1200 cals a day?!
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and our point is:I think people got the wrong idea about me. I stay 1200 or lower one time a week or so, not every day. I was just making the point that it is fairly easy to to if you eat the right stuff.
very.. VERY few people should have to. the 1200 calorie that MFP gives out is a flub in the system. I'm sorry you're not following.
I just logged my 770th day on this site today. I've been posting the following blurb for a while.here are some clues:
1. don't trust the initial setup that MFP provides. If you put in the wrong/inaccurate information, it'll tell you to eat an amount that may not be applicable.
2. Make sure you eat enough.
3. Figure out what works for you and is sustainable/healthy/long term.
4. avoid fads. don't buy in to any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"
5. Don't cut out anything now that you don't plan on literally giving up forever.
6. GET A FOOD SCALE. Weigh everything. No, seriously.
7. Get an HRM with a chest strap. You'll at least have a better idea of what you're burning. It'll be more accurate than the generic info in the exercise database.. and even more than the cardio machines. This is great for steady state cardio (run/walk/etc)
8. Don't go balls out. You'll burn out. I see 300 lb people show up here, instantly start working out and cutting their intake SEVERELY... trying to cut out all of their carbs at once.. whatever. Take it slow. Figure out how much you need to eat FIRST in order to lose.. then incorporate exercise.
9. Don't cardio yourself to death.
10. Take the information on the forums with a grain of salt. A lot of people that have been here for a while.. and have been successful, may seem jaded. They give out GREAT advice day after day, only to be met with people that refuse to listen.
11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
12. don't set time restrictions.
13. measure yourself weekly. Don't just weigh. Measure and take pictures.
14 BE PATIENT.
15. Avoid forum topics that have "1200" in the title. It's just full of butthurt. Lots of it.
16. If you ask a question on the forum, give as much information as you can ("yes, I have a food scale and weigh my food" is worlds better than "I eat a palm full of miscellaneous boiled chicken parts..sometimes.")
17. Be honest with yourself and honest with us.
18. This isn't a game, it's about changing your lifestyle. Do that.
pretty much that.
...and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:
the typical MFP users does this:
1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that.. then they work out on top of it.. creating an even bigger deficit.
5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, not losing weight.
7. Get on the forums, ask why they aren't losing.
8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
9. Argument ensues about who is right.
Now. That being said. These threads happen hundreds of times per day. Most times, and I mean really.. seriously.. 95% of the time.. people get the 1200 number because they don't put the right information in when they set up the account. There are a great number of people that are trying to help. I'm one of 'em.
I'm a hardcore advocate of actually finding out what works for the individual.. by means of other calculators, averages, time, practice, and patience.
Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.
Find out what you need: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
and make sure to read: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
this could help.
I've bolded the important part so any future posters to this thread can see that there's a big bright light at the end of that godawful 1200 calorie tunnel that they get sucked into.
Feel free to take a look at those links yourself, it might help.0 -
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.5lb per month?! Way too low.....change your settings to .5lb or 1lb per month. welcome to the world of still eating and still losing.
Okay, starve then. Wear down your adrenal system from eating too little. Then when you get to your goal weight and resume eating "normally" again, gain it all back and then some. Welcome to the perpetual life long diet of misery.
QFT
Read it again. It says 0.5 lbs PER MONTH.
One can lose more than 0.125 lbs per week without wearing out the adrenal gland.0 -
it was a typo. I even updated the original to match.
.5lb per month?! Way too low.....change your settings to .5lb or 1lb per month. welcome to the world of still eating and still losing.
Okay, starve then. Wear down your adrenal system from eating too little. Then when you get to your goal weight and resume eating "normally" again, gain it all back and then some. Welcome to the perpetual life long diet of misery.
QFT
Read it again. It says 0.5 lbs PER MONTH.
