what's your experience with a 1200 calorie diet or less?
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Proven by who? Because I really doubt that's how it works.10
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HollyPFlax wrote: »There is no such thing as "starvation mode". Creating a larger calorie deficit will result in faster weight loss.
However, it is not healthy to eat under 1200 calories per day. You are unlikely to be able to take in necessary nutrients, especially if you keep this up for some time. Men are generally not advised to go under 1500 per day. Another reason this isn't advised is that starving yourself will cause you to be hungrier. On occasions where you would allow yourself to eat more, like a party or when you're out for drinks, you may then go overboard and undo a lot of your progress. You should try a smaller deficit and aim for 1 lb per week. You can always burn a few hundred more calories with daily exercise.
Why do you need to lose the 30 lbs in exactly 3 months to prevent diabetes? Can it not wait a couple more months to set in? Focusing on losing at a slower pace with gradual changes is generally what leads to success for many of us!
Anyone who believes that starvation mode isn't a real thing is just kidding themselves. All the science proves it is a real thing. Besides, on 1200 calories you can definitely get all the nutrients you require so that's a farse as well. My pain and mobility issues prevent me from burning a few extra hundred calories a day as well.
Are you sure you read this thread? Where did you get the 1500 calories thing? What is your source as I have yet to see that in any medical or science journal.60 -
maureenkhilde wrote: »First why exactly do you think you have to lose 30 pounds in 3 months that is totally unrealistic? I am a type 2 diabetic. And I have never had any of my Dr's state I needed to lose X amount of weight in a certain time frame. What I heard is yes you need to lose weight. And the most common statement is just losing 5% of your weight can make a big difference. So at 260 5% is 13 pounds. I am going to suggest that be your first goal. When you make that go for another 5%.
What you are attempting to do is not a good way to do it, basically a crash diet so to speak. What you need is to truly change your mindset on how you approach eating overall. How do I know well I started out at 305 in May 2018. Currently at 234, and still working on it. And hey I am same height 5'9.
If MFP comes up with 1400 as your lowest calorie intake to lose 2 lbs per week then you can use that. Read the stickies all over on MFP. And you will get lots of good solid advice from others. My take is a bit different because I am a T2D been one for going on 18 years. And I want you to think about what you are trying to do, and why from a bit of a different angle. I was there once, and tried exactly what you are attempting and it did not work. Good Luck on your lifestyle journey.
the doctors mostly don't know about this medical trial. but the results are nothing short of miraculous... https://directclinicaltrial.org.uk/26 -
maureenkhilde wrote: »First why exactly do you think you have to lose 30 pounds in 3 months that is totally unrealistic? I am a type 2 diabetic. And I have never had any of my Dr's state I needed to lose X amount of weight in a certain time frame. What I heard is yes you need to lose weight. And the most common statement is just losing 5% of your weight can make a big difference. So at 260 5% is 13 pounds. I am going to suggest that be your first goal. When you make that go for another 5%.
What you are attempting to do is not a good way to do it, basically a crash diet so to speak. What you need is to truly change your mindset on how you approach eating overall. How do I know well I started out at 305 in May 2018. Currently at 234, and still working on it. And hey I am same height 5'9.
If MFP comes up with 1400 as your lowest calorie intake to lose 2 lbs per week then you can use that. Read the stickies all over on MFP. And you will get lots of good solid advice from others. My take is a bit different because I am a T2D been one for going on 18 years. And I want you to think about what you are trying to do, and why from a bit of a different angle. I was there once, and tried exactly what you are attempting and it did not work. Good Luck on your lifestyle journey.
the doctors mostly don't know about this medical trial. but the results are nothing short of miraculous... https://directclinicaltrial.org.uk/
It looks like the participants lost 30 lbs or more over 12 months....not 3.
They were also using a very special diet plan that included total meal replacement (shakes) for 3-5 weeks and some participants had severe adverse side effects too.
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HollyPFlax wrote: »There is no such thing as "starvation mode". Creating a larger calorie deficit will result in faster weight loss.
