Anyone successfully lose weight eating 1200 cal or less?
Replies
-
Is this right(1g per lb? and actually, 1g of what, protien, that's not much!) l'm not critising just checking that is the amount u meant to specifyI would be really, really careful about dipping under 1200. Speaking as someone who's had an eating disorder for 5 years - a lot of us kind of go, "well, it's in the short term and I have self-control" and then get really unhealthy about it.
At the very least, make sure what you're eating is nutrient-rich, so you get the most out of your calories. I always do a lot better when I eat clean with lots of protein (I aim for 1g per lb, like a lot of people here).
0 -
Is this right(1g per lb? and actually, 1g of what, protie, tjat's not much!) l'm not critising just checking that is yhe amount u meant to specifyI would be really, really careful about dipping under 1200. Speaking as someone who's had an eating disorder for 5 years - a lot of us kind of go, "well, it's in the short term and I have self-control" and then get really unhealthy about it.
At the very least, make sure what you're eating is nutrient-rich, so you get the most out of your calories. I always do a lot better when I eat clean with lots of protein (I aim for 1g per lb, like a lot of people here).
Actually, I have to agree kinda... dipping below does kind of make you see things different if do for too long etc and never really change your mind again..
I think she means 1g per 1lb for protein...
Seems about right, I mean that is better than what I sometimes do, and at other times only half of mine! Others I only get half of it, but I average around that mark I guess...
also 1g protein for 1lb body mass is actually not low... Unless your having supplements or very strict about what to eat to, it can be hard to even actually get for some people...0 -
I am doing the Michelle Bridges 12 week challenge and my goal is to eat 1200 calories a day. Hope to lose 10 kilograms.0
-
1200 yes, lower no.0
-
1200 is what MFP gave me and yes I have been losing, I'm down 15lbs 0
-
If by weight you mean muscle then yup.0
-
NO! I eat 1600 cals a day and im STILL losing weight.0
-
3rd week and doing great, net calories is 1200 and I have lost 9 lbs... my next eigh in is Tuesday and I expect 2-3 more lbs lost.
Okay after reading other posts, let me clarify. 1200 calories is the correct net calories for me to lose 2 lbs a week. If i stay below 1597 calories I will not gain weight. This number will change as my muscle mass increases. I have just started cardio and strength training. I have a personal trainer and a personal physician that I see weekly. This isnt a fad diet, this is a safe effective way to lose weight, and learn how to manage a healthy weight once it is lost. YES I have extensive support and resources, but whenever I can I share my newfound knowledge here. So please listen when I say that everyone is different, and it is important to stick to guidelines set for by REPUTABLE sources (sorry message boards are opinions not reputable sources) however I can tell you that myfitnesspal was extemely accurate in determining how much to eat to lose what I want. If you can, go see your Doctor. If they are any good they will give you resources you can use! Even if you cannot afford a trainer all the time, start with one session to help you set your goals. and last, do what feels right. When I go below 1200 calories for more than a few days, i feel weak and do not have effective workouts. I LOVE the term eat to work and work to eat!!!! I just have to learn the healthy way of doing that.... best of luck to you!0 -
Everything I've ever read says don't go below 1200. I'm 5'6 and that's what I've been eating, I don't think it's hard and don't feel like I'm starving at all. If I do have a day where I feel hungrier than usual I eat more. I usually do an hour of cardio / 6x a week so normally I have exercise calories I can eat. My plan for when I get to my goal weight is to slowly up my calories until I get to the amount of calories I need to eat to maintain, instead of jumping from 1200 cals to 1800 cals. Maybe just eating 100-150 extra calories a day one week and up it every week until I get to 1800 or whatever.0
-
You need to workout what calorie intake is suitable for your weight and age then determine whether it will work for you or not.
I stick to 1300 cals a day at the moment and I'm 134lbs and this is working for me x0 -
Everything I've ever read says don't go below 1200. I'm 5'6 and that's what I've been eating, I don't think it's hard and don't feel like I'm starving at all. If I do have a day where I feel hungrier than usual I eat more. I usually do an hour of cardio / 6x a week so normally I have exercise calories I can eat. My plan for when I get to my goal weight is to slowly up my calories until I get to the amount of calories I need to eat to maintain, instead of jumping from 1200 cals to 1800 cals. Maybe just eating 100-150 extra calories a day one week and up it every week until I get to 1800 or whatever.
