1200 Calories some sort of sin??

MaxineMarieM

Why do some people come down on those of us who eat 1200 Calories a day? I am eating that amount not by choice but because I am on a medication that causes weight gain unless I exercise I will gain weight, and if I want to lose weight then 1200 calories is what my DR told me to eat. Have I tried eating more? Yup and no weight loss. Would I like more food and still lose? Yup. So when someone comes on saying they can't lose weight eating more calories maybe their is a reason and they just aren't saying. Just think we should all be helpful and not so judgmental of one another. Just saying.

Alluminati

Or you can use the search function. Just saying.

gypsy_spirit

So noted. You are following your doctor's recommendation. Please, carry on.

Cranquistador

K

hearthwood

Anyone's calorie intake is based on age. I am a grandmother so I do fine with 1200 calories a day. Now someone who is 21 years old, needs more.

mwcontois

I'm on the 1200 cal diet until I get to a level of weight that my knees can handle more impact and more strenuous exercise. Some people may have an issue with that diet plan as it may cause metabolic rate changes that are hard to reverse. But other than that, who cares? I don't. And you shouldn't care either. You need to do what works for you and ignore comments from others that may be coming from insensitivity or just plain ignorance. Find those here that are supportive, not condescending and belittling. You will find those people wherever you go in life. Ignore them and stay positive. Keep working and doing what you're doing.

gothchiq

There's nothing wrong with eating 1200 calories. You can get very good nutrition at that level. Fresh fruit, lowfat yogurt, vegetables, chicken breast, whole wheat bread, bison meat, eggs, string cheese at 80 calories a stick, salsa, lite salad dressings, reasonable portions of starches... It's what I'm doing. I have hypothyroidism and am middle aged, and I am still working on my weight loss. If I didn't work out, eating 1200, I wouldn't lose either, I would maintain! Sometimes you may need nutritional supplements but that's okay. You can get high quality ones at reasonable prices, especially using coupons, specials, and discounts. Sometimes people think they know everything but they don't live in your body, to heck with unenlightened opinions.

sweetnsassy4evr

My dietician gave me a calorie goal and told me not to go under 1200 calories and to try not to go over the goal. There are some days it's difficult to stay under the goal and others where I have to eat something late at night just to get to 1200 calories. Everyone is different, every situation is different, every day can be different. You do you and don't worry what others think! You are doing this for you ... not them!!

Branstin

If you are under a doctor's care and trust him/her then that is who you should be listening to in the first place - those who are overseeing your health. However, it is important to look at the reasons people object to some people who eat 1200 calories before judging them. It works both ways.

Followingsea

There are a lot of people out there.

There is a lot of variation along the axes of height, age, weight, gender, health, medication, and activity level.

The subset of people who can healthily lose weight when taking in 1200 calories a day total is small but it is by no means nonexistent.

The subset of people who are trying to lose weight taking in 1200 calories a day total is a much larger population than the latter.

AliceDark

It's not a sin. It may or may not be appropriate for someone, based on details such as their individual statistics, health history, personality, etc.

amunet07

I've found people in forums just like to stir stuff up. Ignore them if its working for you.

Sabine_Stroehm

Here's my last post on the 1200 topic:

Folks: play with the calculators. Become a 30 year old of varying heights, and weights, then vary your age. Then consider menopause at each age. Then consider hypothyroidism. No, it's not impossible for people to lose weight, but... 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.

Sabine_Stroehm

Anyone's calorie intake is based on age. I am a grandmother so I do fine with 1200 calories a day. Now someone who is 21 years old, needs more.

It's based on age, gender, starting weight and LBM etc.

Icandoityayme

Anyone's calorie intake is based on age. I am a grandmother so I do fine with 1200 calories a day. Now someone who is 21 years old, needs more.

I am 45 and a grandmother. I tried 1200 and it was fine the first couple of months but had to bump it up to 1400 because I was getting sick from not eating enough. Age really doesn't have a whole lot to do with it. But with the OP having her Dr tell her she needs to do this then that is what she should do. And I don't knock anyone wanting to do 1200 calories. If that works for you then rock on.

michikade

Here's when I say something about it:

The people who are on the borderline between a healthy weight and underweight who say they do cardio out the wazoo WILL be advised to eat a lot more and lift stuff, without exception. Bottom line - at that point unless they are under average height by a fair margin, they don't need to lose anything at all and it's a body composition issue so the answer is not 1200 calories as a general rule (noted: some people are advised that 1200 is a maintenance level for whatever physical, physiological or medical reason and I respect that -- I'm talking about the people trying to diet when they're already at the low end of healthy weight or already underweight).

