A Success story from someone who eats 1200 calories

jonesie84

I as well have been eating a 1200 calorie diet. I lost 57lb in a year! I used the recipe builder on this site to figure out what calories homemade dishes have!

bcattoes

I was going to say to OP that I wonder why you thought you were eating 1800 when you weighed near 250. Your TDEE then even if you did no exercise should have been more like 2238. I just think its possible that you didnt' accurately assess what you were eating. I did this- when I was overweight I didn't think I was eating that much. But i must have been.

You don't think the medical issues the OP listed were a more likely factor?

ILoveTheBrowns

I actually took the time to review the OPs diary, which reveals that she is not even eating 1200 calories. It also seems to me her diet is full of processed foods so the claim that she is eating healthy is also debunked.

I am not saying these things because I am wanting to bash the OP, but rather that the way she is going about it is not exactly the best.

If you are new and confused, please find someone that is successful and ask them how they did it.

Good luck, I am out.

thanks lesa everyone needed you to point that out......you are a better human for that....good job telling someone who lost weight that they are not successful ....unbalievable

PikaKnight

I was going to say to OP that I wonder why you thought you were eating 1800 when you weighed near 250. Your TDEE then even if you did no exercise should have been more like 2238. I just think its possible that you didnt' accurately assess what you were eating. I did this- when I was overweight I didn't think I was eating that much. But i must have been.

You don't think the medical issues the OP listed were a more likely factor?

You mean the binge eating disorder that sounds also like she was malnourished and her doctor advised she raise her intake to 1200 because of it?

PikaKnight

I actually took the time to review the OPs diary, which reveals that she is not even eating 1200 calories. It also seems to me her diet is full of processed foods so the claim that she is eating healthy is also debunked.

I am not saying these things because I am wanting to bash the OP, but rather that the way she is going about it is not exactly the best.

If you are new and confused, please find someone that is successful and ask them how they did it.

Good luck, I am out.

thanks lesa everyone needed you to point that out......you are a better human for that....good job telling someone who lost weight that they are not successful ....unbalievable

So you think that what the OP is doing (netting about 1000 cals or less) is healthy?

soobie

Good to hear and congrats on your loss! Eating more, for me, has always meant weighing more. Plus, I am very comfortable with what I eat to get to 1200/day. Healthy meals, healthy snacks. If I force myself to eat more-- why would I do that???

There must be individual variations at work. Like, older women? Come on! We are not going to lose weight by eating more. Sorry. The weight packs on and eating more is not going to take it off.

This is so true, when i read people telling older ones to increase calories, i know that is bad, bad advice. It would lead to us gaining for sure.

Besides, if people eliminate extra fat and sugar ........1200 calories is a lot of food!

I agree. When I was doing super on my clean eating I had a heck of a time eating 1200 and I was eating ALL day. My macros were all being met for the most part(I also have a challenge sometimes with my protein. I'm a vegetarian and have to be mindful) but I had more energy than I had in a long time.
I am also 46 years old, so my metabolism isn't quite what it used to be. I have increased my calories the last month or so, mainly because winter is making me ravenous My weight loss has really slowed though and that is frustrating. I've probably lost 2 pounds in the last month or 6 weeks.

fightininggirl

I actually doubled my calorie intake so for me to eat this is very healthy. for a long time binge eater like me. I am a success and despite the bashing. I am confident and no one can take that away.

rm7161

the thing is with my binge eating counselor I was eating a lot less calories than the 1200 calories. she reccomended these calories for me. I didn't pick it up out of the drop of a hat. It is working great I wanted to share my success.

Quite right, when you eat less than the calories your body needs, you are more likely to binge.

Glad you raised your calories. You may decide to change it up later if you get into more fitness activities, I have to eat more with being more active now.

rm7161

When I was doing super on my clean eating I had a heck of a time eating 1200 and I was eating ALL day. My macros were all being met for the most part(I also have a challenge sometimes with my protein. I'm a vegetarian and have to be mindful) but I had more energy than I had in a long time.

I dunno, I can polish off a box of Mary's and some hummus, coconut milk, nuts and avocados, and see the calories skyrocket to the moon without touching a bit of dairy or meat. No idea about anyone else... just saying you can eat "clean" and vegan and still overeat, shrug.

PinkyKiwii

Her diary is under 1200...

:huh:


Congratulations on the weight loss though.

fightininggirl

will do siege tank. I will post on the group they are more friendly and caring

rm7161

Her diary is under 1200...

It's not over 1200, but its over 1100 on the few days I looked at. Given that people usually underestimate how much they eat, its probably at or just over 1200.

