1200 Cal Diet and Need Running Buddies

delphaine
delphaine Posts: 8 Member
in Introduce Yourself
:happy: I just started the 1200 calorie diet and have been running for about 2 weeks now. I'm attempting to train up for a half marathon or at least do some 5k's and 10k's and integrate running into a new healthy lifestyle. I love the running but they aren't kidding when they say you have to give it a full month before it feels good. I'm dying with the 1200 calorie diet and would love to have some friends out there that are trying to make it through as well. I've got 20 lbs to lose in order to be in ideal running shape and look pretty good. Feel free to add me and we can chat about our runs and the hungry diet.
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Replies

  • lucyloutoo
    lucyloutoo Posts: 522 Member
    I really struggled with the breathing when I first started the c25k app, and my friends who ran just said "after ten mins, you'll be fine"... I never saw myself getting to ten mins.
    But I did, and more...let it slip recently and trying to find the weather conditions and time to start again.
  • delphaine
    delphaine Posts: 8 Member
    I hear you, running in the cold really gets my lungs acting up. I try to stay indoors until the weather gets better.
  • lucyloutoo
    lucyloutoo Posts: 522 Member
    I'm too scared to lose any form I may have built up!!!

    Managed my first 5k of the year today..slow, but got there.
  • IbiH
    IbiH Posts: 250 Member
    I don't know anything about you but I'm guessing that 1200 calories is way to low if you are training for distance running..... have you checked this calculator out?

    http://www.marathon.ipcor.com/marathon-nutrition-calculator.htm
  • 000Linda000
    000Linda000 Posts: 50 Member
    I'm not a runner but I'm also on the 1200 diet. I'm restarting mfp after a few months off.
  • davert123
    davert123 Posts: 1,568 Member
    if you are running you need more that 1200 cals per day or else you are heading for burnout and injury. most people don't listen to this advice of course but I thought I would let you know so if you carry on you will know why you have broken down when you do
  • valmegb
    valmegb Posts: 38 Member
    Hi there,
    I'm attempting to run, cycle and swim while on 1200 kcals and like you am finding it hard. It's doable but in order to do it I'm having to ensure that I eat back some of the exercise calories.

    Add me as a friend and we can support each other!
  • sausens
    sausens Posts: 39 Member
    Yes, if you want to run, you need more calories. Try to NET at 1200, otherwise you will hurt your body.
  • delphaine
    delphaine Posts: 8 Member
    Nice job, hope it felt great!
  • delphaine
    delphaine Posts: 8 Member
    I am doing the 1200 diet, however, I'm doing it with the net at 1200 on run days so my 5 running days a week are more like 1600ish and my off days are around 1200, but it still feels very hard.
  • imjolly
    imjolly Posts: 176 Member
    I run and I can only eat 1200 calories. I always eat the calories I burn off so I end up eating more than my 1200 calories. In fact it encourages me to work out so I can eat more. : )
  • daybehavior
    daybehavior Posts: 1,319 Member
    if you are running you need more that 1200 cals per day or else you are heading for burnout and injury. most people don't listen to this advice of course but I thought I would let you know so if you carry on you will know why you have broken down when you do

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :heart:
  • FrankiesSaysRelax
    FrankiesSaysRelax Posts: 403 Member
    I am doing the 1200 diet, however, I'm doing it with the net at 1200 on run days so my 5 running days a week are more like 1600ish and my off days are around 1200, but it still feels very hard.

