Tired of all the "real dieters"

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  • It seems like a lot of 1200 per day people gained a lot of their weight back after reaching their goal weight and returning to a "normal" amount of calories eaten per day. I was at 1200 calories per day for about 2 months (due to not knowing any better) but I burnt out and plateaued. Now I'm eating correctly, I have SO much more energy. If I'm going to lose weight, I need to do it in a sustainable way that I can keep up with for the rest of my life. For me, 1200 calories just didn't fit the bill.

    Wow, my calories are set to 1200 a day and I thought that's how it had to be to lose weight, but after reading this it makes sense that if I'm doing this for life it has to be sustainable. Guess I was more concerned with how quickly I could lose the weight, but that's clearly not the right attitude. I'll be upping my limit methinks! Thanks for enlightening me :-)
  • cbd2212
    cbd2212 Posts: 1
    I guess I'm a little confused. I read all the comments to the post... but I guess I'm learning how to take care of myself, so I have some questions. I am currently at my most heaviest weight. I've always ate terrible foods, but I guess it finally caught up with me. I want to stop it, learn how to do it right, and maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. But I do need to lose the weight, not maintain what I am now. When I started earlier today, it told me my intake should be 1200 cal.

    I guess my main question is... is 1200 calories really too low? After reading this thread my head is spinning >.<


    So I'm only aiming to lose about 6-7kgs and MFP set my 1200 calories for me.
    I'm only on day 3 but am finding that I don't NEED to eat the full 1200. I eat until I feel full and don't believe I should OVER eat, just to get my calorie intake up, especially with the added calories from excercise - yoga 2-3 times a week and a quick paced half hour walk most days.
    I think everyone is different!
  • Prestissima
    Prestissima Posts: 66 Member
    Agreed! Dieting (especially "eat-only-carrot-per-3-days-and-lose-all-you-have-gained-for-3-years") is for a short time. To get strong, healthy and proud of yourself you need to change your lifestyle. If you don't like gym - find something else! If you like desserts - don't prohibit it! If you don't like what you're doing it's useless, you'll find 1000 excuses not to do this.

    You new lifestyle should make you happy.

    p.s.: actually, I like eating rabbit foods, planning my meals and say "No, thanks" to cookies. But firstly because of my teeth, skin and digestion. What comes inside - the same comes outside.
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    Just judging by the OP's profile pic I'm guessing she's never had a huge amount to lose but I could be WAY off. Who knows? And despite the fact that I am in the "eat more" crowd and it works just fine for me, it doesn't work just fine for everyone. Some people have a huge struggle with moderation so they can't just eat measured amounts of their faves. They actually have to cut out the "bad" foods to avoid them. Some people will be better off eating 1200 calories (or less if medically supervised) in order to get the fat off quickly even at the expense of some lean mass because the fat may very well be potentially causing imminent disease or death. We can't possibly know everyone's situation and despite the fact that we all function in essentially the same way, our goals and needs do differ.

    From my own perspective I wonder why people wouldn't want to eat more, be more satisfied, more energetic and lose weight slowly, but then I don't have an upcoming motivator like a wedding, vacation, surgery, high school reunion or whatnot. I have no reason to rush. Some people would rather try and get it off faster, feel better quicker, and then worry about figuring out how to maintain it later.

    To each their own...

