So why is only 1200 calories for weight loss bad?

kirbyjo3

My endocrinologist told me that to maintain my weight (140lbs, height 5'5, 27 y/o) I should only eat 1200 calories a day. I eat pretty healthy, make my own meals, and don't "drink" any calories yet still have a hard time hitting that 1200 cal mark.

At the same time though, I am trying to lose 10 lbs to get back to my base weight from two years ago but dropping my calories to 1000 doesnt seem to work. I run 4-6 miles everyday and walk to and from work which is about 4 miles.

What else can I do? I'm following my doc's advice....

EDIT: When I said I have a difficult time hitting the 1200 mark I meant that I have to eat way more than I want, not the other way around. If I really stuff myself I can hit 1300-1400 but I feel awful afterwards.

Jessymyn

Please use the site calculator to calculate your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate). It's likely only slightly less than the 1200 calories you're looking to take in a day. And you're running on top of that as well?

I think you need to look at doing something different....your body is hanging on to weight out of sheer self-preservation!

spamantha57

There are some times when it's not the best thing to follow doctor's advice. This may be one of them, I don't know. If I stayed following my old Dr's advice, I'd only be eating 800 calories while taking 4 different prescriptions & being a very unhappy unhealthy person.

kirbyjo3

My BMR is 1,355. But -- one would assume that what my doctor, who has all my blood work and thyroid levels would be correct?

You just read, over and over, on here that a person needs more calories to lose weight. On the other hand, you read all the time how doctors are wrong. Here lies the confusion!

alevett

1200 calories doesn't seem like enough being that you also run most days. Try and increase it to 1400-1500 per day for a couple of weeks and see what happens. P.S. Love the kitty.

wendybird5

Everyone's body responds differently to different caloric amounts. Your BMR is closer to 1300 so why not try increasing your limit to 1300-1400 calories and see what happens in two weeks? This is all about experimenting and seeing what happens and what works best for you.

kirbyjo3

Are the BMR calculators accurate? I have a slightly hyper thyroid that's still in the normal range so I'm not on any medication.

mockchoc

Safest way to go is to eat the higher number for a few weeks and see if you drop then if you don't you can drop another 100. This is only if you are not in any immediate health risks, if yes then do what doc says.

RoadsterGirlie

Good lord! I weigh less than you, am taller, and maintain on over 2000 calories a day.

I know everybody is different when it comes to caloric needs, but I can't imagine we are all that much different.

The lowest I ever went in weight loss mode was 1400.

Eat more, especially if you are exercising. Making sure it's good nutritious food too - minimize processed foods and add more healthy fresh produce. Lean protein like grilled chicken is good too...

SyntonicGarden

My endocrinologist told me that to maintain my weight (140lbs, height 5'5, 27 y/o) I should only eat 1200 calories a day. I eat pretty healthy, make my own meals, and don't "drink" any calories yet still have a hard time hitting that 1200 cal mark.

At the same time though, I am trying to lose 10 lbs to get back to my base weight from two years ago but dropping my calories to 1000 doesnt seem to work. I run 4-6 miles everyday and walk to and from work which is about 4 miles.

What else can I do? I'm following my doc's advice....

Did the doctor suggest that you only eat 1200 or that you net 1200? There's a huge difference between the two numbers... If you only eat 1200 and you're doing all of that exercise, you're not netting 1200 (meaning you're not getting enough fuel in for energy out.)

CristinaL1983

I'm just going to come out and say it. I think that you should take the advice of your doctor over a bunch of random people on the internet. I don't think there is anything wrong with what you are doing and I think an Endocrinologist who is a doctor who very specifically studied hormones and related metabolism, etc... Probably knows what is better for YOU than a bunch of random strangers. (just my opinion)

kirbyjo3

Thanks guys.

He said I should only be taking in 1200 a day since he already knew I run.

I'm eating well -- mostly fish, chicken, greens, quinoa -- stuff like that but I fill up pretty easily. I will try and bump up my calories more and see how that goes for a few weeks. I would like to trust his advice but since I've only been to him a few times and I'm sure he sees tons of patients (plus you hear so many horror stories about docs) then I have to wonder, is 1200 enough?

