Do I really have to eat only 1200? :/

ChangingLifestyles

MFP says to lose 7.4 pounds in a month I have to eat 1200 calories only, unless I exercise.
Seriously? That's starvation and it's not even 10 pounds loss -_-

One pound loss a week is like 1450 -_- that's still super low.

I'll never lose weight... I love food so much ... I probably eat 1700-2000 calories a day!!!

How did you guys lose weight?

Paulapatricia2011

It is not bad if you excercise. The more you excercise the more you can eat to maintain the net calories they recommend

j6o4

just aim for a pound a week with 1450 calories plus exercise calories

BenchPressingCats

Calculate your TDEE on this site: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

Subtract 20%, be consistent with exercise and eat that amount. Right now, mine is set at 1950 and I'm losing.

BenchPressingCats

Also, depending on how much you want to lose will determine the deficit you want to eat at. The closer you are to your goal, the smaller deficit you want. I think the general rule is, if you have less than 20 or 30 lbs to lose, keep the deficit at 10-15% instead of 20%.

Factory_Reset

Also, depending on how much you want to lose will determine the deficit you want to eat at. The closer you are to your goal, the smaller deficit you want. I think the general rule is, if you have less than 20 or 30 lbs to lose, keep the deficit at 10-15% instead of 20%.

QFT

The calculator site suggested is amazing.

Wooly_I_am

Remember that a lb of fat is equal to 3500 cals. Eat 3500 cals less per week and that's a pound a week. Eat even less than that.....well you get the idea!

MermaidMuscle

hey if u love food that much and u think u will eat 2000 calories - better start water aerobics or swimming.. u will loose 2000 calories just in 3 hours of swimming and playing in the pool ..

herblackwings39

Edit: Nevermind 5 lbs is to your small goal.

AlongCame_Molly

MFP says to lose 7.4 pounds in a month I have to eat 1200 calories only, unless I exercise.
Seriously? That's starvation and it's not even 10 pounds loss -_-

One pound loss a week is like 1450 -_- that's still super low.

I'll never lose weight... I love food so much ... I probably eat 1700-2000 calories a day!!!

How did you guys lose weight?

that's still not all that much. You say you're probably eating that much? Are you sure? HOW are you sure? Are you logging all your food accurately? Weighing it? There's a very real possibility that you have been inadvertently eating well over 1700-2000 a day. If you are not tracking, it is scary how fast it all adds up, even when you think you're eating fairly healthy.

But to answer your question, NO you do not have to eat 1200 to lose weight. Some people do, but I think it's unnecessary. If you love food, why deprive yourself? Like others have suggested, find your TDEE, and eat 10-20% fewer calories per day than that. You will lose weight.

BL4ckPanth3r

don't try and lose epic amounts in a small time. you will end up going catabolic and lose muscle (muscle helps keep you lean and healthy!!! keep / build muscle!!!)

i know this kinda goes against the purpose of having a calorie counter, but if you continually make small healthy changes over long periods you will lose fat and retain a healthy physique.

if you drop weight too fast you will eat away your muscle and then not only will you still be fat, but you will be "skinny fat"... meaning you will have no tone and still carry fat in unwanted areas because your body likes to retain fat (coz it thinks your starving, so it drops your metabolism and feeds your vital organs by cannibalizing your muscle, and leaves fat for reserve as fat doesnt need energy to preserve it!).

Ive done weight loss management (for myself) many times and have found that it is still quite possible to lose weight by simply eating clean and not pig out (without counting calories).
- lots of veges (green veges are great, increases your alkalinity which helps for breaking down fat cells)
- carbs (complex carbs) early in the day for fuel, extremely little at night (carbs at night can produce insulin response which turns carbs to fat)
- reduce red meats from diet, increase white meats (reduction of calories from fat)
- exercise!! make sure you lift weights at least twice a week (bare minimum), in my opinion weights is more important than cardio for both men and women, cardio is also important just dont over do it (15-30mins a day or minimum 3 days/week)
- junk food is ok, just in moderation, accentuation on the moderation!!! if you eat junk food, make sure you feel guilty and work extra hard at the gym the next day :bigsmile:

nickyfm

For 3 years I gained and lost the same 13 pounds eating 1200 cals a day, because it just isn't maintainable and your body eventually hoards it back because it thinks it is in a famine. Not to mention the fact that I stopped menstruating, had terrible headaches and was cranky all the time.

