Being told 1200 cal a day= starvation mode
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Why is it that MFP thinks it is 'healthy' for someone to be on a 1000 calorie deficit at 1200, yet not healthy for someone else to be on a 400 calorie deficit at 1150? Does that make any sense at all?^^^^ This! Eating at 800 to 1100 calories is unhealthy. You should not be giving advice to others. You should get your own house in order.
There is a good reason behind the 1200 minimum, but it's rarely stated.
I don't want my dieting to be about sustainable eating - I want it to be about losing weight.
If I get to a 'maintenance' point, then I will learn what works for me there (reality is I play to bulk and cut).
I have done the whole 'eating sustainably' thing in the past; it hasn't stopped me from then binging when something has gone wrong in life, etc.0 -
I am far off from starvation mode. We eat too much to start with, 1200 cal are more closer to what we need then the "standard" 2000 cal.
Over generalization and just not true. I maintain on about 2,300 with no cardio (and I am older than many here and an average height). How can 1,200 possibly be right for me? Or even 2,000?0 -
For equivalent levels of activity, a 65 year old needs approximately 190 less calories than the 25 year old. While activity level is a strong indicator of needs, the body does require less calories, all other things being constant at a rate of about 4.6 calories per year for women. So while that difference is not huge those 190 calories do make a difference.
Starvation mode is often misused on this site but adaptive thermogenesis is no myth. A body does adjust as a person reduces calorie intake for extended periods - some of this is due to reduced NEAT activity, other is related to muscle loss, etc...
Eating at significant deficit means that the weight loss that occurs will also be due to muscle loss - this is not a good thing. Losing muscle --> reduced metabolism --> muscle will NOT be regained until the body is shown that it needs it. With lower muscle mass, weight gain occurs quicker and boom - vicious cycle.
This would be the key point. If you want to eat a very low calorie diet, that is your choice. All choices have risks associated with them. The risks of a very low caloried diet include low af muscle mass, down regualtion of metabolism that can be fairly permanent (no, everything you eat won't turn to fat) and fouled up hormones. There have been many posts from those who have experienced this and how much they regret thier chioce.0 -
Well, even with the fact that I entered "2lbs a week" in my settings, MFP still set me up loosing 1.5 lbs a week...at 1200. I guess what I will do is stick with the 1200 for a week or two, see how it goes...then if I need to, adjust.
Thanks for all the input guys, I appreciate it and find it all very interesting
Yes, if you happen to be on the short side, like me, MFP will NOT let you set your goal for 2 lb a week, because you'd have to go under 1200, and MFP seems to take 1200 as the absolute minimum. I don't think it's really a problem as I (personally) don't think there's a big advantage to faster weight loss. It does mean that if us shorter people are sensibly staying at 1200 calories or above, we're going to be losing weight more slowly than average.
One of the problems with a lower calorie goal is that it's obviously more difficult to get enough of the right nutrition in. So I think it's particularly important to watch what you're eating and making sure you get a good balance, if you're not eating very much of it!0 -
Personally, I did 1200 or there abouts for 2 weeks. I was tired....beyond being tired I was constantly thinking about food and it just wasn't sustainable for the rest of my life. I'll stick with my 1700 + (and I'm losing the same amount of weight per week as I was at 1200..... ) 0
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you can eat a lot in a day on 1200 cal diet. i manage to eat a 2 egg omelette (whole eggs) stuffed w veges, meat and full fat cheese, then for lunch i can have a healthy small pizza on pita bread or maybe a meat & salad wrap or a kangaroo sandwich on wholemeal bread - all three of those options w full fat cheese. Then for dinner i have a small amount of meat and either salad or steamed veg. i also have enough for a no fat no added sugar yoghurt, 1/4 rockmelon, and a small tub of choc gelato. i try to eat every 3 hrs and don't eat back exercise calories unless i feel hungry or lightheaded - which is rare. it's all about making smart food choices - yeah you're going to starve if you blow all your calories on a mcdonald's lunch.0
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you can eat a lot in a day on 1200 cal diet. i manage to eat a 2 egg omelette (whole eggs) stuffed w veges, meat and full fat cheese, then for lunch i can have a healthy small pizza on pita bread or maybe a meat & salad wrap or a kangaroo sandwich on wholemeal bread - all three of those options w full fat cheese. Then for dinner i have a small amount of meat and either salad or steamed veg. i also have enough for a no fat no added sugar yoghurt, 1/4 rockmelon, and a small tub of choc gelato. i try to eat every 3 hrs and don't eat back exercise calories unless i feel hungry or lightheaded - which is rare. it's all about making smart food choices - yeah you're going to starve if you blow all your calories on a mcdonald's lunch.
