Yes, 1200 calorie diets work!

DavidMStephens

I know I will be trolled and flamed for posting this message but I am sick and tired of everyones high horse mentality when it comes to calorie counts. 1200 calories, if done correctly, is more than sufficient.

I began my journey January 1, 2014. I just completed 5 months and have lost over 55 pounds. I went from 280 to 225 and I feel great. Average calorie count is 1050 with an initial goal of 1200. After a few months, I moved my goal to 1400 and now I am at 1600. Yes, if you plan on just eating a cheeseburger at 1000 calories for the day, your screwed and will harm yourself. But let me give you an idea of my meals.

Breakfast is high protein egg sandwich OR oatmeal and high fiber toast. Either one is about 300 calories. Lunch is a special K protein bar at 170 calories. Dinner is either chicken breast with rice (370 calories), Large Baked potato with veggies (about 500 calories) or an extra large salad (350 calories). You see, at the end of the day, I have ample protein and fiber, good source of fuel (Carbs) and come in under 1000 calories. This leaves me some wiggle room if I want a small (and smart) dessert, some fruit with my lunch, or anything else. You see, I picked HEALTHY, LOW CALORIE foods to fill me up.

I will repeat. 1200 calorie diets, eating garbage, will allow you to lose weight but you will not feel good. But 1200 calorie diets that are low calorie, high nutrient food is a great way to lose the weight and keep it off.

Someone here will complain about my use of a protein bar. Many argue they are candy bars on steroids. They are meal replacements, quite tasty and have good nutrients (fiber and protein being the main ones). Regardless, you can not argue with the results. This diet has allowed me to lose over 55 pounds in 21 weeks. Right now, I average a weight loss of 1.2 pounds a week!

So before you all chastise someone for asking about a 1200 calorie diet, troll someone who supports the 1200 calorie diet, or even worse, name call (eating disorder, stupid, unhealthy) those who use the diet, take a look in the mirror. Why do you hate the low calorie diet so much? I think if you are honest with yourself, you will realize that is comes down to will power. Doing 1200 calories is the hardest diet out there. You go to bed hungry for the first few weeks before your body adjusts. Many don't make it past the first few days. So although I applaud those of you who are eating better and losing 0.2 or 0.4 pounds a week because you think everyone needs to eat 2000 calories and just exercises the deficit off, I wish you would applaud those of us who have the will power to change and who are losing 1.5 to 2 pounds a week because we refuse to listen to those who say it can't be done....

Let the trolling and flaming begin....

lizc0616

:flowerforyou: congrats on the weight loss, and if it works for you it works!

cmr3399

No ....You are dead on in my opinion...I'm trying hard at the 1200 calorie level too...no ranting at you from me...TY for this post...just added to my motivation :flowerforyou:

MeganAnne89

The only thing that I'm not a fan of is how tiny your lunch is.

But I mean, if you're not starving before every meal and if you're getting the nutrients you need, then it's all fine by me. I often hit around 1200-1400 cals a day (and sometimes I exercise on top of that), but that's just the amount that I eat to keep me full and not hungry. When I eat up to what my maintenance cals are, I feel stuffed and gross.

_lyndseybrooke_

Of course it works. Eating at a deficit = weight loss. Personally, I'd rather eat more and still lose. Food is good, so I'm going to eat it. I could eat 1200 calories in one meal - rabbit food. I refuse to be hungry all day so I can lose some weight. A Special K protein bar for lunch? Ugh, at least eat a decent quality protein bar if you refuse to eat a real meal.

Congrats on the weight loss, though.

SezxyStef

So in...

Okay OP..you are a 29 year old man eating less than 1200 calories of course you are losing weight but you are also losing fat and muscle...congrats to you.

In the long term you will notice the following as well...

Low energy
Lethargy
brittle nails and hair
Hunger cues will diminish
Your metabolism is going to slow eventually too

You will do damage to your heart and muscles
You will not be able to exercise much

And then...you will break...you will eat a wad of food

Long term you become nutrient deficient, your metabolism will adapt and make it hard to lose weight, your bones will become brittle due to lack of muscle...

But hey you lost weight...good on you.

As for the will power...naw...my goal is to be healthy and happy not weak, lethargic, unhealthy and skinny with no muscle mass...

