Has anyone lost weight eating less than 1200 calories a day?

EjaneK11

Why would anybody want to eat less than 1200 a day??

Feel the same way!

AshlieA96

I agree! I thought we are all on here for motivation and support, to help and answer questions with respectful answers and tones. I find some people to be a little rude in there tones also. Its just a question......

_SABOTEUR_

Of course you will lose weight. But will you lose weight and be giving your body all the nutrients and vitamins and essentail fats and amino acids it needs to function properly. No.

Why do one when you can do both?

Incidentally, this post title made me think about when I was a 9 years old and had gastro-enteritis and I lost 21 pound in 13 days. So I lost the weight, but would anyone think this was a good diet plan? I seriously hope not. That is basically how I feel when people suggest sub 1200 cal diets unless they have been proscribed by a medical professional.

wahmx3

I lift as much as I can and I have a calorie goal of net 800 cals. I've lost 31 lbs in 4 months. (I'm plateauing right now - I tried increasing my caloric intake as per the EM2WL's mantra of stupidity and it did nothing so I put myself back to 800 cals today actually)

Not surprising that you are plateauing.... do your heart, lungs, brain and every other muscle and organ a favor and start eating right. There is no way you are giving your body adequate nutrition at that level. What will happen when you start to eat more, you will more than likely gain the weight back. I would prefer to keep my muscle and my entire body fully functioning and lose the weight for the long term.

LuciaLongIsland

I am a bit older. I checked with 3 of my doctors and was told to eat 1000 calories a day to lose. If I eat 1200 I gain weight Much of it is age. In my 30's..40's I lost so easy. Now at 60 it is difficult.

I'll be 55 in March of this year. Still losing. I eat between 1700 and 1800 every day. It is possible.

Everyone is different. If I ate that much I would be obese. At 55 I could eat anything. Something happened at 60/ Well I did get very sick at 57. Oh yes, I was in ICU for a month. As I said everyone is different and I consulted with 3 doctors.

CoderGal

Anyone can lose on less that 1200 a day, the question is, is it weight you wanna lose weight or mostly fat? Cuz eating that low will promote more muscle loss.

What if someone's BMR is below 1200? Some folks BMR is less than 1200.

This is very true. But as far as a healthy person with no diseases go...or a person who can increase their BMR to what it should be by eating sensibly...the math shows that I'd have to be about 85 pounds (at 5'7). And if we talk about shorties, a 20 year old 4'9er would still have to be under 85 lbs for their BMR to be less then 1200...and even if they were...they'd still lose on that...For their TDEE to be under 1200 at 4'9 they would have to weigh under 44 lbs. Not a look I think people should go for...

Not everyone is 20 years old.

Pshh, they wish they were lol.

Sure, but they're not. I'm pushing 50 and at 5'6" and 132lbs my BMR is heading into the 1200s soon... My sister at 50 and 5'2" has a BMR around 1000....

I'm sorry, I don't understand what point you're trying to make? Many people in the low end of 'healthy' according to bmi standards will be towards that number. I'm headed into the 1200s soon too. Like I said, you'll still lose weight eating much more. Why would any healthy person have a need to eat as little as possible just for a number on a scale when they're a healthy weight? Especially when they could eat much more then that and still be the same number. It seems like a very unhealthy thought to me.

I'm no where near the low end of the BMI scale.
Nevermind.
a question as I go? How long have you maintained your weight loss?

Nevermind what?

Ow. I didn't know this was a competition. If I get the 'right' number do I win a prize? Is there a magic 'right' number? If someone maintains a loss for longer then someone else does that mean they're healthier? If someone is skinnier then someone else does that mean they know more about weight loss? Does it say anything at all?

The answer btw is I'm currently trying to gain. I got down to my original weight and felt pretty flabby so I started incorporating more exercise and weights. My goals have changed. My current goal is to keep my measurements the same but to have abs, I assume that can only happen with a weight increase.

leomentlines

The main reason I'm not a huge fan of 1200 or lower calorie diets is - what happens when you hit your goal? The human body is incredibly adaptive, and adjusting to at least 600 calories more a day might cause you to gain, because its had to get by on the low amount of calories for so long. ive been eating 1500, plus more on strength days, and have still seen weight loss.

i guess what I'm getting at is, why go so extreme for weight loss? As long as you have a deficit from TDEE, you will lose weight. A more moderate cut from TDEE (15-25%) is much more sustainable than an extreme one (30%+ or less than BMR).

