1200 Calorie Diet???? Seriously???

sweetdixie92

I think it's pretty ridiculous all the bashing of the OP when he seems TO have a clue. I don't agree with the 1,200 calories being a problem. As others have said, it all depends on the person and size. I have my goal set at 1,200, but normally end up around 1,500. His other tips, however, are great. I think it's MORE scary that a lot of people on here think it's perfectly okay and "healthy" to continue eating crap foods like white bread, white rice, candy bars, etc.....provided they're losing weight. Losing weight does NOT mean you are healthy. Being skinny does NOT mean you must be a healthy person. What you fuel your body with determines how healthy you are. The OP is encouraging a clean diet. What's wrong with that?? I have an aunt who is both a personal training and a nutritionist, as well as her husband being a nutritionist and managing a heath food store. I'm sure many of you would (apparently) be jumping down their throats for giving you good, solid advice that you just didn't like.

Yes, you can lose weight eating 1,200 calories of junk food. But if you actually care about your health, maybe you'll consider what people like the OP have to say.

EvgeniZyntx

please roll this zombie thread and get it off my post list. mmmmmokthx.

AllieMarie2244

bump to read later

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Idefinenichelle

I think it's pretty ridiculous all the bashing of the OP when he seems TO have a clue. I don't agree with the 1,200 calories being a problem. As others have said, it all depends on the person and size. I have my goal set at 1,200, but normally end up around 1,500. His other tips, however, are great. I think it's MORE scary that a lot of people on here think it's perfectly okay and "healthy" to continue eating crap foods like white bread, white rice, candy bars, etc.....provided they're losing weight. Losing weight does NOT mean you are healthy. Being skinny does NOT mean you must be a healthy person. What you fuel your body with determines how healthy you are. The OP is encouraging a clean diet. What's wrong with that?? I have an aunt who is both a personal training and a nutritionist, as well as her husband being a nutritionist and managing a heath food store. I'm sure many of you would (apparently) be jumping down their throats for giving you good, solid advice that you just didn't like.

Yes, you can lose weight eating 1,200 calories of junk food. But if you actually care about your health, maybe you'll consider what people like the OP have to say.

:flowerforyou:

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diahann63

Exactly what I was thinking! Hehe...I wish I had all the answers like she does.

meonlybetterDUH

My daily goal is 1200 and I find it hard to get that many calories in daily! And I am not starving and I feel like I'm eating all the time. I don't eat back calories from walking 5 miles a day and/or the days I work out (3-4 times a week).

deksgrl

My daily goal is 1200 and I find it hard to get that many calories in daily! And I am not starving and I feel like I'm eating all the time. I don't eat back calories from walking 5 miles a day and/or the days I work out (3-4 times a week).

Yes, well, appetite is controlled by hormones, and if you under-eat or over-eat, you throw those hormones out of whack, hunger (or lack of) isn't always an indicator of whether or not you are eating the proper amount.

If you are petite, then this is probably okay, but for the average person, 1200 is just the bare minimum. Age also factors in.

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fayetinii

I wish I was 6ft.... then I'd be skinny lol.

deksgrl

My daily goal is 1200 and I find it hard to get that many calories in daily! And I am not starving and I feel like I'm eating all the time. I don't eat back calories from walking 5 miles a day and/or the days I work out (3-4 times a week).

Someone should write a sticky for all these people. Seriously.

They did. But they don't read it, or if they do, they don't want to hear it.

jofjltncb6

My daily goal is 1200 and I find it hard to get that many calories in daily! And I am not starving and I feel like I'm eating all the time. I don't eat back calories from walking 5 miles a day and/or the days I work out (3-4 times a week).

Someone should write a sticky for all these people. Seriously.

Someone has, but it had little/no effect.

I suspect it is because there are simply so many defenders of the drastic approach and fellow travelers of the suffering path that it reaches no one.



NOTE: I am *not* saying that 1200 is wrong for *everybody*. There are some for whom it is absolutely the "right" answer. I am, however, saying that it is not right for many (and perhaps most) of the people who insist that it is. Further, I discount the opinions of those who are so adamant that it is "right" based on their personal experience of less than at least several months.

