1,200 - but what if you're eating good food?
lemonsurprise
Posts: 255 Member
I know the general consensus is that 1,200 is far too low for the majority of people. But is this still the case if somebody is eating a great diet? This would consist of no "treats" but tonnes of veg, nuts, seeds, pulses.
I find when home cooking a meal, it's so easy for a BIG meal to be under 400 calories when all the ingredients are completely natural. Plus dairy is kept to an absolute bare minimum (soon to be none) and meat isn't in my diet (ethical reasons).
Surely this is better than an 1,800 calorie a day diet with a treat or 2? Or is it not?
And also people say that it's not a happy way to live and hard to keep up - but how can it be when you're eating two or 3 BIG meals a day and then a snack too?!
I find when home cooking a meal, it's so easy for a BIG meal to be under 400 calories when all the ingredients are completely natural. Plus dairy is kept to an absolute bare minimum (soon to be none) and meat isn't in my diet (ethical reasons).
Surely this is better than an 1,800 calorie a day diet with a treat or 2? Or is it not?
And also people say that it's not a happy way to live and hard to keep up - but how can it be when you're eating two or 3 BIG meals a day and then a snack too?!
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Replies
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what is good food? good/bad, it doesn't matter.
It's not a matter of nutrition, its a matter of energy requirements.
arbitrary numbers mean nothing0 -
what exactly are in your "big" meals that are 400 calories? if you don't eat meat and potatoes and pasta type food come to more then that if it is considered "big" amounts....0
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Plus dairy is kept to an absolute bare minimum (soon to be none) and meat isn't in my diet (ethical reasons).
This bit is going to make it harder to get adequate protein without spending a bit more in calories, probably.
There are a couple of issues: nutrition (which I personally think can be met on 1200 better than many meet it on higher levels, so in theory I agree with you, but it's harder work if your calories are lower) and not having an overly aggressive deficit (eating enough to fuel your activity). Lots of times what people mean about 1200 being too low (especially when people are doing 1200, don't have much to lose, and are quite active and not eating back exercise calories) is the latter.
Also, one has to consider sustainability over time. I thought 1200 was great when I started and had no desire for "treats" or the like. For a year, I think it's much less so, and probably gives you less practice in how to maintain a healthy balanced diet that you will keep for a lifetime. But you have to know yourself.0 -
Is the 1200 calorie diet allowing you to hit appropriate macro targets, calculated according to your body weight? (On a side note, do you know how to calculate appropriate macro targets?) Are you coming close to hitting the RDA for a variety of micronutrients? If yes, then it's a healthy diet. If no, then it's not.0
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Whether 1200 or 1800 is appropriate depends on the person. Many people cannot provide their bodies with the required amount of nutrients, support a healthy calorie deficiency, and properly fuel their workouts for a long period of time on 1200 calories a day. No one is going to deny that 1200 may not be appropriate for some people. The majority of the objections on this forum has to do with people not properly setting up their profile and eating an inadequate amount of calories, like 1200, because it's the number MFP generated based on bad data input.0
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Most MFP posters don't think that there is any difference between potato chips and spinach. Nothing is good or bad. The other day someone was arguing that deluxe pizza is probably more healthy than baked chicken breast.
As far as weight loss goes, they're right. You can and will lose weight on a calorie deficit, even if all you eat is pizza and ice cream. You can eat a lot more food if it's healthy food, though.
Many people suggest that making junk food 1/5 of your diet is the best plan.
You should ask your doctor.
Than decide what you want.0 -
This seems to be your response to every thread
You should ask your doctor.0 -
Most MFP posters don't think that there is any difference between potato chips and spinach. Nothing is good or bad. The other day someone was arguing that deluxe pizza is probably more healthy than baked chicken breast.
As far as weight loss goes, they're right. You can and will lose weight on a calorie deficit, even if all you eat is pizza and ice cream. You can eat a lot more food if it's healthy food, though.
Many people suggest that making junk food 1/5 of your diet is the best plan.
You should ask your doctor.
Than decide what you want.
Can you post the link to this thread. It sounds INteresting.0 -
if it's working for you and you're OK with it then why do you need our approval?
you're an adult buying and preparing your own food, why are you looking to some strangers in the internet to agree or disagree with what you do?
PS Im losing just fine (2 pounds per week average) eating 1700-2000 calories on average.0 -
I know, lol.
This seems to be your response to every thread
You should ask your doctor.
But it's true. They know more and they know that individual's needs.0 -
This content has been removed.
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Most MFP posters don't think that there is any difference between potato chips and spinach. Nothing is good or bad. The other day someone was arguing that deluxe pizza is probably more healthy than baked chicken breast.
As far as weight loss goes, they're right. You can and will lose weight on a calorie deficit, even if all you eat is pizza and ice cream. You can eat a lot more food if it's healthy food, though.
Many people suggest that making junk food 1/5 of your diet is the best plan.
You should ask your doctor.
Than decide what you want.
Who's most? :huh:0 -
Most MFP posters don't think that there is any difference between potato chips and spinach. Nothing is good or bad. The other day someone was arguing that deluxe pizza is probably more healthy than baked chicken breast.
