The 1200 Calorie Myth
abbylady
Posts: 26 Member
I know what I'm going to say is controversial since this site seems to think that 1200 calories is a healthy way to live.
It's not. Put it into any search bar and you will find some kind of scientific statement saying that this kind of diet is the BARE MINIMUM the body can handle in order to survive. Sure, this kind of deficit in calories will cause weight loss. But calories are not a bad thing -- calories are just units to measure energy. The bad thing is fat. The bad thing is excessive carbs. Consequently, they all have a significant amount of energy to them, or calories.
Eating 1200 calories will make you lose weight at a noticeable pace. It is important to remember that eventually, your body will realize it isn't getting enough. The metabolism starts to slow, causing a plateau. The answer is not to work yourself harder or eat even less or the combination of the two. The answer is to eat more and work harder.
It's just a little disturbing how I'm finding a lot of people who are relying on solely what the big number means. You could eat 2000 calories of veggies and proper protein a day and lose weight. Whatever the case, I urge those who think a successful diet is based on your caloric intake to eat a little more and exercise a little more. It's just healthier.
It's not. Put it into any search bar and you will find some kind of scientific statement saying that this kind of diet is the BARE MINIMUM the body can handle in order to survive. Sure, this kind of deficit in calories will cause weight loss. But calories are not a bad thing -- calories are just units to measure energy. The bad thing is fat. The bad thing is excessive carbs. Consequently, they all have a significant amount of energy to them, or calories.
Eating 1200 calories will make you lose weight at a noticeable pace. It is important to remember that eventually, your body will realize it isn't getting enough. The metabolism starts to slow, causing a plateau. The answer is not to work yourself harder or eat even less or the combination of the two. The answer is to eat more and work harder.
It's just a little disturbing how I'm finding a lot of people who are relying on solely what the big number means. You could eat 2000 calories of veggies and proper protein a day and lose weight. Whatever the case, I urge those who think a successful diet is based on your caloric intake to eat a little more and exercise a little more. It's just healthier.
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Replies
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This site does a good job if you use it honestly and don't try to be too aggressive when setting your weight-loss Goal here. Keep this in mind when using the tools to set up your goals:
If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal,
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal,
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal,
If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal, and
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal.
The problem is most people have no idea what a healthy rate of weight loss is.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/186814-some-mfp-basics
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits0 -
My TDEE is 1,700 or so, so I do not lose weight eating 2,000, I maintain and slowly start to gain0
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I know what I'm going to say is controversial since this site seems to think that 1200 calories is a healthy way to live.
It's not. Put it into any search bar and you will find some kind of scientific statement saying that this kind of diet is the BARE MINIMUM the body can handle in order to survive. Sure, this kind of deficit in calories will cause weight loss. But calories are not a bad thing -- calories are just units to measure energy. The bad thing is fat. The bad thing is excessive carbs. Consequently, they all have a significant amount of energy to them, or calories.
Eating 1200 calories will make you lose weight at a noticeable pace. It is important to remember that eventually, your body will realize it isn't getting enough. The metabolism starts to slow, causing a plateau. The answer is not to work yourself harder or eat even less or the combination of the two. The answer is to eat more and work harder.
It's just a little disturbing how I'm finding a lot of people who are relying on solely what the big number means. You could eat 2000 calories of veggies and proper protein a day and lose weight. Whatever the case, I urge those who think a successful diet is based on your caloric intake to eat a little more and exercise a little more. It's just healthier.
So much wrong in one post, see bolded0 -
inb4 CaliforniaGirl0
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sorry OP but this sounds like the same kind of illogical psuedo science that a crazy coworker of mine was trying to get me to understand.
although i do agree that 1200 is much too low for most people. i disagree with the statement that the bad things are excessive carbs and fats. also the idea that you can eat XX amount of calories of proteins and veggies and still lose weight.
my coworker's idea is that you can eat as many calories as you want as long as it' healthy stuff. she didnt seem to understand that consistently eating over your TDEE is what makes people gain weight, no matter how healthy the food i. i think sumo wrestlers are a good example of that. those guys eat a crap load of healthy food but because it's so much of it they can weight0 -
It's just a little disturbing how I'm finding a lot of people who are relying on solely what the big number means. You could eat 2000 calories of veggies and proper protein a day and lose weight.
