1200 is really low

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Replies

  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    They have the same struggles with weight loss as older women.
    Unless you have a struggle-o-meter, there's no way of knowing that.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    They have the same struggles with weight loss as older women.
    Unless you have a struggle-o-meter, there's no way of knowing that.
    She's magical. :happy:
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    They have the same struggles with weight loss as older women.
    Unless you have a struggle-o-meter, there's no way of knowing that.

    The same applies to your theories.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    They have the same struggles with weight loss as older women.
    Unless you have a struggle-o-meter, there's no way of knowing that.
    She's magical. :happy:

    Nothing magical!

    I just chose to live in the 21th Century. :wink:
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    They have the same struggles with weight loss as older women.
    Unless you have a struggle-o-meter, there's no way of knowing that.

    The same applies to your theories.
    Well, there are actual studies saying age does affect it. It's considered the conventional wisdom.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    They have the same struggles with weight loss as older women.
    Unless you have a struggle-o-meter, there's no way of knowing that.
    She's magical. :happy:

    Nothing magical!

    I just chose to live in the 21th Century. :wink:
    lol
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    They have the same struggles with weight loss as older women.
    Unless you have a struggle-o-meter, there's no way of knowing that.

    The same applies to your theories.
    Well, there are actual studies saying age does affect it. It's considered the conventional wisdom.

    How much do you want to bet if those same participants work with the moderators of this forum, especially the personal trainers, authors of the "sticked" threads, and those older adults who lost a significant amount of weight that the age factor wouldn't be much of a factor at all? We'll see what happens to that "conventional wisdom".
  • du6157
    du6157 Posts: 14 Member
    I'm about the same age (54) and I know 1200 feels low, but it's doable. I work out 5-6 days a week running 3-4 miles, bicycling 10-20 miles, and strength training at an intermediate level. I lose when I stay at the 1200 limit, but don't when I go over, and it doesn't matter if I did a 20 mile bike ride that day or not. I know it's tempting to add calories to compensate for workouts, but it will keep you from losing. Make sure you are eating quality proteins and complex carbs to help keep you from feeling hungry. Eat both immediately after a workout to give your body energy to build muscles. I hate to say it, but it's a fantasy that you can eat your exercise calories and still lose weight. Not at our age. Your metabolism just isn't working that hard anymore. I've been eating a 1200-calorie diet for about 2 months, and I can honestly say you get used to it. I do pick one day a week to allow myself a treat; usually a day I have an extended run or ride. There is no denying it is hard work to get fit after 50. But nothing tastes as good as being fit feels. I just keep telling myself that I have a lot of years left in me, and I want them to be healthy, active years, so I just keep moving and counting the calories.
  • rosebette
    rosebette Posts: 1,660 Member
    They don't. On their current program, people average over 1800 calories a day.
    [/quote]
    That way too high. I had success on it years ago, and wanted to try it again after Atkins & menopause scare. I gained, and I was following it as accuratly as I could. Too many apples!
    [/quote]

    I gather that most fruit is a "free" food with WW. While I love fruit, it still has calories and needs to be counted. I guess that would bring it up to around 1800 calories.

    I sort of did WW years ago to lose baby weight, but was breastfeeding, so had lots of points and lost like crazy.

    I would gain on 1800, too. The only days I get that many calories is if I do zumba or kickboxing and an additional heavy workout, which is almost never. Usually, 1600 is around the max I get with exercise. More fuel to the "it's harder to lose when your older" fire -- Yes, a 55-year-old,short, lightly active woman can lose if she eats between 1200-1500 calories a day. 20 years ago, she could lose on 1800-2000. Guess what? 1200 is not a lot of calories and has to be carefully planned to get in all the macros or micros. It is a struggle; it is hard. It's not like anyone over 50 who has trouble losing weight is a lazy fat s*** who wants to lie around all day and stuff herself.
  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    I'm about the same age (54) and I know 1200 feels low, but it's doable. I work out 5-6 days a week running 3-4 miles, bicycling 10-20 miles, and strength training at an intermediate level. I lose when I stay at the 1200 limit, but don't when I go over, and it doesn't matter if I did a 20 mile bike ride that day or not. I know it's tempting to add calories to compensate for workouts, but it will keep you from losing. Make sure you are eating quality proteins and complex carbs to help keep you from feeling hungry. Eat both immediately after a workout to give your body energy to build muscles. I hate to say it, but it's a fantasy that you can eat your exercise calories and still lose weight. Not at our age. Your metabolism just isn't working that hard anymore. I've been eating a 1200-calorie diet for about 2 months, and I can honestly say you get used to it. I do pick one day a week to allow myself a treat; usually a day I have an extended run or ride. There is no denying it is hard work to get fit after 50. But nothing tastes as good as being fit feels. I just keep telling myself that I have a lot of years left in me, and I want them to be healthy, active years, so I just keep moving and counting the calories.

