Is 1200 calories safe??
DonnasJourney0805
Posts: 75 Member
I always get betwixt and between on the 1200 calories.. MFP gave me a total of 1330 for 1 lb a week loss. And 1200 for 1.5 lbs a week loss. But so many people say your body will go into starvation and store and stop your Metabolism.. Can I have some healthy feedback on that please.. I'm trying to loose my Last15 lbs and do it right... TIA
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Replies
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Starvation mode is a myth, 1200 is as low as mfp will go and you wont lose 1.5lbs on 1200 because you dont have enough of a deficit for that.
If you wanna lose the last 15lbs then eat the right amount of calories, which is starting with what mfp gave you and seeing how you feel.
Starving? Tired? Grumpy? Then your weight loss goal is too aggressive and you need to slow it down to .5lbs pounds per week
You also need to eat back your exercise calories24 -
if you're only going for 15 more lbs I'd choose a slower rate of weight loss, as you have fewer calories to play with to start with - no need to go for rock bottom if you can still lose consistently and at a decent rate while eating more
personally I find 1200 tough to stick to, but 1300-1500 is much easier (this is completely personal experience - your numbers may be different, as I'm short and just trying to get from high normal to mid-normal BMI) 6 -
DonnasJourney0805 wrote: »I always get betwixt and between on the 1200 calories.. MFP gave me a total of 1330 for 1 lb a week loss. And 1200 for 1.5 lbs a week loss. But so many people say your body will go into starvation and store and stop your Metabolism.. Can I have some healthy feedback on that please.. I'm trying to loose my Last15 lbs and do it right... TIA
With 15 lbs left to go, 1.5 lbs per week is an overly aggressive rate of loss. You will be risking muscle loss and honestly just getting too hangry to finish.
Most of us would suggest going as low as 0.5lbs per week at this point, but if you want to try for a rate of 1 lb per week, that's really as fast as you should go.
Starvation mode isn't really a thing. But if you undereat for an extended period of time though, you can lose muscle and mess up your hormones, plus experience some serious fatigue, all of which can cause you to burn a few less calories.
How much you should eat depends on your height, weight, activity level, and desired rate of loss. 1200 cals would be fine for a small group of people, unnecessarily tough for others, and actually dangerous for the rest.15 -
DonnasJourney0805 wrote: »I always get betwixt and between on the 1200 calories.. MFP gave me a total of 1330 for 1 lb a week loss. And 1200 for 1.5 lbs a week loss. But so many people say your body will go into starvation and store and stop your Metabolism.. Can I have some healthy feedback on that please.. I'm trying to loose my Last15 lbs and do it right... TIA
With 15 lbs left to go, 1.5 lbs per week is an overly aggressive rate of loss. You will be risking muscle loss and honestly just getting too hangry to finish.
Most of us would suggest going as low as 0.5lbs per week at this point, but if you want to try for a rate of 1 lb per week, that's really as fast as you should go.
Starvation mode isn't really a thing. But if you undereat for an extended period of time though, you can lose muscle and mess up your hormones, plus experience some serious fatigue, all of which can cause you to burn a few less calories.
How much you should eat depends on your height, weight, activity level, and desired rate of loss. 1200 cals would be fine for a small group of people, unnecessarily tough for others, and actually dangerous for the rest.
Thank you for the info... Helps so much ❣️2 -
I've been on 800-1000 for 6 weeks. Losing a Kg a week. Feel fine, running and cycling most days too.
When I was losing too fast, I felt great, too . . . until I didn't. It took weeks to recover from the weakness and fatigue that hit suddenly. (I was active, like you, spinning or rowing 6 days a week, but eating 1200+ at the time - how many calories is "losing too fast" depends on calorie needs . . . but 800-1000 is likely to be too low long term for anyone but the most petite).
Then there's stuff like this story:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10761904/under-1200-for-weight-loss/p1
Losing slowly can be frustrating. Losing too fast can be a health risk. I don't even have to think hard to know what side of that I'd prefer to be on, let alone want to be encouraging others to do. YMMV.15 -
Remember this is not a program or a diet, it is a lifestyle to a healthier you.