Weight loss is all about the big number. All about a deficit. You can eat twinkies all day and as long as you are eating less calories than you burn, you will lose weight. If a person has a TDEE of 1600, then they would gain weight eating 2000 calories, even if its of veggies.
ETA: Ofcourse for proper nutrition, do not eat twinkies all day!0 -
is it just me or is it the people who tell you how to lose weight are over weight themselves or have never been over weight in there lives0
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Yes, there are quite a few myths in the OP. the big number is very important, though most serious people here also are firm proponents of healthy, clean eating. How many calories an individual needs is highly variable, depending on size and energy expenditure. For example, at 5'1", 107 pounds and age 57, my calorie needs aren't very high. That makes me exceedingly careful to make sure that I get good nutrition packed into every meal. And where did the idea come from that carbs and fat are bad? My asparagus sautéed in butter would beg to differ.0
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The bad thing is fat.
Check my diary over the past 3 months, and check the weight loss in that time
tell me that fats are bad
There is NOTHING wrong with Fats, that is just what we have been conditioned to believe is the case. Simple fact is any of the three key macros can be bad for you if you are eating to excess, but that then just leads back to if you are eating to excess your calorie number will be >TDEE0 -
I know what I'm going to say is controversial since this site seems to think that 1200 calories is a healthy way to live.
It's not. Put it into any search bar and you will find some kind of scientific statement saying that this kind of diet is the BARE MINIMUM the body can handle in order to survive. Sure, this kind of deficit in calories will cause weight loss. But calories are not a bad thing -- calories are just units to measure energy. The bad thing is fat. The bad thing is excessive carbs. Consequently, they all have a significant amount of energy to them, or calories.
Eating 1200 calories will make you lose weight at a noticeable pace. It is important to remember that eventually, your body will realize it isn't getting enough. The metabolism starts to slow, causing a plateau. The answer is not to work yourself harder or eat even less or the combination of the two. The answer is to eat more and work harder.
It's just a little disturbing how I'm finding a lot of people who are relying on solely what the big number means. You could eat 2000 calories of veggies and proper protein a day and lose weight. Whatever the case, I urge those who think a successful diet is based on your caloric intake to eat a little more and exercise a little more. It's just healthier.
Fat isn't a bad thing, LDL is but you need HDLs to maintain a healthy body.
If your metabolism slows down, why does intermittent fasting work so well do reduce body fat?
You don't need to exercise to lose weight, is helps but you can drop body fat without it.0 -
I JUST STARTED USING THIS SIGHT, JUST TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I TAKE IN DURING THE DAY, IF I AM HUNGRY, I EAT, I HAVE A LOT OF WEIGHT TO LOSE, BUT ANYONE WHO THINKS THAT THIS SIGHT IS ANYTHING BUT A DIARY TO REMIND YOU WHERE YOU ARE IS WRONG. NO ONE KNOWS YOUR BODY BETTER THAN YOU, USE THE SIGHT AS A REMINDER, AND A JOURNAL, BUT NOT AS A GUIDE. THE ONLY GUIDE IS YOUR OWN ACTIONS, AND YOUR OWN PERFORMANCES. THE MORE YOU WORK, AND THE MORE YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING, THE MORE YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH. 1200 CALORIES MAY BE FOR SOME PEOPLE, BUT EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT.0
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What a complete load of garbage. If you eat a low fat or low carb diet but still somehoe manage to consume more calories than your body burns you will gain weight.0
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Put it into any search bar
Did I happen to mention I'm a French model?
Bonjourno0 -
Aww, the 1200 cal threads are my favorite threads, right behind the "starvation mode" threads. Has there ever been a fat person die of starvation and still be fat???
Edit: still be "skinny fat" LOL0 -
"The bad thing is fat. The bad thing is excessive carbs."
