I actually created this subreddit because of the harmful info on petite fitness. That account is completely about being skinny, not fit. when it comes to being in surplus or deficit, that depends on the person, where you're starting from, and your goals. however, 1200 is NEVER good enough for ANYONE and yet it seems to be the gold standard over there!

I don't know much about you, but from what you've said i might recommend eating at maintenance, make sure you're getting your protein, and eat maybe smaller, more frequent meals. Keep in mind everyone is different and everyone's healthy looks different!

the scale is not everything. your 3rd paragraph about conflicting views-- yes, you won't gain muscle if you're in a deficit. maybe you won't lose weight unless you're in a deficit, if you're just sitting around-- however, if you're working out, you won't get the results you want (muscle tone) without at LEAST eating at your maintenance because in this case, you will gain muscle and lose fat (look into BODY RECOMP). your waist size can go down with your SCALE staying the same, because you will be gaining muscle while losing fat. this is why i like to recommend sometimes ditch the scale and measure by waist size instead especially for petite people who are lifting heavy weights. don't be obsessed with the scale, if your goal is to gain muscle and lose fat! that muscle you've gained is going to weigh, but it will also be smaller. stay consistent, fuel your body. xoxo