A Success story from someone who eats 1200 calories

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Replies

  • dfquigley
    dfquigley Posts: 186
    I take in 1,220 calories a day, plus what I exercise.

    I'm not exactly wasting away.

    Soon I will increase it to maintenance levels rather than fat loss levels though :p
  • jesz124
    jesz124 Posts: 1,004 Member
    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.....

    Sorry? Are you trying to say something in code there? The * did not help me decifer what you are trying to say either.
  • dfquigley
    dfquigley Posts: 186
    Whoops, I also meant to add that yeah it can be done, and not by just one person!!

    Congratulations on your weight loss and keep it up! :D
  • Siege_Tank
    Siege_Tank Posts: 781 Member
    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.....

    Sorry? Are you trying to say something in code there? The * did not help me decifer what you are trying to say either.

    What you said was funny, but I was trying to say that even if you didn't agree with the methods the OP used, reducing body fat and improving your overall fitness, cholesterol levels, hormone levels, risks for heart disease...

    I... I really have a hard time with begin critical of how someone loses weight, within the context of methods that are generally recognized as safe.

    Especially in their success thread. I mean If I were to post my success story and hear these kinds of responses, I'd run away crying shouting "BWUHUHUU THE WHOLE INTERNET HATES ME!"

    There isn't this much animosity towards Intermittent Fasters, Warrior Dieters, Bulkers and cutters, or any of the other ways there are to cut calories and drop weight.

    Look, I get it, society is *kitten* for indoctrinating women to think that they have to eat like birds in order to look good. Magazine editors and photoshoppers that work for photography companies should be irradiated and die a slow painful death for making so many women hate themselves and strive for an unattainable body shape. People who work in the food industry should be publicly flogged for pushing the entire system towards cheap processed crap.

    This woman has lost weight. She should be celebrated and commended. She did it without resorting to banned drugs, surgery, weight loss gimmicks, or unhealthy practices. That she is losing weight in a way that will slow her metabolism for the short term should be of no concern to you.

    So here's to you OP! Congrats on your loss, you're an inspiration!
  • devrinator
    devrinator Posts: 79 Member
    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.

    I was thinking the same thing. I went vegan for a while, and I always overdid the avocados and almonds. I had no problem maintaining about 1800 or so calories a day. One day would be something like, I would wake up, eat some fruit and/or puffed millet with almond milk. For lunch, I'd eat a big salad with olives, carrots, avocados, tomatoes, peppers, flax seed, and some olive oil and vinegar, then for dinner, I'd eat a big serving of quinoa with beans, squash, and corn. I could kill the calories very easily!
  • jesz124
    jesz124 Posts: 1,004 Member
    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.....

    Sorry? Are you trying to say something in code there? The * did not help me decifer what you are trying to say either.

    What you said was funny, but I was trying to say that even if you didn't agree with the methods the OP used, reducing body fat and improving your overall fitness, cholesterol levels, hormone levels, risks for heart disease...

    I... I really have a hard time with begin critical of how someone loses weight, within the context of methods that are generally recognized as safe.

    Especially in their success thread. I mean If I were to post my success story and hear these kinds of responses, I'd run away crying shouting "BWUHUHUU THE WHOLE INTERNET HATES ME!"

    There isn't this much animosity towards Intermittent Fasters, Warrior Dieters, Bulkers and cutters, or any of the other ways there are to cut calories and drop weight.

    Look, I get it, society is *kitten* for indoctrinating women to think that they have to eat like birds in order to look good. Magazine editors and photoshoppers that work for photography companies should be irradiated and die a slow painful death for making so many women hate themselves and strive for an unattainable body shape. People who work in the food industry should be publicly flogged for pushing the entire system towards cheap processed crap.

    This woman has lost weight. She should be celebrated and commended. She did it without resorting to banned drugs, surgery, weight loss gimmicks, or unhealthy practices. That she is losing weight in a way that will slow her metabolism for the short term should be of no concern to you.

    So here's to you OP! Congrats on your loss, you're an inspiration!

    Yeah cool...you could of just said that the first time round though...
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    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.