However, it is not healthy to eat under 1200 calories per day. You are unlikely to be able to take in necessary nutrients, especially if you keep this up for some time. Men are generally not advised to go under 1500 per day. Another reason this isn't advised is that starving yourself will cause you to be hungrier. On occasions where you would allow yourself to eat more, like a party or when you're out for drinks, you may then go overboard and undo a lot of your progress. You should try a smaller deficit and aim for 1 lb per week. You can always burn a few hundred more calories with daily exercise.
Why do you need to lose the 30 lbs in exactly 3 months to prevent diabetes? Can it not wait a couple more months to set in? Focusing on losing at a slower pace with gradual changes is generally what leads to success for many of us!
Anyone who believes that starvation mode isn't a real thing is just kidding themselves. All the science proves it is a real thing. Besides, on 1200 calories you can definitely get all the nutrients you require so that's a farse as well. My pain and mobility issues prevent me from burning a few extra hundred calories a day as well.
Are you sure you read this thread? Where did you get the 1500 calories thing? What is your source as I have yet to see that in any medical or science journal.
No, it actually proves the opposite. Google the Minnesota Starvation Experiment.
Women can (barely!) get adequate nutrition on 1200/day if they're short and sedentary. Men need 1500.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/calorie-counting-made-easy
While this site https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/canada-food-guide/food-guide-basics/estimated-energy-requirements.html lists the maintenance calorie requirements for men and women, are you trying to say that it's safe for you to eat fewer calories than a sedentary 8-year-old boy?
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maureenkhilde wrote: »First why exactly do you think you have to lose 30 pounds in 3 months that is totally unrealistic? I am a type 2 diabetic. And I have never had any of my Dr's state I needed to lose X amount of weight in a certain time frame. What I heard is yes you need to lose weight. And the most common statement is just losing 5% of your weight can make a big difference. So at 260 5% is 13 pounds. I am going to suggest that be your first goal. When you make that go for another 5%.
What you are attempting to do is not a good way to do it, basically a crash diet so to speak. What you need is to truly change your mindset on how you approach eating overall. How do I know well I started out at 305 in May 2018. Currently at 234, and still working on it. And hey I am same height 5'9.
If MFP comes up with 1400 as your lowest calorie intake to lose 2 lbs per week then you can use that. Read the stickies all over on MFP. And you will get lots of good solid advice from others. My take is a bit different because I am a T2D been one for going on 18 years. And I want you to think about what you are trying to do, and why from a bit of a different angle. I was there once, and tried exactly what you are attempting and it did not work. Good Luck on your lifestyle journey.
the doctors mostly don't know about this medical trial. but the results are nothing short of miraculous... https://directclinicaltrial.org.uk/
I'm getting that people who lost weight saw their T2D go into remission, but I'm missing where 30lbs in 3 months is some kind of magic bullet. What happens if you only lose 29 and it takes an extra week?21 -
Are you weighing your food and how do you know diabetes is coming in 3 months?
I've already gotten the diagnosis but if I can lose 30 lbs in 3 months it's proven it can reduce or erase diabetes. Fortunately this diagnosis has only had me as diabetic within the last year. My blood test results from the previous year were clean albeit close to pre diabetes so I know I've only had the condition for no more than 12 months. I have a chance to reverse it.
Certainly losing weight will be one of the most proactive things you can do to manage or even reverse this condition. I think what people are questioning is where the 3 month timeline comes from. If you lose 30 lbs in 4 months, 5 months, or 6 months - the outcome should be the same and losing weight more slowly may help with positive benefits as well.
Losing weight too rapidly can have a number of adverse effects, many are outlined in posts above. It's really up to you and your doctor whether those risks are worth the benefit to your other health issues and to establish a timeline you're both comfortable with. I just wouldn't assume that if you don't meet the 30 lbs in 3 months goal that everything is for naught.17 -
WinoGelato wrote: »Are you weighing your food and how do you know diabetes is coming in 3 months?
