1200 Calorie Bottom Limit???????
snarlingcoyote
Posts: 399 Member
Okay,
Where has it come from that the absolute bottom floor of healthy calories for anyone on MFP is 1200 and that you can't set your calorie floor at 1000?
Mine is normally set at 1000 (I'm travelling this week, so it's set to maintenance - 1400.) MFP was fine with that.
If I try to save my day with less than 1000 calories (did it now, just after breakfast) you get the following message:
"Based on your total calories consumed today, you are likely not eating enough
For safe weight loss, the National Institutes of Health recommends no less than 1000-1200 calories for women and 1200-1500 calories for men."
(Note: I am a short little middle aged female, I need rather less calories than many people on this site!)
Where has it come from that the absolute bottom floor of healthy calories for anyone on MFP is 1200 and that you can't set your calorie floor at 1000?
Mine is normally set at 1000 (I'm travelling this week, so it's set to maintenance - 1400.) MFP was fine with that.
If I try to save my day with less than 1000 calories (did it now, just after breakfast) you get the following message:
"Based on your total calories consumed today, you are likely not eating enough
For safe weight loss, the National Institutes of Health recommends no less than 1000-1200 calories for women and 1200-1500 calories for men."
(Note: I am a short little middle aged female, I need rather less calories than many people on this site!)
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MFP will not set your calories at less than 1200 but you can override that and enter a lower goal. But you already know that since you are doing it so I'm not sure why you are asking.0
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Ahhh. Thanks for that jemhh - I've fiddled with the macros and everything else so much, I have no idea what the autoset would be. Is that why people think 1200 calories is the bottom limit for any adult human?0
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double post
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snarlingcoyote wrote: »Ahhh. Thanks for that jemhh - I've fiddled with the macros and everything else so much, I have no idea what the autoset would be. Is that why people think 1200 calories is the bottom limit for any adult human?
1200 is the generally recommended bottom calorie level for women. The American College of Sports Medicine is one of the groups that has it as an official recommendation.
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1400 is your maintenance? Wow, are you sure you calculated that correctly?
Or are you 4'9"?0 -
I just don't see how anyone can eat properly on LESS than 1200, much less give room for treats and stuff
I have days where I will eat 1200 but now, it's pretty rare. Your body needs fuel to sustain it through daily activity and exercise. I found the more I eat, the more I lose weight ...and I don't eat a lot - on average around 1800 calories- which for me is about 500 under maintenance, and i lose between 2-4 pounds a week, depending on exercise (i exercise daily except for now when im iced in, and i STILL lost a pound LOL) 0 -
1400 is your maintenance? Wow, are you sure you calculated that correctly?
Or are you 4'9"?
I'm 5ft0 and thats about my maintenence level (thats properly calculated)- and yes, there is very little wiggle room for sweets and treats. Diet cals is approx 1000 a day and Dr is fine with that.
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I'm 5'3" and my maintenance level is below 1500 before exercise.0
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I eat less than 1200 most of the time and get all the protein, fat, carbs, and nutrients I need because I eat only whole natural foods and meals made in my kitchen. I actually eat a lot, because most of it is naturally low calories (but packs a punch nutrient-wise). Oh and I love my treats, but again, they are natural and homemade.callsitlikeiseeit wrote: »I just don't see how anyone can eat properly on LESS than 1200, much less give room for treats and stuff I have days where I will eat 1200 but now, it's pretty rare. Your body needs fuel to sustain it through daily activity and exercise. I found the more I eat, the more I lose weight ...and I don't eat a lot - on average around 1800 calories- which for me is about 500 under maintenance, and i lose between 2-4 pounds a week, depending on exercise (i exercise daily except for now when im iced in, and i STILL lost a pound LOL)
My maintenance calories for my lifestyle, current weight and height (5'6.5" is about 1500 calories (I'm 47, if I were 20, it would be 1700).
I think as long as you're eating very healthfully (is that a word?), and have all the energy you need, feel good, and are sleeping well, there's nothing to worry about.
When MFP tells me that I'm likely not eating enough, I tell it back, "ya thanks, but I'm not eating your typical standard american diet, so I'm fine thanks".