    Terrible advice. You can't possibly know if that person will not lose weight if they eat back an appropriate number of exercise calories. Blanket advice to have people net less than 1200 calories is pretty damn irresponsible.

    And who would want to 'get used to' eating so little especially if it's unnecessary.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    They have the same struggles with weight loss as older women.
    Unless you have a struggle-o-meter, there's no way of knowing that.

    The same applies to your theories.
    Well, there are actual studies saying age does affect it. It's considered the conventional wisdom.

    Even if you just look at the calculators, age affects it. Mostly, it seems, due to the effect on expected LBM at the same weight, but still.

    For example, using the M-SJ calculation, a 25 year old of my height and weight has an estimated BMR of 1419. A 65 year old, of the same height and weight, has a BMR of 1219. Even without taking into account differences in activity, that's a 200/day difference. Thus, even assuming that you can keep activity equal (my guess is that the average 25 year old is going to be able to ramp up physical activity more easily than the average 65 year old, although obviously there are numerous individual differences having to do with such things as past history and fitness), that means that the 65 year old, unless she has significantly more LBM at the same weight than the average 65 year old (which is something I plan to aim for), will have to eat less--closer to 1200--to lose.

    Is that an "effect"? Under any reasonable definition of the term, I think so. Does it mean the 65 year old cannot lose? Of course not, and no one has suggested otherwise.

    But to relate it back to the topic of the thread, it's why a goal of 1200 might not be appropriate for lots of people, including our 25 year old, but our 65 year old, even if working out 3 times a week and still quite a ways from goal, could expect to lose less than 1 lb/week at that amount, making it a more reasonable choice.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    How much do you want to bet if those same participants work with the moderators of this forum, especially the personal trainers, authors of the "sticked" threads, and those older adults who lost a significant amount of weight that the age factor wouldn't be much of a factor at all? We'll see what happens to that "conventional wisdom".

    Again, no one is saying that the older person cannot lose weight. Just that what worked for her to lose weight when she was 25 likely will not work as well or quickly, if at all, when she is 65. What was a deficit at 25, especially given likely changes in daily activity, won't be. Those are factors that "affect" weight loss, in that one has to adjust for them.

    However great the advice of the moderators of this forum, etc., they can't change the fact that the average 65 year old, as assumed by the M-SJ calculate, has to eat less than the average 25 year old, at the same height and weight and activity level.

    In fact, given how often there's a knee jerk "1200 is too low, I'm losing at 2400" kind of response, being aware that age can make a difference may well make it easier, as the person will understand why she does have to eat less.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    They have the same struggles with weight loss as older women.
    Unless you have a struggle-o-meter, there's no way of knowing that.

    The same applies to your theories.
    No, it doesn't. There is scientific evidence supporting the slowdown of metabolism due to age, which means it is a factor. Unlike for your view.

    I don't know if you don't understand what "affect" means or you've just backed yourself so far into a corner there's no face-saving way out of your written ignorance or you don't understand logic or analogies or what, but you've made it to #2 behind Dances with WOW as the most ludicrous supposedly serious poster here.

    ETA: And #1 on my ignore list because you don't have the LOL factor he does.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    How much do you want to bet if those same participants work with the moderators of this forum, especially the personal trainers, authors of the "sticked" threads, and those older adults who lost a significant amount of weight that the age factor wouldn't be much of a factor at all? We'll see what happens to that "conventional wisdom".
    Where do people get this belief that MFP moderators, posters or any personal trainers anywhere know secrets hidden from the entire worldwide fields of medicine, nutrition and fitness?
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    How much do you want to bet if those same participants work with the moderators of this forum, especially the personal trainers, authors of the "sticked" threads, and those older adults who lost a significant amount of weight that the age factor wouldn't be much of a factor at all? We'll see what happens to that "conventional wisdom".

