1000-1200 calories, anyone?
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buglesalmoncatgirl wrote: »All great feedback. Thanks everyone.
I am 5'4". 32 years old. I have yo-yo'd more times than I can track (lost and gained 20lbs at least 4 times). I suspect my metabolism is slower, if you subscribe to that philosophy.
The MFP settings put me at 1200 for 2lbs per week, at 1370 for 1lb per week. To lose half a pound I need 1500-ish calories would be the amount to eat. Those are the numbers I am getting with the app.
How much weight do you have to lose? 2lbs per week might be too aggressive a goal for you.
1370 for 1lb a week sounds reasonable. Is there a reason why you want it go so fast? It's about eating in a way that is sustainable for the rest of your life.2 -
I aim for 1200 net, usually equates to 1300-1400ish, but some days I eat more, some days I eat less. If I started feeling bad health wise, I would start eating more. I have about 15lbs left to lose, and I am doing well on 1200 so see no reason to go up just because I'm closer to goal. I lose about 1.5 lbs a week and am about 5'3 and weigh 138 (female). I sometimes have stalls for a few days/week and then lose a pound over 48 hours.2
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I did 1200 calories once, and mind you I was roaming around 300pds, because I used to think that's what you were supposed to do (this was roughly 10yrs ago, forgive my younger self). I was hungry all the time, not growly hungry but felt a burning kind of hunger in my stomach. I'm surprised no one died. Luckily this didn't last long enough to do any physical damage (roughly 1 or 2 months) and ended up actually calculating my NEAT.
It was horrible for me, I did lose weight but I didn't physically feel as well as I should have. I felt weak, and tired (albeit I was also anemic too). If it's your actual calories that's one thing, otherwise eat whatever your MFP calculates your NEAT to be, or TDEE, or whatever calculator you choose to use.0 -
I eat 1200 calories a day (I rarely eat back exercise calories) and work out 6 times a week, 3x cardio and 3x strength. I just started the latter, before that it was 3x cardio for around a half hour per week. I started October/November last year and am currently down 46lbs. You can add me, my diary is open.3
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I eat around 1200-1300 a day also. I had my resting metabolism tested and came in at 1340, plus I exercise (walking or strength) 5-6 days a week, but I've found that if I eat around 1500 (which my exercise level would indicate is appropriate) I start gaining weight. Granted, my logging isn't perfect, but my "staples" are very healthy and I also allow myself treats on weekends. I've never had a large appetite so my portions are more than appropriate. I struggle to hit my macros (often coming in low on protein or fat).1
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I sorta hate to be in the minority but after over a year I have found that if I do not keep the calories at 1200 as well as work out 3-5 times a week, the weight will simply not come off ! Sad face. I'm 54, 5'8" and have gone from 227 down to 184. Still have 25+/- to lose! Good luck friend!
I am on a 1200 calorie limit as well, but, I am on the short side 5'2-3/4" and old, 65, and am doing this under my doctors supervision. I have been doing this since 1/1/17, and have lost 23 pounds so far.
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After two years of maintenance, I found myself 10 lbs over weight. Because I am extremely impatient, I am going 1600 to 2400 calories, with 1000 - 1200 exercise calories, so a net of 600 to 1400 calories. It's not easy; it takes discipline but it works.0
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mgibbons22 wrote: »After two years of maintenance, I found myself 10 lbs over weight. Because I am extremely impatient, I am going 1600 to 2400 calories, with 1000 - 1200 exercise calories, so a net of 600 to 1400 calories. It's not easy; it takes discipline but it works.
Hopefully your exercise calories are over stated. When we get closer to goal a moderate deficit helps our bodies fuel existing lean muscle mass more efficiently. The price for aggressive weight loss goals in often not lowering your body fat % by as much as you could have.
Men need more calories than women (unless you are very short).....because men have more muscle mass to start out with.4 -
mgibbons22 wrote: »After two years of maintenance, I found myself 10 lbs over weight. Because I am extremely impatient, I am going 1600 to 2400 calories, with 1000 - 1200 exercise calories, so a net of 600 to 1400 calories. It's not easy; it takes discipline but it works.