One can lose more than 0.125 lbs per week without wearing out the adrenal gland.0 -
I know that. But it didn't update in the quote, So she was saying 0.5 lbs per month is too low, and people jumped all over her. Her response was to what she thought you wrote, and wasn't unreasonable. Other people responded as though she was being unreasonable.0
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I think people got the wrong idea about me. I stay 1200 or lower one time a week or so, not every day. I was just making the point that it is fairly easy to to if you eat the right stuff.
I agree with you. I"m not sure I'd call it easy per se, but if you kick out a lot of the nutrient deficient foods and grains, 1200 can be surprisingly satisfying when you're focusing on good proteins, veggies and good fats. It's difficult when you start adding in more of the high calorie but unsatisfying carbs, especially refined carbs and sweets (oh, how I wish it were the other way around!).0 -
trogalicious --- hero0
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I did 1320 (which was more like 1400) for my first 4 weeks, and have since switched to closer to 1650 b/c I wasn't feeling well (whether due to low calorie or not, idk). So far going up doesn't seem to have hindered my weight loss. We'll see going forward.0
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P.s. forgot to mention I'm 5'2"
FML hate being small!
I am 5'2. I lose 0.5 lb/week weight eating 1900-2100 cal/day. I net around 1700 cal/day. I too started at 1200 cal per the MFP recommendation and then started reading more on these forums about TDEE. Went onto Scooby's calculator to find my TDEE, and then raised my goal to 1400, then 1500 and was losing a lb per week. When I got closer to goal and after getting a FitBit, I raised it again to ~ 1700 based on a 250 cal deficit from my daily burn. Just because you are petite doesn't mean you are doomed to eat 1200 calories.
If that is what works for you - lucky you, really! If I ate 2100 cals a day I would be definitely gaining weight even though I'm 5'7''. It's not really about height, it's about your starting weight and BODY. A 300lbs lady will lose weight on a 2000 cals diet, a 150lbs lady might need a little (or a lot) luck for losing 0.5lbs/week on that diet.
you don't math very well then. I weigh less than that, and can still lose eating more.0 -
if you are healthy (by blood tests) and you FEEL good then do what is best for your body
some people can do 1200 or less or more. everybody is DIFFERENT.
If you feel like you need to eat more then just do it.
I find mfp was a good guideline to show what im putting into my mouth and seeing the actual calories.
choose something realistic as a LIFE LONG lifestyle change.0 -
I'm 5'2". I lost my weight eating significantly more than 1200.
I don't understand why people would willingly eat so little.
Look, it was perfectly and totally right for you to eat more than 1200 calories a day. You lost 82 pounds! That is a whole lot (and jesus you can be proud, by the way) so you lost a whole lot by eating 1200+ calories.
But what people seem to not understand is that NOT EVERYBODY HERE IS THE SAME.
If you're let's say 135lbs and you want to be 125lbs and your body is really hard on losing weight, a 1200 calorie diet might be what it takes you in order to lose those pounds.
I'm 125lbs and can still lose 0.5lbs a week eating 1500 calories plus exercise calories.0 -
lolOn days I don't exercise I don't have any problem staying below 1200 calories. I will eat 2/3 of a cup of oatmeal in the morning, which is 200 calories, then do a tuna salad with lettuce at lunch for 250 calories. Then i will eat 2 chicken breasts and some vegetables at dinner for 300 calories, and a half cup of frozen yogurt for 100 calories. I still have room for another serving of oatmeal at 200 calories and another 150 calories to spare.
If you eat healthy stuff all day, it isn't really that difficult to stay under 1200 calories.
Did bad today though, went to the Thai buffet and pigged out lol. Ate mostly vegetables and chicken though.
You are a man, you should not eat that little.
Maybe. But I've lost 90 pounds and I just had a full physical, and the Dr. says I am a helluva lot healthier than when I was fat.
Dude is also in his 40's. Do I think it's healthy and that muscle mass is most likely being sacrificed, yes, but 1200 probably isn't as far off for him as others.
Myself, if I were under or at 1200 at lunchtime I'd be light headed...
When I get rid of this last 10 pounds of belly fat I'll start worrying about my muscle mass, but I'm not exactly wasting away at 185 and 5'11.
