1200 cal is NOT enough

MKEgal

This is one of those moments that I wish time travel were possible... so that the OP's 40- or 50-something year old, post-menopausal self who has a sedentary 9-5 job can come back and whack her upside the head and say "WTH were you thinking?"

I thought I knew everything at 19 years old, too.

Sincerely,

A 45-year old, post-menopausal woman with a 9-5 desk job -- who managed to lose HEALTHFULLY at 1200 calories/day and has been successfully maintaining for 2.5 years at 1400 calories/day.

:laugh: :flowerforyou: :drinker:
Thanks for the laugh!

paperpudding

I see a lot of people on here do not know how much to eat. 1200 is practically the amount for a small child.
... 1200 calories isnt like a universal number that is meant for everyone (or anyone really)

1200 is the minimum someone should be eating unless they're under the supervision of a doctor (or are very short).

1200 is the minimum someone? Isn't this what I JUST got yelled at for because a statement like that ignores a persons height, weight, gender, age. 1200 IS NOT a universal number.

That's the medically-established minimum, yes.
Will you believe Harvard Medical School? (I'm pretty sure they know what they're talking about.)

http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/HB_web/calorie-counting-made-easy.htm
calorie intake should not fall below 1,200 a day in women or 1,500 a day in men, except under the supervision of a health professional

Maybe you'll learn about this once you start classes.

I did already. it is a load of crap. it landed me in the HOSPITAL. What the heck. Doctors suggest these BS diets all the time doesn't mean they are right.

Nobody is saying 1200 is right for You.

Doesn't make it BS for all other people.

Yes I know you keep saying you know this - but then you seem to post things contradicting it. :indifferent:

Did you read the entire post? They literally said "1200 is the minimum someone should be eating-"

Do you understand the difference between "minimum" and "maximum"? 1200 minimum means eating AT LEAST 1200; or DON'T GO BELOW 1200, not 1200 calories is the cap of what you should eat.

I understand completely, 1200 is not a minimum. It is way too little for someone my size, even if i was sedentary.

That doesn't sound like under standing to me.
Nobody is saying you should eat 1200 - yes it is way too little for your size and your age. Nobody has disputed that.

What it means is that 1200 is the minimum amount that anyone should eat. Some people should eat at the minimum and some should eat well over the minimum - but nobody should eat less than the minimum.
That's what a minimum is.

Lesleycali

You can't have a one size fits all mentality.

I'm 5'3, which is short, but not that short...thing is though I am little. I wear a children's size 2 shoe, a size 3 ring, size 30 bra band, and need kid's size glasses. I just have a very small frame. If I didn't exercise 1200 is what I would need to slowly lose weight.

paperpudding

Wow.. this is really petty.

She gave her opinion in a maybe not-so-nice way. She got a few replies and probably realized that her post was socially and scientifically not ok.

She applied the standards she uses for herself to the rest of MFP, not ok.. but she realized her fault and apologized. And all of you "mature" older people continue to ostracize her for it.

Could you all back off and stop being so petty? Maybe read the replies before you post another angry one, AGAIN?

Who is posting angry replies?? :indifferent:

OP keeps posting posts and people keep replying to them - that's how Forum threads work.

MKEgal

That's the medically-established minimum, yes.
Will you believe Harvard Medical School? (I'm pretty sure they know what they're talking about.)
http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/HB_web/calorie-counting-made-easy.htm
calorie intake should not fall below 1,200 a day in women or 1,500 a day in men, except under the supervision of a health professional

it is a load of crap. it landed me in the HOSPITAL. What the heck. Doctors suggest these BS diets all the time doesn't mean they are right.

Nobody is saying 1200 is right for You. Doesn't make it BS for all other people.

Did you read the entire post? They literally said "1200 is the minimum someone should be eating"

Do you understand the difference between "minimum" and "maximum"? 1200 minimum means eating AT LEAST 1200; or DON'T GO BELOW 1200, not 1200 calories is the cap of what you should eat.

