Did anyone here lose weight on 1200cals and managed not to put the weight back on when maintaining?
00mid
Posts: 79 Member
People are saying 1200cals is too low and when you start maintaining the weight will pile back on,is this true?
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For me, I ate at 1200cals, lost 30lbs and haven't put any back on, just fluctuate between the odd pound or two0
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I sure did, I have maintained now since August 2013, not saying i don't have slip ups but mostly my healthy eating is now a habit,
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I've been on a 1200 cal diet since 2010. I fluctuate in the winter when I can't run but only by 3-5 pounds.0
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Yep! Lost my goal 10 pounds on 1200 cals a day and have been maintaining in goal range for 6 months
I've actually increased calories over MFP recommended maintenance by about 100 cals/day because I continued losing for a few months while trying to figure out my ideal maintenance calories. Good Luck!
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I lost 22 lbs on 1200 calories and I have been maintaining at 1300-1400 net calories for over 7 months.0
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If you slowly increase your calories, by about 50 to 100 a day per week, you shouldnt have a huge gain. So instead of 1200 a day, eat 1250 a day for a week, then 1300 ect...
Even if you do have a weight gain "jump" it should balance out eventually by eating at your maintenance calories.0 -
People are saying 1200cals is too low and when you start maintaining the weight will pile back on,is this true?
I did 1200 cals for 3 months, lost 18lbs, job done... Didn't regain, but then realised that actually I can eat a lot more and still lose, just more slowly, which is much more fun!0 -
TavistockToad wrote: »People are saying 1200cals is too low and when you start maintaining the weight will pile back on,is this true?
I did 1200 cals for 3 months, lost 18lbs, job done... Didn't regain, but then realised that actually I can eat a lot more and still lose, just more slowly, which is much more fun!
This! but add a step 3 where I plateaued for a long time because I was eating too much of my exercise calories back and not weighing/measuring food. Now I'm back at 1200 + exercise calories because I am lazy about weighing and measuring. Makes me exercise every day so I don't starve. lol0 -
Im planning to take a diet break and eat at maintenance for two weeks once Im halfway to my goal. I fully expect to gain some weight while my body balances out from the additional calories, but if my numbers are correct, I should not pile all the pounds back on.
I wont be over eating, just slowly adding on calories until Im eating at the proper amount for my body...which is not what I was doing for the weight to pile on to begin with.0 -
I didn't regain anything after following a 1200 calorie diet (or, admittedly, sometimes less) to lose weight. I'm still amazed at how many calories I can get away with now, and I'm very petite.0
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gradual reverse dieting is crucial
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I do the 1200 thing too; find the calories easy but also measure fat, sat fat, protein, carbs and sugar. Very difficult to get the 'perfect' day. Usually something has to give and it's fat or carbs. I do eat over the 1200 if I exercise as I eat my exercise reward. Maybe shouldn't but I'm doing this more for control as I am 45 rather than for massive weight loss; that said, 3 - 5 lbs would be great though .....0
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I lost weight on 1200 calories but when I have tried to bump up to 1400 or 1500 I gain weight.0
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I have been on 1200 2 years this May. Doing fine, 1-3 pounds up or down on a given week.
I have lost 55 lbs0 -
Same here, I'm up and down the same two pounds. Get to maintenance gradually over a few weeks.erialcelyob wrote: »For me, I ate at 1200cals, lost 30lbs and haven't put any back on, just fluctuate between the odd pound or two
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Bleh I like food and that is too low for me. 1500 is a real chore in itself. I tried 1200 a while back, and it made me feel physically ill, but if you're not hungry then it's fine. This post is making me hungry!0
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Most people pile the weight back on...like 95% of dieters...it has nothing to do with your calorie goals.
Also, when people go to maintenance they are going to gain a little weight...because they are eating more so obviously they're going to have more waste in their system...and also more fluids retained and glycogen...unfortunately, many people think this is fat or something so they immediately drop calories back down. People really need to do more research on how body weight works...maybe then people wouldn't freak out so much...it's sad really.
1200 calories isn't maintenance for anyone other than a short 90 year old woman.0 -
50 pounds down on 1200/day. Now on maintenance calories but have also significantly changed my workouts/fitness goals so I have yet to find my "final" weight. I added back slowly -- 100/week. I found that when I went straight to maintenance, I did gain weight -- probably water but it was enough to scare me into going up more slowly.0
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I lost 30 pounds while on a 1200 calorie diet. That was 3 years ago and I haven't put one pound of that back on. Now I'm eating about 1600 to 1800 calories a day depending on my activity level.0
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OP, if you provided us with your height/weight, it would be easier to address your question. The short of it is that yes, you should be able to lose weight and with gradual reverse dieting be able to return to maintenance without putting on an insane amount of weight.