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I am also just over 5'3'' and 65 years old. Small frame and in good health. My maintenance calories to hold the weight recommended for my height is 1400. I often go over that on the weekend, then go down to 1200 during the week in order to enjoy my extra calories the next weekend. It is one of the disadvantages of being a small person!0
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My cut is 1760... Kind of feeling sad for all the people that can't eat! I feel like I don't get enough at almost 1800 a day! LOL
5'3 female here too0 -
My maintenance is only 1525, when I hit my goal weight it will only be 1377. Being short sucks lol. I'm 5'0"0
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I'm so glad to see others who are short and also who are older and can't eat a lot. There are so many people on these forums that are extremely judgmental about low calories as if NO one could possibly survive on less than 1200. At my height and age my maintenance will only be around 1400 I am guessing IF I ever get to my goal. At 1200 calories if I slip up at all I don't lose, plain and simple. Frankly, even if I stick to 1200 I don't lose lately. I will get there, just harder than some people seem to want to believe it is.0
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My maintenance, as calculated by MFP for my current weight and height, is 1430. I'm 5'0" and 118lbs. So yeah, it's possible that her maintenance is 1400.0
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I'm 5'6 too - 36. My daily MFP number is 1200, but I'm just as likely to eat about 800 calories (on days I don't exercise). I don't sweat the small stuff though - I also have 2000 cal days. I look at my cal average over 7 days, and it is usually right on target, within 100 cals too low or too high. I like eating this way because it allows me to occassionally eat cake for dinner - like I did last night - and still be right on track cal wise 0
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I'm 5'4" and still overweight by 20 lbs. My lab tested RMR is 1520ish (which is about 10% higher than online estimators would give me). With a sedentary lifestyle, that puts my TDEE around 1800. Once I lose the last bit of weight, it'll be lower (and I'm not getting any younger LOL). This is a HUGE incentive for me to exercise. I love eating 1/4 gallon of ice cream on long run days LOL. But realistically, my TDEE with exercise probably averages out to 2000ish calories per day. I strength train twice a week and run 3 times a week (subbed out for some biking in the summer months).
Some people on this site like to talk in absolutes. You should NEVER eat less than xyz. That is incredibly uneducated of them. An older female who is short in stature has FAR lower calorie needs than the "average" which is always talked about.0 -
sites say my maintenance is at 1530 before exercise BUT, i have found that to not be true. I can actually eat 1700 before exercise and not gain weight. I am in maintenance now and was actually still losing at 1530 + exercise calories. lol. at 1700 + exercise calories, i am not.0
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Uuhh....I'm 4'8" and I eat way more than that. O.O0
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Whitezombiegirl wrote: »1400 is your maintenance? Wow, are you sure you calculated that correctly?
Or are you 4'9"?
I'm 5ft0 and thats about my maintenence level (thats properly calculated)- and yes, there is very little wiggle room for sweets and treats. Diet cals is approx 1000 a day and Dr is fine with that.
do you exercise? i could see your maintenance being around 1400 sedentary...but with exercise, no way.
My wife is 5'2" and with exercise she maintains around 2200 calories with a "sedentary" maintenance around 1500 - 1600.
Most people aren't truly sedentary either, even without deliberate exercise.0 -
Wait til you're 50 and in a desk job and trying to lose 10 lbs.KGRebelRanch wrote: »Uuhh....I'm 4'8" and I eat way more than that. O.O
I'm 5'4" and not very overweight and an active day is maybe 1800 for me, a sedentary day might be under 1500.
Exercising off 600-700 calories a day doesn't sound terribly healthy. I'd rather skip the ice cream and extra cheese.
Interesting aside: Studies show that running 4 hours a week is as bad for you as being sedentary.
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WalkingAlong wrote: »
Wait til you're 50 and in a desk job and trying to lose 10 lbs.KGRebelRanch wrote: »Uuhh....I'm 4'8" and I eat way more than that. O.O
I'm 5'4" and not very overweight and an active day is maybe 1800 for me, a sedentary day might be under 1500.
Exercising off 600-700 calories a day doesn't sound terribly healthy. I'd rather skip the ice cream and extra cheese.
Interesting aside: Studies show that running 4 hours a week is as bad for you as being sedentary.
I own and manage a working ranch-I don't see a desk job in my future. The height isn't what makes a calorie difference, it's sedentary vs active. Short sedentary people or tall sedentary people are still going to calculate needed calories based on weight and activity level-not height.0 -
KGRebelRanch wrote: »WalkingAlong wrote: »
Wait til you're 50 and in a desk job and trying to lose 10 lbs.KGRebelRanch wrote: »Uuhh....I'm 4'8" and I eat way more than that. O.O
I'm 5'4" and not very overweight and an active day is maybe 1800 for me, a sedentary day might be under 1500.
Exercising off 600-700 calories a day doesn't sound terribly healthy. I'd rather skip the ice cream and extra cheese.
Interesting aside: Studies show that running 4 hours a week is as bad for you as being sedentary.
