1200 calorie diets?
fernwehwanderlust
Posts: 26
Why are 1200 calorie diets considered to be so terrible and unhealthy?
Since my TDEE is around 1750, and I cut 450 calories a day, I personally am on one. I can't really exercise daily or consistently, because of school, but I try to whenever possible. Anyway, I don't feel too deprived. I mean, I can't have as much chocolate, rice, desserts, or other tasty junk food as often, but you shouldn't have that much junk food to begin with. And I try to eat things that will keep me full for longer, which cut out many of my empty calories, and I almost always eat when I'm hungry. And I've been having more fruits and veggies, like grapefruit, spaghetti squash, tomatoes, lettuce, apples, kiwi, bananas, spinach, celery and carrots
So I'm wondering why most 1200 calorie diets are considered bad. And maybe if what I'm doing is unhealthy, and if I should increase my daily goal by a few calories or keep the way I am. I'm personally okay with my diet, and its fun finding healthier versions of my favorite foods, and I'll love to lose my weight quicker, but I'd take losing pure fat over losing my muscle (which is something I already don't have much of).
I am 5'6 and 140 pounds by the way.
Since my TDEE is around 1750, and I cut 450 calories a day, I personally am on one. I can't really exercise daily or consistently, because of school, but I try to whenever possible. Anyway, I don't feel too deprived. I mean, I can't have as much chocolate, rice, desserts, or other tasty junk food as often, but you shouldn't have that much junk food to begin with. And I try to eat things that will keep me full for longer, which cut out many of my empty calories, and I almost always eat when I'm hungry. And I've been having more fruits and veggies, like grapefruit, spaghetti squash, tomatoes, lettuce, apples, kiwi, bananas, spinach, celery and carrots
So I'm wondering why most 1200 calorie diets are considered bad. And maybe if what I'm doing is unhealthy, and if I should increase my daily goal by a few calories or keep the way I am. I'm personally okay with my diet, and its fun finding healthier versions of my favorite foods, and I'll love to lose my weight quicker, but I'd take losing pure fat over losing my muscle (which is something I already don't have much of).
I am 5'6 and 140 pounds by the way.
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Replies
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Because most people have BMRs that are higher than 1200 calories. Your BMR is how many calories your body needs to function without you doing anything but lying around and breathing. Eating below your BMR for an extended period can't be good.0
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Basically because your body requires a minimum amount of micronutrients to be healthy and it is very difficult to get to that level eating only 1200 calories a day. Your body also requires a certain caloric intake just to keep your brain functioning, your heart beating appropriately and your body and the correct temperature and for most people that value is above 1200.
In general I think its pretty safe to say you are better off going for a brisk 45 minute walk each day and bumping your calories up to 1500. Is there some part of your regular day you could get to by walking rather than driving or taking a bus?0 -
There's also the problem that results from restricting oneself to so few calories.......lots of people end up binging because they're tired of being hungry!0
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I generally eat around 1200/1300 with a couple of days a week when I shoot to 1500/1600. I eat lots of protein and veg. No processed and avoid sugar (less than 20gms a day). If you feel ok and aren't eating processed crap, do what feels right. You just want to be able to maintain your food intake so you don't binge later. Living only on 1200 can be hard to maintain. Go get a burger once in awhile or a fancy sushi roll. Make sure your calorie deficit is in the sugar area. Because sugar is deadly!!!0
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Because most people have BMRs that are higher than 1200 calories. Your BMR is how many calories your body needs to function without you doing anything but lying around and breathing. Eating below your BMR for an extended period can't be good.
There is no one who is overweight or obese who has a BMR of 1200, unless they are truly " little people ". I am 4 feet 11.5 inches and past my mid-60's and my BMR is 1463. I am set to lose .5 pounds a week and eat around 1200 calories. But I am a statistical exception.....not a special snow flake..... but belong to a small group of extremely short people.
I do well on 1200 calories. There is not much margin for low nutrition calories that often come from processed food, which is not a problem in my case. I eat a diet based on whole foods at about 90%. The other 10% are not junk food, but somewhat more processed stuff ( like a bit of mustard and mayo in my potato salad today ) that I cannot easily make at home.0 -
Not true. My calculated BMR is 1266 and I'm 5'6".0
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There is nothing wrong with a 1200 calorie diet in and of itself. It is generally accepted to the the minimum a woman needs to consume in order to meet her nutrient requirements, so going below it is generally frowned upon.
