1250 calories?

Helloitsdan

Encouraging people to not eat at least their base nutrients is probably not a good idea.
People who have a BMR below 1200 tend to be way below average in height.
Like 4'8"???
I've done numbers for 1 person in the year i've been logging and even their base calories were closer to 1600.
successful?
In what measurements?
Losing total weight?
20-50% of their weight loss was in lean mass!
That means they probably have a BF% that will never go below 20% if they continue on that path.
They are simply shrinking mass but never recompositioning their body!
The true diet is getting rid of unwanted fat while maintaining or increasing lean mass!

I mean no offense to the men and women who dont know better than to eat more than their BMR but this Watboy is encouraging stupidity!
Do the research and get back to us when you understand what it is you are talking about.

Morning Lemon!

psuLemon

I'm not giving advise I'm giving encouragement to people who are successful. Something this forum seems to be lacking. Instead people keep being told it's not sustainable you're going to fail. Even people who lose 80 lbs are being told they are wrong. People who have been keeping it off and they are still being told they are wrong. I can posts studies proving starvation mode is a myth but that's been done countless times. I can post studies of people who have to eat low calories due to their conditions but again that's been done countless times as well.

again:

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

Well I never mentioned starvation mode, I too believe it's BS. But I do believe in the bodies' defense mechanism set up to conserve energy and the affects of cortisol on a body as I posted the information. Also, have you every looked in this forum and seen how many people are frustrated or not losing weight and NONE of them are eating 1600 calories or so. They are all on 1200 calories. Do you know the effects of VLCD on the metabolism or how about lean muscle mass?

And at least for me, you can't say I don't encourage people, because if that was the case, i wouldn't be answering 20+ PM's a day and working with people to reach their goals. But what I actually do, unlike many others (yourself included at this moment) is show scientific data that shows eating VLCD isn't always the way to go. In fact, unless you are obese, it isn't suggested. So yes, people do lose 100 lbs on VLCD's but they all start out obese. If you only have 20 lbs to lose (like myself) a VLCD doesn't work. BTW, i tried it because I didn't educate myself. I did 1800 calories and P90X and didn't lose anything. Not an inch, not a lb, not any body fat. I upped my calories to 2600 and did CLX, I lost 6", 16 lbs and 3% body fat.

So if you want to be a cheerleader for those on VLCD that is up to you. But don't come back to me and tell me I am wrong when I actually post legitimate data and try to help people out.

Morning Dan.

watboy

This is not a study http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/you-are-not-different.html it's a link to some guy who has authored diet books.. Hmmm of course a guy who is selling something has tons to say, study however it's not. Oh look a convenient link to buy his books....
Sorry buddy not buying. And yeah let's ignore genetics or also medical conditions all together....



Anywho again :Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

I'm not giving advise I'm giving encouragement to people who are successful. Something this forum seems to be lacking. Instead people keep being told it's not sustainable you're going to fail. Even people who lose 80 lbs are being told they are wrong. People who have been keeping it off and they are still being told they are wrong. I can posts studies proving starvation mode is a myth but that's been done countless times. I can post studies of people who have to eat low calories due to their conditions but again that's been done countless times as well.

again:

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

Well I never mentioned starvation mode, I too believe it's BS. But I do believe in the bodies' defense mechanism set up to conserve energy and the affects of cortisol on a body as I posted the information. Also, have you every looked in this forum and seen how many people are frustrated or not losing weight and NONE of them are eating 1600 calories or so. They are all on 1200 calories. Do you know the effects of VLCD on the metabolism or how about lean muscle mass?

And at least for me, you can't say I don't encourage people, because if that was the case, i wouldn't be answering 20+ PM's a day and working with people to reach their goals. But what I actually do, unlike many others (yourself included at this moment) is show scientific data that shows eating VLCD isn't always the way to go. In fact, unless you are obese, it isn't suggested. So yes, people do lose 100 lbs on VLCD's but they all start out obese. If you only have 20 lbs to lose (like myself) a VLCD doesn't work. BTW, i tried it because I didn't educate myself. I did 1800 calories and P90X and didn't lose anything. Not an inch, not a lb, not any body fat. I upped my calories to 2600 and did CLX, I lost 6", 16 lbs and 3% body fat.

