1200, and why it won't work

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  • labissonette
    labissonette Posts: 4
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    Valuable insight. Thanks!
  • aelunyu
    aelunyu Posts: 486 Member
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    What an amazing (and sensible) post. It absolutely makes sense!

    So for those of us who have only been on (or back on) the wagon for a few weeks at 1200, do we bump our calorie intake up again?

    I can kind of guestimate how many calories I was inhaling before the first of the year, but I didn't log until I came back to MFP a week or so ago.

    Thank you for taking the time to write it all down for us.

    I came back to MFP on the 1st of the year. I started at 1200 again and am slowly inching my calories up until I find a level I like where I'm still losing. Curious as to the OP opinion on doing it that way.

    that's more or less the same thing. but think about it...would you cherish a few days of being above your caloric needs..or cherish the slow grind up to that point? I always have people set it higher than I think it is. That way, you get to at least enjoy your last days feasting!
  • 4summer38
    4summer38 Posts: 25
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    What I don't understand is why MFP doesn't adapt to this? In reality it's us 1200 calorie people that are getting mixed signals. I mean with the vastness that is MFP, you'd think they would have used this concept if it worked. I'm not trying to knock the idea, cause I like the idea. It's just a little frustrating trying to figure out what to do.
  • photojunkie28
    photojunkie28 Posts: 292
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    I applaud your post and the time and thought that went into it. I only wish that I could believe EVERYBODY would listen. I also wish that I knew of MFP and these types of blogs before I became an example of a "self destructive dieter".

    This time last year I started the old fashioned way with pen and paper and the thought (I dont remember how I came upon the decision) that 1200 was my new number. To shorten my story a little, I was exactly the person you described. At 5'5 I weighed 212.5 on a good day, had an active job and AMAZING WILLPOWER (in the form of anger at my body) to which I stuck like glue to my diet. Especially when I started seeing results. It was working, I was losing weight, I wasnt about to give up my strict counting practices no matter how hungry I got. I wanted to be thin more than I wanted food. Roughly 18 lbs later I was stuck and started killing myself with workout after workout. Lost a bit more taking me to around 185 and at some point or another my body quit asking me for food all together. I quit getting my menstral cycle and I was dead tired and cranky...BUT STILL FAT!

    Fast forward...I got schooled and did the whole EM2WL thing which was painfully difficult and have been gradually increasing my calories ever since while exercising still of course. I still havent gotten my period back (roughly 7 month strike so far) and am still trying to repair all of the damage I did. Now eating about 2000 cal a day and tipping the scale at 164 lbs I am still "broken" but on my way to the right path. (yes , I have been INCREASING calories to gain, maintain and lose weight at each stage as my body adjusts to each new level)

    Moral of the story: Say no to 1200. Listen to this dude. Do your homework...Figure out your TDEE, -15% , take it slow and exercise and lose fat NOT mind and muscle.

    End rant!
  • LaNena01
    LaNena01 Posts: 61 Member
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    bump! This was awesome! Thanks for the info!
  • loriepaulin
    loriepaulin Posts: 88 Member
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    Great post!!!
  • SameMe_JustLess
    SameMe_JustLess Posts: 245 Member
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    Where were you three months ago? I finally upped my calories and have been losing weight, not hungry, and still have energy! Wish I would have had your advice in the beginning!
  • Barbarapurnell09
    Barbarapurnell09 Posts: 3
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    Thank you for posting
  • aelunyu
    aelunyu Posts: 486 Member
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    Where were you three months ago? I finally upped my calories and have been losing weight, not hungry, and still have energy! Wish I would have had your advice in the beginning!

    Sorry! 3 months ago, I think I was enjoying a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner =).

    Most of the people that employ a serious and sensible approach to dieting will never EVER have to only eat 1200 calories a day...to me, that's a travesty!
  • clarkeje1
    clarkeje1 Posts: 1,633 Member
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    bump
  • HopeAnchorstheSoul
    HopeAnchorstheSoul Posts: 32 Member
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    bump
  • Chickabittie
    Chickabittie Posts: 272
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    Thanks for sharing your wisdom and experience. I hope to get off the MFP 1200 calorie bandwagon. It's not working for me.
  • Lindz2323
    Lindz2323 Posts: 261 Member
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    Thanks for sharing!! I may come to you for some advice in the next week or two when I get back in town and can get back to my usual schedule. I enjoyed reading this..
  • aelunyu
    aelunyu Posts: 486 Member
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    One last thing, and perhaps I'll edit the OP in this..but if you have a question for me attached to your friend request, please PM me instead. I am just clicking "accept" on them, and may have lost some questions. Thanks!
  • sxci8
    sxci8 Posts: 24
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    Thank you!
  • MrsG31
    MrsG31 Posts: 364 Member
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    Read the whole thing, very informative and well written. You sound like a great trainer!

    I've read a few other well-thought and explained posts about why 1200 a day won't work. I even changed my settings to only lose .5lb a week and it gave me an extra 40 calories to my day...whoo hoo, lol. Most days I am over that. I don't exercise at all right now ecept for walking during my 2 breaks at work, but am hoping to change that soon. I initially joined so I could start SEEING what I was eating and how much of it. I have lost 1lb, but am starting to think it is not going to budge much more unless I start exercising.

    Anyways, thanks for the info and taking the time to write it all out!
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
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    Fantastic--thank you so much! :flowerforyou: It's kind of like finding your way back home---you just reverse the way you got there in the first place. :smile:
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
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    What I don't understand is why MFP doesn't adapt to this? In reality it's us 1200 calorie people that are getting mixed signals. I mean with the vastness that is MFP, you'd think they would have used this concept if it worked. I'm not trying to knock the idea, cause I like the idea. It's just a little frustrating trying to figure out what to do.

    You need to read the supplemental information, the stickied topics. It explains how MFP works. Once you understand that MFP simply subtracts a certain amount of calories depending on what you choose for a weekly weight loss goal, to a minimum of 1200, you can make more educated decisions about your plan.
  • tcompton70
    tcompton70 Posts: 9 Member
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    Ok. So I'm curretly doing the 1200 calories and it is not working. I worked out for 4 months cycling 5-6 days a week burning 350-400 calories (per my heart rate monitor) and i only lost 5 lbs. My doctor put me at 1200, told me not to eat my exercise calories back and put me on a pill to help me stay at 1200. I'm currenlty trying to figure out what I should do. I'm 43 year old femail about 5'2" and currently at 210 lbs. Current goal is to loose 25 lbs. but ultimatly I want to loose 100 lbs.
  • peggyalex
    peggyalex Posts: 174 Member
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    I have been on MFP for 2 yrs the first yr I lost 50 lbs in about 9 months using the 1200 diet method but then platued at 180 and the scale WOULD NOT BUDGE no matter what I did! so I kinda gave up and have gained back 20lbs. as of yesterday I figured my BMR and TDEE and just started today eating a 1640 calorie diet. I won't lie..........Im scared to death Im going to gain back even more but am willing to give it a go for a month or so to see how I do. any advice will be helpfull. thanks!

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