I am really starting to get freaked out...

CristinaAnne192

why are we all on this site? to lose weight, gain weight, right?

I am on a 1250 calorie diet. this is what mfp gave me. and its been working great so far...

I've been reading so many posts on here... eithier bashing 1200 calories, or saying its dangerous.. you'll gain the weight back etc..

I have alwasy posted on the forums that I was a firm believe of 1200 calories for myself... but now seeing so many posts I am getting nervous..

I want to lose weight healthily and keep it off! like everyone else... but I am getting nervous that wont happen with 1200 cals because of all the talk

I have been thinking of upping my calories to 1400 hundred...
but I am not sure...

I workout 6x's a week. I just do a Jillian Michaels video, right now I am doing ripped in 30...
I eat ALL my exercise calories back. i always NET at 1200 a day.

I am 5'2"
20 years old
and I currently work as a daycare provider and a wedding server on weekends...

can someone, anyone, explain to me if I am OK to keep going with 1250 cals a day or what?

it would be a huge help :frown:

ready4it4

I think you should do what feels right for you. For a lot of people 1200 is fine. For a lot of people 1200 is absolutely way too low. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. I really hate when people get on here and bash something when they know virtually nothing about that person. If you're really worried though you should go consult your doctor.

BattleTaxi

Don't pay attention to all the banter. If MFP calculated that based on height, then you are fine. If it is working for you, don't worry.

kazsjourney

Yep I agree .... do what works for you

CristinaAnne192

I ALWAYS eat my exercise calories back, I am very satisfied on 1250 cals a day. I work in treats if I want them... Like I said it is just hard seeing all the bashing on here... is scares me that I am going to do something horrible to my body if I eat 1250 cals a day.. but then I feel fine if I don't change it...

I am VERY small framed and VERY short. my mom is naturall 5'1" and 102lbs.. and shes 52, she just can't gain weight...

MyaPapaya75

do what works for you through trial and error ..im 1200-1400 depending ...certain days I need more because Im hungry...4ft 11in

crazybookworm

It all about finding a program that works for YOU! Everyone is going to have an opinion regardless about the 1200 calorie lifestyle. What's important is that YOU feel you are getting enough. If you feel full, satisfied and energized, than stick with it, girl!

herblackwings39

I ALWAYS eat my exercise calories back, I am very satisfied on 1250 cals a day. I work in treats if I want them... Like I said it is just hard seeing all the bashing on here... is scares me that I am going to do something horrible to my body if I eat 1250 cals a day.. but then I feel fine if I don't change it...

I am VERY small framed and VERY short. my mom is naturall 5'1" and 102lbs.. and shes 52, she just can't gain weight...

If you've set your activity level accurately, are eating your exercise calories back, and it's working you should be fine. Eating the exercise calories back means you're already eating more than 1200. I think people tend to get more worried about someone eating 1200 and then working out to burn off 500 and not eating them back.

Mr_Bad_Example

http://www.health-calc.com/diet/energy-expenditure-advanced

This calculator is pretty decent for helping you figure out how much you burn and how much you need to take in. Granted it's an estimate, and you may want to take an average day and track how long you are on your feet, how much you are doing, and how long you sleep - but it's given me some good results.

natalie412

You don't weigh much, and you are eating back all your exercise calories, so I wouldn't worry much. The problem is when MFP puts everyone on 1200 - it put me on 1200 when I weighed 165 (5'6") - I upped it to 1400 plus and still lost just as fast or faster.

Mr_Knight

I workout 6x's a week. I just do a Jillian Michaels video, right now I am doing ripped in 30...
I eat ALL my exercise calories back. i always NET at 1200 a day.

Don't sweat it, you're not the person those concerns are directed at.

OMGeeeHorses

do what works for you , I do TDEE. Which pretty much means I don't eat exercise calories back and have a firm amount of 1500 calories for non work out days and about 1700 for work out days (1-3 days) and 1900 if I really want to step it up and work out 5-6 days. I tried doing just the 1200 and eat my calories back but I would need to eat like 2,000 calories almost every night and I couldn't do that!!! so do whatever works for you!! as you can tell mines different from you, but it works for me!! Don't change what isn't broken!!

Mslmesq

Your stated history makes me think it would be advisable to consult your doctor. I don't know if you've ever had an ED, but the past relationship with food was not that healthy.