I understand completely, 1200 is not a minimum. It is way too little for someone my size, even if i was sedentary.

So she says she understands, then shows that she doesn't. :ohwell:
Yes, 1200 is the minimum unless someone is under a doctor's supervision.
Re-read the part in bold up there, the statement from Harvard Medical School. (You know, doctors? Scientists? People with lots of education who have studied how the body works?)
1200 is the MINIMUM a woman should eat unless she's under a doctor's supervision. (Or very short.)
She may need to eat more, and apparently you did, but didn't, so you made yourself sick.

But whose fault is that?
You didn't bother to learn anything before you started eating too little.
Or were you in a locked ward and they controlled your food, so even when you were hungry you couldn't have anything more?


,

veg56kg

Oh my god. Before you reply you should probably read all the things I have already addressed. I'm leaving this forum, it genuinely cracks me up that people want to defend an unhealthy fad diet. Yes is works for some but NOT all.

perseverance14

It's true you're supposed to eat exercise calories back if you're set at 1200 calories and you're even supposed to eat back calories from your job if you are remotely mobile on it or even trips to the store.

Taller people, younger people, people with a lot to lose, people with a good amount of muscle mass, and of course active people need more calories.

But me? No. I need around 1200, with a little back from the little bit of exercise I get. Otherwise, I simply wouldn't lose weight. My maintenance is only around 1400 now on any day I don't get my butt out of my chair and at least go for a walk.

Have you ever considered you may have done that to your metabolism by eating too little for too long? Have you ever tried reverse dieting to fix it? Is that really how you want to have to live the rest of your life?

jmv7117

What exactly about 1200 landed you in the hospital? How long were you eating at 1200? What was your weight and age then? Was undereating a doctor's diagnosis or your own? What was your activity level like? Are you sure you weren't eating a lot less than 1200? Was it 1200 in Starbucks and Taco Bell? Could it have been dehydration instead? Was there concerns over eating disorders then?

I'm thinking it was a suspected or full blown eating disorder. Being hospitalized for eating 1,200 calories a day just is not the norm. The problem with counting calories is it can trigger eating disorders and if the OP were eating 1,200 calories then exercising heavily without eating back any of the calories burnt, well there's a recipe for problems. In all honesty, the OP came across as "I can't do it so you can't either" almost like a recovering alcoholic bashing out at anyone who still drinks.

spongebobsgirl40

I went to my Doctor for help on weight loss. he put me on a diet of 1200 calories a day. I am extremely active at work and have a very physical job of moving, organizing boxes of weights from 100 pounds to 50 pounds. I am 5'8. I did it for 9 months. I worked out every day for an hour. I only lost 12 pounds in that amount of time. I was beyond miserable. I could not stay up past 7 or 8 most nights from the exhaustion. not to mention the emotional pummeling that my ego took from the diet. today, I am tentatively trying the plexus. please no hate. I eat a heavy balanced diet loaded with lots of fresh fruit, veggies and lots of water. I have lost 3 1/2 pounds in 14 days and an overall 11 inches so far. I walk 5 miles 5 days a week. so we shall see if it works. my boyfriend doesn't believe it is the plexus that is helping and wishes I would not do it. if anyone has any info on the plexus who is not an ambassador, I want and need info. I want to know if I am just throwing my money away. the people who sell it are just money hungry people who could care less about me. I don't like the attitude and would love to know who out there has honestly tried it and made a honest go of it. I don't want any hate mail please.

MKEgal

I [have] been dieting with 1200-1300 sometimes less calories a day and excessive amount of exercise (over 1,000 minutes of exercise a week).

This is unhealthy. You will get sick.

Again with the absolutes? Haven't learned anything, have you?

That's 2.5 hours per day, 7 days a week, which does seem excessive (and she admits it is), but then we don't know if she's just walking in the park or is she running 8mph on the elliptical?

Walking at 2 mph would be 660 cal in 2.5 hours (for me at my weight).
The elliptical would be nearly 2400.