If you entered all your relevant information into MFP and it gave you 1200 to eat and you are not starving, don't sweat it.0 -
Not true. My calculated BMR is 1266 and I'm 5'6".
That can only happen if you are not overweight, or only very slightly so.0 -
Not true. My calculated BMR is 1266 and I'm 5'6".
Are you sure? Where did you come up with that number? I'm 5'2" and every bmr calculator I've used has set my bmr between 1400-1500.0 -
OP if 1200 works for you then more power to you ..
I have a hard enough time cutting on 2100 to 2200 …but that is just me...0 -
MFP gave me 1250 daily calories,and yes, I am just 4"11. I found it impossible to stay within that range, I was hungry, tired and generally unfit to live with. I have upped my daily calorie goal to 1400 and feel better.0
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I ate 1200 calories on Sunday...not on purpose...took me till Wednesday to feel better...get my energy back, stop feeling dizzy, weak and lethargic...no joke.
I am 5 ft 7, 160lbs, lift 3x a week and eat on average 1700 a day....
I don't understand how people do it to be frank...0 -
I ate 1200 calories on Sunday...not on purpose...took me till Wednesday to feel better...get my energy back, stop feeling dizzy, weak and lethargic...no joke.
I am 5 ft 7, 160lbs, lift 3x a week and eat on average 1700 a day....
I don't understand how people do it to be frank...
seriously …
1200 is like dinner for me ...0 -
ditto - some people make you afraid to ask questions0
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Make sure your calorie deficit is in the sugar area. Because sugar is deadly!!!
please tell me you are not serious.
that doesn't even make sense.0 -
Check out this calculator. http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/ It will tell you a pretty close number of calories that you need day to day, and then has settings for percentage cuts to calories. I think that it is simpler to understand here than some of the myfitnesspal tools, although myfitnesspal is great for tracking nutrition.
This site will also help you set up different diet types that you might feel more comfortable with very quickly and pump out numbers for you to see right there. Just try to get your myfitnesspal as close as you can with the percentages in your goals section. If you take the time to educate yourself you can decide on the diet that fits what you enjoy eating the most so that you don't have to tourture yourself.
Rembmer, calories in less than calories out equals a lower weight, BUT be sure that you are getting the proper macro and micro nutrients so that you can stay healthy.
If you have any questions I can try to help you figure out the diet plan along with myfitnesspal.0 -
This seems like it may be a good place to ask...
I average around 1200-1400 a day. over the winter I was purely sedentary but since it's been warming up a little, I've been getting daily exercise burning 100-250 cals. I'm 22 F, 5'2", 167ish lbs. am I eating too little? I do feel hungry sometimes, but snacking helps. I don't have any problems with wanting to binge on everything in sight. But I don't want to be depriving myself. I am still barely in the "obese" catagory, so going under my BMR doesn't seem so bad. I still want to lose another 20-40lbs possibly.
According to IIFYM, my BMR is 1472 with no exercise, TDEE 1767 (I treat TDEE as a number that is okay to reach, but to expect a little gain if I surpass)
With exercise 3x week my TDEE jumps to 2024. every day, it goes up again to 2411. But I don't know if my exercise is hardy enough to fit the "exercise" they may be calculating for. I just got for walks, bike rides, and dance, lol.0 -
There is nothing wrong with a 1200 calorie diet in and of itself. It is generally accepted to the the minimum a woman needs to consume in order to meet her nutrient requirements, so going below it is generally frowned upon.
If you entered all your relevant information into MFP and it gave you 1200 to eat and you are not starving, don't sweat it.
Can you meet your nutrition requirements if you eat pretty healthy for the 1200 cal, plus take a multivitamin and calcium supps?0 -
I'm almost 100% positive your BMR is over 1200 calories.
Mine is around there, and I'm 5'1 110#, AKA you need to be either really short or really light for it to be that low.0 -
I'm almost 100% positive your BMR is over 1200 calories.
Mine is around there, and I'm 5'1 110#, AKA you need to be either really short or really light for it to be that low.
So using the website someone suggested, I found out its 1450. I clicked on some of the weight loss plan options, and one said to eat 1300 calories. Would a 100-200 calorie defect be harmful in the long run? Or would it be negligible because its so small?