I own and manage a working ranch-I don't see a desk job in my future. The height isn't what makes a calorie difference, it's sedentary vs active. Short sedentary people or tall sedentary people are still going to calculate needed calories based on weight and activity level-not height.
I'm 5"8, sedentary,140lbs, age 42 and my maintenance is 1620 calories :grumble:
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Height does matter. Though activity level matters more. Age matters, too.KGRebelRanch wrote: »WalkingAlong wrote: »
Wait til you're 50 and in a desk job and trying to lose 10 lbs.KGRebelRanch wrote: »Uuhh....I'm 4'8" and I eat way more than that. O.O
I'm 5'4" and not very overweight and an active day is maybe 1800 for me, a sedentary day might be under 1500.
Exercising off 600-700 calories a day doesn't sound terribly healthy. I'd rather skip the ice cream and extra cheese.
Interesting aside: Studies show that running 4 hours a week is as bad for you as being sedentary.
I own and manage a working ranch-I don't see a desk job in my future. The height isn't what makes a calorie difference, it's sedentary vs active. Short sedentary people or tall sedentary people are still going to calculate needed calories based on weight and activity level-not height.
My point was that we don't all own ranches and spend the day on our feet so why is anyone else's "I burn X and I'm abc" comment pertinent? It's like a German Shepherd police dog bragging to a toy poodle about how much he can eat. Is one inferior? That's the implication, right? Or am I misreading what "Uuhh" and "O.O" mean?
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Yes and I'm 5'4", 40 years old and a very small build and trying to lose 25lbs of unhealthily high body fat. I weigh 140lbs and maintain on 1500. In order to lose weight (slowly, not fast) the only way I can is to eat very low calories around 1000 per day or do a load of exercise. At the moment I'm in the position of being able to do that so I can eat around 1500 and still lose, but if I stop my weight loss will stall and I'll go into maintenance or start to gain.0
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I read that too, saw it in an English news source, might have been BBC, can't remember. Look it up I'm sure you'll find it. Conclusion was you shouldn't run for more than 2.5 hours a week.0
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It's an estimate on AVERAGES. 4'9 is NOT average. >.< It's hard to get all your nutrients that you need when your calorie intake is so low. And YES. It is low. I am 5'2 and my BMR is just about 1700... and going to be dropping as I get closer to my goal. Being active is good for you, and so is eating back a little of those calories. I suppose if all you are concerned about is your weight, and not BF% or cardiovascular/heart health, don't give a damn about exercise and eat your maintenence.0
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snarlingcoyote wrote: »Ahhh. Thanks for that jemhh - I've fiddled with the macros and everything else so much, I have no idea what the autoset would be. Is that why people think 1200 calories is the bottom limit for any adult human?
MFP used to give the message it now gives for below 1000 at below 1200. Lowering it is a recent thing. It's both of those together, plus 1200 being a common limit for non doctor monitored diets.0 -
1400 is your maintenance? Wow, are you sure you calculated that correctly?
Or are you 4'9"?
I'm 5'3, 125, and my maintenance would be 1531 if I were sedentary (which I am not--I'm eating over that to lose). So it's possible. (This is according to the K-McC calculation, but it seems consistent with my own numbers.)
I'd personally still not eat under 1200, though, just because at a certain point losing muscle mass seems more of a drawback than losing more slowly and lowering my maintenance more than necessary seems likely to make this unsustainable, for me.0 -
This post will be deleted. Tried to have this discussion on other threads but been accused of promoting unhealthy dieting. Eh? I'm just saying what I have to do in MY eXperience (and been doing it for a year now!) and what has led to my 1stone5lb weight loss so far!
Have said on 3 other threads I can only lose weight - and slowly still - like this week I haven't lost half a pound - by eating 1000 cals a day. I am 5ft 1. My BMR is pretty low as it is! And yes I weigh all my food and yes I calculate as perfectly as I can. Some people have been incredulous that this can be true. Refusing to believe I can't be hungry or I am moron and not *really* eating that few. But I am and I am eating really healthy and feel pretty content (will never not crave cake!). I feel more energetic than ever. Sleep really well and eat a very healthy and varied diet and don't feel deprived!
I don't know why it makes people so cross to believe that this work for some people! My doctor too said 1000 is fine for someone my height. I am 9stone3 and could still lose another 2 stone and be in my healthy weight zone but as it goes I'm not trying to get that low. With current weight loss it would take me two years to get there anyway!
- And yes I do exercise and no I don't eat the calories back. 1000 - 1100 a day is what I have to do to lose at least half a pound a week. Never lost more than 2lb a week and that happens rarely anyway!
- So good to see some fellow shorties post with the same experiences!
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