How bad is it eating under 1200 calories a day?
BunnyBabyDoll
Posts: 132
Okay, so I always hear about starvation mode and how bad it is but how bad is it if I'm only a little under, like 50-100 calories under that goal?
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Replies
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Most people do not last on a diet of 1200 calories a day for very long. Often they end up gaining it, plus some. Both eating and dieting in moderation has always made sense to me. Slow and steady, slow and steady should be your mantra. Good eating is a lifestyle, always being on a diet to lose weight isn't a lifestyle, more of a curse.0
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I'm no pro, and I do not know your weight or activity levels, but 1200 is very low to keep any body running at its best. It is also likely to burn you out if you try to lose too quickly. In my opinion, you would be much better off setting your daily calories higher and planning to lose the weight at a slower rate. This will simply make the process a lot easier to maintain and keep long term. Also, throw weight training in the mix if you want to truly transform your body0
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Your fine. The biggest thing about caloric intake is the nutritional value of the calories you take in. In other words, if you ate 1200 calories of ice cream or something like that then your body wouldnt be getting enough nutrients to sustain itself. But if your eating 1000-1200 calories of a balanced diet and you dont feel like crap, then your good. Just make sure your feeding your body with enough of the essentials(carbs, fats, and proteins)0
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Among other things:
1. Dangerous because it makes it difficult to get proper nutrition
2. When your RMR goes down in response to your deficit, it makes reestablishing a deficit even more dangerous
3. You can only oxidize so much stored fat in a day, your body will meet it's energy needs by going after muscle
4. Your body will start to shut down things like hormone production that aren't essential to survival in order to preserve enegy
5. Your diet has a high chance of failure, because adherence is difficult0 -
For me I think that anything less than 1400 calories is too little for anyone, ever.
Not only is it depriving you of nutrients, but you would be training your body to live and function on less. Who wants that!?!0 -
Eating very low cal is a great way to keep yoyoing forever.0
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I personally eat around 1200-1400 calories a day, and I'm a guy! The reason I'm able to do that though is I'm only 5' 6'' and weigh about 140 lbs. I make sure whatever I eat is very nutritional, too. This helps me keep my energy up and keeps me from binge eating.
And drink lots of water! I drink about 10 cups (5 bottles) a day. This helps you feel full too!0 -
Well this site actually put me at 1200 a day and I eat a very well. Lean meat, lots of veggies and fruit. I eat at least four times a day and I don't feel hungry or tired even though I am very active. I always meet my nutrition goals. That's why I wasn't sure if it was a big deal if I was a little under my goal every now and then.0
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I had a friend who ate less than that and after two months, she started losing nerve feeling in the right foot, and her doctor told her to eat more. When your body canabalizes itself, you can do serious damage to yourself. Best go the safer route and eat at 1200 or more.0
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But what's the purpose? Even if u are a 5'6 and 140lb guy, why would u eat that small amount of calories and drink water to feel fool???.... Just go eat something!0
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it's fine if you live a sedentary lifestyle. If you try to be active, then 1200 is far too low.0
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But what's the purpose? Even if u are a 5'6 and 140lb guy, why would u eat that small amount of calories and drink water to feel fool???.... Just go eat something!
My abs are just barely starting to peek through. I used to weigh 236 lbs. three years ago and I think this last 10 lbs. is what will finally get me into a good looking body that I'm not ashamed of. I want to maintain 130 lbs. through summer, then once fall hits I'm planning on going to the opposite end of the spectrum and doing a bulk to get some muscle.0 -
I hate only eating 1200, because it means i can't exercise...
I eat to exercise, I don't exercise to eat.
1500/1600 calories and 300/400 calories burnt = 1200 net + less hungry & more nutrients.0 -
Well this site actually put me at 1200 a day and I eat a very well. Lean meat, lots of veggies and fruit. I eat at least four times a day and I don't feel hungry or tired even though I am very active. I always meet my nutrition goals. That's why I wasn't sure if it was a big deal if I was a little under my goal every now and then.
