A Success story from someone who eats 1200 calories
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I have experience losing and gaining, and changing my calorie count quite drastically. Every person is different. 1200 calories of vegetables, fruits, and lean meats is healthier than 1600 calories of diet ice cream and other food that does not contain as many nutrients. I've learned that it's important to find something that's sustainable over the long term. Certain people (me included) may not have a fast metabolism (I am hypothyroid) and therefore just won't burn as much so need to eat a little less. Right now, I'm at 1500 calories and that seems to be working. Everyone is different, and if 1200 works for you then great. Most important is to make sure that you are healthy and getting enough nutrients.0
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The amount of misinformation in this thread is staggering.
Hoping OP can show is what success looks like.
Can you post before and afters?
Give us some insight on how much fat you've lost (body fat% starting and current).
Give us some insight on your workout routine and how its effected your lean mass retention.
Before and after photos?
What I've read so far is a bunch of women patting each other in the back for not knowing how to eat and encouraging an unhealthy lifestyle.
If basal needs require appx .70g-1g protein per pound of LBM and .40g-.70g fat per pound of LBM, how are you getting proper nutrients to fuel a healthy lifestyle?
If 1g protein is 4cals
1g of carbohydrate is 4cals
1g of fat is 9cals
How are you promoting this lifestyle as being healthy and nutritious?
Pull your heads out of the sand and wake up!
I understand that some people are older or short or sit at a desk all day or don't workout or just had a baby or are missing limbs but so far in my experience I have only come across 2 people who meet the requirements of 1200cals as an acceptable cut number and still able to receive proper nutrients for basal metabolic needs.
If any of you are interested in more information on how to have a healthy lifestyle feel free to PM or search the forum for Road Map.
/end rant0 -
The man above me knows his stuff.... listen and learn.....0
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congrats! I hope I can keep at it. My doctor years ago told me I needed to be at 1200 calories yikes! My hardest part is when you make stuff from scratch it is hard to figure out calorie counts, so I have to wing it a lot. Hoping the 1200 pays off soon this sucks lol
The recipe builder on here is great. I use it all the time to figure out the calories of meals the first time I make them. I didn't start at 1200 when I was over 200 but I did eventually need to live at around that point for a few months to get the weight off. I suffered no ill effects and I have had no trouble maintaining the weight loss. Yes if you are a person who goes to the gym several times a week you probably need more than 1200 but if you are just an average girl on the go, you can do it and it does work.
Helloitsdan -
As for my work out routine? Its called life. I chase toddlers, park further out in the parking lot, carry a 20lb baby on my hip all day.
There are a lot of people who don't have the time to research exactly what it takes to have the optimal body. It does not lessen their success. We found something that works for us. It might not be for you but I am healthier today than I was at 218.
You wanted before and after? Hows this?
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congrats! I hope I can keep at it. My doctor years ago told me I needed to be at 1200 calories yikes! My hardest part is when you make stuff from scratch it is hard to figure out calorie counts, so I have to wing it a lot. Hoping the 1200 pays off soon this sucks lol
The recipe builder on here is great. I use it all the time to figure out the calories of meals the first time I make them. I didn't start at 1200 when I was over 200 but I did eventually need to live at around that point for a few months to get the weight off. I suffered no ill effects and I have had no trouble maintaining the weight loss. Yes if you are a person who goes to the gym several times a week you probably need more than 1200 but if you are just an average girl on the go, you can do it and it does work.
Helloitsdan -
As for my work out routine? Its called life. I chase toddlers, park further out in the parking lot, carry a 20lb baby on my hip all day.
There are a lot of people who don't have the time to research exactly what it takes to have the optimal body. It does not lessen their success. We found something that works for us. It might not be for you but I am healthier today than I was at 218.
You wanted before and after? Hows this?
You look great!
Did you eat back your exercise cals?
Or was the 1200 as a sedentary setting?
My main beef with the 1200 crowd is when they push the low cals along with high intensity workouts.
