1200, and why it won't work
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very interesting post!0
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Thanks for the interesting read!0
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I didn't read through the pages of replies, but I wanted to say this is an excellent post! Thank you for taking the time to explain all that and share your client's experience. In case anybody is wondering, this is well worth the read! I totally agree with you. Why start at the BARE minimum when you don't have to?0
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Great post and makes a lot of sense. Would love to have a personal trainer be that involved in helping to understand the whole process. I'm still working on what works for me and what is not working is mostly my not being consistent with working out but may take you up on advice in the future.0
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Nice post. Bump to save
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bump to read later Thanks:flowerforyou:0
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Thanks for posting. I ate at 1200 calories a day for months and didn't really feel that bad but felt off and didn't loose weight. I upped my calories to 1600 and the weight came right off.
For al the people saying 1200 works for you, it doesn't. Find out the nutrients you are eating, and make sure you are getting enough nutrients in your diet. Chances are, with 1200 calories, you're lacking in areas. And although you may not feel it now, it'll have an effect. It sure did with me, and i finally had to have a doctor tell me to eat more because i was damaging my body. Its not worth it and I love not having to worry about calories excessively.0 -
I'm sure the original poster posted this with good intention, but it is medical advice and people should be seeing actual nutritionists and doctors. I don't understand why, when people post other medical questions in MFP, members are quick to urge them to get to a doctor. However, when calculating your daily nutritional needs, people are gobbling up the info of someone who, "obtained [a] NASM personal training certification, which was a breeze." What? That's as dull as merely following MFP's recommendations without question. This fellow took a thirty minute exam after a few months of studying. Most medical doctors only have mere hours of nutritional training and that's still significant compared to what he has. The mythical "Monica" could have had a thyroid disorder or, like I have, PCOS. These things alter your metabolisms so significantly that you need someone truly skilled in helping you find the right balance. You might even, as I have had to do, have to see internists as well.
If you're obese and looking for answers here, please stop. No, don't start at 1200. Don't start at 3000. Don't start without tests for diabetes, PCOS, Insulin Resistance, etc. "Monica" was rather lucky in this scenario, but it's hardly a case study; if you are obese or morbidly obese, there is a chance underlying conditions are helping you stay that way. You're going to feel better having medical clearance anyway when you want to begin exercise. For example, he had a six week period of Monica not loosing. Eventually she did again. We don't know how her diet's composition change. Did she alter carbs/fats/etc? Did she begin drinking more water? Taking supplements? How many people think 1200 isn't working and push on for six weeks without result? Not many. Yes, Monica seems to have had a decent amount of will power and a load of blind faith, but she could have very well had the same stall and restart at 1200, 1400, 1600, or 2000 calories. There are just too many factors to consider. She could have had more plateaus than he could have accounted for; what then?
Two things I find wrong about this kind of hostility:
1. I am a bio major. went through 2 years of med school, took all the orgo, chem, biochem, and associated classes, before deciding that 8 more years of school would put me into too much debt. for all educational purposes, I'm a doctor.
2. most doctors are contact of last resort. you don't see a doctor while you are gaining weight, you see them when you've gained too much weight that it threatens your health. most doctors will tell you to eat less. they have NO idea about the current studies and literature pertaining to human weight loss, performance nutrition, and optimal disease prevention....that is unless they keep up with peer reviewed studies. If they do...it's in the area of disease correction, instead of prevention. Although all doctors have fundamental knowledge of how to prevent disease, not all of them update their knowledge profiles bi monthly.
3. I exist in some grey space, outside of personal trainers who charge money, and oustide of doctors who know nothing about being "beach-ready". I exist to help. If you have a problem with that, I suggest you take it elsewhere.
Actually, as you pointed out, you are eight years of school away from being a doctor. A lot of stuff happens in eight years of education; I've learned that working on my own doctorate.
Doctor's don't and shouldn't have to be a last resort. I don't even get where you're saying that people don't see doctors while they are gaining weight. If people aren't getting regular physicals there are a lot of health problems they could be overlooking aside from obesity. Encouraging them to use you as a substitute isn't helping anyone. I'm also not sure your critical thinking skills are up to par. I clearly already outlined that people should see specialists in nutrition and internal medicine. I said myself that most doctors undergo only hours of nutritional training--but still they are more licensed and trained than you. That's a fact. Certainly a nutritionist would put you to shame.