If it was often you would need to do something about it but in my opinion every now and again it is fine. Some days you will blow out and other days you'll be slightly under don't worry about it.
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Your fine. The biggest thing about caloric intake is the nutritional value of the calories you take in. In other words, if you ate 1200 calories of ice cream or something like that then your body wouldnt be getting enough nutrients to sustain itself. But if your eating 1000-1200 calories of a balanced diet and you dont feel like crap, then your good. Just make sure your feeding your body with enough of the essentials(carbs, fats, and proteins)
NO!0 -
Geez, this seems to be a topic people are torn on lol. I appreciate all the advice and help a lot though. I think as long as I feel strong and healthy I'm ok. Its not like I don't eat when I'm hungry. I listen to my body :]0
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A little under is okay, but 1200 is generally the minimum recommended to maintain health and be nutritionally balanced 0
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My abs are just barely starting to peek through. I used to weigh 236 lbs. three years ago and I think this last 10 lbs. is what will finally get me into a good looking body that I'm not ashamed of. I want to maintain 130 lbs. through summer, then once fall hits I'm planning on going to the opposite end of the spectrum and doing a bulk to get some muscle.
I see what you're saying. But I'd caution u and remind u that if you're losing more than 2 lbs a wk then you're dipping into your muscle supply which means you'll be starting with less muscle than u have to on your bulk (i.e. creating double work for yourself)... Rapid lb losses aren't always good. I've had to remind myself of this many times.0 -
Go here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
Read through it, run your stats through the tools int he links provided in that post. Find out what your BMR is (Basal Metabolic Rate) - the amount of calories docs would give you through a tube or IV to sustain your life if you were in a coma. Most people have a BMR above 1200 calories, which means if you're eating 1200 or less, you're barely giving your body what it needs if you stayed in bed all day. Most of us do get up, move around, go to work, do household chores, and exercise, meaning you need even more fuel to keep those functions going.
Yeah, a lot of people eat 1200 or less, say they feel fine, lost weight, etc. And most do at first - I did! MFP put me at the standard 1200 when I first signed up. After some initial weight loss, I stalled, saw no progress, was hungry, tired, had little energy to workout. Turns out my BMR is around 1400, so 1200 was way too low for me!
Now I'm eating around 1700 calories a day, usually more, and seeing fat come off of my body like I never did before. I'm not hungry or anxious about what I can eat that will fit in my goals for the day, and I have plenty of energy to get through my day and my workouts (weights/strength 3 days a week, run an avg of 4 miles 3 days, 1 rest day). I'm not a slimmer but still squishy version of my former self - I'm losing the fat, but keeping my lean body mass by fueling my body well, and I love it!
Check your numbers out through that link. You might be surprised at how much you've been short-changing your body. And eating more calories doesn't mean eating more junk food to meet the goal, or even stuffing yourself with healthy foods - eat small portions of more calorie dense foods like nuts and nut butters, avocados, healthy oils, full fat dairy.0 -
I think you really should talk to a qualified nutritionist and doctor.
People asking such questions should really know better. Sorry but it's also borderline against forum rules too.0 -
Thank you I really appreciate the help. I'm just trying to get opinions advice information etc... To learn and adapt more of what I'm doing and to make it all work beat for me as an individual.Go here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
Read through it, run your stats through the tools int he links provided in that post. Find out what your BMR is (Basal Metabolic Rate) - the amount of calories docs would give you through a tube or IV to sustain your life if you were in a coma. Most people have a BMR above 1200 calories, which means if you're eating 1200 or less, you're barely giving your body what it needs if you stayed in bed all day. Most of us do get up, move around, go to work, do household chores, and exercise, meaning you need even more fuel to keep those functions going.
Yeah, a lot of people eat 1200 or less, say they feel fine, lost weight, etc. And most do at first - I did! MFP put me at the standard 1200 when I first signed up. After some initial weight loss, I stalled, saw no progress, was hungry, tired, had little energy to workout. Turns out my BMR is around 1400, so 1200 was way too low for me!