Other than that, so long as you're eating in a balanced way and are fueling your body properly, go for it! Especially if you're under medical supervision.

WalkingAlong

Or you can use the search function. Just saying.

Or she can post her own question.

brower47

I've found people in forums just like to stir stuff up. Ignore them if its working for you.

Funny, that's exactly what I thought the OP was doing.

hookilau

I've found people in forums just like to stir stuff up. Ignore them if its working for you.

Funny, that's exactly what I thought the OP was doing.

:laugh: I see what you did there

stephanieluvspb

Ummmm...ok. I would suggest not letting complete strangers on the internet upset you. and you do realise that the worlds a big ol place and we are not all going to agree.

beckyjeanleemaddox

Do whatever works for you, I am flexible with my calories I usually eat between 1200-1400 calories, Im 58, hypothyroid and lose weight just fine.

randomtai

mustgetmuscles1

So noted. You are following your doctor's recommendation. Please, carry on.

This.

If I had a nickel for every time a person crashes a thread with "well, I'm older/physically disabled/morbidly obese/under a doctor's care/metabolically compromised."

People are usually not talking about you. They are usually talking to someone in their mid-twenties who is otherwise healthy and trying to lose a few pounds of vanity weight by starving themselves.

^ Yep this. The exceptions are the rarity but with everyone eating this few calories you run the risk of being malnourished or deficient in some nutrients. You also run the risk of losing muscle without careful management of nutrient intake and strength training.

If you have a legitimate need to eat this low of calories then most of these posts are not aimed at you or you are being lumped in with the vast majority of people that are trying to lose some vanity weight as fast as they can.

skruttan44

I totally understand the OP.

And for those making their "funny" comments, the OP is right, too often when someone want to ask a question, and they mention eating 1200 calories...omg! Which makes it hard for those of us eating less (for whatever reason, excluding ed) to even ask a question. because we will be rudely in many ways told, to eat more (which isn't working for us).

I think that is the point the OP has when starting this thread.

Eselte

Or you can use the search function. Just saying.

Or she can post her own question.

^5

caracrawford1

I am on a medication that causes weight gain unless I exercise I will gain weight, and if I want to lose weight then 1200 calories is what my DR told me to eat. Have I tried eating more? Yup and no weight loss. Would I like more food and still lose? Yup.

Has your Dr prohibited you from exercising? If not, is there a reason why you don't exercise? You could cut yourself more slack if you did.

missbellz

I do 1200cal a day, it works for me. Jenny Craig put me on 1200 when I was doing that, I don't see it's an issue. Maybe if you're a 6ft, male in your 20's

Alluminati

Or you can use the search function. Just saying.

Or she can post her own question.

^5

Since the OP seems overly sensitive of her intake, I find it funny that she chose to pose a public admonishment. You white knights have a lovely evening.

lemurcat12

Why do some people come down on those of us who eat 1200 Calories a day?

More commonly people just overgeneralize about what's appropriate from their own experience. I wouldn't worry about it.

SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage

Yes. It is a sin. So is asking a question about it, or one of the many other hot-button issues on this forum. Expect to be ridiculed, made fun of and generally made to feel small for asking the question in the first place (I haven't read the rest of the posts here but I can imagine). You may even get lucky and get a personal attack. This is not the place for new people just trying to learn how to live a healthier life, it's for experts only. My advice is to do a search and see if you can figure out the answer on your own instead of expecting the majority of people here to give you a helpful response to any of your questions. (insert sarcasm font).

randomtai

Yes. It is a sin. So is asking a question about it, or one of the many other hot-button issues on this forum. Expect to be ridiculed, made fun of and generally made to feel small for asking the question in the first place (I haven't read the rest of the posts here but I can imagine). You may even get lucky and get a personal attack. This is not the place for new people just trying to learn how to live a healthier life, it's for experts only. My advice is to do a search and see if you can figure out the answer on your own instead of expecting the majority of people here to give you a helpful response to any of your questions. (insert sarcasm font).