Ending 1200 Calorie Bashing: Respecting Your Peers
Replies
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Just to add: while I don't believe higher cals are right for everyone, based on my own experience, I do advocate starting high (eg mfp maintenance) and seeing what happens (I'd have lost about 1lb a week) rather than starting too low.0
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I'll be honest and say that while your post is really important in that it's a great reminder that MFP is supposed to be a supportive community and not a bunch of attack dogs, I think there is a valuable reason behind why people discourage others from eating 1200 cal diets and refer people who do to IPOARM.
Not everyone has all of the issues you described - a lot of the people doing 1200 are not obese and do not have medical issues. You get to be the special snowflake. Not everyone can also afford to see dietitians or use a bod pod. Blanket advice is very useful and I would say that for 99% of people 1200 calories is too low. Metabolisms do vary, but that's why BMR uses an average and people are encouraged to play around with their numbers after giving eating more a try.
I'm also going to point out that saying "1200 calories is ok for me! It's ok for you too!" seems a bit irresponsable given that you are medically recommended to do so. I'm expecting swarms of "I do 1200 calories and I love it so everyone telling me to eat more should shut up" comments.
But yes. You are correct. Supportive community, blah blah. Play nice, blah blah.
^ This completely.
I just want to add that I went through a month of eating 1200 calories before realising that I could lose the same amount of weight per week eating up to 2000 calories a day.
I never started this to find a quick fix. I wanted and want to be healthy and fit and to have a long and happy life and future. If that means that I have to go through 6 months of feeling hungry, moody and just all round grumpy then no thank you (my own personal experience of eating @1200). My other option is to extend that timescale to 18 months but eat what I want (IIFYM) and feel like I'm not restricting myself...ever. That for means that this is maintainable for the rest of my life.
I also just want to add that I have Grave's disease (thyroid disease) and PCOS.
That's fine that you agree with that poster, but I have to point out, yet again, that she actually blatantly misquoted showing poor absorption of the original post.0 -
Great OP... I am an accountant for a living, and I am always amazed at how much more there is to life than just numeric results. Numbers are just ways to guide us, not rule us. Our daily logging can record the number on the scale, how many calories in and out, our measurements.. We can get tests done by a doctor that give us good or bad results or need to improve results.
None of that matters if we dont feel good. I have days when i want to eat many multiples of my plan, but most days now i do struggle to get all my maintenance calories in. Every day i get more activity and strength training in.
Too bad we cant measure numerically our satisfaction with life level. For me, the daily discipline of logging is very comforting and reading how others are working thru finding the right fitness "mix" is always helpful.
Well said! Thank you for commenting! So many of us have been so out of touch with our bodies for so long.0 -
what u gain weight on 200cals and u over 300pounds? impossible
And this is precisely why I posted this thread. You are actually calling me a liar and questioning some very rigid, specific testing? Such a quip is the epitome of the problem being addressed.0 -
THANK YOU NATALIE!!!!!
I too gain weight at 1500 cals (with no exercise). I gain weight at 25 carbs a day. I am under a doctor's supervision. Those people who try to subterfuge me are excessive at MFP. Some are downright abusive in their tactics. Thank goodness for those helpful ones who are not so judgmental - who ask rather than condemn.
I appreciate your post and the time you took for all of our benefit
Thank you for your comment; hopefully we can open up more of a space for discussion and positivity.
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Amen!
I also have pcos and hypothyroidism , i am also morbidly obese, that means my weight could kill me. Even with thyroxine tablets the recomended 1440 cals a day MFP allows me is to much I physically cannot loose weight on that amount and increase of just 100 more per day see me put on half a pound a week . I have to stick between 900 and 1200 max in order to loose a small amount of weight. My body is not starving and Im so much healthier already after just 4 weeks at this levels. Personally if I ate 1800 cals more per day my weight would be so high in a few years, everyone would be pointing fingers because Im to fat to leave the house or breathe on my own . Obviously when someone with no health problems and who is just small amounts over weight eats such a low amount it should be discouraged . But foe everyone else how about just giving them credit for doing something about it?
Well said; thank you!0 -
Amazing post!!! You said it all and you said it best. I too am on a low calorie 1100-1200 Dr. supervised diet and am by no means starving, deprived or dying. Imagine this when, I started the diet on 1100 calories a day, I got healthier and I am not talking just weight loss, I am no longer borderliine diabetic, borderline high blood pressure or boardline high cholesterol. All of my blood work two weeks ago came back perfect, liver function etc all great. Once I get to goal I will look at upping my calories a bit perhaps but it is working and thank you so much for your post, it lets us know we are not alone!!0
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How to say this without sounding like a prick.. because honestly I don't mean to be..
