Doctor suggest 1200 Calories

Options
herlove4fit
herlove4fit Posts: 4 Member
in Getting Started
My doctor told me that all women should eat 1200 calories to lose weight. And I asked her, "Even if you workout," and she said yes.She believes 1200 calories is the magic number. I've gained back 18 pounds because I have been eating way too much about (2500-2800 cal). According, to my fitbit my tdee is (2200-2300). I'm a 5'3 female, 29 yrs and 160 pounds. I find that my biggest problem is snacking out of boredom because I'm home alone. However, I can't see myself eating 1200 calories I believe it's too low for me. My husband thinks I should listen to the doctor and try a 1200 calorie diet. I don't know if I'm over thinking it, I just don't know what's right. I really can't say how I lost weight any other time because I always zig zag my calories. What would you suggest?
«1

Replies

  • Jcl81
    Jcl81 Posts: 154 Member
    Options
    Not to listen to that Dr. just because she believes a certain number works, it may be right but height, age, activity level matter as well. MFP will tell your calories or give you a rough estimate. Plug in your info and see what MFP calculator tells you.
  • NatiaGonitellie
    NatiaGonitellie Posts: 355 Member
    Options
    MFP will give you a good calorie estimate to start with, @ my current weight and activity level my calorie intake in order to loose weigh is still very high being set at 1,700, this is going to change as I loose weight. If my activity remains on the low side then the number will decrease, as I loose weight and am able to do more it may remain the same.

    As Jcl81 suggested plug in your info to MFP.
    This is a great place to start, and if you use the tools available, such as logging your exercise and keeping a food diary, be sure not to eat back all of your calories earned by exercise.
    I was doing that at first when hunger was just to overwhelming. Try to restrict that to only 1/4 to 1/2 of earned calories if you are very hungry.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    edited April 2016
    Options
    My suggestion:
    -Plug your stats into MFP
    -Pick a reasonable weight loss per week
    - sync your fitbit to MFP
    - enable negative adjustments (your calories will be adjusted up or down based on your activity for the day)


    1200 is not right for everyone.
  • hiyomi
    hiyomi Posts: 906 Member
    Options
    I've been to many doctors and none have ever recommended me to eat 1200 calories, they were shocked I was eating 1600 calories and working out!
  • Montepulciano
    Montepulciano Posts: 845 Member
    Options
    Boredom eating sucks. I struggle with it. I try and leave a cushion in my calories to account for it, as in plan it into my day. 1200 is not a magical number. Figuring out your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) will help you figure out what is right for you. Some good calculators out there. Also, once you hit goal weight you need to have an idea of how many calories you should be eating to hold at that goal. Hope that helps!
  • Nicklebee93
    Nicklebee93 Posts: 316 Member
    Options
    1,200 is the fastest way one could probably lose weight because its the bare minimum recomended for a female. But quick weight loss isn't always ideal anyways... Losing weight toofast can cause your body to use good muscle and people end up being a 'skinny fat'

    Im also 5'3 and was at 165 pounds. Im down to 138. I eat 1,500 calories (give or take) and exercise 6x a week (3 cardio days and 3 strength, alternating). I don't eat back any of the net calories i get back from MFP.

    Find what works or you. Measure out food and log everything. If you get bored go for a walk, read, play a game. Something. You need to work on breakig that habit.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Options
    You are here. Plug in your stats and tell MFP that you want to lose 1 pound per week. You will get a number of calories to eat. Hit that goal every day (+/- 50 cals).

    If you try to eat 1200 calories, you will struggle with hunger in addition to the boredom eating. Instead I would tackle the boredom eating. Find something to do besides eating, and don't keep snack food at home.