Bravo.0 -
Let the blood bath begin.. lol
first I will say that the last 3 weeks or so is not a way to judge my diary. I have been sick and my medications for my cronic illness have been adjusted, so my diary has been less than proper.
However, before that, i have logged everything to a drop of water.
I am on 800-1000 (and up to 1200 if i decide) calories per day, regulated by my doctor, and NO, its not starvation mode. Anything under 800 per day, over a 3 month period or LONGER time frame is considered "starvation mode." Your body does NOT go into starvation mode on a day or two of low calories.. or even a week! So dont flip out.
Several people do calorie rotating.. where they eat lower calories during the week, so they can live it up one weekends.. Just because MFP "resets" your calories over night, does not mean your body does.. its over time.. While you body weight goes up day to day, it also gues up hour to hour, and week to week ,month to month.... pick a weigh in date and time. week, monday, day, whatever............ choose it and stick to it. I choose weekly, some choose monthly. THAT is when your calories need to "reset" in your brain. OVERALL, remember its calories OUT versus calories IN.. so as long as (in a deficit) you have more calories going OUT of your body than you have coming INTO your body, you WILL lose weight!
Its based on an average. If you want tacos and hotdogs.. so be it.. but you have to pay in salads and a 2 mile run, or you risk being FAT.... its give and take. just as it is in life......... If you wanna drink half the night and party.. then you have to wait until saturday so you dont have to work, or you risk being fired! If you take weight loss as serious as you did the rest of your life, then you would see its really NOT as big of a deal as you think it is.. you just have to prioritise it!!
Good Luck!
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1200 calories is not starvation mode! Sure, it may sound like a little, but it's the lowest one can go on calories. My aunt is on a 1200 calorie diet and it was recommended by HER DOCTOR! i think if a doctor says 1200 calories is good, then it should be good enough lol
I think your co-workers should research the topic and then come back with an opinion. Just saying.0 -
I also was confused by this issue, that is until I stumbled onto this
https://www.facebook.com/EM2WL
Eat more to weigh less
Changed my whole world. I stopped dieting 155 days ago and I am down 31 lbs and even when I could not work out because I had the flu, my weight never went up.
Here is their myfitnesspal link http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ANewLucia0 -
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/welcome/guidelines
Good Morning my MFP Friends,
I have cleaned up this thread, started by our new member just asking a simple question that was new to her!
MFP does NOT promote any type of VLCD in our forums. For that reason some of your posts were deleted, or edited to remove a post you quoted.
Also, please be kind. We were all new here at some point, and didn't have all the answers.
She has a right to post a question without fear of being attacked or mocked.
I did not issue warnings for some of the infractions, as they were just heated, not outright rude.
Thank you for continueing to keep the boards fun for EVERYONE!
:flowerforyou: Arewethereyet MFP Moderator0 -
i actualy eat quite well and i dont try to get other people to eat as i do tho to eat lots of veg lean meat fruit and low sugar is quite a good diet.
i have loads of energy more than before i lost the over 7 and a half stones. i feel more healthy than i have done for years.
All i can say to you is good luck on your journey, we all do this our own way we travel the same road but in different shoes.
god bless.
--edited by Moderator AWTY----0 -
I am not going into that starvation mode discussion.
What I want to tell you, and some have already said, is that 2 pounds a week is to much for a person needing to lose 44 pounds. For a person needing to lose 100 lbs may be more ok.
I know that we all want to lose as fast as we can, but try to get more documentated on the efects of losing weight slowly vs losing quickly.
Everybody is different, but try to take more things into consideration.
