1200 cals this way works...
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If you're eating 1200 NET - you're eating back all of your calories. 1200 net might be enough if you're "vertically challenged" (as OP put it).
The end story is
FIND OUT YOUR BMR
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Eat at least that, and eat it healthily
=
Win.
I'm not the best example right now as I've been sick for a little while, but I'll tell you that I started at 1200 when I got here (and I'm 5'6.5") and was ok, then started plateauing after I actually began to work out. Then I learned what I should actually be eating in order to function. Turns out that for me, at my height, with my body fat% and my current weight/weight loss goals, I need at least 1370 just to get up and moving in a day. I should be eating between that and 1900 depending on activity level, and yes, of course it should be "good" calories (and lots of protein)!
That's ME.
Learn about YOU.
And good luck. Congrats to OP eating more healthily!
:drinker:
Well put.
I also started at 1200 or less a day.
On 1500 now, and still lose weight when I eat more then that.0 -
Actually I haven't said this before and I don't care if I get blasted, when I ate 800-1000 calories a day and exercised I was diagnosed with an eating disorder. Yes laugh under your breath at the fact my lowest weight was fine but I was not diagnosed with Anorexia but I was diagnosed with an eating disorder hence my 43lb loss and then gain for a constant battle both binging and restriction. I brought myself here in an attempt to recover and lose weight healthily and trust me if you are eating 1000 calories a day or making a deficit for under 1000 calories a day that is not healthy.
You need a minimum of 1200 NET calories a day, and that is the bare minimum just to keep your organs surviving and most people NEED more. What you are doing to your body is slowing down your metabolism and eventually you WILL gain weight when you go into maintained calorie amount (that's if you even get through the plateau that will come along with this.) you will gain. Unless you are seeing some wako doctor or are obese (even then a lot wouldn't recommend it) they would never recommend going under 1200 net calories, thats unless you would like to gain more than you started with or if you plan on keeping it up losing muscle and playing around with your organs.
Just make sure please that you are eating a net of 1200, it's healthy and safe. Don't be eating 1200 and then netting 800 which is far from safe.
Blast away
not saying it to be a *****, just honesty and I know a lot of what people do is trial and error, but never kid yourself under 1200 net calories is healthy. you need to be healthy to be awesome x
The problem with your answer here isn't that you claim 1200 calories is too little for -everyone- (newsflash, BMR varies for everyone!) it's that you think the OP claims she is working out several times a week as well as eating 1200 calories like you did, which is potentially harmful to your body and yes, pretty stupid. You did this, you know. But you apparently didn't read the same post I did, I found nothing in there saying you should exercise while being on a 1200 calorie diet.
None of the low calorie, low carb, high protein/fasting diets I've ever come across so far has adviced people on less than 1200 calories per day to EXERCISE HARD. 1-2 times MAX per week are what's recommended, and then it is heavily adviced that you up your calorie intake on those days, and eat/drink extra protein to avvoid your body to eat off the muscle that you are trying to maintain/build while losing weight.
Also, this myth that you gain more weight than what you took off while dieting if you up your calories from 1200 is pure and utter ignorance. How will you gain "all your weight loss and more" on i.e 1600 calories from 1200? Explain this, please, and don't try the good old "your metabolism slows down and doesn't go back up if you up your calories"-version. This is bogus. Serious studies show your metabolism slows down about 8% if you stop eating altogether during a period of 60 days. Google it, honey. What you are talking about here is you stopped dieting and went on a binge of 2000 cal+ and gained back all the weight. Too bad, just don't try to tell the world it was because "your body couldn't handle the increased intake due to your metabolism having slowed down". It is entertaining, but it is so wrong. This is why people like you who think they know nutrition, lose 100 lbs and gain 150. It's so neat to blame your metabolism, isn't it? "it's broken". Nope, if it was broken, you'd probably be dead by now.0 -
Actually I haven't said this before and I don't care if I get blasted, when I ate 800-1000 calories a day and exercised I was diagnosed with an eating disorder. Yes laugh under your breath at the fact my lowest weight was fine but I was not diagnosed with Anorexia but I was diagnosed with an eating disorder hence my 43lb loss and then gain for a constant battle both binging and restriction. I brought myself here in an attempt to recover and lose weight healthily and trust me if you are eating 1000 calories a day or making a deficit for under 1000 calories a day that is not healthy.