I started lifting HEAVY 9 weeks ago, and I have been seeing the same results, except that I am eating a crap tonne of food instead of starving myself.

It's up to you though. If clean eating and hard exercise isn't how you wanna do it, then low calories is probably where you should be ^_^

1ConcreteGirl

Calculate your TDEE on this site: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

Subtract 20%, be consistent with exercise and eat that amount. Right now, mine is set at 1950 and I'm losing.

\
\

yup yup

this is what you need to do.

Very few people need to eat 1200. Most need to eat way above that;.

pcastagner

I lost my first 25 netting a 1000 calorie deficit. I didn't go into starvation mode. I did eat back exercise calories. After that I had to move to a 500 cal net deficit because I was cranky.

1200 net is fine as long as you are exercising and eating it back, and are fat enough to handle it. If you have low energy or your behaviour changes for the worse, eat more.


I know you are impatient to reach your goal, but you have to get over it. That's just part of the challenge. Accept it, and move forward.

Your mission should be to constantly improve how you measure your calories, and keep looking for the foods and meal timings that leave you satisfied and energised without pushing you into the red. Don't accept things like "probably". Weigh, measure, and keep researching caloric values. Are you using raw weight figures to measure cooked meat? Picking the entry with the lowest cals per ounce? Are you assuming certain things are too small to count? Fix it.

1ConcreteGirl

I lost my first 25 netting a 1000 calorie deficit. I didn't go into starvation mode. I did eat back exercise calories. After that I had to move to a 500 cal net deficit because I was cranky.

1200 net is fine as long as you are exercising and eating it back, and are fat enough to handle it. If you have low energy or your behaviour changes for the worse, eat more.


I know you are impatient to reach your goal, but you have to get over it. That's just part of the challenge. Accept it, and move forward.

Your mission should be to constantly improve how you measure your calories, and keep looking for the foods and meal timings that leave you satisfied and energised without pushing you into the red. Don't accept things like "probably". Weigh, measure, and keep researching caloric values. Are you using raw weight figures to measure cooked meat? Picking the entry with the lowest cals per ounce? Are you assuming certain things are too small to count? Fix it.

This post exemplifies ignorance of ghrelin and leptin, the hormones that regulate hunger. If you are restricting your calories too much, chances are you won't feel it. Listen to the previous posters who discussed TDEE.

pcastagner

I lost my first 25 netting a 1000 calorie deficit. I didn't go into starvation mode. I did eat back exercise calories. After that I had to move to a 500 cal net deficit because I was cranky.

1200 net is fine as long as you are exercising and eating it back, and are fat enough to handle it. If you have low energy or your behaviour changes for the worse, eat more.


I know you are impatient to reach your goal, but you have to get over it. That's just part of the challenge. Accept it, and move forward.

Your mission should be to constantly improve how you measure your calories, and keep looking for the foods and meal timings that leave you satisfied and energised without pushing you into the red. Don't accept things like "probably". Weigh, measure, and keep researching caloric values. Are you using raw weight figures to measure cooked meat? Picking the entry with the lowest cals per ounce? Are you assuming certain things are too small to count? Fix it.

This post exemplifies ignorance of ghrelin and leptin, the hormones that regulate hunger. If you are restricting your calories too much, chances are you won't feel it. Listen to the previous posters who discussed TDEE.

And yet despite my ignorance, I managed to get fantastic results, my hunger signals now work better than ever, and I have control over my eating.

I did say NET 1000 calorie deficit. I ATE a lot.


It works. I have no metabolic damage, and as I indicated, I simply adjusted upwards once I no longer had the reserves to keep it up.

yarwell

MFP says to lose 7.4 pounds in a month

want more food ? reduce your aspiration to 1 or 0.5 lbs per week. Simples.

TavistockToad

just aim for a pound a week with 1450 calories plus exercise calories

this!

why the mad rush.... think lifestyle change, not quick fix!

twinkiemon

If you love to eat, learn to love exercise - that's what I had to do because there is NO WAY I can do 1200 a day.