There wasnt anything really wrong with her diary that I saw. Sure she's not eating super organic or anything, but who cares? Studies have shown that organic foods are not really as healthy as its cracked up to be, and I am not sold on "clean" eating either. Some processed food is ok, some isn't. Depends.

PinkyKiwii

Her diary is under 1200...

It's not over 1200, but its over 1100 on the few days I looked at.

There wasnt anything really wrong with her diary that I saw. Sure she's not eating super organic or anything, but who cares? Studies have shown that organic foods are not really as healthy as its cracked up to be, and I am not sold on "clean" eating either. Some processed food is ok, some isn't. Depends.

I didn't mention anything about eating "clean" and what not

Being under 1200 is not good.

jofjltncb6

will do siege tank. I will post on the group they are more friendly and caring

I wouldn't say it's a lack of caring. Oh, sure, it's sometimes a lack of tact or manners, but not a lack of caring. In fact, I have reason to believe that many of the people who have offered their thoughts generally against 1200 (or lower) are doing it because they truly do care about other people.

Best of luck to you in the future and congrats on your success so far.

rm7161

Her diary is under 1200...

It's not over 1200, but its over 1100 on the few days I looked at.

There wasnt anything really wrong with her diary that I saw. Sure she's not eating super organic or anything, but who cares? Studies have shown that organic foods are not really as healthy as its cracked up to be, and I am not sold on "clean" eating either. Some processed food is ok, some isn't. Depends.

I didn't mention anything about eating "clean" and what not

Being under 1200 is not good.

The other gal did. Was unsure if you went to look for yourself or was just quoting her.

I went to look (and I usually dislike looking, feels always creepy to me) and its not as bad as described. Calorie counts on packages are usually higher than stated, so its not appreciably under and probably is effectively 1200 or more.

But this is an object lesson in why people should close their diaries when working through an eating disorder.

MariaChele85

Anyone can lose "weight" on 1200 cal.
Easy.Simple.
BUt I like my mucles, my strength, my edurance and my POWER!
I cant do that on 1200 calories

metaphoria

The correct way to post in a success thread that does not involve hcg, pills or eating disorders, is "good job, you should be very proud of yourself." With an optional :flowerforyou: or :drinker:

Mfp 101, people. Believe it or not, she did not ask for advice, she was sharing her success. Everything is not about you.

perfectingpatti

Anyone can lose "weight" on 1200 cal. Easy.Simple.

False. Completely false.

BUt I like my mucles, my strength, my edurance and my POWER!

Good thing this thread isn't about you.

I cant do that on 1200 calories

So, don't.

CorvusCorax77

I was going to say to OP that I wonder why you thought you were eating 1800 when you weighed near 250. Your TDEE then even if you did no exercise should have been more like 2238. I just think its possible that you didnt' accurately assess what you were eating. I did this- when I was overweight I didn't think I was eating that much. But i must have been.

You don't think the medical issues the OP listed were a more likely factor?

I missed those. Were they in the original post? cuz I didn't see them... will pour through thread now to try to make sense of it all.

jesz124

The correct way to post in a success thread that does not involve hcg, pills or eating disorders, is "good job, you should be very proud of yourself." With an optional :flowerforyou: or :drinker:

Mfp 101, people. Believe it or not, she did not ask for advice, she was sharing her success. Everything is not about you.

Yes but 'success' is a very objective thing. As I've just read on this thread a million times 'we are all different', yada yada yada. Personally I don't want to just look like a thinner version of myself when I started on MFP. I want to look like fooking superwoman!! 1200 cals a day just ain't cutting it in the super hero stakes. No one can take over the world eating that low. Just saying.

MissDefinate

Congrats, I am so trying to do 1200 calories! It is hard! Do you have any advice?

PinkyKiwii

The correct way to post in a success thread that does not involve hcg, pills or eating disorders, is "good job, you should be very proud of yourself." With an optional :flowerforyou: or :drinker:

Mfp 101, people. Believe it or not, she did not ask for advice, she was sharing her success. Everything is not about you.

Your idea of success may not be the same as everyone elses + nobody made it about themselves.

CorvusCorax77

I was going to say to OP that I wonder why you thought you were eating 1800 when you weighed near 250. Your TDEE then even if you did no exercise should have been more like 2238. I just think its possible that you didnt' accurately assess what you were eating. I did this- when I was overweight I didn't think I was eating that much. But i must have been.

You don't think the medical issues the OP listed were a more likely factor?

