you gotta EAT.

Pangui

While I totally agree with the fact that a person should be eating at least 1200 calories per day, I do think there is a reason so many people opt to do otherwise. When I was young one summer, I lost 31 pounds in about 30 days eating about 500-700 calories a day. Basically, I took off a year's worth of gain from my first year of college. 10 years later (and much fatter), I lost 92 pounds in under 5 months, doing pretty much the same thing. I did have plateaus that lasted for up to three or four weeks, but then the pounds came off in big chunks.

I don't recommend this for anyone. It is unsustainable and I always managed to gain the weight back and then some. Now I am embarking on a journey that I figure will take me 2-3 years to complete. It is so hard to force myself to eat 1600-1800 calories a day, but I know that these are the habits I need to form to make this weight loss a permanent lifestyle change. I agonize over the fact that I have only lost 16 pounds in nearly two months, but I know with full confidence that this is not a race. I do feel that I could eat like this for the rest of my life, but I have never before been as aware as I am now of just how large I am. I really feel like a skinny person going out in public in a fat suit.

RaeannePemberton

the body is such an amazing thing.

if we eat 1200 calories long term, we could easily gain since our body has to slow down it's "engine" due to the low amount of fuel.... thus our inclination of staying at 1200 calories....

don't ignore your hunger. unless you had a HUGE eating day the day before, if you are constantly hungry.... it's an honest sign that you need more foods....

joejccva71

There is something people are forgetting. It's not just about what you burned when you exercised or went to the gym and did that 30 minute spinning class.

It's about you're ENTIRE day. You have to take into consideration your lifestyle during the whole day, not just when you worked out. What you think you don't burn calories outside of the gym? You do and you need to take it into consideration as well.

People on these crash or "yo yo" diets may lose the weight fast, but they will gain the weight back unless they stay at 500 calorie intakes their entire lives which will come back to haunt you as you get older. We're not even talking about muscle atrophy at this point, the health complications are far worse. Think about what you are doing to your organ functionality. Your liver, your kidneys, you heart will all hate you for life.

RaeannePemberton

Well, what about us who DO sit around all day doing nothing? Now that it's summer break I don't get the exersise of taking the buss to school... And then sitting in the classroom, and going to the cafeteria, and back to the classroom, and then taking the buss home...

Um... yeah. The only movement I do is when I use the exercise bike... And I logg that.

Also, I don't have my goal set for 1200 cause it's like, impossible to get exactly 1200 and I hate when my numbers are red... In stead I have it set for 1240!

i don't know what you need or want to lose. or how much you currently weigh. but for a 19 year old, 5'4'' who is 1400 lbs, here is the amount needed to MAINTAIN your weight: 2017 cals.

so if you are eating 1200 you are at a deficit of 800 cals. that's kind of a big defecit.....

nutritionadata.com has a fabulous daily needs calculator.

RaeannePemberton

omgoodness. YES.

There is something people are forgetting. It's not just about what you burned when you exercised or went to the gym and did that 30 minute spinning class.

It's about you're ENTIRE day. You have to take into consideration your lifestyle during the whole day, not just when you worked out. What you think you don't burn calories outside of the gym? You do and you need to take it into consideration as well.

People on these crash or "yo yo" diets may lose the weight fast, but they will gain the weight back unless they stay at 500 calorie intakes their entire lives which will come back to haunt you as you get older. We're not even talking about muscle atrophy at this point, the health complications are far worse. Think about what you are doing to your organ functionality. Your liver, your kidneys, you heart will all hate you for life.

Rae6503

I'm with you. It really bothers me how many people I see going for 1200 calories and/or 2lbs loss per week. I would suggest to try eating MORE first. If you can get the same results in the long run why not eat more? I like to eat personally. Isn't easier better? Won't you be more likely stick with something that's easier? I'd rather be on an easy diet for a year than be on a hard diet for 4 months. Plus it makes the transition to maintenance that much easier. You haven't been deprived so there's no reason to go crazy and risk gaining weight back.

breunor

Your body stores some energy to use in the form of glycogen, which is kept in your muscles and liver and binds to water. When you eat way below your BMR (needed for basic body functions), you'll deplete that, and also lose the water weight associated with it. That's what makes the first X pounds easier to lose and quick to come back.

It's important to eat enough to maintain your BMR calories, and do some cardio to burn above that each day. Your body always wants to come back to a balance if you push it hard, such as an extreme calorie reduction diet. It swings hard back the other way when you do that. If you gently push just a small amount, it won't push back so hard and it's easy to keep it up, which is the key. Short term dieting will always fail, you have to make the life-long changes that allow you to live happily while also being healthy.

