success stories from 1200 calorie dieters wanted

charovnitza

I follow a low carb diet, and I usually stay under 1200 calories per day. No sugar, and no grains. I've lost 19 pounds, and I don't feel hungry. My blood sugar is good, my cholestrol is very good, and my blood pressure is 100 over 80. So why would I change what is obviously working for me? I'm 65 years old. Everybody's physiology is different, and there IS NO ONE WAY THAT'S RIGHT FOR ALL OF US! So please back off on the preaching. Thanks.

__RANDY__

REDI4CHANGE60

1200 calories, low carb diet, protein first then my veggies ... 48 pounds down so far ... lowest weight I have been since my early 20's and feeling great. It's working and I am doing this under a doctor's and nutritionist's supervision. Very HAPPY! Still 32 pounds from my goal ... although I may adjust it down a few pounds ... but I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

AliceNov2011

Oh lord thank you Alice! I am joining right now as this thread has clearly run amok as they say! LOL

Oh and I forgot to add, white wine would be lovely!

LOL -- You're welcome. Cheers! ;c)

irishblonde2011

I have lost all my weight on a 1,200 diet. I'm not going to lie I find it tough going. I have asked questions on the eat more weigh less board(one yesterday) and no one has answered my question so far :indifferent:
There seems to be a good few people against eating 1,200 on this post maybe you could answer questions on that board rather than getting into the who is right who is wrong...

Yes you can lose weight on 1,200
Yes you can lose weight eating a lot more.

302cupcake

I eat 1200 calories and I'm certainly losing weight. It's all about your body! If you went from eating 3,000 calories a day then yes, you have to slowly get your body down or switching too soon will put your body in 'shock', not allowing you to naturally lose.

Actually, no.

I was eating at least 3000 a day 10 months ago when I weighed 302 pounds.

My doctor (yes, I actually went to the doctor and got his opinions) said that I needed to cut my calories way down and that there is nothing wrong with losing weight fast. Staying morbidly obese has more risks and I was diabetic, had/have major joint damage and blood test results that spelled doom. I started out around 1300 calories and have eaten around 1200-1250 on the average day.

A drastic change does not 'shock' your system, that is just silly.

I've lost steadily, going up to a week (but no more) without a loss and then losing again. I plan to add a hundred or so calories a day once I reach a weight I feel comfortable at. All my blood work is normal. I was a size 26-28 and now at 179, I'm an 8-10. I'm 49, 5'7" and do not exercise as much as I'd like due to the joint problems, but I sleep well and while I do get hungry, it's because it is time to eat, so I do.

LesaLu4

This is a great topic. I am new here to MFP and have been curious whether I was taking in enough calories at 1200. Thank you so much to everyone who has shared their stories, success and otherwise. I greatly value learning from those who have traveled the road before me.

tmauck4472

Awesome for you, but some people aren't so lucky.

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange

When I first started using MFP, I think last year summer? I was on a 1200 calories a day diet, and in about 2 1/2 months, I lost 25 pounds and yes I still ate food. (Some people actually thought I was starving). It works I mean if it was not safe, why would MFP even give you the choice on it right? But it could be hard in the beginning if you are not use to eating less calories, but think of it this way, if you cannot keep up with 5 small meals a day, you can give yourself 500 calorie meal three times a day and work off the excess to balance it out. 500 calories makes you full but don't assume just any. Example, a 300 cal. mcchicken is not a good idea, maybe whole wheat bread topped with tuna, low fat cheese etc.

Good Luck!

because MFP is set up so that you also eat your exercise calories in addition to the 1200 it sets for you.

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange

I reached my goals netting between 1100 and 1200 calories a day. Sometimes I ate all my exercises calories, and sometimes I ate only half of it.

I have been on maintenance for over two years, and I still eat more or less the same way. I am not hungry, starving or cranky, and if I want to eat more during the weekends (rest days), I do it without problems. I keep my carbs under 150 and my protein between 90 and 120 gr/day.

I am 69 years old. 4'11" and my weight fluctuate between 101 and 102lbs. According with several websites my BMR is between 1045 and 1075, so my net is well above those numbers. My TDEE is around 1600, so I am really eating (total) between 10 and 15% below.

No, I am not anorexic, or a "melted candle,"and I am not a prune either. I have small waist but wide hips and I am busty. I do weight training, limited cardio, Pilates, Yoga, Ballet, and some DVD workouts when I want a change in my routine. I have a sluggish thyroid and I am on meds, so I need to keep my weight under control. I know my body and I respect my body, and my doctor is very happy with my weight and lab results.