Nonetheless, its your body. I wish you the best of luck either way.

almc170

Anyone can lose on less that 1200 a day, the question is, is it weight you wanna lose weight or mostly fat? Cuz eating that low will promote more muscle loss.

Some folks BMR is less than 1000.

Less that a few percent of the population and almost no one that is obese has a TDEE below 1400.

Median TDEE In America is recognized at the nice round number of 2000 for women. It is likely a little higher as per the Geneva study (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11320913).

Median.

A round number. Mines not 2000. It's actually a bit higher, because I work out. But my BMR is only 1300ish.

Not sure what you're getting at? A deficit is typically calculated from TDEE, not BMR. For example, my BMR is around 1500 (I'm tall), but my TDEE is roughly 2300. To lose a pound a week, I would figure 2300-500=1800.

NadDrew

Everybody who decides to lose weight does so for their own reasons.
Everybody chooses the way in which they will achieve this for themselves.
Everybody has the same access to information on HEALTHY weight loss methods.
Everybody has the same access to information on UNHEALTHY weight loss methods.

It would be nice to think that everybody would have the sense to choose a healthy method, but unfortunately they don't.

I am glad that I gathered all the information I could before embarking on my weight loss programme, but I would also like to thank the many MFP'ers who took the time to make comments on posts on the message boards which steered me towards the brilliant piece of information that I can EAT and LOSE WEIGHT, which has resulted in an even healthier weight loss.

I have never before ENJOYED losing weight and getting fit in the past and know that this is working. I wouldn't do it any other way.

I like the way your thinking, we seems to have the same weight loss goal.

apocalypsepwnie

I am eating around 1200 cal a day and I am losing about 1 pound per week.

I was the same. And then I started losing on netting 1700 calories a day. Hurray.

It all depends what you eat.

Scientifically, if you are saying losing weight depends on what you eat, this is an incorrect statement. See twinky diet study done by a professor for example. Or any other study that involved counting calories. Nobody repeatedly gains weight when they eat less then they expend. It's never been proven.

I mean I could easily have my 1200 with one meal, but that is not the sense.

Why is this 'not the sense'?

I am not starving, I am never hungry, like this grumbling noise in my stomach, I am drinking lots of fluids, it does not have to be water, that is nonsense, I drink tea, coffee or make my own soda with my Sodastream machine.

Seriously, meet a anorexic or someone else deprived of food for a period of time...they can fill up on very littlle calories also. I felt the same way when I was eating 1200.

And as a blender I use my NINJA.

why do you keep mentioning blenders? Do you think they make you lose weight? Why do you think this?

I am not a big fan of exercising, but if I do I have some extra calories to eat, which could be anything low fat, low sugar.

Well that explains a whole lot right there, you're not after health, you're after skinnier, which isn't necessarily in shape. And why does it have to be low fat and low sugar? Do you realize you don't absorb many of the nutrients you eat unless you get enough fat in your diet (many of them are fat soluble). Also why are you avoiding sugar? If it weren't for sugar, you'd be dead. Sugar gives the body energy. Actually, it is the only source of energy for the brain and red blood cells. Yay simple carbohydrates. The central nervous system requires glucose as its primary fuel. I think instead of people fearing particular things they should learn more about them.

omg I heart you.

shorty35565

Anyone can lose on less that 1200 a day, the question is, is it weight you wanna lose weight or mostly fat? Cuz eating that low will promote more muscle loss.

Some folks BMR is less than 1000.

The people in this thread do not know their BMRs. That is the issue.

They must be short & not weigh that much if they have BMRs that low, or old as I reckon age plays a part? I'm 5'5 120 24yrs old & my BMR is higher than 1200.

That's it. They are old, or shorter, or older and shorter than you... less active, more active, physically disabiled..their needs might be different....Their goals might be different.

I'm not advocating at 1200 calorie diet. Just wondering why folks are being such absolutists without considering lives and (importantly) life styles that differ from their own.

I could be on the chit chat section harping on everyone who doesn't put 400 a month into their 401k. That's where I'm at. Others may be thinking: wtf is a 401k and why do I care? My lifestyle and my needs may be different than theirs.
And please, don't bring up snowflakes.

Who are the folks on this thread being 'absolutists'? I didn't see anyone say nobody should do this diet in any circumstance?