    As for the person wishing to see a success story... there are load on this site. I consider myself a success story - I eat over 2000 calories/day on average (less on rest days) and have lost just over 30 lbs in 7 months. I drink wine, eat chocolate and cheese, run regularly and enjoy my life though I'm not ripped and am not trying to be. There are many just like me.
  • Matt_Wild
    Matt_Wild Posts: 2,673 Member
    No, no I'm not. I'm tired of people thinking they are gods gift as they've had little success. Heck, I get in comp shape 2-3 times a year, coach people into that shape too but you'll never find me posting a thread like this. They usually are at the start of their journey and will learn in time what to do. Its just part of the process. Stop being so judgmental. Help, not hinder! :smile:
  • :happy: Okay, I started at 260 (really 263) and used the Diabetes DTOUR diet from Prevention. It has easy meals you fix, and if you pick one breakfast, one lunch, one dinner, and two snacks off of their meal list -- you end up with about 1600 calories. NOW, that worked really well for me until I plateaued and then my diet buddy and I talked about leaving our limit for the day at 1600, but AIMING for around 1200 or so. If we 'cheated', per se, we kept it within the confines of the other 400 cals.. Feel free to friend me here, and view my diary. Any time you see just calories input? That is a quasi-cheat food that I had a moderate portion of.
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    No, no I'm not. I'm tired of people thinking they are gods gift as they've had little success. Heck, I get in comp shape 2-3 times a year, coach people into that shape too but you'll never find me posting a thread like this. They usually are at the start of their journey and will learn in time what to do. Its just part of the process. Stop being so judgmental. Help, not hinder! :smile:

    ^^^^This is the kind of poster I love on here.^^^^

    Someone who can see what others are seeing with the OP.




    (to to OP .......sorry but 4lbs is nothing to lose... I can lose that by next week & still go on yet you don't see me making out like everyone else is wrong in the way THEY do it)
  • bhbarros
    bhbarros Posts: 101
    OH THE DRAMA.
  • raeraeti
    raeraeti Posts: 108
    You speak truth! It's annoying seeing people eat so little for the sole reason that I begin to doubt my own methods. But it seems to me that the girls who are active and eat normal but on the healthy side tend to look the best. Those salad-nibblers don't last.
  • opuntia
    opuntia Posts: 860 Member
    I'm not tired of anyone, as I don't let the eating habits of random online people bother me. Everyone does things differently - if someone's method isn't working, that's unfortunate for them, but it's not going to make me annoyed or tired. Am I really so unusual in this?
  • I can't quite figure it out. I can't seem to get more than about 1800 calories in...My doc ordered a low carb diet at no more than around 100 carbs a day...still trying to work out kinks. Any suggestions?
  • bhbarros
    bhbarros Posts: 101
    I'm not tired of anyone, as I don't let the eating habits of random online people bother me. Everyone does things differently - if someone's method isn't working, that's unfortunate for them, but it's not going to make me annoyed or tired. Am I really so unusual in this?

    No, I agree with you entirely on this. There have been WAY too many posts like this one lately.
  • The poster has performed a public service to people who are deluded in the belief that the way to lose weight is a very low calorie diet coupled with huge amounts of exercise. If it sounds judgmental, if you don't like her because she's too young, or dislike her maybe because she didn't have tons of weight to lose at the start--too bad. Dislike of the messenger doesn't change the truth of the message.

    I've personally seen some diaries that come out to 200 or 300 net calories for the day after the dieter ate 900 and burned off 600 from an intense aerobic workout.

    Not wise, and if the poster saves just one person from embarking on a path of extreme-calorie-restriction stupidity, she has done a service.
  • mskatee
    mskatee Posts: 33
    I was going to add to this thread before I read to the end. It seems to have turned into something else!
  • SweetCheekszx0
    SweetCheekszx0 Posts: 478 Member
    I guess we can't be friends since some days I don't net 1200... but I have lost 125 pounds (and kept it off for 7.5 years) eating well and getting active with a variety of athletic pursuits. I have 3 kids (2 with mild special needs), a puppy, I'm starting home school for the first time with 2 kids and I have a ton of doctor/therapy/counseling appts I take kids to not to mention running a house, taking care of my own needs, a husband and everything else that comes with "life"... so yeah, some days (like today) I don't net 1200... but that's ok with me and thankfully, its ok with the people who have made me their friend in the past 10 days since starting MFP.