    Doctors don't know everything just because they are doctors, and neither do husbands.
  • moriah02
    moriah02 Posts: 2 Member
    Options
    What is MFP
  • crystalmunsell2016
    crystalmunsell2016 Posts: 1 Member
    Options
    I am also 5'3 and 163lbs. 34 years old, I tried Herbalife for 6 weeks and lost nothing. I'm also a new mom of a 5 month old. Frustrated about my lack of weight loss I met with a nutritionist. (She recommended this site) she said for my body type I need a low carb diet. I'm also shooting for 1200 calories a day but she cared more about the carbs. It's been a week and I haven't weighed myself yet but I feel better already. The exercise I fit in what I can when I can. So I'll do a 5 min plank challenge in the morning and whatever I can fit in the afternoon after work. 30 min treadmill or 15 min of squats and push-ups.
  • KorvapuustiPossu
    KorvapuustiPossu Posts: 434 Member
    Options
    1200 is only for short girls that are not very active (like myself). My Fitbit does estimate my TDEE at around 1950-2000 with my 10-11 k steps a day - however I think it's generous estimate. Everyone is different but I used to snack out of boredom as well and that is where my extra calories were. I was not however in any way emotional eating or binging or something like that so it was really easy for me to stop. Now that my snacking is to a minimum (if I have extra calories I will weigh myself a 20-30 g of chips or sth) I don't find it difficult to keep at 1200. If anything I'm feeling like I eat more since all my calories are spent on the 'real food'. Put your stats into MFP, don't set an aggressive goal (1 lbs/week max) and try that for a while. 1200 really isn't for everyone, especially an active person. I wish you all the best. My diary is open if you are interested. :)
  • Afuller71
    Afuller71 Posts: 8 Member
    Options
    MFP has suggested 1200 for me and for me it does seem to work. I dont starve myself. I have three meals and two snacks. Usually almonds in the morning and yogurt in the evening. i find chewing gum helps with the snacking. The only exercise I do is walking dog for hour and a half . It may not work for everyone but no one size fits all. It trial and error, Good luck
  • Alpha12
    Alpha12 Posts: 251 Member
    Options
    moriah02 wrote: »
    What is MFP
    MyFitnessPal.com - the website you're on.

  • RWClary
    RWClary Posts: 192 Member
    Options
    haha - the point proven once again...
    Most Doctors Are Clueless....
    dk54yh2l2u3g.jpg
  • KorvapuustiPossu
    KorvapuustiPossu Posts: 434 Member
    Options
    Here is an insight about doctors... I won't generalize since I don't know about other parts of the world but where I finished medicine- Croatia, Europe - they do not specifically teach anything 'diet' related in no subject we took. Even elective ones. Sure, we know a lot about health, issues connected to obesity and such but dieting, calories and things like they are not though. Ever. Doctor is able to tell you that you need to lose weight, and why you need to lose weight...but how? That's more of an area for dietitian. Also I'm talking about general practitioners, not specialists (that's extra years and years of more focused studies-so some of them might know more).
  • 1Nana2many
    1Nana2many Posts: 172 Member
    Options
    I am 5'4" and I began eating 1200 calories per day in January. I don't trust myself not to eat all calories back, so I have chosen not to input my physical activity, just so it's not there to tempt me. I too was a serious snacker, mostly out of boredom (I resently retired). I read a blog by a woman who, when tempted to snack, gives herself 30 minutes, drinks some water, then if she's actually still wanting the snack will fix one serving of it and eat it. I have tried to incorporate this philosophy into my snacking habits. It has helped me hold out until the next meal quite often. One thing, once you start eating proper servings and following your calorie intake, it feels like you are over eating when you eat a large meal so your body does adapt if you give it the opportunity. Now, when I start feeling really empty, it's usually a few minutes until my next meal time. And a little hunger never hurt anyone.
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    Options
    i've known several doctors who recommend 800 calories per day. my opinion of the average doctor's knowledge of nutrition for healthy weight loss is that they really have no idea. my luck with dieticians isn't much better.

    last year, i did 1200 calories per day (i'm just over 5' 3") and if i got huntry, i ate back some of my exercise calories as protein. i was doing long, fast walks on mild hills and intense lifting at that time, so i did get hungry, but never ate over 1400 calories on workout days. honestly it was hard sometimes, but i was feeling great and losing weight.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Options
    shadow2soul wrote: »
    My suggestion:
    -Plug your stats into MFP
    -Pick a reasonable weight loss per week
    - sync your fitbit to MFP
    - enable negative adjustments (your calories will be adjusted up or down based on your activity for the day)


    1200 is not right for everyone.

