1200/Calorie a day and 30 Min Exercise Challange for 30 Days

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  • sctsbuttercup
    sctsbuttercup Posts: 3 Member
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    Hmm.. I see a lot of negative feed back on this. I'm currently attending a healthy living class and I keep a food and exercise log that I turn in weekly. I've been eating 1200 calories since 1/8 and I was told to watch going under 1200 so my body doesn't go into starvation mode. I eat 3 balanced meals and 2 snacks a day. I'm using fitness pal to help me keep it balanced. I was told to go by total calories not net. I go to curves 5-6 days a week plus try to walk on my treadmill after supper for 10-20 min. I ate less when I was eating bad now I eat a lot but it's from all the food groups, portioned, low fat, whole grains, fresh clean foods. I feel better all the way around. I don't stress if I go over a little. I would suggest to make your calories count not empty calories or you will be hungry and lacking what your body needs. Also talk it over with your doctor or ask to be referred to a registered dietitian. Hope it helps.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
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    yeah we'll then this whole thing is bull**** if 1200 is what it says to do. When I first started it had me at 1800, nothing was happening there, so I updated the only thing I changed was the amount of time I spend at the gym. then gave me 1200, So if anyone can explain that or has a better suggestion I'm listening.

    The fitness goals has no bearing on the math for the diet goals.

    You changed something else, either your activity level, or the amount to lose weekly.

    Those and your weight are the only 3 things to effect your eating goal.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
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    i am on a restricted 1200 calorie a day diet ordered by my gyno.... i am also being supervised while on this diet...i was pleasantly surprised by how well i can eat on this restriction....i go every 2 weeks to be checked out by my dr....blood pressure,,,etc.... i also walk intensely for no less than 30 minutes a day....i feel as long as i am under the supervision of my doctor that if something is lacking in my diet he will make the changes needed....been on this diet for two and 1/2 months...weight is slowly coming off...13 pounds so far and about 22 more to go....i do not feel tired depressed or anything else as others have suggested...if fact because of the excercising i feel much stronger than i have in a long time....i will continue this diet and let my doctor be my advisor...good luck everybody!!!!

    Eating 1200 in total, with exercise being done?

    Considering to keep losing as weight comes off, or increase exercise more - have you thought about the end game, what happens when you need to lower calories to keep losing?
    Where do you more there?

    And unless Dr is specialist, most Dr's get one course in nutrition, so being Dr recommended in the states isn't what it might sound like. Dr Oz is a Dr after all.

    So you aren't even reaching 1 lb weekly on average. Perhaps you were more at start, and have already fallen off to less than 1 lb now. What happens with 22 more pounds?

    And what we are talking about isn't lacking nutrition, 1200 is considered bare minimum for safety for that purpose - for sedentary woman.

    But it's like minimum building codes are for safety - not for longevity, performance, or aesthetics.
    But most people want to last longer, perform better, and look better.

    Anyway, your average weight loss just caught my attention, since that is actually reasonable amount, and if you are 5 ft tall, perhaps calorie level causing that is too.

    But if you are average height, your daily maintenance could have been upwards of 2000, and you could have been eating at 1500 to lose the same amount of weight.
  • cowleyl
    cowleyl Posts: 169 Member
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    I'll join you. I have been doing it for a week. I feel great and am eating healthily although I went over my calories once. My improvements in flexibility are noticeable and I am feeling very motivated.
  • Jen800
    Jen800 Posts: 548 Member
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    This was the first steps towards my Eating Disorder many moons ago.

    It's our choice and your health... but it's not healthy. And not sustainable, nor long lasting.

    This X1000000.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,268 Member
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    yah no...

    1200 calories makes me weak, lethargic, tired, dizzy and to add exercise into that...heck no.

    Anyone who tells you that they have more energy and feel great is kidding themselves...and to top it all off if you eat that little the weight you will lose will be fat and muscle and when you are done you will be soft, squishy and have very little muscle or strength left...your hair will be brittle, your finger nails will be soft....and the list goes on.....and on....