The fact is I HAVE done this diet & ended up skinny fat. So I never recommend it to anyone. Who wants to b skinny fat? Certainly not me.

nicleed

If I eat 1700 calories a day I'd be mooing in no time. Sorry, but especially when you get older and your metabolism slows, your caloric intake to lose weight or to maintain it is much different than when you are younger.

I'm 44 years old and menopausal and my TDEE is around 2200. I lost weight (20+ pounds in four months) eating around 1700, and reduced BF% from 30-ish to 23-ish. So I say phooey to you and your slowing older metabolism!

The key is in keeping your metabolism alive by not turning into a couch potato - I do some sort of exercise every day, including regular strength training, and I am probably stronger now than I was in my cardio-crazy 30s.

I have no horse in the 1200 calorie race, but my question is why deprive yourself? You can eat cake, drink wine AND lose weight!

_SABOTEUR_

If I eat 1700 calories a day I'd be mooing in no time. Sorry, but especially when you get older and your metabolism slows, your caloric intake to lose weight or to maintain it is much different than when you are younger.

The whole 'I eat less because my metabolism is slow' is like the double dip recession. You are only going to make your metabolism slower.

Eat more. Exercise more. Lift heavy. Net 10-20% below TDEE. Lose weight.

ums3961

Very Good! I am also on the 1200 cal diet. I also eat about like you, thru the day. Take a multi-vitamin, seems to be working for me also! I say what ever works for each person. I log in my calories and it only says I am under eating if I eat less than 1200 cal/per day. Thanks for posting! I just started trying to lose the 7th of Jan,13. I am very happy with my progress so far, and feel better than I did before. I have done research on the 1200 cal. a day.

dchannell

Help...I think I have figured out my TDEE at 1755 but I have no idea what that means or how much I should be eating. I am on the 1200 plan but I work out so much that I am always well under what the recommended calorie intake should be. My plan allows for a bit more protein and less carbs because I had gastric bypass seven years ago and my doctor wants me on 60 grams of protein a day. I actually struggle to get in more than 1400 calories because I always feel full, especially after workouts. I've been on the program since Jan. 4th and have lost 10lb. so far. I'm happy with how things are going but am fearful of that dreaded starvation mode I keep hearing about by not eating enough to make up for the exercise add ons. Suggestions?

amyschicos

ask if anyone has kept if off. heh.

Yes, I did. I lost 82 lbs eating at that level and kept it off for about 4 years. I moved last year and with stress and being surrounded by lots of need, yummy food...gained 25 lbs so I am here to get that off. However, I didn't gain all the weight back and then some.

heh.

still gained.

SO will you if you eat in excess!! YOU ARE THE RUDEST POSTER ON THIS SIMPLE MESSAGE & NOT helpful!!! Your RUDE & NO need for that EVER!!! I bet your a real JOY in person....NOT!!!!

CoderGal

If I eat 1700 calories a day I'd be mooing in no time. Sorry, but especially when you get older and your metabolism slows, your caloric intake to lose weight or to maintain it is much different than when you are younger.

If only moo moo moo moo moo you'd understand moo moo moo moo moo.

Sabine_Stroehm

If I eat 1700 calories a day I'd be mooing in no time. Sorry, but especially when you get older and your metabolism slows, your caloric intake to lose weight or to maintain it is much different than when you are younger.

If only moo moo moo moo moo you'd understand moo moo moo moo moo.

wtf?

Melishark

I ate 800 or less when I was a senior in high school .. lost 35 pounds in 2.5 months. I cheated one day a week and had a Whopper with cheese and small fries on Friday. That was 1988 ... here I am now .. trying to lose 50 pounds the right way.

It does work -- but you miss out on a lot of good fruits and veggies you could be having on a 1500 calorie diet.

I'm around 1200-1300 right now and doing well. I'm not hungry either .. and getting in more exercise than when I was .. uh hem .. 17.

Graelwyn75

I never ceased to be amazed that people will go to such lengths, and put their bodies through such torture, when it is totally unnecessary in most cases. But let people do what they wish. Maybe in another ten years time when they are still battling their weight on their sub 1200 calorie diets, and when their health starts failing, they might finally start doing some research and start taking care of their bodies rather than caring only about a number on a manmade object. I am glad I no longer engage in this behaviour.

CoderGal

ask if anyone has kept if off. heh.