What an awful experiment our bodies are!

beanerific518

I've been maintaining my weight (31 y/o female, 5'-4", 143 lbs) since June 2012. I use the BMR and TDEE calculator below:

http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

I get to enjoy 2100 calories daily. I work out 3 to 4 days per week - 1 hour heavy lifting followed by 15 to 20 minutes HIIT cardio.

I would be miserable at 1200 calories. Doctors aren't always right. This is your body and your long term health.

DOit207

Believe it or not, you need to take in a certain amount of calories to avoid your body from going into "starvation mode". If you don;]'t get enough, your body will begin storing calories for fat. Above all, follow Dr.'s advise, but you do need a minimum amount of calories/day. I think 1200 is a minimum amount. Try changing up your routine a bit. Maybe your body has become "used" to what you do.....and watch when you do take in your calories. Sometimes it's all about when you eat them that matters.

LiftAllThePizzas

My BMR is 1,355. But -- one would assume that what my doctor, who has all my blood work and thyroid levels would be correct?

You just read, over and over, on here that a person needs more calories to lose weight. On the other hand, you read all the time how doctors are wrong. Here lies the confusion!

There's only one way to find out.

kirbyjo3

When I said I have a difficult time hitting the 1200 mark I meant that I have to eat way more than I want, not the other way around. If I really stuff myself I can hit 1300-1400 but I feel awful afterwards.

mambagirl

Unlike most Dr's Endocrinologists actually study nutrition and metabolism.Since He/she has all of your numbers I think that you should listen to your Dr. You are At or pretty close to your Normal weight so the pounds won't come off quick.

Srikoon

I plugged my goal weight into the MyFitnessPal calculator and it suggests that I strive for a 1200-calorie daily intake. I only use that as a guide because the program takes into consideration my caloric burn from exercises which helps me bring my net calorie total back down to around the 1200 mark. Most days I bust 1200 by about 300-400 calories yet I'm steadily losing weight. I've added MUFAs to my diet. I can't believe the positive effects they have on the body. I truly believe that these fats have improved my weight loss efforts.

JacksMom12

When I said I have a difficult time hitting the 1200 mark I meant that I have to eat way more than I want, not the other way around. If I really stuff myself I can hit 1300-1400 but I feel awful afterwards.

Plenty of ways to eat more calories without volume. Add cheese, eat peanut butter, sauté in olive oil, add granola to your yogurt. Two words: trail mix! Or nuts. Gosh I could eat 3000 calories in nuts and nut butters alone.

MissSusieQ

Please use the site calculator to calculate your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate). It's likely only slightly less than the 1200 calories you're looking to take in a day. And you're running on top of that as well?

I think you need to look at doing something different....your body is hanging on to weight out of sheer self-preservation!

i would trust an endocrinologist a lot more than the MFP calculations. just sayin'.

nataliescalories

Please listen to your doctor over random internet advice.

Lolav2000

(/quote)Plenty of ways to eat more calories without volume. Add cheese, eat peanut butter, sauté in olive oil, add granola to your yogurt. Two words: trail mix! Or nuts. Gosh I could eat 3000 calories in nuts and nut butters alone.
[/quote]

I was waiting for someone to address this - I am having the same problem and I didn't want to be eating just for the sake of adding calories but not because I am hungry. I feel guilty eating cheese though! I am gonna try nuts and p.b.! Thanks

ajhumbird

Perhaps change what you are eating. Add some more protein and fiber. Especially the protein if you are running that much.

SunshineKisses_2012

Good lord! I weigh less than you, am taller, and maintain on over 2000 calories a day.

I know everybody is different when it comes to caloric needs, but I can't imagine we are all that much different.

The lowest I ever went in weight loss mode was 1400.

Eat more, especially if you are exercising. Making sure it's good nutritious food too - minimize processed foods and add more healthy fresh produce. Lean protein like grilled chicken is good too...