You need a minimum of 1200 NET calories a day, and that is the bare minimum just to keep your organs surviving and most people NEED more. What you are doing to your body is slowing down your metabolism and eventually you WILL gain weight when you go into maintained calorie amount (that's if you even get through the plateau that will come along with this.) you will gain. Unless you are seeing some wako doctor or are obese (even then a lot wouldn't recommend it) they would never recommend going under 1200 net calories, thats unless you would like to gain more than you started with or if you plan on keeping it up losing muscle and playing around with your organs.
Just make sure please that you are eating a net of 1200, it's healthy and safe. Don't be eating 1200 and then netting 800 which is far from safe.
Blast away not saying it to be a *****, just honesty and I know a lot of what people do is trial and error, but never kid yourself under 1200 net calories is healthy. you need to be healthy to be awesome x
The problem with your answer here isn't that you claim 1200 calories is too little for -everyone- (newsflash, BMR varies for everyone!) it's that you think the OP claims she is working out several times a week as well as eating 1200 calories like you did, which is potentially harmful to your body and yes, pretty stupid. You did this, you know. But you apparently didn't read the same post I did, I found nothing in there saying you should exercise while being on a 1200 calorie diet.
None of the low calorie, low carb, high protein/fasting diets I've ever come across so far has adviced people on less than 1200 calories per day to EXERCISE HARD. 1-2 times MAX per week are what's recommended, and then it is heavily adviced that you up your calorie intake on those days, and eat/drink extra protein to avvoid your body to eat off the muscle that you are trying to maintain/build while losing weight.
Also, this myth that you gain more weight than what you took off while dieting if you up your calories from 1200 is pure and utter ignorance. How will you gain "all your weight loss and more" on i.e 1600 calories from 1200? Explain this, please, and don't try the good old "your metabolism slows down and doesn't go back up if you up your calories"-version. This is bogus. Serious studies show your metabolism slows down about 8% if you stop eating altogether during a period of 60 days. Google it, honey. What you are talking about here is you stopped dieting and went on a binge of 2000 cal+ and gained back all the weight. Too bad, just don't try to tell the world it was because "your body couldn't handle the increased intake due to your metabolism having slowed down". It is entertaining, but it is so wrong. This is why people like you who think they know nutrition, lose 100 lbs and gain 150. It's so neat to blame your metabolism, isn't it? "it's broken". Nope, if it was broken, you'd probably be dead by now.
Best answer yet!
We actually have a smart one here!!!!
The voice of reason!
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Hello! Very new to the diet, started on Monday, I've been on 1200 calories a day and feel really good! So good in fact that I feel I must be totaling up my calories wrong! For instance tonight (day 4 of my diet) I had a small bowl of beef, potato, carrot and cabbage soup and I was stuffed and felt guilty about it!
Today I had:
porridge with semi skimmed milk
Beef nd vegetable stir fry with fried rice
1 piece of toast and jam
Beef, cabbage, carrot and potato soup
Am I eating too much?
No, no youre not. Dont feel guilty about eating a bowl of soup. Dat *kitten* cray.0 -
I aim at a 1200 calorie diet although my nutritionist would like me to do 1300. I have trouble reaching 1200 some days and I don't tend to eat more if I exercise even though it is recommended. I find that 1200 calories lets me have a very varied choice of food including some sweets which is helpful in making me feel like I'm splurging. I eat a combination of foods including some processed foods. The other day I did some extra exercise so I could have some movie popcorn - what a treat!