So if you want to be a cheerleader for those on VLCD that is up to you. But don't come back to me and tell me I am wrong when I actually post legitimate data and try to help people out.

Morning Dan.

gleechick609

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

watboy

OMG I laughed for 5 minutes. Not sure if you were making fun of me or just being silly and giving me jesus thumbs up in agreement of my comment lol. either way did i laughbecause that was funny! oh boy here i go again lol. Just funny.

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

gleechick609

OMG I laughed for 5 minutes. Not sure if you were making fun of me or just being silly and giving me jesus thumbs up in agreement of my comment lol. either way did i laughbecause that was funny! oh boy here i go again lol. Just funny.

You'll never know

Fit_Canuck

Eating 1200 calories and doing a Tony Horton workout like p90x is a recipe for disaster. Tony may come over and administer a beat down personally

SoDamnHungry

1250 would probably work fine for you (for now) if you were able to continue it. But sometimes people just can't maintain such a low amount of calories, and it ends up working against them in the end by making them overeat. Remember, it's a diet, not torture. If you need 1400, go with 1400 (or more), as long as you're at a deficit. You'll just lose weight slower, which isn't a crime. Hopefully this is a lifestyle change for you.

rileamoyer

It depends, MFP put me on 1200 to start and I stuck with that as my target, though I did not always meet it. The results speak for them selves. I started at 5'7 203 and am now 133 and my Dr. says the only thing more I could do for my health is to have better genetic parents. Give it a while. If you can't do 1200 start at 1500, you can set your own.

MJ7910

wow that's incredible for your height/weight. no wonder you're hungry. i am maintaining 125 at 5'4" and eating 1700-1800 calories. definitely bump that up. i dont' really work out that intensely either. i might burn 1400 calories a week doing exercise.

MJ7910

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

Well said Lemon!

Hormonal issues
Lean mass loss
Skinny fat

Great job all!

You successfully ate less than most 8 year old kids, maintained if not added more body fat% while losing precious lean mass.

Watboy probably isnt the person to follow in this forum but what do I know?
I've only helped 100s lose fat while maintaining lean mass.

If you feel that you are not eating enough, please research proper dieting.
I have a link on my profile page if you need guidance.
The link is what woke me up from the 1200 cal fog and opened me up to a new way of life.
The sustainable diet that maintains lean mass and burns fat.

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

Lol

i totally agree with helloitsdan.... 1200 might make you lose weight, but think of what you're sacrificing... your muscle mass. i dont' want to be "skinny fat" so i workout and eat more.

watboy

I don't need anyone "following me" There is nothing to follow I'm congratulating people for doing well and finding something that works for them.
"You successfully ate less than most 8 year old kids" you do realize 1 in 3 children in the US are obese right? anywho if you are doing well on 1800 calories congrats to those people as well. But putting people down because they eat 1200 calories is really not helpful whatsoever. And just because more calories worked for you doesn't mean it will work for them. So good for you Dan that you found something that works for you. Keep up the good work. For those still searching I wish you luck.

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

Well said Lemon!

Hormonal issues
Lean mass loss
Skinny fat

Great job all!

You successfully ate less than most 8 year old kids, maintained if not added more body fat% while losing precious lean mass.

Watboy probably isnt the person to follow in this forum but what do I know?
I've only helped 100s lose fat while maintaining lean mass.

If you feel that you are not eating enough, please research proper dieting.
I have a link on my profile page if you need guidance.
The link is what woke me up from the 1200 cal fog and opened me up to a new way of life.
The sustainable diet that maintains lean mass and burns fat.