^ I like you! I try to NET 1500 per day, though my calories are set at over 2000. I eat at or above 2000 calories a day, but I tend to have 600-1000 calorie burns every day. I eat about half of my exercise calories back - rather, I eat until I am satiated, not to hit a specific number - however the net helps me keep myself in check on days I want to smash my face into a pie.

dawnj87

Hi, I was reading your reply to a post and noticed you had lost 84 lbs. Wow! How long did it take and what exactly did you do? I try to do the Isagenix program, very expensive, and you literally are starving most of the time. I also am trying to follow the MFP and I should take in 1200 cals a day, very hard to do Any suggestions? Thanks and keep up the great work.

nydpark

Consider yourself lucky that you have a hard time eating all of your calories! I still think it's important to have at least 1200. I don't think you need to use your exercise calories, especially if you are wanting to lose more weight. It's that deficit that will usually create a loss. Just keep in mind that you are close to your ideal weight and that is when it's harder to lose the last 5-10 lbs. I suggest trying something new with your diet if you are still struggling to lose, omit carbs for a week or go vegetarian for a week or omit soda...whatever you're not already doing. Good luck!

langsyne

MFP had me on 1200 calories a day. I tried that for a month and didn't like it and wasn't losing weight. I have upped it to 1500 and the weight is starting to come off. If you are having a hard time eating enough calories, it's very easy to add calories with monounsaturated fats such as nuts, nut butters, avocados and olive oils. These are the good fats that help your metabolism and stop your body from going into starvation mode, ie hanging on to every calorie for all it's worth!!

LiftAllThePizzas

i would trust an endocrinologist a lot more than the MFP calculations. just sayin'.

I would trust observed reality over either or both. If it isn't going to kill her or do permanent damage to try multiple things, then she can find what does or doesn't work well for her instead of just following one of multiple guesses.

Jessymyn

Please listen to your doctor over random internet advice.

If I had listened to my doctor, I'd still be on beta blockers for mitral valve prolapse, and confined to my couch because the medication makes you feel as if you've run a marathon when you've only walked a couple of feet. I'd weigh 300 pounds because the medication slows your thyroid to a crawl, and I'd probably die within a few years.

Instead, I got a SECOND opinion, and weaned myself off of the beta blocker. I'm exercising, and I can hike up a mountain with only normal exertion and while I still have MVP (born with it) I have few symptoms and expect to live a long, healthy life WITHOUT medication.

Doctors are not gods. They're human. And they make mistakes. Big mistakes. If that weren't the case, malpractice insurance wouldn't exist. Many doctors know precious little about nutrition unfortunately.

How can it possibly be good for your body to eat fewer calories than it requires to function in a coma? Common sense says otherwise.

SyntonicGarden

Please listen to your doctor over random internet advice.

If I had listened to my doctor, I'd still be on beta blockers for mitral valve prolapse, and confined to my couch because the medication makes you feel as if you've run a marathon when you've only walked a couple of feet. I'd weigh 300 pounds because the medication slows your thyroid to a crawl, and I'd probably die within a few years.

Instead, I got a SECOND opinion, and weaned myself off of the beta blocker. I'm exercising, and I can hike up a mountain with only normal exertion and while I still have MVP (born with it) I have few symptoms and expect to live a long, healthy life WITHOUT medication.

Doctors are not gods. They're human. And they make mistakes. Big mistakes. If that weren't the case, malpractice insurance wouldn't exist. Many doctors know precious little about nutrition unfortunately.

How can it possibly be good for your body to eat fewer calories than it requires to function in a coma? Common sense says otherwise.

Jessymyn has a point, especially with the second opinions. Doctors are only human and they certainly make mistakes, and not all doctors have the same skill sets.

As the old joke goes,
What do you call the person who graduates first in his class at med school? Doctor.
What do you call the person who graduates LAST in his class at med school? Doctor.

suz155

I think every body is different. Sometimes your doctor will be right, sometimes the people who have already been where you are,,,,are right.

I suggest, you get a second opinion for your nutrition, through another licensed nutritionist. Thats a step in the right direction.

Whatever you do decide to do......you will know what works, when you start to try something different.