Hopefully your exercise calories are over stated. When we get closer to goal a moderate deficit helps our bodies fuel existing lean muscle mass more efficiently. The price for aggressive weight loss goals in often not lowering your body fat % by as much as you could have.
Men need more calories than women (unless you are very short).....because men have more muscle mass to start out with.
To be honest, I think Fitbit overstates the exercise calories
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I was on roughly 1200 for about a year. Having said that here are the stats. I am 60 years old and have a sedentary job. I wanted to lose 2 pounds a week. I'm 5'5" and started at 232.8. I lost over that year at an average of 1.4 pounds a week. I don't always weigh and measure exactly. I did allow myself a cheat meal once every two or three weeks for the first 6 months. I walked every day working up to about 9000 steps a day. I lost 72 pounds. I did occasionally eat back about half of my exercise calories (100 - 150). Some days I was under my calories. After 10 months I hit a plateau. I'm still on it! That started in November. I tried going to maintenance calories for a week, which did not cause a gain but no loss either. I should mention part of my issue is my doc changed some of my meds about 3 weeks ago. One of the pills he took away was a water pill. I continue to eat at a deficit as I am not willing to give up yet, lol. I would like to lose another 25 pounds but have heard from many others that it is hard to lose the last 20 or so.2
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mgibbons22 wrote: »mgibbons22 wrote: »After two years of maintenance, I found myself 10 lbs over weight. Because I am extremely impatient, I am going 1600 to 2400 calories, with 1000 - 1200 exercise calories, so a net of 600 to 1400 calories. It's not easy; it takes discipline but it works.
Hopefully your exercise calories are over stated. When we get closer to goal a moderate deficit helps our bodies fuel existing lean muscle mass more efficiently. The price for aggressive weight loss goals in often not lowering your body fat % by as much as you could have.
Men need more calories than women (unless you are very short).....because men have more muscle mass to start out with.
To be honest, I think Fitbit overstates the exercise calories
Calories are overstated by fitbit, MFP, and the machines I use at the gym. Plus everyone is different, that is why it is so important to monitor what works for each of us, and hopefully, consult with a health care professional to determine that what we are doing is healthy for us.
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I'm 5'1" and 118. I LOSE weight at 1500. All of the 5'7 and 5'8 women claiming they need to be at or under 1200 need to track more accurately, because that's ridiculous.26
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I nearly died and am still dealing with the mental and physical consequences. Did not not enjoy the experience, 0/10 would not recommend to a friend.1
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I am 5 foot 7 and wouldn't function on 1200. I eat at least 1500 everyday . Yes MFP will put me at 1200 as I have an office job but I just overrode it . I started in November and have lost 40 pounds. I would love to only eat 1200 but I know I cant do that for the rest of my life. I think it is really hard to get the protein ( and all the other nutrients ) you need when calories are that low. best of luck to you4
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Hey! Yeah I'm on 1200 cals a day and I feel great and am sleeping like a log ((been on it longer than my diary says)) I exercise but even on days where I don't do a full workout, I can still spare calories for some chocolate or something! Like today I had one of my homemade vegan brownies, some white chocolate buttons and a Milkyway crispy roll:) only just gone over with my dinner added but still a workout to go:) x3
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I'm 5ft 7in and eat 1900ish cals a day. I have 10 pounds to lose only. I remember first starting off with the 1200 cal range cause that's what MFP suggested. I lost the weight.. and then some. I lost hair, my nails were horrible, I was cold all the time, no energy (even though I forced myself to go to the gym), etc. It was the worst times of my life. Sometimes I'd be so hungry that I'd have stomach pains and I would eat only one mint so they would stop. Everyone is different, even with same heights, but I would really research what you are meant to be taking in a little while longer. Good luck!4
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Thanks everyone!0
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I eat 1000-1300 Val's min-Friday and no more than 2000 on weekends and lost 5 stones last year I have an active job and walk 16,000 steps a day 6.5 miles. It's hard some days but others it's fine! Don't give in to cravings! It's hard my friend has biscuits n sweets all over the house so I have lots of fruit in to snack on or chocolate special k bars for just in cases!1
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buglesalmoncatgirl wrote: »All great feedback. Thanks everyone.
