I've been starving myself!
tpfoodie
Posts: 148 Member
Over the past year, I tried very hard to eat only 1200 calories a day at the recommendation of another mobile weight loss app (I tracked everything on MFP). I didn't lose a pound, despite my best efforts. I was eating ok; I'm on a very low budget, so some days the best nutritional food I had were canned vegetables.
So imagine my surprise when I found that over the holidays... I didn't gain a pound. Despite eating more than 2000 calories a day (easily) of junk. Curious as to what was going on, I looked up a few calorie calculators.
The final numbers vary, but with my body type and current weight I should be eating an absolute minimum of 1650 calories. Wow!!! Dieting has suddenly become much easier.
I didn't even know I was starving myself. I just wasn't ever hungry. I didn't often eat breakfast. I drank lots of water.
I don't know why I'm sharing this, other than to encourage everyone to double check their minimum calorie intake! I already feel so much better after less than a week of eating this amount, and tracking feels far more manageable because I don't feel guilty when I eat something that's 500 calories (which I used to, even if something was good for me).
Has anyone else experienced this? What kinds of foods did you eat to "fill the extra space," etc?
So imagine my surprise when I found that over the holidays... I didn't gain a pound. Despite eating more than 2000 calories a day (easily) of junk. Curious as to what was going on, I looked up a few calorie calculators.
The final numbers vary, but with my body type and current weight I should be eating an absolute minimum of 1650 calories. Wow!!! Dieting has suddenly become much easier.
I didn't even know I was starving myself. I just wasn't ever hungry. I didn't often eat breakfast. I drank lots of water.
I don't know why I'm sharing this, other than to encourage everyone to double check their minimum calorie intake! I already feel so much better after less than a week of eating this amount, and tracking feels far more manageable because I don't feel guilty when I eat something that's 500 calories (which I used to, even if something was good for me).
Has anyone else experienced this? What kinds of foods did you eat to "fill the extra space," etc?
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Replies
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eating more to weigh less really works. Everyone should check their BMR and TDEE. I was eating 1200 too and lost weight but wasnt healthy now im eating 1500-1700 and feel great! There is a guy on MFP i "helloitsdan" i think and he really preaches the eating more philosophy and it really works.0
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Something is amiss. If you were really eating 1200 caories per day for an entire year and haven't lost any weight at all, how is adding more calories going to make you lose?0
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When you starve your body of calories, it clings to what you're giving it. Or so Weight Watchers told me five years ago. That's why they always stress "eating all of your points."0
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Well, I'm eating around 1200 per day and I'm eating some (but never all) of my exercise calories back and it's working great for me. I'm super happy with the results. So, I just chalk it up to everyone being different. So I agree that everyone should experiment with calories & exercise a bit if they're not getting the results they would expect.
I'm glad you've found something that is working well for you!0 -
I'll be interested to see how much you lose. Let us know!0
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This is what happened to me as well. I started out at 1200 just fine, but was tired all the time. Even if I ate my exercise calories I'd be starving....and on weeks I ate those, I never lost weight. I did lose 23 lbs on the 1200, but I felt awful. I ended up giving up because of that. When I came back, I started at 1650 and feel much better and it is way easier to workout and stick to this lifestyle now!0
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I've been eating my daily alottment given by MFP, but NOT my exercise calories (i didnt trust that they were correct)... barely losing weight, i went to my personal trainer VERY upset, and when he checked my food log, he told me that for the amount i am exercising, i should be eating between 1800 and 2000 calories! I upped my intake from 1260 a day to almost 1800, and in the past 2 weeks, 5 lbs have practically fallen off. hope it does the trick for you!!!0
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Something is amiss. If you were really eating 1200 caories per day for an entire year and haven't lost any weight at all, how is adding more calories going to make you lose?
Perhaps, for her body, it was starvation mode? I see it was already answered, but yeah...when you starve your body, even when YOU don't think you are starving, it holds on to everything in case you really are, in fact, starving.