    This you cannot just stick everyone in 1 category what are you a magical Buddha ? Wtf?
  • Crawflowr
    Crawflowr Posts: 106 Member
    I agree. I must admit I'm happy with my "diet" now. I started trying to lose weight a year ago when I reached 177lb at 5'7" and by cutting my portions and walking and then taking up running I'm happy to say I reached my goal of 140lb by April. Since then my weight is amazingly stable varying only by 1lb up and down for the whole time since. I'm still eating pizza, chips, chinese, curry and having snacks of cakes etc. But i try to hitmy macros and overall calories by managing portions etc. Check my diary I'm sure you'l all be horrified:)

    Sorry I know I'm coming over as smug and it will probably all go horribly wrong soon.
  • kmshred
    kmshred Posts: 393 Member
    exactly my thoughts..."the attitude and not-so-subtle hostility and condescension behind it."

    also - how can you be bothered?? delete the "friends" you are "tired" of that do that, so you won't be tired anymore. i eat 1200 three times a week; eat that!
    I never quite get the point of posts like this. I understand the concern but not the attitude and not-so-subtle hostility and condescension behind it. Everyone isn't starting at the same place. I joined MFP clueless about just about everything related to fitness but I've learned a lot over time. I assume others do the same.


    Also, you're 23. I'm almost twice your age and can tell you it gets tougher with age so maybe you'd want to consider other variables at play aside from just food diaries. :flowerforyou:
  • SurfinBird1981
    SurfinBird1981 Posts: 517 Member
    Well you would hate me then :laugh: I have 500 cals every other day!
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    hey, OP....


    brian-griffin-jaw-drop-o.gif
  • I guess I'm a little confused. I read all the comments to the post... but I guess I'm learning how to take care of myself, so I have some questions. I am currently at my most heaviest weight. I've always ate terrible foods, but I guess it finally caught up with me. I want to stop it, learn how to do it right, and maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. But I do need to lose the weight, not maintain what I am now. When I started earlier today, it told me my intake should be 1200 cal.

    I guess my main question is... is 1200 calories really too low? After reading this thread my head is spinning >.<


    So I'm only aiming to lose about 6-7kgs and MFP set my 1200 calories for me.
    I'm only on day 3 but am finding that I don't NEED to eat the full 1200. I eat until I feel full and don't believe I should OVER eat, just to get my calorie intake up, especially with the added calories from excercise - yoga 2-3 times a week and a quick paced half hour walk most days.
    I think everyone is different!

    1200 calories would be your base intake and youd eat more to make up for calories burned during exercise. say you burned 300 calories running 3 miles, you'd eat 1500 calories for the day because your deficit is coming from the reduction to 1200 calories as your base intake.
  • all these judgmental forum posts really make me annoyed.

    if you dont like how someone is doing something so much than stop reading their journals.

    I come on here for my goals and I frankly will eat as much as I am hungry for and when I am drinking 8-10 glasses of water AND eating healthy/ watching my sodium which is a big deal for me I often just hit 1000-1300.

    If people don't like my food diary then they can stop reading it..

    I don't mind constructive criticism but I hate when people are rude or tell me how I HAVE to eat the RIGHT way. If I tried to please everyone Who knows what I would end up eating because I have had people want me to eat more, less, protein, no meat, more meat, eat back exercise.. dont..etc.

    Just let them do their thing. If you want to help do it gently and if you just wanna pick on them on a forum just unfriend them and save everyone the trouble.

    Only the defensive seem to see it as judgmental...those individuals who want to justify their habits. This post was a "response" tithe thread condemning "fake dieters" so if you didn't read that thread then this post kind of lack context. In any case I wasn't judging anyone--expressing disapproval of changes that are unhealthy, yes. this is not the same as judging the individual.
  • Lozze
    Lozze Posts: 1,917 Member
    The question I have is, have you ever had more than 4 lbs to lose??? If not, you really have no right to pass judgement and you lack the understanding of where the rest of us are coming from and the zeal that we possess to someday be in your shoes.

    Do I count? Have lost close to 90lbs have 60lbs toget into healthy weight range. Started at 1800 currently eat 1690 and will be upping again soon. (since increasing my running cannot be satisfied)

    Look if you need to slow your metabolism to a degree that you're not hungry eating more than a 5 year old that's your choice. But dot act as if what you're doing is particularly healthy.
  • emmalouc93
    emmalouc93 Posts: 328 Member
    Great post.
  • juicygurl1
    juicygurl1 Posts: 195 Member
    I really wish I was the person who could eat 4,000 calories a day and loose 2 pounds. what the farts??? not fair at all!!! >:-(
  • MrsBlobs
    MrsBlobs Posts: 310 Member
    The beauty of our species is that despite our vast similarities, we are all still different and unique in our own way. That means that what works for you now, may not work for all as we all have different bodies, different health histories, different lifestyle, challenges, priorities etc.