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

Lol

MJ7910

hey i don't think dan is trying to say that you're not losing weight on 1200 calories. it's just that you sacrifice muscle as well as fat. actually, normal "non obese" kids eat about 1200 calories at age 8. my daughter is 2 and eats about 1000 calories a day. she is not obese either. Take a look here

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently addressed this issue when it revised the Food Pyramid. The new dietary guidelines are based on caloric needs for each age group. For ages 2 to 3, the USDA recommends a child consume 1,000 to 1,400 calories, depending on his activity level. For age 4, the calorie intake increases to between 1,200 and 2,000. Here are examples of how much your child should be getting in all five food groups."

linked here: http://www.babycenter.com/0_nutrition-guidelines-for-young-children_64359.bc

I don't need anyone "following me" There is nothing to follow I'm congratulating people for doing well and finding something that works for them.
"You successfully ate less than most 8 year old kids" you do realize 1 in 3 children in the US are obese right? anywho if you are doing well on 1800 calories congrats to those people as well. But putting people down because they eat 1200 calories is really not helpful whatsoever. And just because more calories worked for you doesn't mean it will work for them. So good for you Dan that you found something that works for you. Keep up the good work. For those still searching I wish you luck.

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

Well said Lemon!

Hormonal issues
Lean mass loss
Skinny fat

Great job all!

You successfully ate less than most 8 year old kids, maintained if not added more body fat% while losing precious lean mass.

Watboy probably isnt the person to follow in this forum but what do I know?
I've only helped 100s lose fat while maintaining lean mass.

If you feel that you are not eating enough, please research proper dieting.
I have a link on my profile page if you need guidance.
The link is what woke me up from the 1200 cal fog and opened me up to a new way of life.
The sustainable diet that maintains lean mass and burns fat.

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

Lol

gleechick609

I hate it when people say 1200 is not sustainable, yes it is, we eat wayyyyy too much food, that's why we're fat!

I don't think that's the reason. It basically comes down to the overconsumption of calories and macros with no activity to balance it out (calorie surplus instead of a deficit). I eat 1800-2500+ calories per day and lose every single week. There are others on this site who eat well above 2000+ calories and lose as well.

Having been on the 1200 calorie kick for a month or two when I first joined MFP, this practice made me gain weight and left me irritable. I also found out that every time someone eats at 1200 calories, an innocent kitten dies! So I upped my calories right away after a "meet-cute" with Helloitsdan on the forums. Please, don't kill the kittens! Raise your calories, eat above BMR and save the kittens!!



Aren't they cute??

JustJennie1

Currently my calories are set at 1,200 and there are plenty of days where I don't come close to that and I'm still satiated and satisfied because I'm eating healthy foods.

But that's what's working for ME. Everyone is different and if you feel that you're eating too little and it's not working adjust your goals and eat a little bit more. No one can say what's right for another person calorie-wise. I hear lots of people say that you NEED to eat 1,800 calories a day or you NEED to eat 6 small meals etc. Well that might be fine for one person but not for everyone.

Play with it. Adjust as necessary and good luck with your goals.

Fit_Canuck

I hate it when people say 1200 is not sustainable, yes it is, we eat wayyyyy too much food, that's why we're fat!

I don't think that's the reason. It basically comes down to the overconsumption of calories and macros with no activity to balance it out (calorie surplus instead of a deficit). I eat 1800-2500+ calories per day and lose every single week. There are others on this site who eat well above 2000+ calories and lose as well.

Having been on the 1200 calorie kick for a month or two when I first joined MFP, this practice made me gain weight and left me irritable. I also found out that every time someone eats at 1200 calories, an innocent kitten dies! So I upped my calories right away after a "meet-cute" with Helloitsdan on the forums. Please, don't kill the kittens! Raise your calories, eat above BMR and save the kittens!!



Aren't they cute??

This... Minus Dan is cute I'm eating 2500-3000 cals a day still lost 3.5% body fat in 2 months

mstefport

1200 calories is fine. There are days when I realize I haven't eaten enough but when I am hungry I use the exercise calories as food! It works for me! I am 5'5" and started at 223 pounds and I am now down to 199.8 since January 2012!

lisa28115

Watboy

You need a cookie...:ohwell:

gleechick609

Noooo.... a "meet-cute" is how two people meet in a film or story. Silly Eric

watboy

I'm not on a 1200 calorie diet i'm on a a 1600 calorie diet I'm just defending people who were being bashed for being on a 1200 calorie. It's discouraging to them. They are saying it's working for them and they are sustaining it and rather than offering kind words they get snarky rude comments. This site is becoming one big high school where people bully other's for doing something different. If 1200 calories is so detramental then MFP should get rid of this setting all together. However I know plenty of folks and have seen their success stories and are on a 1200 calorie a day lifestyle change. If that works for them good on them.