And finally, you did not seriously just champion yourself for your knowledge of "beach ready" bodies? Yeah, I don't think a lot of doctors are marketing that...you know...because a beach ready body isn't the main indicator of health.
If you can't see the informative nature of my original response, where I even gave you the courtesy of saying you had good intentions, you're really off. This is a forum; it's a place of discussion. You have no need to be threatened. You seriously don't want obese and morbidly obese people to have a reminder to seek medical help, to find out if they have any underlying medical problems before jumping in to a diet? That's just negligence.
First of all a "nutritionist" is just a glorified personal trainer. They, at best retain the knowledge of their textbooks, with some or little further following of the continued science in the field. And admittedly that's enough to address 99% of the issues we are facing in this overweight culture.
So, no. A nutritionist will never put me to shame. They can only tell me what substrate metabolism aught to do. They will never be able to cater it to specific cases. They cannot cater profiles according to nutrient partitioning. They will not grant ideas on acetyle-COA pathways given substrate quality. Any undergrad bio major destroys all nutritionists by a mile. Once you cut into the cadavers in M2? Well you get the idea.
The original post was to alert people to the danger of eating 1200 calories a day. You recommend to consult a doctor based on my more MODEST, and SAFE recommendation of finding a better baseline? Absurd. Most doctors will tell you that eating 1200 calories a day is insane.
So...was it just a ploy to undermine my understanding of the subject, or did I really strike a personal chord? If so, I apologize, and let that be that.
I am going to agree with the OP here.
Just because a doctor is well...a doctor, it doesnt mean he knows about nutrition. GP's are just that. They know a general form of everything but not a whole lot of everything. I use this as an example since its close to my heart.
With both my kids I chose a midwife (a lay midwife with my 2nd born at home). I would never chose an OBGYN or GP for a few reasons. One being, they don't specialize in childbirth and two, they *generally* dont see childbirth as a natural process but rather the female body as a machine that they can control. The amount of inductions are astronomical. It is ridiculous.
So while you sit here and tout that we should not be talking to a personal trainer because he is not a Dr. is ridiculous. He specializes in the body, he knows how fat burning works, he knows how our bodies respond to eating. Why would I go to a Dr who most likely has no real grasp on how that works?0 -
I think the problem is what happens when you are not 300 pounds but 140 pounds and want to lose 4 pounds.0
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good explanation thanks!0
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I AGREE ONE BILLION PERCENT. I was one of those 1200 cal girls. Then I was an 1100 cal girl. Then a 1000. Talk about being miserable. And the second I broke down and started eating what I should....I gained 30 pounds in 3 months. I don't know if I will ever get my metabolism back to normal. 1400-1500 is my friend.
Thanks for this post. One of the best I have read on here.0 -
Thanks guys...and I do understand the critical stances out there. Let it be said that if 1200 is working for you, and you've found it to be easy to follow, your results are measurable and sustainable, there's nothing that the original post can do for you. The ideas and experiences in it were indeed meant to empower those of you confused or frustrated in finding other avenues to achieve your weight loss goals.0
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I want to say I bet it would help to know where you're coming from. In the example of Monica she determined that she ate 3000-3300 calories a day before tracking and cutting and that 50% of those calories were fat. That's a huge advantage.
My problem is that I smoked and drank pepsi literally from the moment I woke up until the time I went to bed. The only meal I ate was dinner and this was consistent for YEARS! Yes, I'm ashamed of this
but what can you do except change.
I quit smoking about 6 months ago and gained 20 pounds. I've been working on building new habits. I do an hour of step aerobics in the morning and burn about 210 calories according to wii fit.. lol! In the afternoon I walk for an hour on the treadmill at about 3.5 mph. I'm short, so anything faster and I would be running, but I am unable to run for long periods of time. MFP has me at 1330 calories and normally I don't exceed that when the exercise is included. I have been at this for two weeks and I have not lost a single pound. I'm depressed and frustrated and find that everything is just confusing!
