myfitnesspal- can I really have this many calories?

[RhumbaZumba]

I've started using myfitnesspal this week and it says I can have 1200 calories, it seems an awful lot - can I really lose weight eating that much?

I've changed from slimming world because of moving house and not having a group I can get to now. On SW I've lost 4st 4lb but suddenly on myfitness pal I seem
to be eating more this week.

I'm 64.5kg and 165cm so it said 1200 cals- is that right?

recommended intake is 2,000 calories a day to maintain weight, so, depending on exercise levels, 1,200 should lose c.2 lb a week.

Better to lose gradually as will then stay off more easiliy

I have been losing gradually, which is def what I want. The four stone has come off over eighteen months or so. I'm just not used to calories I think, SW doesn't do it on calories and I just seem to have eaten a lot, I can't see how I will lose anything.

Is 1200 a lot?? I am about same height and weight, and I really struggle to keep to 1500

Don't think 1200 is a lot - I need to exercise to keep to my limit, but I do like a couple of glasses of wine in the evening.

You've done really well on SW, congrats! I think you should continue with SW - start your own thread on here or join an establised thread for support.

Would you give us a sample day's food? I struggle to keep to 1500 too, and I'd like to know what you're eating.

I sort of wanted a change from SW and thought mfp would be less restrictive. SW limits how much of this you can have with that etc.

Todaywe've been out all day so a funny food day but:
Breakfast cereal bar 99 cals
Lunch small jacket and beans with side salad in a cafe mfp said 480 cal
Dinner pizza hut pasta twists 493 cals

All drinks were water except a diet coke in pizza hut. So under the limit and feel like had lots.

If eating 1100 calories a day suits you then go for it. MPF is not a dictatorship you can undereat on its recommended calories, it's up to you!

The trick is to get enough nutrition into your body while eating less calories and the lower your calorie intake is the trickier that gets. Even if you don't get hungry, you may find you lack energy or feel more sleepy or get so fed up with the restriction you end up coming off the diet and binging.

MPF is obsessed with Starvation mode kicking in - the whole website seem in a whirl about it and hence they suggest at least 1200. I'm not convinced on the whole starvation mode thing being so important in an overweight person but that's personal opinion.

There is a MFP thread here you are welcome to join.

Welcome

Thanks whyme I'll see how I get on this week, I still don't really believe that I'll lose anything. If I do though and I decide to stick to mfp I'll come over and say hello!

1200 is not a lot! Really it isn't and if you stick to 1200 it is very important to spend them wisely and eat well to ensure adequate nutrition.

Further, easily possible to stick to 1200 and not lose weight as calories not all equal. I know its the weekend and so your food today may not be typical but imo your intake today doesn't represent good eating, and eating like that will lead to malnutrition. Very carb heavy, hardly any protein, empty calories and minimal fruit/vegetables.

A 1200 calorie day for me would be:
2 eggs & 100g fat free yoghurt with ground linseeds and oatbran
apple mid morning
tuna & cottage cheese salad with huge amount of veg for lunch
pear mid afternoon
handful nuts at 6pm
chicken fillet plus stacks of veg for dinner
2 squares of 85% dark choc as evening treat.

So I'd say don't focus on number of calories on mfp but on eating enough protein and veg.

Forever Like I said, the food I listed was a funny day because we were out all day, away overnight actually, so very different because you have to make the best choices in whatever cafe/restaurant you are in.

Normally I have lots of fresh veg, have been on the green plan for SW for a long time, not a big fruit eater though.

I don't really have much meat, don't like it, but get plenty of protein from other places.

Fair enough you did say a funny day.

But 1200 calories isn't much, but be careful with eating lots of carbs - most grains, even whole grains are empty calories nutrition wise, so long term not a great idea to eat may of them (slimming world or otherwise) if calories are restricted. Yes plenty of other sources of protein other than meat.

I have just read john briffa's escape the diet trap - before i read it i thought whole grains were healthy and nutritious, now not so sure. tom venuto in his book also says avoid lots of carbs if dieting long term as minimal nutrition.