I abandoned 1200 calories per day, and so should you
Replies
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Just speaking for myself I started at 1200 but it wasn't sustainable. I was so hungry but then I upped it to 1900. My workouts are better because I have more energy and I'm losing weight.0
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Sigh. Yes I do, for a number of reasons.You do need more calories, you said this yourself!
The problem is you directly linked muscle mass with higher calorie requirements.
I explained why this is factually wrong.
Now you're talking about something different, i.e. my personal TDEE. Which has nothing to do with the amount of calories required by fat vs muscle - the latter is universally applicable.
Your inability to follow a logical line of argument is astonishing. Congratulations.0 -
I found that the only way I could stick with 1200 cal/day was to not eat bread or sweets of any kind, and to eat plenty of fat. Basically following the general guidelines (if not the exact numbers) of a low-carb diet. I would suggest to anybody that if you think your calorie goal is realistic, but it's clearly not enough to keep you from being hungry and/or fatigued, try reducing your carb intake and increasing your fat intake.
I think it's important for everybody to read some different guidelines from different sources. But you have to listen to your body and make adjustments accordingly. Because, ultimately, it doesn't matter how much MFP, USDA, Dr. Oz, or Dr. Atkins know about the human body; they don't know you. Also, they don't have to live with the consequences of their recommendations - you do. So do your research, keep it diverse, decide for yourself what you're gonna try and how you'll make it work for you.
My story (in case you're interested):
I didn't realize this until after I fell off the wagon completely, couldn't seem to get myself back into it, and started reading about low-carb diets.
While I was on 1200 cal/day, I lost 15 lbs. That was my greatest success ever. While researching low-carb diets, I studied my food diary from my "successful" diet and found that the days when I met my calorie goal, I had eaten no grains, only 1-2 servings of fruit, and exceeded my allowance of fat. These are the general guidelines of a low-carb diet; and I was following them without realizing it. These days also landed in the weeks with my greatest weight loss. I considered that evidence that a low-carb diet might work for me.
There's a lot of research and debate about low-carb diets; far more than I can summarize (and I don't fully understand all of it myself) so I'm not going to attempt to regurgitate it here. If you're reading recommendations that tell you to eat more carbs, I suggest you also read something by Gary Taubes, and then decide which way you're going to go.
Based on my research and my personal experience, I landed on this:
Calorie limit: 1500 cal/day. But I don't actually enforce this limit, it's more of a guideline (and MFP doesn't work without a limit). I eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm satisfied. Most days I find I only need about 1300 cal. to feel satisfied and energized.
Carb limit: I eat around 50 carb/day. I've found this to be my "sweet spot" - that is, the minimal amount of carbs I need to eat to not feel sick. I typically get that from 1-1.5 servings of fruit, 1 serving of whole milk (i.e. full fat) yogurt, and small amounts that add up from things like vegetables and salad dressing (typically less than 5 g per serving).
Protein goal: I found some research that indicates that weight loss works best if you consume 0.7 g of protein per lb of lean body weight. I estimated that to be around 88 g per day for me. I really work on getting 616 g per week, because this varies a lot for me from day to day.
The rest of my calories come from fat.
I avoid: sugar, grains, starchy vegetables. Because those foods just make me hungrier.0 -
Sigh. Yes I do, for a number of reasons.You do need more calories, you said this yourself!
The problem is you directly linked muscle mass with higher calorie requirements.
I explained why this is factually wrong.
Now you're talking about something different, i.e. my personal TDEE. Which has nothing to do with the amount of calories required by fat vs muscle - the latter is universally applicable.
Your inability to follow a logical line of argument is astonishing. Congratulations.
My line of argument is simple. You need more calories because you are a body builder. As you have pointed out you only need an extra 60 cals per day versus a higher body fat version of yourself, but this is only when you are resting. Your workouts and metabolism means you can maintain your weight at 800+ more calories than the average woman, and yet I am not allowed to lose weight at 800 calories less than the average woman's maintenance level? This is not logical. You do know what an average is, don't you?0 -
That was just 1 day out of 3 months of logging. I did only eat a pizza from Pizza Hut because I had been having fun at a Comic Con all day and I didn't fancy the cakes and fries on sale at the event, so I waited until we left.
