Busting the myth that 1200 calories is enough

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  • oregonzoo
    oregonzoo Posts: 4,251 Member
    I thought this article was very interesting and insightful.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/iris-higgins/an-open-apology-to-all-of_b_3762714.html

    Well I am not sorry I am on 1200 calories per day, do running, some weights and work fulltime. I am not sorry that I am losing weight. I am not sorry that I feel full of energy. I am not sorry that I eat 100% better than I used to when I ate many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many calories.

    I am not sorry.

    That is all I have to say really....

    I am not sorry.

    :drinker:

    you probably will be eventually :flowerforyou:
    good luck on your journey.

    Well not really, this is my third flipping time doing 1200 calories, the first time I lost 33lbs, the second time 41lbs, and now this time.

    I put weight back on because of my abyssmal lack of control for eating crap LOL!

    I never regretted before and I don't this time :)
    Doesn't take Inspector Gadget to figure this mystery out.
  • Archer9304
    Archer9304 Posts: 113 Member
    Well I'm petite and small so I survive quite happily on 1200calories and still lose. My maintenance is only 1500.

    ETA: and no I'm not recommending it to anyone or suggesting that its healthy for larger active people. This is me, not you. :wink:
  • SXMEnrico
    SXMEnrico Posts: 89 Member
    The article notwithstanding, I don't see a problem with taking in 1200 calories for a finite amount of time as long as your doctor has no issue with it.

    All this is going to do is force your body to burn whatever is in your glycogen store, fat, protein, etc forcing you to drop in weight. Of course your metabolism should also slow down to compensate.

    As long as you are aware of what you are doing and there's no impact to your health, 1200 or whatever arbitrary number of calories/day should be no problem.

    The article's author may or may not have cause to apologize. That is for them to decide and should not be taken as an absolute conclusion.
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    So what is the right formula? I tried Atkins no carb diet for two weeks and maintained a 1,200 calories for such a long time and my weight loss has plateud already. I'm in a rut.

    Have you started your own thread where people can ask you details of your needs, and what you're looking for help with? Things that help are knowing your age, height, current weight, goal weight; and then if you know things like your TDEE and BMR and how much calories you estimate you burn thru exercise, post that too.
  • RunningOnWontons
    RunningOnWontons Posts: 138 Member
    [/quote]

    "Opened my diary, nothing to hide here. But than again I'm not making claims that other's are hangry or under nourished. Nope, I don't eat one meal daily ;), and yea, I'm a grandmother ~ was that meant to be some kind of insult??

    What would make you reply with nastiness like "whatever crap I stuff my face with"? SMH :noway: . Simply because I questioned how would your couple/few hundred more calories prevent 1200/day'ers from sustaining weight loss? As I suggested, that could be simple as couple pieces of buttered toast to bring my calories up to yours ~ doesn't seem all that dramatic to cause high risk to gain in maintenance."
    [/quote]

    This was quite a graceful reply to what was I think intended to be quite a snarky comeback. Kudos to you, "grandma." :flowerforyou:

    Everyone who posted some version of "live and let live" and "everyone's metabolism is different" is right on point, IMO. What I don't understand is the level of anger directed at those of us who are shorter/older/slower metabolized or whatever than average. Sheesh. It stands to reason that if you're "one of those" who succeeds on a 1200 (or whatever) calorie plan you should keep doing what is obviously working for you! Isn't it obvious that numeric goals aren't somehow imbued with magical powers, and that MFP's (or any website's) calculations aren't always 100% accurate. But whatever. If you're reading these posts and blowing your top at random people (and grandmas) on the internet, then yes you should probably go eat something. Hangriness is a real thing, regardless of one's calorie goals. :laugh:

    Edited: Not sure how to quote, but did my best.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    RunningOnWont- You're talking to someone who posted something last August and then deleted her account and left.

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