Now I'm eating around 1700 calories a day, usually more, and seeing fat come off of my body like I never did before. I'm not hungry or anxious about what I can eat that will fit in my goals for the day, and I have plenty of energy to get through my day and my workouts (weights/strength 3 days a week, run an avg of 4 miles 3 days, 1 rest day). I'm not a slimmer but still squishy version of my former self - I'm losing the fat, but keeping my lean body mass by fueling my body well, and I love it!
Check your numbers out through that link. You might be surprised at how much you've been short-changing your body. And eating more calories doesn't mean eating more junk food to meet the goal, or even stuffing yourself with healthy foods - eat small portions of more calorie dense foods like nuts and nut butters, avocados, healthy oils, full fat dairy.
However, to those of you who are being in my opinion a little more rude than necessary I simply asked a question to get opinions and advice. If you found it annoying or whatever you didn't have to answer.0 -
You MUST eat at least 1200 calories a day. If you eat 1199 you will instantly go into starvation mode and your body will start to break down your brain, heart, and lungs and store it as fat! Lol a little under is fine. It's best to discuss your diet and exercise plan with your doctor instead of relying on some arbitrary number the MFP staff pulled out of their @$$es. I'm on a medically supervised 800 calorie per day diet and if I logged exercise my net would be much lower. MFP totally overestimates calories burned through exercise. My doctor says my diet/exercise plan is fine and I value her opinion way more than what MFP has to say.0
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Geez, this seems to be a topic people are torn on lol. I appreciate all the advice and help a lot though. I think as long as I feel strong and healthy I'm ok. Its not like I don't eat when I'm hungry. I listen to my body :]
Didn't that get you into trouble in the first place? Listening to what you body wanted?
How long does it take your body to start showing the effects of say vitamin D deficiency? Does it yell at you daily you are low. Or do you just end up with a problem with brittle bones at some point.
Use your brain before it's too energy starved to be used well.0 -
I think we missed the point. Is 50 - 100 calories a big deal? For me at ~2000 calories a day no. you at 1200, maybe.0
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You MUST eat at least 1200 calories a day. If you eat 1199 you will instantly go into starvation mode and your body will start to break down your brain, heart, and lungs and store it as fat! Lol a little under is fine. It's best to discuss your diet and exercise plan with your doctor instead of relying on some arbitrary number the MFP staff pulled out of their @$$es. I'm on a medically supervised 800 calorie per day diet and if I logged exercise my net would be much lower. MFP totally overestimates calories burned through exercise. My doctor says my diet/exercise plan is fine and I value her opinion way more than what MFP has to say.
Uh not pulled out of their *kitten*. 1200 is considered the minimum number of calories that should be eaten by pretty much all doctors, nutritionists, trainers etc. I can't imagine why your doctor has you on this kind of deficit when you don't have any actual weight you need to lose. Unless you have some kind of medical condition I'd really speak to another doctor about it. Doesn't really sound healthy...
OP
The problem with super low calorie, even 1200 calories a day is that it's really tough to do that every day. Even the most strong willed person will eventually reach a breaking point. The beauty of MFP is exercise earns you extra calories meaning you get to eat more.
1200 calories is still too low for most people, as long as you're below your TDEE you'll lose. It's pretty simple. You don't have to be miserable and eating half a carrot at every meal. Some people eat 1800 a day and still lose at a steady rate because they are still burning more then they are eating.
The people have the most success are those who don't try and have crazily huge deficits. Losing the weight is only half the battle. Keeping it off is the real goal. And that isn't done by eating 1000 calories a day. Eventually you'll have to up your calories if you get your body used to a number that's too low especially under 1200 then you risk gaining when returning to eating a normal amount0 -
Go here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
Read through it, run your stats through the tools int he links provided in that post. Find out what your BMR is (Basal Metabolic Rate) - the amount of calories docs would give you through a tube or IV to sustain your life if you were in a coma. Most people have a BMR above 1200 calories, which means if you're eating 1200 or less, you're barely giving your body what it needs if you stayed in bed all day. Most of us do get up, move around, go to work, do household chores, and exercise, meaning you need even more fuel to keep those functions going.