If her goal weight is 130, then eating 1300 cal to lose weight is reasonable. (This is the method my doctor uses, based on a healthy goal weight determined by BMI.) He also says to ignore exercise calories, though I think for something that excessive eating back 1/3 to 1/2 of the calories would be a better idea.

perseverance14

Well I don't really give a what you think. I happily eat 1200 a day (+ eating back some from exercise), don't feel hungry and have energy for at least 3 runs & 2 bike rides or long walks a week.

Edit: I see you are 5' 8" ,around 130lbs and only 19 yrs old?? Well my stats are very different - I'm 5' 3" and 51 yrs old. When I'm down to my target, I will then increase to a maintenance level.

I am 52 and 5' 2", and it is not good to eat 1200 till you get there, it will lower your metabolism, and your maintenance will be lower. They say all the time on here if you have more than 20 to lose, 2 lbs./week is safe weight loss, if you have 10-20 - 1 lb. per week is safe weight loss, under 10 - 0.5 per week is safe weight loss.

Safe weight loss means you are not creating a lower set point for your body so you can't go back to eating normally without gaining, you are not losing muscle or bone because you are not giving your body enough nutrition, etc. There can be very serious consequences if you eat too little for too long.

paperpudding

Oh my god. Before you reply you should probably read all the things I have already addressed. I'm leaving this forum, it genuinely cracks me up that people want to defend an unhealthy fad diet. Yes is works for some but NOT all.

People are not defending an unhealthy fad diet though - they are defending 1200 calories as being right for some people. Not all - nobody else is saying that either.
I don't get how you agree it works for some but then still say it is an unhealthy fad.

Anyway it's past midnight here - you are leaving the forum and I am going to bed.

Good night

nchrty

1200 calories a day works great for me when I need to lose a few pounds. I am a short, 61 year old woman. For you to say that it's not enough for anyone is as wrong as saying that it's right for everyone

Arsenal1919

1200 is hard work and masses of self-control for someone used to more.

It would be a very short, slight adult that survives on 1200 calories.

I am 177cm (69.5 inches) and am carrying a mass of 163+ kilograms (390 pounds).

I set 2075 calories with 25 minutes walking as my daily targets. My hope is that I get a trend going which will lead me to the 80kg-85kg I ultimately want to reach.

It would be foolhardy in my case to try to meet my energy and concentration needs with a 1200 calorie regime.

For the few who can set 1200 as a realistic and comfortable daily goal, GOOD LUCK.

MKEgal

I am tentatively trying the plexus. please no hate. I eat a heavy balanced diet loaded with lots of fresh fruit, veggies and lots of water. I have lost 3 1/2 pounds in 14 days and an overall 11 inches so far. I walk 5 miles 5 days a week. so we shall see if it works. my boyfriend doesn't believe it is the plexus that is helping and wishes I would not do it. if anyone has any info on the plexus who is not an ambassador, I want and need info. I want to know if I am just throwing my money away. the people who sell it are just money hungry people who could care less about me. I don't like the attitude and would love to know who out there has honestly tried it and made a honest go of it. I don't want any hate mail please.

Do a search http://www.myfitnesspal.com/post/search and you'll come up with lots of people who tried it, lost a little, gained it back... but were still out the money.
I got 35 pages of results when I entered "plexus" in the search window.

Anything that requires you to make a huge change in what you eat, or buy special powders or pills, or is a MLM scheme, or isn't able to back up their product with solid research (NOT done or sponsored by the company!), or wants you to use their product in place of most meals, is a scam & you should stay away.

Better to eat a reasonable amount of calories and real food, so you can maintain your eating habits once you're at your goal weight. (And it costs less.)