As far as weight loss goes, they're right. You can and will lose weight on a calorie deficit, even if all you eat is pizza and ice cream. You can eat a lot more food if it's healthy food, though.
Many people suggest that making junk food 1/5 of your diet is the best plan.
You should ask your doctor.
Than decide what you want.
Who's most? :huh:
Imaginary people.0 -
Most MFP posters don't think that there is any difference between potato chips and spinach. Nothing is good or bad. The other day someone was arguing that deluxe pizza is probably more healthy than baked chicken breast.
As far as weight loss goes, they're right. You can and will lose weight on a calorie deficit, even if all you eat is pizza and ice cream. You can eat a lot more food if it's healthy food, though.
Many people suggest that making junk food 1/5 of your diet is the best plan.
You should ask your doctor.
Than decide what you want.
Who's most? :huh:
Imaginary people.
In for all these MFPers who say this as I've still never met one. :flowerforyou:0 -
This content has been removed.
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I think people only thinks that's the general consensus because it's a popular mantra among many prolific posters. I'm pretty sure that a good portion of this site's users know, and some of us will even speak up and say, that 1200 for someone with excess body fat is usually fine, which is why MFP uses it as a floor.I know the general consensus is that 1,200 is far too low for the majority of people.0 -
Add a couple tablespoons of oil those will beef up the calories for you.0
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The ones who routinely say that there is no good or bad food. Most threads end up with a majority of people falling into that category. Often, they will actually deny that junk food exists. No such thing.Most MFP posters don't think that there is any difference between potato chips and spinach. Nothing is good or bad. The other day someone was arguing that deluxe pizza is probably more healthy than baked chicken breast.
As far as weight loss goes, they're right. You can and will lose weight on a calorie deficit, even if all you eat is pizza and ice cream. You can eat a lot more food if it's healthy food, though.
Many people suggest that making junk food 1/5 of your diet is the best plan.
You should ask your doctor.
Than decide what you want.
Who's most? :huh:
Deluxe pizza is more healthy than baked chicken breast - that sort of thing.0 -
The ones who routinely say that there is no good or bad food. Most threads end up with a majority of people falling into that category. Often, they will actually deny that junk food exists. No such thing.Most MFP posters don't think that there is any difference between potato chips and spinach. Nothing is good or bad. The other day someone was arguing that deluxe pizza is probably more healthy than baked chicken breast.
As far as weight loss goes, they're right. You can and will lose weight on a calorie deficit, even if all you eat is pizza and ice cream. You can eat a lot more food if it's healthy food, though.
Many people suggest that making junk food 1/5 of your diet is the best plan.
You should ask your doctor.
Than decide what you want.
Who's most? :huh:
Deluxe pizza is more healthy than baked chicken breast - that sort of thing.
In for the hyperbole.0 -
I know the general consensus is that 1,200 is far too low for the majority of people. But is this still the case if somebody is eating a great diet? This would consist of no "treats" but tonnes of veg, nuts, seeds, pulses.
I find when home cooking a meal, it's so easy for a BIG meal to be under 400 calories when all the ingredients are completely natural. Plus dairy is kept to an absolute bare minimum (soon to be none) and meat isn't in my diet (ethical reasons).
Surely this is better than an 1,800 calorie a day diet with a treat or 2? Or is it not?
And also people say that it's not a happy way to live and hard to keep up - but how can it be when you're eating two or 3 BIG meals a day and then a snack too?!
Ok, let's talk about the bolded part. Suppose you do eat 1200 calories a day of a great diet, and 1200 is your calorie goal. Suppose my calorie goal is 1800. I eat 1200 calories of the same exact great diet that you do, then fill in the remaining 600 calories with whatever foods fit into my calorie, macro, and micro goals. How would the 1200 calorie diet "better" than the 1800 calorie diet? If you are claiming that you are able to get adequate nutrition on your 1200 calorie great diet, then all my nutrition needs would also be met from the 1200 calorie great diet portion of my intake, right?0 -
The ones who routinely say that there is no good or bad food. Most threads end up with a majority of people falling into that category. Often, they will actually deny that junk food exists. No such thing.Most MFP posters don't think that there is any difference between potato chips and spinach. Nothing is good or bad. The other day someone was arguing that deluxe pizza is probably more healthy than baked chicken breast.
As far as weight loss goes, they're right. You can and will lose weight on a calorie deficit, even if all you eat is pizza and ice cream. You can eat a lot more food if it's healthy food, though.
Many people suggest that making junk food 1/5 of your diet is the best plan.
You should ask your doctor.
Than decide what you want.
Who's most? :huh:
Deluxe pizza is more healthy than baked chicken breast - that sort of thing.
In for the hyperbole.
Scoot over!0 -
I think people only thinks that's the general consensus because it's a popular mantra among many prolific posters. I'm pretty sure that a good portion of this site's users know, and some of us will even speak up and say, that 1200 for someone with excess body fat is usually fine, which is why MFP uses it as a floor.I know the general consensus is that 1,200 is far too low for the majority of people.