But I'm reading the responses, "My doctor put me on this diet, they know more than you" "I know my own body" "Everyone's different, I know what works for me"
Ok. You don't want to hear that what you're doing is wrong or isn't working. Ok.
So why ask for advice?
That's the part I don't understand. If you ask for advice people are going to give it. And a lot of what you'll get is "Unless you have a medical condition that your doctor is treating you for you should probably eat over 1200 calories a day and exercise."
Hopefully this will clarify: the bashing is happening to 1200 calorie people asking for any advice. For example, you ask if weight gain after working out is normal--there will be people saying they saw you eat 1200 calories and you're harming yourself for that. Really, they could be informing you about the muscle repair process. You ask for low-cal breakfast ideas--same thing. It shuts us out of so many threads; it's stifling. Someone on 2400 calories could ask for low cal recipe ideas and actually receive valuable suggestions without being treated like a masochistic idiot; everyone needs to be treated with respect--not just people whose caloric requirements you might agree with. I had a friend today with her 1200-calorie diary open and I commented on the sodium and it helped her make an adjustment with a spice rub she was using. Entering with care instead of criticism can just be so much more beneficial. And hey--maybe someone is on 1200 calories when they ought not be, but again, there are kind ways to suggest they recalculate and try another caloric goal.0 -
if somebody is on a 1200 calorie diet and the BMR/TDEE calculations support that as the correct amount for them without having a ridiculous weight loss goal rate, then that's certainly fine for me.
if somebody is on 1200 calories because they read about that amount in some dumb magazine or because their friend's cousin told them that 1200 calories was the way to lose weight, but never bothered to verify it by running the calculations, then i'll call it out as ignorant (if i can even be bothered to comment on it anymore since there are so many threads started by special snowflakes these days, just wanting to be supported in their weight loss goals doing random, silly things like choosing their calorie goals out of thin air).
for anyone in the former category, more power to them
for anyone in the latter category, meh... i don't care anymore. do whatever you want and be miserable in the process, just don't demand that total strangers on the internet pat you on the head and tell you how special you are.0 -
I'll be honest and say that while your post is really important in that it's a great reminder that MFP is supposed to be a supportive community and not a bunch of attack dogs, I think there is a valuable reason behind why people discourage others from eating 1200 cal diets and refer people who do to IPOARM.
Not everyone has all of the issues you described - a lot of the people doing 1200 are not obese and do not have medical issues. You get to be the special snowflake. Not everyone can also afford to see dietitians or use a bod pod. Blanket advice is very useful and I would say that for 99% of people 1200 calories is too low. Metabolisms do vary, but that's why BMR uses an average and people are encouraged to play around with their numbers after giving eating more a try.
I'm also going to point out that saying "1200 calories is ok for me! It's ok for you too!" seems a bit irresponsable given that you are medically recommended to do so. I'm expecting swarms of "I do 1200 calories and I love it so everyone telling me to eat more should shut up" comments.
But yes. You are correct. Supportive community, blah blah. Play nice, blah blah.
You said everything I was going to say, so, QFT.
EXACTLY!
I don't think anyone on this site would bash you or your diet because a doctor put you on it.
95% of people who say that they need to only eat 1200 calories a day to loose weight are wrong and starving their bodies. People out there are concerned for them, and i'm included in that.
If you go say a doctor told me to only eat 1200 because i'm obese and have medical problems, i don't think anyone on here would call your doctor a liar. Congrats on being able to afford a doctor to help you with weight loss.
Your experience, compared to someone who's 120lbs and wants to get to 105 and eats only 1200 calories a day and complains they don't loose anything, are drastically different. Respect the people who eat more because they lose more and it works for them.0 -
How to say this without sounding like a prick.. because honestly I don't mean to be..
But I'm reading the responses, "My doctor put me on this diet, they know more than you" "I know my own body" "Everyone's different, I know what works for me"
Ok. You don't want to hear that what you're doing is wrong or isn't working. Ok.
So why ask for advice?
That's the part I don't understand. If you ask for advice people are going to give it. And a lot of what you'll get is "Unless you have a medical condition that your doctor is treating you for you should probably eat over 1200 calories a day and exercise."