In my book, the quality of my calories is as important as the quantity. I don’t eat junk, I don’t eat fast food, and I don’t endorse any particular diet regimen, and even on the days that I go over my goals, I am very careful to make my choices as healthy as possible.

Do I want to eat more, can I eat more? NO to both questions! For me this is a long term goal that is very easy to maintain, and my stomach is not happy when I go above my limit. On the other hand, if I need more fuel, my body will tell me and I will oblige
.
Is this a success story? I don’t know just make your own decision. I am happy and that is all that counts.

There's absolutely NOTHING wrong with this approach-1100 to 1200 net is much different than 1100 to 1200 gross.

crazytreelady

Did 1200 calories two years ago, lost 10 pounds, kept it off and this was after I quit using mfp, so I have not been at a constant 1200 calorie level this entire time.

Decided to come back on and lose some more .

zen82

I am 69 years old.

You really can't compare your caloric needs to the 25 year olds on here. They need to eat more than you do.

Women over 40 (and especially over 50) -- Please come join this group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/9239-the-ladies-who-lunch

No skinny teenagers or bulky body-builders... just real women "of an age" who know ourselves and our bodies, have been through childbirth and/or menopause, enjoy real food, and will never, ever spend 1 or 2, let alone 5 or 6 hours a day in the gym. We have real lives, real jobs, real families, we know who we are, we have a sense of humor about that (by the way), and we're willing to share what we're learning (without judgment) with each other.

And wine. There's always room for wine.

So maybe you didn't mean it to come out that way, but i find your comment incredibly offensive, because you appear to have the idea that anyone who doesn't fit your definition isn't a "real" woman. That's such an oppositional view of things. I like the gym, and I have to eat more than 1200 calories or I get sick. That does not make me, or anyone like me, not "real". So it's a bit ironic you talk about "no judgement" in your closing.

ravenrxx

I lost 20lbs in 3 months eating 1200 calories a day. And exercising several times a week. And, I'd cheat 1x a week or so.

AllAboutThatTreble

I am 69 years old.

You really can't compare your caloric needs to the 25 year olds on here. They need to eat more than you do.

Women over 40 (and especially over 50) -- Please come join this group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/9239-the-ladies-who-lunch

No skinny teenagers or bulky body-builders... just real women "of an age" who know ourselves and our bodies, have been through childbirth and/or menopause, enjoy real food, and will never, ever spend 1 or 2, let alone 5 or 6 hours a day in the gym. We have real lives, real jobs, real families, we know who we are, we have a sense of humor about that (by the way), and we're willing to share what we're learning (without judgment) with each other.

And wine. There's always room for wine.

So maybe you didn't mean it to come out that way, but i find your comment incredibly offensive, because you appear to have the idea that anyone who doesn't fit your definition isn't a "real" woman. That's such an oppositional view of things. I like the gym, and I have to eat more than 1200 calories or I get sick. That does not make me, or anyone like me, not "real". So it's a bit ironic you talk about "no judgement" in your closing.

You beat me to it. I really really HATE the term "real woman" when used to compare different characteristics. Talk about judgment city.

KassLamb

I have set MFP to lose 2 lbs/week. My daily goal is 1200, but of course I exercise. I do try to eat back the calories. I don't measure or weigh my food. I'm pretty good at eyeballing it, and if I did measure and weigh, I'd drive myself crazy. Sometimes, I come in under my calorie goal, and as long as I have energy and feel well, I don't panic about "starvation mode." Other times, I go over my goal, and I am ok with that. Because 1200 is the low end that is recommended, I don't feel so bad. I may not actually lose 2 lbs/week, but I'm going to lose. Most of the time, I don't came far off from 1200 and I feel perfectly fine. Along with watching WHAT I eat, I've lost 16 lbs since January on what is probably considered a 1200 calorie diet. I feel pretty good, and if I'm not a success story, I am confident that I am one in the making.

deb2799

I eat between 1200-1300 daiy and the weight is coming off pretty easily. I am not hungry either!

Ely82010

I am 69 years old.

You really can't compare your caloric needs to the 25 year olds on here. They need to eat more than you do.

So you can only share your story if you're young.

Got it.

