Devil's advocate: 1200 calories for petite/short women?
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I'm 5'2'' and I actually find it hard to hit 1200 calories a day. I seriously just don't get hungry. I eat when I feel like I need to and I choose healthy items (usually), so I end up only eating three times a day. If I work out, I try to eat something right after. I try to avoid eating past a certain time by brushing my teeth.
I normally hit about 800 - 900 when I don't exercise, maybe 1000 when I do. >.<
That calorie level is just not enough to be getting appropriate micronutrients and nutrition at your size and age. There is no reason you cannot eat after a certain time in the day. If you do not have much of an appetite then you can focus on eating more calorie dense foods (nuts, avocado, peanut butter etc etc),
Due to the hormones leptin and ghrelin, hunger really has nothing to do with whether or not you should eat to be healthy.0 -
I'm 5'3 and 98lbs. I don't eat more than 1000 cals. I don't get hungry enough to need to.
I am not trying to be mean here hon, but the 'magic' 88lb goal weight is a bit of a give away. You do not get hungry because the hormones ghrelin and leptin are screwing up with your hunger signals, primarily due to long periods of undereating.
Yep.
When I was 15 years old I weight the same as you do now. It's not super-underweight but you are right on the edge. If you still feel fat, seek professional health.
At your weight I strongly recommend you to eat at your mantainence level and now focus on losing body fat if you still have. I know I did, was extremely skinny but still skinny fat even at 98 lbs. Your weight should be more like 110 at least, and if you work out and lose the body fat and get a defined body you will look great. Better and healthier.
I don't know the weight history of the person you're criticizing, but the world is full of healthy women who weigh 98 pounds. You shouldn't let the fact that 2/3 of Americans are overweight distort your understanding of what is a normal weight.0 -
there's a published study of obese women who after a large weight loss had BMRs in the 1200 area, so they would be another example of individuals where 1200 could be too many for ongoing weight loss.0
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Absolutely - sometimes I feel that this site is full of people who are justifying over eating to themselves. In case anyone wants to know I'm 53 years old, 5'4" ( which is average height in the UK) weigh 140 lbs which is where I want to be and cannot lose weight except on a low carb diet of around 1000 calories.0
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N0
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I am 5 ft 3 is that short?? :happy:
I find I have a good metabolism, its just that I love food way too much !!!!!!!!!
I could not survive on less than 1600 calories a day !
I would have to be unwell to be eating less than 1600 :frown:
but.... my appetite is slowing going down as I lose weight !!0 -
Not sure if my 4 9er friend has replied but she eats about 1500-1600. I did some calculations and even the shorties bmrs are over 1200. So yes, you can loose on more then that, even when you are sedentary though I dont recommend it. Saw a few anorexics reply and I've seen girls live off 900 cals a say for years until they ended up in the hospital.
I really recommend that everyone try to be as active as they can for health reasons, especially the shorties just so theu can get enoigh nutrition from less food at sedentary. I also had a skinny 5'1 friend that could outeat me
..and i like my food.
Im 5'7 and eating over 2000...and 120 which is at the tip of underweight...surely a sensible person doesn't think they need to eat halfthat to live.0 -
I did some calculations and even the shorties bmrs are over 1200.
You're making an assumption that is incorrect. Some people have BMRs that are below 1200.0 -
I am 5ft0, before joining mfp I didn't eat anywhere near the amount I should have been always using the excuse 'I'm short, I can't eat that much'. I stepped on the scales and couldn't believe I had gained 10lbs. I joined mfp, have started eating more with a defined breakfast, lunch and dinner totalling anywhere between 1200-1500, doing regular exercise and already see a difference in under 3 weeks. It definitely has more to do with what you eat, rather than how much. I used to have 600 calories in th day, but it'd be junk food.
I have soooo much more energy, at one point I couldn't get through the day without having at least 1 nap (why that didn't sound alarm bells for me, I don't know) now I can do a good workout and feel alive instead of sleepy. I know 1200-1500 is still a small amount, but its more than I used to eat and have in the past 2-3 weeks lost 2lbs and 5 inches. If I start to feel I need to up my calories, I don't think I will hesitate to.0 -
You make a valid point. The calorie needs for petite women can be on the low side.