Self control means eating as much as I can while I still lose weight not as little as possible as a form of self punishment for gaining weight.

There is no way as a man at 1200 calories you are getting in adequate nutrition...1200 is the bare min for a woman ...

But hey do what works for you...flay yourself as much as you want, don't learn to eat all food in moderation and when you come off this 1200 calorie a day diet and go back to "normal" and gain your weight back because you didn't learn moderation in all foods only self deprevation you will understand why there are those of us who say no to 1200...

Anniebotnen

Congratulations on your weight loss! I think people here discourage 1200 calorie diets because it is difficult for many to eat so few calories (I know I could not do it), and because many people,with a lot of weight to lose can eat a lot more and still lose weight. It's great that it worked for you!

IGbnat24

Congrats on your weight loss.

Cutting at such drastic deficits promote muscle loss. End result? Skinny fat. Why not eat 2000 (or more?), lose a little slower, but look better in the end?

BigT555

Of course it works. Eating at a deficit = weight loss. Personally, I'd rather eat more and still lose. Food is good, so I'm going to eat it. I could eat 1200 calories in one meal - rabbit food. I refuse to be hungry all day so I can lose some weight.

Congrats on the weight loss, though.

this.

it just isnt sustainable for most people, and it can cause some damage if you have a large BMR
but keep in mind to that you started out very heavy, that can make a huge difference. if someone who was under 200 lbs did this it would be alot different.


and protein bars are awesome IMO, filling, high protein, decent carb and fat count for the most part

congrats man, make sure you keep it off

_Resolve_

congrats..

no way I could do it, but it if works for you.. have at it.

_lyndseybrooke_

So in...

Okay OP..you are a 29 year old man eating less than 1200 calories of course you are losing weight but you are also losing fat and muscle...congrats to you.

In the long term you will notice the following as well...

Low energy
Lethargy
brittle nails and hair
Hunger cues will diminish
Your metabolism is going to slow eventually too

You will do damage to your heart and muscles
You will not be able to exercise much

And then...you will break...you will eat a wad of food

Long term you become nutrient deficient, your metabolism will adapt and make it hard to lose weight, your bones will become brittle due to lack of muscle...

But hey you lost weight...good on you.

As for the will power...naw...my goal is to be healthy and happy not weak, lethargic, unhealthy and skinny with no muscle mass...

Self control means eating as much as I can while I still lose weight not as little as possible as a form of self punishment for gaining weight.

There is no way as a man at 1200 calories you are getting in adequate nutrition...1200 is the bare min for a woman ...

But hey do what works for you...flay yourself as much as you want, don't learn to eat all food in moderation and when you come off this 1200 calorie a day diet and go back to "normal" and gain your weight back because you didn't learn moderation in all foods only self deprevation you will understand why there are those of us who say no to 1200...

This....

Congrats on your weight loss.

Cutting at such drastic deficits promote muscle loss. End result? Skinny fat. Why not eat 2000 (or more?), lose a little slower, but look better in the end?

...and this. All day.

Veil5577

I'm also trying to stick to 1200 calorie. When I get near to goal I may increase it to 1400, and hopefully will be weight lifting by then.

What works for you, works for you. What works for others, works for others.

_HeartsOnFire_

So in...

Okay OP..you are a 29 year old man eating less than 1200 calories of course you are losing weight but you are also losing fat and muscle...congrats to you.

In the long term you will notice the following as well...

Low energy
Lethargy
brittle nails and hair
Hunger cues will diminish
Your metabolism is going to slow eventually too

You will do damage to your heart and muscles
You will not be able to exercise much

And then...you will break...you will eat a wad of food

Long term you become nutrient deficient, your metabolism will adapt and make it hard to lose weight, your bones will become brittle due to lack of muscle...

But hey you lost weight...good on you.

As for the will power...naw...my goal is to be healthy and happy not weak, lethargic, unhealthy and skinny with no muscle mass...

Self control means eating as much as I can while I still lose weight not as little as possible as a form of self punishment for gaining weight.

There is no way as a man at 1200 calories you are getting in adequate nutrition...1200 is the bare min for a woman ...

But hey do what works for you...flay yourself as much as you want, don't learn to eat all food in moderation and when you come off this 1200 calorie a day diet and go back to "normal" and gain your weight back because you didn't learn moderation in all foods only self deprevation you will understand why there are those of us who say no to 1200...