    In fact, what works for you now may not work for you in years to come as we also change as time goes by. There is not one rule, one way. Everybody has to find their own groove and sometimes that means making mistakes to learn their own truth and that's fine. Personally I've learnt more from my 'failures' if you like, than my successes.

    Your way works for you, others may find success in other ways, that doesn't make it more or less valid. People have to find their own way, their own journey and learn their own lessons. No point getting heated about what does or doesn't work for others, just concentrate on the only thing you do have control over, yourself.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    I really wish I was the person who could eat 4,000 calories a day and loose 2 pounds. what the farts??? not fair at all!!! >:-(

    use this to figure out your TDEE http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html then go to the left of that page and figure out your BMI.

    while i doubt your TDEE will be 4,000 calories, i bet you'll be surprised for what it is.
  • Matt_Wild
    Matt_Wild Posts: 2,673 Member

    Only the defensive seem to see it as judgmental...those individuals who want to justify their habits. This post was a "response" tithe thread condemning "fake dieters" so if you didn't read that thread then this post kind of lack context. In any case I wasn't judging anyone--expressing disapproval of changes that are unhealthy, yes. this is not the same as judging the individual.

    People need to learn. You can't just be perfect from the word go. Were you?

    I mean, you don't look that lean to me - do you need help from me to lean out some more?
  • shelbyfrootcake
    shelbyfrootcake Posts: 965 Member
    I'm still clueless and will continue to look and feel like *kitten* until I have sussed it out.
  • PFJules
    PFJules Posts: 26 Member

    yes, with exercise i eat around 1700 a day, but it still equals out to 1200 when you subtract the calories i earned from working out. i LOVE to eat. it's part of the reason i'm here.

    I upped my net 100 cal at a time, it took about a month for my body to settle in but it's made a huge difference in how I feel.
    Maybe try upping yours a bit at a time. The problem with low nets is your body gets used to that and then when you lose more weight, you end up eating less and less.




    I don't understand! Your diary seems to show a net goal of 1400! That's 200 more than the nets you seems to be advising so strongly against! Am I confused?
  • BeanyFrog13
    BeanyFrog13 Posts: 161 Member
    I came here thinking that 1200 was the norm, it's what MFP set me up as, it's what I saw other people doing and thought, well that must be it! Everyone must be just as hungry as me. They all must have headaches. They all must be a bit dizzy occasionally. I wasn't eating back hardly any of my exercise cals, I didn't know what that was, or why you would!

    I couldn't work out why I'd plateaud, I started out so well! So I got demotivated, stopped trying, didn't log at all for ages. Then I came back and started again, once again at 1200 which I knew hadn't worked before. ( I know right?)

    Then I stopped and had a look at the people around me. A lot were at 1300+ cals. I could do that right?

    So I upped my cals. I looked into eating back some exercise cals, not all, I can't cram all the cals in I now have left! But I started to feel better. Started to lose weight again. Started to notice my clothes fitting better.

    I would really urge anyone who's like I was, who knows they feel crappy, who knows it's not working for them and who says "the less calories the better", "don't eat back anything I burn off", "over 1200 and I've lost!", please, PLEASE! Up your cals. Work out more. Eat what you want in moderation, pizza will not kill you once in a while, and let's face it, it's really tasty! I've gone from eating 1200 no matter what I burn, to upping my allowance to 1300 (not that big a change, really, the amount of food in 100 cals!! mmmmmm food) to eating about 1400+ (yesterday I logged 1,747 with a calorie burn and extra cals of 628.)


    I don't always get it right. I don't always eat "correctly". But you can't eat only salad and half an apple with a teaspoon of peanut butter as a treat for the rest of your life, I knew that when I was doing it, and you, you people who are like I was, you know it too!

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