A typical day for me includes fiber one for breakfast with either a banana or raisins; a turkey and cheese sandwich for lunch using lo cal hi fiber bread; a snack of fruit or yogurt; and my dinner might be protein and vegetables and rice or a frozen dinner from Trader Joes and vegetables. I found this 100 calorie pack of cookies at Trader Joe also which is not a low calorie food, but rather mini cookies made with whole grains. I have enough calories in my plan to have a couple of pieces of fruit a day.0 -
Great post. Only read first couple of pages so bumping for later. Need to read your diary as it sounds exactly what I'm aiming for.0
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Well stated.
-Debra0 -
Well, seeing as this site recommended that I eat 1282 cals a day (5'2" and office worker) I would have thought that was a healthy way to lose weight!
When I add exercise into the mix I find it tough to add in the extra calories, I have an extra 120 cals today that I dunno what to do with.0 -
don't have time to read all this now, but i agree with you, it has been working for me. I started netting 1000 cals/day, of GOOD food, low carb, no dairy. Now that i have added dairy I have been slowly upping my cals to 1200 net, if I am a bit hungrier, I eat a bit more that day, if not I am not going to shove food down my throat just to hit a certain calorie number.
And most of my weight loss has been from fat, my scale tells me that, so I have not been on starvation mode, this is sustainable for me long term, I have lots of energy and feel great. I keep thinking if I hit a plateau I'll try upping my calories, that has yet to happen .......0 -
People should also keep in mind food allergies and associated dietary requirements. Having recently been diagnosed with Coeliac Disease I am now finding it difficult to reach my daily target of 1350 cals/day when I'm eating a very plain, and simple AND gluten free diet.
Brown rice is your friend, and Quinoa 0 -
I find it funny when people start the OMGZ DATS 2 LOW UR GONA LYK DIEE!!11 rant. I net less then 1200 a day, I am healthy, full, happy, losing weight and my Doctor has said it's fine. Just because it is someone's opinion that it's too low and unhealthy doesn't make it true. And I really don't give a **** about people saying they 'just want me to be healthy'. I AM healthy, and even if I wasn't it has zero to do with all you busy bodies sticking your nose in all the time. Get a hobby that doesn't involve being a nosy *kitten*!
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Yes thats my target number also Imake sure protien eggs meat in my daily routine with spicy veg blue berries and 100 cal treats drop in when needed working good so far . Im always getting i need more cal below my daily log because of my cardio but its working if it not broke dont fix it lol0
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I agree with you completely. 1200 is not that much food, but it also depends on the choices made. I am on a 1200 cal myself, as per MFP suggestion, and am seeing results already (I started about a week ago). It is a good way to lose weight at a safe rate without feeling deprived, but as you pointed out, choices matter a lot when you restrict yourself to that amount of calories. I don't understand those people on here - and everywhere else - who think 1200 for a woman is too low an intake... ask any doc... it is a safe rate. But anyhoo...0
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YAWN0
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Thanks for the post...Love it...that helps me!:happy:0
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YAWN
THIS!
I'm 5'2 and id starve or kill someone on 1200 calories. I feel sorry for all the people on here who are gonna gain all their weight back after working so hard and starving themselves because its impossible to maintain that lifestyle for any real length of time!
But i'm sure i have no idea what im talking about so no problemo!0 -
YAWN
THIS!
I'm 5'2 and id starve or kill someone on 1200 calories. I feel sorry for all the people on here who are gonna gain all their weight back after working so hard and starving themselves because its impossible to maintain that lifestyle for any real length of time!
But i'm sure i have no idea what im talking about so no problemo!
They probably feel sorry for you having to spend the next year or two creeping toward your goal at a snail's pace, feeling like you have some Get Out of Jail Free card for maintenance.0 -
Just curious about the topic of 1200 cals a day. I just started this program today and it put me at 1200 cal a day in order to lose weight. Is that what most everyone gets - 1200 a day?0
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why do people chose to eat less when they can lose weight while eating more? do they just not like food? :noway: i like food too much to eat 1200 but that's just me. my body is loving every ounce of the 1850 calories it gets and the scale is moving...but even better, my body comp is totally changing....no skinny fat here.