However, when you're getting down around 1200, adequate daily micronutrition starts to become an issue, IMO. Women that need to eat that little to lose weight would be better served to increase their activity and eat a little more.
I'm not disagreeing with the importance of micronutrition, but many people eating 1200 calories are also eating very healthy foods in order to be able to stay that low. I think worst case scenario, their micronutrition is coming up even with those who eat more based on the number of people who eat more but eat more junk. Of course there are people on both sides that don't meet this--plenty of people eat 1200 and eat junk. Plenty of people eat 2000 and eat healthy only/mostly. But a person who eats 1500 a day but has 280 of those coming from a Snicker's bar is going to come up pretty comparably micronutrition wise with the person who ate 1200.0 -
I guess I'm one of the four people in the world who won't stab someone if I eat 1200ish calories. I'm losing weight, and have energy to make it through my long days and Insanity workouts. I aim for at least 1200 everyday, but I usually get there only 50% of the time. I won't force feed myself. *shrugs*
ETA: I'm 4'10.5"0 -
BTW, weight matters a lot. A short person who weighs more than the average height person can eat more or the same to lose weight. 1200 is not appropriate for all short people. Some short people do need more than that. So when someone advocates eating more than 1200 despite being short (or advocates eating 1200 because they are short), it's a good idea to take the person's weight in mind too.
My BMR is less than 1200. I eat 1200 and up to 1500 on workout days, but I often don't "net" 1200. Then there are weeks like this one where I can't seem to stick to 1500 or less and give in to every emotional whim. These weeks I am grateful for the weeks where I stuck to my 1200.
I'm not walking around hungry or cranky. The days where I am truly hungry, I do eat more. It just depends.
MFP says that exercise calories boost the amount of calories you can eat and says you will lose if you eat within your limit, not at your limit. The days where I am under 1200 (even by 1 calorie), it says I am eating too little and going into starvation mode. The days where I net under 1200, it does not do this.0 -
there's a published study of obese women who after a large weight loss had BMRs in the 1200 area, so they would be another example of individuals where 1200 could be too many for ongoing weight loss.
Not sure of the study you are referring to, but would that not be an indication of a suppressed metabolism?0 -
I'm 5'3 and 98lbs. I don't eat more than 1000 cals. I don't get hungry enough to need to.
I am not trying to be mean here hon, but the 'magic' 88lb goal weight is a bit of a give away. You do not get hungry because the hormones ghrelin and leptin are screwing up with your hunger signals, primarily due to long periods of undereating.
Yep.
When I was 15 years old I weight the same as you do now. It's not super-underweight but you are right on the edge. If you still feel fat, seek professional health.
At your weight I strongly recommend you to eat at your mantainence level and now focus on losing body fat if you still have. I know I did, was extremely skinny but still skinny fat even at 98 lbs. Your weight should be more like 110 at least, and if you work out and lose the body fat and get a defined body you will look great. Better and healthier.
I don't know the weight history of the person you're criticizing, but the world is full of healthy women who weigh 98 pounds. You shouldn't let the fact that 2/3 of Americans are overweight distort your understanding of what is a normal weight.
It does not look to me like criticizing - just recommending. And, she did not say she was unhealthy. But, if someone thinks they are fat at 98lb and 5 3", to seek professional help - seems reasonable to me.
Edited because I cannot spell!!0 -
I'm 4'9 and 97 lbs, I eat roughly 1000-1200 calories a day if I'm hungry. When I'm not that hungry, I eat a lot less. I have literally gone a day or two without eating, because I just didn't think about it. To be honest, I wouldn't be on here if I didn't have kids, I almost done losing my baby weight.
Not sure how you had energy to function or take care of the kiddos. Curious how you could "forget" to eat, especially while feeding the kiddos. I would really increase your calories. Set a reminder on your phone if you have to!
I have to laugh at the "sometimes I forget to eat" people.
I forget to stop at the grocery store, or pick up the dry cleaning, or to get my wife a glass of water on my way back upstairs. I even forget relatives birthday's.
I DON'T FORGET TO EAT.0 -
You make a valid point. The calorie needs for petite women can be on the low side.