Hopefully this will clarify: the bashing is happening to 1200 calorie people asking for any advice. For example, you ask if weight gain after working out is normal--there will be people saying they saw you eat 1200 calories and you're harming yourself for that. Really, they could be informing you about the muscle repair process. You ask for low-cal breakfast ideas--same thing. It shuts us out of so many threads; it's stifling. Someone on 2400 calories could ask for low cal recipe ideas and actually receive valuable suggestions without being treated like a masochistic idiot; everyone needs to be treated with respect--not just people whose caloric requirements you might agree with. I had a friend today with her 1200-calorie diary open and I commented on the sodium and it helped her make an adjustment with a spice rub she was using. Entering with care instead of criticism can just be so much more beneficial. And hey--maybe someone is on 1200 calories when they ought not be, but again, there are kind ways to suggest they recalculate and try another caloric goal.
1. Not all the free advice you get on the internet is going to be to your liking. You should just prepare yourself for the reality of that. It doesn't matter how many calories or what kind of thread you're starting, some opinions you just may not like. And it's not anyone's responsibility to go into detail about the muscle building process and attach a list of caveats to every post they make.
2. People eating 1200 calories are not some unified group. Some are doing it for the right reasons, some aren't.
3. This thread is relevant only to a select group of users. It should be locked or moved to groups.0 -
So the lesson here is to log your calories, watch what happens and be responsive. Do you binge when you eat below a certain calorie? Do you feel tired or sluggish when you eat too little or over a certain calorie count?
We all have different psychological and physiological issues. There is no blanket weight-loss challenge or system that works for all of us.
Personally, I find that when I log, I tend to naturally stay at a higher calorie count than my goal, but a higher deficit than when I wasn't watching. I recently lost weight at about 1800 calories a day (from about 190 lbs to 164 lbs), but hated logging calories, started drinking colas and stopped logging them all together as if I was magically going to stay at that weight by just eating whatever I wanted.
I've learned that I need to log them and continue to do that at and beyond my goal weight. We learn through our own experimentation.0 -
LOVE THIS...0
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There will be the "you are lying" crowd, the "you can't count" crowd, and the very soapboxy "snowflake" crowd.
What's a "snowflake" crowd?
The snowflake crowd is like a pack of dogs . They get together in groups and become aggressive . They are experts on nutrition not because the went to school, but because they read articles on the Internet . They like to say things like " eat more , don't do cardio " which of course is how people gain weight to begin with .
Do your thing OP
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Most immediately jump to 1200 calories, because they believe they will reach their goal faster. I can understand doing such a thing out of ignorance. However, that won't last long.
The "everyone is different" mantra is getting quite old. No, everyone is not different. You can't defy the laws of thermodynamics. 1200 calorie diets coupled with an exercise program should not be "prescribed" to anyone. I don't care how big and or how much weight you need to lose. Weight loss is not a short term solution, it's a long term endeavor.
Agree 100%
I love when Men in particular have advice for women on weight loss . It's so cute0 -
If you want your perspective represented, it is not the responsibility of other people who spend their time and energy on the forums to do so. Spend your own time advocating your own position instead of asking others to do it for you.Hopefully this will clarify: the bashing is happening to 1200 calorie people asking for any advice. For example, you ask if weight gain after working out is normal--there will be people saying they saw you eat 1200 calories and you're harming yourself for that. Really, they could be informing you about the muscle repair process. You ask for low-cal breakfast ideas--same thing. It shuts us out of so many threads; it's stifling. Someone on 2400 calories could ask for low cal recipe ideas and actually receive valuable suggestions without being treated like a masochistic idiot; everyone needs to be treated with respect--not just people whose caloric requirements you might agree with. I had a friend today with her 1200-calorie diary open and I commented on the sodium and it helped her make an adjustment with a spice rub she was using. Entering with care instead of criticism can just be so much more beneficial. And hey--maybe someone is on 1200 calories when they ought not be, but again, there are kind ways to suggest they recalculate and try another caloric goal.
Let me put it another way. If you are reading a thread and in your opinion that thread is lacking what you consider vital or useful information, then step up and put in the effort to contribute that information. That is, after all, what many of the other posters are doing. They are adding what they think is valuable, and doing it on their own time. It's not their job to find out what you think is valuable and type it in for you.0 -
Topics that are only relevant to a select group of people are better suited for MyFitnessPal Groups than our public message boards0
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I don't think the issue is with those people like yourself, OP, that have been to a doctor, have specific reasons for being on a low calorie diet, I think its with those people who blanket follow the calorie MFP 'guidelines' to the letter. Because that's what they are, guidelines. Yes, you can lose weight at 1200 calories. I did, but it set me off on a calorie counting obsession that literally took me YEARS to get over. Panic at buying yoghurts, constantly worrying that I was going to 'put the weight back on' if I made the 'wrong choice'. I lived on soup. Spent hours a day in the gym.