Also if you were able to get better results eating say...1600-1800/day would you?
The common issue and the reason I wrote the Road Map was because most new people on this site don't know the big 3: TDEE, BMR and body fat%.
If SuzyQ burns 2200cals a day and loses .5lb/week at 1200cals/day but could lose 1lb/ week eating 1600-1800 and retain lean mass.... Its a no brainier.
What's your currebt body fat% age, height and weight?0 -
Congrats!!!! Keep up the good work!!!0
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congrats! I hope I can keep at it. My doctor years ago told me I needed to be at 1200 calories yikes! My hardest part is when you make stuff from scratch it is hard to figure out calorie counts, so I have to wing it a lot. Hoping the 1200 pays off soon this sucks lol
The recipe builder on here is great. I use it all the time to figure out the calories of meals the first time I make them. I didn't start at 1200 when I was over 200 but I did eventually need to live at around that point for a few months to get the weight off. I suffered no ill effects and I have had no trouble maintaining the weight loss. Yes if you are a person who goes to the gym several times a week you probably need more than 1200 but if you are just an average girl on the go, you can do it and it does work.
Helloitsdan -
As for my work out routine? Its called life. I chase toddlers, park further out in the parking lot, carry a 20lb baby on my hip all day.
There are a lot of people who don't have the time to research exactly what it takes to have the optimal body. It does not lessen their success. We found something that works for us. It might not be for you but I am healthier today than I was at 218.
You wanted before and after? Hows this?
You look great!
Did you eat back your exercise cals?
Or was the 1200 as a sedentary setting?
My main beef with the 1200 crowd is when they push the low cals along with high intensity workouts.
Also if you were able to get better results eating say...1600-1800/day would you?
The common issue and the reason I wrote the Road Map was because most new people on this site don't know the big 3: TDEE, BMR and body fat%.
If SuzyQ burns 2200cals a day and loses .5lb/week at 1200cals/day but could lose 1lb/ week eating 1600-1800 and retain lean mass.... Its a no brainier.
What's your currebt body fat% age, height and weight?
I am maintaining at 1600 a day, If I could have lost it doing 1600 but working out more I still wouldn't. I am a mom with 6 boys and my day doesn't allow for a regularly scheduled workout so if I forced one in while I was trying to lose weight I would have gained it all back when I stopped working out but continued eating like I was. The 1600 calories feels really doable now since I lived at 1200 for quite a while.
Don't know my body fat % for sure the online thingy said 23% but I don't have a pincher so that is based on measurements. I am 5'4" and 118lbs as of this morning.
Oh and 1200 was my low activity setting. I didn't eat back calories because I didn't have a regular workout routine. Even what little swimming workout I managed to get last summer, I still didn't eat back cause its not like I was training for a marathon.0 -
I read through all of this but no one, not one person, has said what really needs to be said, to every single person on here...
Do your calculations to figure out your BMR (basal metabolic rate- what you need just to keep your organs alive), your RMR (resting metabolic rate- figures in your daily activities, to keep you going as the day to day person you are).
Saying these amount of calories are bad, doing this is good... all of that makes no sense at all unless you figure out your own numbers.
MFP has a HUGE FAILURE to it in that it does not figure out your BMR or BMI (body mass index), it just assigns all people to 1200 calories. It did that for me. I went and figured out my BMR- it is 1425! And I am not a tall or large person! So for me, eating under 1200 calories is robbing me of vital nutrition and energy. I did eat that way for a while, I was grumpy and had no energy, but yes I lost weight. I lost muscle as well as fat and that is not healthy.
I eat now around 1788 or so on lifting days, and 1550 on rest days. I'm happier, I'm slimming down quite a bit. The scale lies; I don't care what I weigh because my clothes are looser, I'm stronger and what I am getting is a SLEEK and strong body, not just skinny flab.
I think that is what people are truly trying to say when they act all horrified about the 1200 calories; for a great many people that would be under their BMR and dangerous. That's all. It's all based on MATH. Not fantasy.0 -
I read through all of this but no one, not one person, has said what really needs to be said, to every single person on here...