Maybe trying 1.5 pounds a week with lowering to 1 pound as you loose your first 20 pounds.0 -
Keep in mind that MFP can only go with the information it has, too, so like others have said, you have to see how it works for you. I have a lot less body fat than most women my age, and MFP doesn't take that into account, so it tells me to eat a lot less than I eat. I actually have it set to gain even tho I'm in maintenance, and I still eat most of my exercise calories and I've actually lost over the last 2 weeks. Going to have to eat all of my exercise calories to maintain, I think, and that's with it set to gain .5 lb. per week.
If 1200 doesn't work for you, then like others have recommended, check out Dan's roadmap. And get your body fat measured if you want the BMR and TDEE calculations to be more accurate.0 -
You never hit a plateau?Thats how I lost my weight. and I've kept it off for 2 years now.0 -
I honestly believe that starvation mode is a myth, atleast for me anyway. I workout like crazy and I eat only 1400 a say even when I work out and burn 400-500 calories. I know this isnt healthy for me but I cant eat anymore I just dont have the appetitie. Most of my diet is fruits and veggies and you have to eat A LOT to get to that amount. My point is even will be only taking in 900-1000 calories a day (that is including the calories I burned from workout) I am still losing about 3 lbs a week so you will lose weight, trust me.0
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Good Morning my MFP Friends,
I have cleaned up this thread, started by our new member just asking a simple question that was new to her!
........
:flowerforyou: Arewethereyet MFP Moderator
"Cleaned up"?
I had to tend to something in the kitchen, came back to read a very long, extremely helpful post written by someone nearer my age, and poof, it's gone!! I'm 71, and what that 60-sonething had to say was a lot more relevant, and frankly a lot more interesting, than your weightloss experience.
Seems to me that one can get deleted from here just by mentioning certain verboten topics! So I won't mention my daily calorie level, my thoughts about starvation, my doctor's advice, etc.
I gently suggest that "decimated" is a more accurate description of the editing that has taken place here. 95% of the posts that were deleted were not degrading or demeaning in
Hi! I had to move some stuff around because, as I stated,per the Guidelines VLCD are not encouraged. If someone quoted the post, I removed it or any reference.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/welcome/guidelines
Honeslty, I do the best I can as a 5 yr member and volunteer to give back. Any reference to very low calorie diet is not allowed. So I removed it.
I hope you have a lovely day0 -
I ate less than 1200 cals when I was in "weight loss" mode. I did not starve and didn't do any damage. In fact I lost my unwanted 10lbs and a significant amount of body fat while actually increasing my lean mass.(through exercise and weight training) It can be done-despite all the crap people here will tell you. Do what works for YOU (lots of protein and fiber helps keep you fuller longer)0
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Starvation mode is only a myth and doesn't exist. If it did, you wouldn't see people in third world countries that are skin and bones from lack of calories.
Everyone is different. You have to figure out what works for you. I've lost 100 pounds in 8 months eating 1200 calories. It works for me but it may not work for others.
If you feel 1200 isn't enough, try to up it by 100 calories for a week and see how it goes. What works for one person, wont always work for the other.
Good luck!
^^This0 -
1200 calories a day (non-exercise days) of whole food is good to start with. Your body most likely will not go into starvation mode. Important though is to be sure you get enough good fat (olive, coconut, canola to name a few). Consider taking quality multi-vitamins, calcium, omega-3 (from Krill fish is best) and probiotic supplements. If 1200 a day is difficult for you, you can choose to increase that by maybe 100 calories and just be OK with the fact that your weight loss will slow down. One way you can compensate is to NOT eat all of the calories you burn on your exercise days. Maybe save 100 calories on exercise days for your 1300 calorie days. Protein and healthy fats will help you feel more full. Alternate between hot and cold liquids. I've been using a protein powder that I really like. Its called Garden of Life Raw Protein. I mix 1 scoop (80 calories) of it with 1C of Good Karma Unsweetened Flax Milk(25 calories) and add up to 1tsp of Flora Flax Oil. Its a satisfying snack or a refuel after exercise. In my humble opinion the average exerciser creates more damage than help because they credit themselves with more calories burned than what honestly was burned (even using a calculator). It takes a lot of hard exercise to burn a significant number of calories, so beware of over-compensating. Enjoy the journey! 0
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I have lost 50 lbs over the last 8 months (I am a 60 yr old woman). I try to keep it at 1400 calories a day. If I exercise, I sometimes eat more which allows me a little extra. I did not exercise at the beginning and ate the 1400 and still lost. I do not eat many starches or processed foods. I eat mostly protein and vegetables, little fruit. 1200 does seem pretty low, I haven't lost real fast, but steady. I have my times I eat over 1400, but I try to keep it around that and the weight comes off. I have been trying to make this a lifestyle instead of just a diet. I do use MyFitnessPal every day to track..it is kinda fun. I have a girlfriend who is much smaller built than me and she has maintained a 40 lb loss for about 6 years now and she says she stays around 1400 or 1600 with exercise. If you are younger, you probably have an even better metabolism than me.0
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Arewethereyet,
Your response would be more useful if you told me what vcld means.