That day I had worked up a raging appetite, but a single day of what many people would class a mini fast is not going to hurt anyone. As it happens the following day I was ill with a vomiting bug so you could probably criticise that day too! My logging is not spotty, sometimes 'real life' gets in the way - it's not always 100% enjoyment in most peoples' life. Good luck with your perfect life!
Aren't you pleasant. I'm just going to leave it with hangry and go eat ma ice cream. Have fun singing the joys of 1200 calories
Yeah, have fun telling people how to have fun and, you know, enjoy life! Digging around in diet diaries to make personal judgements sounds a right bundle of laughs. Meh...0 -
I eat 1200 calories.
Three times a day.0 -
The constant butthurt over 1200 calories is irritating though. I don't understand why people defend it so vehemently. Sure, you can lose on 1200 cals. But if you can also lose on 1500, why would you not eat more?
Yes that constant butthurt may be irritating - but so is the flip side: the vehement '1200 is not right for anybody' posts.
It IS right for some people - those who are older, smaller, less active, or for some reason are on medically supervised lower calorie diets.
I am not say your post was doing this - but there seem to be zealots on both sides of fence to me.0 -
Everyone is different. This has been working for me. On the days that I exercise, I up my calorie intake and on the days that I am sitting at a desk all day, it's 1200. I will change this up later when I get another 5lbs off, but it's been working since I started 3 weeks ago and I've already lost 4lbs. I am not really aiming for 2lbs per week. That's asking a bit much since my goal is not a huge one.
If it didn't work for you, it doesn't mean it won't work for others.
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Sigh. Yes I do, for a number of reasons.You do need more calories, you said this yourself!
The problem is you directly linked muscle mass with higher calorie requirements.
I explained why this is factually wrong.
Now you're talking about something different, i.e. my personal TDEE. Which has nothing to do with the amount of calories required by fat vs muscle - the latter is universally applicable.
Your inability to follow a logical line of argument is astonishing. Congratulations.
My line of argument is simple. You need more calories because you are a body builder. As you have pointed out you only need an extra 60 cals per day versus a higher body fat version of yourself, but this is only when you are resting. Your workouts and metabolism means you can maintain your weight at 800+ more calories than the average woman, and yet I am not allowed to lose weight at 800 calories less than the average woman's maintenance level? This is not logical. You do know what an average is, don't you?
You clearly have no idea of the difference between BMR and TDEE. Google is your friend.
I am also NOT a bodybuilder. I am a powerlifter.0 -
To each his/her own calorie goal, I've been doing 1200 for 3 months and it's working for me.0
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That was just 1 day out of 3 months of logging. I did only eat a pizza from Pizza Hut because I had been having fun at a Comic Con all day and I didn't fancy the cakes and fries on sale at the event, so I waited until we left.
That day I had worked up a raging appetite, but a single day of what many people would class a mini fast is not going to hurt anyone. As it happens the following day I was ill with a vomiting bug so you could probably criticise that day too! My logging is not spotty, sometimes 'real life' gets in the way - it's not always 100% enjoyment in most peoples' life. Good luck with your perfect life!
Aren't you pleasant. I'm just going to leave it with hangry and go eat ma ice cream. Have fun singing the joys of 1200 calories
Yeah, have fun telling people how to have fun and, you know, enjoy life! Digging around in diet diaries to make personal judgements sounds a right bundle of laughs. Meh...
Only did so to prove a point because in general I find people who say they maintain 1200 and are soooo happy with it generally you know...Don't. If you're so bothered by it, you can always close your diary. Seems to make you cranky.0 -
I just read something today about how starving yourself will make you hold on to your fat. I believe that! I created my diet myself, and have cut out white bread, fried food, cake and cookies and soda. 0 calorie drinks only. I am eyeballing between 1500-2000 calories a day, along with an ab and squat challenge daily. I am also putting down the food after 8 pm to decrease more snacking and digesting food prior to my morning weight. I too was a little shocked to see the 1200 cal. diet thing. I have lost 6 pounds in three weeks, but my little ticker thing started later, so it is only showing 2.
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I am eating 1340 calories a day and burn anywhere between 900-1500 calories a day exercising. I do not eat my exercise calories back and have lost 23 lbs in 11 weeks. Everyone's diet plan will be different0
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To each it's own but I lost alot of weight eating 1200 calories and then all of the sudden I hit a plateau so then I tried decreasing them even more.... But when I started eating more, the weight started dropping back off. Idk if it's because I started doing more cardio exercises or what but I would say do what's best for you
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I am eating 1340 calories a day and burn anywhere between 900-1500 calories a day exercising. I do not eat my exercise calories back and have lost 23 lbs in 11 weeks. Everyone's diet plan will be different
So you are netting between 440 and minus 160 calories per day??!!
