I don't know--take a look at this (located at
http://www.countcarbs.com/tools/basal_metabolism.htm):
Your Basal Metabolic Rate represents the minimum calories your body needs each day for basic function like heartbeat, blood flow, body temperature regulation, respiration, etc.. It does not include calories your body will use for movement and activity.
In order to effectively lose weight, you must eat enough calories each day to meet your basal metabolic requirements. If you eat too few calories, your body will lower your metabolism and begin to conserve energy for survival.
The Basal Metabolic Rate returned to you is based on your height, weight and gender. Eat enough calories each day, with your carbohydrate, protein and fat intake based on your plan requirements, to meet this basal metabolic requirement. You will still be in a calorie deficit because you are eating less than your Active Metabolic Rate (the additional calories you'll use for movement)
so there is no need to eat less calories than your Basal Metabolic Rate - and doing so, again, may cause you to stall or stop losing weight.
The majority of females can safely consume up to 200 calories more than their Basal Metabolic Rate and continue to lose weight.
The majority of males can safely consume up to 350 calories more than their Basal Metabolic Rate and continue to lose.
My basal metabolic rate on this site was approx. 1697, and based on what this article says I can still lose weight eating that many calories/day as long as I am exercising...hmmmmm...maybe eating 1200/day is why my weight loss is going kind of slowly...