Oh boy! :noway: This advice is just as bad as the 1200 calorie advice.0 -
Aww, the 1200 cal threads are my favorite threads, right behind the "starvation mode" threads. Has there ever been a fat person die of starvation and still be fat???
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:0 -
inb4 CaliforniaGirl
That's my line!0 -
I know what I'm going to say is controversial since this site seems to think that 1200 calories is a healthy way to live.
It's not. Put it into any search bar and you will find some kind of scientific statement saying that this kind of diet is the BARE MINIMUM the body can handle in order to survive. Sure, this kind of deficit in calories will cause weight loss. But calories are not a bad thing -- calories are just units to measure energy. The bad thing is fat. The bad thing is excessive carbs. Consequently, they all have a significant amount of energy to them, or calories.
Eating 1200 calories will make you lose weight at a noticeable pace. It is important to remember that eventually, your body will realize it isn't getting enough. The metabolism starts to slow, causing a plateau. The answer is not to work yourself harder or eat even less or the combination of the two. The answer is to eat more and work harder.
It's just a little disturbing how I'm finding a lot of people who are relying on solely what the big number means. You could eat 2000 calories of veggies and proper protein a day and lose weight. Whatever the case, I urge those who think a successful diet is based on your caloric intake to eat a little more and exercise a little more. It's just healthier.
So much wrong in one post, see bolded
Quoted for emphasis0 -
:laugh:inb4 CaliforniaGirl0 -
It's the people setting their goals which is the problem. The site makes calculations according to their info..0
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This site does a good job if you use it honestly and don't try to be too aggressive when setting your weight-loss Goal here. Keep this in mind when using the tools to set up your goals:
If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal,
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal,
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal,
If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal, and
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal.
The problem is most people have no idea what a healthy rate of weight loss is.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/186814-some-mfp-basics
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits
This is more helpful than what the OP posted IMO. Fats, and carbs are not the devil.0 -
But calories are not a bad thing -- calories are just units to measure energy.
Yes, calories are a unit of energy. And body fat is how your body stores energy for later, no matter if it comes from carbs, protein, or fat.0 -
I am 5ft 1, therefore several inches below average. I cannot therefore eat an average calorie intake without gaining weight. I must eat proportionately to my height, to lose, gain or maintain. When I exercise, I burn fewer calories for the same time, speed, distance as someone taller than me.
When people say things like 1200 is the bare minimum the body can survive on, just what kind of body are they referring to?
If I were tall, I'd be told that 1200 wasn't meant to be taken literally and my base line number would be higher than that. Does it not make sense that 1200 is also too high a baseline for very short people? Why is everyone so fixated on the magic 1200 number?0 -
I know what I'm going to say is controversial since this site seems to think that 1200 calories is a healthy way to live.
It's not. Put it into any search bar and you will find some kind of scientific statement saying that this kind of diet is the BARE MINIMUM the body can handle in order to survive. Sure, this kind of deficit in calories will cause weight loss. But calories are not a bad thing -- calories are just units to measure energy. The bad thing is fat. The bad thing is excessive carbs. Consequently, they all have a significant amount of energy to them, or calories.
Eating 1200 calories will make you lose weight at a noticeable pace. It is important to remember that eventually, your body will realize it isn't getting enough. The metabolism starts to slow, causing a plateau. The answer is not to work yourself harder or eat even less or the combination of the two. The answer is to eat more and work harder.
It's just a little disturbing how I'm finding a lot of people who are relying on solely what the big number means. You could eat 2000 calories of veggies and proper protein a day and lose weight. Whatever the case, I urge those who think a successful diet is based on your caloric intake to eat a little more and exercise a little more. It's just healthier.
Losing 4 pounds does not make someone a health and fitness expert! Yet again we have another post based on someones imagined pseudoscence rather than hard established peer reviewed fact! I'm actually surprised that I can respond to this thread however, as I usually eat below the BARE MINIMUM these days so should be dead?0 -
And why should we believe you over peer reviewed scientific studies that suggest differently?