I missed those. Were they in the original post? cuz I didn't see them... will pour through thread now to try to make sense of it all.

I still don't see them. WHat are the medical issues involved??

metaphoria

The correct way to post in a success thread that does not involve hcg, pills or eating disorders, is "good job, you should be very proud of yourself." With an optional :flowerforyou: or :drinker:

Mfp 101, people. Believe it or not, she did not ask for advice, she was sharing her success. Everything is not about you.

Your idea of success may not be the same as everyone elses + nobody made it about themselves.

The OP shared her idea of her success on a thread she started, and many people started in on how they would never do 1200. Hooray for them, they can start their own thread about eating more. They are belittling her success and talking about their own experience. This thread is not intended for a discussion on 1200, it is the OP sharing her success while using that particular method. If people disagree, why jump into the thread and poop on her party?

Siege_Tank

Personally I don't want to just look like a thinner version of myself when I started on MFP. I want to look like fooking superwoman!!

*ahem* success thread.....

Feed_the_Bears

Yeah it works, but the point is that you don't have to "suffer" and starve your body and deprive it of nutrients (you cannot hit your nutrients with 1200 cals). I'm not going to try to convince you, people often have to come through this on their own. And if it's working for you, why would you stop? Losing weight can feel desperate and this feels like your best weapon. And when you're done, you will likely find yourself gaining fat when you try to return to a maintenance level. You cannot sustain 1200 or 1400 for all of your life, you will be malnourished, anemic, all that jazz.

To each their own. Good luck on your journey. It took me 10 years of failing on low cal diets before I tried EM2WL and found success.

Alohathin

Her diary is under 1200...

It's not over 1200, but its over 1100 on the few days I looked at. Given that people usually underestimate how much they eat, its probably at or just over 1200.

There wasnt anything really wrong with her diary that I saw. Sure she's not eating super organic or anything, but who cares? Studies have shown that organic foods are not really as healthy as its cracked up to be, and I am not sold on "clean" eating either. Some processed food is ok, some isn't. Depends.

Really? 4 out of the last 7 days were less than 1100.


FWIW, people often think that because you are losing weight, you must be eating healthy. This is not necessarily the case. There are more health concerns than just whether you lose weight or not. Your guide for heath should not be based solely on whether you are losing weight or not.

Out of financial necessity, I am eating too few calories right now. I am still losing weight at about the same rate as I was when I was eating 400+ more calories per day, but I feel much worse. I lack energy. My exercise recovery time is longer.

I think it's great that the OP is taking a hold of her life and wanting to change for the better, but I hope she at least considers what people are telling her about the pitfalls of such a low calorie diet and do the necessary learning about the science of nutrition. It is not an I'm right, you're wrong kind of situation. Look at both sides objectively, and use your body as a scientific experiment to find out what works best for you...and I'm not talking a one or two day experiment. Give 1400 calories a try for a couple weeks, and incorporate a few pushups, situps, and lunges a few times a week to help keep your lean muscle mass as intact as possible.

Feed_the_Bears

The correct way to post in a success thread that does not involve hcg, pills or eating disorders, is "good job, you should be very proud of yourself." With an optional :flowerforyou: or :drinker:

Mfp 101, people. Believe it or not, she did not ask for advice, she was sharing her success. Everything is not about you.

Your idea of success may not be the same as everyone elses + nobody made it about themselves.

The OP shared her idea of her success on a thread she started, and many people started in on how they would never do 1200. Hooray for them, they can start their own thread about eating more. They are belittling her success and talking about their own experience. This thread is not intended for a discussion on 1200, it is the OP sharing her success while using that particular method. If people disagree, why jump into the thread and poop on her party?

Conversations flow naturally and people can react how ever they want.

awake4777

Use the recipe tab. It may take a while but you can figure out how many calories are in what you are eating.

Bumdrahp

I'm close to 250. I'm 245.2 lbs right now. I am eating 2000 calories with moderate exercise five times a week. I think I'm eating too much. But I'm afraid to go down to 1200. I don't know if I can do it, Lol....I wonder if I should lower to 1600-1800 like you did? Results are SLOW right now. I started tracking since December 27. I started at 247 then went up to 251, and now back to 245.2 as of today.

Well, it's inspiring and hopeful to see someone who started around my weight lose so much and gain a lot more. If you have any advice for me, please let me know! Thanks...

I started at 245. I am now at 197-195. I am 5'2, and have been eating 1200-1400 calories a day. ( A break in November-December due to Holidays, i stopped calorie counting) I started April 2012.

I say it works too.. just me.