hey i don't think dan is trying to say that you're not losing weight on 1200 calories. it's just that you sacrifice muscle as well as fat. actually, normal "non obese" kids eat about 1200 calories at age 8. my daughter is 2 and eats about 1000 calories a day. she is not obese either. Take a look here

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently addressed this issue when it revised the Food Pyramid. The new dietary guidelines are based on caloric needs for each age group. For ages 2 to 3, the USDA recommends a child consume 1,000 to 1,400 calories, depending on his activity level. For age 4, the calorie intake increases to between 1,200 and 2,000. Here are examples of how much your child should be getting in all five food groups."

linked here: http://www.babycenter.com/0_nutrition-guidelines-for-young-children_64359.bc

I don't need anyone "following me" There is nothing to follow I'm congratulating people for doing well and finding something that works for them.
"You successfully ate less than most 8 year old kids" you do realize 1 in 3 children in the US are obese right? anywho if you are doing well on 1800 calories congrats to those people as well. But putting people down because they eat 1200 calories is really not helpful whatsoever. And just because more calories worked for you doesn't mean it will work for them. So good for you Dan that you found something that works for you. Keep up the good work. For those still searching I wish you luck.

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

Well said Lemon!

Hormonal issues
Lean mass loss
Skinny fat

Great job all!

You successfully ate less than most 8 year old kids, maintained if not added more body fat% while losing precious lean mass.

Watboy probably isnt the person to follow in this forum but what do I know?
I've only helped 100s lose fat while maintaining lean mass.

If you feel that you are not eating enough, please research proper dieting.
I have a link on my profile page if you need guidance.
The link is what woke me up from the 1200 cal fog and opened me up to a new way of life.
The sustainable diet that maintains lean mass and burns fat.

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

Lol

Fit_Canuck

I'm not on a 1200 calorie diet i'm on a a 1600 calorie diet I'm just defending people who were being bashed for being on a 1200 calorie. It's discouraging to them. They are saying it's working for them and they are sustaining it and rather than offering kind words they get snarky rude comments. This site is becoming one big high school where people bully other's for doing something different. If 1200 calories is so detramental then MFP should get rid of this setting all together. However I know plenty of folks and have seen their success stories and are on a 1200 calorie a day lifestyle change. If that works for them good on them.

hey i don't think dan is trying to say that you're not losing weight on 1200 calories. it's just that you sacrifice muscle as well as fat. actually, normal "non obese" kids eat about 1200 calories at age 8. my daughter is 2 and eats about 1000 calories a day. she is not obese either. Take a look here

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently addressed this issue when it revised the Food Pyramid. The new dietary guidelines are based on caloric needs for each age group. For ages 2 to 3, the USDA recommends a child consume 1,000 to 1,400 calories, depending on his activity level. For age 4, the calorie intake increases to between 1,200 and 2,000. Here are examples of how much your child should be getting in all five food groups."

linked here: http://www.babycenter.com/0_nutrition-guidelines-for-young-children_64359.bc

I don't need anyone "following me" There is nothing to follow I'm congratulating people for doing well and finding something that works for them.
"You successfully ate less than most 8 year old kids" you do realize 1 in 3 children in the US are obese right? anywho if you are doing well on 1800 calories congrats to those people as well. But putting people down because they eat 1200 calories is really not helpful whatsoever. And just because more calories worked for you doesn't mean it will work for them. So good for you Dan that you found something that works for you. Keep up the good work. For those still searching I wish you luck.

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

Well said Lemon!

Hormonal issues
Lean mass loss
Skinny fat

Great job all!

You successfully ate less than most 8 year old kids, maintained if not added more body fat% while losing precious lean mass.

Watboy probably isnt the person to follow in this forum but what do I know?
I've only helped 100s lose fat while maintaining lean mass.

If you feel that you are not eating enough, please research proper dieting.
I have a link on my profile page if you need guidance.
The link is what woke me up from the 1200 cal fog and opened me up to a new way of life.
The sustainable diet that maintains lean mass and burns fat.