Do your calculations to figure out your BMR (basal metabolic rate- what you need just to keep your organs alive), your RMR (resting metabolic rate- figures in your daily activities, to keep you going as the day to day person you are).
Saying these amount of calories are bad, doing this is good... all of that makes no sense at all unless you figure out your own numbers.
MFP has a HUGE FAILURE to it in that it does not figure out your BMR or BMI (body mass index), it just assigns all people to 1200 calories. It did that for me. I went and figured out my BMR- it is 1425! And I am not a tall or large person! So for me, eating under 1200 calories is robbing me of vital nutrition and energy. I did eat that way for a while, I was grumpy and had no energy, but yes I lost weight. I lost muscle as well as fat and that is not healthy.
I eat now around 1788 or so on lifting days, and 1550 on rest days. I'm happier, I'm slimming down quite a bit. The scale lies; I don't care what I weigh because my clothes are looser, I'm stronger and what I am getting is a SLEEK and strong body, not just skinny flab.
I think that is what people are truly trying to say when they act all horrified about the 1200 calories; for a great many people that would be under their BMR and dangerous. That's all. It's all based on MATH. Not fantasy.
Yes MFP does tell you this information under your goals (provided they are filled out correctly) http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/my_goals
It does have a BMR calculator under Apps as well. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/tools/bmr-calculator I've known mine for quite some time (there is a BMI calculator too under apps too, but I don't think BMI is as effective a metric as body fat percentages), and I think someone mentioned Total Day Energy Expenditure (TDEE) but can't be arsed to go through the lot to find out who. (edit: here's a nice useful link though! http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ )
Anyway, I know both of them and know 1200 overall is too low for me. Maintenence at my ideal weight would be somewhere around 1900-2000 calories a day, not including any exercise.0 -
MFP never assigned me to 1200 a day. I don't know why it does that for some people, but it did not do that to me. My goal is 1550, and its always over that because of added exercise.0
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Oh, thanks! I never saw that calculator. I bet a lot of folk haven't either.0
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I kind of see where y'all are coming from eating 1200 and losing, hey, to each their own, but i don't think there is Amy way for me to do it! For a while there i was netting 700, working out,and couldn't figure out y wasnt losing, i then upped my calories to 1400 and the weight fell off, I'm now eating 1600 a day, and should now 2mar wether out not my NeW calorie goal is working! Im hoping so, but really, i can't physically do 1200, my body goes into shut down mode. Good luck!0
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It assigns you 1200 a day if you change the amount of weight loss you want from the recommended 1 lbs to 2 lbs.0
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What happens if we eat even less than this 1200 calories? I am not hungry enough to do this? And I prefer to eat healthy so sometimes it is hard for me to eat as much as 1200 calories. Should I still try to eat the 1200 calories or do you think I will still lose while being under 1200?? I am at a major plateau and cant lose
Once again I am baffled.... just how did you become overweight and needed to join a weightloss site if you can not even eat 1200 calories ? ...... curious.....
what a stupid question. people get fat by eating loads of crappy food and most of the time, dont give a crap about it. once people make a decision to get fit and lose weight, they get a different mind set, and realize that being genuinly hungry is different then simple cravings. can i eat an entire bag of flaming hot cheetos and drink a case of corona beer? SURE CAN, but, now, do i want to? nope. now, i can get satisfied and full on a glass of water, some steamed veggies and a serving of baked chicken. 1200 calories of nutrient dense foods, full of veggies, fruit, protien, etc can be very filling, more so than 3000 calories of flaming hot cheetos. wow, some people on here... they run thier mouth on the internet because in person they are usually the most week.
"im gone cyber punch you in your cyber eye, because on the internet, i can act like a big boss and no one will know that in real life im a sensitive tulip... hold on, let me put on my cyber boxing gloves..."
lmao..
You crack me up !
