Seeing a lot of rude comments about 1200/cal....

Just read a few pages. I am curious what you all are eating to say you have a hard time reaching 1200 cal a day and are full. Or is thus 1200 net ( assuming a 600 cal burn + 600 food?) I have changed ny diet and after breakfast I'm already at 300-400! It only takes an egg, toast or healthy cereal to reach that. Even dry rice ( one serving) with plain chicken breast and steamed veggies puts you at another 400-500. Not much left fir the day. I know everyone is different but i' d be so hungry and *****y with just that.

Lifecycle of an MFPer

1. Start out at 1200 calories
2. Complain about how you're "stuffed" at 1200 calories and don't understand why everyone wants you to eat more
3. Make a post calling out the mean people
4. Gradually up your calorie goals when you grow tired of being "stuffed" on asparagus spears
5. Realize that you're still losing weight and feeling much better
6. Try to help 1200 calorie people
7. Get called an arrogant ahole one too many times
8. Retreat to chit-chat forum more or less permanently, only occasionally emerging to lay down a burn

Pretty much this..

That's not quite fair - I'm short (5'2" on a good day) - and without excercise my base is 1200 calories, and I don't think that's unreasonable... and that's set at losing about 0.8 lbs per week. That being said, when I excersize, I eat most, if not all, my added calories. I like food alot... and happily eat what I want in moderation. I don't think 1200 is unreasonable if you're short. If I was 5'8" that'd be another story.

Lifecycle of an MFPer

1. Start out at 1200 calories
2. Complain about how you're "stuffed" at 1200 calories and don't understand why everyone wants you to eat more
3. Make a post calling out the mean people
4. Gradually up your calorie goals when you grow tired of being "stuffed" on asparagus spears
5. Realize that you're still losing weight and feeling much better
6. Try to help 1200 calorie people
7. Get called an arrogant ahole one too many times
8. Retreat to chit-chat forum more or less permanently, only occasionally emerging to lay down a burn

3.5 "Why am I not losing anymore" then
4 Join the Eat more to weigh less croud

I personally am now between 6 and 7

As long as those calories are balanced with adequate carbs, protein, and fats, there is nothing wrong with it. I typically eat 1200 - 1500 calories per day and it has helped me stay on track and I don't crave foods or overeat anymore. There is something positive to be said about a low calorie diet. Unfortunately as Americans we have a tendency to eat too many calories and think it's the norm. If it is working for you, keep it up...at least you're seeing results.

I dont know much about the different calorie intakes. I do know that if you are exercising and eating the exercise calo ries ( which is what your supposed to do) you are technically eating more than 1200 calories and I'm assuming (although may be wrong) that MFP starts with what your body needs just to function. If you sit all day and do nothing than 1200 is all you need but if you exercise you need more. Ignore the people who complain about your calorie intake thats for you to do decide how you want to live.

bump..........

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m sorry, I won’t reply again, but I had to laugh. I will not spoil your fun...

Lifecycle of an MFPer

1. Start out at 1200 calories
2. Complain about how you're "stuffed" at 1200 calories and don't understand why everyone wants you to eat more
3. Make a post calling out the mean people
4. Gradually up your calorie goals when you grow tired of being "stuffed" on asparagus spears
5. Realize that you're still losing weight and feeling much better
6. Try to help 1200 calorie people
7. Get called an arrogant ahole one too many times
8. Retreat to chit-chat forum more or less permanently, only occasionally emerging to lay down a burn

Step 1 - Check
Step 2 - Check
Step 3 - I skipped this one
Step 4 - Check
Step 5 - Check
Step 6 - eh, maybe a little bit, but mostly screw other people.
Step 7 - I'll probably avoid this one
Step 8 - Probably on the horizon, since I have a short atten... Ooooh look, a bee!

they can't conceive empty calories from healthy calories. I eat that amount also but really healthy food and am plenty filled up. keep in mind though the same people probably think nothing of eating 2 big macs. you do what is best for you don't worry about what others are thinking. I know a lot of ladies who do 1200 calories including me who started last January at 220 pounds and am down to 184 pounds.

Jillian Michael's who is a professional trainer suggests women eat between 1200-1400 calories. for women

for men between 1600-1800 calories.

Lifecycle of an MFPer

1. Start out at 1200 calories
2. Complain about how you're "stuffed" at 1200 calories and don't understand why everyone wants you to eat more
3. Make a post calling out the mean people
4. Gradually up your calorie goals when you grow tired of being "stuffed" on asparagus spears
5. Realize that you're still losing weight and feeling much better
6. Try to help 1200 calorie people
7. Get called an arrogant ahole one too many times
8. Retreat to chit-chat forum more or less permanently, only occasionally emerging to lay down a burn

Exactly...except 3 or 7. I'm much too sweet.

anything under 1200 cals a day is considered starvation mode. food for thought.

Cite, please.

Hi cj, looks like we joined in the same month. I've noticed the comments also and have wondered why ppl think that's too low a goal. Something they don't understand is when we're short (I'm 5'3") we naturally need less calories.

I am 5'4 and I eat between 1800 - 2100 calories a day. 1800 to lose weight and the higher ones to maintain.

I cringe whenever I see people say "YOU NEED TO EAT MORE" because that advice is to generic and it causes some people to gain weight if they aren't taking in the right kind of calories. The body of a woman who eats 1800 calories of donuts and does not exercise is going to look drastically different from a woman who eat 1800 calories or chicken, fish, and veggies and exercises 4-5 times a week.

I cringe whenever I see people say "YOU NEED TO EAT MORE" because that advice is to generic and it causes some people to gain weight if they aren't taking in the right kind of calories. The body of a woman who eats 1800 calories of donuts and does not exercise is going to look drastically different from a woman who eat 1800 calories or chicken, fish, and veggies and exercises 4-5 times a week.

Id say if you are going to eat processed junk food and not exercise...its probably better to stick with 1200 or less.

have not read other comments so forgive if this is already stated several times...

MFP calculates the 1200 of your activity level and goal. 1200 is the minimum any person should really consume to be eating a healthy amount of food for what your body burns in a day. You really should try to maintain at least that many calories, but they shouldn't be "empty" calories to help you reach them... Add fruits, cheeses, and nuts to help boost you cals. This works for me.

Incidentally, when you start getting along on your journey you may actually see you will need to increase your cals to lose more weight... this is not unusual and is what I and many others have had to do, even if only for a couple of days to a week, sometimes the body needs a shock out of the norm to react again. Totally normal.

"Starvation mode" is a myth, of sorts... as long as your body has EXCESS fat, you will not go into "starvation mode" and destroy your metabolism.. though you might feel like you are starving if you aren't eating enough of the right kinds of foods.

ASide from that, do what is working for you as long as you are being healthy about it. Remember, you could maintain 1200 calories a day eating oreos BUT you will only get to eat about 12 for the entire day. Yes you will lose weight but it is neither healthy nor sustainable. You are looking for healthy, sustainable life changes to make sure what you accomplish is able to be maintained.

Take a look at the tickers....the majority of the people truly hating on the 1200 calorie people either don't have tickers or have lost less than 20 pounds. The majority of the people who say use 1200 as a guideline and adjust it from there are the ones who have lost truckloads of weight. Guess who I believe?

This is a pretty ridiculous statement. I don't have a ticker mainly because I don't want. Does that mean I didn't lose the weight I needed to?