At 5'8" you should be between 125 - 160 lb. Start with the highest healthy weight & see how you feel once you get there. Maybe you'll want to stay at 160, maybe you'll want to lose a little more.
To get there, eat no more than 1600 cal per day.
If you're really hungry at the end of the day, eat back 1/3 to 1/2 of your exercise calories.
As you get close to your goal, nudge your calories up 50-100 cal every couple weeks until you're stable at your goal weight.
You might get up to as much as 2400 cal for maintenance.

silasmom0223

I think that it is a way to change the way you think about food. At least it is for me. Some people live very sedentary lives and aren't burning enough for more than that. Yes I agree that we should all take responsibility for our individual journeys, but sometimes that starts with HOW we think about our food and what we are taking in. It is because of the number goal that I am able to make better choices about my food. After spending a few weeks tracking I know what 1200 calories looks like in a typical day. (Man do they fly by with wine!) I usually make pretty good and healthy food choices, but I take in too much of it. Sure I love my brown rice and I still eat it, but do I need 2 cups in one serving? No! Should I never have Flamin Hot Cheetos ever again? No! Having a number goal has helped me remember that I really don't need more than about a 1/2 cup serving of brown rice with my meals, and if I want those cheetos then I had better take my butt for a run! I am looking for a quick fix, having a number gives me concrete way to think about how to reach my weight loss goals.

jptrgrl1111

"DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS" - absolutely LOVE it DeWitch!!! Lmao!

perseverance14

This is one of those moments that I wish time travel were possible... so that the OP's 40- or 50-something year old, post-menopausal self who has a sedentary 9-5 job can come back and whack her upside the head and say "WTH were you thinking?"

I thought I knew everything at 19 years old, too.

Sincerely,

A 45-year old, post-menopausal woman with a 9-5 desk job -- who managed to lose HEALTHFULLY at 1200 calories/day and has been successfully maintaining for 2.5 years at 1400 calories/day.

I already addressed this, I corrected myself and said it was healthy for someone in your circumstances.

I am 52 and and have an office job, and no thank you, I never want to have to live like that.

perseverance14

I think that it is a way to change the way you think about food. At least it is for me. Some people live very sedentary lives and aren't burning enough for more than that. Yes I agree that we should all take responsibility for our individual journeys, but sometimes that starts with HOW we think about our food and what we are taking in. It is because of the number goal that I am able to make better choices about my food. After spending a few weeks tracking I know what 1200 calories looks like in a typical day. (Man do they fly by with wine!) I usually make pretty good and healthy food choices, but I take in too much of it. Sure I love my brown rice and I still eat it, but do I need 2 cups in one serving? No! Should I never have Flamin Hot Cheetos ever again? No! Having a number goal has helped me remember that I really don't need more than about a 1/2 cup serving of brown rice with my meals, and if I want those cheetos then I had better take my butt for a run! I am looking for a quick fix, having a number gives me concrete way to think about how to reach my weight loss goals.

If you live THAT sedentary of a life you are compromising your health anyway, being fit is about eating right, and being active and exercising.

myusernam12

Oh my god. Before you reply you should probably read all the things I have already addressed. I'm leaving this forum, it genuinely cracks me up that people want to defend an unhealthy fad diet. Yes is works for some but NOT all.

1. Post a blatant troll post
2. Backtrack when called out
3. Claim to not be trolling and amused at all the stupid people
4. ?????
5. Flee forum and never return

Nice job.

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perseverance14

Sooooo......if you want to eat more than 1200 calories then do it. Nobody is stopping you from eating what you feel you need to eat. Ranting and throwing a hissy fit on how some of us do things isn't changing anything. I will do what I want and how I want and if there are repercussions because of it, it will be me who has to deal with it. Bees to honey darling. Raging about this doesn't get anyone anywhere.

Just don't forget some of those "repercussions" are permanent, take bone loss for example...and in that case you would have to live with it.

I think it is a mistake to assume you can "fix" whatever problems can happen, you can prevent them by not doing that to your body in the first place, but permanent damage is just that, there is no "fixing" it. It is better to make sure your body is getting the nutrition it needs.

I am 52 with healthy muscles and bones, and I can eat way over 1200 and not gain.

dollforlife

I see a lot of people on here do not know how much to eat. 1200 is practically the amount for a small child. 1200 calories was my lunch yesterday, not a days worth of intake! I don't want to hear any excuses like "I'm never hungry" or that you cant find any high calorie foods that are healthy.