Yes, I did. I lost 82 lbs eating at that level and kept it off for about 4 years. I moved last year and with stress and being surrounded by lots of need, yummy food...gained 25 lbs so I am here to get that off. However, I didn't gain all the weight back and then some.

heh.

still gained.

SO will you if you eat in excess!! YOU ARE THE RUDEST POSTER ON THIS SIMPLE MESSAGE & NOT helpful!!! Your RUDE & NO need for that EVER!!! I bet your a real JOY in person....NOT!!!!

You are absolutely right. But I don't think that was their point. I think their point is statistically, that's what happens. And then someone proved her point when they thought they were doing the opposite...I don't think pointing out the truth is mean. I don't think she meant any offense by it like you did. I think the truth needs to be pointed out sometime.

Sabine_Stroehm

Anyone can lose on less that 1200 a day, the question is, is it weight you wanna lose weight or mostly fat? Cuz eating that low will promote more muscle loss.

What if someone's BMR is below 1200? Some folks BMR is less than 1200.

This is very true. But as far as a healthy person with no diseases go...or a person who can increase their BMR to what it should be by eating sensibly...the math shows that I'd have to be about 85 pounds (at 5'7). And if we talk about shorties, a 20 year old 4'9er would still have to be under 85 lbs for their BMR to be less then 1200...and even if they were...they'd still lose on that...For their TDEE to be under 1200 at 4'9 they would have to weigh under 44 lbs. Not a look I think people should go for...

Not everyone is 20 years old.

Pshh, they wish they were lol.

Sure, but they're not. I'm pushing 50 and at 5'6" and 132lbs my BMR is heading into the 1200s soon... My sister at 50 and 5'2" has a BMR around 1000....

I'm sorry, I don't understand what point you're trying to make? Many people in the low end of 'healthy' according to bmi standards will be towards that number. I'm headed into the 1200s soon too. Like I said, you'll still lose weight eating much more. Why would any healthy person have a need to eat as little as possible just for a number on a scale when they're a healthy weight? Especially when they could eat much more then that and still be the same number. It seems like a very unhealthy thought to me.

I'm no where near the low end of the BMI scale.
Nevermind.
a question as I go? How long have you maintained your weight loss?

Nevermind what?

Ow. I didn't know this was a competition. If I get the 'right' number do I win a prize? Is there a magic 'right' number? If someone maintains a loss for longer then someone else does that mean they're healthier? If someone is skinnier then someone else does that mean they know more about weight loss? Does it say anything at all?

The answer btw is I'm currently trying to gain. I got down to my original weight and felt pretty flabby so I started incorporating more exercise and weights. My goals have changed. My current goal is to keep my measurements the same but to have abs, I assume that can only happen with a weight increase.

You brought it up and suggested she was a failure because after 4 years she gained a bit back. wow, talking with you is fun.
lol
carry on. Enjoy your maintenance.
I'm done here. Best of luck in the long run.

Magggs_

The diet I've been on for the last two months allows me to eat 1200 calories a day and my results have been amazing, I've lost around 15 pounds, but that also includes eating healthy and exercise. I'd recommend limiting yourself to around 1200 calories a day if you're serious about losing weight.

LuciaLongIsland

I am a bit older. I checked with 3 of my doctors and was told to eat 1000 calories a day to lose. If I eat 1200 I gain weight Much of it is age. In my 30's..40's I lost so easy. Now at 60 it is difficult.

Doctors are not the greatest to take nutrition advice from. THey know barely anything about nutrition and anyone who does shouldn't be telling someone it's ok to eat so litte.

I would rather take advice from a nutritionist or dietician. They really know about food.

Yes you are right, they do. Can I borrow the $100+ from you. My insurance dosent pay for it. Thanks for the advice.

shorty35565

If I eat 1700 calories a day I'd be mooing in no time. Sorry, but especially when you get older and your metabolism slows, your caloric intake to lose weight or to maintain it is much different than when you are younger.

The whole 'I eat less because my metabolism is slow' is like the double dip recession. You are only going to make your metabolism slower.

Eat more. Exercise more. Lift heavy. Net 10-20% below TDEE. Lose weight.

It's like Chalene Johnson says, you're metabolism isn't slowing down because you're getting older, it's slowing down because you've lost muscle.

Graelwyn75

The diet I've been on for the last two months allows me to eat 1200 calories a day and my results have been amazing, I've lost around 15 pounds, but that also includes eating healthy and exercise. I'd recommend limiting yourself to around 1200 calories a day if you're serious about losing weight.