I am 5'4". 32 years old. I have yo-yo'd more times than I can track (lost and gained 20lbs at least 4 times). I suspect my metabolism is slower, if you subscribe to that philosophy.
The MFP settings put me at 1200 for 2lbs per week, at 1370 for 1lb per week. To lose half a pound I need 1500-ish calories would be the amount to eat. Those are the numbers I am getting with the app.
I'm curious then, if this is what MFP is suggesting for you, which sounds reasonable to me, why your original post said you were aiming to eat below 1200 cals in order to lose?
What is the total weight you are aiming to lose? Are you logging your food, using a food scale for accuracy?1 -
http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
1000 calories is likely too few. Please visit the above website for a more accurate calorie count and additional information. If you are stuck, it could very well be because you are not eating enough. Now get off this board, read medically supported information, and have this conversation with your doctor.3 -
I get 1200 per day. I have been trying to walk at least 1.5-2 miles a day but sometimes I miss a day. I just started back this week and I've been gaining all week and I feel like I barely eat anything. ugh.0
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mgibbons22 wrote: »After two years of maintenance, I found myself 10 lbs over weight. Because I am extremely impatient, I am going 1600 to 2400 calories, with 1000 - 1200 exercise calories, so a net of 600 to 1400 calories. It's not easy; it takes discipline but it works.
As a male with only 10 lbs to lose to be at a healthy weight, why on earth would you think you would need to go so low in order to lose? Say goodbye to your lean body mass! If you set up MFP to lose 0.5 lb/week, what is the target it provides you?
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VintageFeline wrote: »fitmom4lifemfp wrote: »VintageFeline wrote: »fitmom4lifemfp wrote: »buglesalmoncatgirl wrote: »Hello.
Have any of you been on a 1000-1200 calorie per day plan? Did you follow it strictly? What was your experience? (Plateaus, weight loss rates, sleep quality...)
It is what I am doing; I never had to go so low before.
Thanks kindly.
1200 - 1300 is maintenance for me at my proper weight, so yes, I have to dip lower when I need to lose. It's normal for me, but I fall outside of the general norm. I don't think the experience is any different than anyone else though....I just have to eat a bit less than others. And I am a meticulous logger, weigh everything - after 12 years of journaling I know the drill, believe me.
I do get quite a bit of exercise - and while I track that on my FitBit site, I do not concern myself with how many calories I burned and if I need to "eat back" any. I try to keep below 1100, and really do best if I stay closer to 1000. If I do a LOT of exercise, and I find myself hungry, I will eat what I feel is necessary. But it does not ever really match calorie for calorie. For instance, I consumed 1036 calories on Sunday, and did a 17 mile bike ride that morning - at a decent clip, in a stiff cold wind. My Polar watch said I burned 579 calories for that ride. (Who know how accurate that really is, but all we have to go by is these devices, so...) I never found myself hungry that day - and did not feel like I had to eat extra to cover the calories I burned. But some days, I do. Yesterday I walked 4 miles, and rode about 18 miles, for an hour on the stationary bike at the gym. I was starving when I got home from the gym, and ate what wound up being an extra 300 calories. But I don't plan the calories/do any math on that stuff. I just eat what I need to, to feel good. I try to make sure get in my protein, and not eat too much sodium at night - that's really all I concern myself with. Oh and I have taken multi-vitamins, for years. That's a daily norm for me as well.
Are you teeny tiny?
LOL. Definitely not. 5'7". 61 years old.
You must have a medical condition then? Because maintenance of 1200 calories for a 5'7 woman would be significantly outwith the usual variation.