My diet is heavily plant based. Even if my foods are not high calorie, I eat frequently and that adds up!

Furthermore, if you can't meet a simple calorie goal you shouldn't even be exercising and causing further damage to you body.
1200 calories isnt like a universal number that is meant for everyone (or anyone really) if you want to know how much you should really be eating calculate your BMR and then add calories based on your activity level OR calculate your TDEE which I highly recommend.

It seems most of you want quick and instant results but under eating isnt the way to do it. Permanent and HEALTHY results that you
can sustain are going to take time, effort, and certainly a hell of a lot more food.







You seem to make the assumption that everyone is all the same. I'm 5'1 136 pounds and 48 years old and I live a mostly sedendary life as a stay at home mom. Of course I wouldn't have the same calorie requirements of a 19yr old, unless I was extremely active or a seasoned athlete. For me personally, 1200 calories a day, sometimes even less is fine and no I don't get very hungry. But if I do then I will eat. There are even times when I will occasionally go over my goal but only because I exercised and I am eating some of those calories back. And even then I'm forcing myself. Not everyone has the same appetite for the same desire to eat as much food as the next person. Maybe that number comes from people eating in larger quantities to begin with may find it hard to limit their calories to 1200 and may require more. But I haven't been a very heavy eater for quite a few years and this seems completely normal to me. I am NOT starving myself. If I even attempted to eat 2000 calories daily I would surely gain. I also have an open diary. You're welcome to look.

perseverance14

For most people 1200 is not enough but for some it is especially older women and those who can't or know they won't exercise

I felt sorry for myself when I got a hiatal hernia and stopped exercising for a while for the most part, I felt like total crap, I gained weight easily, and pretty much it just stunk. I said to myself, if I have to live like this I would rather not...now I am back to my healthy fit self and I am sorry but life is a lot more worth living like this than eating starvation calories and feeling like crap all the time.

kelleybean1

This is one of those moments that I wish time travel were possible... so that the OP's 40- or 50-something year old, post-menopausal self who has a sedentary 9-5 job can come back and whack her upside the head and say "WTH were you thinking?"

I thought I knew everything at 19 years old, too.

Sincerely,

A 45-year old, post-menopausal woman with a 9-5 desk job -- who managed to lose HEALTHFULLY at 1200 calories/day and has been successfully maintaining for 2.5 years at 1400 calories/day.

Best post EVER!!! LOL!

alli_dalli

I'm actually glad to read this post - I have no opinion either way. But I am concerned that since recently becoming vegetarian and having joined Weightwatchers I rarely seem to eat 1200 calories. I cooked veggie stews and soups, I eat loads of potatoes, porridge, fruit & veg, beans, tuna etc. I have completely given up butter, cheese, meat (now eat Quorn), white bread, white pasta, white rice (all brown now) and no treats, sugary drinks etc. But I'm always full because the meals I make are bulky and filling. And I confess always have a glass of wine in the evening. But every day I've been getting the MFP "too few calories" message. The weight is dropping off me, I have far more energy and I don't crave fatty or processed food any more. Am I doing something wrong/causing myself harm? Always glad for advice as I'm not a nutritionist and not too knowledgeable about nutrition..

maidentl

Oh my god. Before you reply you should probably read all the things I have already addressed. I'm leaving this forum, it genuinely cracks me up that people want to defend an unhealthy fad diet. Yes is works for some but NOT all.

It is not an "unhealthy fad diet." It is simply a caloric amount.

yellowsnowdrop

I never ever eat more than 1200 a day even on my exercise days which are 4 times a week. You need to try being a 55 yr old post menopausal woman and see how you get on eating more. If I go over my 1200 (I have this week on 3 days and I KNOW I'll regret it) You can bet your sweet bippy that I'll gain.

DeWitch

"DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS" - absolutely LOVE it DeWitch!!! Lmao!

Thanks:)