CaitySins

Based on my goals my calorie goal here was set to 1260, with what I add, I tend to come under and still feel full. The only reason I would actually go over is where I have a craving, but I'm not really hungry for it, it's just the taste. I don't think it's starving yourself if you're eating the right foods. I remember being part of another fitness site when I was 13/14 and it told me to eat 800 calories a day and that my ideal weight was 6-7 stone based on my height. Looking at that makes me think it was a pro-ana site under the illusion of being a fitness site.

jofjltncb6

Based on my goals my calorie goal here was set to 1260, with what I add, I tend to come under and still feel full. The only reason I would actually go over is where I have a craving, but I'm not really hungry for it, it's just the taste. I don't think it's starving yourself if you're eating the right foods. I remember being part of another fitness site when I was 13/14 and it told me to eat 800 calories a day and that my ideal weight was 6-7 stone based on my height. Looking at that makes me think it was a pro-ana site under the illusion of being a fitness site.

(You've been here for four years. Maybe try the program as it's designed and eat to the number of calories suggested? Also, given that you're 19, I'm going to assume that you probably need *more* than 1260 calories.

Wait, you've been here for four years and you're just now 19? :huh:)

Heatherthecyclist

I'm a recent joiner. My base is set at 1200 as well. I do a lot of sport nearly every day, often 2 or 3 times as I'm a competitive cyclist.

I think the exercise calories are way out on here, far too high, so just giving myself an extra 400 for every hour on the bike. I have found this ok on normal training days, I eat them back and can just about manage on 1200 net. But today is a rest day for me and I've had my 1200 calories and I'm really hungry

I don't know how all u guys on here find it hard to eat the calories up. I just want I go to bed early so I can wake up with some more calories. I'm 61kg and want to be about 57kg.

toutmonpossible

My daily goal is 1200 and I find it hard to get that many calories in daily! And I am not starving and I feel like I'm eating all the time. I don't eat back calories from walking 5 miles a day and/or the days I work out (3-4 times a week).

Someone should write a sticky for all these people. Seriously.

Someone has, but it had little/no effect.

I suspect it is because there are simply so many defenders of the drastic approach and fellow travelers of the suffering path that it reaches no one.



NOTE: I am *not* saying that 1200 is wrong for *everybody*. There are some for whom it is absolutely the "right" answer. I am, however, saying that it is not right for many (and perhaps most) of the people who insist that it is. Further, I discount the opinions of those who are so adamant that it is "right" based on their personal experience of less than at least several months.

Why don't you assume that this is a thread for people who know their calorie needs?

TheVirgoddess

NOTE: I am *not* saying that 1200 is wrong for *everybody*. There are some for whom it is absolutely the "right" answer. I am, however, saying that it is not right for many (and perhaps most) of the people who insist that it is. Further, I discount the opinions of those who are so adamant that it is "right" based on their personal experience of less than at least several months.

I just wanted to thank you for this little bit of your post.

Meerataila

Seriously, this thread was created in October of 2013 and it still has the power to piss me off. Not all of us are young, tall, athletic males who enjoy excessive gym time.

For instance, I'm a short old woman with the habits of a well-rested, comfy sloth, and 1200 calories is more than sufficient for my weight loss needs.

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WalkingAlong

I agree, Meerata. Though any time you defend a low-cal diet here you're opened up to all kinds of insults-- 'hangry', lazy, lying, stupid, 'having issues with eating', old, weak, misinformed. Which is ironic since the MFP diet IS a low cal diet.

It's easier to fling insults than to discuss like adults or to be tolerant of others' choices, for some.

Meerataila

I agree, Meerata. Though any time you defend a low-cal diet here you're opened up to all kinds of insults-- 'hangry', lazy, lying, stupid, 'having issues with eating', old, weak, misinformed. Which is ironic since the MFP diet IS a low cal diet.

It's easier to fling insults than to discuss like adults or to be tolerant of others' choices, for some.