BL4ckPanth3r

RE: Pcastagner's 1000 calorie deficit

according to your photos you dropped a considerable amount of weight/fat, well done!

i wouldn't recommend your way as it is risky, i been there, i done it, and although i dropped in excess of 20lbs i did lose muscle and ended up looking like a smaller version of my fat self and ended up putting the fat back on very quick as my metabolism dropped considerably.

but, your results does go to show that each individual is different! Genetics plays the biggest role of all!!!!!
what works for you may not work for others, i think 'trial and error' approaches can be good (therefore you can determine what works best for you), but long term small losses are best.

Clean eating and changes in lifestyle FTW.

pcastagner

RE: Pcastagner's 1000 calorie deficit

according to your photos you dropped a considerable amount of weight/fat, well done!

i wouldn't recommend your way as it is risky, i been there, i done it, and although i dropped in excess of 20lbs i did lose muscle and ended up looking like a smaller version of my fat self and ended up putting the fat back on very quick as my metabolism dropped considerably.

but, your results does go to show that each individual is different! Genetics plays the biggest role of all!!!!!
what works for you may not work for others, i think 'trial and error' approaches can be good (therefore you can determine what works best for you), but long term small losses are best.

Clean eating and changes in lifestyle FTW.

Please note I only did the 1000 cal deficit when I was much much fatter. I also do not recommend this if you have less than 30 lbs to lose. My "before" pic is actually not me at my heaviest (I avoided cameras at that point).

The reason I went to a 500 cal deficit was that I was losing ground on my lifts.

So actually I will agree with you! 500 cals would have been better. However, I also have to say that while eating 1000 under I was totally new to lifting and putting on muscle! I then lost some muscle on a 500 deficit later.

I do have to point out that my body did give signals to eat more, I increased cals, and continued to progress. I am now running a surplus to gain.

littlelady2b

don't try and lose epic amounts in a small time. you will end up going catabolic and lose muscle (muscle helps keep you lean and healthy!!! keep / build muscle!!!)

i know this kinda goes against the purpose of having a calorie counter, but if you continually make small healthy changes over long periods you will lose fat and retain a healthy physique.

if you drop weight too fast you will eat away your muscle and then not only will you still be fat, but you will be "skinny fat"... meaning you will have no tone and still carry fat in unwanted areas because your body likes to retain fat (coz it thinks your starving, so it drops your metabolism and feeds your vital organs by cannibalizing your muscle, and leaves fat for reserve as fat doesnt need energy to preserve it!).


Ive done weight loss management (for myself) many times and have found that it is still quite possible to lose weight by simply eating clean and not pig out (without counting calories).
- lots of veges (green veges are great, increases your alkalinity which helps for breaking down fat cells)
- carbs (complex carbs) early in the day for fuel, extremely little at night (carbs at night can produce insulin response which turns carbs to fat)
- reduce red meats from diet, increase white meats (reduction of calories from fat)
- exercise!! make sure you lift weights at least twice a week (bare minimum), in my opinion weights is more important than cardio for both men and women, cardio is also important just dont over do it (15-30mins a day or minimum 3 days/week)
- junk food is ok, just in moderation, accentuation on the moderation!!! if you eat junk food, make sure you feel guilty and work extra hard at the gym the next day :bigsmile:

I completely agree with you the name for it is the set point theory where your body goes into starvation mode and holds onto the fat and like you said it starts taking from your muscle and instead of losing the "good" weight you instead lose what your body needs. It also effects your metabolism slowing it down. Taking weight off slowly and exercising is the best way! This would allow you to lose inches by toning and taking the weight off slowly also means it has a better chance of staying off that way you also get to increase your healthy eating calories as well. But the biggest step is making a lifestyle change if you want to be at a healthy weight and keep it off.

brower47

How did you guys lose weight?

I'm losing it by going slowly and not setting impossible/very hard to attain healthy weight loss goals. I've lost around 40 lbs over the past year and a half. I don't even have a GW, just a goal to live like this for the rest of my life.

pinkraynedropjacki

How did I lose it?


1200 cals, and I NEVER went over. Workout daily to the tune of at least 600 cals a day & I would only eat back if I was hungry. 16 months today & I'm still on 1200 cals even though I have no need to be cause I hit my goal weight 9 months ago. I just don't feel the need to eat more that 1200 anymore & workout to the tune of over 100 cals a day & still only eat back if I feel hungry.