That's why I'm in my plateau right now, actually.0 -
Well, I'm eating around 1200 per day and I'm eating some (but never all) of my exercise calories back and it's working great for me. I'm super happy with the results. So, I just chalk it up to everyone being different. So I agree that everyone should experiment with calories & exercise a bit if they're not getting the results they would expect.
I'm glad you've found something that is working well for you!
Me too. I'm usually 1200-1300 calories/day and I exercise most days and I've lost 6 pounds.0 -
Starvation has tons of ill side effects so if you felt fine, you were not starving. Also, starving does not occur until you consume less than half of your BMR for a prolonged amount of time. I think you may have been overestimating the calorie count (which has happened to me-- some days I'm sure I must have gone over my calorie count but actually didn't). It is physically impossible to starve yourself and not lose weight. I am not trying to discourage you from eating at whatever calorie count you are now. If it is keeping you healthy then you should keep doing it. I just wanted to point out what starvation entails as many people seem to get it confused.0
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Something is amiss. If you were really eating 1200 caories per day for an entire year and haven't lost any weight at all, how is adding more calories going to make you lose?
Perhaps, for her body, it was starvation mode? I see it was already answered, but yeah...when you starve your body, even when YOU don't think you are starving, it holds on to everything in case you really are, in fact, starving.
That's why I'm in my plateau right now, actually.
Starvation mode may cause a plateau, but it doesn't prevent someone from ever losing any weight. Thtat's not how the body works. If she was truly eating only 1200 calories for an entire year and didn't lose any weight, eating more calories will cause her to gain unless she also changes her activity level, because clearly 1200 is her TDEE.0 -
Starvation has tons of ill side effects so if you felt fine, you were not starving. Also, starving does not occur until you consume less than half of your BMR for a prolonged amount of time. I think you may have been overestimating the calorie count (which has happened to me-- some days I'm sure I must have gone over my calorie count but actually didn't). It is physically impossible to starve yourself and not lose weight. I am not trying to discourage you from eating at whatever calorie count you are now. If it is keeping you healthy then you should keep doing it. I just wanted to point out what starvation entails as many people seem to get it confused.
I absolutely had negative side effects, such as not being able tog get out of bed, and sucking down cups of coffee to fill my empty stomach. Everything I logged in MFP was measured and accurately logged, as I've been to this rodeo before. If my calories were being overestimated, it was because of the resources provided in MFP. Regardless, I don't think that was the case.0 -
Something is amiss. If you were really eating 1200 caories per day for an entire year and haven't lost any weight at all, how is adding more calories going to make you lose?
Perhaps, for her body, it was starvation mode? I see it was already answered, but yeah...when you starve your body, even when YOU don't think you are starving, it holds on to everything in case you really are, in fact, starving.
That's why I'm in my plateau right now, actually.
Starvation mode may cause a plateau, but it doesn't prevent someone from ever losing any weight. Thtat's not how the body works. If she was truly eating only 1200 calories for an entire year and didn't lose any weight, eating more calories will cause her to gain unless she also changes her activity level, because clearly 1200 is her TDEE.
That's funny, because I've gone a month on more than 1200 and haven't gained a pound. Chalk it up to "every body's different."0 -
When I first signed up for MFP I had my goal settings at "2 lbs a week" which was only 1200 calories a day. It was soo hard staying at 1200 I never lasted very long. I went back and changed my goals to 1 lb per week and my daily calories went up to 1720. It is so much easier to stay within my calorie range. I am a lot more optimistic about my weight loss now. Good luck!0
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Something is amiss. If you were really eating 1200 caories per day for an entire year and haven't lost any weight at all, how is adding more calories going to make you lose?
Perhaps, for her body, it was starvation mode? I see it was already answered, but yeah...when you starve your body, even when YOU don't think you are starving, it holds on to everything in case you really are, in fact, starving.
That's why I'm in my plateau right now, actually.
Starvation mode may cause a plateau, but it doesn't prevent someone from ever losing any weight. Thtat's not how the body works. If she was truly eating only 1200 calories for an entire year and didn't lose any weight, eating more calories will cause her to gain unless she also changes her activity level, because clearly 1200 is her TDEE.