You'll never reach perfection, but don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Aim for health with moderation, and if you cut anything out cold turkey try to make it all the commercials suckering you into "just a few servings, because you deserve it"... because you deserve better.

sarahi2009

I believe everybody is different and every body has their own way to lose the weight. I have learned that the best thing to do is to be informed and absorb as much information as you can and apply what you think is bes for you. In my case, I was going on the 1200 calorie a day diet before, I also excercised about 40 minutes a day 6 days a week. I did eat my excercise calories back for the most part and I was stuck on a plateu for a few weeks. I coudn't understand why, then I just started researching and reading more. I decided to change my weightloss to .5 pds a week and then eat when I was hungry but the right kind of healthy foods. I even stopped the login in my foods. Then after a week of doing this, I decided to get on the scale ( a bit afraid I guess) to see the changes, either up or down...to my amazement I was 2 pds lighter. I couldn't beleive it!! I had to weigh myself 3x's to make sure my scale was not lying.

Ultimately your body knows what it needs. You just have to listen to it and really try different things until you find what works for you!! Losing weight is not an EXACT SCIENCE there are many guidelines and paths to take. The first step is to be informed and really research different ways to do things, above all PATIENCE!! I guess it truly is a virtue ;0)

SarahofTwins

I believe everybody is different and every body has their own way to lose the weight. I have learned that the best thing to do is to be informed and absorb as much information as you can and apply what you think is best for you.

Exactly.

d_llopez

I completely disagree. While I see the point your making 1200 calories works for me. At times it'll be a bit over but nothing big. I don't eat my exercise calories or my scale won't budge. I love that I lose a couple of pounds a week and I still eat very well. I just find the right foods that work for me. For some 1200 calories is too restrictive and for others it's perfect.

lodro

the body is such an amazing thing.

if we eat 1200 calories long term, we could easily gain since our body has to slow down it's "engine" due to the low amount of fuel.... thus our inclination of staying at 1200 calories....

don't ignore your hunger. unless you had a HUGE eating day the day before, if you are constantly hungry.... it's an honest sign that you need more foods....

or it is a sign that you eat too much carbohydrate too often, which causes insulin spikes and a feeling of hunger.
also i do not agree with the focus on weightloss. I've been eating 1200 calories/day for 7 months now and this was intentional. i was very pleased when i saw my weight stabilize around the 120 pounds mark (i'm 1.7 m tall) and at a body fat percentage of about 19% To me that means my body is adapting to the low calorie regime. Now, as long as i make sure that my body gets optimal nutrients, I can actually stay at this low calorie mark, and my body will do fine: I"m back from 3 weeks of heavy physical activity in france, do a daily bike round of about 20km with longer ones in the weekends and generally walk or cycle everywhere within a reasonable distance. So my body is functioning well, I'd say, nor do i feel I'm "depriving" myself.

All this not to advocate my way of eating, but just to vary the debate a little bit.

princess1409

Just out of curiosity how long did it take for you to notice once you began with myfitnesspal?

lodro

Just out of curiosity how long did it take for you to notice once you began with myfitnesspal?

I started on MFP to be able to properly track my calorie intake and exercise. But just to add another thing: being not very tall, my BMR is around 1400. I've become more active, but when I started this was not possible (recovering from chemotherapy), and I taught myself to gradually eat less, mainly by practicing intermittent fasting and by reducing carbohydrates to between 75 and 100 g a day and upping protein and (good) fats. Just to those who claim calorie restriction isn't sustainable long term: it depends on the reason you have to restrict calorie intake. In my case I knew this would have to be for the rest of my life. 7 months down the road I can say I recovered well from chemotherapy, and I've become a lot more active, biking and walking more, being generally better able to do physical stuff that wouldn't have been possible before. I do feel good, and so far no further advance of the cancer. Which is not to say i'm in remission, but hopefully I have reached a plateau.

fiberartist219

I've only been tracking my food for a few weeks now. MFP recommends 1290 calories per day for me, without exercise. I find myself frequently eating more than that. Sometimes, I can come in within the goal, but more often than not, I'm either hungry, or I am eating out and refuse to eat that many salads in a week.

So, most of the time, I end up eating around 1500 to feel comfortable. I am still losing weight. I have had the hardest time losing weight for the last few years due to some hormone issues, but it is nice to see the scale actually budge a couple pounds. I'm 5"2' and 163lbs if that matters.

I want to lose weight in a way that I can maintain for the rest of my life. I don't want to deal with my body eating my muscles, or worry about messing up my metabolism any more than my hypothyroidism already has.

RaeannePemberton

Everyone is definitely on their own journey. In the interest of never starting my own journey over agin and again.... I will never restrict myself to 1200 cals as long as I live. And I do mean LIVE. Run... Bike... Walk..... EAT and maintain my healthy weight all the while living more than I ever have before. Eating 1200 calories for me is just the other side of the weight gain pendulum.....