If I can stop someone else going through that craziness, then I will try, because life shouldn't be all about how many calories is in your rice cake and peanut butter breakfast. Sometimes theres a fine line between watching what you eat, and being obsessive, and its easy to slip over it.
Its not '1200' calories that people have an issue with, its the obsessive low cal, low fat, low carb, high cardio that comes with the 1200 calorie mindset. 'I MUST lose weight as quickly as possible'. Not everyone on a 1200 calorie diet are hurting themselves, but for every one who isnt, I'd venture a lot more are.
Good luck with your weightlossThere is a much bigger problem on MFP with people eating 1200 calories a day, suffering, and not losing weight, than there is a problem with people who are on a medically supervised diet being counseled against it. I will continue to err on the side of the majority. I will not concern myself with the small minority that comes to MFP for a second opinion on their doctor's orders, because that already indicates faulty logic. OP - sounds like you aren't in either of those groups; I would probably be upset too.Most immediately jump to 1200 calories, because they believe they will reach their goal faster. I can understand doing such a thing out of ignorance. However, that won't last long.
The "everyone is different" mantra is getting quite old. No, everyone is not different. You can't defy the laws of thermodynamics. 1200 calorie diets coupled with an exercise program should not be "prescribed" to anyone. I don't care how big and or how much weight you need to lose. Weight loss is not a short term solution, it's a long term endeavor.I totally agree with your post but i have also noticed most of those 1200 cal bashers put in a caveat "unless directed by a doctor". At least the ones on my friends list do.
Each of these comments had a little something in common that I really want to address. First and foremost, why does anyone have to justify or reveal intimate, personal information to someone else? A person on a 1200 calorie diet should be able to walk into a thread and discuss bumps in the road without having to justify why they are on 1200 calories. You can still be just as concerned with anyone on a 1200 calorie diet, but you never have the right to tell them it is wrong, that they will plateau, etc. No one should ever be forced into a corner where they have to defend their diet. I put everything about myself on here so you will understand that there are extenuating circumstance, but I didn't do that so you'd always be looking for those circumstance. I have had so many message me in the past day to tell me that they have PCOS, they have diabetes, they are so morbidly obese they are bed-ridden, they have cancer, they are recovering from eating disorders, etc. They never needed to have to tell me that. They should NEVER have to tell others that and justify themselves.
When you tell someone outright that their caloric intake is wrong or bad and you cause shame, you make them feel like they have to defend themselves and that's just cruel. I've had to articulate this again and again, but if someone in a chat room is on 1200 and they say "I'm on a plateau," "I'm hungry," "I can't eat 1200," "I'm worried I'm not getting enough protein" and so on and so forth, the first reaction is to blame the 1200 calories and to put them on the defensive. You could however express your concern while showing support. I would say things like, "Well, there can be 1200 empty calories or 1200 full calories." "Have you considered adjusting macros?" "You might want to check out Dan's tools at IPOARM and see if 1200 is really a good place for you." "Oh did you know there is a difference between 1200 gross and 1200 net? That might be an issue for you--depending on your circumstance." "Every diet has its plateaus; was there a time this diet did work for you? What changed?"
These alternatives can address concerns you may have, share information you're dying to share, and (bonus!) not make someone feel like a failure, feel bad! Finally, it also gives them all the tools and all of the options without forcing them into a corner where they feel they have to justify something to you--to the point of revealing confidential medical circumstance that they should always feel can remain private if they so like. That is key. You should never assume they DON'T have a medical condition. There are a great amount of people with diabetes, PCOS, and all of the other disorders mentioned who do not appear obese. Thin sufferers of PCOS abound! You need to stop judging a book by its cover.0 -
I am not a fan of any kind of bashing!
We all do things our own way for OUR reasons!!!
I respect others food / exercise / life choices, and I expect the same respect back!!!
Cheers!!!0 -
OP- thank you for taking the time and patience to post this thread. You explained your situation very clearly, and you explained the hurt and insult you and many others on here feel, when others make assumptions, and are blatantly rude and throw out insults to anyone who doesn't agree with them.
