Madeleine Hull
MyFitnessPal is a popular app for tracking calories and weight loss. The app recommends a 1200-calorie diet for some users, but some people have questioned whether this is too low, especially for those who are active. This article will explore the normal diet percentage for 1200 calories on MyFitnessPal, and whether it is a healthy option for weight loss.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Calorie intake | 1000-1500 |
| Number of meals | 2 |
| Time of meals | Between 10am and 6pm |
| Calories per meal | 450 and 650 |
| Exercise | 30 minutes a day |
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What You'll Learn
- The 1200 calorie diet is for small sedentary people
- MyFitnessPal recommends a 500 calorie deficit to lose a pound a week
- A 1200 calorie diet can be achieved through two meals a day
- A 1200 calorie diet can include a wide variety of foods
- Some people find a 1200 calorie diet too restrictive and experience hunger
The 1200 calorie diet is for small sedentary people
Some people who follow the 1200 calorie diet eat two meals a day between 10am and 6pm. Their first meal is usually around 450 calories and includes coffee with half and half, plus an egg wrap, or homemade McMuffin, or BLT on whole grain bread, or oatmeal and fruit. Their second meal is usually around 650 calories and can be anything you'd normally think of for dinner, minus dessert. Dinner usually includes a cup of 2% milk.
If you are a very active person, your TDEE might be more like 2000-2100 calories, and you might diet on 1500 calories.
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MyFitnessPal recommends a 500 calorie deficit to lose a pound a week
MyFitnessPal recommends a 500-calorie deficit to lose a pound a week. This means that, depending on your age, size and sex, you should be consuming between 1600 and 2200 calories a day to maintain your weight. If you want to lose weight, you should be eating 500 fewer calories than this.
Some people who use MyFitnessPal aim for 1000-1200 calories a day, but this is a very low-calorie diet and may not be suitable for everyone. One user who exercises a lot said that they would be 'super hungry' if they tried to eat 1200 calories a day, and that their TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) is more like 2000-2100 calories. Another user who runs 30-50 miles a week said that they should be eating more than 1200 calories a day.
If you are considering a very low-calorie diet, it is important to speak to a healthcare professional first to make sure it is safe for you.
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A 1200 calorie diet can be achieved through two meals a day
However, this calorie intake is considered incredibly low by some, especially for those who are exercising a lot. One user on Reddit says that they run 30-50 miles a week and MyFitnessPal tells them to restrict their diet to 1200 calories a day. They question whether they should eat more on the days they run to make MyFitnessPal 'happy'. Another user says that 1200 calories is for small sedentary people and that they would be hungry if they ate this little every day, as their TDEE is more like 2000-2100.
According to one user on MyFitnessPal.com, to lose about a pound a week, you should have a 500 calorie deficit daily. When they calculate the calories needed for their age, size and sex, they are offered the following numbers for maintenance: 1600 (sedentary), 1800 (moderately active), 2200 (very active).
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A 1200 calorie diet can include a wide variety of foods
Another user on MyFitnessPal.com says that they usually eat 1500 calories a day, but sometimes eat 1200-1500. They also exercise for 30 minutes a day.
On Reddit, one user says that they run 30-50 miles a week, and MyFitnessPal tells them to restrict their diet to 1200 calories a day. They say that this seems incredibly low, and they should probably be eating more. Another user agrees, saying that 1200 calories is for small sedentary people, and that they would be hungry if they tried to eat this little every day.
MyFitnessPal offers three calorie numbers for maintenance: 1600 (sedentary), 1800 (moderately active), and 2200 (very active). To lose about a pound a week, it is recommended to have a 500 calorie deficit daily.
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Some people find a 1200 calorie diet too restrictive and experience hunger
A 1200 calorie diet is for small sedentary people. Some people find this too restrictive and experience hunger. One user on MyFitnessPal.com says they aim for 1000-1200 calories most days, but sometimes eat 1200-1500. They exercise 30 minutes a day and eat two meals a day, with their first meal being around 450 calories and their second meal being around 650 calories. Another user on Reddit says that they run 30-50 miles a week and MyFitnessPal tells them they should restrict their diet to 1200 calories a day. They say they would need to eat more on days they run to make MyFitnessPal happy and to hit their increased protein needs.
If you are exercising a lot, you should be eating more than 1200 calories. One user on Reddit says that they are a very active person and their TDEE is more like 2000-2100, so they diet on 1500 calories. Another user on MyFitnessPal.com says that when they calculate the calories needed for their age, size and sex, they are offered 1600 (sedentary), 1800 (moderate active) or 2200 (very active) calories for maintenance. They say that to lose about a pound a week, they should have a 500 calorie deficit daily.
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Frequently asked questions
A 1200-calorie diet is a diet where you consume 1000-1200 calories most days. It is recommended for small sedentary people.
A 1200-calorie diet usually consists of two meals per day. The first meal is around 450 calories and could be coffee with half & half, an egg wrap, a homemade McMuffin, a BLT on whole grain bread, or oatmeal and fruit. The second meal is around 650 calories and could be anything you'd normally think of for dinner, minus dessert.
If you are exercising a lot, you should be eating more than 1200 calories. MyFitnessPal subtracts the calories burnt from exercise from your net calories, so you should eat more on days you exercise to avoid a large calorie deficit.
The recommended calorie intakes for maintenance are 1600 calories for a sedentary lifestyle, 1800 calories for a moderately active lifestyle, and 2200 calories for a very active lifestyle.
A 1200-calorie diet is considered a low-calorie diet and may not be suitable for everyone. For example, one person commented that they usually eat around 1500 calories normally and would be hungry if they tried to eat 1200 calories every day.