Not sure where to go from here. I feel like just going to bed!0 -
I want to say I bet it would help to know where you're coming from. In the example of Monica she determined that she ate 3000-3300 calories a day before tracking and cutting and that 50% of those calories were fat. That's a huge advantage.
My problem is that I smoked and drank pepsi literally from the moment I woke up until the time I went to bed. The only meal I ate was dinner and this was consistent for YEARS! Yes, I'm ashamed of this but what can you do except change.
I quit smoking about 6 months ago and gained 20 pounds. I've been working on building new habits. I do an hour of step aerobics in the morning and burn about 210 calories according to wii fit.. lol! In the afternoon I walk for an hour on the treadmill at about 3.5 mph. I'm short, so anything faster and I would be running, but I am unable to run for long periods of time. MFP has me at 1330 calories and normally I don't exceed that when the exercise is included. I have been at this for two weeks and I have not lost a single pound. I'm depressed and frustrated and find that everything is just confusing!
Not sure where to go from here. I feel like just going to bed!
Don't give up. When you quit smoking alot of crazy things happen in your body. The nicotine itself is a mild stimulant. I've read estimates ranging from 200-400 calories burned (depending on how heavy a smoker you are). The lungs have to work harder at rest to process the smoke, that burns even more calories. Lastly, smoking is an excellent appetite killer...you all those three things together and you will gain weight. I quit smoking when I was 24, after 7 years of smoking, and experienced much of the same thing...except i also had terrible nightmares and couldn't sleep, even a year later..which really destroyed my workout motivation.
I don't have alot of experience with treadmill or generic calorie counting systems on cardio machines. But when I do do cardio indoors, I take whatever number the machine spits out, and subtract 100 from it. If it says I burned 500, i tell myself I only burned 400. I do the same thing with my food. If you look at my daily quotas, you'll notice I'm always 10 or so grams short on fats. I assume the cook or whoever made my food got heavy handed with the oil. If you are not getting the results you want, there are variables in your calculations that are either wrong, or you are overlooking. In your case, calories burned, perhaps may be high based on machine estimates. The effects of quitting smoking may still be with you and slowing your metabolism. Continue your course for 5-6 weeks. Do not get discouraged. 2 weeks is really not enough time to send a message to the body that it needs to start changing. Good luck!0 -
Great information. I'm on the second leg of my weight loss journey. I went from 224 to 164 in a year with a moderate caloric deficit. I maintained 162-170 for about 2 years, and now I'm trying to get from 169 to 145 (I am 5'7").
I feel like I'm starting over, and very confused about calories. I work out 3-5 times a week, strength training 2x a week and doing a good bit of cardio. I can't figure out how much I should be eating. Honestly, my calories are set according to MFP's guidelines to lose 2# a week. So my net is 1200, and I eat my exercise calories. I eat clean, 4-5 meals a day. No starch in my last 2 meals (except last night I had 1/4 cup of mashed potatoes). But I feel weak and crabby.0 -
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Incredible article!!! Thank you for sharing! 0
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I love this post and will be giving a copy to a friend of mine tht is trying to lose weight quickly thinking it's for the best
Thank you for making me feel better about my slow pase for my weight loss journey0 -
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Great information. I'm on the second leg of my weight loss journey. I went from 224 to 164 in a year with a moderate caloric deficit. I maintained 162-170 for about 2 years, and now I'm trying to get from 169 to 145 (I am 5'7").
I feel like I'm starting over, and very confused about calories. I work out 3-5 times a week, strength training 2x a week and doing a good bit of cardio. I can't figure out how much I should be eating. Honestly, my calories are set according to MFP's guidelines to lose 2# a week. So my net is 1200, and I eat my exercise calories. I eat clean, 4-5 meals a day. No starch in my last 2 meals (except last night I had 1/4 cup of mashed potatoes). But I feel weak and crabby.
