Those who claim to be "full" off less than 1200 cals per day

lvfunandfit

Thanks Fiendish for this post. I devoured half a pound of brie cheese (on special k lowcal crackers lol:laugh: ) and it got me to thinking about why i always want to binge before bed.
Most of it it psychological, BUT i'm also on a 1200 cal plan and aim to be under that most of the time. I'm a small person anyway, 5'6" and about 120 pounds, so the 7 pounds i want to lose are not melting off. I don't excersise hardly at all, so my only hope of losing this weight over the next few months is to be very strict with my calories.
I'm a new vegetarian, so not eating meat plus restricting calories leaves me open to nutrient deficits. I noticed the corners of my mouth are red and cracked, and i've been feeling way tired even though i get plenty of sleep. I've lost almost 4 pounds in a month, and i rarely feel hungry, so i thought i was doing this thing right. You're post has got me thinking, maybe i need to eat more calories and i higher fat content. Thanks, i don't find you offensive at all. You're honesty is refreshing and just what i neeeded today.:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

We're in the same boat... But I struggle to not go over 1250 calories if I don't exercise. I am 5'6" and I weigh 123 and want to get to 120. I'm am actually going to start focusing on muscle tone/definition and body fat % now that I'm in a size 4 and happy with that. So, pretty soon I'll be maintaining and I'm so excited about being able to eat more!!! Of course I will continue to eat healthy calories full of nutrients (unlike this week where I pigged out on kettle corn and a couple cookies).

I do agree with the post. I think it's important to eat... period. Starvation never works.

KimmyBee

The main reason why I, and others, are offended by your post is not because we are being "defensive" as we consume less than 1200 a day, and I agree, in one or two aspects you are right. Thats not the problem, the problem is the way you word your posts and the general feeling that it gives them.

for a start you say "people who claim to be full" you say that like we are lying to you when we do say we are full. have you ever stopped to think that, maybe we ARE full. its shocking, isn't it? :noway: As Rea_K, myself and others hasve said, we can happily munch on a cucumber or other veg all day and it will still be minus 1200 on calories. we could CONSTANTLY be munching away and still be below. that does not sound like someone who is staving thmselves to me. that sounds like someone who is hungry and as a result, they are eating, and simply choosing something healthy to snack on.

I dont mean to sound offensive when I say this, but I cant think of any other way of saying it (so please excuse me) but your posts do seem to have a "holier than thou" and "head up my own butt" feeling to them! Im not saying that is about you personally, but the way you word your posts it is definately so!

Reading your posts actually gives me a mental image of someone with "less than 1200 a day" tatooed on their forehead, cowering in a corner while you loom over them brandishing a rolling pin! :laugh: (I never said I wasn't wierd)

misslizz6958

Here we go again. Leave us alone and worry about your own body and risk of obesity related problems and ill worry about my 'starvation' mode. This crap is getting old

fiendiish

Here we go again. Leave us alone and worry about your own body and risk of obesity related problems and ill worry about my 'starvation' mode. This crap is getting old

No you're not starving...you just told me in a less than kind message that you eat 500 cals a day consisting of chips and pizza. I'll worry about my own body...and my risk of obesity related problems...and you can worry about heart attacks.

mhannan13

I just joined this site today, though I have been using the Ipod application for a couple months. I, as well as most of my family, have been on many, many diets. For the first time, I've had some consistent and measurable success and I've been eating around 900 calories a day. I'm the type of person who needs a little gratification to keep pushing on, so losing quickly helps me stay on plan. I lose similar amounts to my friend who's eating 1300 cals a day, I simply don't need as many calories. I'm going to a doctor who specializes in nutrition and he completely okay's my meal plans. I'm 5 foot 2 inches and genetically disposed to have weight problems.
I don't think it's fair to say those who eat under 1200 cals. are "starving themselves". I eat three meals a day, snacks and sometimes even desserts. I don't feel deprived, dizzy, sluggish, hungry or any of the symptoms mentioned earlier. Actually, I have a hell of a lot more energy at 900 calories than I did at 1800. I feel happy and healthy and my doctor doesn't see any problems. At the end of the day, if I'm satisfied at 900 calories, why would I eat a bag of chips just to bump myself up to the magical "1200"?
This post was a little offensive, not even solely because I, myself, don't hit 1200 calories most days, but just because it came of as a little accusatory. If you really are concerned with others' health I admire your desire to help, but please try to do so without condemning an entire group of people and what works for them. The same way I support people who need/choose to consume 1900 calories a day, I'm sure us <1200's would appreciate support as well, after all, we're all here for a common goal.

misslizz6958

Any particular reason you're acting like such a *****?

KimmyBee

Any particular reason you're acting like such a *****?