+1...

Plus if/when that stops working, how will you then create a deficit...you shouldn't go any lower than that...

danimalkeys

I went from 280 to 225 in about 7 months. I didn't count anything, just cut my portions down and started doing cardio. Then I hit a huge stall that lasted for months. I put a little weight on over the holidays that year, up to 235 or so. Started counting, etc, after joining here. Lost the 10 and got back to 225 and stayed around that weight for a very long time. I lost a lot of muscle mass as well. It's taken me 10 months get from 225 down to 201-202, losing very slowly on purpose. I've done this mainly by watching my carbs. I've been lifting again and cut my cardio back to a couple times a week instead of 5.

Congrats on your loss. If I had to do it over again I'd have been lifting weights the whole time, eating more, and losing more slowly. The end result would still probably be losing almost 80lbs in 2 1/2 years but the loss would have been more steady without the stalls and frustration of losing the same 4-5lbs over and over again.

So yeah, starving yourself does work, but it's not the best way to go about it.

AlwaysBigSteve

Happy you're happy bro, best of luck keeping it off when you go back to eating.

madhatter2013

So in...

Okay OP..you are a 29 year old man eating less than 1200 calories of course you are losing weight but you are also losing fat and muscle...congrats to you.

In the long term you will notice the following as well...

Low energy
Lethargy
brittle nails and hair
Hunger cues will diminish
Your metabolism is going to slow eventually too

You will do damage to your heart and muscles
You will not be able to exercise much

And then...you will break...you will eat a wad of food

Long term you become nutrient deficient, your metabolism will adapt and make it hard to lose weight, your bones will become brittle due to lack of muscle...

But hey you lost weight...good on you.

As for the will power...naw...my goal is to be healthy and happy not weak, lethargic, unhealthy and skinny with no muscle mass...

Self control means eating as much as I can while I still lose weight not as little as possible as a form of self punishment for gaining weight.

There is no way as a man at 1200 calories you are getting in adequate nutrition...1200 is the bare min for a woman ...

But hey do what works for you...flay yourself as much as you want, don't learn to eat all food in moderation and when you come off this 1200 calorie a day diet and go back to "normal" and gain your weight back because you didn't learn moderation in all foods only self deprevation you will understand why there are those of us who say no to 1200...

AlwaysBigSteve

Side note, I did 1200 and under for several months. I quit when my hair started falling out. True story.

I don't want to be a naysayer though, so good luck.

sculli123

I would be miserable eating 1200 calories. Hungry all the time, no energy, cranky, and lose muscle. 2k is my limit I adjust from there by exercise if I need to go into a further deficit.

TavistockToad

So in...

Okay OP..you are a 29 year old man eating less than 1200 calories of course you are losing weight but you are also losing fat and muscle...congrats to you.

In the long term you will notice the following as well...

Low energy
Lethargy
brittle nails and hair
Hunger cues will diminish
Your metabolism is going to slow eventually too

You will do damage to your heart and muscles
You will not be able to exercise much

And then...you will break...you will eat a wad of food

Long term you become nutrient deficient, your metabolism will adapt and make it hard to lose weight, your bones will become brittle due to lack of muscle...

But hey you lost weight...good on you.

As for the will power...naw...my goal is to be healthy and happy not weak, lethargic, unhealthy and skinny with no muscle mass...

Self control means eating as much as I can while I still lose weight not as little as possible as a form of self punishment for gaining weight.

There is no way as a man at 1200 calories you are getting in adequate nutrition...1200 is the bare min for a woman ...

But hey do what works for you...flay yourself as much as you want, don't learn to eat all food in moderation and when you come off this 1200 calorie a day diet and go back to "normal" and gain your weight back because you didn't learn moderation in all foods only self deprevation you will understand why there are those of us who say no to 1200...

QFT

TavistockToad

Happy you're happy bro, best of luck keeping it off when you go back to eating.

:laugh:

3dogsrunning

How long have you been at maintainance?
What is you calorie goal at maintainance?

GiveMeCoffee

As you say 1200 is the hardest way to diet.... so why make it so hard and make everyone that has to deal with you miserable. I prefer improving my health, having energy to live my life and eat good food.