However, when you're getting down around 1200, adequate daily micronutrition starts to become an issue, IMO. Women that need to eat that little to lose weight would be better served to increase their activity and eat a little more.
Ka-ching.0 -
I'm 5'3 and 98lbs. I don't eat more than 1000 cals. I don't get hungry enough to need to.
I am not trying to be mean here hon, but the 'magic' 88lb goal weight is a bit of a give away. You do not get hungry because the hormones ghrelin and leptin are screwing up with your hunger signals, primarily due to long periods of undereating.
Yep.
When I was 15 years old I weight the same as you do now. It's not super-underweight but you are right on the edge. If you still feel fat, seek professional health.
At your weight I strongly recommend you to eat at your mantainence level and now focus on losing body fat if you still have. I know I did, was extremely skinny but still skinny fat even at 98 lbs. Your weight should be more like 110 at least, and if you work out and lose the body fat and get a defined body you will look great. Better and healthier.
I don't know the weight history of the person you're criticizing, but the world is full of healthy women who weigh 98 pounds. You shouldn't let the fact that 2/3 of Americans are overweight distort your understanding of what is a normal weight.
I'm not saying she is not healthy, I'm saying she doesn't need to lose 10 pounds, which is what she wants. I'm telling her she should work out and lose body fat instead because 98 lbs in a girl of 5'2 is just in the limit between normal and underweight (medically, not just my idea). 88 lbs would be too little.0 -
bump0
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:laugh: This is a very good conversation and I'm glad that I found this topic. I've truly been wondering about this stuff.0
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im 5 1, I eat around 1200 every day and I did plateau for a little while, and got out of it through calorie cycling. As long as you throw a few spike days in there you should be fine.0
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Interesting. I guess I can understand (but not agree with) cutting back to that level for a short time, but my interest is for those who have truly lived off of it.
I'm not talking about someone who has just cut back over the past few months.
I'm interested in hearing from the petite ladies who've *sustained* a lifestyle of eating 1200 calories or less. I'm talking about a few years on this. Do you exercise? Gain weight easily during the holidays or anytime you increase your calories?0 -
Im 5 1 and 145 lbs (lost 27 lbs). I hardly ever eat over 1200. I work out A LOT and I usually feel great. When I dont its usually due to college lifestyle issues of staying up all night and drinking way too much coffee. Occasionally if im in a bad mood I eat a little more because i tend to get low blood sugar. For the most part it works for me! im not too strict, some days im a little under 1200 and some days im a little over. people often tell me i net too low but I just take it a day at a time and see how i feel.
First off, congrats on your 27 lb weight loss.
Curious for you and anyone else around our size who works out and lost a bunch of weight... how much did you eat regularly before? And what does working out "a lot" mean to you? Do you mean, burning off 600 calories a day, leaving yourself at net 600?
Just curious because I think I work out a lot too, and can't imagine working out a lot on that many calories. I'm not knocking what you're doing, it's just amazing to me that it's enough fuel for a hard workout.
I work out usually 6 days a week for about an hour every day, sometimes a little less sometimes more. On average i burn 300-500 per workout. I also walk everywhere, which usually adds 100-200 a day.
I honestly dont have a problem with energy. It doesnt talk a lot to make me feel full. I eat lots of food with high water content. Fruit and salad are a huge part of my diet. When at least half of each meal is plant based its not hard to keep a low calorie count. And i have more energy after eating something like that than I do when I eat carb or protein heavy meals.
Additionally, I find that if i increase my calorie intake its harder for me to make healthy choices. Instead of eating more healthy food, i start to eat less healthy food because I know I have the calories for it. Im currently calorie cycling so 2 days of the week I eat around 1400. On those days instead of eating a salad with grilled chicken ill eat pasta with grilled chicken. I know that doesnt seem so bad but carbs make me sluggish, so i try to stay away from it.
After this long ramble my point is, if i increase my calories I fill pressure to eat more calorie dense food which ends up making me have less energy.0 -
Interesting. I guess I can understand (but not agree with) cutting back to that level for a short time, but my interest is for those who have truly lived off of it.
I'm not talking about someone who has just cut back over the past few months.