Not a healthy eating plan :noway:0 -
To eat 1200 calories, not exercise at all, and expecting to lose 2 lbs per week is simply madness.0
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I am eating 1340 calories a day and burn anywhere between 900-1500 calories a day exercising. I do not eat my exercise calories back and have lost 23 lbs in 11 weeks. Everyone's diet plan will be different
So you are netting between 440 and minus 160 calories per day??!!
Not a healthy eating plan :noway:
3 days a week I net -3000+
Still healthy as anything I am.0 -
I definitely agree with many of the replies above. I think it is awesome that you have lost weight! I also think it depends on the person. In general, in order to lose weight, you need your calorie intake to be less than your total daily calories burned.0
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Just because someone sets there limit at 1200 doesn't actually mean they eat 1200. My limit is set there and eat around 1600 calories per day but am never over my limit because I workout! That's the whole point!
Just because you think it's "right", doesn't mean it's right for anyone else.0 -
If you didn't lose a single pound on 1200 calories then why did you lose weight eating more?You're absolutely right, the title of my post is misleading. I apologize for that. What I'm trying to say is that if 1200 calories per day is *not* working for you, try to up your intake and don't be afraid to do so. Everyone is different and I'm not trying to undermine those who have been successful at 1200 calories.0 -
I'm on day 28 and I am kind of happy with the results so far but I have to be honest I am sooooo impatient. I just dropped my CAL intake from about 2000 a day to 1540. I hope that another 28 days from today will see more of a result0
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Sigh. Yes I do, for a number of reasons.You do need more calories, you said this yourself!
The problem is you directly linked muscle mass with higher calorie requirements.
I explained why this is factually wrong.
Now you're talking about something different, i.e. my personal TDEE. Which has nothing to do with the amount of calories required by fat vs muscle - the latter is universally applicable.
Your inability to follow a logical line of argument is astonishing. Congratulations.
My line of argument is simple. You need more calories because you are a body builder. As you have pointed out you only need an extra 60 cals per day versus a higher body fat version of yourself, but this is only when you are resting. Your workouts and metabolism means you can maintain your weight at 800+ more calories than the average woman, and yet I am not allowed to lose weight at 800 calories less than the average woman's maintenance level? This is not logical. You do know what an average is, don't you?
You clearly have no idea of the difference between BMR and TDEE. Google is your friend.
I am also NOT a bodybuilder. I am a powerlifter.
I do know TDEE thank you, mine is 1630. I'm not sure why the fact that everyone is different is so hard for you to understand.0 -
That was just 1 day out of 3 months of logging. I did only eat a pizza from Pizza Hut because I had been having fun at a Comic Con all day and I didn't fancy the cakes and fries on sale at the event, so I waited until we left.
That day I had worked up a raging appetite, but a single day of what many people would class a mini fast is not going to hurt anyone. As it happens the following day I was ill with a vomiting bug so you could probably criticise that day too! My logging is not spotty, sometimes 'real life' gets in the way - it's not always 100% enjoyment in most peoples' life. Good luck with your perfect life!
Aren't you pleasant. I'm just going to leave it with hangry and go eat ma ice cream. Have fun singing the joys of 1200 calories
Yeah, have fun telling people how to have fun and, you know, enjoy life! Digging around in diet diaries to make personal judgements sounds a right bundle of laughs. Meh...
Only did so to prove a point because in general I find people who say they maintain 1200 and are soooo happy with it generally you know...Don't. If you're so bothered by it, you can always close your diary. Seems to make you cranky.
I didn't say I maintain at 1200! I said everyone is different, and you chose to argue with a very simple fact by making a personal judgement on my happiness levels. Not cool.
