1200, and why it won't work

You're amazing. Maybe I can pay you so we can talk on the phone to learn more? One more thing. If I start walking should I stay at 1250 or so I eat my calories that I worked for?

I will never accept payment or money from anyone earnestly trying to lose weight. A phone call is just a phone call...i view that as an exchange similar to a PM, and does not warrant payment! Although PMs are really piling up, so please be patient and I will get to you!

YOU are so right :grumble: must be why I'm so very damn successful. I don't eat 1200 or close to it at all. Horray to the person with all the "right" answers. :huh:

Please feel free to look at sarcasm after every word here.

haha! humorous criticism is the best way to pose criticism. touchay, madam! and i commend you on your 167 pound weight loss. that is something that deserves respect. No sarcasm there!

Honestly,I don't know what to think.
My daily goal is 1500 calories and I'd say that works for me(because I've been losing weight),even though I weigh 85 kg and that's a lot.
Sometimes I feel like I can't survive on 1500 a day and then I usually stop logging in and I eat what I want,but sometimes those 1500 seem like they are way more than enough,like today (I've eaten 1200 cals and I'm full).

This is very common! These days we binge and starve, and I've seen that alot in the PMs I've gotten. Consistency is a great issue. For these individuals, what helps is to set a caloric intake where you are not likely to stop logging and just go crazy. First we must build the habit of controlled and consistent intake. That should reflect in terms of accurate and precise logging. If you feel like 1500 makes you crave 3 cheat days in a row, start eating more. What's the difference? You're going to cheat back all those calories anyways, so let's see if you can eat 1800 a day and stay there. At some point, you will be consistent. Do not give up on yourself. For now, I don't care if you're losing weight on 1800 calories....I just would like to see a commitment to a certain degree!

I am one of you...
...1200 calories a day is a paltry sniff of food. It's a dab of nutrients, and it's almost impossible to follow on a consistent (years) basis....

The number itself mocks you and makes you feel inadequate....You will live on...yes..but in misery.

well the thing is, you're not me.
You look like a rather muscular man, where as I am neither. When you turn into a 45 year old woman, then you'll be one of "me".
1200 calories a day probably is NOT enough for you, but its fine for me. I'm not starving. most days i'm not even hungry.
I woh't have to stay at 1200 calories for years, because I will get to my goal weight and eat more to maintain.

I'm not mocked, and I don't feel inadequate, and i'm not miserable.

perhaps you should change the thread title to end with "for me", since you can't stand there and tell me what's going to work for me.

I totally agree with this persons response and to be honest I got as far as this lady has quoted as I just thought its another one of those boring 'starvation mode' threads. But she is right you are not her and you are definitely not me. Until you walk a day in my shoes then you might understand more of what I do.

I have been on a 1200 and under plan since september. I am not weak and I am certainly not living a miserable life! I was miserable before starting the plan as I was over 300lbs but now I have lesser health problems and feeling very energetic to be honest. One of my closest friends has lost 167lbs and another has lost 87lbs doing a 1200 calorie diet so technically your theory is wrong. What is working for me obviously didn't work for your client and I am sure there will be a time when I will have to increase my calories but until that happens I will gladly prove you and many others wrong!!!!

Hi! I'm really happy you have found your way to weight loss...one way or the other. As I said before, in my OP, 1200 will make everyone lose weight. It all comes down to whether 1200 is a very easy number to keep, or if it is hard for most people. I can see that you are one of those that can stay under 1200, and I am grateful that you've shared your experience, in spite of my recommendations. Weight loss is a journey we all undertake personally. the fact that you've succeeded in this path only makes me feel that much better about being wrong.

What I have posed is not a theory at all. It is a roadmap for those that cannot follow the 1200 diet with much success, or are likely to slip up. I, for one, cannot. I have some experience crash dieting in my younger years on figures around 1200. I always gained it back. If your experience is different, and 1200 will be your number for the years to come, then that's great!

But, I must ask. Why eat only 1200 calories at 300 pounds when the math in either direction suggests that you may lose weight eating more? Why not find out for yourself, in any case how much you can get away with eating while still enjoying weight loss?

then again, I've always been one of those people who try to get away with the bare minimum required for success. But if success is our only goal, wouldn't we try to make our pursuit of it more rewarding?