<---same weight and height as you in this pic... and i am a woman in her 40's
you should not wait till you are done to focus on muscle, you should be trying to preserve it the whole time...you will look WAY better when you get to your goal.0 -
I am 1200 or less and it does work for me.0
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I'm not even sure why this thread is still going.
OP said that it wasn't working for her and she wanted advice on what she should do?
I think she gets it....eat more.0 -
I would also like to point out that I don't lose weight when I eat 2500, 2000, 1800, 1600, 1350 OR 1200 calories a day - I've tried each of these at least 6 days a week for 4-8 weeks in a row. The *only* time I lose weight is if I eat 600-900 AND burn some off. Even then it's a struggle (e.g. 1lb a month or so)
I weigh 154lbs and am 5'5'' btw so I'm not like desperadoly thin!0 -
I would also like to point out that I don't lose weight when I eat 2500, 2000, 1800, 1600, 1350 OR 1200 calories a day - I've tried each of these at least 6 days a week for 4-8 weeks in a row. The *only* time I lose weight is if I eat 600-900 AND burn some off. Even then it's a struggle (e.g. 1lb a month or so)
I weigh 154lbs and am 5'5'' btw so I'm not like desperadoly thin!
I don't buy that all. That doesn't make any sense...
Unless you are an alien and have a different body comp than the rest of us.
You should really go talk to your Dr.
----Now I'm just feisty.0 -
I would also like to point out that I don't lose weight when I eat 2500, 2000, 1800, 1600, 1350 OR 1200 calories a day - I've tried each of these at least 6 days a week for 4-8 weeks in a row. The *only* time I lose weight is if I eat 600-900 AND burn some off. Even then it's a struggle (e.g. 1lb a month or so)
I weigh 154lbs and am 5'5'' btw so I'm not like desperadoly thin!
The thing is, you can't keep changing the number in that 6-8 week window. You have to try 1 number for at least 4 weeks to really know if it's working or not.0 -
Don't forget about the gods-awful mind-frack it is when you've been eating 1200 for months (or YEARS) and something happens that makes it necessary for you to up your calories. Better to take it slow and not set yourself up for a really rough time in the future, IMHO....and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:
the typical MFP users does this:
1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that.. then they work out on top of it.. creating an even bigger deficit.
5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, not losing weight.
7. Get on the forums, ask why they aren't losing.
8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
9. Argument ensues about who is right.
Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.0 -
I would also like to point out that I don't lose weight when I eat 2500, 2000, 1800, 1600, 1350 OR 1200 calories a day - I've tried each of these at least 6 days a week for 4-8 weeks in a row. The *only* time I lose weight is if I eat 600-900 AND burn some off. Even then it's a struggle (e.g. 1lb a month or so)
I weigh 154lbs and am 5'5'' btw so I'm not like desperadoly thin!
The thing is, you can't keep changing the number in that 6-8 week window. You have to try 1 number for at least 4 weeks to really know if it's working or not.
I don't, I mean I tried each one for 6-8 weeks at a time!I would also like to point out that I don't lose weight when I eat 2500, 2000, 1800, 1600, 1350 OR 1200 calories a day - I've tried each of these at least 6 days a week for 4-8 weeks in a row. The *only* time I lose weight is if I eat 600-900 AND burn some off. Even then it's a struggle (e.g. 1lb a month or so)
I weigh 154lbs and am 5'5'' btw so I'm not like desperadoly thin!
I don't buy that all. That doesn't make any sense...
Unless you are an alien and have a different body comp than the rest of us.
You should really go talk to your Dr.
----Now I'm just feisty.
I did talk to my doctor but because my BMI is only 25-26 at any one time (healthy to only slightly overweight) they say it's not a problem. I've tried everything - and I'm friggin' starving
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I would also like to point out that I don't lose weight when I eat 2500, 2000, 1800, 1600, 1350 OR 1200 calories a day - I've tried each of these at least 6 days a week for 4-8 weeks in a row. The *only* time I lose weight is if I eat 600-900 AND burn some off. Even then it's a struggle (e.g. 1lb a month or so)
I weigh 154lbs and am 5'5'' btw so I'm not like desperadoly thin!