I think only people think that's the general consensus because it's difficult to get all of your micros on a diet of 1200 calories and it doesn't leave much if any room for nutrient sparse foods that most people love. It's also an insufficient amount of energy for most active people. I'm pretty sure that a good portion of this site's users know, and most of use will even speak up and say that most people, except the obese, should not attempt a 1200 calorie diet without a very nutrient intense diet. Most of us will say that because we actually care about your overall health in the long term instead of pushing terrible advice that could harm health and negatively affect adherence.0 -
Deluxe pizza is more healthy than baked chicken breast - that sort of thing.
There are many contexts where that is actually true - that a deluxe pizza is more of what your body needs than a baked chicken breast.0 -
To the OP. Personally, I think it depends on what your goals are. I could not do a 1200 calorie diet regardless of it's composition because it's too few calories for me. I also don't see a problem with treats on occasion either, it keeps me from craving and binging later which would derail my goals far faster than if I account for them in the first place. It doesn't make either better or worse, just different.0
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I don't know your height and weight stats, but 1200 may very well be just fine for you. Be sure and make sure you're getting a good amount of fat and protein though. If you wind up needing more calories to hit those macros, then definitely up your calorie count.
When I was on 1200, I had to let myself have more cheat meals because I was feeling pretty deprived a lot of the time. When I went up to 1450, I almost never had a cheat meal and so my weekly net loss wound up being about the same, except I felt a lot better about myself.
It's personal preference, but be sure you're still fueling your body with what it needs!0 -
The ones who routinely say that there is no good or bad food. Most threads end up with a majority of people falling into that category. Often, they will actually deny that junk food exists. No such thing.Most MFP posters don't think that there is any difference between potato chips and spinach. Nothing is good or bad. The other day someone was arguing that deluxe pizza is probably more healthy than baked chicken breast.
As far as weight loss goes, they're right. You can and will lose weight on a calorie deficit, even if all you eat is pizza and ice cream. You can eat a lot more food if it's healthy food, though.
Many people suggest that making junk food 1/5 of your diet is the best plan.
You should ask your doctor.
Than decide what you want.
Who's most? :huh:
Deluxe pizza is more healthy than baked chicken breast - that sort of thing.
In for the hyperbole.
Scoot over!
I haz room. 0 -
I know the general consensus is that 1,200 is far too low for the majority of people. But is this still the case if somebody is eating a great diet? This would consist of no "treats" but tonnes of veg, nuts, seeds, pulses.
I find when home cooking a meal, it's so easy for a BIG meal to be under 400 calories when all the ingredients are completely natural. Plus dairy is kept to an absolute bare minimum (soon to be none) and meat isn't in my diet (ethical reasons).
Surely this is better than an 1,800 calorie a day diet with a treat or 2? Or is it not?
And also people say that it's not a happy way to live and hard to keep up - but how can it be when you're eating two or 3 BIG meals a day and then a snack too?!
Ok, let's talk about the bolded part. Suppose you do eat 1200 calories a day of a great diet, and 1200 is your calorie goal. Suppose my calorie goal is 1800. I eat 1200 calories of the same exact great diet that you do, then fill in the remaining 600 calories with whatever foods fit into my calorie, macro, and micro goals. How would the 1200 calorie diet "better" than the 1800 calorie diet? If you are claiming that you are able to get adequate nutrition on your 1200 calorie great diet, then all my nutrition needs would also be met from the 1200 calorie great diet portion of my intake, right?
^^stop with your logic and common sense!
Also, I saw the thread last week in which deluxe pizza was deemed "heathier" than baked chicken breast. The expanded context, since taking things out of context makes it difficult to paint an accurate picture, is that baked chicken breast provides primarily one type of macro - protein. On the other hand, deluxe pizza provides carbohydrates, fats, and protein in the form of crust, sauce, cheese, vegetables, and meat toppings. A a component of the whole day's intake, pizza could easily be deemed the better choice compared to chicken if one has worked it into their daily calorie allotment.0 -
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Is there room for me and my dog? We have pizza!!
The ones who routinely say that there is no good or bad food. Most threads end up with a majority of people falling into that category. Often, they will actually deny that junk food exists. No such thing.Most MFP posters don't think that there is any difference between potato chips and spinach. Nothing is good or bad. The other day someone was arguing that deluxe pizza is probably more healthy than baked chicken breast.
As far as weight loss goes, they're right. You can and will lose weight on a calorie deficit, even if all you eat is pizza and ice cream. You can eat a lot more food if it's healthy food, though.
Many people suggest that making junk food 1/5 of your diet is the best plan.
You should ask your doctor.
Than decide what you want.
Who's most? :huh:
Deluxe pizza is more healthy than baked chicken breast - that sort of thing.
In for the hyperbole.
Scoot over!
Make room for me!
A piece or two of deluxe pizza will, in all likelihood, provide more nutrition than a chicken breast would. Neither is bad, or good, or better or whatever.
And lots of ice cream...0
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