    I would still recommend looking into calculating your TDEE. You can eat more than that and still lose weight.
  • irakrishna1
    irakrishna1 Posts: 106 Member
    Feel free to add me I'm on 1200-1400 cal diet, however I eat my calories back most of the time. A bit slow (45min /5km) but I love running. Two times a week I try to hit 5km. Last few days took a break due to sickness now back on the track from tomorrow. See you!
  • akaMrsmojo
    akaMrsmojo Posts: 762 Member
    You say you are struggling at 1200, I would be too. When I run, I have to eat my BMR and my calories back or I run myself down. There is nothing wrong with fueling body. And trust, I lost more running like that I did when I was just doing 1280 a day.
  • delphaine
    delphaine Posts: 8 Member
    Hey you guys are great, lots of good advice so far. I am doing my best to keep my net around 1200 which on my 4 mile days ends up being closer to 1700 because of the extra 500ish calories I earn. Once my pace speeds up then I think I will be burning enough to not quite worry too much about calorie intake, however, I'm running like a 37min/5k so far and my pace is terribly slow. I'm not sure I should really test calorie intake much past the 1200net at this point.
  • akaMrsmojo
    akaMrsmojo Posts: 762 Member
    Hey you guys are great, lots of good advice so far. I am doing my best to keep my net around 1200 which on my 4 mile days ends up being closer to 1700 because of the extra 500ish calories I earn. Once my pace speeds up then I think I will be burning enough to not quite worry too much about calorie intake, however, I'm running like a 37min/5k so far and my pace is terribly slow. I'm not sure I should really test calorie intake much past the 1200net at this point.

    1200 is just the default number that my fitness pal uses as the minimum. I really, really suggest if you want to keep running and gain speed you research TDEE and BMR. At least do your own research, 1200 is not the magic loss number. Most people should eat well over.
  • TapouTFTW
    TapouTFTW Posts: 72
    1350 Cal a day here and I started C25K over the weekend (Day 3 is tomorrow). I was in the Army for 5 years and I N E V E R liked running. Put an 80 lbs pack on my back and go for a 12 mile march, cool. Morning PT of 4 mile run, not cool. Sprints, hate em.

    However, running... like broccoli, is something I just have to put back into my "diet". Some form of cardio is necessary and right now, C25K is it.
  • delphaine
    delphaine Posts: 8 Member
    1200 is just the default number that my fitness pal uses as the minimum. I really, really suggest if you want to keep running and gain speed you research TDEE and BMR. At least do your own research, 1200 is not the magic loss number. Most people should eat well over.

    I will look up the TDEE and BMR, and thanks for the advice.
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    :happy: I just started the 1200 calorie diet and have been running for about 2 weeks now. I'm attempting to train up for a half marathon or at least do some 5k's and 10k's and integrate running into a new healthy lifestyle. I love the running but they aren't kidding when they say you have to give it a full month before it feels good. I'm dying with the 1200 calorie diet and would love to have some friends out there that are trying to make it through as well. I've got 20 lbs to lose in order to be in ideal running shape and look pretty good. Feel free to add me and we can chat about our runs and the hungry diet.

    If what you say is true about training for a half, then you will need to take in a lot more then 1200. I am training for my second half marathon, and I don't run that fast either....probably a 10:00 pace tops....and I eat 1800 a day, more on long run days. When you get to the last weeks of your training you will really need to be hitting calorie marks, anything too low and your runs will start suffering, especially your longer runs.

    I won't try to talk you out of running a half, though if you are brand new to running I suggest focusing on the 5K, then the 10K and -then- the half marathon....this way you are allowing a slow transition for your body. There is so much going on in your body that you really should go slow and ease into the next distance up.
  • julie_emma1
    julie_emma1 Posts: 146
    Hey! I'm training for a HM as well (actually 2 - one in May and one in June). I have lost a reasonable amount of weight from diet and running. Originally, I netted about 1350 calories per day and went from about 155 originally to 123 now. HOWEVER, I also lost a lot of my muscle mass that I had around 140 lbs from dieting and running like that. So I am now working to recover from that by upping my calories to try to eat at maintenance through TDEE (FYI for my HM training, I am eating about 2100 calories per day now and am still losing 0.25 lbs per week or so, so you can eat more than you think!). I'm also aiming for at least 100 grams of protein per day, and lifting 2-3X per week on top of my run schedule. Long story short, I'd recommend upping your calories to fuel your runs + make sure you are getting adequate protein and some strength training (maybe 2 days per week?) to protect your lean body mass.