    Again, no one is saying that the older person cannot lose weight. Just that what worked for her to lose weight when she was 25 likely will not work as well or quickly, if at all, when she is 65. What was a deficit at 25, especially given likely changes in daily activity, won't be. Those are factors that "affect" weight loss, in that one has to adjust for them.

    However great the advice of the moderators of this forum, etc., they can't change the fact that the average 25 year old, as assumed by the M-SJ calculate, has to eat less than the average 65 year old, at the same height and weight and activity level.

    I wasn't suggesting that the moderators could change how the amount a 25 versus 65 year old is required to eat. My point was having the correct tools and support system in place, age would not be that much of a factor in weight loss. Whether the 25 could or could not do as a 65 year old would depend of the overall health, diet, and lifestyles of both individuals because many old people are adhering to better weight management and healthy lifestyle than some young people.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    How much do you want to bet if those same participants work with the moderators of this forum, especially the personal trainers, authors of the "sticked" threads, and those older adults who lost a significant amount of weight that the age factor wouldn't be much of a factor at all? We'll see what happens to that "conventional wisdom".
    Where do people get this belief that MFP moderators, posters or any personal trainers anywhere know secrets hidden from the entire worldwide fields of medicine, nutrition and fitness?

    Oh, please! This isn't about secrets hidden from the entire worldwide fields of medicine, nutrition and fitness. My post referred to those on this forum and not any place else. It is because they have more experience than a lot of us who are still dealing with weight loss. Therefore, they know a hell of a lot more than many people in this forum.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    They have the same struggles with weight loss as older women.
    Unless you have a struggle-o-meter, there's no way of knowing that.

    The same applies to your theories.
    No, it doesn't. There is scientific evidence supporting the slowdown of metabolism due to age, which means it is a factor. Unlike for your view.

    I don't know if you don't understand what "affect" means or you've just backed yourself so far into a corner there's no face-saving way out of your written ignorance or you don't understand logic or analogies or what, but you've made it to #2 behind Dances with WOW as the most ludicrous supposedly serious poster here.

    ETA: And #1 on my ignore list because you don't have the LOL factor he does.
    And bone loss, and and and and and.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    They have the same struggles with weight loss as older women.
    Unless you have a struggle-o-meter, there's no way of knowing that.

    The same applies to your theories.
    Well, there are actual studies saying age does affect it. It's considered the conventional wisdom.

    How much do you want to bet if those same participants work with the moderators of this forum, especially the personal trainers, authors of the "sticked" threads, and those older adults who lost a significant amount of weight that the age factor wouldn't be much of a factor at all? We'll see what happens to that "conventional wisdom".
    Whisky, tango, foxtrot.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    They have the same struggles with weight loss as older women.
    Unless you have a struggle-o-meter, there's no way of knowing that.

    The same applies to your theories.
    No, it doesn't. There is scientific evidence supporting the slowdown of metabolism due to age, which means it is a factor. Unlike for your view.

    I don't know if you don't understand what "affect" mean or you've just backed yourself so far into a corner there's no face-saving way out of your written ignorance or you don't understand logic or analogies or what, but you've made it to #2 behind Dances with WOW as the most ludicrous supposedly serious poster here.

    ETA: And #1 on my ignore list because you don't have the LOL factor he does.

    Yes, it does. There is also plenty of evidence from users' tickers in this forum supporting the fact that a slow metabolism and age do not necessarily mean big factors in weight loss. Furthermore, I have yet to see any serious support from you.

    I understand the meaning of "affect" perfectly. I just don't agree with your position.

    I have yet to back myself into a corner. Therefore, I do not need any face-saving moves like you with your nasty insults and name calling. You are the one who have resorted to insults and name calling because you can't support your views. If you continue with the insults, you will get reported to the moderators and they will deal with you. As far as you placing me on ignore, knock yourself out. I am sure your little action will cure the world of all of its problems now that you have placed me on your ignore list. Your age and juvenile name calling tactics are the very reasons I don't put much emphasis on age versus a person's actions. Your name calling and insults are more about you than your age. Thank you for proving my point.