and i don't like this assumption that just cuz people are eating more means they're eating fast food and junk. :huh: most of my meals are home made and are a good balance of some kind of meat/whole grains/veggies. if i find that i'm short a few calories, i have a protein shake or have a handful of almonds....not grab the fattiest, most calorie dense thing i can find.0 -
why do people chose to eat less when they can lose weight while eating more? do they just not like food? :noway: i like food too much to eat 1200 but that's just me. my body is loving every ounce of the 1850 calories it gets and the scale is moving...but even better, my body comp is totally changing....no skinny fat here.
and i don't like this assumption that just cuz people are eating more means they're eating fast food and junk. :huh: most of my meals are home made and are a good balance of some kind of meat/whole grains/veggies. if i find that i'm short a few calories, i have a protein shake or have a handful of almonds....not grab the fattiest, most calorie dense thing i can find.
Love this... glad we are friends juliebeannn!0 -
why do people chose to eat less when they can lose weight while eating more? do they just not like food?
3500 calories = 1 pound. That's why people may choose to eat less. They want to get their weight down in a reasonable span of time.
People might think they lose more at 1800 than 1200 but it's scientifically impossible. What they are is more patient at 1800, if you ask me. And probably more likely to track accurately. Maybe more likely to move a little more without 'eating back' each trip to the mailbox.0 -
agreedwhy do people chose to eat less when they can lose weight while eating more? do they just not like food?
People might think they lose more at 1800 than 1200 but it's scientifically impossible. What they are is more patient at 1800, if you ask me. And probably more likely to track accurately. Maybe more likely to move a little more without 'eating back' each trip to the mailbox.
slow and steady wins the race -- not to mention, happier with more food :bigsmile:0 -
Thank you for sharing, that is a very easy and doable eating plan. I definitely agree high fiber and protein is the way to go.0
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But some people are perfectly happy at lower intake levels, too. I just hate to see the 'it's dangerous' posts. Both are valid paths.
A lot of people, and most diet authorities, believe you can learn to maintain without tracking each bite forever. So the urge to get the weight off and end the tedious tracking stage can be motivating. I think a lot of the 'slow and steady' fans plan to track forever, it seems like.0 -
That is FANTASTIC. I wish that I could restrict myself like that! You seem to be having a lot of success, so do your thang!0
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I'm going to get a bag of popcorn before reading on to page two.0
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I was eating 1200 cals a day when I first started and lost 20lbs within 3 months. Then I hit a plateau. I recently got advice from people on the board to up my calories based on my BMR and TDEE and I'm now at 1600 cals and losing weight again! I have to admit, I was so used to 1200 so it was hard for me to consume so much (still is), BUT I know now I was eating too little calories FOR ME. EVERYONE is different. So as much as we argue about what is right for EVERYONE, I don't believe there is just one "right" thing. So what may work for someone may be totally detrimental to someone else. If I have learned one thing from these forums, it's that! lol.0
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Ahh the same argument in another thread...
Short answer: Yes, it is possible in a safe manner.
Reality: Most people do not do so in a safe manner.0 -
Agreed. I am on a 1200 cal a day diet and while I fluxuate between 20 cal over to 300 cal over (on the weekend when I have a couple of beers with friends) I always eat the calories I burn and I exercise 5 - 6 days a week. Its coming off sloooowly but I'm okay with that because this is something I can maintain for the long haul. No quick fixes ever work.0
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I love these threads. It's like watching reality TV.
I'm 4'11", net less than 1200 per day, and feel fine, healthy, etc. You wanna feel sorry for me because I'm gonna gain it all back? Okay. Have fun with that. I dieted once before this 6 years ago, when my highest weight was 171 (at 4'11", that's pretty much really bad). I haven't been over 140 since then. Not even once. I went through a period in 2009 where my social life exploded and I found out that going out a lot = a lot of confrontation with food, all the time, and I went from 115 back up to 140. This is my second weight loss journey, same principles, and I've met with the same success only this time I've learned how to diet around people.
So, for anyone who feels bad for restrictive dieters, hold your breath til I'm 170 again, please. Oh and you have 6 years of breath-holding catch up to do.
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