Set your goal to lose 1# a week.0 -
I agree with gabriellejayd. Everybody is different and i had to significantly reduce my calories (to 1200) in order to lose weight after hitting a plateau for 3 months. And weight loss for men is SIGNIFICANTLY different than for women, it is a fact! We have much more body fat to deal with. I am in my 40's and have lost almost 45 lbs over the course of one year while exercising frequently and eating much more than 1200 cals per day, i don't know how many because i did not keep track - prob 2000+. I am new to MFP and love it! I am making progress again and it is very encouraging! I think everybody needs to work with their particular situation - if ur not losing weight, make a change - whether it's calories or exercise or whatever. Thanks to the entire MFP community for providing my inspiration every day!!!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.0 -
Great post! I can see where this all makes sense. I started with 1800 calories 4 weeks ago. I have now brought down my calorie intake to 1500 calories and I have lost 5 lbs. I will not go under 1200 calories as it will not keep me sustained. I will just have to work harder in excersing to keep losing weight. ...0
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This was really eye opening! And nothing short of helpful. I personally do not stick to a 1200 calorie diet. I'm actually set around 1700. I'm under some days, over on others. But after reading this post, the days that I go over will not be "defeats" but "progressions". Im trying to be really realistic this time around, allowing myself to eat the things that I like, without gorging on them, and not beating myself up about not eating "clean" or 100% healthy all day. The exercise, I'm still working on. Setting a groove for myself. While I knew it was important, reading it really reaffirmed that.
Basically what I'm trying to say is THANK YOU. I believe that I, and probably a lot of other MFPers needed to read this and realize this is a marathon, not a sprint and we all have to make little adjusts over a longer period of time.
Simply, awesome.
THIS THIS THIS
Thank you for taking the time to post this! I'm going to look back on this and use the information to suit my journey!!!0 -
<---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.
Ditto!:flowerforyou:0 -
I was one of the 1200 calorie eaters and that was from my doctor. She told me If I wanted to lose the 30 pounds I should eat no more than 1200 calories and should be hungry after each meal. She also told me that a dietician or nutritionist can better help me than she can, which made me wonder if she even knew what she was talking about. So I tried her method and was *****y and hungry all the time. I work out 5 days a week and was burning at least 600 calories each time. I started the LiveFit program on bodybuilding.com and realized that 1200 was not gonna do it for me. I was starving at 3:00 am and all night long.
I calculated my TDEE and BMR online and have just adjusted it this week. I have been at that for a week now and realize I have gained back the three inches on my waist and the pounds I had lost. I know it takes time so I am not giving up. Is it funny to say that I FEEL slimmer, even if the measuring tape doesn't reflect that? I have energy and in the four weeks that I have been weight training I am lifting way more than ever before. I am at 50 pounds with my legs and 40 with the arms. I went from 5 pound dumbbells. any information you can give me would be helpful. I am 5'6' at 168 pounds trying to get to 140-145. I love the weights and won't give them up.
All of you who are hostile and targeting this post, to each your own. He is the professional here, not us. He offered his professional opinion of what works. We all know to consult doctors before we try anything new. My problem was my doctor recommended something that did NOT work for me. I am now switching it up to what does- and that means eating more. I found this post refreshing and to the point. MFP should incorporate these methods because right off it gives everyone 1200 calorie limits.0 -
The only thought i have for the OP..is: I wish this girl who you jerked around for her own good as she desperately looked to you for weight loss help..would hold a squirt gun to your head and make you eat a dozen donuts and five big macs. Ya know? just to yank your chain..since you really deserve it.
Next time..why not be open with your client and tell them.. "it will take some time..but we will adjust your calories for six weeks to find the magic number where you will lose..trust me." Just a thought.0 -
MFP should make people read this when they sign up! Nice Job!
THIS!!^^
There's actually a whole bunch of stuff that MFP instructs you to read before starting...problem is that nobody likes to read the directions...they just take the most aggressive approach possible without realizing their are other options. Actually, MFP generally recommends 1 Lb per week...people just look to the 2 Lbs and say, yeah...that's better without realizing that 2 Lbs per week + can be potentially harmful, particularly if you don't have a lot of weight to lose...by a lot I mean like you're morbidly obese and need to get your weight down in a hurry. 2Lbs per week should never be used for what ultimately amounts to cosmetic weight loss IMHO.0
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