That's not what I said. My point was that the caloric needs of a 69 year old woman at 4'11" are going to be much lower than a 25 year old who is 5'6". She was trying to make it sound like what was an acceptably low number for her was also acceptable for someone with much higher metabolic needs.

But go ahead. Misinterpret what I said. There's a lot of that going on around here anyway.

The 69 yr old was actually giving her success story. That was what this thread was supposed to be in the first place but several of us have taken it elsewhere ...myself included.

Thank you! I was going to clarify that and much more but you beat me to it and I appreciate it. :flowerforyou:

Tetonia

I may as well throw in my 2 cents.
I am 47 years old. 5' 2" and 112 pounds. Tiny frame.

Three years ago I lost 25 pounds at 1200 calories or less over the space of a year. I lost lean body mass doing only cardio and eating lots and lots raw veggies and hardly any protein because I couldn't afford the calorie cost and stay under 1200. I did not have the figure I wanted at the weight I achieved, I was very squishy and jiggly. The diet was not sustainable for me and when I stopped keeping track of what I was eating I gained much of it back in a year. I was always hungry. My body fat stayed very high, at over 40%.

Now I eat back my exercise calories on top of the 1200 calories. Less cardio, cross train, lift heavy, and eat a lot of protein. I am smaller at 112 (not that I care what the scale says any more) and stronger. I look fit and healthy. I feel great. My body fat has dropped from 43% to 29%. My LBM is increasing.

1200 calories worked to lose weight. 1200 plus exercise calories is giving me the fitness and figure that I want.

1200 worked when I wanted to watch what I ate very very carefully but it wasn't very fun and was actually depressing. I thought I would have to eat 1200 or less the rest of my life to stay a reasonable weight.

Do what works for you and what makes you happy.

Ely82010

I am 69 years old.

You really can't compare your caloric needs to the 25 year olds on here. They need to eat more than you do.

Women over 40 (and especially over 50) -- Please come join this group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/9239-the-ladies-who-lunch

No skinny teenagers or bulky body-builders... just real women "of an age" who know ourselves and our bodies, have been through childbirth and/or menopause, enjoy real food, and will never, ever spend 1 or 2, let alone 5 or 6 hours a day in the gym. We have real lives, real jobs, real families, we know who we are, we have a sense of humor about that (by the way), and we're willing to share what we're learning (without judgment) with each other.

And wine. There's always room for wine.

Thank you for the invitation but I do spend one to two hours at the gym several times a week, and I would sleep there if my husband would let me do it.

My food is real, not fake; and I believe that every female, regardless of their weight, height, color of skin, choice of diet and/or exercise, or other choices, are REAL women.

I don’t believe that ladies that spend a lot of time at the gym or decide to do weight training, boxing, or running marathons should not be considered REAL women. After all, many of them hold jobs and families just like you and the ladies in your group.

So, thank you again for the invitation, but I will not join your group anytime soon. I don’t like the mission statement.

rm7161

I know a girl that lost 130#s in 12 months on 1200 cals went from 258 to 128, her body now looks like a 1/2 melted candle.

Best. Post. Ever! :laugh:

Loose skin can happen no matter how fast you lost it, and its more genetic than anything. I'm going to have loose skin and I eat more than 1200 a day. It comes with having been heavy for a longish period of time and age in my case.

I'll take loose skin over the health problems I had a year ago due to being 263 lbs.

DoingItMyOwnWay

I find I do best when I NET between 1200-1350 calories. If I don't exercise, that is my best net. If I do exercise, I still do best when my NET is 1200-1350.

REDI4CHANGE60

I am 69 years old.

You really can't compare your caloric needs to the 25 year olds on here. They need to eat more than you do.

Women over 40 (and especially over 50) -- Please come join this group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/9239-the-ladies-who-lunch

No skinny teenagers or bulky body-builders... just real women "of an age" who know ourselves and our bodies, have been through childbirth and/or menopause, enjoy real food, and will never, ever spend 1 or 2, let alone 5 or 6 hours a day in the gym. We have real lives, real jobs, real families, we know who we are, we have a sense of humor about that (by the way), and we're willing to share what we're learning (without judgment) with each other.

And wine. There's always room for wine.