    If that is your goal have at but in the mean time re-evaluate what it is you are trying to do to your body...hit a number on a scale or be happy, healthy and on your way to sustainable weight loss...
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,268 Member
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    Please feel free to add me. I have been doing this for 56 days and I have more energy than ever and I have lost a minimum of 2 lbs per week! I love how I feel and waking up in the morning. All those extra calories and fat was terrible! Don't let anyone tell you different!!!

    min 2lbs a week of fat and muscle yah you...are you kidding me..at your age you should be aiming to preserve all the muscle you can so that as you do hit your 60's you wont be breaking bones easily and you wont be having health issues.

    Sure you want to be "skinny" but what does that get you in the long run???? brittle bones, poor muscle tone, issues as you age, illness and an early death due to lack of nutrition and muscle...

    Yah extra calories are awful....:laugh: not worse than a good meal, good nutrition, and a healthy relationship with food.
  • crazie4lulu
    crazie4lulu Posts: 762 Member
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    um... no!!!:noway:
  • SpencersHeart
    SpencersHeart Posts: 170 Member
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    What happens after 30 days?
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
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    What happens after 30 days?

    Frosty appears and presents the Special Snowflake Award.





    Duh.
  • mycupyourcake
    mycupyourcake Posts: 279 Member
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    Please feel free to add me. I have been doing this for 56 days and I have more energy than ever and I have lost a minimum of 2 lbs per week! I love how I feel and waking up in the morning. All those extra calories and fat was terrible! Don't let anyone tell you different!!!


    Yep because discouraging eating disorder behaviors is super bad...
    Eating at 1200 is not indicative of an eating disorder.
  • SpencersHeart
    SpencersHeart Posts: 170 Member
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    What happens after 30 days?

    Frosty appears and presents the Special Snowflake Award.





    Duh.

    :laugh:
  • slimmer189
    slimmer189 Posts: 135 Member
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    I'm a bit confused I updated my MFP and changed something and it has me at 1200 calories a day. If this is what its telling me to do why is everyone saying its a problem?

    Behold, the wisdom of Trog:

    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

    ...and here's another approach.

    Block off 6 weeks. log EXACTLY what you eat for those six weeks, weigh at the beginning, weight at the end. If you've lost, you're eating under your TDEE. If you haven't lost, congrats.. you found your TDEE, if you've gained... then you're above TDEE.

    From there, look at how much you lost or gained and you have a rough estimate of how to shift your intake to balance it out.

    Online calculators are great, but they're just estimates. They give you decent ideas for starting points. From there, it's on you to fine tune it.
  • slimmer189
    slimmer189 Posts: 135 Member
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    Love this post. I cannot justify supporting folks eating under 1200 cals
  • abigail19655
    abigail19655 Posts: 4
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    Wow people are pretty mean in these forums. You would think they'd be a little less condescending and snarky on a site geared for helping people. Must make you feel good trying to make other people feel stupid.
  • notworthstalking
    notworthstalking Posts: 531 Member
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    Wow people are pretty mean in these forums. You would think they'd be a little less condescending and snarky on a site geared for helping people. Must make you feel good trying to make other people feel stupid.

    I actually saw no one being mean in this thread.... At all.

    OP be very careful and read the good advice and links in this thread. For me I found I was on too lower calories at 1700 when losing. So everyone is different.
  • abigail19655
    abigail19655 Posts: 4
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    Really? I just read through all three pages of replies and I thought most of them were holier than thou and acted like the original poster was stupid for saying she wanted to do 1200 calories and exercise. Not really the supportive group I was looking for.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
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    Really? I just read through all three pages of replies and I thought most of them were holier than thou and acted like the original poster was stupid for saying she wanted to do 1200 calories and exercise. Not really the supportive group I was looking for.

    The OP suggested a challenge of 1200 gross calories plus exercise without factoring in a person's caloric need. Agreeing with foolish plans is not support ... it is enabling bad life choices.
  • abigail19655
    abigail19655 Posts: 4
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    And being rude and condescending is oh so helpful. I didn't say people had to agree with her.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
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    And being rude and condescending is oh so helpful. I didn't say people had to agree with her.

    Pointing out the foolishness of her challenge was not rude nor condescending.

    You have three total posts and used those to label as "mean" those who point out dangerous and foolish behavior rather than realizing that those speaking out against the OP know what they are talking about. If you see somebody about to hit themselves with a hammer do you encourage that action or point out it's stupid?

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