1200 is not difficult.
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I've been doing 1200 in average, what is less than my "allowed" calories limit, considering that I am exercising.
The point is that my weight is flat!
I think this is related to pre-menopause (as my doctor says), but I would like to hear if eating less can be really impacting my weight loss.
But, 1200 is not that hard to me.
I would like to hear from others opinions.
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Possible? Yes. Plausible? No way.0
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Have you ever considered that perhaps the bodies of other people work differently from yours?
are you talking to the original poster (me)?
if so, please re-read the post. I specifically said, "I'm not saying that a person with less to lose should restrict as much, but for me, and a lot of other people, losing the weight fast is more motivating to stick to their plan than being allowed to eat more but only losing .5 lbs a week. "
if you weren't talking to me, then i'm sorry... carry on.
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I have done 1200 and I don't eat yoghurt I did it without exercise but I'm short only 5"1. It isn't everyday either. Some times I find myself eating more just to get it to 1200.0
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Are you able to lift now to try and maintain as much LBM as possible?0
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Member if you ever go on a 1200 calorie diet you have to make sure you get enough NUTRIENTS AND PROTEIN.0
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YOU BENCHED 250LBS?!?!?!
Yes. Just once. Won a trophy.
Was it at the Olympics? How much can you cling and press?!?! Like, 1300?
clean and presses are olympic lifts. Bench pressing is a power lift - different competitions.
Powerlifters bench, squat, and deadlift. My highest squat and deadlift were 300 I think. that was about a year or two after I lost the 100 lbs.
I'm sorry I called you out for that. I was wrong. I'm very jealous of that number! :flowerforyou:
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no problem. I don't get offended easily. I don't talk about it much because the timeline gets complicated (lost 100lbs, gained back 20, competed in powerlifting events, stopped due to back injury. Fast forward 8 years... gained 80lbs), plus it feels silly to mention it since it's in the past. The only time I ever really bring it up is when someone implies that I'll lose all my lean mass. I picture a skinny me walking around on jello legs and unable to hold up my own arms, but the truth is what someone else said- for NOW, losing fat is more important for me. I can always gain the muscle later.
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so jealous of those numbers. That crazy! You were so strong!0 -
I've been reading the forums tonight and have read around 10 different posts from people saying that 1200 is impossible, or that unless they workout, there's no calories left for dinner, or that 1200 calories a day translates to starving yourself or living on only salads.
My diary is open- I eat 3 meals a day and 2 snacks. If you eat healthy, real food, 1200 calories is not difficult and I'm not starving. make good choices and avoid garbage - then if you go over, it's not a big deal. sometimes I'm under 1200 - I get busy and don't want to eat at 10pm just to get calories in.
Btw, I started at 255, 2 months ago and have lost 29lbs and feel good. I'm not saying that a person with less to lose should restrict as much, but for me, and a lot of other people, losing the weight fast is more motivating to stick to their plan than being allowed to eat more but only losing .5 lbs a week.
I totally agree. I find it hard to reach 1200 a day. I eat manily fresh veggies, fruit and lean meats which obviously have very few calories. I have even started eating an extra snack just to get to 1200 calories. My diary is alos open for those who do not believe me. it kinda annoys me seeing people who blow all their calories in one meal then starve for the rest of the day. Thats doing more harm than good. but I guess each to their own. Eating protein based meals also really helps with feeling full too!
These ^^^^^
We are all different and live diffferent lifestyles.
1200 currently works for me, as above (and am losing average of 1lb per week), I eat a lot of vegetables, lean meats, fruit, I tend to have 3 small meals and 2 snacks, so I do eat every 2 to 3 hours. I dont eat crap, junk.processed food as a rule except once a week I have one easy meal, generally frozen pre breaded fish/ and a few (english hot) chips that gets cooked in the oven and only do this as I am on a tight time schedule that evening. I also find it not as filling and sustaining as more healthy food
I find this a high calorie meal and it is very small compared to what I mormally eat so I certainly couldnt do 1200 a day and eat processed food, and find diaries where people stick to 1200 and eat one or two meals of junk each day scary - that cannot be healthy
I dont do exercise during the week, I dont have the time but do at the weekend (mainly walking) I do and I do eat back the calories (or use them for a drink or two)
I dont feel deprived or hungry, I balance my carbs/protein/ I watch my calcium intake and fat, I eat plenty of fibre, and I do take a vit b supplement.
