exercise.

I eat about 13-400 a day; walk, work out at home or go to the gym most days, am not obsessive, and am losing, and I'm a shortie. There's no way 1200 is enough for you.

My TDEE, at age 44, with my short stature and a sedentary lifestyle, is 1399. So to lose weight (I have about 25 lb to lose), I would have to eat less than that.

I would imagine, at your height and breastfeeding, you would lose weight eating more than 1200 calories. It would be easier for you to eat more and lose weight more slowly than 2lb a week if you only want to lose a stone.

Thank you to those people showing concern- but at the minute I feel in control and able to sensibly lose some weight. Whilst breastfeeding my priority is my DD and that helps stop me spiralling out of control. I think if I wait until I have stopped feeding in a years time I will have even more weight to lose and am more likely to lose control.

@RedWoollyHat Yes I have. When I suddenly started gaining weight (and failing to lose it) in my forties I had everything checked. My resting matabolic rate then was 1000. I overhauled my lifestyle and started taking HRT which helped me drop the weight but now, I'm facing up to the fact that I'm just unlucky (always struggled with putting weight on quickly). Very healthy otherwise and now my resting metabolic rate is 1400.

@QuckTheDuck It's in the email they send you

As you are not overweight at all, you will need to go down to 1200 to lose. However, as you have a 4 month old, you will naturally still be carrying some baby weight that will come off over the next few months so long as you eat healthily and walk lots etc . Are you BFing?That helps burn calories. Depriving yourself of calories with a baby will likely lead you to be irritable and low on energy which is more likely yo lead you to grabbing the wrong thing to eat. It took you 9mths to gain that weight, give it at least that to come off.

Having been doing the fast800 diet for a few weeks now - and losing weight and not feeling hungry, 1200 sounds like plenty!

I see you are still feeding. I held on to about 5/6lbs that quickly came off when I stopped feeding.

If you're breast feeding you lose weight naturally
This isn't the case for all women though, I held on to all my baby weight while breastfeeding, despite trying to lose it, but as soon as I stopped breastfeeding, the weight started to shift.

Your child is 4m so is probably BFing ALOT. You’ve done well to only be 10st at this point!!! I would not calorie restrict at this stage. I got given 1300 on MFP and I’m not a BFing mother of new baby! You’ve only a stone to lose so either be patient and start dieting when the baby isn’t feeding as much or try something less severe.
As you’re addicted to chocolate try some other sweet things like almond butter, desiccated coconut or 85% dark. But you’re probably knackered and will power tends to fail tired people!

You have a 2 yr old too? 1200 is not enough. Wait a year until you stop feeding and be sensible in the meantime.

I wouldn't calorie count as such if you are still breastfeeding as it may potentially stop/mess up your supply and your baby won't get enough nutrition.

Instead I would concentrate on eating healthily, cutting out all the crap, and doing some exercise. You will be amazed at how much better you'll feel, how much more energy you have (and there will be natural weight loss from not eating crap) from just changing your diet.

Yes Constance I said you hold on to a few pounds but it helps you get down to those last few.

I eat less but I am not active at all. I run for the train but that’s about it.

I struggle on 1200. I can only do it if I give my diet 100% attention. I've just lost a bit over a stone on 1500-1800 dependant on how much I exercise.

Surely that weight would just drop off if you just stopped eating chocolate all day?
If you have a sweet tooth why don't you swap the chocolate snacking with some berries / cherries etc

If you are eating whole foods and cooking from scratch with the bulk being vegetables, then it's plenty.

As soon as you add things like chocolate or pasta, the calories disappear!

I use MFP and the meal I have for lunch every day is the same amount of calories as a Kinder Bueno! Quickly learned to kick that habit!