My doc said only eat 1200 to maintain my weight

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kirbyjo3
kirbyjo3 Posts: 10
in Health and Weight Loss
My endocrinologist told me that to maintain my weight (140lbs, height 5'5, 27 y/o) I should only eat 1200 calories a day. MFP suggests that I eat 1350. My goal is to lose 15 lbs to get back to my base weight from two years ago.

I have been logging my food intake and I normally eat around 1200 a day with out any type of dieting or over eating. I end the day full, there are no issues with hunger. I guess my doctor was assuming that I was eating more than that - So I joined MFP to count and make sure.

I am trying to lose weight and have found that I don't lose any at the rate suggested by MFP (for 2 lbs a week) with 1000 calories. My net has been, on average, at 800-900 calories a day with exercise.

Does anyone else have a similar experience? I see so many posts saying that 1200 or 1000 cals a day is too low, but frankly, I'm full off of that and if I eat more -- then I would gain significantly. I'm eating pretty healthy, with most of my meals being high in protein and vegetables. I also am gluten free and cook all meals myself. Are people who aren't full on 1200 cals just not eating as healthy? or am I just abnormal?

I'm confused! I want to lose but I can't see how eating more (as many suggest on here, and which is against my doc's advice) is better, or going to help shed more lbs.
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Replies

  • PrincessNikkiBoo
    PrincessNikkiBoo Posts: 330 Member
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    You are trying to MAINTAIN at 1,200 calories a day?
  • dinosnopro
    dinosnopro Posts: 2,179 Member
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    I am assuming that being you are seeing an endocrinologist , you have some underlying issues? The eat more to weigh less may not apply. I would ask your Dr. more questions, like why he thinks you maintain at 1200 calories.
  • HIITMe
    HIITMe Posts: 921 Member
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    Oh boy.....here come all of the barely out of high school experts that know better than your medically trained physician telling you to ignore him and to follow MFP
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
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    You are under doctor's supervision so why not tell your doctor you want to lose a bit rather than maintain and eat whatever amount of calories your doctor sets? Better yet, get a referral to a nutritionist if you can and ask the nutritionist.

    *rereads* Oh wait, endo. They might know even more than the nutritionist what you personally need. So yeah, ask the endo.
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
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    I think your another who confuses deficit with diet.

    To lose two pounds a week you need a 1000 calorie DEFICIT per day... Not to eat a thousand calories per day or less.

    Like someone else said though, I would ask your doctor. Plus with only 15 pounds to lose, 2 pounds a week is not a healthy goal to have.
  • dinosnopro
    dinosnopro Posts: 2,179 Member
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    Oh boy.....here come all of the barely out of high school experts that know better than your medically trained physician telling you to ignore him and to follow MFP


    Flame bait much?
  • farway
    farway Posts: 1,264 Member
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    Oh boy.....here come all of the barely out of high school experts that know better than your medically trained physician telling you to ignore him and to follow MFP

    This ^^^^^^

    Your doctor knows you and has had years of training, ignore what you find on the internet, if still unsure ask your doctor to clarify
  • beskimoosh
    beskimoosh Posts: 375 Member
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    Listen to your endocrologist, and if you're confused about it, ask them or your doctor. People on here are very quick to point out that it's recommended that you don't eat under 1200, but there are obviously medical issues involved, so I'd speak to specialists.
  • AngieM76
    AngieM76 Posts: 622 Member
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    Tell your endo that you want to lose 15lbs, not maintain your weight and see what he says.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
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    Oh boy.....here come all of the barely out of high school experts that know better than your medically trained physician telling you to ignore him and to follow MFP

    Don't be like that.

    Based on your doctor's plan what happens when you follow it - do you lose or do you maintain? You might ave to adjust a little based on that. Once you have a baseline - add 200 a day for 3 weeks, see what happens. Adjust.

    The best discussion you can have is with your doctor.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
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    Oh boy.....here come all of the barely out of high school experts that know better than your medically trained physician telling you to ignore him and to follow MFP

    Don't be like that.

    Based on your doctor's plan what happens when you follow it - do you lose or do you maintain? You might ave to adjust a little based on that. Once you have a baseline - add 200 a day for 3 weeks, see what happens. Adjust.

    The best discussion you can have is with your doctor.

    This-- try it awhile and see what happens. But make sure you're understanding your endo. Since you're seeing a specialist I'd also assume there's something going on that might alter your caloric needs, so it's hard for us to give you good advice.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,411 MFP Moderator
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    It depends on what your medical issue is? If you have something like hypothyroidism, then you will probably be required to eat less calories. Also, you can ask your dr to provide a name of a good dietitian because unless she also has a specialty in nutrition, she might be just going by the antiquated answer of just 1200 calories. Also, how much are you working out? What type of exercise are you doing? And does your Dr know all of this?
  • FitBeto
    FitBeto Posts: 2,121 Member
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    DAS IMPOSSIBLE 1200 CALORIES IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO EAT IN ORDER TO BE IN STARVATION MODE. YOU ARE GONNA ESPLODE BETTER GET A WILL
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
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    I am assuming that being you are seeing an endocrinologist , you have some underlying issues? The eat more to weigh less may not apply. I would ask your Dr. more questions, like why he thinks you maintain at 1200 calories.

    ^^^^ this

    and also ask the same doc what you should eat to lose the weight you want to lose. the calorie calculators that are used for TDEE, BMR etc are based on average people with no medical issues. they may not be correct if you have certain medical issues going on.
  • teresafromtarana
    teresafromtarana Posts: 28 Member
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    I don't think it's a good idea to drop your calorie intake to 800-900 per day. That's unsustainable in life and your body will go in starvation mode and you will never be able to go back to 1200 calories and maintain your weight. I think sticking at 1200 calories per day but ensuring you add workouts to this is best until you see your dr again and discuss further.
  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
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    I don't think it's a good idea to drop your calorie intake to 800-900 per day. That's unsustainable in life and your body will go in starvation mode and you will never be able to go back to 1200 calories and maintain your weight. I think sticking at 1200 calories per day but ensuring you add workouts to this is best until you see your dr again and discuss further.

    OP, you are not going to go into starvation mode. You're just not.

    But I will agree with this post regarding exercise. I don't know what your exercise routine is, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to move more and work calorie deficits in that way if you want to lose.
  • akaMrsmojo
    akaMrsmojo Posts: 762 Member
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    Not a big fan of doctors, I was misdiagnosed for 10 years and I have celiac. He would never listen to me.

    With that being said, I would talk to him/her and tell them what you told us and your goals. Or get a second opinion just to make sure.
  • kirbyjo3
    kirbyjo3 Posts: 10
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    I do about an hour (4-6 miles) on the elliptical 5 days a week and walk to work and back around 3 days a week (4 miles round trip).
  • Ge0rgiana
    Ge0rgiana Posts: 1,649 Member
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    Seek the advice of a nutritionist / dietician. I've gotten REALLY bad diet advice from doctors.
  • kirbyjo3
    kirbyjo3 Posts: 10
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    I'm just going to make another appointment. Thanks everyone!

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