Calories at 1,000 to 1,200 for women...

GuitarJerry

This, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. I was a little surprised to read this myself.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/calories.htm

For a weight loss of 1–2 pounds per week, daily intake should be reduced by 500 to 1,000 calories. In general:
Eating plans that contain 1,000–1,200 calories each day will help most women lose weight safely.
Eating plans that contain 1,200–1,600 calories each day are suitable for men and also may be appropriate for women who weigh 165 pounds or more or who exercise regularly.

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CoachReddy

honestly, the US government has no clue when it comes to nutrition or health. this is just wrong.

please don't fall for the appeal to authority bias. do your own research

greenmonstergirl

I keep mine well under 1200/day and it's worked for 3 months (30 pounds). If I eat more, I don't lose. But do what works for you. I am glad some of you can eat more and lose! I wish I could!

CoachReddy

I keep mine well under 1200/day and it's worked for 3 months (30 pounds). If I eat more, I don't lose. But do what works for you. I am glad some of you can eat more and lose! I wish I could!

you will have to eventually. that works for the short term, but not in perpetuity.

Oishii

The key words are 'most women'. I became anaemic for the first time in my life after losing on 1,200-1,500kcal. I can happily lose on over 2000kcal. I am not 'most women', or rather I haven't been yet.

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CoachReddy

The key words are 'most women'. I became anaemic for the first time in my life after losing on 1,200-1,500kcal. I can happily lose on over 2000kcal. I am not 'most women', or rather I haven't been yet.

It's also generalized statistical information. Whenever you are reading up on government recommendations or suggestion, you have to realize that it's talking about the population at large, not really about you. An individual may have variations. It's like BMI. We all use that as a measure against what healthy weight is. But, it's not really accurate at an individual level, it was created to measure large populations.

The part I thought was most interesting was how you are not supposed to eat below 1200 calories, but the government is saying it's OK to eat 1000 a day for women. I was a little surprised by that. I may have to educate myself a little more on this idea.I've been brain-washed that 1200 is the floor for dieting.

and what information leads you to believe the government is correct? have you done further research or are you just handing them your unfailing trust? seems a lil silly. :P

LexiAtel

Before exercise? High protein? Low Fat? Low Sugar?

I guess it's not just the calories we much look for. BUT, I had a 1200 calorie limit, and a lot of times I didn't reach it... I was 800 -1000. Ate multiple times a day, "fast food" 2 times a week with portion control. At first, I felt "icky", but I increased my protein to 45 (because I was extremely low!), and I felt fine afterward. I didn't exercise... Lost 5 pounds in a month.

Now if I were to exercise... I would need more calories.

This month, I am doing that. I have started this site to help me reach my calorie goals. I noticed after I started exercising more, my body would like me to eat more. So I do, with in reason, small snacks (150 cals or less). I have also started lifting weights, and so I wont fret if I end up eating 80g of protein.

meownyxxie

The web page is incredibly vague. What about height/current weight/muscle mass/activity? And WHERE those calories come from? It's so dangerous to just say 1000 calories straight off the bat without giving any other information.

Oishii

It's also the wrong answer to the wrong question as far as health advice goes. The real question is what form of weightloss yields the longest-lasting results. Most people can succeed in weightloss, but then regain.

MichelleBogart

1200 a day worked for me for about a year, then I had problems.

CoachReddy

It's also the wrong answer to the wrong question as far as health advice goes. The real question is what form of weightloss yields the longest-lasting results. Most people can succeed in weightloss, but then regain.

exactly.

will you lose on 1200 cal? yes.

will you gain it all back? yes.

will you then have to start over? yes.

or you could just eat an appropriate amount from the beginning and never worry about having to do it all over again.

MichelleBogart

Yeah, I was doing well at 1200 for a year. Then I stopped losing and gained back 10 lbs. It wasn't everything I had lost but it was upsetting! So I am starting over with better nutrition.

t1nk6

It works for me... the eating more but healthier balanced meals didn' t . i gained a stone in 3 weeks while others lost.