The last few pounds are more difficult to lose than the first 15. It will take longer. I recommend targeting no more than a pound per week.5 -
I started on 1350 calories (I'm 5'3") when I had ~35lbs to lose. I lost very quickly on this amount, and gradually increased to ~1600. I ended up going to the ER with bradycardia (low HR) low BP, low BS. My husband told the Dr I had been exercising and eating healthy. The Dr did not recommend exercising less, but said I needed to eat more, at least 1800. I still lost on this amount, just more slowly. I was probably working out between 40 min to an hour a day, plus a very active job(usually over 10000 steps just at work).
How active are you?5 -
When MFP recommends a daily calorie intake it is just doing the math based on the user's input. 1200 calories, or less, per day, can be a starvation diet, and even it is not, most people taking in so few calories will exhibit some of the symptoms of starvation such as tiredness, etc.
I could not stick to a 1200 calorie/day diet. Literally, I was hungry all the time and suffered the other symptoms of starving myself - tired, short-tempered, lethargic, and slower metabolism so I gained weight. I now work with a range of 1500 - 1800 calories per day and have been losing, on average, about 1 pound/week. I'm down about 30 pounds since Christmas, feeling better and exercising/moving more.
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mullanphylane wrote: »When MFP recommends a daily calorie intake it is just doing the math based on the user's input. 1200 calories, or less, per day, can be a starvation diet, and even it is not, most people taking in so few calories will exhibit some of the symptoms of starvation such as tiredness, etc.
I could not stick to a 1200 calorie/day diet. Literally, I was hungry all the time and suffered the other symptoms of starving myself - tired, short-tempered, lethargic, and slower metabolism so I gained weight. I now work with a range of 1500 - 1800 calories per day and have been losing, on average, about 1 pound/week. I'm down about 30 pounds since Christmas, feeling better and exercising/moving more.
That is great.. I think that is what I have done to myself.. I have stayed too low too long.. And I have literally halted on any progress.. For a long time now.. Working on keeping them up now.. I think that's what I need to do and reset my system3 -
DancingMoosie wrote: »I started on 1350 calories (I'm 5'3") when I had ~35lbs to lose. I lost very quickly on this amount, and gradually increased to ~1600. I ended up going to the ER with bradycardia (low HR) low BP, low BS. My husband told the Dr I had been exercising and eating healthy. The Dr did not recommend exercising less, but said I needed to eat more, at least 1800. I still lost on this amount, just more slowly. I was probably working out between 40 min to an hour a day, plus a very active job(usually over 10000 steps just at work).
How active are you?
I do 30 to 40 minutes of cardio and HIIT at least 4 days a week... I have just been at a stand still for a long time.. But mentally struggle with upping my calories.. I usually consume at 1250ish a day.. But I'm setting it to what MFP gives me for 1 lb a week which is 1390.. see if I can get this train moving again.2 -
tgillies003 wrote: »Remember this is not a program or a diet, it is a lifestyle to a healthier you.
The last few pounds are more difficult to lose than the first 15. It will take longer. I recommend targeting no more than a pound per week.tgillies003 wrote: »Remember this is not a program or a diet, it is a lifestyle to a healthier you.
The last few pounds are more difficult to lose than the first 15. It will take longer. I recommend targeting no more than a pound per week.
I have lost 85 lb already. Just standing still on the last 15. But I think I have halted myself staying so low my body don't want to let go.. Gonna up them to the MFP settings of 1390 a day for a 1 lb lose weekly and see what happens 🙏7 -
DonnasJourney0805 wrote: »tgillies003 wrote: »Remember this is not a program or a diet, it is a lifestyle to a healthier you.
The last few pounds are more difficult to lose than the first 15. It will take longer. I recommend targeting no more than a pound per week.tgillies003 wrote: »Remember this is not a program or a diet, it is a lifestyle to a healthier you.
The last few pounds are more difficult to lose than the first 15. It will take longer. I recommend targeting no more than a pound per week.
I have lost 85 lb already. Just standing still on the last 15. But I think I have halted myself staying so low my body don't want to let go.. Gonna up them to the MFP settings of 1390 a day for a 1 lb lose weekly and see what happens 🙏
If you are at the tail end of a long weight loss you have very little to lose and a lot to gain by losing the last bit very slowly and easing into maintenance.
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DonnasJourney0805 wrote: »tgillies003 wrote: »Remember this is not a program or a diet, it is a lifestyle to a healthier you.
