1200 absoulute minimum?

Cheval13
Cheval13 Posts: 350 Member
edited January 12 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all,
I actually am looking for a bit of clarification on the amount of ignorance apparent on this website. I understand that having a set amount of calories which should universally apply to everyone is good for KISS (keep it simple, stupid), but it does not mean that everyone need to believe in the limit blindly.
I think we can all agree that the "absolute minimum" for a 6' 210 pound man is different than that of a 4'9" 95 pound woman.
I think we need to consider that the absolute minimum and absolute maximum for each person is individual to that person. That's just common sense.
Please stop telling people that they have to eat "at least 1200" to survive or stay out of "starvation mode." It's just a recommendation from one website (and some amount of nutritionists) out of many...(not that I don't support telling people to get in a healthy amount of calories per day).

Replies

  • Catman_Jellytot
    Catman_Jellytot Posts: 40 Member
    Totally agree.

    I'm (now) 182lbs and I have been sticking to between 1000-1200 calories, and if I feel hungry I might go over this, but I try not to go over any more than about 1400 calories.

    I never let myself feel hungry, and on 1000, I don't ever feel hungry.

    And it's paying off! Just hit the 1 stone mark!
  • sarahlove43
    sarahlove43 Posts: 26 Member
    I agree. I am around 4'9.5 and eating at 1200 calories would have me losing about 0.2 pounds a week, which is ridiculously slow.
  • CristinaL1983
    CristinaL1983 Posts: 1,119 Member
    I agree with you. I understand that eating disorders are a concern and that people should not encourage them but I don't think that people should go as far overboard as I see here. Yes eating at your TDEE minus some percent is good for you. But that is not the only way. People can eat at 1200 calories or less lose mostly fat (not muscle) and get to their goal weight. Several scientific studies have shown that people on a VLCD (of 800 cal/day or less) have suffered no change in their BMR and have lost weight over the entire period of time (the most recent peer-reviewed, scientific journal article I read used a 16 week study). Additionally, with strength training regularly and healthy amounts of protein, they have maintained their lean muscle mass as well as someone eating at TDEE - x%.

    I also understand the concern that it is much more difficult to get your daily nutrition from 800 cal than from 1200 cal but 1200 isn't a magic number, someone who eats 1200 cal of twinkies is not getting the same nutrition as someone eating an 800 cal diet that is full of lean meats and vegetables.

    Every time I read a post that says that if you don't eat at, at least your BMR or you are going to "lose all your muscle" or "stop losing weight completely" or "gain weight" (the most ridiculous claim of all) I lose a little bit more faith in people's intelligence (on the whole) and ability to utilize decades of scientific research.

    I definitely do understand how some people do better and are better able to maintain their results having eaten at a lower calorie deficit but what is good for the goose is often not good for the gander.
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