The thing is, you can't keep changing the number in that 6-8 week window. You have to try 1 number for at least 4 weeks to really know if it's working or not.
I don't, I mean I tried each one for 6-8 weeks at a time!I would also like to point out that I don't lose weight when I eat 2500, 2000, 1800, 1600, 1350 OR 1200 calories a day - I've tried each of these at least 6 days a week for 4-8 weeks in a row. The *only* time I lose weight is if I eat 600-900 AND burn some off. Even then it's a struggle (e.g. 1lb a month or so)
I weigh 154lbs and am 5'5'' btw so I'm not like desperadoly thin!
I don't buy that all. That doesn't make any sense...
Unless you are an alien and have a different body comp than the rest of us.
You should really go talk to your Dr.
----Now I'm just feisty.
I did talk to my doctor but because my BMI is only 25-26 at any one time (healthy to only slightly overweight) they say it's not a problem. I've tried everything - and I'm friggin' starving
It could be that you've slowed your metabolism down by eating so low, so it may take a lot longer to correct the problem than 6 to 8 weeks. Why not try taking a diet break and eating at maintenance for awhile. Then when you start back up again, you could try NETTING 1200 (eat back your exercise calories) and stick with that for at least 3 months, maybe even longer. Then you can go from there on upping it slowly by 100 calories a week until you are eating your TDEE - 15 percent. If that doesn't work, then you should also get some testing down by the doctor to make sure there isn't something else going on. Make sure you use a food scale though and a HRM.0 -
I just calculated my BMR and it is close to yours at 1495. multiply it by 1.2 bc i am mostly seditary due to my job ( you can look up the multiplier if you are more active. for lightly active, as an example, it is 1.37)
so to lose a pound a week (since a pound is 3500 calories) i would have to be at 1294 daily but some days are easier than others and i am always under my weekly goals- i come close on days but not close as a week in whole-so it was easier to look at is as a week:
3500 calorie deficit per week= 1lb. 3500/7=500 deficit a day
1294x7=9058 calories per week which would make me lose 1lb.
But again, I am more likely to hit the weekly number than the daily one ALL SEVEN DAYS. I might do 5 days at the least though
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I just calculated my BMR and it is close to yours at 1495. multiply it by 1.2 bc i am mostly seditary due to my job ( you can look up the multiplier if you are more active. for lightly active, as an example, it is 1.37)
so to lose a pound a week (since a pound is 3500 calories) i would have to be at 1294 daily but some days are easier than others and i am always under my weekly goals- i come close on days but not close as a week in whole-so it was easier to look at is as a week:
3500 calorie deficit per week= 1lb. 3500/7=500 deficit a day
1294x7=9058 calories per week which would make me lose 1lb.
But again, I am more likely to hit the weekly number than the daily one ALL SEVEN DAYS. I might do 5 days at the least though
Since you only have 17 more pounds to lose (according to your ticker), it would probably be better to aim for 0.5 lb per week loss instead of 1 pound. The closer you get to goal weight, the more calories you should be eating to slow down your weight loss. This helps make transitioning into maintenance so much easier because you don't have a big jump in calorie intake.0 -
I am on 1200 a day, most days I am under 1000 sometimes close to 1200, it makes me feel like I am eating too much if I reach the 1200. I know that is bad thinking. I eat breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner. Dinner is usually where most of my calories are. I just started going to the gym so now I will need to make sure I am getting the right amount since I am burning calories now.0
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I would also like to point out that I don't lose weight when I eat 2500, 2000, 1800, 1600, 1350 OR 1200 calories a day - I've tried each of these at least 6 days a week for 4-8 weeks in a row. The *only* time I lose weight is if I eat 600-900 AND burn some off. Even then it's a struggle (e.g. 1lb a month or so)
I weigh 154lbs and am 5'5'' btw so I'm not like desperadoly thin!