I guess its not for everyone and i'm sure there are health factors as to why you shouldnt be under 1200 but the health risks of being over weight are more concerning i think.

greenmonstergirl

I keep mine well under 1200/day and it's worked for 3 months (30 pounds). If I eat more, I don't lose. But do what works for you. I am glad some of you can eat more and lose! I wish I could!

you will have to eventually. that works for the short term, but not in perpetuity.

I guess we will find out. Last years slow 25 pounds in a year was not fast enough for me. I was ready to give up. Is it better to give up becasue of slow weight loss and go back to the bad eating because it's just not worth all the work?

CoachReddy

I keep mine well under 1200/day and it's worked for 3 months (30 pounds). If I eat more, I don't lose. But do what works for you. I am glad some of you can eat more and lose! I wish I could!

you will have to eventually. that works for the short term, but not in perpetuity.

I guess we will find out. Last years slow 25 pounds in a year was not fast enough for me. I was ready to give up. Is it better to give up becasue of slow weight loss and go back to the bad eating because it's just not worth all the work?

is it better to lose it fast and regain it?

the reality is that most people who eat a low-calorie diet end up regaining the weight because it is not sustainable indefinitely. but it's obviously your choice to make. you were making progress, albeit slowly, but by eating so little, you could EVENTUALLY undo it all.

taiyola

My body gets used to what I feed it. During my eating disorder days, I would gain on 900 calories a day.
In recovery, I would maintain on 1500 a day.

Now my maintenance after a year or two of being fully recovered, I maintain on about 2000 with exercise. I set my goal to that knowing I can eat less and lose. I've lost 12lb and 22 or 23 inches in the last year or so. I'm not in a rush. My hips have never looked better :laugh:

Faye_Anderson

I keep mine well under 1200/day and it's worked for 3 months (30 pounds). If I eat more, I don't lose. But do what works for you. I am glad some of you can eat more and lose! I wish I could!

you will have to eventually. that works for the short term, but not in perpetuity.

I guess we will find out. Last years slow 25 pounds in a year was not fast enough for me. I was ready to give up. Is it better to give up because of slow weight loss and go back to the bad eating because it's just not worth all the work?

That's down to your staying power and how much you want to lose the weight. The crash diet way of doing it is not sustainable, the slow weight loss has more chance of staying off because it's easier to transition to maintenance

missability

I believe there is a huge difference between 12,00 calories this:
AM: fruit, dairy, whole grain cereal or oat meal, unprocessed organ raw honey, steel oats, cage free eggs with raw cheese, raw butter, etc

Lunch: Fresh or frozen if need be...veggies, lean protein source, fruit, good fat, (olive oil, walnut oil, grape seed oil)

Dinner: More veggies, More lean protein, more good fat, more fruit, more whole grain....etc......

and 1,200 calories this:

AM: McDonalds Egg McMuffin, Hash browns, coffee, or OJ, OR Sugar sweetened cereal, Pop-Tart, cheese danish...etc

Lunch: Canned soup, frozen dinner, ham n cheese sandwich, chips, snickers, or a trip to fast food joint of your choice....etc....

Dinner: More frozen, processed, white, in the form of: "Home-made" mac n cheese, Hot-dogs, Spaghetti n Meatballs, lasagna, canned veggies, a huge glob of mashed potatoes, deep fried "anything", or more fast food: half a pizza, 12" sub, Big Mac n fries..

I think eating this way^^^^ is what leads to being "MALNOURISHED" , ANEMIC, DIABETIC, etc etc....Not eating under any specific "set" calorie amount....
Just sayin s'all....:)

lsmsrbls

I wish they would list a source for their recommendations. I can't see why they wouldn't. That's just lazy.

I think that sort of advice is part of the problem, not part of the solution.

marciebrian

bump

shannashannabobana

Last years slow 25 pounds in a year was not fast enough for me. I was ready to give up. Is it better to give up becasue of slow weight loss and go back to the bad eating because it's just not worth all the work?