Yeah, a lot of people eat 1200 or less, say they feel fine, lost weight, etc. And most do at first - I did! MFP put me at the standard 1200 when I first signed up. After some initial weight loss, I stalled, saw no progress, was hungry, tired, had little energy to workout. Turns out my BMR is around 1400, so 1200 was way too low for me!
Now I'm eating around 1700 calories a day, usually more, and seeing fat come off of my body like I never did before. I'm not hungry or anxious about what I can eat that will fit in my goals for the day, and I have plenty of energy to get through my day and my workouts (weights/strength 3 days a week, run an avg of 4 miles 3 days, 1 rest day). I'm not a slimmer but still squishy version of my former self - I'm losing the fat, but keeping my lean body mass by fueling my body well, and I love it!
Check your numbers out through that link. You might be surprised at how much you've been short-changing your body. And eating more calories doesn't mean eating more junk food to meet the goal, or even stuffing yourself with healthy foods - eat small portions of more calorie dense foods like nuts and nut butters, avocados, healthy oils, full fat dairy.
Props!0 -
You should NET 1200 a day at the least. If you are working out, you need to eat those calories back so you don't drop below 1200.
Don't pay attention to the naysayers of 1200 cals. I net around 1200 on good days and I've been losing weight for months and have lots of energy. You don't look like you have much to lose, so if you're not hungry, then you're fine.
Starvation modes is for people with a super low body fat and people in 3rd world countries. You don't have to worry about this.0 -
Don't pay attention to the naysayers of 1200 cals. I net around 1200 on good days and I've been losing weight for months and have lots of energy. You don't look like you have much to lose, so if you're not hungry, then you're fine.
Starvation modes is for people with a super low body fat and people in 3rd world countries. You don't have to worry about this.
^- Don't listen to these people.. clearly they didn't do it for 4 years only to find themselves stalled and gaining in the end.
I did that for a long time, I'm afraid to eat food sometimes! I wasn't losing weight! I didnt understand why! I barely ate, and even with exercise not much was happening except being tired and crank and hungry all the time. Then I would binge and eat all kinds of crap and GAIN weight.
Yeah, "starvation mode" is a term that gets thrown around too much.. but LISTEN to the 1200 cal naysayers. I did it for 4 years and got no where.. I used the roadmap (that link you were given from the first real helpful person) and behold, my weight starts going down eating MORE. When I revert to eating around 1200 cals, my weight doesn't move again (so I have seen since using this site).
The 1200 calories is what MFP tells pretty much EVERYONE.. if it worked miracles and everyone did it we would all be incredibly thin. Don't accept a default setting.
Go read the road map, it is worth it! Ever since doing it I have seen weight come off after being stuck/gaining for years (yo-yo whoo hoo).. I was always tired (no energy, not eating enough) and always cranky. "Surprisingly" when you eat you're less obsessed with food (mentally) because you're not hungry and thinking about it, so you make better choices than running to the sugar.
These 1200 cal people will probably find themselves in the situation I was for a while in a year or two. It isn't as simple as eating 1200 cals or less a day.0 -
Well, I appreciate the compliment. I carry my weight well though. I need to lose about 35 lbs. And its not like I eat exactly 1200 a day or less everyday. I don't have a duck if I'm at 1400 or 1600 it just means to me that I worked out really well and was more hungry because of it. Like I said before I listen to my body because my body knows what it needs and I make healthy choices. And every once in awhile I allow myself a cheat day because I am a food lover and its important to enjoy food I think.You should NET 1200 a day at the least. If you are working out, you need to eat those calories back so you don't drop below 1200.
Don't pay attention to the naysayers of 1200 cals. I net around 1200 on good days and I've been losing weight for months and have lots of energy. You don't look like you have much to lose, so if you're not hungry, then you're fine.
Starvation modes is for people with a super low body fat and people in 3rd world countries. You don't have to worry about this.0
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