No, I sure don't. Healthy as a horse. No thyroid issues either. As I stated earlier, I am an outlier. I fall on the extreme low end of the variation.3 -
After reading the comments I am wondering if it has to do with height? I am 5'2 and MFP set me at 1200 as well.1
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I sorta hate to be in the minority but after over a year I have found that if I do not keep the calories at 1200 as well as work out 3-5 times a week, the weight will simply not come off ! Sad face. I'm 54, 5'8" and have gone from 227 down to 184. Still have 25+/- to lose! Good luck friend!
Holy cow! I'm 5'8", 176, work out 5-6 days a week lifting weights and I eat 1800-1900 calories and lose with that. Wow. I would be so hangry if I could only eat 1200 calories
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I sorta hate to be in the minority but after over a year I have found that if I do not keep the calories at 1200 as well as work out 3-5 times a week, the weight will simply not come off ! Sad face. I'm 54, 5'8" and have gone from 227 down to 184. Still have 25+/- to lose! Good luck friend!
Holy cow! I'm 5'8", 176, work out 5-6 days a week lifting weights and I eat 1800-1900 calories and lose with that. Wow. I would be so hangry if I could only eat 1200 calories
Yes it is pretty amazing how differently our bodies all work. I lift weights as well, and have done so for 30+ years (with one 5 year break in there!).3 -
After reading the comments I am wondering if it has to do with height? I am 5'2 and MFP set me at 1200 as well.
It has to do with the stats you enter, as well as the rate of loss you choose when you set up your profile. When you enter your stats: height, weight, age, gender and activity level - MFP calculates an estimate of what it thinks you burn in a day, EXCLUDING exercise. This is called your NEAT. It is done via a multiplier from your BMR. So let's say that based on your stats, MFP thinks your NEAT is 1600 cals/day.
The rate of loss you enter determines the calorie deficit that MFP will calculate for you. If you choose:
0.5 lb/week = 250 cal deficit
1 lb/week = 500 cal deficit
2 lb/week = 1000 cal deficit.
The kicker is, MFP will not provide a goal below 1200, as that is the minimum recommended for women. I think it's 1500 or 1800 for men, I'm not sure. So if MFP thinks your NEAT is 1600, and you select a rate of 1 lb/week weight loss, it would be 1600-500 cals = 1100, but that is below the minimum so it defaults to 1200. If you choose 0.5 lb/week, it will only subtract 250 and your NEAT GOAL would then be 1350. Because this goal doesn't include exercise, when you do exercise, you are meant to eat back those calories so that you are NETTING the goal that MFP provides you.
1200 is common because most people choose the most aggressive rate of loss, even though this is not appropriate for many people. With less than 50 lbs to lose, 1 lb/week is recommended, and with less than 25 lbs to lose, 0.5 lb/week is recommended. Additionally, many people don't realize they are supposed to eat back those exercise calories, so they are netting below the recommended minimum when they exercise, which can have adverse effects like fatigue, hair loss, sallow skin, loss of lean body mass, etc. Not to mention most people don't find it sustainable to eat such low calories while exercising, or even while sedentary...
For more reading, I suggest checking out the stickied Most Helpful Forum Posts at the top of the Getting Started section including this gem:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1235566/so-youre-new-here/p16 -
I guess that I do not understand why it is so hard for people to believe that guideline numbers are just that, guidelines. Everyone is not the same. Generally, I understand the concept, but if we are all reasonably intelligent, and can adjust to our situation, why such a controversy? If it works for you for what you are doing, you are not starving yourself, and you have consulted with a health care professional, great, go with it. You and your health care provider know yourself better than any qualified, or unqualified, random person on the internet.5
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Yep. Lots of diversity.
Someone asked me why I'm considering going lower than 1200. Other calculators have placed me there, for weight loss at a rate of 2lbs per week. That's why.
My net average has been around 1290 or so, however.
I might add, I've spoken with numerous professionals (doctors, nurse practitioners, nutrition counselors) and I have received different advice.
One said I have to consume 1200 daily, that's it.
One said intermittent fasting is the way to go.
One kinda just agreed with all my ideas... occasionally giving me health tips and "venting" support.
Well, I'm still figuring it all out.2
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