Also it probably depends on your weight/height/male or female/ how active you are. The taller/heavier/ more active and if you're a male than yeah it's probably going to be too low. Do the (recommended) goals on here based on what you're stats are. And if it's not working for you, adjust it.0 -
1,200 calories is what I'm supposed to be on according to MFP to lose 2lb a week. Seems fine to me, particularly as I'm only small. Plus if I play squash I get about another 500 calories to play around with.
Think your body will tell you if it's starving. Good luck.:happy:0 -
Yup! It worked for me because I do not have emotional eating issue or eating disorders.
This is why stomach staple works, you are just doing what they can't do on their own.
There is no evidence of starvation mode for men over 6% BF or woman over 12% body fat.
Since I am under 12% BF I can't eat that low or I risk starvation mode. Make sense? But when I was obese I could eat that low because I had BF reserves which prevented me from going into starvation mode. That's how it works.
This is not recommended for people with eating disorders or emotional eating problems like binging because then you might yo-yo.
I have kept it off a year so the nonsense that you will gain it back if you eat that low is, well, nonsense. emotional reaction to the starvation mode myth.
Thank you for that explanation. Makes total sense0 -
1200 calories is the only way I lose when I'm not able to exercise. I'm sick of it, though, for multiple reasons. First, the weight loss is slow as heck. Second, I feel like crap, and third, I really miss my Winter rambles through the neighborhood. Can't wait until it's cold so I can get back out there again. And yes, I will eat most of my exercise calories back. With some wiggle room for inaccurate HRM shenanigans, though. Turns out those things aren't nearly as accurate as they should be. And my cheapo one sure isn't.0
-
Yes it has worked for me. But I am weighed 130 at the beginning and I'm only 5'2'. I've been losing less than a lb a week.0
-
watch out for the database - some of those unconfirmed calorie value entries are way off0
-
I've (for the most part!) stuck to a net of 1200 calories since I joined MFP at the start of August this year. I've lost around 6.5lb so far. My family have commented on the weight loss too, so it can't just be water weight. I hardly ever feel hungry or deprived, so I'd say it's a good amount for me. My BMI was in the healthy range when I started though, so that might affect how it's worked for me.0
-
I just started tracking my calories for the first time ever and not making a single change to my diet I seem to only eat about 1100 cal a day anyway. But I am short too. I want to loose a little weight and I dont think cutting more food is the answer. But I still managed to gain weight on eating only 1100 cal so it seems it would depend on the person. good luck!0
-
I don't know why people here believe that 1200 is "starving yourself." MFP gives plenty of people the 1200 target, and no, it's not just because they put their info in wrong. MFP gives me a max of 1330 calories on the highest activity setting to lose .5 lbs, and I'm far from a construction worker.I'm also in a healthy weight range (and not right at the bottom of it either.) If you really believe it's starvation, why use this site? After all, the site is the one recommending this.
That said, 1200 is not necessary for a lot of people. Many people can get away with eating more and still lose weight just fine. Not all of us can. Luckily, I have fun doing it because I'm not starving and not hungry. Any day I am actually, physically hungry, I eat more. Whether I am at 1200 or 1600. I was steadily able to increase my endurance and weights. I didn't lose muscle until I had to stop exercising. That would have happened whether I ate 1200 or 2000.0 -
It all depends on your frame and size. I have a small frame and I'm 5'3", so 1200 a day does not make me hungry. The important thing is to eat nutrient dense food and make your calories count. I often eat about 200-350 more on days I exercise because I do get hungrier. Otherwise, 1200 is fine. I've been under the net for about 40 days, working out 5 times a week and have lost very little weight. If it was "extreme" I would be losing a lot of weight, but I'm not. Also, I know I'm gaining muscle. Taking measurements is your best bet to track your progress, don't obsess too much about the pounds.
