1200 Calories a Day?
Does eating 1200 calories a day help lose weight? This is the question that most people ask because 1200 calories seems to be the magic number.
Is 1200 calories per day magical for fat loss?
The simple answer is NO.
1200 calories per day is NOT magical for fat loss.
But, then where does this myth come from?
Well, it comes from companies promoting it.
It comes from individuals being on 1200 calories per day and losing fat.
It comes from 1200 calorie meal plans that people do and see progress.
And when people see results on 1200 calories per day, they believe it is the magical number of calories for fat loss.
For majority of people who are trying to lose weight…
Eating only 1200 calories per day will bring about fat loss.
Because why?
Because 1200 is not really a lot at all.
So because it works for most people, everyone believes it is the magical number.
You are individual.
Your calories will differ to your best friends calories.
How many calories you need per day depends on several factors.
These factors include you age, weight, height, gender and activity levels.
You’d then calculate your calorie requirements from that.
Hence why, your calorie goals shouldn’t be generic.
Because you are not generic. You are individual.
Use my free calorie calculator - Click here.
If I wanted to lose some fat right now.
My calorie deficit goal would be around 1700 calories per day.
If I were to only eat 1200 calories per day, that would be stupid.
Because it wouldn’t be sustainable at all.
As it is 500 calories less than what my actual deficit would be.
Realistically, I wouldn’t be able to adhere to 1200 calories per day.
Which means, I would spiral after 2 weeks.
Please…
Don’t cut your calories to a very low amount if you don’t have to.
Think long term. Think sustainability.
Ask yourself what you can adhere to for long periods of time.
Always have a look at your average calorie consumption on a weekly basis.
Disclaimer:
If you are a woman with a much smaller body composition, and you are not super active yet, you could very well be close to 1200 calories per day as a deficit goal. Because the smaller you are, the less energy your body requires. If you are very small, and possibly quite short, then I’d suggest that you increase your daily steps and/or movement, so that you increase the calorie burn. You’d also have to make a lot smarter food choices, so that you can be fuller for longer on lower calories.
Much Love
Mandy