Has anyone lost weight eating less than 1200 calories a day?

Why would anybody want to eat less than 1200 a day??

You would lose weight, perhaps at a slower rate, but as long as it's lower than the amount you need to sustain your weight, you'll still lose weight. Whether or not 1200 is bad is entirely dependent on your specific situation.

I ate less than 1200..not sure of the amount and went from 220 to 150 in about 8 months. I lifted weights daily and had a day once per week where I ate what I wanted then picked right back up where I left off. Worked great for me personally...

Just curious! I actually ate around 1000 calories per day several years back and lost really well! This was before the starvation mode thing was even a known factor (as far as I knew at least) I lost 60 lb easily within 7 months...I gained my weight due to some depression issues ONLY which of course will happen on any diet! Soooo would like to know if this has worked for anyone else!

Starvation mode is a myth thrown around far too often.

Don't try to only eat 1000 calories again. It is far too little especially if you are exercising as well. If you were only eating about 1000 calories when you lost 60lbs before I can guarantee a large portion of the 60lb was muscle that you lost. When you are on a calorie deficit and have a deficit too large you will lose muscle.

Set your goals properly here and follow that. You will not lose the same as you did in the past... your body changes. Dont strive for what happened before. Take it slow for the best results. Losing too quickly only hurts your body.

I don't think thats what happened to me though! I lifted daily (took off Sundays) and was in amazing shape!! Had muscle tone as well! I'll see if I can post a pic to share..I just like the original poster gained my weight back due to some issues in my life that sent me in a downward spiral of food,food and more food...but I am back on the saddle again now!

I used to be able to lose 10 pounds in just a few weeks by eating very little, and running around all night at my fast food job. However, the weight was probably mostly water weight since it came right back when I started eating normally again.

That was years ago, and I tried eating 1200, which would take a couple pounds off, then I'd plateau for months. I maintained on 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, and 1600. It is such a struggle to get your body working properly again once you malnourish it for a long time, so be careful if you decide 1200 is right for you. It's not always wrong, and it's not always bad, but it's not for everyone.

Also, I didn't experience grumpiness, tiredness, hair falling out, etc. I still had plenty of energy and wasn't even hungry. But I was exercising 4-5 days a week or more and didn't drop weight or measurements for like a year because my deficit was simply too large for my body to handle.

I lost 65 pounds on a doctor supervised Very low calorie diet (900-1100). They did regular blood work and we saw a doctor weekly. I don't think it would be a good thing to do without a doctor's supervision. It is my understanding that you can really mess yourself up without some medical monitoring. Right now I am trying to learn to maintain an intermediate weight before going down a bit more.

One of the things I find interesting on this site is the horror some people show about other people eating 1200 calories per day. That is actually my doctor recommended caloric intake at the moment. One of the reasons I don't post much on the message boards is that I really am not interested in what other posters think of what I am doing under a doctor's supervision.

Also, I don't succeed at it much LOL, which is part of the learning process. I am learning a lot about portions, servings, and the more emotional aspects of my previous eating habits.

It's a journey, not a destination for me. There are more aspects to people's relationship with food than their calorie intake.

I lost 65 pounds on a doctor supervised Very low calorie diet (900-1100). They did regular blood work and we saw a doctor weekly. I don't think it would be a good thing to do without a doctor's supervision. It is my understanding that you can really mess yourself up without some medical monitoring.

^^ Exactly this.

The danger is:
-not getting enough nutrition
-damage to your hormones which will make it difficult to continue to lose weight after you reach a plateau.
-when you do reach a plateau, you cannot restrict calories even further, i.e. there is nowhere else to go. You have to raise calories, then you create the yo-yo.

I have been on a 1200 plan and have lost 8lbs in about 2 weeks.
I also exercise and lift weights.
I find I am still able to enjoy going out to eat (take a look at my diary and you will see Red Robin, Pei Wei and Denny's!) and I am satisfied. I incorporate lean meats, fruits, grains and dairy into my diet. Sometimes I even have calories left over that I can not eat.

I listen to my body. If I feel that 1200 is not good because I have been working out, I will allow myself a little more.
It is not for everyone and I can see myself bumping up to 14-1500 when I lose the weight I want.
And splurge days for me are a must. I am def splurging on Superbowl!

ask if anyone has kept if off. heh.

I have been on a 1200 plan and have lost 8lbs in about 2 weeks.
I also exercise and lift weights.
I find I am still able to enjoy going out to eat (take a look at my diary and you will see Red Robin, Pei Wei and Denny's!) and I am satisfied. I incorporate lean meats, fruits, grains and dairy into my diet. Sometimes I even have calories left over that I can not eat.

I listen to my body. If I feel that 1200 is not good because I have been working out, I will allow myself a little more.
It is not for everyone and I can see myself bumping up to 14-1500 when I lose the weight I want.
And splurge days for me are a must. I am def splurging on Superbowl!

If you are lifting weights - they can't be heavy. How in the world do you support lifting on 1200 cals a day and 45 mg. of protein? I encourage you to do some research on weight lifting and eating properly.

Never mind - in looking at your exercise diary, you've only lifted weights once in the last 10 days.

I lift as much as I can and I have a calorie goal of net 800 cals. I've lost 31 lbs in 4 months. (I'm plateauing right now - I tried increasing my caloric intake as per the EM2WL's mantra of stupidity and it did nothing so I put myself back to 800 cals today actually)

Im having trouble getting up to 1200 a day. Im ranging between 600-800 average and the only way I get even a little more (maybe up to 900-1000) is by eating out. Im not hungry though. I eat 3 meals a day and usually 1 snack. Im a fruitarian but doing a 60/40 plan where fruit makes up 60% of the food i eat. I feel really good and am losing weight. Im attempting to make higher calorie dishes at home but Im not a chef and dont care for much cooking. I eat the equivalent amount of food to a happy meal but I eat when Im hungry its just like I said. 3 meals a day and a snack and Im good.

Yes, I eat about 800 calories per day when not working out, which I do 4 days per week, and the other days I walk at a leisurely pace for at least 60 minutes.

I work out days I try not to eat all the calories I worked out to gained, so I will have some room for weightloss. I lose about a 1 lb per week this way, less if I eat too much. I try to leave about 500 lbs.

I had gastric bypass surgery so it is pretty easy for me because I don't feel well if I over eat, I try to eat healthy meals. It works for me. I do most of the cooking.

Of course you'll lose weight. That isn't the issue.

I basically starved myself for most of a year in high school. I went from over 160 to about 125, quite small for my frame. I still wasn't happy with how I looked. I was still flabby. Gained it all back and then some.

Then when I was working really hard physically I got back down to 140 or so. I looked way better than previous. Not to say that I couldn't have stood to have lost a bit of fat, but I looked less flabby than at a smaller weight.

If you eat that little you will lose weight and lose it quickly, but you will also lose muscle and run the risk of being skinny fat like I was. I want to look toned, not just skinny. You will also have a hard time weaning off of that (do you want to only eat 1k for the rest of your life) without gaining again.

Basically if you want to look good in clothes and quickly, this is a good plan. You aren't going to starve to death. If you want to look great, naked, for years to come, take it slow and eat enough to sustain the body that you want.