1200 calories

koaliebear195
koaliebear195 Posts: 31 Member
in Food and Nutrition
When I first started MFP, I had a lot of trouble eating only 1200 calories a day + half of workout calories, which at first would come to about 1400-1500 a day. Since I've started exercising harder and sticking with it, it's actually been easier to eat less if I work out a lot. Like, I don't feel hungry at all after working out. I'll have a 180 cal protein bar after a work out, and usually that's enough for the rest of the day (I work out in the evening). On days I don't work out, I just eat 1200, sometimes less, rarely more.

I'm on a low carb, high protein diet and I make sure I get lots of good, healthy fats (avocados, nuts). I drink 95-120 oz of water a day, and I'm actively loosing weight at a pretty good, slow and steady pace, 1.5-2lbs a week. I take a multi vitamin and fish oil daily.

I've been reading about my body going into starvation mode and, well, I don't really want my metabolism to stop if I'm eating under 1500 calories/day. So my question is, if I feel satisfied at between 1200-1400, should I be forcing myself to eat more to avoid this 'starvation mode'?

I'm 5'3", female, 176 lbs, carrying all my weight in my butt and hips.

Replies

  • sjaplo
    sjaplo Posts: 974 Member
    1. Starvation mode - no such animal
    2. If it's working and you're losing 1.5 - 2lbs per week - then don't mess with what's working for you until you have to.
  • essa78
    essa78 Posts: 44 Member
    so happy for this post, you asked the question so I didn't have to!
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    1. Starvation mode - no such animal
    2. If it's working and you're losing 1.5 - 2lbs per week - then don't mess with what's working for you until you have to.
    exactly this.
    pay close attention to your logging and your loss. That's really all that I'd worry about.
  • Ph0enyx
    Ph0enyx Posts: 1
    At 1200 calories your body will eventually realize it is getting insufficient fuel and start to slow your metabolism to conserve energy. This is what we call "starvation mode" because it most frequently happens to people who are starving. To avoid this slowing metabolism and the stalled weight loss that accompanies it, I suggest that once per week you have a day where you eat at least 1800 calories. Doing so once per week will prevent your body from slowing your metabolism because just when it might be thinking about it, you feed it extra food so it decides the famine is over and will even drop weight faster sometimes.
  • radmack
    radmack Posts: 272 Member
    So now I have an excuse for the little bit extra on Saturday night outings!
  • BRobertson23
    BRobertson23 Posts: 150 Member
    In reading an article from Jillian Michael's about weight plateau's (and how she doesn't believe in them), she mentions this exact thing, and suggests the same thing: adding some calories to your diet to help your body know that you're not depriving it. I think a once a week intentional day of higher caloric intake is a good idea.
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    this might be of use to some folks.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here
  • LexiMelo
    LexiMelo Posts: 203 Member
    Great job finding something that works for you. I wouldn't mess with it while it's continuing to work. As you get closer to your goal you probably want to lower your rate of weight loss but for now, full steam ahead :smile: .

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