I've already gotten the diagnosis but if I can lose 30 lbs in 3 months it's proven it can reduce or erase diabetes. Fortunately this diagnosis has only had me as diabetic within the last year. My blood test results from the previous year were clean albeit close to pre diabetes so I know I've only had the condition for no more than 12 months. I have a chance to reverse it.
Certainly losing weight will be one of the most proactive things you can do to manage or even reverse this condition. I think what people are questioning is where the 3 month timeline comes from. If you lose 30 lbs in 4 months, 5 months, or 6 months - the outcome should be the same and losing weight more slowly may help with positive benefits as well.
Losing weight too rapidly can have a number of adverse effects, many are outlined in posts above. It's really up to you and your doctor whether those risks are worth the benefit to your other health issues and to establish a timeline you're both comfortable with. I just wouldn't assume that if you don't meet the 30 lbs in 3 months goal that everything is for naught.[/quote]
Bolded for emphasis. If you are able to lose weight at a steady rate of 5 lbs a month, will you give up half way through because you aren't meeting your unrealistic goal? It seems like you have a mindset of either lose 30 lbs in 3 months or live with diabetes. It's not an either/or. Lose the weight in a sustainable way and you have a much better chance of managing your diabetes long-term, as opposed to not being able to sustain the weight loss and starting a yo-yo cycle.9 -
Are you weighing your food and how do you know diabetes is coming in 3 months?
I've already gotten the diagnosis but if I can lose 30 lbs in 3 months it's proven it can reduce or erase diabetes. Fortunately this diagnosis has only had me as diabetic within the last year. My blood test results from the previous year were clean albeit close to pre diabetes so I know I've only had the condition for no more than 12 months. I have a chance to reverse it.
I think you should discuss this with your doctor as it seems you are misunderstanding. Ask for a referral to a registered dietitian while you are there.16 -
At close to 100 pounds overweight, OP could certainly drop 30 pounds in 3 months without issue. The real issue is he can't accurately track his caloric intake/weight loss. Were he in fact eating at that level, he'd have dropped more weight than claimed. Plain and simple.
His BMR is around 2000, TDEE at Sedentary is 2400. If OP were in fact eating 1400/day, he'd drop 2 pounds/week.
Again, the issue is simple math.13 -
Are you weighing your food and how do you know diabetes is coming in 3 months?
I've already gotten the diagnosis but if I can lose 30 lbs in 3 months it's proven it can reduce or erase diabetes. Fortunately this diagnosis has only had me as diabetic within the last year. My blood test results from the previous year were clean albeit close to pre diabetes so I know I've only had the condition for no more than 12 months. I have a chance to reverse it.
Sorry but No, you dont have a chance to reverse it - you have a chance to get it under control and possibly to manage it without medication ( ie diet controlled diabetes)
Losing weight often enables type 2 diabetics to reduce their medications requirements (sometimes to nil) , that is all - it does not make them non diabetic.
But there is no magic formula for this, 30lb in 3 months or anything else - it applies to losing any significant amount of weight in any time frame.
and, yes, like most type 2 diabetics you went from glucose impairment (ie your earlier blood test results) to diabetes - that is the usual progression unless one significantly loses weight and improves diet at the first stage.
It is also important for diabetics to have adequate nutrition.
Like everybody, eat a sensible balanced diet, avoiding high sugar products due to your body's inability to process same and eat at an appropriate calorie level.
Either do the calculations with MFP and eat that amount, whilst adhering to principles of foods suitable for your medical condition, or see a dietician or diabetic educator and formulate a diet plan with him/her.
But do not aim for unrealistic targets and do not eat the calorie level suitable only for small sedentary older women - if you are not one.