A totally irresponsible thing to recommend and total rubbish that only people eating 1200 calories are serious about losing weight. Some of the greatest success stories on this site are people who lost weight eating 1600 calories plus.
Seriously, do some research before typing such things and suggesting something that could be seriously unhealthy for many on here.

amyschicos

ask if anyone has kept if off. heh.

Yes, I did. I lost 82 lbs eating at that level and kept it off for about 4 years. I moved last year and with stress and being surrounded by lots of need, yummy food...gained 25 lbs so I am here to get that off. However, I didn't gain all the weight back and then some.

heh.

still gained.

SO will you if you eat in excess!! YOU ARE THE RUDEST POSTER ON THIS SIMPLE MESSAGE & NOT helpful!!! Your RUDE & NO need for that EVER!!! I bet your a real JOY in person....NOT!!!!

You are absolutely right. But I don't think that was their point. I think their point is statistically, that's what happens. And then someone proved her point when they thought they were doing the opposite...I don't think pointing out the truth is mean. I don't think she meant any offense by it like you did. I think the truth needs to be pointed out sometime.

Clearly you did not read ALL her responses!! Very rude & sarcastic & in no way helpful like yourself & the others! I had at least 6 people inbox me with their response due to the rude backlash they knew they would receive! Now that is ridiculous!! And yea she wanted to be offensive thus her sarcastic rude response...I appreciate everyone's (almost everyone) responses! Looking forward to posting my success story in the months ahead!!

shorty35565

The diet I've been on for the last two months allows me to eat 1200 calories a day and my results have been amazing, I've lost around 15 pounds, but that also includes eating healthy and exercise. I'd recommend limiting yourself to around 1200 calories a day if you're serious about losing weight.

I hope ur trolling. I can't even respond to this comment in a not mean or rude way, so I wont say anything else.

CoderGal

Anyone can lose on less that 1200 a day, the question is, is it weight you wanna lose weight or mostly fat? Cuz eating that low will promote more muscle loss.

What if someone's BMR is below 1200? Some folks BMR is less than 1200.

This is very true. But as far as a healthy person with no diseases go...or a person who can increase their BMR to what it should be by eating sensibly...the math shows that I'd have to be about 85 pounds (at 5'7). And if we talk about shorties, a 20 year old 4'9er would still have to be under 85 lbs for their BMR to be less then 1200...and even if they were...they'd still lose on that...For their TDEE to be under 1200 at 4'9 they would have to weigh under 44 lbs. Not a look I think people should go for...

Not everyone is 20 years old.

Pshh, they wish they were lol.

Sure, but they're not. I'm pushing 50 and at 5'6" and 132lbs my BMR is heading into the 1200s soon... My sister at 50 and 5'2" has a BMR around 1000....

I'm sorry, I don't understand what point you're trying to make? Many people in the low end of 'healthy' according to bmi standards will be towards that number. I'm headed into the 1200s soon too. Like I said, you'll still lose weight eating much more. Why would any healthy person have a need to eat as little as possible just for a number on a scale when they're a healthy weight? Especially when they could eat much more then that and still be the same number. It seems like a very unhealthy thought to me.

I'm no where near the low end of the BMI scale.
Nevermind.
a question as I go? How long have you maintained your weight loss?

Nevermind what?

Ow. I didn't know this was a competition. If I get the 'right' number do I win a prize? Is there a magic 'right' number? If someone maintains a loss for longer then someone else does that mean they're healthier? If someone is skinnier then someone else does that mean they know more about weight loss? Does it say anything at all?

The answer btw is I'm currently trying to gain. I got down to my original weight and felt pretty flabby so I started incorporating more exercise and weights. My goals have changed. My current goal is to keep my measurements the same but to have abs, I assume that can only happen with a weight increase.

You brought it up and suggested she was a failure because after 4 years she gained a bit back. wow, talking with you is fun.
lol
carry on. Enjoy your maintenance.
I'm done here. Best of luck in the long run.

Wait what? I suggested she was a failure at what? I don't remember saying anything along the lines that she was a failure at anything. She jumped back on the horse and kept going.

amyschicos

The diet I've been on for the last two months allows me to eat 1200 calories a day and my results have been amazing, I've lost around 15 pounds, but that also includes eating healthy and exercise. I'd recommend limiting yourself to around 1200 calories a day if you're serious about losing weight.

Thank you for the friendly helpful advice!