LOL no adult has a TDEE of 1,200.0 -
Over the past year, I tried very hard to eat only 1200 calories a day at the recommendation of another mobile weight loss app (I tracked everything on MFP). I didn't lose a pound, despite my best efforts. I was eating ok; I'm on a very low budget, so some days the best nutritional food I had were canned vegetables.
So imagine my surprise when I found that over the holidays... I didn't gain a pound. Despite eating more than 2000 calories a day (easily) of junk. Curious as to what was going on, I looked up a few calorie calculators.
The final numbers vary, but with my body type and current weight I should be eating an absolute minimum of 1650 calories. Wow!!! Dieting has suddenly become much easier.
I didn't even know I was starving myself. I just wasn't ever hungry. I didn't often eat breakfast. I drank lots of water.
I don't know why I'm sharing this, other than to encourage everyone to double check their minimum calorie intake! I already feel so much better after less than a week of eating this amount, and tracking feels far more manageable because I don't feel guilty when I eat something that's 500 calories (which I used to, even if something was good for me).
Has anyone else experienced this? What kinds of foods did you eat to "fill the extra space," etc?
Thank GOD you are sharing it ... It takes folks time to realise either how this site works (ie deficit and eating back a proportion of calories) or customising your own goals using BMR and TDEE cuts.
Either way - it's all about making better choices about what you eat and knowing you CAN indulge to a point, and how to plan for it.
It's great when I see other folks getting to grips with the numbers ... Good luck with the rest of your journey.0 -
Something is amiss. If you were really eating 1200 caories per day for an entire year and haven't lost any weight at all, how is adding more calories going to make you lose?
Perhaps, for her body, it was starvation mode? I see it was already answered, but yeah...when you starve your body, even when YOU don't think you are starving, it holds on to everything in case you really are, in fact, starving.
That's why I'm in my plateau right now, actually.
Starvation mode may cause a plateau, but it doesn't prevent someone from ever losing any weight. Thtat's not how the body works. If she was truly eating only 1200 calories for an entire year and didn't lose any weight, eating more calories will cause her to gain unless she also changes her activity level, because clearly 1200 is her TDEE.
That's funny, because I've gone a month on more than 1200 and haven't gained a pound. Chalk it up to "every body's different."
Then either you are/were logging incorrectly or you changed your "calories out". Outside a medical procedure, you can only lose by having a calorie deficit and you can only gain by having a calorie surplus. Different calories at the same activity level can't create both.0 -
eat more!0
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Something is amiss. If you were really eating 1200 caories per day for an entire year and haven't lost any weight at all, how is adding more calories going to make you lose?
Perhaps, for her body, it was starvation mode? I see it was already answered, but yeah...when you starve your body, even when YOU don't think you are starving, it holds on to everything in case you really are, in fact, starving.
That's why I'm in my plateau right now, actually.
Starvation mode may cause a plateau, but it doesn't prevent someone from ever losing any weight. Thtat's not how the body works. If she was truly eating only 1200 calories for an entire year and didn't lose any weight, eating more calories will cause her to gain unless she also changes her activity level, because clearly 1200 is her TDEE.
LOL no adult has a TDEE of 1,200.
So, what is your explanation for an adult that eats 1200 a day for 52 weeksn and doesn't lose or gain a pound?0 -
You should of lost some weight. Your body only stops losing weight after extended periods of severe calorie deficits.
Something is definitely wrong here.0 -
I don't think her body went into "starvation mode" but I also don't think she was overestimating. Bodies are complicated things, although I don't think we are really all that different physiologically (unless you have a thyroid issue or leptin problem etc etc). I'm betting that due to long-term dieting (you said this wasn't your first time round), you've probably lost a lot of muscle mass. This makes your metabolic rate slow quite a bit, as does age and various other factors. Also, if your diet was causing you so much stress, the amount of cortisol that produces also impacts how you store and use fat. There are SOOOOO many possible factors that it's not even worth arguing about. The important thing is that you're feeling better and your diet is working for you. Now go on and get those muscles working! Pick up some heavy things and put them down again and get your metabolism back into shape!