I think thats going a bit far =/

Fieldsy

Your metabolism shuts down and your energy level isn't as high as someone who eats the right amount....so you feel drained/tired a lot and not hungry.

funnygrrl

Here we go again. Leave us alone and worry about your own body and risk of obesity related problems and ill worry about my 'starvation' mode. This crap is getting old

wow, can anyone say random comment, especially when shortly after this, you proceed to insult the generator of this thread, simply because an opinion is expressed that you don't agree with.

my take on this whole discussion... everything in moderation is what will help you meet your goals. this goes for the calories you put in your body, and this also goes for your opinion in discussion. there is no need to binge, no need to starve to gain or lose weight, and there is no need to insult to get your point across.

writer190

Your metabolism shuts down and your energy level isn't as high as someone who eats the right amount....so you feel drained/tired a lot and not hungry.

I haven't read this whole thread, but I would like to point out one thing that I haven't seen mentioned.

From what I understand (as I used to restrict my caloric intake to an unhealthy level, and this has been drilled into my head over and over): No matter what your height, your body needs 1200 calories. This isn't for movement throughout the day- this is for your internal organs. It takes calories for your heart to beat, your stomach/intestines to digest, your blood to flow, your body to produce proper hormones, etc. The danger in starvation mode isn't that you'll stop losing weight; rather, it's that your organs aren't getting enough energy to function properly, and this can hurt them in the long run.

As someone who used to have trouble eating enough, reading posts by <1200-eaters upsets me occasionally because, first of all, I find it triggering (the ED in me believes it's not fair that they can get away with it and I can't). Secondly, it upsets me to see people doing that to themselves when I myself faced the consequences, and they're not very enjoyable.

(At the same time, I completely believe it's possible to be full with under 1200. But that just means you're not in touch with your body's natural hunger signals.)

cmriverside

I did read the whole thread.


I agree with the original poster. Even if I didn't, she at least presented FACTS in a non-judgemental fashion. Backed up with research from WebMd and other sources.


Less of the and more adult-type discussions, please.

The original poster has not once been out-of-line or "aggressive" or "antagonistic" IMO. She has answered in a very adult manner to some very snarky comments.

If you are having mood disorders, consider poor nutrition and malnutrition as a possible cause. Poor nutrition can cause psychological changes due to brain chemistry imbalances.

If you disagree, try to remain polite with your discussions and not attack someone with personal attacks.

This debate has played out hundreds of times on MFP in the two and a half years I've been here. There are literally hundreds of threads about this debate. The original poster is coming from a place of love and concern. Can you say the same thing??

It will continue to be a hot-button topic. We can disagree in a polite manner and not spend our lives in conflict. Try to remain objective and give facts, not personal attacks. Sometimes it is best to say nothing and go to a topic where you can offer help and not harm.

kwardklinck

Boy some people get their panties in a wad. They almost act like they're being attacked personally. If you thought you were doing the right thing, you wouldn't be so offended by someone else's opinion. You'd just shrug it off and keep doing it your way. Her opinion is based on the recommendations of MFP.

lisawest

Short digression. . . . . . .

If you are having mood disorders, consider poor nutrition and malnutrition as a possible cause. Poor nutrition can cause psychological changes due to brain chemistry imbalances.

This made me LOL.:laugh:

Just to make myself clear, I am not being derogatory to cmriverside. I enjoy her posts, and find them to be very helpful and informative. After reading all the other comments, this one just tickled my funny bone. I have a strange funny bone

I could state my opinion, but others have already done so with much eloquence.

Now back to your regularly scheduled debate. . . . .

cmriverside

Short digression. . . . . . .

If you are having mood disorders, consider poor nutrition and malnutrition as a possible cause. Poor nutrition can cause psychological changes due to brain chemistry imbalances.

This made me LOL.:laugh:

Just to make myself clear, I am not being derogatory to cmriverside. I enjoy her posts, and find them to be very helpful and informative. After reading all the other comments, this one just tickled my funny bone. I have a strange funny bone

I could state my opinion, but others have already done so with much eloquence.

Now back to your regularly scheduled debate. . . . .

.....sending PM........

Fieldsy

Question....

To those who say they are full eating under 1200 cals a day....do you work out at all? I have a hard time believing that if you are working out, you cannot be full eating 1200 or less.

lessertess

Question....

To those who say they are full eating under 1200 cals a day....do you work out at all? I have a hard time believing that if you are working out, you cannot be full eating 1200 or less.

It's entirely possible to be full on 1200 calories a day if you are eating mostly vegetables. Especially high water content veggies or fruit. However, there's a difference between being "full" and being 'nourished" and I think that's where this we've gotten off track. If you are going to get enough fat/protien/carbs/vitamens/minerals to nourish your body then doing so in less than 1200 calories is pretty difficult. Not that it can't be done. (I'm not a big proponent of supplements) . Honestly, I find it difficult to do in less than 1500 calories but--I like to eat and I like a lot of variety. Even if my body is ok with a steady diet of chicken breasts and broccoli, my mind/spirit isn't.

