what is magical about 1,200 calories per day?

Riemersma4
Riemersma4 Posts: 400 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Help a brother out...

I see all of the posts and questions revolving around 1,200 calories per day? Why the intrigue with 1,200 (vs 1,300 or 1,100). At 6' 4", 200lbs, sounds like starvation land... I eat aroun 2,500/per day, nets down to 1,900 with exercise factored. And even there I lose between .5 - 1 lb per week.

Do diet books and exercise gurus perseverate on 1,200 calories per day as a Utopia calorie target? Got to think that it would be hard to get all of your nutritional needs met at that level.

Just curious?

Replies

  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    1,200 is the minimum MFP will suggest in order to prevent law suits. For some people this is too little, for some people it's too much, and for some it's just right. Just about any time someone says they're eating 1,200 a day they get linked to IPOARM. Calorie needs are based on someone's height, weight, age, gender, and activity level. For a sedentary 4'10" 100lb 60 year old woman 1,200 is more than enough to receive adequate nutrition but a very active 6'2" 400lb 25 year old man would need a considerable amount more.
  • JustAnotherOneOfThoseGirls
    JustAnotherOneOfThoseGirls Posts: 165 Member
    1200 is usually the target on here for women who're around 5 feet tall, or quite short men (especially those who don;t lead very active lives). It's just smaller, less active people require less calories. Also, in general, a woman who is dieting should eat 1200 (but that's an average so shouldn't be taken too seriously). Hope I've helped
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    1,200 is the minimum MFP will suggest in order to prevent law suits. For some people this is too little, for some people it's too much, and for some it's just right. Just about any time someone says they're eating 1,200 a day they get linked to IPOARM. Calorie needs are based on someone's height, weight, age, gender, and activity level. For a sedentary 4'10" 100lb 60 year old woman 1,200 is more than enough to receive adequate nutrition but a very active 6'2" 400lb 25 year old man would need a considerable amount more.

    ^^^
    This. Unfortunately I'm that short older woman. :sad:

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