How long will it take to lose 30 pounds eating 1200 calories a day?

How long will it take to lose 30 pounds eating 1200 calories a day? This is a common question for people considering a very low-calorie approach and wanting to understand realistic timelines and outcomes.

The time to lose 30 pounds on 1200 calories depends on your size, activity level, and metabolism, because those determine how large a deficit 1200 calories actually creates. If your maintenance need is 2000 calories, 1200 would give an 800-calorie daily deficit; averaged over time, that might produce close to 1.5 pounds per week early on, then slower as metabolism adapts. Someone with a higher maintenance level might lose faster initially, while a smaller or less active person may lose much more slowly or plateau. Very low intakes can also increase hunger, fatigue, and muscle loss, which may reduce adherence and slow progress. For safety, work with a healthcare professional before staying at 1200 long term.

To get a more realistic timeline, start with our calorie needs calculator to estimate your maintenance calories and the deficit 1200 calories would create for your body and activity level.

Browse more questions in our Calorie Calculator FAQs.