    Maybe, but she didn't post a simple success thread. By titling her thread the way she did, she created an advertisement for unhealthy eating, a more difficult than needed weightloss strategy, and an unsustainable maintenance plan (which she has not yet attempted).

    Look at the number of women that have responded to this thread excited to start their own 1200 calorie journey. We're not here to bash the OP, we're here to tell others that there is a better way. An easier way. A sustainable way.

    The thread is in the Success Stories section, ergo it is a success thread. People add stuff to their titles all the time to make it more topic specific. MFP allows 1200 as a calorie goal, but bans pro-ana, diet potions, etc. She is an adult and I'm sure she is more than capable of discerning what sort of weight loss regimen she wishes to follow. I like eating more, myself, but a Success Stories thread Is not the place to offer advice, especially unsolicited. People get in a tizzy when someone comments about revealing clothing In a success story thread with pics, so why is it socially acceptable to criticize her for this? If someone doesn't agree? Move along.

    (Thanks for giving me a chance to use the word ergo. :flowerforyou: )

    Fine. I won't criticize people in success threads because you say that is not the proper place (as long as it fits into YOUR parameters, anyway). Please point me to the section where people aren't whiny babies when you disagree with them. Because I haven't found a forum on here yet where people Thank you for replacing their terrible ideas with sound advice. I keep getting called unsupportive.

    Carry on. I'm done here
  • PinkyKiwii
    PinkyKiwii Posts: 512 Member
    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.

    Maybe, but she didn't post a simple success thread. By titling her thread the way she did, she created an advertisement for unhealthy eating, a more difficult than needed weightloss strategy, and an unsustainable maintenance plan (which she has not yet attempted).

    Look at the number of women that have responded to this thread excited to start their own 1200 calorie journey. We're not here to bash the OP, we're here to tell others that there is a better way. An easier way. A sustainable way.

    The thread is in the Success Stories section, ergo it is a success thread. People add stuff to their titles all the time to make it more topic specific. MFP allows 1200 as a calorie goal, but bans pro-ana, diet potions, etc. She is an adult and I'm sure she is more than capable of discerning what sort of weight loss regimen she wishes to follow. I like eating more, myself, but a Success Stories thread Is not the place to offer advice, especially unsolicited. People get in a tizzy when someone comments about revealing clothing In a success story thread with pics, so why is it socially acceptable to criticize her for this? If someone doesn't agree? Move along.

    (Thanks for giving me a chance to use the word ergo. :flowerforyou: )

    Fine. I won't criticize people in success threads because you say that is not the proper place (as long as it fits into YOUR parameters, anyway). Please point me to the section where people aren't whiny babies when you disagree with them. Because I haven't found a forum on here yet where people Thank you for replacing their terrible ideas with sound advice. I keep getting called unsupportive.

    Carry on. I'm done here


    I don't know you, but I love you.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    Looking at your diary, only once, in the last week, that you hit 1200 calories, otherwise you were way below 1200 calories. :huh:
  • CloverCreeper
    CloverCreeper Posts: 178 Member
    Just adding my two cents because this has turned into a debate thread.

    You can't gain large amounts of weight by eating at your BMR.
    That is the base amount of calories you need to sustain life if you didn't
    move, EVER. The reason people gain is because they have been starving
    their bodies of the necessary calories for too long and their bodies have adapted.
    It's important to give your body 6-8 weeks to get used to the higher calories and
    then you will start to lose again.

    I am not yet a walking example of this theory, but have done my research and
    just started my reset.
  • hreu213
    hreu213 Posts: 76
    Congrats on your weight loss.

    I agree with your sentiment that a combination of healthy eating of non-processed foods can make it challenging to eat more than 1200 calories, particularly if you are a small person to begin with. I eat between 1200-1400 calories a day without trying to control or limit my food intake; that's just naturally what my body feels comfortable with, and includes two normal-sized/large-sized meals and some snacks (I am NOT a breakfast person). I am not hungry eating this way, and I'm not TRYING to be hungry. I also hit up the gym like 4-5x a week for 2h sessions, so dieting is not my primary fitness strategy.

    Yesterday, I (totally coincidentally not related to forum stuff) ate closer to 1700 calories. I felt stuffed and uncomfortable all night and still felt kind of icky this morning.