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I was diabetic (type 2) and after weight loss I was not. I did not lose fast however. I took my time. I think if your doc sees improvement in 3 months he/she will be happy. I would take my time for several reasons. First off you can't maintain that strict low calorie diet for long. I did the Dr. Bernstein diet several years ago and the only thing that stayed lighter was my wallet. I was eating around 600 calories per day. They wanted us to lose 4 pounds a week. I never did. My hair started falling out after 4 months and I quit. I slowly regained all the weight. The other issue I believe is that you lose muscle mass along with fat. Your heart is a muscle! Finally I didn't learn a thing in all that time because I was unable to keep it up permanently. Once I got on MFP and took my time I changed my lifestyle and now I maintain my healthy weight. Don't rush my friend. You want to lose and keep it off and reduce your sugars permanently. I would also suggest walking regularly to help lower blood sugar. It works.13
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When I'm motivated enough, I've found that eating a 250 cal breakfast, two 400 calorie meals and a snack is more than enough to keep me going without being hungry all the time at 1200-1300 calories per day. It really works in terms of weightloss but it's hard to stick to.13
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When I'm motivated enough, I've found that eating a 250 cal breakfast, two 400 calorie meals and a snack is more than enough to keep me going without being hungry all the time at 1200-1300 calories per day. It really works in terms of weightloss but it's hard to stick to.
And unnecessarily low for you given your stats.
1200 cals is too low for most people!16 -
For the first two months on my new eating plan, I only sort-of listened to all the posts here at MFP that caution against going below 1200 calories a day. My emotional state was caught up in how overweight I am, and throwing caution to the wind.
At the same time, I was reading posts about so many of us with the yo-yo dieting syndrome, and even while recognizing my self in the stories, found it hard to connect the low calorie plan to the yo-yo.
Fast forward to the day last week when MFP flashed the "20 pounds lost" banner at me.
I asked myself to seriously consider the question : is this sustainable for the rest of my life?", and the answer was "NO!". So, I did some fresh reading on a bunch of different websites about determining my TDEE and macro requirements in light of my age and activity.
I've increased my daily intake to 1500 calories, so I can continue losing but at a slower pace. I'll be around 1800 or so at maintenance (in another 6 months or so) .
the most difficult part so far has been adjusting portions to get all my calories in before my preferred 6pm cut off for eating. I've found over the last few months that I now prefer 3 sizable meals, with a light post-gym snack, rather than 5 or 6 small meals through the day I used to eat.
My lunch bag is getting heavier! (added workout hahahahah)
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OP is a male....no friggin' adult male should be eating 1200 calories. My 8 year old boy eats more than that.23
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As a 59-year-old, 5'5", 154-pound woman, 1200 calories left me weak and fatigued, even though I was eating back all my exercise calories (300-ish most day) on top of the 1200. Even though I corrected as soon as I realized there was a problem, it took me several weeks to recover from a short period of over-restriction.
For a 53-year-old, 260-pound, 5'9", 260-pound man, 1200 calories sounds to me like a really foolish idea.
If you're only losing 1.5 pounds a week on an already unreasonably low calorie level, consider a couple of possibilities (neither of which is "starvation mode"):
1. A too-extreme low calorie level is putting sufficient stress on your admittedly already non-healthy (prediabetic, pain-plagued) body that you're retaining extra water weight, masking ongoing fat loss. That would be unhealthy. (Notice that you saw the scale drop when you increased calories from the insanely low 900-1000 to 1250. That's a hint of physical stress right there.)
2. You are eating so little, compared your body's minimum nutritional and caloric needs, that fatigue is affecting your daily life energy and non-exercise activity level, and sapping your daily life calorie burn, effectively reducing your TDEE and slowing weight loss. Add that to the water retention from #1, and it can look like you aren't losing fat, even though you're still losing some.
There may be something magical for your prediabetes about losing weight, but there's nothing magical about losing it all in 3 months. Since you're already unhealthy, prediabetic plus whatever is causing your pain and mobility issues, why does stacking more unhealthy behavior (undernutrition, caloric over-restriction) on top of that seem like a path to health?
Please reconsider. I really, really, like to see people stay strong and as healthy as possible while achieving weight and health goals, truly.8 -
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Works great for me. Eat about 1000cals a day, never hungry and have lost 71 pounds since July 18'.
Nobody is denying that people can lose weight on VLCD's if they can sustain them over a length of time.
For almost all people they are not sustainable and for almost all people they are not healthy.
No adult should be eating only 1000 calories a day - unless short term in extenuating circumstances under medical supervision10
This discussion has been closed.
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