1200 & you get used to eating less. No big deal, I COULD eat 2000-3000 but then that's how I got fat.

littlelady2b

I lost my first 25 netting a 1000 calorie deficit. I didn't go into starvation mode. I did eat back exercise calories. After that I had to move to a 500 cal net deficit because I was cranky.

1200 net is fine as long as you are exercising and eating it back, and are fat enough to handle it. If you have low energy or your behaviour changes for the worse, eat more.


I know you are impatient to reach your goal, but you have to get over it. That's just part of the challenge. Accept it, and move forward.

Your mission should be to constantly improve how you measure your calories, and keep looking for the foods and meal timings that leave you satisfied and energised without pushing you into the red. Don't accept things like "probably". Weigh, measure, and keep researching caloric values. Are you using raw weight figures to measure cooked meat? Picking the entry with the lowest cals per ounce? Are you assuming certain things are too small to count? Fix it.

This post exemplifies ignorance of ghrelin and leptin, the hormones that regulate hunger. If you are restricting your calories too much, chances are you won't feel it. Listen to the previous posters who discussed TDEE.

And yet despite my ignorance, I managed to get fantastic results, my hunger signals now work better than ever, and I have control over my eating.

I did say NET 1000 calorie deficit. I ATE a lot.


It works. I have no metabolic damage, and as I indicated, I simply adjusted upwards once I no longer had the reserves to keep it up.

I understand what you're saying and it worked for you but everyone is different especially men and women most men need more calories than women. Women also deal with water weight that most men don't. Also other factors come into play like environment, age and metabolism not to mention hormones. The original poster has to make a decision and that is a lifestyle change and making a commitment to that and if the calories are too low she will be given extra calories as soon as she works out. I think the problem stems from the amount of weight she wants to take off a week lower that and the calories will increase. Work out and the calories will increase. Anyway just my 2 cents I wish everyone on here success in their weight loss or maintenance journeys. Good/healthy eating to you

littlelady2b

There is lots of advice on here for you understand though that men and women lose weight differently most men need more calories than women. Women also deal with water weight that most men don't. Also other factors come into play like environment, age and metabolism not to mention hormones. Its up to you to make a decision and that is a lifestyle change and making a commitment to that and if the calories are too low you will be given extra calories as soon as you works out. I think the problem stems from the amount of weight you want to take off a week. Lower that and the calories will increase. Work out and the calories will increase. Anyway just my 2 cents I wish everyone on here success in their weight loss or maintenance journeys. Good/healthy eating to everyone!

comeatmeskinnyTilly

hey baby - yeah. see in the beginning I thought that that was cra-zaaay *kitten* but you see now ive realised. if you want the gain (or loss - haw haw) you need to deal with the pain. say buh bye to all those cookies gurl, not like you need them anyway xxx

pcastagner

I lost my first 25 netting a 1000 calorie deficit. I didn't go into starvation mode. I did eat back exercise calories. After that I had to move to a 500 cal net deficit because I was cranky.

1200 net is fine as long as you are exercising and eating it back, and are fat enough to handle it. If you have low energy or your behaviour changes for the worse, eat more.


I know you are impatient to reach your goal, but you have to get over it. That's just part of the challenge. Accept it, and move forward.

Your mission should be to constantly improve how you measure your calories, and keep looking for the foods and meal timings that leave you satisfied and energised without pushing you into the red. Don't accept things like "probably". Weigh, measure, and keep researching caloric values. Are you using raw weight figures to measure cooked meat? Picking the entry with the lowest cals per ounce? Are you assuming certain things are too small to count? Fix it.

This post exemplifies ignorance of ghrelin and leptin, the hormones that regulate hunger. If you are restricting your calories too much, chances are you won't feel it. Listen to the previous posters who discussed TDEE.

And yet despite my ignorance, I managed to get fantastic results, my hunger signals now work better than ever, and I have control over my eating.

I did say NET 1000 calorie deficit. I ATE a lot.


It works. I have no metabolic damage, and as I indicated, I simply adjusted upwards once I no longer had the reserves to keep it up.