If only some of those people would read your post and think twice before posting the rude comments they do on here.
You won't change the minds of most of them, but perhaps a few will rethink their attitudes.
One thing you have accomplished here is you have given a voice to the hundreds of people on here who feel just like you.
Your friend requests are probably pouring in right now.
You continue to work with your doctors and do what you need to do to better your health. There is a solution for everyone. We just have to be diligent in our quest to find it.0 -
Perhaps you would be more comfortable on a different website?Each of these comments had a little something in common that I really want to address. First and foremost, why does anyone have to justify or reveal intimate, personal information to someone else? A person on a 1200 calorie diet should be able to walk into a thread and discuss bumps in the road without having to justify why they are on 1200 calories. You can still be just as concerned with anyone on a 1200 calorie diet, but you never have the right to tell them it is wrong, that they will plateau, etc. No one should ever be forced into a corner where they have to defend their diet. I put everything about myself on here so you will understand that there are extenuating circumstance, but I didn't do that so you'd always be looking for those circumstance. I have had so many message me in the past day to tell me that they have PCOS, they have diabetes, they are so morbidly obese they are bed-ridden, they have cancer, they are recovering from eating disorders, etc. They never needed to have to tell me that. They should NEVER have to tell others that and justify themselves.
When you tell someone outright that their caloric intake is wrong or bad and you cause shame, you make them feel like they have to defend themselves and that's just cruel. I've had to articulate this again and again, but if someone in a chat room is on 1200 and they say "I'm on a plateau," "I'm hungry," "I can't eat 1200," "I'm worried I'm not getting enough protein" and so on and so forth, the first reaction is to blame the 1200 calories and to put them on the defensive. You could however express your concern while showing support. I would say things like, "Well, there can be 1200 empty calories or 1200 full calories." "Have you considered adjusting macros?" "You might want to check out Dan's tools at IPOARM and see if 1200 is really a good place for you." "Oh did you know there is a difference between 1200 gross and 1200 net? That might be an issue for you--depending on your circumstance." "Every diet has its plateaus; was there a time this diet did work for you? What changed?"
These alternatives can address concerns you may have, share information you're dying to share, and (bonus!) not make someone feel like a failure, feel bad! Finally, it also gives them all the tools and all of the options without forcing them into a corner where they feel they have to justify something to you--to the point of revealing confidential medical circumstance that they should always feel can remain private if they so like. That is key. You should never assume they DON'T have a medical condition. There are a great amount of people with diabetes, PCOS, and all of the other disorders mentioned who do not appear obese. Thin sufferers of PCOS abound! You need to stop judging a book by its cover.0 -
Topics that are only relevant to a select group of people are better suited for MyFitnessPal Groups than our public message boards
Select group of people= those needing to lose weight and following recommendations given by MFP calculators?
Perhaps those who have chosen to go against the MFP plan and use a different plan should move all their discussions to the Groups section. just sayin0 -
However, I have not once noticed anyone bashing people, who are eating under 1200 while being supervised by doctors. Maybe only when they have forgotten to mention it in the first place.
Hopefully it was not your intention to suggest that it is okay to bash people who eat under 1200 without doctor supervision.
I definitely wasn't suggesting any such thing I never said anything about bashing being okay. Only that people always tend to pick up a part of what is said and add more meaning to it than there ever was. 0 -
I am not a fan of any kind of bashing!
We all do things our own way for OUR reasons!!!
I respect others food / exercise / life choices, and I expect the same respect back!!!
Cheers!!!
When I first started out I had no idea what I was doing, and no one told me how to. The main reason people attack certain diets and plans is because they have been there and they have failed. Sure it works for a while but people have seen results better and longer with doing things a certain way - the right way. if someone on my FL is under 1000 cal for the day i ask them about bmr, tdee, and things like that. Most of the time they dont know, and for people who think they know and post in the forums about and love to spread the idea that 1200 is a magic number and it worked for them, most people wont read it how its presented and think "ok itll work for me because lady spent 45 dollars to get her calories checked in a bubble machine and a whole barrage of doctors said it was ok for her so i can do it without any knowledge of how its done". so those people will fall of the wagon, gain weight right back, and be miserable.