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I went through a similar issue as well. My metabolism isn't slow, but when I restrict calories, its like my body immediately goes into starvation mode and starts to store calories rather than using them. When I eat between 1600 and 1800 calories a day, I personally feel that my body utilizes the energy much better and I feel better. Despite being a shorty, I'm under five feet, I eat a lot of calories in a day. Over the summer, after finding out I had celiac's, I lost almost 30 pounds and I was eating up to 2000 calories a day. I was also much more active as well.0
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Eating below your brm isn't good. 1200 was definitely not enough for me and I'm 5'1. I cut my calories very low and am suffering for it (side effects of being deficient in nutrients - mostly protein).
The most surprising thing is I'm losing more steadily now that I'm eating at 1600 calories versus the 1200 cals and less. Not only that, I have a bunch more energy, my mood is more stable, and I can exercise for longer periods of time with lots more intensity 0 -
Sorry if this is being a bit silly but im new on here - what is TDEE?? And can anyone recomend a good site for working out how many calories to start on please?
Thanks x0 -
Sorry if this is being a bit silly but im new on here - what is TDEE?? And can anyone recomend a good site for working out how many calories to start on please?
Thanks x
TDEE - is total daily energy expenditure.
If you want, check out this link by MFPer Heliotsdan - http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
It'll give you a detailed walkthrough (with pictures even) on finding your TDEE and calculating what you should be eating.
Or for a different version to figure out your TDEE, as well as some great advice...check out:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/833500-what-do-i-do-common-sense-cliff-notes
Also, if you are worried about the calorie intake, I also suggest you read this thread that has numerous people who met their goals and are maintaining. Some for years and they also provide their calorie intake and how often they work out.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/816542-let-s-hear-it-for-maintainenance
For more information about fitness and nutrition, I highly suggest checking out and joining this group:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress
Read all the stickies. It's great information to know.0 -
Joylia = great.
OP, congratulations and welcome!! I think you've found the right formula. I'm so sorry to hear about your wasted year . . . I've got a friend who is a personal trainer and scientist. Despite the odd naysaying in this thread, what you are empirically seeing actually is happening, because there is a relationship that exists between the calories you consume and the energy you burn. It *is* possible not to lose weight at 1200 calories because your body can function impaired and suboptimally on less than target calories.
Anyway read this pls! :-) http://nbsfit.com/nutrition/weight-loss-isnt-always-about-eating-less-and-exercising-more/
Excerpt:
"Everybody screws up once in a while and sometimes it takes a while to realize there was a screw up. It took me almost four years to realize that I was making the same mistake every day. Every freaking day. I was starving myself.
I wasn’t not eating, but I was eating 1200 to 1400 calories per day and that just isn’t enough for me. I am only 5’2″, so I don’t need a ton of calories, but I am a personal trainer who moves almost all day, every day and I do need to eat enough to fuel that activity. "0 -
I wasn't losing a single pound at 1200. Went to 1550-1700 - lose 3 pounds in two days!0
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Its GREAT that you found the right number! It doesn't work for everyone...me included. At 1250-1300 cals a day (without exercise) I am not starving and feel good. Continued success!0
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I'm only 5' 1" so my number is around 1200-1300 to lose 1 pound a week according to MFP. That's really hard to do with real food! That only allows one decent meal and then basically snacking the rest of the day. It's unrealistic. I lost 20 pounds doing that last year but I felt horrible and I also plateaued. I feel much healthier eating around 1400-1500 calories a day and working off a couple hundred of those with exercise. Staying around 1350 net calories seems to be my magic number.
Really it matters more what those calories are rather than just the number. Sure I could eat 1400 calories of junk food and not lose much weight but if I'm eating 1400 calories of healthier foods, I will. But yep, everyone is different!0 -
You may nopt be eating enough. You actually need to eat to lose weight. Took me a long time to wrap my head around that. Eat clean.0
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