1200 calories = more likely to have problems?

Yeah, but see, here's the thing. MFP put me at a calorie limit of 1290. So why does it do that when 1200 calories is apparently not enough to get by on?

Has anyone else noticed that most of the "I have a problem..." threads are started by those with a 1200 calorie daily limit? Especially the "I can't stop snacking" and "I'm so hungry!" threads.

Coincidence? Something to consider if you're currently struggling at 1200 calories?

Or am I just imagining this?

This is still going? Seriously people. Seriously.

Put it this way... my other half is just over 5'. She is 54-55kg atm. She is dieting and losing weight on 1600 calories a day. She has a sick six pack, ab veins and clear defined obliques. Why drop lower when you do not need to and actually LOSE lean body mass making easier to pack on FAT.

Put it this way... my other half is just over 5'. She is 54-55kg atm. She is dieting and losing weight on 1600 calories a day. She has a sick six pack, ab veins and clear defined obliques. Why drop lower when you do not need to and actually LOSE lean body mass making easier to pack on FAT.

I think it is the "more is better" philosophy. As in "the more of a deficit then the more faster I will lose weight"

people dont seem to be concerned about losing muscle mass or overall health. they want to lose weight and lose it as fast as they can.

comes down to not being educated about what they are doing to their bodies for the long term.

And then arguing with those who try to help telling them they are wrong. Shame because its not hard.

THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT.

IT was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.

ii.

The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
"God bless me!—but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!"

iii.

The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried:"Ho!—what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 't is mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!"

iv.

The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:

"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a snake!"

v.

The Fourth reached out his eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," quoth he;
"'T is clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!"

vi.

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!"

vii.

The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a rope!"

viii.

And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!

moral.

So, oft in theologic wars
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen

The bottom line is that you have to figure out your BMR and TDEE and work from there to figure out the correct range for YOUR body.

Recently I saw a 27 yr old women, 5'10", 300 pounds. Her BMR is 1800. She works out regularly and has a job where she is on her feet all day. Her TDEE is between 2500 and 3200. She can eat between 1500 and 2200 per day to lose 2 pounds a week. For her, 1200 cals would be ridiculous.

I am 49, 5'6" and at my current weight of 201, my BF% is still around 48%. My BMR is 1370. I don't work outside the home, am partially disabled so I can't workout a lot and lift heavy weights, but I can ride my recumbent bike a few days a week and am getting stronger every week. My maintenance level without added exercise is around 1700. 1200 gives me 1 pound a week loss. I average another 200 calories burned a day with exercise. This gives me another half pound loss per week, as I don't need to eat them back.
I have yet to 'plateau' and will hit 100 days on Tuesday. I have lost 27 pounds as of this morning. I eat very healthy, and as long as I continue eating that way, I don't get hungry or fatigued. My muscles are stronger now than they were 3 months ago. Previously I maintained my weight eating around 1700 per day. A 500 calorie deficit from that number is not that big of a deal.

Did you all READ the post from the lady who lost 150 pounds already? Her story is not unique.

It is all relative. But for some reason many people just freak out when they see the dreaded 1200 number.

Do what works for you and don't worry about everyone else. Really. It is that simple.

Upping calories manually, I finally stopped losing at around 2450kcal, + exercise. So, on 1200, I was eating half my TDEE.

So does 1200kcal = more problems? For me in the long term it did.

Is 1200kcal wrong for everyone? Probably not. Is it a coincidence that so many hunger complaints come from those on 1200? No, because the majority of newbies are on 1200kcal and have yet to tweak their figures in any way, so are in more need of advice.

I didn't end up eating 2000+kcal because I believed 1200 was wrong, but because experience showed me that it was very wrong for me. If someone posts that they are hungry on 1200kcal, I will tell them to eat more. I try to surround myself with as many 'big eaters' as possible, so I feel less alone. I do tell my story, but I try not to assume that what's right for me is right for everyone.

Thank you for that extremely respectful and honest post. It would be so much more helpful if we all had this attitude.
I find it very strange however that your BMR actually went UP after you lost weight at 1200 calories. Even tho it caused problems with anemia for you, it is nice to see that you didn't plateau quickly and your metabolism drop to nothing. And you very wisely figured out what did and didn't work for you. Congrats on your success.

I eat under 1200 and I am losing slowly. Oh yeah, Im not obese, so I have to eat under 1200.

If you eat carbs and **** and tonnes of fat then it is easy to go over 1200. If you eat vegetables and meat then 1200 is a lot.

I eat under 1200 and I am losing slowly. Oh yeah, Im not obese, so I have to eat under 1200.

If you eat carbs and **** and tonnes of fat then it is easy to go over 1200. If you eat vegetables and meat then 1200 is a lot.

You don't need to eat 1200. Its just as likely you'll lose as much at 1600 odd.

I gain with anything over 1500 usually.

. we're not here to judge.

that memo seems to have missed many of us here

I eat Loads more calories than that and i am still always bloody hungry

I am going to try and make breakfasts bigger and more of an event with the hope to combat it!

1200 is not the magic # just because MFP sets it up for you...you will not turn into a pumpkin if you go over..I promise.

However, I stick to around 1200..I feel satisfied throughout the day. I try to eat some high fiber foods and plan when and what I eat around my day.

there are many different diets(eating lifestyles) i.e paleo, low carb, carb cycling, high protein, TDEE, vegan etc.

Educate yourself, research, be patient, honest with yourself and consistant.

By the time people are hitting 1200 calories (most people couple this with a ton of low intensity cardio) they've damaged their metabolism to the point where it's almost impossible to lose weight but ridiculously easy to gain. Instead of doing MORE low intensity cardio and LESS eating they should switch it around, focus on higher intensity interval training and slowly eat more (a few extra carbs/fats/protein here and there on a regular basis) until their maintenance calories are high enough to successfully diet again.

Does your tracker say 0 lbs lost. I think maybe you want to keep your diet advice to yourself.

I'm not dieting.

Edit:
Also, it's not my diet advice, its Layne Norton's (Bodybuilding/figure/physique coach, IFPA & NGA natural pro bodybuilder, Professional Powerlifter with a PhD in Nutritional Sciences with honors) diet advice.

The video where he discusses the topic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHHzie6XRGk&feature=g-subs-u

Does your tracker say 0 lbs lost. I think maybe you want to keep your diet advice to yourself.

I'm not dieting.

Edit:
Also, it's not my diet advice, its Layne Norton's (Bodybuilding/figure/physique coach, IFPA & NGA natural pro bodybuilder, Professional Powerlifter with a PhD in Nutritional Sciences with honors) diet advice.

The video where he discusses the topic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHHzie6XRGk&feature=g-subs-u

Was posting to the OP.. I just hate how people judge each other around here. Thought I'd match judgement for judgement.