I'm interested in hearing from the petite ladies who've *sustained* a lifestyle of eating 1200 calories or less. I'm talking about a few years on this. Do you exercise? Gain weight easily during the holidays or anytime you increase your calories?
This is from PubMed, so from a peer reviewed journal. It's based off of the National Weight Loss Registry. People need to have maintained their loss for over 5 years. The study says that women who have maintained their weight loss average 1,300 calories a day plus exercise. So of course there are those that eat more and those that eat less.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9550162?dopt=Abstract0 -
I'm 5'1 and currently 184, I've been recommended 1200 as a daily target by MFP, but at the same time if I go under (say 1175) it says I'm not eating enough and I need to have at least 1200!
I tend to offset this by doing about 100 cal of exercise a day (slowly working my way up from a totally sedentary lifestyle) then eating as much fruit and snacks as I want to reach the target.
I've been told by my fitness freak housemate that not enough calories will slow me down so I'm planning on upping the exercise as much as possible and eating to match it which sounds like fun
Luckily enough I don't fee hungry on 1200, I've managed to have cereal, sandwich, banana, chicken and rice, no complaints!0 -
At 5'3, I MUST exercise so I can eat enough calories to feel full.0
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I'm 5'4 and my calories are set at 1280 and I do just fine. Most days, even without exercising, I am under my calorie goal. A lot of times I have to force myself to eat because I'm not hungry but i still need to meet my daily calcium, iron, and protein allotments. On days when I workout I add an extra meal, usually a quinoa salad with roast peppers or an extra snack, popcorn and fresh fruit.
There is absolutely NO WAY i could eat 1500+ calories like some people. I just physically cant.
If you can't possibly eat more.....then why are you overweight in the first place ? If you have never eaten more than 1500 calories in your lifetime you would not have a login at MFP0 -
Not sure of the study you are referring to, but would that not be an indication of a suppressed metabolism?
I guess you could call it that. After losing 50 lbs of fat their maintenance diet was 1100-1400 kcal/d and some of the RMRs were ~1200 (no table, just a graph).
I found the link - http://www.ajcn.org/content/49/1/93.full.pdf+html
Other random bits of data :-
RMR of lean women n = 19; mean, 1241 Cal/day; range, 938-1450 Cal/day http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/67255230 -
If you have never eaten more than 1500 calories in your lifetime you would not have a login at MFP
I wasn't aware that this site was only for people who have been very overweight or obese. Some people log their food to maintain their weight or bring it down from a weight that, while not clinically overweight, is too high for them.
When very active in the past I've eaten more than 1,500 calories a day (in a lifetime would not be possible). Now, I need to stick to around 1,100. I'm 5' 2".0 -
Not sure of the study you are referring to, but would that not be an indication of a suppressed metabolism?
I guess you could call it that. After losing 50 lbs of fat their maintenance diet was 1100-1400 kcal/d and some of the RMRs were ~1200 (no table, just a graph).
I found the link - http://www.ajcn.org/content/49/1/93.full.pdf+html
Other random bits of data :-
RMR of lean women n = 19; mean, 1241 Cal/day; range, 938-1450 Cal/day http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6725523
well that downright sucks--I'd surely just say *kitten* it and be overweight then. Not going to starve myself forever.0 -
I'm 5'4 and my calories are set at 1280 and I do just fine. Most days, even without exercising, I am under my calorie goal. A lot of times I have to force myself to eat because I'm not hungry but i still need to meet my daily calcium, iron, and protein allotments. On days when I workout I add an extra meal, usually a quinoa salad with roast peppers or an extra snack, popcorn and fresh fruit.
There is absolutely NO WAY i could eat 1500+ calories like some people. I just physically cant.
If you can't possibly eat more.....then why are you overweight in the first place ? If you have never eaten more than 1500 calories in your lifetime you would not have a login at MFP
^agree^!! I am 4 11 and 142lbs. I KNOW that I am overweight due to eating too many calories (lots of food) so that is why I am here. I feel like I am starving if I only eat at 1200. I just dont get how people can say " oh I can barely get 1200 down" at some point you had to stuff it down to get overweight unless you have some medical condition. right?0
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