The last few pounds are more difficult to lose than the first 15. It will take longer. I recommend targeting no more than a pound per week.tgillies003 wrote: »Remember this is not a program or a diet, it is a lifestyle to a healthier you.
The last few pounds are more difficult to lose than the first 15. It will take longer. I recommend targeting no more than a pound per week.
I have lost 85 lb already. Just standing still on the last 15. But I think I have halted myself staying so low my body don't want to let go.. Gonna up them to the MFP settings of 1390 a day for a 1 lb lose weekly and see what happens 🙏
If you are at the tail end of a long weight loss you have very little to lose and a lot to gain by losing the last bit very slowly and easing into maintenance.DonnasJourney0805 wrote: »tgillies003 wrote: »Remember this is not a program or a diet, it is a lifestyle to a healthier you.
The last few pounds are more difficult to lose than the first 15. It will take longer. I recommend targeting no more than a pound per week.tgillies003 wrote: »Remember this is not a program or a diet, it is a lifestyle to a healthier you.
The last few pounds are more difficult to lose than the first 15. It will take longer. I recommend targeting no more than a pound per week.
I have lost 85 lb already. Just standing still on the last 15. But I think I have halted myself staying so low my body don't want to let go.. Gonna up them to the MFP settings of 1390 a day for a 1 lb lose weekly and see what happens 🙏
If you are at the tail end of a long weight loss you have very little to lose and a lot to gain by losing the last bit very slowly and easing into maintenance.
I am heading that way..🙌🙌🙌.. Been a long journey.. Just trying to find the right place and not gain any back
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Please note: promotion for very low calorie diets (VLCD) is against forum guidelines. We want all our users to enjoy a safe and healthy journey.
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Thanks for your cooperation,
4legs
MFP volunteer moderator14 -
Congratulations on what you've lost so far.
As everyone has said, the last lbs are the hardest / slowest. However, have you had a diet break? I'd suggest switching your goal to 'Maintain current weight' and eat that number of cals (plus your exercise cals) for one to two weeks. Then, when you resume, select a rate of losing 0.5lb a week. It's slow, but it's safe and it's also good practice for when you really will be maintaining.4 -
MFP recommened 1236. It’s been kinda hard to stick to especially since I try to be under my goal. So I usually end up around 1100.
I’m starving. But I’m learning to eat until I’m satisfied rather than being full. It’s a really weird feeling.1 -
MFP recommened 1236. It’s been kinda hard to stick to especially since I try to be under my goal. So I usually end up around 1100.
I’m starving. But I’m learning to eat until I’m satisfied rather than being full. It’s a really weird feeling.
Make sure you don’t eat under 1200 as that is very unhealthy.11 -
MFP recommened 1236. It’s been kinda hard to stick to especially since I try to be under my goal. So I usually end up around 1100.
I’m starving. But I’m learning to eat until I’m satisfied rather than being full. It’s a really weird feeling.
can I just ask why you try and stay 100+kcal under? 1200ish is low as it is and if you're weighing and measuring your portions you should be ok eating the numbers mfp gives you6 -
I think it depends on numerous things. If someone was completely sedentary, there wouldn't be a need for more than 1200 calories.1
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Another vote for a weekly weight loss goal of a half pound per week when one only has 15 pounds to lose.
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I had my BMR/RMR tested because it seemed I had to target a net of 1000 calories a day or less to see even the slightest loss. Sure, I could be bad/lazy at counting the calories, but wanted to know where I needed to be. I hear so many stories where similar women eat near 2000cal/day and no idea how they do that.
MY target to lose according to the BMR test (measures CO2/O2 breathing, thus metabolism) was 1253 calories. So, it is a thing. Some of us are more efficient, or have less muscle. Although the data I got put me a hair above average for height weight age and metabolism. So, I feel like that's where most of "us" are. So just make the most of your choices, maybe stagger the calories through out the week. 1200 MWF, 1700 SS, TR 1000 or something that fits with your workout schedule. Don't expect every day to require the same amount of calories, you are not a machine. Adjust and add a healthy meal where needed.