I think it's better to realize that it will be MUCH easier to maintain if you lose slowly. I lost about 40 pounds in two years but it's been easy to maintain.

dalgal26

There is no magic number! You have to fine what works for you.

1200 works for me.... And no I am not hungry, and I do not feel deprived!

Do not go by what others do, find your perfect balance and stick with it!

Wishing you success in your journey to a new you!:flowerforyou:

kirstyfairhead

It's also the wrong answer to the wrong question as far as health advice goes. The real question is what form of weightloss yields the longest-lasting results. Most people can succeed in weightloss, but then regain.

exactly.

will you lose on 1200 cal? yes.

will you gain it all back? yes.

will you then have to start over? yes.


Wrong

Will you lose on 1200 cal? yes

will you gain it all back? Maybe

will you then have to start over? Maybe

The chances of successfully staying on a 1200 calorie diet forever are very slim, I would agree with you there. If however, you have 100lbs to lose and you use a VLCD to lose the first 70 then wean off to normal maintenance calories over a period of time then it is not always unreasonable to consider this. The health risks of staying 100lbs overweight may well outweigh any down side of VLCD's, that's why doctors 'prescribe' them.

The abuse of a 1200cal diet in an inappropriate situation is not likely to meet with success but that does not mean that it doesn't work for anyone.

jennagoogles13

It's also the wrong answer to the wrong question as far as health advice goes. The real question is what form of weightloss yields the longest-lasting results. Most people can succeed in weightloss, but then regain.

exactly.

will you lose on 1200 cal? yes.

will you gain it all back? yes.

will you then have to start over? yes.

or you could just eat an appropriate amount from the beginning and never worry about having to do it all over again.

I ate at 1200 for about 3 months, and then slowly increased my calories to maintenance(2000 calories). I've been in maintenance for 2 months with no problems. I know for a fact that I won't have to start over
EDIT: I also happened to lose 25 pounds

bellesouth18

I'm set at 1450, which is approximately my BMR. I am almost at maintenance at this level, especially if I don't exercise. I've recently considered dropping my calorie limit, but am afraid I'll binge due to extreme hunger. I'm 5' tall, so I'm not going to starve to death at 1200. But my mind may think otherwise.

Serah87

There is no magic number! You have to fine what works for you.

1200 works for me.... And no I am not hungry, and I do not feel deprived!

Do not go by what others do, find your perfect balance and stick with it!

Wishing you success in your journey to a new you!:flowerforyou:

Next question IS will you be able to keep it off?? Just a thought...

dalgal26

There is no magic number! You have to fine what works for you.

1200 works for me.... And no I am not hungry, and I do not feel deprived!

Do not go by what others do, find your perfect balance and stick with it!

Wishing you success in your journey to a new you!:flowerforyou:

Next question IS will you be able to keep it off?? Just a thought...

Well, as with any 'addition' , you have to take one day at a time.... Yes, I eat less calories, but I eat better foods, and most of the time more volume of food. The foods I no longer eat were not good for me, anyway. So, I hope to stay focused and make good choices...

Oh, and thanks for the vote of confidence!

I wish you great success in your journey! :flowerforyou:

brennamathis

*shrug* MFP's little calculator automatically set me at 1,200 a day in order to lose 1-2 lbs a week, exercising 30 minutes each day. Honestly...unless I'm eating junky food through the day, I often find it hard to get to that 1,200 a day and generally find myself pondering whether I should eat more food later in the day (after exercising) or just leave it with "not enough" calories. I KNOW not many calories isn't good, I know eating more little meals through the day is better, and I'm always hearing not to eat late or after a certain time as well. I figure if it works for you and you can get the weight off at that caloric intake and KEEP it off, yet still be healthy and meeting your needed dietary guidelines, then why not?

nainai0585

from a government that made pizza an official vegetable - no thanks.

I found that at 1200 calories I was irritable and moody and not my normal self. But at 1450 calories, I'm more then happy.