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  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Folks: play with the calculators. Become a 30 year old of varying heights, and weights, vary your age. Then consider menopause at each age. Then consider hypothyroidism. No, it's not impossible... the challenges DO vary.

    My sister is a great example. She's short. She's 60+ and she's over weight. Her BMR is about 1100. Her TDEE is about 1400. That's a tiny weight loss window. Then factor in menopause and hypothyroidism (half a thyroid even). Her window between loss and maintenance may be about 100 calories. Her margin of error is pretty small.

    Consider me and my other sister. Same basic height. If we both walk 30 minutes she burns about half the calories I do. Because she's older. And has a slower metabolism, and less LBM...

    If my friend who's my age and height but weighs about 100LBS more and I go for a 30 minute run, logic says she'll burn more, because she weighs more, but there may be other factors at play.


    My point: we're all different. To jump in and say a priori: "I'm losing at 2300" means nothing.
    Everyone needs to decide how to best fuel their body and create a deficit. And for each of us, it's going to be different.
  • toolzz
    toolzz Posts: 163 Member
    I didn't read all the replies but just felt compelled to chime in...I'm 51 and have no problem losing weight or maintaining.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    They have the same struggles with weight loss as older women.
    Unless you have a struggle-o-meter, there's no way of knowing that.

    The same applies to your theories.
    Well, there are actual studies saying age does affect it. It's considered the conventional wisdom.

    How much do you want to bet if those same participants work with the moderators of this forum, especially the personal trainers, authors of the "sticked" threads, and those older adults who lost a significant amount of weight that the age factor wouldn't be much of a factor at all? We'll see what happens to that "conventional wisdom".
    Whisky, tango, foxtrot.

    Vodka and Tweaking.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    They have the same struggles with weight loss as older women.
    Unless you have a struggle-o-meter, there's no way of knowing that.

    The same applies to your theories.
    Well, there are actual studies saying age does affect it. It's considered the conventional wisdom.

    How much do you want to bet if those same participants work with the moderators of this forum, especially the personal trainers, authors of the "sticked" threads, and those older adults who lost a significant amount of weight that the age factor wouldn't be much of a factor at all? We'll see what happens to that "conventional wisdom".
    Whisky, tango, foxtrot.

    Vodka and Tweaking.
    Tweaking. I guess that could explain the paranoia in the post I quoted, yes.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    Vodka and Tweaking.
    Tweaking. I guess that could explain the paranoia in the post I quoted, yes.

    I was suggesting it for you.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Vodka and Tweaking.
    Tweaking. I guess that could explain the paranoia in the post I quoted, yes.

    I was suggesting it for you.
    I know you were. lol.
    enjoy your short time on the boards.
  • RSEC75
    RSEC75 Posts: 45 Member
    In fact, given how often there's a knee jerk "1200 is too low, I'm losing at 2400" kind of response, being aware that age can make a difference may well make it easier, as the person will understand why she does have to eat less.

    I've found it quite amusing the argument here over age. I just wanted to add that understanding the way age affects the calorie count you can eat without gaining weight (or needed to loose weight) is something I never knew until a few weeks ago when I first started using calculators to work out how to loose weight. And I thought WOW... no wonder I've put on weight!

    I've eaten and drank the same between teenage and now (approaching 40) and not really understood why I started steadily putting on weight from 25 when I was stick thin on the same diet as a teenager. I've not put on weight fast (with one few month exception), but it's got faster all the time.

    So now I KNOW that I have to decrease calories slightly each year I can take that in to account and keep an eye on having the appropriate diet.

    Will age stop me loosing weight... NO. Do I intend it to stop me as I actually start to get old... NO I don't. But does the knowledge that age affects the amount of calories I am meant to eat help me to loose that weight and then maintain it... you sure bet it does!
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    Vodka and Tweaking.
    Tweaking. I guess that could explain the paranoia in the post I quoted, yes.

    I was suggesting it for you.
    I know you were. lol.
    enjoy your short time on the boards.

    I am not going any place. I promise you. I know how to follow the forum rules and not resort to insults and name calling so I am good.