    This^

    1200 is a one-size-fits-all that's been around forever. It's MFP's lowest minimum default (for aggressive weekly weight loss goals). We know so much more now.

    1200 is appropriate for many seniors....that's not you. I'm 5'5" and 55 YO, 1200 is not even appropriate for me. I want to keep as much lean muscle as I can. Aggressive calorie deficits won't help me do that.

    Pick a (personalized) deficit that you can live with. Consistency is the most important thing.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,239 Member
    Options
    The problem with starting at 1200 is first it is likely too large a deficit to start. Also, you have no where to go with it. You are already at the minimum for a female to get the nutrition she needs. I would suggest put your information into MFP with a 1 pound per week goal and see what it gives you. Anyone, even a doctor, who thinks there is one magic calorie number for women in general as the number of calories to lose weigh is showing a great lack of understanding of nutrition and weight loss. The only significance of 1200 calories is it is the generally accepted minimum (That is the absolute least) a woman should eat. Eating at the minimum will bring weight loss, but the goal is fat loss, and eating at the minimum usually means a lot of lean mass loss rather than mainly fat.
  • Naomipal
    Naomipal Posts: 25 Member
    Options
    I'm 5'1", 41 years old
    I previously did MFP, on 1200 calories a day. I usually ate back some or all of my exercise calories. It was hard, especially in the beginning being on 1200 calories a day. But it got easier as I got use to it and use to eating healthier. I started at 159 and got down to 118. I got to comfortable, went to old habits over time. I got back up to 148, and am now doing the same 1200 calories a day as I did before. 144 this morning, with a goal of 125. (I don't find the need to get down to 118 again,, I was comfortable around the 125 mark)
    Hope that helps a bit,, best wishes!
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,020 Member
    Options
    herlove4fit wrote: »
    My doctor told me that all women should eat 1200 calories to lose weight. And I asked her, "Even if you workout," and she said yes.She believes 1200 calories is the magic number. I've gained back 18 pounds because I have been eating way too much about (2500-2800 cal). According, to my fitbit my tdee is (2200-2300). I'm a 5'3 female, 29 yrs and 160 pounds. I find that my biggest problem is snacking out of boredom because I'm home alone. However, I can't see myself eating 1200 calories I believe it's too low for me. My husband thinks I should listen to the doctor and try a 1200 calorie diet. I don't know if I'm over thinking it, I just don't know what's right. I really can't say how I lost weight any other time because I always zig zag my calories. What would you suggest?

    How long did it take you to gain 18 pounds eating 2500-2800 cals?

    Multiply 18 X 3500 (63,000 -- I did that part for you)

    Divide 63,000 by the number of days it took you to gain 18 pounds. (e.g., if it was four months, 63,000 divided by 120 days = 525). That's approximately the number of excess calories you've been eating per day, on average.

    Subtract your avg excess calories from 2650 (the mid-range of what you think you have been eating while you were gaining weight). (In my example, that would be 2650 - 525 = 2125.) The result is an estimate of your TDEE, based on the data you have.

    Subtract 500 calories (for one pound a week weight loss, or some other number if your goal is different) from your estimated TDEE. (In my example, that would 2125 - 500 = 1625). The result is your daily calorie goals to lose 1 lb a week.

    IMPORTANT: This is a TDEE-based calorie goal, so do no eat back exercise calories, as that would be double-counting them.

    Stick to this for a month, and adjust based on results.

    NOTE: You can still "zig zag" your calories; just aim for your weekly total to be seven times your TDEE-based calorie goal.

    As for your doctor, you might ask what training in nutrition she has, or just ignore her, because anyone who thinks that your current weight, height, and activity level don't matter for your calorie goals has pretty well demonstrated either ignorance or a dogged adherence to the belief that simple, one-size-fits-all are best because her patients are stupid.

Categories