    I've seen people eat 1200 calories or less as their primary weight loss strategy and do it totally wrong, resulting in a dietary plan that looks neither nutritionally nor physically satisfying. And I also think there are people out there who really, really, really just don't want to or don't need to eat more than 1200-1400 calories a day. For some of us, it's just how our bodies work. Why all the hate? Just because your body doesn't work that way and would be starving doesn't mean that my body reacts the same way.

    Well said!
  • congrats on your success!!!! I hope to post one some day soon!
  • Mcgrawhaha
    Mcgrawhaha Posts: 1,596 Member
    Congratulations on your weight loss! Thats awesome!

    Im honestly just curious, will you be fine with eating 1200 for the rest of your life? Do you ever go over? Like birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, general parties etc?

    as with any calorie defecit, eating at a defecit is for weight loss, not maintaining. why would she need to eat at 1200 for the rest of her life? once she reaches her goal weight, just like everyone else, she will need to transition into maintenance calories. i eat 1200-1300 cals a day, ive lost 55 pounds since september, and i go off every other saturday, and eat whatever and as much as i want. i go off my plan for christmas, thanksgiving, and every other special event. in december, i went of of my plan for 4 separate days, and i still lost 9 pounds that month. ofcourse she wont have to eat 1200 for life, thats silly... as i get closer to my goal weight, i have began slowly raising my calorie goals,just this last month, in weekly incriments of 25, however, im am still losing. i will continue to slowly raise them until i reach my maintenance, and ideal weight... 1200 was temporary, as is any calorie goal that puts you in a defecit.
  • gabmoody
    gabmoody Posts: 10 Member
    I think it's quite easy to hover near 1200 if you are really eating non processed food. Anything that comes out of a packet and does not resemble food in the slightest will make you fat ! Congratulations everyone on their success.
  • jakidb
    jakidb Posts: 1,010 Member
    I'm unsure why all the 1200 calories a day bashing myself...I've seen quite a few. I eat more than 1200 but my motto is this, whatever WORKS for WHOMEVER, do what you do and do gr8t! Congrats on your success :):):)
  • fit4lifeUcan2
    fit4lifeUcan2 Posts: 1,458 Member
    My starting weight was 240 pounds. I have lost a total of 112 pounds. I eat around 1600-2000 calories.

    To each their own. I just wish more people would get educated before posting responses in this thread!

    Well good for YOU but this thread is not about you now is it? This is a success story about the OP. NOT YOU! Start your own thread if you want to post your success.
  • lasmit4477
    lasmit4477 Posts: 308 Member
    @fit4lifeUcan2--I was simply making a comment in regards to other posters who were giving out misleading information. Reason for second sentence! Thanks for your thoughtful comment, though. :flowerforyou:
  • chantabelle
    chantabelle Posts: 31 Member
    I think its what works for you, my cals were set at 1600 with two lots of exercise per week but it just didnt work out for me. I switched to 1200 and took my workouts out, now if I do work out I dont eat the calories. I started this in April at 235 and now Im 182 and still losing. It can be restrictive but I balance it out weekly and save calories if Im eating out. I think because I know it works for me I stay on track and the scales going down motivates me, you just adapt to what works :-)
  • tabinmaine
    tabinmaine Posts: 965 Member
    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

    BANG ON !!! :drinker:
  • butlera8
    butlera8 Posts: 130 Member
    I lost 25lb in about 21/2months on 1200 cal diet. I kept the weight off even after falling off the dieting/exercise bandwagon.
  • Kbmom03
    Kbmom03 Posts: 24 Member
    What are some low calorie foods you enjoy? Great job, btw!!
  • Mcgrawhaha
    Mcgrawhaha Posts: 1,596 Member
    What are some low calorie foods you enjoy? Great job, btw!!

    when my husband and i want to splurge on pizza with the kids, we get ourself a large digiorno flat bread tuscan chicken pizza. its huge, its so good, and we smother it with jalepenos and sliced fresh tomatoe. he and i split this, and for an antire half of the pizza, its 435 calories. not bad! its enough to fill up my 6 foot 3 230 pound husband!!! its nice to grab some frozen pizzas on a friday night and be able to eat close to the same with the kiddos...
  • My goal is 1200 a day as well, I typically go over my calorie intake but I break even or better by exercising. Days that I cant exercise I try to stay as close to 1200 as I can but you'll still lose weight if you go over so dont stress it.
  • strikerjb007
    strikerjb007 Posts: 443 Member
    Congrats. Someone close to me lost a lot of weight on around 1200. She is around 5'. In all reality, whatever works for each type of body.