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

Lol

Would be kind of enough to tell me your definition of success on 1200 calories? Are talking sheer weight loss or muscle loss, gain, fat loss, gain etc..

lisa28115

i agree they have been some snarky remarks

wahmx3

I think it is too low but you should be okay if you eat ALL of your exercise calories you earn. If you don't think it is enough, up your calories by 100-200 a day.

jessicahedriick

It says 1250 calories, but when you work out it adds more, so you can eat more if you work out and burn more off

stephqj

My MFP goal is 1200 cals now (5'11, 185, 39YO), but it's still set to lose 2 pounds per week. I eat half to all of my workout calories. Some days I'm hungrier, and I eat. I make smart choices (more lean protein and fiber) most of the time but not always. I shoot for 25-30 grams of fiber every day, plus my weight in KG for grams of protein.

If you're still hungry at the end of the day, even if you're going over calories, don't stress it. Your body needs something. A spoonful of peanut butter and a cup of low fat milk are great for late evening--even if it's an extra 300 cals.

I'm at my goal and am about to start bumping up for maintenance. Even if I don't avidly track what I'm doing, I rarely eat over 1500 calories a day.

HealthyLivingKathy

I'm a lot older (62) and have more to lose. My doctor & nutritionist set my calories/day at 1200. Which is what MFP set my goal at. Been doing this 3 weeks (on site just 1 day) and I'm doing fine. I'm also doing 3 meals and 2 snacks. My body is different than your's and everyone else's. I need to do what is right for me to be healthy, control my type 2 diabetes and get fit. IMO.

clschaan

omg i didn't think this would stir up such a debate .. i agree what works for one person may not work for another .. I decided to up my calories this week to 1800 seeing as I am working out alot .. what do you know .. stepped on the scale and down two pounds. Not sure if this is because of the increased calories or what but i'm happy

MJ7910

ok i see what you mean. i'm not being snarky though ( i don't think and not on purpose if someone perceives it that way). i am just trying to explain what can happen when you eat that little, as it seems like others are trying to do also. i'm sure they (people eating 1200) are having success. i was too for a while. then i realized what was happening. after a while when i did that, i was hungry all the time, was burning muscle, needed to eat more. i realized my lean body mass was low because of doing this. so i was just trying to explain what can happen. not trying to be mean at all. hoping others can learn from this. very low calories can seem like the right answer but in the long term can actually do harm to your body composition. just a fact, not really anything to debate about it. and it's not really somethign someone can be "mean" or "snarky" about when it's true.

I'm not on a 1200 calorie diet i'm on a a 1600 calorie diet I'm just defending people who were being bashed for being on a 1200 calorie. It's discouraging to them. They are saying it's working for them and they are sustaining it and rather than offering kind words they get snarky rude comments. This site is becoming one big high school where people bully other's for doing something different. If 1200 calories is so detramental then MFP should get rid of this setting all together. However I know plenty of folks and have seen their success stories and are on a 1200 calorie a day lifestyle change. If that works for them good on them.

hey i don't think dan is trying to say that you're not losing weight on 1200 calories. it's just that you sacrifice muscle as well as fat. actually, normal "non obese" kids eat about 1200 calories at age 8. my daughter is 2 and eats about 1000 calories a day. she is not obese either. Take a look here

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently addressed this issue when it revised the Food Pyramid. The new dietary guidelines are based on caloric needs for each age group. For ages 2 to 3, the USDA recommends a child consume 1,000 to 1,400 calories, depending on his activity level. For age 4, the calorie intake increases to between 1,200 and 2,000. Here are examples of how much your child should be getting in all five food groups."

linked here: http://www.babycenter.com/0_nutrition-guidelines-for-young-children_64359.bc

I don't need anyone "following me" There is nothing to follow I'm congratulating people for doing well and finding something that works for them.
"You successfully ate less than most 8 year old kids" you do realize 1 in 3 children in the US are obese right? anywho if you are doing well on 1800 calories congrats to those people as well. But putting people down because they eat 1200 calories is really not helpful whatsoever. And just because more calories worked for you doesn't mean it will work for them. So good for you Dan that you found something that works for you. Keep up the good work. For those still searching I wish you luck.

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

Well said Lemon!