For me personally, eating a ton of veggies is like the proverbial Chinese meal.....I'm hungry again after a couple hours. I can hold off hunger for hours and days by eating more low calorie, high water content fruit and veggies, but eventually I end up binging because, even though I'm not hungry.....my body is not nourished and it causes me to binge later to get what I need.
But, that's just me. Everyone's different.

Johnnyswife

Hello, my name is Crystal. I'm 35 years old and a yo-yo dieter since I was 13 years old.
*everyone says, "Hi Crystal."

Ever since my mom told me that "If you gain anymore weight, I'll stop making your clothes. See how good you feel about yourself wearing a potato sack intead.", I have done all kinds of diets. But the common thread in each of my diets, was starting out at 1,200 calories and working out. I'd start off doing well.
I logged my food in a paper diary. I worked out but never ate those calories. I'd lose weight and feel good about myself. But this strange thing would start happening to me. One day I'd get 1,200, and the next it was 1,100...each day would creep lower and lower. If I went over the last day's calories I'd freak out.

I recently found a food diary where I'd write my thoughts at the end of the day. I was horrified to find entries where I had eaten as little as 300 calories, and burned 600. I was SO pleased with myself. The next day I had eaten 400 and burned 600, and was ranting about 'what a fat pig I was, why can't I stop shoving food in my mouth?':noway:
I looked through 6 months of this book, and was amazed that there were so many days where I ate 600 calories or less, and burned more. I was starving myself. I showing signs of anexoria. My sister is pro ana I was starting to adopt her attitude towards food.
Each time I tried to diet, I would do this. Start out with good intentions but slip down a path that was terrible. I would start out losing weight fast. I loved the attention I was getting for it, but after about 6 months, I'd get tired of it, and binge....and binge...and binge.....and...you get the picture. Each diet was temporary. I'd lose, but gain it back plus some and feel like my old loser self again.

I KILLED my metabolism. It takes so much for me just to lose a pound a week. But I am TERRIFIED to go lower than 1,400 and its a personal struggle for me to make sure I eat my calories, and workout calories. Each day is a fight. I have to tell myself that eating 1,400 doesn't make me a pig. I am losing weight steadily and feeling great from working out. I'm okay, and eating the proper foods in moderation is okay too.

I don't even know why I go from one extreme to the other. Overeating for months at a time, and than going over the edge and trying to starve myself.

I guess what I am trying to say here, is that when I see these posts about 'not being able to eat all my calories', and 'Do I really have to eat my workout calories', it alarms me, cause I think along those lines as well.:embarassed: I see myself in those posts. I see myself wanting to go back to those old habbits cause they worked for me, and than I react with almost irritation over these posts, because I am actualy angry with myself for being in this boat in the first place.

I will apologise for my post earlier if it seemed to attack anyone. I'm a hypocriate in that sense. But I still feel that eating under 1,200 on a daily basis is not healthy. If you want to do it, and you lose weight, keep it off, and don't develop health issues down the road, than more power to you.

I am also thanking the poster of this thread, because I needed to read this. I don't want to fall into old habbits again. I want to keep this up. I have a daunting task of losing at least 70 more lbs to get to 140. I want to be healthy, and not to be tempted to go lower than 1,200, lose half by falling into old habbits, and gaining it all back cause I get frustrated. So thank you for starting this conversation, and thanks to everyone who has posted their thoughts on the matter. :flowerforyou:

cmriverside

Thank you Crystal.

laurenk182004

Great post Johnnysgirl I'm sorry to hear about your struggles. It's really great that you shared your story with us, might help some of the people who are going down a similar path. Congratulations on adopting the healthier route to weight loss! You're doing great
Lauren

lesley1981

I actually don't think I could cope on a diet of less than 1200 cals per day and it would appear that those who think they can are only kidding themselves! It's not healthy, and you're doing yourself more harm...

I've struggle with my weight for the last 6 years, but i know that the key to a healthy weightloss is eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly! I've managed to lose 23lbs since February and I feel really good!

ACarp24

I have read the first couple pages of this thread and I think that you are right in some regards and the responders who oppose your view point are right in some other regards. I highly agree that a consistent intake of 1200cals/day or less is not a healthy thing to do, I for one struggle to stay within that limit most days and work out hard just to earn those snacks throughout the day. Some days, I believe that people might feel full on less than 1200 calories, but that doesn't mean those people shouldn't do everything they can to adjust their food choices in order to meet that 1200 calories. Eat some almonds, natural peanut butter or something like that, its what I do when I've had a busy day and have no time to eat a lot so my calories are low.

kpnuts23

bump so i can read it later on my lunch

Natalie43

thank you Crystal for putting it all in perspective and good luck with your weight loss journey.
i agree with Fiendiish and hope that the replies dont put her off any further posting. there are a lot of delusional people out there...

kpnuts23

Im going to put it out there.. im a usual under calorie person, but it works for me.. becuase im only trying to loose a few lbs as im in the "healthy BMI range"... meah.. Each to there own..