This site does not suggest 1200 calories is a 'healthy way to live', but it CAN be a healthy way to lose weight.
1200 is an entirely arbitrary number chosen as one that if you have a good balance of food in there you should get the majority of micro nutrients you need as an average person.
From 'typing it in to a search bar', that seems to be the reasoning behind it.0 -
I know what I'm going to say is controversial since this site seems to think that 1200 calories is a healthy way to live.
It's not. Put it into any search bar and you will find some kind of scientific statement saying that this kind of diet is the BARE MINIMUM the body can handle in order to survive. Sure, this kind of deficit in calories will cause weight loss. But calories are not a bad thing -- calories are just units to measure energy. The bad thing is fat. The bad thing is excessive carbs. Consequently, they all have a significant amount of energy to them, or calories.
Eating 1200 calories will make you lose weight at a noticeable pace. It is important to remember that eventually, your body will realize it isn't getting enough. The metabolism starts to slow, causing a plateau. The answer is not to work yourself harder or eat even less or the combination of the two. The answer is to eat more and work harder.
It's just a little disturbing how I'm finding a lot of people who are relying on solely what the big number means. You could eat 2000 calories of veggies and proper protein a day and lose weight. Whatever the case, I urge those who think a successful diet is based on your caloric intake to eat a little more and exercise a little more. It's just healthier.
Losing 4 pounds does not make someone a health and fitness expert! Yet again we have another post based on someones imagined pseudoscence rather than hard established peer reviewed fact! I'm actually surprised that I can respond to this thread however, as I usually eat below the BARE MINIMUM these days so should be dead?
You're a zombie now. You'd be better off losing weight by just cutting off an arm.0 -
I don't know....I hear brains are low in fat and carbs and high in protein. He may be ok....lolI know what I'm going to say is controversial since this site seems to think that 1200 calories is a healthy way to live.
It's not. Put it into any search bar and you will find some kind of scientific statement saying that this kind of diet is the BARE MINIMUM the body can handle in order to survive. Sure, this kind of deficit in calories will cause weight loss. But calories are not a bad thing -- calories are just units to measure energy. The bad thing is fat. The bad thing is excessive carbs. Consequently, they all have a significant amount of energy to them, or calories.
Eating 1200 calories will make you lose weight at a noticeable pace. It is important to remember that eventually, your body will realize it isn't getting enough. The metabolism starts to slow, causing a plateau. The answer is not to work yourself harder or eat even less or the combination of the two. The answer is to eat more and work harder.
It's just a little disturbing how I'm finding a lot of people who are relying on solely what the big number means. You could eat 2000 calories of veggies and proper protein a day and lose weight. Whatever the case, I urge those who think a successful diet is based on your caloric intake to eat a little more and exercise a little more. It's just healthier.
Losing 4 pounds does not make someone a health and fitness expert! Yet again we have another post based on someones imagined pseudoscence rather than hard established peer reviewed fact! I'm actually surprised that I can respond to this thread however, as I usually eat below the BARE MINIMUM these days so should be dead?
You're a zombie now. You'd be better off losing weight by just cutting off an arm.0 -
I started on 1200 calories & lost few pounds, then maintained for few weeks & so on, increased to 1500 & I now lose one pound a week :-)0
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I found that when I was put at 1200 calories, I thought I was full and it was working for me, but I found myself binging almost every night. Could I survive? Sure. Was it healthy? Not at all. I upped my calories to 1600 and haven't binged for a month. I see that as victory.0
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This site does a good job if you use it honestly and don't try to be too aggressive when setting your weight-loss Goal here. Keep this in mind when using the tools to set up your goals:
If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal,
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal,
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal,
If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal, and
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal.
The problem is most people have no idea what a healthy rate of weight loss is.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/186814-some-mfp-basics
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits
THIS ^^
And the fact that this site is set up so you ate those base calories PLUS more to fuel your exercise. So an average person eating 1,200 and doing a reasonable amount of exercise of perhaps 200-300 a day is eating 1,400-1,500. If they are using the tool properly.0
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