If you're really confident in your calorie consumption (weigh everything! -- it can make a huge difference!), you really should go to your doctor and have things checked out -- thyroid, insulin resistance, adrenal issues, etc. -- because what you described is not normal.
I know because I used to have a similar issue and after years of docs telling me everything was "fine" (I used to eat at 700+ calorie deficit on a daily basis and only lost 2.2 lbs in 3 months!), I finally found one that looked more in depth and lo and behold thyroid issue and insulin resistance. After getting those on track, I lost like a "normal" person -- no more extreme calorie restriction -- and lost according to my calculated deficit.0 -
It is reassuring to read others' posts! I am trying so hard to stick to 1200 calories a day but it is so hard. I am famished by the time I get home from work and try to make it until dinner without a snack. I work out 4-6 times a week, usually in the mornings. I always eat back my calories because I get a bit crabby if I get too hungry. Does MFP just automatically put people at 1200 a day? It is discouraging at the end of the day if I've gone over my limit.0
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Those of you who think that you can't lose weight on more than 1200 cal/day may find this thread interesting...
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/524791-women-who-eat-more-than-1800-calories-a-day?
Oops meant to tag the original:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/506349-women-who-eat-more-than-1800-calories-a-day0 -
It is reassuring to read others' posts! I am trying so hard to stick to 1200 calories a day but it is so hard. I am famished by the time I get home from work and try to make it until dinner without a snack. I work out 4-6 times a week, usually in the mornings. I always eat back my calories because I get a bit crabby if I get too hungry. Does MFP just automatically put people at 1200 a day? It is discouraging at the end of the day if I've gone over my limit.
It depends on how you set up MFP. If you said you are sedentary and want to lose 2 pounds per week, then you usually get 1200 calories. But if you change your settings to something more manageable, like lightly active and want to lose 1 pound or 0.5 lb per week, then you'll get a lot more calories.0 -
It is reassuring to read others' posts! I am trying so hard to stick to 1200 calories a day but it is so hard. I am famished by the time I get home from work and try to make it until dinner without a snack. I work out 4-6 times a week, usually in the mornings. I always eat back my calories because I get a bit crabby if I get too hungry. Does MFP just automatically put people at 1200 a day? It is discouraging at the end of the day if I've gone over my limit.
Pretty much yes, people often set their goals up wrong for them. The less weight you have left to lose the less weight you should be trying to lose weekly. You should be eating closer to maintenance so that when you reach your goal, you're not trying to add a whole bunch of calories at once.0 -
My BMR is only 1364, so I really think I should up my goal to about 1450 since I have a tendency to under eat on normal days.0
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It is reassuring to read others' posts! I am trying so hard to stick to 1200 calories a day but it is so hard. I am famished by the time I get home from work and try to make it until dinner without a snack. I work out 4-6 times a week, usually in the mornings. I always eat back my calories because I get a bit crabby if I get too hungry. Does MFP just automatically put people at 1200 a day? It is discouraging at the end of the day if I've gone over my limit.
MFP calculates how much you need for ordinary daily life (not including exercise).
Then it subtracts a flat number of calories depending on how many pounds per week you say you want to lose. It will deduct 1,000 calories for 2 pounds per week, 500 calories for 1 pound a week, etc. But it will not go below 1200 as a minimum.
Many people wrongly choose 2 pounds per week, because who the heck doesn't want to lose 2 pounds per week, right? But really that is too aggressive of a cut for MOST people. Since you need to lose 18 pounds according to your ticker, I would set it to 1 pound a week.
The other thing here is notice I said above it calculates what you need not including exercise, when you do exercise, you need to eat more fuel for that. The other thing many other people wrongly do, they don't eat more when they exercise. You do have to be careful as to what the actual calorie burn is, the MFP allowances for exercise are said to be generous, so many people only eat some of those calories.0
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