if eating under 1200cals is so bad.......

Serious jealousy here? you don't associate because they eat vlcd and lose faster than you....wow smh...FYI if you're fat it is more than ok to eat less than 1200..only in western countries do people claim its not for fat people...try being vegan you'll be under 1200 calories and still full/ healthier than those that eat 1200 and the weight falls off. Don't be so narrow-minded and judgmental of others...Since I eat under 1200, we can't be friends hmmm, seems dumb...

Although I do not profess to be a vegan I have previously eaten a vegan diet and can still obtain way more than 1200 calories a day. Yes you are eating healthier foods which fill you up more but it is still easy to make 1200 calories. And for those people that say because they are eating healthily under 1200 they are still getting all the nutrients they need clearly they are not. You may be getting significantly more 'micronutrients' i.e vitamins and minerals than someone eating 1200 cals of rubbish but you still won't be getting enough 'macronutrients' i.e calories.

As said early eating consistently under your BMR will slow your metabolic rate over time. Then when you do come to eat more you will inevitably gain weight leading you to cut calories again. As you say on your profile you are a yo-yo dieter so maybe this is something to take into consideration.

Taking daily vitamins added to your diet can be beneficial as well! Specially to those who are paleo/have gluten intolerance as myself and eat under 1200 calories daily.

Vitamins .....seriously? Vitamins will not help you retain healthy muscle mass, that's what eating1200 Net calories is about.

I exercise to keep muscle mass and I eat those calories to FUEL my workouts. By netting under 1200 calories regularly, you risk burning healthy muscle tissue.

Taking daily vitamins added to your diet can be beneficial as well! Specially to those who are paleo/have gluten intolerance as myself and eat under 1200 calories daily.

Vitamins .....seriously? Vitamins will not help you retain healthy muscle mass, that's what eating1200 Net calories is about.

I exercise to keep muscle mass and I eat those calories to FUEL my workouts. By netting under 1200 calories regularly, you risk burning healthy muscle tissue.

^ This

There is a massive difference between micronutrients which are needed in extremely small amounts (mg or mcg) and macronutrients which translate to calories. You may be able to get some of your micronutrients from vitamin supplements but they won't give your body the energy to function at its best.

Because when you are really overweight and just starting out on here, your body is not used to eating 1200 so even if you are eating 1200 a day of rubbish you will still lose weight rapidly. Your body goes into shock first from the drastic cut in calories. This happend to me. I NEVER went over 1200 and I was eating cake, cookies, pizza and junk and losing up to 10lbs a months. I realized it wasnt healthy so I started to eat clean and a mix of vegan and vegetarian for a while. I was able to eat more food this way but never going over 1200. But unfortunalty, the more weight you lose, the harder it becomes to continue losing. You body becomes smaller so it doesnt use as much energy as it did when it was bigger so you lose weight slower. This is happening to me now. I have been stuggling to lose my last 15 lbs and it doesnt matter how healthy I eat or how much exercise I do, my body has adapted to this healthy lifestyle and it will now take longer. THose people who eat rubbish will learn soon that they have to change sooner or later because their weightloss will too stall.

With all due honesty, I dont associate with people who eat well below the 1200 or net below 1200.. it is not a healthy management of weight loss or health. Yes, there are people who willingly do that, but I personally find it to be self-destructive... Id rather lose the weight gradually and do it the right way...

i agree it just really annoys me when i try to give good advice but its as though im just talking rubbish as they lose easy anyway and they arent big at all! average weight!

If the advice is asked, then the receiver really should take it to heart. When its unprompted, that is when all hell breaks loose to be honest.

I simply wont associate with anyone who does this. I dont comment on anyone's intake but I wont keep them around if they willingly make those bad choices... I dont want to be associated with that.

Serious jealousy here? you don't associate because they eat vlcd and lose faster than you....wow smh...FYI if you're fat it is more than ok to eat less than 1200..only in western countries do people claim its not for fat people...try being vegan you'll be under 1200 calories and still full/ healthier than those that eat 1200 and the weight falls off. Don't be so narrow-minded and judgmental of others...Since I eat under 1200, we can't be friends hmmm, seems dumb...

Its not judgemental at all... which is why I only stick with like-minded individuals... those who make realistic decisions that are not counterproductive.

Just out of curiousity - what would all of the NO LESS THAN 1200 calorie supporters suggest for me? I'm 5'2" and would like to be in the middle of my BMI. which means I'd like to weigh 120. According to this site, my BMR is currently 1209 calories a day. (I'm 138 right now)

So how many net calories do you suggest?

Proof right there that the 1200 calorie thing is a rule of thumb, which fits many but not all people, and not a hard limit and you'll drop dead if you ignore it.

Having said that, you should verify that BMI number, and probably add exercise instead of removing too many calories.

With all due honesty, I dont associate with people who eat well below the 1200 or net below 1200.. it is not a healthy management of weight loss or health. Yes, there are people who willingly do that, but I personally find it to be self-destructive... Id rather lose the weight gradually and do it the right way...

Totally agree.

I eat a litte over 1500 cals a day, BUT I am a big girl and I have a ton of weight to lose. I would just not eat back your cals you burned?

I do eat my exercise calories. I simply try to net at or around 1200. Sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. Basically, what is working for me (where other concepts have failed) is that I use that 1200 like cash in my wallet. I cannot use what I do not have. If I want to earn more "cash," (so that I can eat more or have a real treat) I do it w/ exercise (so maybe today, I have more like 1400 in my wallet).

Once I got serious (non-yo yoing), this concept has me losing about a pound a week. Sounds like slow going, I know, but I plan for every pound lost to be a permanent pound lost.

Oh, just as a footnote, I exercise five days a week. MWF - cardio, TTh - strength. On cardio days, I'm happy burning 300+ cal. I do not feel compelled to burn 800 or 900 cal, but am amazed by those who do. :noway:

Good job, I also celebrate every pound and half a pound, they seem so little but each of them make a huge difference. I also workout 5 days a week, mainly cardio, walking, elliptical, jogging and weight train weekends or at home, sometimes I do circuit training, I live a busy life but every single bit counts.