Edit: It's Mother's Day here in the UK and I don't plan on spending any more time defending myself against people who think it is productive or entertaining to snipe at other people's experience, knowledge and ability to enjoy life.0 -
When I dieted in the past and ate 1200 calories per day I was starving! I was eating things like small portions of fruit, rice cakes, low-fat yogurt, whole wheat bread, raw veggies, broiled skinless chicken breast, etc. as part of a low fat diet. I found it impossible to maintain because I was so miserable and hungry all the time. Now, I eat 1200 calories of cheese, eggs, butter, nuts and seeds, meat, green veggies, chicken with skin cooked in oil, etc and very few carbs and I'm NEVER hungry, I feel great, have maintained it for months and am down 30lbs. Even when I reach goal, which is soon, I'll never go back to high carb/low fat!0
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I am eating 1340 calories a day and burn anywhere between 900-1500 calories a day exercising. I do not eat my exercise calories back and have lost 23 lbs in 11 weeks. Everyone's diet plan will be different
So you are netting between 440 and minus 160 calories per day??!!
Not a healthy eating plan :noway:
3 days a week I net -3000+
Still healthy as anything I am.
Pinkraynedrop, I don't understand why you quoted my post.
My query was to spoiled wife, whom I quoted, who didn't say anything about netting more on other days and whose diet plan seems to be one of netting between 400 and minus 160 per day.
Extremely unhealthy intake.
I said nothing about your intake or anyone else's intake in my post.0 -
It's funny to see how people are actually just fighting over this instead of supporting each other..
I'm pretty sure this post was aimed to help people, not to tell them what to do.
If people are fine eating 1200 calories a day, then they're fine. Why does it bother you, just relax, not everybody has to agree with you.0 -
From my understanding of this issue which is not much at all, calorie requirements for weight loss varies from person to person.
With me, I can lose some weight if I have less than 2500 calories. This is because I work out an average of 4 days a week 2.5 hours per work out.
I wish I could eat less than 2500 calories a day but my body will not let me. So, the best I can do is maintain between 175 to 180 lbs.0 -
I think I must be really stupid because I thought MFP wasn't just about calories but about learning to bring a bit of exercise into your life also. I was lazy before MFP but what it has done for me is amazing, it made me realise I could earn myself calories by walking and getting out in my bike, so yes I was in 1200 cals a day but I could earn another 300 by going out walking and by walking I'm exercising my body, getting outside and going to earn something nice to eat that night.
I would've thought by just eating 1200 cals your body holds on to everything like in a starvation mode. That's how I've always seen it, and now I see it's about a balance of healthy eating and activities in your life.0 -
First of all, there's no two ways around it: if you eat less calories than you burn, you WILL lose weight. It's impossible that the original poster couldn't lose a single pound on 1200 calories per day. It's against the laws of thermodynamics.
That being said, the lower caloric intake isn't a magic bullet. If you're starving yourself on 1200 calories a day, then there's a fundamental problem: you're not doing something sustainable. You'll quit. Or worse, you'll reach your goal, and your diet will be so impossible to maintain that you'll just go back to your old eating habits and gain the weight back.
There are a few ways to play with your target caloric intake to make it sustainable:
1. Raise it closer to your BMR. This means you'll lose weight slower, but remember: this is a marathon, not a sprint! It's MUCH better to lose, say, 1 lb per week while eating in a way you enjoy, than starve yourself to reach your goals. Skipping meals is a SURE sign you're going at it too hard.
2. Change your food, and make sure to include healthy fats and protein. Fat and protein help with satiety. That is to say, if you eat mostly fat and protein, you'll feel full. If you eat carbs, you'll be hungry within an hour. Veggies and fruits are also great, because it's really hard to go over your caloric budget eating those. Try to binge on lettuce and you'll see what I mean. If you're making room in your caloric budget for fast food, soft drinks or desserts, you'll surely go hungry, because you're "spending" your budget on empty calories.
3. Do cardio. Cardio isn't a magic bullet, but it DOES burn calories. If you find a form of cardio you enjoy, you'll raise your caloric budget while getting healthier.
4. Lift weights. Lifting doesn't lead to weight loss directly, but what it does is activate fat burning. This means you'll maintain your muscle mass during weight loss. This will ensure that you're a healthier person when you reach your weight target.
Whatever you do, don't go thinking caloric deficit is not the answer... It is. As long as you eat good, quality food, and set realistic and sustainable goals, you WILL make it. Don't give in to fad diets, and remember... What you need is a lifestyle change. If it's too hard day to day, you WILL give up. But if you do it right, you won't even consider it a diet, just a better way of life.0 -
Awesome advice. Thank you 0
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