1200 Calorie Limit No matter what settings?

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  • fitmom4lifemfp
    fitmom4lifemfp Posts: 1,572 Member
    Libby283 wrote: »
    [Right but the hormone changes how your body processes the calories you typically consume. So you might not change anything about your normal diet and drinks, but suddenly your body is not using the same calories it did.

    My body uses the calories better when I am not on a hormone. Hence the weight gain. I changed nothing about my diet.

    The first time I got an IUD 6 years ago, the same thing happened. I actually started losing weight as soon as it was almost expired. It was like magic. I then started helping it along, by counting calories and I went from a size 12 in May, to a size 2 in September.

    Has that been proven? I've researched the hormone and I see nothing that states anything like that.
  • debrag12
    debrag12 Posts: 1,071 Member
    heiliskrimsli wrote: »
    HeliumIsNoble wrote: »
    I have seen it mentioned elsewhere that the 1200 figure was originally calculated by nutritionists as an absolute minimum because they didn't think it was realistically possible for a woman to restrict her calories further than that and still meet her other nutritional needs, i.e. macromolecules, vitamins (inc vitamins that need dietary fats for absorption), essential minerals.

    Just for the record, a "nutritionist" is not held to any kind of standard and requires absolutely no qualifications whatsoever to apply that label, so what they say about nutrition is about as relevant as what an astrologer says about mental health.

    Not so true in the UK. You need a degree in nutrition and/or dietetics for most careers according to the British Nutrition Foundation.

  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    Libby283 wrote: »
    heiliskrimsli wrote: »
    Sunna_W wrote: »
    You didn't indicate if you are on a hormonal IUD or one without hormones.

    *** If your IUD doesn't contain hormones, please disregard.***

    The ones with hormones contain a synthetic progestin hormone called levonorgestrel. It is the devil. It can/does cause weight gain.

    Weight gain without a calorie surplus is impossible. There is no hormone that can create matter out of nothing.

    Right but the hormone changes how your body processes the calories you typically consume. So you might not change anything about your normal diet and drinks, but suddenly your body is not using the same calories it did.

    My body uses the calories better when I am not on a hormone. Hence the weight gain. I changed nothing about my diet.

    The first time I got an IUD 6 years ago, the same thing happened. I actually started losing weight as soon as it was almost expired. It was like magic. I then started helping it along, by counting calories and I went from a size 12 in May, to a size 2 in September.

    I think you have it a bit backwards. It's not on how your body processes the calories, but on what impact the hormones have on your calorie usage. So if they lower your BMR, and add to lethargy, then they will cause weight gain with the same calories in. Your body is pretty good at consuming and storing calories, so any change on that side will lead to inefficiencies and weight loss.

    In the end it doesn't matter what the cause is, but I agree hormones can lead to weigh gain.
  • brb_2013
    brb_2013 Posts: 1,197 Member
    Libby283 wrote: »
    I am 5'3", starting weight was 158 lbs and my goal is 124. I am 38 years old.

    So I really need to be eating less than 1200? The 1200 is hard enough to stick to and still fit in good nutrition. I noticed this because my boyfriend and another friend had much higher daily limits, so I was playing with it and did not see any difference.

    It's because of your height, shorter bodies need less calories. It just means for your body, losing weight more slowly will be the healthier choice. You're not that overweight either so you have less room for a healthy deficit. It is a challenge indeed for those who are not very tall. Your best bet would be to stick to the nutritionally healthy 1200 calorie limit and then alter the equation by exercising more if you're able. You cannot healthfully create the deficit by diet alone, but can create the 2lb/week deficit by burning more calories. If I were in your shoes I'd be lifting weights, high intensity cardio (hiit) and eating a good amount of your 1200 calories from protein (maybe 50%) that will give you a chance to increase your body's calorie needs.
  • cbelc2
    cbelc2 Posts: 762 Member
    That's because of a built-in safety feature. If you need to eat less (like my friend who is 4 feet tall and can't eat over about 900 calories per day) then eat up to that and quit. For most of us, it's hard to get in our daily nutrition if we go under 1200.
  • LessCookiess
    LessCookiess Posts: 538 Member
    Op, you still haven't answered the question that most of us are wondering about are you trying to eat less than 1200 calories?
    @Libby283
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Libby283 wrote: »
    I am petite but have gotten heavy in the last 4 months. I gained 30 lbs after getting an IUD. I look obese with my spare tire around my waste.

    I get a limit of 1680 when I set to maintain weight.

    If you get 1680 to maintain (without exercise) you should be getting 1,430 for 1/2 Lb per week...1,200 for about 1 Lb per week. If you move more, you can also eat more...MFP's calorie targets are sans exercise.
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,588 MFP Moderator
    Libby283 wrote: »
    Because last week I ate 1100 -1200 calories daily, with exercise and lost weight. This week I ate 1100 - 1200 calories, no exercise and stayed the same. I assume 1200 is my true maintenance. I seem to remember something similar the last time I did mfp and lost 50 lbs. I believe I dropped my calorie intake down to 1000 on days I did not exercise and 1200 on days that I did something.

    You can't take individual weigh ins as proof of you plan working or not like this. You have to give you plan time and look at the overall trend and average over several weeks. There are many things that will effect water retention which will effect the number on the scale. Weight loss will not be linear.
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