Oh my ... I knew there would be some that would get their panties in a wad over this one LOL. Guess they missed the part about having 'a sense of humor'. I am on my way to join. It's OBVIOUS that your intent was not malicious ... some people have nothing better to do than to rip others apart. To those people ... stop taking yourselves to seriously ... geez. :yawn:

SeaStar

I eat 1200 a day and went from 136 to 124 in two months (I'd gained a lot after a trip to thailand). It's worked just fine for me. I drink lots of water, eat back a good amount of my exercise calories and stay motivated even when I am hungry before bed. I am 26 years old, 5'5" for my stats if anyone cares to know. Just my own quick story, haven't read much of the thread. My plan is to get down to 115, so I'm sticking to what's worked so far.

ShmareParks

Well, 1200 calories is where MFP put me when I entered in all my data, and I consider myself a major success story, especially since nothing else worked for me before this.

So far, I have lost 31 pounds in 7 months and am still losing at a regular pace. I have had to change my eating to accommodate so few calories, by adding way more raw veggies and the like. That is a GOOD thing! I have learned to eat less "expensive" items in terms of calories (like leaner meats) and to be satisfied with portions a third or a quarter of what I used to eat. I feel great about it, and as I look at my nutrition results I have been able to see where I am repeatedly low (like iron, fibre, and protein) and to make further modifications to take care of these needs. It has been a wonderful experience for me, and really eye-opening. I'm eating far, far less, and yet I'm taking in far, far more vitamins and good things than I ever have in my life.

NOTE: I entered that I have a "sedentary" lifestyle when first registering, and I am also a short and small-boned person. This is why a 1200-calorie diet is right for me. Of course, if I were doing intense workouts or if I were a bigger person, I would need to eat more. But people should not knock those of us who are meant to be eating 1200 calories a day. We definitely exist.

CristinaL1983

I posted my longer version story in the other thread. I lost 50 lbs at about 1200 calories and kept it off for 4 years. Life circumstances led to a gain of 10 lbs back (after 4 years). I realized that I didn't really like the weight I had initially stopped at and wanted to get back to my "healthy" weight/ body fat percentage so I started working on losing again.

First I tried 1800 cal. I gained a little bit of weight over three months. Then I went to 1500, I was losing but it was painfully slow and tedious. I realized that without losing a good amount of weight, I wasn't motivated to track and see the changes through.

I started working on eating intuitively again with emphasis on healthy veggies and proteins. I tracked all of that and when I was seeing reasonable weight change (with no ill effects) I set that as my average calorie baseline. I am still pretty flexible on a daily basis but I make sure that I am averaging 1200. I have been on MFP since Jan 17.

I have had my body fat and lean mass checked by DXA when I first started losing weight (last year) and about a month ago. I have not lost LBM but I have lost body fat. This is most likely in part because I watch my protein intake and continue lifting weights. I feel good and have healthy hair and nails. More than the scale weight, these are the things I care about I'm calling it a success for now. I'm getting pretty close to my goal and am going to start upping my calories as I get closer until I reach maintenance. I'm 29, 5'7'' 166lbs 24.7% body fat (shooting for 18-20).

gabriellejayde

Ok.. here's my story.
I started here around 7 months ago at my highest weight...255
I have been eating 1200 calls a day, consistently. I'm not week, sick, or ravenous.sometimes I'm a little hungry before bed but nothing bad.

So far I've lost around 60 lbs (I just got back from a vacation and I didn't log for the full week). My diary is open and you can see I eat fine.
I'm 45 years old and have a desk job.
Before


After

CristinaL1983

Ok.. here's my story.
I started here around 7 months ago at my highest weight...255
I have been eating 1200 calls a day, consistently. I'm not week, sick, or ravenous.sometimes I'm a little hungry before bed but nothing bad.

So far I've lost around 60 lbs (I just got back from a vacation and I didn't log for the full week). My diary is open and you can see I eat fine.
I'm 45 years old and have a desk job.
Before


After

You look great!

AliceNov2011

Dear ladies who think the phrase "real women" in the context of "just plain folks" is somehow insulting:

Lighten up. If you're gonna be this sensitive throughout your life, you're going to need more than the gym to work out all your stress, and it won't matter how thin or buff you are.

The "real" point of the Ladies Who Lunch group is that not all of us are as athletic or ambitious or able as you are, and we enjoy the support of similarly-situated women. The 40+ women who have joined tonight agree. And so do the other 1600+ who are already participating.

To each her own.

Peace.

Just2Bhappy

I try to stay around 1,200 but I get so hungry, moody and weak. I eat between 1,200-1,500 total, one or two higher days when I mess up. I have only lost 2 pounds in 12 days. I need to eat less but I can't function on only 1,200. Dilemma.

Chris99mu

Ha!