I understand what you're saying and it worked for you but everyone is different especially men and women most men need more calories than women. Women also deal with water weight that most men don't. Also other factors come into play like environment, age and metabolism not to mention hormones. The original poster has to make a decision and that is a lifestyle change and making a commitment to that and if the calories are too low she will be given extra calories as soon as she works out. I think the problem stems from the amount of weight she wants to take off a week lower that and the calories will increase. Work out and the calories will increase. Anyway just my 2 cents I wish everyone on here success in their weight loss or maintenance journeys. Good/healthy eating to you

Well, I'm not being clear and you are forcing me so thanks.


I also should point out that I never focused on the scale, but rather, the calipers.


Maybe what I should be recommending is some form of setting minimum net cals based on lean body mass.


I do feel though, that the whole starvation mode thing is off somehow, or maybe genetic. Because I am now eating 3000 cals on many days and not putting on fat. I am working my *kitten* off, but I'm also eating lots of ice cream.

littlelady2b

I lost my first 25 netting a 1000 calorie deficit. I didn't go into starvation mode. I did eat back exercise calories. After that I had to move to a 500 cal net deficit because I was cranky.

1200 net is fine as long as you are exercising and eating it back, and are fat enough to handle it. If you have low energy or your behaviour changes for the worse, eat more.



I know you are impatient to reach your goal, but you have to get over it. That's just part of the challenge. Accept it, and move forward.

Your mission should be to constantly improve how you measure your calories, and keep looking for the foods and meal timings that leave you satisfied and energised without pushing you into the red. Don't accept things like "probably". Weigh, measure, and keep researching caloric values. Are you using raw weight figures to measure cooked meat? Picking the entry with the lowest cals per ounce? Are you assuming certain things are too small to count? Fix it.

This post exemplifies ignorance of ghrelin and leptin, the hormones that regulate hunger. If you are restricting your calories too much, chances are you won't feel it. Listen to the previous posters who discussed TDEE.

And yet despite my ignorance, I managed to get fantastic results, my hunger signals now work better than ever, and I have control over my eating.

I did say NET 1000 calorie deficit. I ATE a lot.


It works. I have no metabolic damage, and as I indicated, I simply adjusted upwards once I no longer had the reserves to keep it up.

I understand what you're saying and it worked for you but everyone is different especially men and women most men need more calories than women. Women also deal with water weight that most men don't. Also other factors come into play like environment, age and metabolism not to mention hormones. The original poster has to make a decision and that is a lifestyle change and making a commitment to that and if the calories are too low she will be given extra calories as soon as she works out. I think the problem stems from the amount of weight she wants to take off a week lower that and the calories will increase. Work out and the calories will increase. Anyway just my 2 cents I wish everyone on here success in their weight loss or maintenance journeys. Good/healthy eating to you

Well, I'm not being clear and you are forcing me so thanks.


I also should point out that I never focused on the scale, but rather, the calipers.


Maybe what I should be recommending is some form of setting minimum net cals based on lean body mass.

Actually what your saying now makes sense because there are many ways to determine weight loss and that is with the use of calipers versus a scale. Too many people get obsessed with the scale and forget that they could be putting on water weight or muscle mass. It isn't the only way to determine weight loss. Thanks for mentioning that its a good point.

Vailara

MFP says to lose 7.4 pounds in a month I have to eat 1200 calories only, unless I exercise.
Seriously? That's starvation and it's not even 10 pounds loss -_-

One pound loss a week is like 1450 -_- that's still super low.

I'll never lose weight... I love food so much ... I probably eat 1700-2000 calories a day!!!

How did you guys lose weight?

I just went for slower weight loss. I started with 1lb a week weight loss, and dropped down to 1/2 lb a week when I was finding it harder to stick to. (I've sinced changed to TDEE - x%).

Remember that a 2lb a week weight loss means a 1000 calorie deficit. Supposedly women need about 2000 calories a day, so that's a HUGE cut. For most women, it's going to be unrealistic. 1lb a week or 500 calories seems more sustainable to me for many women, although that's still only 1500 calories total. If you burn less calories than average for any reason (older, shorter, high fat %, less active), then even a 500 calorie deficit doesn't leave you with much.

I feel it's better to go for a smaller cut, if you're going to find that easier to stick to. The only disadvantage I can see is slower weight loss, but there are lots of advantages.

meeper123

I eat 1700 ish i cant stand to eat less than that