I feel better now than I did when i started this nearly 8 weeks ago, I no longer feel bloated, tired or lethargic.0 -
On an average, non-cheat day, i don't even eat half that amount. And I'm not starving, I don't even really feel hungry. It's a mental thing mostly. We are creatures of habit. We are accustomed to eating 2300 cal a day or whatever so we think we need it. we not only need to retrain our body, but we need to change the way we think as well. And caffiene. that helps too.0
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I also eat 1200 and am doing just fine losing. Everyone is different, so why argue about this?0
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Great if that works for you, but don't assume it works for everyone. What's "not that hard" for you can be difficult for others. You come off as very condescending and dismissive of other people's needs and experiences.
And for God's sake, people need to stop using being short as an excuse to eat drastically fewer calories than everyone else. It's NOT the only factor for your calorie goal. I'm 5'3 and lose steadily at 1600 calories.0 -
Well I don't think my friends, family, neighbors , or anyone I come into contact with would want to see me existing on 1200 because I would be a raving witch. My workouts average around 3000 calories burned so I need quite a bit more fuel than that. I'm glad it's working for you but you sound pretty snooty the way you phrased it. Ok, swell. Its not hard for you. For others it may be. Just like I don't expect everyone can work out for 4 hours a day. We all have different lives, bodies, experiences, health conditions. Everyone needs to have the freedom to do their own thing.0
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You better get your serum leptin concentration levels tested if you are eating less than 600 calories a day and have altered satiety signaling. Getting your bone mass density examined would be wise, too, if you've been chronically restricted calories to that degree.On an average, non-cheat day, i don't even eat half that amount. And I'm not starving, I don't even really feel hungry. It's a mental thing mostly. We are creatures of habit. We are accustomed to eating 2300 cal a day or whatever so we think we need it. we not only need to retrain our body, but we need to change the way we think as well. And caffiene. that helps too.0 -
My diary is open too. Most days I actually have trouble REACHING 1200 and I am NOT hungry. I have weird hours too, I am up at 10:30 until 3am. I do eat light around 11pm.0
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Are you able to lift now to try and maintain as much LBM as possible?
was going to say the same thing.
It's a hell of a lot easier to retain LBM than it is to gain it (especially for women).0 -
As someone who has lost well over 100lbs, and kept it off for three years (and tried it ALL, including 900 calories a day and 2 hours of workout a day) slow and steady keeps it off, and 1200 calories a day does not work for everyone.
It might work for you forever, you might cave in a month and binge eat. YOu never know. The average active woman needs more than 1200 calories a day.
That said, I eat 1200 a day because I have pcos and I don't lose anything if i eat more than that, but i am always starving.
Everyone is different.0 -
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I just simply cannot be bothered to read through this whole thread, got through the first 2 pages and there was enough BS on there to last me at least the next couple of weeks. The simple fact is, and it is fact, that if you restrict yourself to 1200 cals a day you are losing muscle mass along with fat. This will eventually come back and bite you on the *kitten* as the less muscle mass you have the fewer calories you burn on a daily basis, and when you eat normally again your body will lay down fat like it's going out of fashion. Can you not see it's basic physics that by eating at 1200 you are only setting yourself up for future failure? It's not us against you, it's just common sense that you are eating away at your muscle mass and only making things harder for yourself in the future.0
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I am not losing on 1200 and I am one of those people who have trouble staying that low. I workout everyday (30 day shred) swim a solid hour twice a week and dance the night away on saturdays. I should be able to eat more and lose but as soon as I go over the weight starts to creep back on. I don't have much to lose so I know it's going to be harder now.0
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I sustained 1200 calories for exactly one week. I couldn't do it. I couldn't handle being hungry all the time. Everyone is different; what works for you may not work for me, and vice versa.0
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This is my first rant in the 6 months of using this site.