All the "bashing" is doing people a favor.0 -
I eat 1200 calories, I don't really care what people here think. Sometimes it's less.. sometimes it's more, but I try to eat 1200 a day.0
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wow this is a very long post, i am also new to this i been using this app from my iphone for 2 weeks and i have lost 3lbs not much, but more than what i have lost in the past 2 yrs. I ALSO SUFFER FROM PCOS since i was 15yrs old (iam 26yrs old) i have not been put on a strict daiet of 1200 cal by my doctor, i started with 1500 on the 1st week and dropped down to 1200 as per my coach with curves for women, lets see if it works... GLAD YOU LOST SOME LBS, good 4 u good luck on your journey!!!!!0
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I eat 1200 calories, I don't really care what people here think. Sometimes it's less.. sometimes it's more, but I try to eat 1200 a day.
How did you conclude that was the appropriate intake for your energy requirements?0 -
Most immediately jump to 1200 calories, because they believe they will reach their goal faster. I can understand doing such a thing out of ignorance. However, that won't last long.
The "everyone is different" mantra is getting quite old. No, everyone is not different. You can't defy the laws of thermodynamics. 1200 calorie diets coupled with an exercise program should not be "prescribed" to anyone. I don't care how big and or how much weight you need to lose. Weight loss is not a short term solution, it's a long term endeavor.
Agree 100%
I love when Men in particular have advice for women on weight loss . It's so cute
Hate to ruin what might by my only opportunity to be "cute," but why can't men advise women on weight loss?0 -
I eat 1200 calories, I don't really care what people here think. Sometimes it's less.. sometimes it's more, but I try to eat 1200 a day.
How did you conclude that was the appropriate intake for your energy requirements?
A lot of online calculators, searches and MyFitnessPal. I already lost 30 pounds eating 1200 calories but that was before I signed up for MFP. I started tracking using MFP last Monday and I've decided not to add my old weight and just start off with my new weight. That's why it only shows that I've lost 4 pounds or 3.6 pounds for some reason MFP rounds it up.0 -
That's hilarious. And when kids are bullied in school--they should switch schools? And when people are discriminated against for disabilities, sexuality, etc...they should just go self-marginalize as well. Wow. No, I'm investing in positivity here. I'm hoping to help the way which we address people, in general, in threads. This is exactly why it isn't a thread relevant to one particular group. It's a call for more respect for one another and that's something that is only going to help and not hurt. People who are losing weight are, understandably, sensitive about their diets and being addressed with negativity instead of constructive and kind criticism can be incredibly discouraging and alienating.Perhaps you would be more comfortable on a different website?Each of these comments had a little something in common that I really want to address. First and foremost, why does anyone have to justify or reveal intimate, personal information to someone else? A person on a 1200 calorie diet should be able to walk into a thread and discuss bumps in the road without having to justify why they are on 1200 calories. You can still be just as concerned with anyone on a 1200 calorie diet, but you never have the right to tell them it is wrong, that they will plateau, etc. No one should ever be forced into a corner where they have to defend their diet. I put everything about myself on here so you will understand that there are extenuating circumstance, but I didn't do that so you'd always be looking for those circumstance. I have had so many message me in the past day to tell me that they have PCOS, they have diabetes, they are so morbidly obese they are bed-ridden, they have cancer, they are recovering from eating disorders, etc. They never needed to have to tell me that. They should NEVER have to tell others that and justify themselves.
When you tell someone outright that their caloric intake is wrong or bad and you cause shame, you make them feel like they have to defend themselves and that's just cruel. I've had to articulate this again and again, but if someone in a chat room is on 1200 and they say "I'm on a plateau," "I'm hungry," "I can't eat 1200," "I'm worried I'm not getting enough protein" and so on and so forth, the first reaction is to blame the 1200 calories and to put them on the defensive. You could however express your concern while showing support. I would say things like, "Well, there can be 1200 empty calories or 1200 full calories." "Have you considered adjusting macros?" "You might want to check out Dan's tools at IPOARM and see if 1200 is really a good place for you." "Oh did you know there is a difference between 1200 gross and 1200 net? That might be an issue for you--depending on your circumstance." "Every diet has its plateaus; was there a time this diet did work for you? What changed?"
These alternatives can address concerns you may have, share information you're dying to share, and (bonus!) not make someone feel like a failure, feel bad! Finally, it also gives them all the tools and all of the options without forcing them into a corner where they feel they have to justify something to you--to the point of revealing confidential medical circumstance that they should always feel can remain private if they so like. That is key. You should never assume they DON'T have a medical condition. There are a great amount of people with diabetes, PCOS, and all of the other disorders mentioned who do not appear obese. Thin sufferers of PCOS abound! You need to stop judging a book by its cover.0
This discussion has been closed.
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