I'd say be careful. You don't have much to lose, so go slow even if it takes longer.

Fwiw, in general I am not against 1200. But if someone has a troubled relationship with food, it can be a slippery slope.

CristinaAnne192

Your stated history makes me think it would be advisable to consult your doctor. I don't know if you've ever had an ED, but the past relationship with food was not that healthy.

I'd say be careful. You don't have much to lose, so go slow even if it takes longer.

Fwiw, in general I am not against 1200. But if someone has a troubled relationship with food, it can be a slippery slope.

okay, I am not targeting you directly, I understand your concern and I appriciate it alot !

I have seen A doctor, I was depressed from my parents divorce, being in and out of differen't custody plans. I don't have a ED I am perfectly healthy. but thank you for your concern!

Suezii_Q

I do believe it depends on your height & weight. If MFP says it's 1250 you should be fine. I'm 5'9" I was 264 when I started dieting. They had me at about 1900 calories a day then. Now I'm around 200 & am at 1400 calories a day. From your height & weight I'd say you're doing just fine.

brower47

1200 calorie diets, here's the rub. You have to be EXTRA careful and EXTRA dedicated to getting all the nutrition that your body requires to perform at optimal health. What I'm saying is that you can't waste any of your calories on nutrient sparse foods or you risk shortchanging your body into poor performance and possibly poor health. So make sure you're ready to eat grilled/baked chicken breasts, blueberries, spinach, peppers, fish and all the other nutrient dense foods and know that you'll need to completely avoid treats such as flavored coffees, any and all deserts and food prepared beyond boiling, steaming and baking.

Many people on 1200 calorie diets, because it's so restrictive calorie wise, tend not to get a lot of protien. With this scenario, you run the risk of losing a disproportionate amount of muscle to fat. They then hit goal weight and aren't satisfied with their body's appearance. Also, since their body now has less muscle than it did before (one of the major drivers of metabolism) the rate of metabolism is lower, thus fewer calories can be consumed at maintenance. This is a major factor to many people putting their weight right back on. Maintaining existing muscle should always be a priority when losing but it is often ignored in a bid for fast results.

Most people on 1200 calorie diets allow themselves to indulge when they shouldn't. If you can lose weight at 1400, 1500, or 1600 calories, you can have those treats and you can have a better chance of keeping the muscle your body already has. People who do it a little more slowly are better prepared for when they will go on maintenance because they haven't been depriving themselves of not only the 'treat' foods they love but of food in general. People who eat a bit more than the minimum as they lose weight see their weight loss as less of an arduous task to defeat and vanquish but more as a gradual change to something they will be able to maintain for long into the future.

Can you lose safely on 1200? Yes. Is it easy to do and get all the nutrition your body needs? No. Can it be done? Of course but you have to be completely honest with yourself the entire way.

For me, I'd rather do it slowly while enjoying the foods I love, than do it quickly and gain it all back when I finally give into my dreams of eating all the food again (been there, done that and never want to do it again).

seliinac

1200 calorie diets, here's the rub. You have to be EXTRA careful and EXTRA dedicated to getting all the nutrition that your body requires to perform at optimal health. What I'm saying is that you can't waste any of your calories on nutrient sparse foods or you risk shortchanging your body into poor performance and possibly poor health. So make sure you're ready to eat grilled/baked chicken breasts, blueberries, spinach, peppers, fish and all the other nutrient dense foods and know that you'll need to completely avoid treats such as flavored coffees, any and all deserts and food prepared beyond boiling, steaming and baking.

Many people on 1200 calorie diets, because it's so restrictive calorie wise, tend not to get a lot of protien. With this scenario, you run the risk of losing a disproportionate amount of muscle to fat. They then hit goal weight and aren't satisfied with their body's appearance. Also, since their body now has less muscle than it did before (one of the major drivers of metabolism) the rate of metabolism is lower, thus fewer calories can be consumed at maintenance. This is a major factor to many people putting their weight right back on. Maintaining existing muscle should always be a priority when losing but it is often ignored in a bid for fast results.

Most people on 1200 calorie diets allow themselves to indulge when they shouldn't. If you can lose weight at 1400, 1500, or 1600 calories, you can have those treats and you can have a better chance of keeping the muscle your body already has. People who do it a little more slowly are better prepared for when they will go on maintenance because they haven't been depriving themselves of not only the 'treat' foods they love but of food in general. People who eat a bit more than the minimum as they lose weight see their weight loss as less of an arduous task to defeat and vanquish but more as a gradual change to something they will be able to maintain for long into the future.