If you eat 1200 calories "full of protein and good nutrients" than why the hell can't you eat another 2-300 calories, be stronger and not skinny fat and workout harder and have a toned body instead of a sagging and fat one ?
I had every damn right to ask that question ..... it does completely baffle me... I was over weight, I ate 3-4000 calories a day of crap food.... I "get" how you can eat crap and now eat well and feel somewhat satisfied on 1200.... but a few more calories are a simple spoonful of peanut butter or another 2oz of baked chicken or a handful of almonds.......
We are not saying " eat a bag of doritos" ..we are saying.... EAT, workout, be strong, grow some muscles, have the body you want and drop FAT % not scale weight....
your missing my point. i was refering to you asking that girl how she got fat in the first place if she is having trouble eating up to 1200 calories a day. i dont need any advise, im doing fine on my own, but you, questioning how people got fat, is really stupid... its obvious most of us got fat by eating crap and junk, not 1200 calories of nutrient dense foods.0 -
It assigns you 1200 a day if you change the amount of weight loss you want from the recommended 1 lbs to 2 lbs.
I see... well at the recommended 1 lb I am actually losing more... I raised my calories in an effort to slow it down a tad but this month it hasn't really changed, I am 10 lbs down over last month. Not complaining really, I am sure its the exercise.0 -
Im a 1200 calorie girl! And coming from a DR's recommendations.....if you are eating the right foods 1200 calories is plenty. A man can get plenty at 1800. I love the way the Dr said it when I met him, our bodies are like cars....your tank in you car doesn't change its size....and when it runs out of gas you fill it up....you can't over fill it, or it will come spilling out. As humans our TANK is our stomach....problem is as humans we dont have a shut off button or a LIMIT per say....if you like that hoho or twinkie or dessert or what ever it is that you are eating just because it tastes good and not because you are hungry, your body is trying to tell you it needs no more, but we as humans have the ability to override what our brain and belly say! Counting my calories and keeping it at 1200 is and has always worked for me.....and I exercise at least 5 days a week for an hour. People should not hate on those that get what they need and want out of their 1200 calorie diet. Be supportive after all we are all in this together!0
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I gained weight because I was pregnant and didnt eat healthy and gave in to my unhealthy cravings. But now that I had the baby I lost 50 pounds by eating clean and now I lose the last few pounds. I couldn't reach 1200 calories a day becuase I was eating salads adn all vegatables. But I just added some protein shakes in to my diet and bumped up my exercise and now I only have 3 pounds to go.0
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I'm eating Net 1200 (actually, usually between 1000 and 1100 because I hate the red number) and gross around 1600 calories, but I exercise it off. It's working for me so far but what I really like is that it's teaching me to eat more fruits and veggies-which I used to be not so hot at-and to cut down on portions! So far I've lost almost ten pounds since I started here 3 odd weeks ago and while some of that is water weight, some of it isn't, lol.0
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Alright, here's the thing.
April 2011 I set myself on 1200 calories a day. It worked. I lost 25-30 lbs. Then I plateaued all over the place for months and months and months. 1200 calories? No longer worked for me the smaller I got.
1200 calories WILL MAKE YOU LOSE WEIGHT. However, it's not the healthiest way to lose weight, nor will it work as effectively the smaller you get. I had to raise my calories (even though it didn't make sense in my brain) to 1600 calories a day, and then I started LOSING weight again.
This is me. It worked to begin with, but I've been stuck now for months. I've just increased it to 1500 and I'll see how well that goes.0 -
Amazing job!!!!! Keep up the good work!! Its really hard sticking to 1200 cal a day i usually go over even if its only but 20 cal I fell bad( like I over ate) , but if you eat the right stuff it's not that restricting.0
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This entire thread pains me. I am a previous 1200-calorie consumer. Yes, 1200 is a great way to lose weight - it's just about fail-proof. However, LONG-TERM thinking, 1200 cals a day is not good. Your body needs more than this just to function if you do anything besides laying in bed all day long.