Also, "have a nice day" is a flippant phrase that strikes we older folk in the same way a thumb flip off the noses does. Sorry to tell you that, but it doesn't create a sense of community here when you say things like that.
Best wishes,
Amanda
Amanda,
Sorry, I did not mean it in that way at all! I always wish every one a lovely or nice day and honeslty mean it.
Very Low Calorie Diet = VLCD
:flowerforyou: Jeannine1 -
Just to chime in and repeat another poster
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
It's an extremely helpful post that put things in order for me. I check back to it every month or so. I encourage you to read it.0 -
My best advice to you is that everyone thinks they are a weight-loss expert but all of our bodies work differently. What works for the ladies at work may not work the same for you. Everyone who finds out I am tracking calories has some advice of some sort or another but most are misunderstood facts from unrelated fad diets.
I find it easiest to listen and agree with them and then continue your weight loss plan that is working for you. No one has to know! lol0 -
Starvation mode is anything under 1200 calories a day! 1200 is the minimum calorie intake for an adult. Even the MFP app will tell you if you haven't consumed it least 1200 calories your body will think it's starving. Once you complete your diary it's in the small black print on the bottom. It only appears there if you have consumed less than 1200 calories though.0
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Its not starvation mode.....but its probably not your number either.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
Figure out your TDEE then just cut from there.
And props to the posters of the road map.0 -
Eat often but in small amounts and you will be fine0
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never go below 1200....ever, always eat up to the 1200 if you exercise. be patient........this program works awesome.. . .but it is steady as she goes. I am going on 3 yrs doing it. when I try to change up or eat less, I gain ? Body tries to keep it's fat to nourish itself, esp if a female.
I have lost 66 lbs in 2 yrs, gained back 10 this last yr and now realizing I probably have to document my food for the rest of my life to stay in goal range.
I have 15 to goal and want to hit it before my 60th birthday in April.0 -
It depends on you and your own metabolism I think.......I had a metabolic test done a year ago and
for my body response on their testing equipment ...etc..they had be all hooked up....it said 1300 is
what I needed a day to maintain......as we age we need less food and that is kindof the cut and dry of it....
I know if I eat 1500 or over too many days in a row I gain.....I also know that for my body if I stick at 1200 and under
and exercise on a schedule i can loose about half a pound a week......
It depends on your own body burn...if that makes any sense0 -
If you eat good quality wholesome foods you'll be fine
I'm losing weight and building muscle. I don't feel hungry and I take a daily viatmin because I was having trouble getting enough from what I was eating which I honestly think is because allot of the foods entered in the data base aren't entered properly.
Your body will tell you when you are hungry. Listen to it and feed it if that is what it needs
You arent building muscle at 1200 unless you are 3 foot tall.
You need a surplus or alien DNA to do that.
You probably are losing it though.
Before saying stuff like this i'd like to quote Brad Pilon "DEXA or it didnt happen!"
What you meant to say is "Ive lost significant fat around my muscle and so i have better definition.
If you break down the macros for each food you eat at 1200 youd probably realize that its really not enough to feed your body.
Are you getting 1g protein per pound of LBM?
Are you getting .40-.70g of fat per pound of LBM?
99% of the people doing the "1200 calories diet" arent and thus failing at said diet.0
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