Why is it bad to eat 1200cal?

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Replies

  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    it's not bad to eat 1200 calories. it's bad to eat less then your BMR.
  • rlv2680
    rlv2680 Posts: 289 Member
    Dont listen to that BS, 1200 is just fine..counting calories works, its simple..1200 + exercise you will lose weight fast!

    But if one can lose the same amount at a higher kcal why would one want to eat the lower amount? Just a thought, of course.
    yeh
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    Okay... am going to make this even simplier for you lol...because all anyone is doing is bickering back and forth.

    Do what will work for you.

    I am following the TDEE method. Others have found that the 1200 calorie method works. And then there are some who happen to remain sane eating less than that. How? I have no idea, I will probably have better luck getting the answer to how many licks there are to the center of a tootsie pop.

    There is a reason why there are so many responses though, it is because not everyone responds to every diet or life syle. While one way might work for one, the same way might not work for you.

    Come up with a plan, stick to that plan. After a month if you arent' liking it then switch it up to something different. But in the end, do what works for you.
  • trammelgal
    trammelgal Posts: 15
    My physical therapist told me to eat 6 small healthy meals a day. Instead of 3 big ones.
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    My physical therapist told me to eat 6 small healthy meals a day. Instead of 3 big ones.

    ^^ what is that going to do?


    If you eat under your BMR your going to lose weight but end up with loose skin and be skinny fat.
    Really my explanation is no worse than the other bs being thrown around here.
  • mrsricta
    mrsricta Posts: 88
    it's not bad to eat 1200 calories. it's bad to eat less then your BMR.

    EXACTLY!
  • mrsricta
    mrsricta Posts: 88
    Based on the info you gave... 5'4", 160 lbs at 20 years old your BMR is 1557.8. That is an estimate of how many calories your body burns every day just surviving (if all you did was lay in bed all day).


    Harris Benedict Formula
    To determine your total daily calorie needs, multiply your BMR by the appropriate activity factor, as follows:

    If you are sedentary (little or no exercise) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.2
    If you are lightly active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.375
    If you are moderatetely active (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.55
    If you are very active (hard exercise/sports 6-7 days a week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.725
    If you are extra active (very hard exercise/sports & physical job or 2x training) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.9


    If you are sedentary, multiply your BMR by 1.2, This is the total number of calories you need in order to maintain your current weight.

    By figuring this out you can then decide how many calories (say 500) or percentage of calories (say 20%) you want to deduct in order to lose weight. It's not that 1200 is BAD it's that most people need to eat more than that.
  • Marilyn2303
    Marilyn2303 Posts: 91 Member
    :happy: I am eating 1200 a day and find I am actually quite full. I eat three healthy meals a day, exercise a few times a week just eating lower calorie food choices, a lot more chicken, fish and veggies. No more white bread, chocolate bars or potato chips. They have been changed to carrot sticks, yogurt and apple slices.

    I just thought 1200 was a minimum healthy number of calories to lose weight. If you're feeling energetic and satisfied with 1200 then stick with it. .
  • kbsd456
    kbsd456 Posts: 20 Member
    Wow ok, so far i have learned allot. If i would have stuck to my plan, i would have ended up "neting" 800cal which is way below my bmr, well atleast i know i don't have to starve myself to lose weight! Thank you guys for all your good information!
  • SakuraRose13
    SakuraRose13 Posts: 621 Member
    Not if your my size im 4ft 10in so perfect for me. Im overwieght so Im looking to lose my baby wieght from to daughters 19 months apart need to lose 30 more to get to a good bmi for me.Ive lost 11 so far feeling great too.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Dont listen to that BS, 1200 is just fine..counting calories works, its simple..1200 + exercise you will lose weight fast!

    But if one can lose the same amount at a higher kcal why would one want to eat the lower amount? Just a thought, of course.
    Bingo!

    You can call it BS if you want, but it's certainly not for everyone, as evidenced by the countless daily threads titled "1200 but scale isn't moving", "Starving on 1200 a day", "why am I so tired/cranky/hungry/not losing while eating 1200".....been there myself, and for the record, I did NOT lose weight fast, I stalled and suffered the hungry cranky syndrome.

    And as the other poster said, if I can eat more (to the tune of 1800+) a day and lose the weight/fat, why would I limit myself to 1200? And 1200 is lower than my BMR anyway, I don't like eating less that my coma calories. :tongue:

    So in my opinion, from all the reading I've done and from my own experience, 1200 is too low for most people, especially if it's below your BMR. Good info to have is to calculate your BMR and your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) and eat in between those two numbers.
  • amosmoses88
    amosmoses88 Posts: 163 Member
    It's more about how much you exercise. If you eat 3,000 cals a day, you better be exercising some of those out of your body. It's the TDEE. I'm new to all this, but that's what I learned. But you're supposed to get a balance of protein, fat, carbs, and sugar. I have a hard time making all my goals. I need to bump up my exercise because I'm not burning as much as I'm putting in my body.
  • sarahmonsta
    sarahmonsta Posts: 185 Member
    It works for some people, while others it doesn't. I say test it out for awhile and see if it works for you. Good luck! =]
  • gabriellejayde
    gabriellejayde Posts: 607 Member
    I have been on MFP since july 2010 and have lost 112 lbs eating 1200 cals and NOT eating back exercise cals. I still have no idea why it is bad to do so , if you find out let me know. LOL. I think you need to experiment and do what works for you

    awesome!
    congratulations.
    :)
    I've been doing 1200 cals a day for exactly 6 months and have lost 54lbs. I have more energy, my hair looks the exact same, my skin is a little clearer (and I look younger). I've stopped snoring, or napping in the afternoons and I never get heartburn.

    There are a lot of people who say they are ravounously hungry at 1200. I'm not. That's not to say I don't get hungry once in a while before bed- but... I don't eat then - not a big deal to me. I eat fairly cleanly though- mostly fruits, veggies, whole grains, eggs, and the leaner meats (skinless chicken, salmon, turkey). I try not to eat processed foods if I can help it.

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