I do feel fine on this diet. I'm also not very strict with it either; if i go over because I picked up something tasty as a treat, I don't really sweat it.0 -
Because most people have BMRs that are higher than 1200 calories. Your BMR is how many calories your body needs to function without you doing anything but lying around and breathing. Eating below your BMR for an extended period can't be good.
There is no one who is overweight or obese who has a BMR of 1200, unless they are truly " little people ".
Thing is, I'm neither overweight or obese. I carry a lot of fat closer to my skin where its more noticeable, and I'd like to lose the extra fat around my thighs and stomach. Unfortunately, since I'm a pear, its supposedly harder to lose weight. Birthing fat or something?0 -
I'm almost 100% positive your BMR is over 1200 calories.
Mine is around there, and I'm 5'1 110#, AKA you need to be either really short or really light for it to be that low.
So using the website someone suggested, I found out its 1450. I clicked on some of the weight loss plan options, and one said to eat 1300 calories. Would a 100-200 calorie defect be harmful in the long run? Or would it be negligible because its so small?
BMR means basal metabolic rate. This is what they would feed you if you were in a coma for your heart, breathing, brain, etc. It isn't a good idea to eat less than this. People who are very obese can eat below BMR for a time. Since you don't have a lot of weight to lose, then you shouldn't eat less than this. It isn't necessary, you can mess things up, and it is harder to get the proper nutrition eating less.
If you also figured out your TDEE, target to eat 20% less than TDEE.
OR set MFP to lose 1 pound per week and eat back exercise calories.
A properly set MFP + exercise calories goal should be about the same as a properly set TDEE - % goal. The difference is that with the TDEE method, your exercise is factored in already so you don't eat more for exercise.0 -
I'm 5'1" and started off at 134 lbs before dieting. My goal is 1200 per day, but i stay away from calorie counting on the weekends.
This doesn't mean I eat whatever I want, but I allow myself to eat more than i would throughout the week. I've done well with this plan as long as I spread my calories out properly and stay away from sweets/junk/pasta etc. I'm a muscular girl and I haven't noticed muscle loss or weakness since I've started. If anything I feel more solid. I feel that saying "1200 calories is dangerous" is vague. As long as I feel good and I'm not feeling dizzy/faint then I must be doing something right. Good luck!
Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter0 -
I'm 5'1" and started off at 134 lbs before dieting. My goal is 1200 per day, but i stay away from calorie counting on the weekends.
This doesn't mean I eat whatever I want, but I allow myself to eat more than i would throughout the week. I've done well with this plan as long as I spread my calories out properly and stay away from sweets/junk/pasta etc. I'm a muscular girl and I haven't noticed muscle loss or weakness since I've started. If anything I feel more solid. I feel that saying "1200 calories is dangerous" is vague. As long as I feel good and I'm not feeling dizzy/faint then I must be doing something right. Good luck!
If you are not logging weekends, then you do not know how much you are eating total for the week, that 1200 a day during the week averages out higher because of the higher weekend consumption, perhaps staving off the dizzy/faint feeling, i.e. eating more, doing something right.
5 days at 1200
2 days at 2000
Averages out to 1430 a day for example.0 -
I'm almost 100% positive your BMR is over 1200 calories.
Mine is around there, and I'm 5'1 110#, AKA you need to be either really short or really light for it to be that low.
So using the website someone suggested, I found out its 1450. I clicked on some of the weight loss plan options, and one said to eat 1300 calories. Would a 100-200 calorie defect be harmful in the long run? Or would it be negligible because its so small?
BMR means basal metabolic rate. This is what they would feed you if you were in a coma for your heart, breathing, brain, etc. It isn't a good idea to eat less than this. People who are very obese can eat below BMR for a time. Since you don't have a lot of weight to lose, then you shouldn't eat less than this. It isn't necessary, you can mess things up, and it is harder to get the proper nutrition eating less.
If you also figured out your TDEE, target to eat 20% less than TDEE.
OR set MFP to lose 1 pound per week and eat back exercise calories.
A properly set MFP + exercise calories goal should be about the same as a properly set TDEE - % goal. The difference is that with the TDEE method, your exercise is factored in already so you don't eat more for exercise.
Thats what I have. But would the 100 calories matter? Or should I stick with what MFP suggested?0 -
I'm almost 100% positive your BMR is over 1200 calories.