Can you lose safely on 1200? Yes. Is it easy to do and get all the nutrition your body needs? No. Can it be done? Of course but you have to be completely honest with yourself the entire way.

For me, I'd rather do it slowly while enjoying the foods I love, than do it quickly and gain it all back when I finally give into my dreams of eating all the food again (been there, done that and never want to do it again).

This is the best explanation I've heard (and most respectful) of all the posts I've read on this forum.

Thank you, brower47.

PikaKnight

Did you choose a 2lb loss? If so, change it. With less than 10lbs to go, choose 0.5lb/week loss. Also make sure you are picking the right activity level. Don't pick sedentary unless you really are sedentary. More likely, you are one step up from that at least.

Once that is set, just realize that you eat whatever MFP gives you plus exercise calories. The formula can be found on the profile page.

If you ever decide to go with the TDEE method, just remember that this method includes exercise calories so you wouldn't eat those back. but again - make sure you pick the right activity level.

Another tip - if you aren't using a food scale, get one ASAP. Also, try not to use HRMs for strength or circuit training activities. MFP's #s aren't that far off so going with them is okay.

Whatever changes you do, give it 4-6 weeks before reviewing to see if there is anything that needs tweaking.

brower47

This is the best explanation I've heard (and most respectful) of all the posts I've read on this forum.

Thank you, brower47.

You're welcome but I can be pretty snarky too. I tend to respond in the same voice that the OP sets the tone in. She seemed open minded,that I can work with and converse with. Other posters set a different tone and I tend to respond in kind.

I'm just trying to say that, in the interest of full disclosure, you shouldn't think I'm nicer than I really am.

Good luck OP and I wish you success.

CyberEd312

1200 calorie diets, here's the rub. You have to be EXTRA careful and EXTRA dedicated to getting all the nutrition that your body requires to perform at optimal health. What I'm saying is that you can't waste any of your calories on nutrient sparse foods or you risk shortchanging your body into poor performance and possibly poor health. So make sure you're ready to eat grilled/baked chicken breasts, blueberries, spinach, peppers, fish and all the other nutrient dense foods and know that you'll need to completely avoid treats such as flavored coffees, any and all deserts and food prepared beyond boiling, steaming and baking.

Many people on 1200 calorie diets, because it's so restrictive calorie wise, tend not to get a lot of protien. With this scenario, you run the risk of losing a disproportionate amount of muscle to fat. They then hit goal weight and aren't satisfied with their body's appearance. Also, since their body now has less muscle than it did before (one of the major drivers of metabolism) the rate of metabolism is lower, thus fewer calories can be consumed at maintenance. This is a major factor to many people putting their weight right back on. Maintaining existing muscle should always be a priority when losing but it is often ignored in a bid for fast results.

Most people on 1200 calorie diets allow themselves to indulge when they shouldn't. If you can lose weight at 1400, 1500, or 1600 calories, you can have those treats and you can have a better chance of keeping the muscle your body already has. People who do it a little more slowly are better prepared for when they will go on maintenance because they haven't been depriving themselves of not only the 'treat' foods they love but of food in general. People who eat a bit more than the minimum as they lose weight see their weight loss as less of an arduous task to defeat and vanquish but more as a gradual change to something they will be able to maintain for long into the future.

Can you lose safely on 1200? Yes. Is it easy to do and get all the nutrition your body needs? No. Can it be done? Of course but you have to be completely honest with yourself the entire way.

For me, I'd rather do it slowly while enjoying the foods I love, than do it quickly and gain it all back when I finally give into my dreams of eating all the food again (been there, done that and never want to do it again).

QFT!!! Could not of said it any better.... OP make this a marathon and not a sprint, lose the weight slowly and keep it off for the long term..... Best of Luck

LadyGhostDuchess

I agree with what everyone is saying, do what works for you. I was on 1200 calories and it did not honestly do well for me, but that is my body, not yours. There are many calorie calculators out there - see what they say about what you are doing and then take the average of what they say you should eat. 1200 calories is NOT bad for you, it is what you should eat minimum. I say keep up the amazing work!