DEFINITION: know–all/ˈnoʊˌɑ:l/noun. A know-it-all or know-all is a person who obnoxiously purports an expansive comprehension of a topic and/or situation when in reality, his/her comprehension is inaccurate or limited.
After hearing over and over again from people who are over 100 pounds overweight and who have "lost" 30 pounds in 8 weeks and then become self styled experts-I just want to barf....
Sometimes you can cut the SMUGNESS on this site with a knife. If you're such an expert on proper nutrition then how on earth did you GAIN the weight in the first place?
If it's so easy to live a normal and healthy life and lose weight (and keep it off) while having a rich social life, raising a family, maintaining a strong relationship with a significant other, growing a complex and demanding business, traveling often, and loving to cook --then I'd like to know the "magic" formula.
1200 calories a day IS DIFFICULT for people to achieve when their diet has previously consisted of very large high calorie meals and snacks. It can take months to reset your metabolism (and stomach!) to feel full with regular and lower fat portions. People making the commitment to do this need our support not thinly veiled criticism in the guise of "look at me".0 -
This is my first rant in the 6 months of using this site.
DEFINITION: know–all/ˈnoʊˌɑ:l/noun. A know-it-all or know-all is a person who obnoxiously purports an expansive comprehension of a topic and/or situation when in reality, his/her comprehension is inaccurate or limited.
After hearing over and over again from people who are over 100 pounds overweight and who have "lost" 30 pounds in 8 weeks and then become self styled experts-I just want to barf....
Sometimes you can cut the SMUGNESS on this site with a knife. If you're such an expert on proper nutrition then how on earth did you GAIN the weight in the first place?
If it's so easy to live a normal and healthy life and lose weight (and keep it off) while having a rich social life, raising a family, maintaining a strong relationship with a significant other, growing a complex and demanding business, traveling often, and loving to cook --then I'd like to know the "magic" formula.
1200 calories a day IS DIFFICULT for people to achieve when their diet has previously consisted of very large high calorie meals and snacks. It can take months to reset your metabolism (and stomach!) to feel full with regular and lower fat portions. People making the commitment to do this need our support not thinly veiled criticism in the guise of "look at me".
I love you right now. :smooched:0 -
Great if that works for you, but don't assume it works for everyone. What's "not that hard" for you can be difficult for others. You come off as very condescending and dismissive of other people's needs and experiences.
And for God's sake, people need to stop using being short as an excuse to eat drastically fewer calories than everyone else. It's NOT the only factor for your calorie goal. I'm 5'3 and lose steadily at 1600 calories.
Me? Lol... dear , reread my posts. I havent ever said what works for anyone else but me. In fact, from my first post here and a few more times I stressed that this is only what works for ME and that everyone is different and should do what works for them.
Some of you are quick on the draw but theres no gun fight. This isnt a thread giving advice, other than eating healthy makrs low cal dieting easier.0 -
Are you able to lift now to try and maintain as much LBM as possible?
Between a sprained back from squatting and a dislocated shoulder from falling off a ladder, i cant lift heavy and wasnt lifting at all forvyears. I probably have average to slightly higher strength now. Im going to start lifting lightly in a week or two and then heavier again (carefully) eventually.
This thread is funny.people get so annoyed and defensive. Everyone is different.0 -
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You're a guy. (in case you didn't know). and closer to your goal, i bet. probably even taller than me, unless you're a super short guy.
I would think 1200 would be too low for you too.
I have women 5'2" eating 2k-2300 and losing fat at a good clip.
these are heavier women who work out 3-4x a week.
At sedentary they are at about 1500cals.
Sounds like you just dont want to eat.
Also with the injuries you need building blocks to repair.
Maybe a diet break until you heal is in order.
Good luck with the bounce back.
To better understand my point of view you'd need a good understanding of fat and energy balance.
To make things simple i'll post this:
The 4 major biological functions of fat tissue are
(1) energy storage
(2) toxin storage
(3) protection against insulin resistance, and
(4) protection against estrogen decline in women.