    She goes to the Doctor regularly and she has good health.
  • RawTriGal
    RawTriGal Posts: 190 Member
    congrats! I hope I can keep at it. My doctor years ago told me I needed to be at 1200 calories yikes! My hardest part is when you make stuff from scratch it is hard to figure out calorie counts, so I have to wing it a lot. Hoping the 1200 pays off soon this sucks lol

    hi... you may already know this but I actually use the recipe calculator that's available here on mfp... I have found it a great help in not only figuring out my calories for making things from scratch but also just in making it a one click for things I eat regularly (like smoothies, etc) instead of having to enter every ingredient individually.

    Just go to Food and then click on the recipes tab on the menu... it gives you the option to add a recipe and from there you just add in your ingredients individually, tell it how many servings it makes and then it caculates your numbers. : )
  • 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...

    You can do it. Eating 1200 calories I have lost 2 lbs a wekk plus exercising. Believe me you wont miss the junk when you feel good inside. Start with varying the days such as going 1400, 1200, 1400, 1200 and so on with your calories.Make lots of natural drinks to keep you satisfied. Eat filling veggies and only lean proteins.
  • Faye_Anderson
    Faye_Anderson Posts: 1,495 Member
    FTR, I eat over 3000 cals. Just sayin'. There's more than one way to skin a cat. And one of us will still look like this in two years. Can you guess which one?

    I'm guess that you will still look the same in 2 years. I base that only on the fact that you've lost 0 of your 32lb weight loss goal and Fightininggirl has lost 71 lbs so far and losing more and more every week. Definitely feel she will look much different in 2 years. Contrats to you fightininggirl, you are an inspiration.

    THIS

    Also those on 1200 cals are looking to lose weight not to build muscle..... which is an entirely different concept and requires an entirely different plan!! Try eating 3000cals per day and not working out and lifting weights for hours.... much different result me thinks!!

    I've lost 89lbs by eating more and I rarely exercise, I'm actively trying and losing weight, are you going to tell me I'm doing it wrong. How ignorant!
  • janeite1990
    janeite1990 Posts: 671 Member
    congrats! I hope I can keep at it. My doctor years ago told me I needed to be at 1200 calories yikes! My hardest part is when you make stuff from scratch it is hard to figure out calorie counts, so I have to wing it a lot. Hoping the 1200 pays off soon this sucks lol

    hi... you may already know this but I actually use the recipe calculator that's available here on mfp... I have found it a great help in not only figuring out my calories for making things from scratch but also just in making it a one click for things I eat regularly (like smoothies, etc) instead of having to enter every ingredient individually.

    Just go to Food and then click on the recipes tab on the menu... it gives you the option to add a recipe and from there you just add in your ingredients individually, tell it how many servings it makes and then it caculates your numbers. : )

    Agree completely. I think this is one of the best aspects of the site. I cook a lot, and I use this all the time. It really helps me stay on track with my calories and macros.
  • I lost over 40 pounds eating 1200 calories a day.
    When you make healthy choices, sometimes it's hard to even get to 1200.. healthy food can be very low calorie and filling.

    So true! I have only been doing this for a few days at 1200 cal and have noticed that.
  • MyM0wM0w
    MyM0wM0w Posts: 2,008 Member
    BLAH BLAH BLAH

    OMG! Another thread hijacked by the "You're going to hell (and in a wasted and crippled body) if you keep eating 1200 calories!" people.

    Give it a freaking rest already. WE get it, you LIKE eating lots of calories and feel superior to everyone else. Go eat some more calories and stop offering unsolicited advice.

    Now congratulate the OP on her weight loss, she's proud of herself as she should be and move ON.

    Well done OP :) You look beautiful.
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