Do the math....if you burn 50 cals an hour...which most people do at rest...thats 1200 calories seriously lying in bed all day. If you walk around, do a workout, you're looking at burning about 1500 calories at least per day. If you're only fueling your body on 1200 calories, yes you might lose weight, but I bet your body is eating your muscle to get that 300 calories a day you're not providing it. You might keep this up for 1, 2, 3 years, but looking 5 years, 10 years, 15 years down the road, something is bound to happen.
1) Your body will give out
2) You will seriously plateau
3) You're in maintenance and start eating above 1200 and gain it all back.
It's so much easier than this...Figure out your BMR (mine is 1375). Eat at least that - (I eat 1500). Burn 500 more than you eat. (I burn 2000+ a day). I've lost 16 pounds in 12 weeks. And I started out at 139 so it's not like I have a ton of weight to lose. Yet the scale still moves.
Yes, again, 1200 cals works, no one is saying it doesn't - but you don't have to do it that way. I used to be of this mindset and yes when you increase your calorie intake, you will be puffy and bloated and maybe gain a pound or 2 for a few days while your body readjusts, but it doesn't stay that way. It WILL adjust!!
The number on the scale is so much less important than optimal health. I hope this benefits someone.
THIS. I originally weighed 186 and lost a large part of the weight eating around 1200-1400 calories a day.. however, I kept wanting to drop my goal "ten more pounds" because I never looked the way I wanted... this was becaus my guess is I was losing lots of muscle mass rather than fat mass and was unhappy with my results.. ended up doing a "metabolic reset" and gained 16# back.. now currently down 10 of the o16 gained back eating 1800-1900 cals/day but my physique is MUCH better now because the loss is now FAT loss rather than MUSCLE loss. Good luck to you.. however I am a little leery if you are going to maintain this lifestyle long term.. Kinda gives me the sads people eating so low below even their body's BMR :frown:0 -
Observation: OP started account in December 2012. It's April 2013 and the account has been deactivated.0
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Observation: OP started account in December 2012. It's April 2013 and the account has been deactivated.
Probably because people were mean. lol0 -
Observation: OP started account in December 2012. It's April 2013 and the account has been deactivated.
They probably got bashed. These 1200 calorie threads tend to bring out a lot of hate.
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Do you plan to continue eating 1200 calories?
If not, update us this time next year.0 -
Observation: OP started account in December 2012. It's April 2013 and the account has been deactivated.
They probably got bashed. These 1200 calorie threads tend to bring out a lot of hate.
If by "bashed", you mean, "questioned", and by "hate", you mean, "disagreement, much of it based on negative personal experience", then yes, I completely agree.
As for OP, I hope the reason she deactivated is because she achieved her goals and was completely satisfied with her results.0 -
There are no absolutes in this journey! Reducing to 1200 calories will work as a method as long as it keeps getting results for each individual using it. When it stops, then it is up to that person to recognize the need for change. I don't understand the obsession with finding the "right way" to do this - we need to find what allows us each to be successful without harming our health and adjust as necessary.0
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Observation: OP started account in December 2012. It's April 2013 and the account has been deactivated.
They probably got bashed. These 1200 calorie threads tend to bring out a lot of hate.
If by "bashed", you mean, "questioned", and by "hate", you mean, "disagreement, much of it based on negative personal experience", then yes, I completely agree.
You might see it as disagreement but "1200" people often see it as bashing.0 -
Observation: OP started account in December 2012. It's April 2013 and the account has been deactivated.
They probably got bashed. These 1200 calorie threads tend to bring out a lot of hate.
If by "bashed", you mean, "questioned", and by "hate", you mean, "disagreement, much of it based on negative personal experience", then yes, I completely agree.
You might see it as disagreement but "1200" people often see it as bashing.
Many on MFP (and not just 1200ers) mistakenly equate "disagreement" with "bashing"...
...but that doesn't make it so.0 -
I'd like to know if the people who are happy at 1200 calories exercise regularly and if they eat back the exercise calories? Just curious.0
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