^^This. I am also in the under 5'4" club. I am 5'1.5" with a small frame. I tried staying on 1200, but I just couldn't maintain it while staying active. I try to stay between 1350 and 1600. If have a very inactive day (desk job, then coming right home and plunking down on the sofa), I aim to go on the lower range of my calories. I'm down 9 lbs since I started logging consistently in late June/early July, and I'm getting closer to my goal.0 -
I've been eating 1200 a day or slightly less for 2 months. I don't eat back exercise calories, and have little trouble feeling full most days. I've had a few hungry days, but i think it's more due to emotional stuff - stress & boredom - more than anything. I eat lots of protein and drink somewhere around 12 cups of water per day, exercise about 40 minutes 5 days a week. Have lost 18 pounds so far - not too bad considering My BMI has been in the "healthy" range for about 5 weeks now. I did this several years ago as well & kept the weight off for about 3 years. Gained it back only when I became a total couch potato who could easily drink 1/2 to a full bottle of wine each night. Yippee for out of control stress levels :frown: So, yeah, it can be done, but it all depends on you as an individual. We all need to find what works for us. Best to you!0
-
Hi I have lost 35 lbs in 90 days on 1200 calories,I have exercised also,I eat healthy,am fitter,and have lost to dress sizes:Kim:)0
-
Yes, and I am perfectly healthy. In fact, blood sugar now normal, blood pressure almost normal, lipids half what they were 9 months ago.
Those who say you can't do it and be healthy need to get facts. A woman can safely lose at 1200 calories per day.0 -
Yup! It worked for me because I do not have emotional eating issue or eating disorders.
This is why stomach staple works, you are just doing what they can't do on their own.
There is no evidence of starvation mode for men over 6% BF or woman over 12% body fat.
Since I am under 12% BF I can't eat that low or I risk starvation mode. Make sense? But when I was obese I could eat that low because I had BF reserves which prevented me from going into starvation mode. That's how it works.
This is not recommended for people with eating disorders or emotional eating problems like binging because then you might yo-yo.
I have kept it off a year so the nonsense that you will gain it back if you eat that low is, well, nonsense. emotional reaction to the starvation mode myth.0 -
I've lost 41 pounds since February 2012, and although I try to stick to 1,200 cal/day, I usually end up having several days per week that are over, and one or two days that are under 1,200. I also exercise (about 3 x's per week). Although it's been successful so far, my weigh loss has really slowed in the past two or three months (a good month is where I lose 2 pounds). But I'm still losing...0
-
I guess you got your answer. I have been on it for one month. Down from 1700 a day. I worked each month to come down to 1200 Cal a day and lost four pounds last month. I expect the same for the Month of September. I wish i can brag and say it went fast. But our bodies are very slow to react. Yet, it is a truism: eat less Calories, loose more weight. burn off more calories, loose even more weight. Prior to being on this site. I tried everything one can think of and finally humbled myself and learned, it is not what you eat but how many calories one consumes. Yeah, i was a portion size over eater. Finally i discovered the right combinations to lose minimum 4 lbs a month and that is solid.0
-
yes.... and you will likely gain it back once you start eating above that level.... hard to maintain!0
-
Me. I eat about 1200, although it might be less on some days. I walk most days, racking up 10,000-15000 steps most days. I am ususally not hungry as long as I get in enough protein. It can be done but don't beat yourself up if you go over.0
-
yes.... and you will likely gain it back once you start eating above that level.... hard to maintain!
She isn't any more likely to gain it back than anyone else if that is the correct calorie level for her. Everyone must find their maintenance level, not just those on 1200 calories. If someone is taller and heavier than me, why would we expect to lose weight and maintain at the same calories?0 -
Also it really depends mostly on your height. I'm short 5'1" so I need less calories than a taller girl. Taller girls would have a harder time with this unless they have a lot of fat reserves to draw from.
Im 6' and frequently, but not entirely on purpose, Im netting less than1000 because of the bit of exercise I do and Ive lost 40 some pounds in 45 days. I have yet to feel hungry, or have cravings, or feel unexplainable tired. Actually I feel better than I have in years and I attribute that to a close eye on exactly what Im eating and doing some exercises.
I think it can be done but it's a fine line. If you figure in any ED / binge it probably changes all the rules.
Good Luck to everyone on the journey of a lifetime...........healthy lifestyle change and weight loss0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 426 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions