1200, and why it won't work

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Replies

  • badzoe
    badzoe Posts: 132 Member
    Thank you so much!
  • terijoestoes
    terijoestoes Posts: 205 Member
    Bump read again
  • kirstie3281
    kirstie3281 Posts: 48 Member
    Couldn't agree more! Thanks for this post.
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    <---1200 cals, for a full year. Not miserable, not starving. Happy and energetic, and lost over 30 lbs. (Please see ticker below.) 1200 cals won't work for everyone, but it is pretty silly to put the blanket statement "it won't work, ever, for anyone", like what you're alluding to, over it.

    You have some very interesting points, but it would be nice if you would only speak for yourself, as I am living proof that 1200 CAN and DOES work, even if just for a small group of people.
  • NZhellkat
    NZhellkat Posts: 355 Member
    Loved the simplicity of your post.
  • ldbuster0
    ldbuster0 Posts: 207
    bump for later reading
  • Sharon_C
    Sharon_C Posts: 2,132 Member
    Love this post. I need to bookmark this and come back to it occasionally as a reminder. Thank you for taking the time to make it simple for us.
  • emills1970
    emills1970 Posts: 118 Member
    Thanks for posting!
  • panano
    panano Posts: 62 Member
    Hi all
    I'm 4'10", 132 pounds. The reason I put on the weight in the first place was because of sexual abuse from my uncle when I was 10 years old. I felt like if I gained weight, it'd never happen again. I was never ever "overweight" until that point, and even then, it's taken me 6 years to gain the weight that I have. The abuse led to severe depression, and eating disorders (anorexia with bulimic tendencies) and some other issues I won't mention.
    Sounds like a sob story but here's the point - for someone like me who used to scrape along eating 200 a day or so, the number 1200 feels IMPOSSIBLE to consume every day. Not because it's too small but because I have to keep reminding myself to actually eat.
    I honestly think the 1200 depends on the height, and frame of the person. Of course, if you're 5'8 that's suicide. But for someone like me it works out just fine. I'm losing weight, I have ONE cheat day, and I've stuck with the program for 2 months...I'm not giving up! I exercise about 30-40 minutes a day depending on how I'm feeling...

    Once I lose the weight I'm going to have to reevaluate and figure out how to maintain. I can't keep eating only 1200 because I'll just keep losing...
    It's really about finding the happy medium.
  • lasmit4477
    lasmit4477 Posts: 308 Member
    First, if people would STOP looking for a fast weight loss, stop putting in that they want to lose 2 pounds per week and that they are sedentary, MFP wouldn't advise 1200 calories. When information is put in to that degree, that is how MFP will tailor the calorie deficit. However, when most people start a weight loss journey, they start an exercise routine as well. Then when the activity/exercise is logged into MFP, the calorie goal changes and then in turn increases....and for a REASON!!! Individuals should learn the reason.

    Figuring out what works for you, getting educated and having the proper information is key to a lifetime of success!

    To the OP, your post was not offensive in the least and the people who are sending negativity will be the first ones to post in a forum of "I am eating 1200 calories a day but I am not losing weight! Why?!" Then we will all have to explain this again with hopes that due to their frustration they will then listen or drop the defensiveness!
  • horrificat
    horrificat Posts: 8 Member
    Yes yes yes! You totally nailed it for me. I don't do a progression and so I yo yo up and down.
  • Princess4Run
    Princess4Run Posts: 135 Member
    Great post. Thanks!
  • conorpatmanCHANGED
    conorpatmanCHANGED Posts: 253 Member
    I am one of you...
    ...1200 calories a day is a paltry sniff of food. It's a dab of nutrients, and it's almost impossible to follow on a consistent (years) basis....

    The number itself mocks you and makes you feel inadequate....You will live on...yes..but in misery.

    well the thing is, you're not me.
    You look like a rather muscular man, where as I am neither. When you turn into a 45 year old woman, then you'll be one of "me".
    1200 calories a day probably is NOT enough for you, but its fine for me. I'm not starving. most days i'm not even hungry.
    I woh't have to stay at 1200 calories for years, because I will get to my goal weight and eat more to maintain.

    I'm not mocked, and I don't feel inadequate, and i'm not miserable.

    perhaps you should change the thread title to end with "for me", since you can't stand there and tell me what's going to work for me.

    nice post, but this.
  • zumbachelle
    zumbachelle Posts: 23 Member
    This sounds great to me...I have been losing weight since September 2011. I went great guns until about August last year and since then have almost stayed at exactly the same weight. I am going crazy.

    I currently weigh 216lbs, have lost 86lbs, but as I said none of that since August 2012. I believe I have about another 60lbs I would like to lose.

    I do zumba 2-3 times per week and bootcamp 1 day and usually go for a 7km walk which takes me about an hour once or twice a month.

    I sit on my butt at work all day.

    I have been having 12-1300 cals a day...and suggestions or ideas on what it should actually be? MFP tells me 1200 and I always feel SO guilty about going over.

    Michelle.
  • aelunyu
    aelunyu Posts: 486 Member
    Thanks for the support, guys. I will get to your questions one at a time. Stay strong, and be vigilant!
  • nlehmann
    nlehmann Posts: 164 Member
    bump
  • StephCoff1969
    StephCoff1969 Posts: 357
    Amazing post... Thank you..
  • mistakenidentity
    mistakenidentity Posts: 28 Member
    Bump!
  • nursekern
    nursekern Posts: 132 Member
    Great explanation! Thanks so much!
  • jessielynn1083
    jessielynn1083 Posts: 2 Member
    I read this and makes a lot of sense to me. My question is I have already been on the "1200 cal diet" for a couple of weeks and I struggle to get in the full 1200. Would you suggest I bump it back up? I have a total of 20-25 lbs to lose.
  • lasmit4477
    lasmit4477 Posts: 308 Member
    Ok. So I'm curretly doing the 1200 calories and it is not working. I worked out for 4 months cycling 5-6 days a week burning 350-400 calories (per my heart rate monitor) and i only lost 5 lbs. My doctor put me at 1200, told me not to eat my exercise calories back and put me on a pill to help me stay at 1200. I'm currenlty trying to figure out what I should do. I'm 43 year old femail about 5'2" and currently at 210 lbs. Current goal is to loose 25 lbs. but ultimatly I want to loose 100 lbs.

    I do not know your medical history or if you have any medical conditions, however, you may want to consult a dietitian and maybe find a new physician.

    Secondly, knowing what your actual TDEE is of importance as this is where you can create your calorie deficit. Usually 15-20% below TDEE.

    Take a look at this link. It offers great information and can offer some understanding. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/804485-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12?page=4
  • lisapittman53
    lisapittman53 Posts: 1
    Wow, great post. The first one I've read on MFP. I'm so glad I did!
  • blg5
    blg5 Posts: 89 Member
    Read it all and thanks for posting. It was very interesting and helpful.
  • newdaydawning79
    newdaydawning79 Posts: 1,503 Member
    This post is phenomenal. Which model do you use for BMR and TDEE calculations? This is where my problem seems to lie. I get so many different answers that I'm just not sure how much to eat! :)
  • Angel0787
    Angel0787 Posts: 190 Member
    Great information....I've always heard the 1200 calorie intake stuff as well, and MFP set my calories at 1290 for 2lbs of loss a week, and I've lost a small amount, but with exercising 6 days a week, even if I eat back half my calories I feel like I am starving myself trying to stick to that. So a couple days ago I changed my goals to a 1 1/2 and it increased it to 1500. I am hoping it will help keep my metabolism going and kick this weight loss into gear.
  • Angel0787
    Angel0787 Posts: 190 Member
    This post is phenomenal. Which model do you use for BMR and TDEE calculations? This is where my problem seems to lie. I get so many different answers that I'm just not sure how much to eat! :)


    ^ Same issue!
  • aelunyu
    aelunyu Posts: 486 Member
    Ok. So I'm curretly doing the 1200 calories and it is not working. I worked out for 4 months cycling 5-6 days a week burning 350-400 calories (per my heart rate monitor) and i only lost 5 lbs. My doctor put me at 1200, told me not to eat my exercise calories back and put me on a pill to help me stay at 1200. I'm currenlty trying to figure out what I should do. I'm 43 year old femail about 5'2" and currently at 210 lbs. Current goal is to loose 25 lbs. but ultimatly I want to loose 100 lbs.

    I do not know your medical history or if you have any medical conditions, however, you may want to consult a dietitian and maybe find a new physician.

    Secondly, knowing what your actual TDEE is of importance as this is where you can create your calorie deficit. Usually 15-20% below TDEE.

    Take a look at this link. It offers great information and can offer some understanding. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/804485-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12?page=4

    Perhaps you should get tested for hormonal issues. Maybe the thyroid. But I must ask, when you are performing exercise, are you very worn out, tired, scarce, in terms of energy? At my lowest point, I was eating 1400 calories a day as a male. I found it extremely taxing to complete 10 minutes of jump rope or a 2 mile run.
  • MJH2
    MJH2 Posts: 55 Member
    Having weighed over 325lbs I learned very very quickly that you must eat to loose and the more I lost the more I exercised, because nothing tastes as good as thin feels! Great story, thanks for sharing.
  • lasmit4477
    lasmit4477 Posts: 308 Member
    This post is phenomenal. Which model do you use for BMR and TDEE calculations? This is where my problem seems to lie. I get so many different answers that I'm just not sure how much to eat! :)


    ^ Same issue!



    Please review this to aid in your questions! It offers great information and advice! http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/804485-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12?page=4
  • Skinnymunkii
    Skinnymunkii Posts: 191 Member
    Excellent information in this post, thank you!

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