The truth is, though, 1200 calories is often too low for most people. My suggestion is to find out what your TDEE (total daily expenditure) and BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) are by using the tool below.
http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/
ETA: I am 5'10 and my daily goal is 1700 or so. I use a fitbit, which adds calories over and above that for me based on my movements throughout the day, so I don't follow IIFYM to the letter, but as long as you're meeting your calorie goals, staying in a safe deficit range, and meeting your main macros (carbs/fat/protein - MFP has suggestions for ratios), you should be fine. 0 -
1200 was fine for my loss. I've been on maintenance for over 2 years by upping to 1400, which is fine for my small size.0
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MFP just adjusted my calories to 1200 but that would be way too low, I would be starving myself. Currently doing 1350cals a day and losing weight at the same time, will bump up to 1450 when i reach goal weight0
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Im planning to take a diet break and eat at maintenance for two weeks once Im halfway to my goal. I fully expect to gain some weight while my body balances out from the additional calories, but if my numbers are correct, I should not pile all the pounds back on.
I wont be over eating, just slowly adding on calories until Im eating at the proper amount for my body...which is not what I was doing for the weight to pile on to begin with.
once i hit my first goal (20 to go!) I'll probably take a week or two maintenance (or slightly below) break0 -
callsitlikeiseeit wrote: »Im planning to take a diet break and eat at maintenance for two weeks once Im halfway to my goal. I fully expect to gain some weight while my body balances out from the additional calories, but if my numbers are correct, I should not pile all the pounds back on.
I wont be over eating, just slowly adding on calories until Im eating at the proper amount for my body...which is not what I was doing for the weight to pile on to begin with.
once i hit my first goal (20 to go!) I'll probably take a week or two maintenance (or slightly below) break
Awesome!!! Lets see who gets to diet break stage first...the other can feel the fear (or joyful anticipation..but Im leaning towards fear) of what the other is going through LoL!0 -
Yes, it's very easy. Calculate approximately how much your body burns a day (there's plenty of calculators online). Eat that amount a day.0
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callsitlikeiseeit wrote: »Im planning to take a diet break and eat at maintenance for two weeks once Im halfway to my goal. I fully expect to gain some weight while my body balances out from the additional calories, but if my numbers are correct, I should not pile all the pounds back on.
I wont be over eating, just slowly adding on calories until Im eating at the proper amount for my body...which is not what I was doing for the weight to pile on to begin with.
once i hit my first goal (20 to go!) I'll probably take a week or two maintenance (or slightly below) break
Awesome!!! Lets see who gets to diet break stage first...the other can feel the fear (or joyful anticipation..but Im leaning towards fear) of what the other is going through LoL!
I did a diet break during Christmas, and had a horrible time getting back on track! I guess I enjoyed eating a little more way too much!0 -
I've been eating about 1200 to 1400 hundred calories for over a year and have lost about 10 lbs I think. I tend to keep it off. I was up to 168 about 8 years ago, but began steadily but slowly losing it after I was no longer working 2 jobs and was able to cook for myself. After joining MyFitnessPal and actively counting calories I lost roughly 10 lbs in a faster amount of time and I have not gained it back. I am right now fluctuating between 135 to 137, but never over 137. It has taken longer than I expected, but the weight loss IS happening.0
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I've maintained since summer 2013, ie 2 years.
I'm 5' 2" . Lost 21 pounds.
Since then, I haven't logged food nor log exercise.
What works for me:
1- I sign onto MFP everyday (haven't missed a day in 185 days!!). Read / particpate in discussions & I keep my health as a priority.
2- I weight myself 2 X per week, to keep myself in check.
(becuase I don't want ignorance to be bliss, where the pounds can creep up on me)
and it's been working for me
.
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ops, forgot to mention. I don't log/calc my food calories.
Based on my 2013 stick logging, I can now guestimating I'm consume 1400 per day.
Haven't gained since 2013, and have been weighing myself 2x per week to keep my reality really a reality
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Ate 1200 calories for 3-4 months, reversed dieted (added 100 cals per day every week) and never gained weight. Actually lost some.0
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