Actually in my case all of the above are true except 'stupid'. I'm so smart, even my excuses for not moving will run circles around this site's intellectuals. We didn't get out of the trees by being athletic, we got out because we have big brains. Now no one who is up on the latest anthropological research better come in and correct me on that one by claiming it's the reverse and we got our brains because we got out of the trees, or I'll just point out that, nevertheless, I'm only sitting here reading these discussions because brains > brawn! :laugh:

jofjltncb6

NOTE: I am *not* saying that 1200 is wrong for *everybody*. There are some for whom it is absolutely the "right" answer. I am, however, saying that it is not right for many (and perhaps most) of the people who insist that it is. Further, I discount the opinions of those who are so adamant that it is "right" based on their personal experience of less than at least several months.

I just wanted to thank you for this little bit of your post.

You're welcome. :flowerforyou:

Why don't you assume that this is a thread for people who know their calorie needs?

Because IMHO most of the people who say they *need* to be at 1200 calories to make progress toward their goals simply do not...and given a choice between progress at a calorie amount greater than 1200 calories and progress at no more than 1200 calories, I believe success and optimal health are more likely with the former.

easeintofitness

Ugh

Meerataila

This site and Scooby and every other site I've ever run across says that if I want to lose weight, even at a glacier pace, I need to be at 1200 calories or less.

Or I could go for a brisk 3 hour jog carrying Jillian Michaels on my back. Every. Single. Day. Then I might be able to up my calories by what? Around 300?

hearthwood

I don't have a problem with 1200 a day. Many tend to forget that they'll never get away with eating like they did when they were younger, as a person ages the metabolism slows, MFP is very accurate, if users are accurate on what they put in, as far as activity levels. If you don't know if you're active or not, a tip, put in sedentary. The only truly active people are people who work in physically demanding jobs.

EvgeniZyntx

This site and Scooby and every other site I've ever run across says that if I want to lose weight, even at a glacier pace, I need to be at 1200 calories or less.

Or I could go for a brisk 3 hour jog carrying Jillian Michaels on my back. Every. Single. Day. Then I might be able to up my calories by what? Around 300?

If your TDEE is low, as a sedentary person with little LBM (due to size, or other conditions) then yes, you will lose slowly. And yes, you will need to be more active.
However, 3 hours of running is well above 300 cals above baseline. And it's also counter productive for a variety of reasons.

MelodyandBarbells

Weight loss is trial & error as much as determination and will power. You can not tell me that a 17 stone 5"5 sedentarty woman should be eating the same as a 7 stone 5"5 highly active woman. That is the science fad diets are based on.

YES, YES you can! The 17 stone woman got to and maintained her weight eating WAY more calories than someone who weighs 140 lbs less than she does! It takes more calories just to maintain a bigger body. The point is that weight loss should not be about, hey, Mr. potential weight loser, you got fat. Now let's punish you by never having you eat whatever got you fat and you can only have chicken breasts and lettuce. The moderate deficit allows them to re-evaluate their food choices if need be, but they'd also be able to fit some of the items they like which got them to their current weight

It's one thing to say you can't be bothered to eat more, but giving a large person more calories to eat is EXCELLENT science!

dbmata

This site and Scooby and every other site I've ever run across says that if I want to lose weight, even at a glacier pace, I need to be at 1200 calories or less.

Or I could go for a brisk 3 hour jog carrying Jillian Michaels on my back. Every. Single. Day. Then I might be able to up my calories by what? Around 300?

I lol'ed at this.

toutmonpossible

I don't have a problem with 1200 a day. Many tend to forget that they'll never get away with eating like they did when they were younger, as a person ages the metabolism slows, MFP is very accurate, if users are accurate on what they put in, as far as activity levels. If you don't know if you're active or not, a tip, put in sedentary. The only truly active people are people who work in physically demanding jobs.

Absolutely. Most people vastly overestimate their activity level.

I've never been anywhere near clinically overweight, but the only way I've managed to stay in the normal range (unlike members of my family) is by eating less, and even then my weight has been creeping up. I'm also not really active, but in terms of weight loss, exercise is not the critical factor: calorie reduction is.

If I want to lose weight I have to be below 1200.