5'5" 129lbs. 50yo. F. Active at time of testing (runner).0 -
So did it test your BMR to be 1253? Or did it do some calculations of your BMR, activity, and weightloss goal to come up with that number?1
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DancingMoosie wrote: »So did it test your BMR to be 1253? Or did it do some calculations of your BMR, activity, and weightloss goal to come up with that number?
That was a measured result. I tried to find the data sheet but couldn't, perhaps it wasn't added to my online account with DexaFit. I was 120.5lbs, 48.5yo, 31%BF via DexaScan.
ETA it actually suggested if I wanted to lose weight to net just under 1000 a day. Which isn't feasible if you are running or any other cardio. I just tried to fuel for runs and add recovery days with bit more calories. I should have added HIIT and resistance to lose without fighting each and every calorie with fasted running.0 -
But my question is, is 1253 your BMR? If so, you should eat above your BMR because it is what your body would burn at rest.
*Edited to correct "burn"3 -
DancingMoosie wrote: »But my question is, is 1253 your BMR? If so, you should eat above your BMR because it is what your body would but at rest.
yes, absolutely.0 -
80 percent of the job is in the kitchen. I've thought that was a useful statement so I thought I would share.
To me, it seems unwise to try to lose so much weight so fast, especially if you have more than 20 pounds to lose. 0.5 pounds a week and a diet that you can live with seems so much better than 10 weeks of starvation on too little gross diet food just to gain it all back even faster the next time.
Just my two cents. Do whatever works for you...2 -
Might want to check out excellent posts by Emily Patterson, "Under 1200 for weight-loss." It doesn't make sense but when I cut my calories down I don't lose but gain a lb or so - if I eat the amount deemed per the charts (mfp calculator) I lose - maybe not as fast as I'd like, but it works. Friends yrs ago on Weight Watchers said when they didn't eat all their food they'd actually gain. I didn't believe! I think it applies more when you're older and have abused your body by one too many crash/caloric restricted diets. I know so many older gals who starve to remain thin (around 700-800 cals) and exercise like crazy - always having health issues - gall bladder, stomach, etc.1
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MFP recommened 1236. It’s been kinda hard to stick to especially since I try to be under my goal. So I usually end up around 1100.
I’m starving. But I’m learning to eat until I’m satisfied rather than being full. It’s a really weird feeling.
How big are you now (height/weight), and how fast did you tell MFP you want to lose?
MFP doesn't recommend a calorie level out of the blue. It recommends a calorie level based on how fast we say we want to lose. It'll let a person choose punitively fast, unsustainable loss rates. (I'm not saying you did that: I don't know, which is why I asked the questions in the first paragraph.)
The only brakes MFP applies is that it won't give women a goal below 1200. Clearly, if you got 1236, you didn't hit that limit.
Most people will find a loss rate less than 1% of current body weigh per week more sustainable, and a slower rate than that can be more risk-averse for someone with relatively little to lose - less than 40-50 pounds, say.5 -
netitheyeti wrote: »MFP recommened 1236. It’s been kinda hard to stick to especially since I try to be under my goal. So I usually end up around 1100.
I’m starving. But I’m learning to eat until I’m satisfied rather than being full. It’s a really weird feeling.
can I just ask why you try and stay 100+kcal under? 1200ish is low as it is and if you're weighing and measuring your portions you should be ok eating the numbers mfp gives you
I don’t try to end up there, it just sort of happens. I do weigh out my food and meal prep accordingly. So I’ll set out to eat certain prepared meals during the day but, due to timing issues, I usually end up being short on calories. Instead of stuffing my face like I really, really, REALLY want to do, I just try to go to bed. I have poor impulse control so it’s better for me to go to bed feeling slightly hungry than to try and grab a snack to max my calories and end up going over.2 -
Might want to check out excellent posts by Emily Patterson, "Under 1200 for weight-loss." It doesn't make sense but when I cut my calories down I don't lose but gain a lb or so - if I eat the amount deemed per the charts (mfp calculator) I lose - maybe not as fast as I'd like, but it works. Friends yrs ago on Weight Watchers said when they didn't eat all their food they'd actually gain. I didn't believe! I think it applies more when you're older and have abused your body by one too many crash/caloric restricted diets. I know so many older gals who starve to remain thin (around 700-800 cals) and exercise like crazy - always having health issues - gall bladder, stomach, etc.
I’m curious about that too... I might add that to my personal research list so I can learn more.0
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