    Also, feel free to add me! I'm always happy to have more running buddies on MFP!
  • RunConquerCelebrate
    RunConquerCelebrate Posts: 956 Member
    I am also training for my first Half Marathon next month. But last year I focused on increasing the distance and working on endurance by running several 10ks and 15ks. I personally could not train for a marathon and only eat 1200 calories a day. I can burn over 1000 easily on my long runs.

    I am trying to loose weight, but not at the expense of affecting my runs. I have noticed that when I do not eat right ( or fuel my body) my runs get affected. I do not run for weight loss even though it is an awesome benefit of running, I run because I love it.

    I am pretty sure you could run and eat 1200 calories and loose weight, but I do not think that is a healthy way of doing it. Good luck in your training and in your first Half.

    Oh I do not follow TDEE, my calories are set to 1400 and I eat some of my exercise calories back. On days when I run long I eat about 2000 calories.
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
    If you are training for a marathon, you need to be eating way more than 1200 calories per day.
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    Well this is just a terrible idea.
  • southerndream24
    southerndream24 Posts: 303 Member
    I agree with what many said above. 1200 calories is definitely not enough. I see you said you eat back your excercise calories, but I would suggest trying the TDEE method if you're going to push half marathon distances. I've done several halfs and a couple full marathons. It helps to have a set amount everyday. If I were to rest the day before a long run and only eat 1200 calories, then I would be miserable running 10+ miles the next day.

    Remember as a distance runner you have to take care of your body. Less food is not the way to go. I eat about 1800-2000 calories a day and I'm a small girl.
  • jillmcafee
    jillmcafee Posts: 34 Member
    Most people need more than 1200 a day if they are sedentary, unless you are under 5 feet tall and already light. If you are running you need way more calories than that or you will lose muscle mass. You will feel constantly tired and sluggish, be starving all the time, and end up get injured or giving up. Never, ever eat below your BMR.

    I also run and I eat anywhere from 1800 to 2700 calories a day depending on how far I run or what kind of workout I am doing, and I have been steadily losing weight. If you are eating 1200 a day, then running 4 miles, you are forcing yourself to live on 800 calories that day. Even if you eat back your running calories, after a couple of months at 1200, your body will go into starvation mode and you will plateau, in both your diet and your running. You will lose muscle mass, and it will kill your metabolism. I know, because it happened to me on the old WW plan. They had me at 1200 a day and I felt horrible. I eventually gained all the weight back, and now it is 10 times harder to lose because I lost so much muscle mass. A pound of muscle burns about twice as many calories at rest as a pound of fat. So when you have a very restricted diet, your body starts unloading the high maintenance muscle, not the low maintenance fat.

    Here is a quick BMR calculator:

    http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/

    You should eat 1.2 times your BMR if you are sedentary, more if you active. There is a chart on the site. Good luck!
  • essjay76
    essjay76 Posts: 465 Member
    Yeah, eat those exercise calories back or use the TDEE method. I am getting dizzy thinking of eating that little while training for a longer distance race.

    As mentioned earlier, it would suck eating only 1200 calories on a rest day the day before a long run day.

    I say this and I'm under 5' and weigh a little over 100 pounds. That just would not be enough food for me.
  • inflames95
    inflames95 Posts: 15 Member
    Hi, im just starting up mfp again and this time im running 2 miles at least 5 days a week while sticking to 1,200 a day.

    However on days when i run i do try to eat back some of the calories i have burnt...

    Feel free to add me and we can support each other on here :D
  • dclark566
    dclark566 Posts: 330 Member
    Feel Free to add me. I am signed up for my first half this year (June).
  • apeacefulway
    apeacefulway Posts: 43
    The other thing you need to think about is long term sustainability and happiness. If your calories are too low and you're starving all the time, your quality of life is going to go down and your body will go into starvation mode, stalling your weight loss. Your body is alerting you to the hunger because it's craving more nutrients. You need to feed your body and keep the metabolic gears spinning.

    Drink lots of water. Eat high quality nutrient dense food. Eat healthy, low calorie snacks when you get hungry and stay within a reasonable calorie goal. That's been my plan and I've lost 22 pounds in a 5 weeks. Never once have I let myself go hungry.

    Best of luck with your plans and goals.

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