Mine is around there, and I'm 5'1 110#, AKA you need to be either really short or really light for it to be that low.
So using the website someone suggested, I found out its 1450. I clicked on some of the weight loss plan options, and one said to eat 1300 calories. Would a 100-200 calorie defect be harmful in the long run? Or would it be negligible because its so small?
BMR means basal metabolic rate. This is what they would feed you if you were in a coma for your heart, breathing, brain, etc. It isn't a good idea to eat less than this. People who are very obese can eat below BMR for a time. Since you don't have a lot of weight to lose, then you shouldn't eat less than this. It isn't necessary, you can mess things up, and it is harder to get the proper nutrition eating less.
If you also figured out your TDEE, target to eat 20% less than TDEE.
OR set MFP to lose 1 pound per week and eat back exercise calories.
A properly set MFP + exercise calories goal should be about the same as a properly set TDEE - % goal. The difference is that with the TDEE method, your exercise is factored in already so you don't eat more for exercise.
Thats what I have. But would the 100 calories matter? Or should I stick with what MFP suggested?
1450 is what, your BMR?
100 calories less than that could leave you shaky and weak, with not enough nutrition. It could result in causing extra stress hormones released which along with other stresses in your life prevent weight loss. It could result in loss of lean body mass (muscle) so that when you reach your goal weight you will still be proportionally about the same amount of fat and then be unhappy and think you have to lose 20 more pounds.0 -
Alright so now that you have a healthy number, figure out what type of diet you want to follow. Each person is different and it is difficult to figure out what to do when everyone is shoving their own sucessful or unsucessful attempts your direction.
Decide on something that is healthy, and fits your decided caloric deficit without going too crazy. Once you have decided on your diet, you will have your grams per day of carbs, fat, and proetin. If you click on My Home at the top, then click Goals, and then Change Goals, you can click the second radio button to have custom goals. Once you are in this screen you can set the percentages fairly close to your exact number of grams per category. It will autocorrect itself to 100% overall so start from the top value and go down otherwise the numbers will keep changing on your. It is also important to get proper micronutrients such as vitimins and minerals in your diet. If you can't seem to come up with enough from the food that fits your macros 'carb,protein, fats' then look into a light multi vitimin to fill in the gaps.
One of the most important things when changing your diet like this is to make sure that you don't eat too little. Your metabolism will slow down and then if you have a cheat meal or cheat day your body will think it's been starved and you could ruin your weeks efforts. It does take some time for your body to adjust to new adjustments to food intake so give whichever diet you choose at least a week or two and then decide if it's right for you. The case may be that your body does better on low carb compared to low fat or vice versa. It is important to be patient and not give up hope too quickly. You will know what works for you if you stick it out and in the long run be better off.
I'm not a professional by any means but have done quite alot of research. I would always recommend seeking advice from a medical professional before taking drastic steps that could be harmful to your body.0 -
http://imgur.com/2iOBata
To prevent any confusion I have created one of these profiles for myself.
As you can see my BMR is 1930 calories per day. Note that I have entered in that I workout 5 times per week. This setting is important and will change your calorie values. Since it has calculated that to maintain my weight at this point in time I need to eat 2823 calories per day and my weight souldn't fluxuate much.
Even at the most aggressive setting 25% caloric reduction my calories per day is still not below my BMR. This would sudgest that going below this could possibly be dangerous. If you set your exercise level to none, then if you were to exercise on any particular day, you sould calculate the calories that you burned, and eat them back within your macros.
In the case that you do have a routine workout and input this into the calculator, you would then refrain from inputting these workouts into my fitnesspal as caloric losses because they are already calculated in. If you do enter these workouts then it will tell you to eat more than you need to. It is all dependant on how you set things up and what calculators or workout plans your input.0 -
Weird. When I tried "aggressive" it put me at 1300 calories. Maybe I'll just stick with the next one up and try to pick up running as a habit. Thanks:)
This actually really helped.0 -
Weird. When I tried "aggressive" it put me at 1300 calories. Maybe I'll just stick with the next one up and try to pick up running as a habit. Thanks:)
This actually really helped.
I noticed this when I put in some numbers for people on the smaller side. I'm not sure the exact reasoning for it. Just keep in mind it is an equation and everyone isn't exactly the same. Make sure you are being safe and listen to your body and make adjustments along the way. Don't hesitate to ask more questions. The more you know the better off you will be!0
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