Anyone else on 1200 calories per day?

[DIYnovices]

Downloaded MyFitnesspal and apparently I need to eat 1200cal per day to lose 1lb per week. I have been doing it successfully for a week.

Anyone else in the same boat? How do you spread 1200 cals out through the day?

here is what I’m doing:

breakfast: one slice of toast and half an avocado plus coffee with skimmed milk (250 cal)

lunch: Half a tub of soup and a sandwich thin (250 cal)

snacks: Kit Kat, cups of tea, sun bites, banana (350cal)

Dinner: small portion of whatever DH cooks (he’s dieting too so it’s always low calorie) (350 cal)

Sometimes a skip a couple of snacks and replace with a glass of wine in the evening!

Any tips to help me get a bit more variety would be great!

I was on 1200 and lost 4lbs in 6 weeks. I did the TDEE calculator and that upped me to 1600 calories a day - I’ve shifted 6lbs in a month since upping my calories. I agree with others MFP tells most people their allowance is 1200

OP if I were you I would increase your exercise slightly (maybe go for a couple of brisk walks per week) and just generally increase your day to day activity levels and then you can easily up your calories to at least 1,300 per day. I think that losing 9lb will actually put you as being underweight.

I was on 1200 calories for 4 months last year. I’d have home made smoothie with yogurt in the morning, a large salad with any protein and minimal dressing for lunch and something like eggs with smoked salmon, sea bass with a lot of veg for dinner.

Can you add some exercise into your day?
I'm 5'3" with a BMI of 21 something. My tdee is 1900 ish because I walk. A lot. I lose on 1500-1700 a day.

@SalmonWellington I've plenty of fat on me and wobbly despite a healthy bmi. I'm short and extra pounds are not carried well. I think a BMI of 19 would be best for me but then I'd lose my boobs so I put up with my belly and thighs to some extent. If I could grow about 3 inches taller that would be grand. Currently I'm flunking weight loss this month but have lost my motivation. I'm still walking and walked over 70 miles last week. This week I'll be lucky to get to 50.

OP, come over to the LOSE IT thread where you can join me in trying to lose those few pounds. You'll be most welcome and we are a great, non-judgmental bunch who go for sensible and healthy.

Me too using MyFitnessPal. Apart from the breakup 'diet' or severe stress it's the only way I lose weight.

I've lost 6lb since the 14th Feb. The only that stops the steady loss is when I booze.

My tips are to fast for as long as you can, I do 16/8. I usually skip breakfast and just have a few cups of tea, then a large lateish lunch as my main meal and then a light dinner of roasted vegetables.

I stop any pangs with cups of early grey and lots of water.

I keep reminding myself how mine I am when I'm a bit podgy. I'd rather be a little bit hungry whilst I'm losing weight for a meal or so than fat and sad.

It's not forever, it sacrifice in the short term and good habit setting for thereafter. Good luck!

I’ve done 16:8 for years and never lost any
weight. So yes OP I’m trying to do 1200 a day - am finding it quite easy as am doing high protein shakes a soups, just for 6 weeks. 2 of those a day, 3 ‘allowable snacks’ and a normal dinner; but I’m being loose with the allowable snacks eg I’m not tracking veg. Am half way through week 2. Feel better and more in control which is massive for me. No smaller though! My scales are broken eg weighed myself twice in 30 secs and apparently lost 10kg 🙃

MFP just says you need to eat AT LEAST 1200 calories, it usually puts you much higher depending g how quickly you want to lose.

I'm aiming for around 1200/1300

Thank you for the concern but losing 9lbs is putting me back to my usual weight which is very firmly in the healthy BMI category.

I do take on board that I need to do more exercise and get some motivation to do that.

Love the idea of fish and veg for dinner.

My god there is almost zero protein in that diet. Say goodbye to any muscle you have pretty quickly then, that’s what you’ll lose, not fat

Ah yes! The break up diet. The last one I had I was so sad I had to force myself drink chocolate milkshakes because I couldn’t stomach food. I was very thin. Would rather be obese than go through that again though! Fingers crossed I don’t have to.

I have tried the fasting but didn’t make it past day 1! I need to eat little and often throughout the day or I’ll just cave in and devour a small mountain of kitkats.

No muscle to be seen here 😂

This is also a terrible approach. Without protein you’ll lose muscles. So you’re dropping lbs on the scales, then anything you put back on is water and fat. Your metabolism slows down because you’re losing the muscle so it will become harder to lose weight each time

i really wish women educated themselves about weight loss and stopped with this yoyo nonsense

Don't worry Shirley I eat a lot of protein for my lunch. Sorry I didn't outline every mouthful