Eliminate the functions of fat tissue also eliminates the reasons for its existence.
So if you produce 2000-2500 cals a day in energy but eat at 40-50% of that, at what point would fat not be needed?0 -
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I have a lot (a lot is relative of course, but I need to lose at least 65 more).I'm not looking to be a bikini model, but if I suddenly find myself without any leg muscles because of the rapid loss, I'll just make more.
Catch 22 though, as you'll need to significantly increase your calories to "make more". I'm assuming you're talking about gaining lean muscle mass?
Why would you want to lose it and have to gain it back again when you could simply increase your calories to a reasonable level now, lose slower and have a better chance or retaining muscle?
I could do it slowly, and get discouraged at the slow loss, and either give up, or get to my goal in another year or 2. Or I could do it quicker and remain motivated, and incorporate muscle building when I get closer to my goal.
FOR ME, the answer is easy.
on a side note, as I've said earlier I've lost a lot of weight before, very quickly. I was not without muscletone at the end. in fact, I looked great and was quite strong (I benched 250 after gaining back 20lbs... so either I only gained muscle, or I was already fairly strong and hadn't really lost much muscle at all)
YOU BENCHED 250LBS?!?!?!
Yes. Just once. Won a trophy.
How much can you cling and press?!?! Like, 1300?
Edit: Women's world records range from 206-430lbs in different weight classes. I redact the Olympics comment. Stand by the cling and press question.
When I was only 15, I got up to 175 pounds with the bench press. (No clue what cling and press is) But I could do leg presses (on the machine) for 350 pounds. It is true that some women, especially ones that begin sports/weight training at an early age, that have higher strength. I have no doubt that if I hadn't quit lifting that I would be well over 250 by now.
I have always had very strong legs (15 years of soccer and basketball, among other things), but for my arms....there's no way I could do that now, I'm sure, maybe 100 pounds, but I doubt I could still do 175. I haven't tried though, so you never know.
I remember a time at church when I was a teenager.....men were moving those long folding tables for a church dinner. They were two men each carrying the tables. I picked one up by myself and carried it with little effort, and they all stopped and stared, even my dad. :laugh:
ETA: A friend of mine, one year older, who also lifted and always beat me at arm wrestling, could bench 225 at 16 years old.0 -
I just simply cannot be bothered to read through this whole thread, got through the first 2 pages and there was enough BS on there to last me at least the next couple of weeks. The simple fact is, and it is fact, that if you restrict yourself to 1200 cals a day you are losing muscle mass along with fat. This will eventually come back and bite you on the *kitten* as the less muscle mass you have the fewer calories you burn on a daily basis, and when you eat normally again your body will lay down fat like it's going out of fashion. Can you not see it's basic physics that by eating at 1200 you are only setting yourself up for future failure? It's not us against you, it's just common sense that you are eating away at your muscle mass and only making things harder for yourself in the future.
80 grams of protein is only 320 calories. That leaves 880 left for fats and carbs. If they are getting enough protein and exercising then they are not necessarily losing a bunch of LBM.0 -
I just simply cannot be bothered to read through this whole thread, got through the first 2 pages and there was enough BS on there to last me at least the next couple of weeks. The simple fact is, and it is fact, that if you restrict yourself to 1200 cals a day you are losing muscle mass along with fat. This will eventually come back and bite you on the *kitten* as the less muscle mass you have the fewer calories you burn on a daily basis, and when you eat normally again your body will lay down fat like it's going out of fashion. Can you not see it's basic physics that by eating at 1200 you are only setting yourself up for future failure? It's not us against you, it's just common sense that you are eating away at your muscle mass and only making things harder for yourself in the future.
80 grams of protein is only 320 calories. That leaves 880 left for fats and carbs. If they are getting enough protein and exercising then they are not necessarily losing a bunch of LBM.
Depends on the exercise.
And depends on the age, height, weight, body fat% and activity of the individual in question.0 -
This thread is funny.people get so annoyed and defensive. Everyone is different.
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/you-are-not-different.html0
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