When you lose 100 lbs that way can we meet up and lift together? Might be fun... but great job on your weight loss.

asdowe13

I've been tracking for the past 110 days

Aiming to net 2100 calories a day. I run, I lift weights, I eat any and all foods (that I enjoy eating)
I've lost over 20 pounds.

It took me years to gain all this weight, I don't thinks it's safe or smart to lose my excess weight over night or 5 months.

But I am not on a diet like you are, I am eating the way I plan to for the rest of my life, just a little bit less for now!

Good luck with not feeling like death, and gaining it all back when you start eating again.

greentart

I'm a chick and I can't survive on 1200. I tried it. I was angry, hungry, and just generally miserable. Ate more, felt better. I do agree on the skinny fat though.
I would much rather be able to bench press and lose inches vs. lbs than be a flappy, weak person. Truly, to each their own, but I hope you're seeing a doctor during this.

SugaryLynx

Enjoyed bacon and eggs this morning. Cut the same amount of weight OP does a week on 1650 net...is female.

OP thinks willpower is the ability to effectively starve yourself to a feeble scale weight goal and not the power to stick to your goals irregardless of what they may be.



I agree with the others. Have fun uh...maintaining after all that.

Holly_Roman_Empire

Side note, I did 1200 and under for several months. I quit when my hair started falling out. True story.

I don't want to be a naysayer though, so good luck.

When I did this, my husband told me to just stay fat because it's better than me being a hangry b!tch all the time.

AllonsYtotheTardis

I've never understood why some people think weightloss requires martyrdom.

Also, enjoy your muscle loss. I hear guys are into that these days.

davis978

I did that once too. 1200 calories a day, and running 40 miles a week. Lost of lot of weight. Also lost a lot of muscle, my period, some friends, sleeping without nightmares, and the ability to find joy or happiness in anything. Then stopped losing.

1200 is just too low for most people to sustain over the long term (more than a year or two). And, most people eating 1200 do stop losing before they reach their goal weight.

But hey, I'm happy for you. I hope you are the one in a million that can get the results you are looking for with that 1200 or less.

LolBroScience

Sure, you can be miserable and diet down on 1200 calories. I'd rather be able to lose on 3,000 though. I'll be a cranky little bish if not.

MissMissle

Congrats man!! I also started at 1200 calories a day - Im up to almost 1300 now and eat back my exersice calories - WHEN i exercise haha!

Coupld things I've noticed: people always assume I will feel weak, lethargic, etc when I'm exersicing. HUH? This isn't true. I feel lethargic when Im doing exercise I hate, like the eliptical - but then I can do 100 push ups no problem, because it isn't boring as hell. I also ride my horse, and sometimes others, every day. Some people don't think that's exercise (I guess thats why it's in the Olympics, and also the only sport where you have to wear an arm band with your medical information straped to you and an inflatable vest for when you fall off and get knocked out) Sorry, small rant... anyway - all i say to that is come try to ride her if you like :-). I have plenty of energy to ride her, and others, even though Im generally dripping sweat by the end of it - it's awesome!

I'm eating "more food" on 1200 (or a little more) calories that I ever did before I found MFP and another program I started on (which i wont mention as not to advertise / get trolled). What do I mean by "more food"? I think what you were saying - my diet used to be nothing for breakfast, for lunch i would have a candy bar, or a bag of mike n ikes, and maybe a bowl of soup. For dinner I would have boxed mac n cheese, cheese and crackers, or more candy, and beer. This was WAY more calories sure, buuuuut I was always still hungry.... the 1200 calories eat now I think of as "more food" because it fills me, it makes me feel better, and its totes enough for me right now.

If I was a fitness guru... haha aka if I had any idea what i was doing in the gym and decided to hit the weights hard like those bodies I drool over in there - Im sure I would have to up my calorie intake.... but for now, 1200 is totally working for my sedentary job and lifestyle - Im losing weight, I feel good, I screw up sometimes and I don't get pissy about it, and it works! So here's to keeping it off and filling our day with good food choices that fuel our bodies and make us feel good - finally!!

*8edited to add that I HOPE someday, maybe after the 6 month mark, I can add a couple hundred more calories because I will take the initiative to learn how to lift...but for now...Im a bit scared.

endermako

So you want to maintain 1200-1400 for the rest of your life? Good luck with that.