Hormonal issues
Lean mass loss
Skinny fat

Great job all!

You successfully ate less than most 8 year old kids, maintained if not added more body fat% while losing precious lean mass.

Watboy probably isnt the person to follow in this forum but what do I know?
I've only helped 100s lose fat while maintaining lean mass.

If you feel that you are not eating enough, please research proper dieting.
I have a link on my profile page if you need guidance.
The link is what woke me up from the 1200 cal fog and opened me up to a new way of life.
The sustainable diet that maintains lean mass and burns fat.

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

Lol

watboy

Good luck. Keep up the good work

I'm a lot older (62) and have more to lose. My doctor & nutritionist set my calories/day at 1200. Which is what MFP set my goal at. Been doing this 3 weeks (on site just 1 day) and I'm doing fine. I'm also doing 3 meals and 2 snacks. My body is different than your's and everyone else's. I need to do what is right for me to be healthy, control my type 2 diabetes and get fit. IMO.

watboy

Oh I didn't think you were being snarky at all. I was just explaining my position. You have had your experience with lower calories and it did not work for you. Keep doing you and keep up the good work.

ok i see what you mean. i'm not being snarky though ( i don't think and not on purpose if someone perceives it that way). i am just trying to explain what can happen when you eat that little, as it seems like others are trying to do also. i'm sure they (people eating 1200) are having success. i was too for a while. then i realized what was happening. after a while when i did that, i was hungry all the time, was burning muscle, needed to eat more. i realized my lean body mass was low because of doing this. so i was just trying to explain what can happen. not trying to be mean at all. hoping others can learn from this. very low calories can seem like the right answer but in the long term can actually do harm to your body composition. just a fact, not really anything to debate about it. and it's not really somethign someone can be "mean" or "snarky" about when it's true.

I'm not on a 1200 calorie diet i'm on a a 1600 calorie diet I'm just defending people who were being bashed for being on a 1200 calorie. It's discouraging to them. They are saying it's working for them and they are sustaining it and rather than offering kind words they get snarky rude comments. This site is becoming one big high school where people bully other's for doing something different. If 1200 calories is so detramental then MFP should get rid of this setting all together. However I know plenty of folks and have seen their success stories and are on a 1200 calorie a day lifestyle change. If that works for them good on them.

hey i don't think dan is trying to say that you're not losing weight on 1200 calories. it's just that you sacrifice muscle as well as fat. actually, normal "non obese" kids eat about 1200 calories at age 8. my daughter is 2 and eats about 1000 calories a day. she is not obese either. Take a look here

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently addressed this issue when it revised the Food Pyramid. The new dietary guidelines are based on caloric needs for each age group. For ages 2 to 3, the USDA recommends a child consume 1,000 to 1,400 calories, depending on his activity level. For age 4, the calorie intake increases to between 1,200 and 2,000. Here are examples of how much your child should be getting in all five food groups."

linked here: http://www.babycenter.com/0_nutrition-guidelines-for-young-children_64359.bc

I don't need anyone "following me" There is nothing to follow I'm congratulating people for doing well and finding something that works for them.
"You successfully ate less than most 8 year old kids" you do realize 1 in 3 children in the US are obese right? anywho if you are doing well on 1800 calories congrats to those people as well. But putting people down because they eat 1200 calories is really not helpful whatsoever. And just because more calories worked for you doesn't mean it will work for them. So good for you Dan that you found something that works for you. Keep up the good work. For those still searching I wish you luck.

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

Well said Lemon!

Hormonal issues
Lean mass loss
Skinny fat

Great job all!

You successfully ate less than most 8 year old kids, maintained if not added more body fat% while losing precious lean mass.

Watboy probably isnt the person to follow in this forum but what do I know?
I've only helped 100s lose fat while maintaining lean mass.

If you feel that you are not eating enough, please research proper dieting.
I have a link on my profile page if you need guidance.
The link is what woke me up from the 1200 cal fog and opened me up to a new way of life.
The sustainable diet that maintains lean mass and burns fat.

Everyone who is on 1200 calories and lost weight and found it sustainable congratulations. Great job , keep it up. I applaud your success, I don't think you need a study to prove how awesome you've done.

Lol