can you eat 1200 calories in junk food a day?

lexlyn14
lexlyn14 Posts: 290 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have heard so many different theories on this...Can you eat 1200 calories on junk food alone and still lose as much weight as eating 1200 calories of clean food a day...I know it is better for your overall health...energy...muscle mass...and helping you to feel more satiated and satisfied by eating 1200 calories of healthy food...but the question still remains...Can a person eat 1200 calories in chocolate bars a day and still lose the same amount of weight on the scale as the person who eats 1200 calories a day of "Clean Food"? and will they lose it at the same rate...
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Replies

  • Sweetsugar0424
    Sweetsugar0424 Posts: 451 Member
    The simple answer is yes, calories in vs. calories out. You would be starving the entire day as those 1200 calories would add up quickly and you certainly wouldn't be getting any healthier.
  • krissy_krossy
    krissy_krossy Posts: 307 Member
    Yeah, but obviously it's not good for your health.
  • twinketta
    twinketta Posts: 2,130 Member
    You can drink 1200 cals of dr pepper/coca cola etc...per day and lose weight....is it going to be the right way?
  • yensidtoon
    yensidtoon Posts: 82 Member
    You can eat 1200 calories of junk, but think about your muscle mass. Most 'junk' food doesn't have much protein to fuel those muscles.
  • lulucat24
    lulucat24 Posts: 7
    Some people believe in calorie in calorie out, while others see that different foods affect your body in different ways. I would agree more with the second. You may lose weight (i.e. muscle) on the 1200 of junk food but you will gain fat from the excess sugar, fat, carbs, and limited protein. You could eat much more on a 1200 calorie healthy diet that's for sure! Not to mention many people can LOSE weight eating 1500 calories of healthy food compared to 1200 of junk. There is some fact behind the calories in vs calories out, but it is far more important to focus on macro nutrients like fat, carbs, and protein, and sugar compared to things like calories. A salad that is 200 calories is not only more filling, but is better for your body than a candy bar of equal value.
  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    Yes..but you wouldn't be healthy very long if you did that all the time. Or feel good.
    if the question was CAN I eat 1200 cals of junk food in a day...honey, I can do that in an hour.
  • CristinaL1983
    CristinaL1983 Posts: 1,119 Member
    Some people believe in calorie in calorie out, while others see that different foods affect your body in different ways. I would agree more with the second. You may lose weight (i.e. muscle) on the 1200 of junk food but you will gain fat from the excess sugar, fat, carbs, and limited protein. You could eat much more on a 1200 calorie healthy diet that's for sure! Not to mention many people can LOSE weight eating 1500 calories of healthy food compared to 1200 of junk. There is some fact behind the calories in vs calories out, but it is far more important to focus on macro nutrients like fat, carbs, and protein, and sugar compared to things like calories. A salad that is 200 calories is not only more filling, but is better for your body than a candy bar of equal value.

    I doubt the truth of the bolded part. I would like to see any scientific evidence supporting that.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    Some people believe in calorie in calorie out, while others see that different foods affect your body in different ways. I would agree more with the second. You may lose weight (i.e. muscle) on the 1200 of junk food but you will gain fat from the excess sugar, fat, carbs, and limited protein. You could eat much more on a 1200 calorie healthy diet that's for sure! Not to mention many people can LOSE weight eating 1500 calories of healthy food compared to 1200 of junk. There is some fact behind the calories in vs calories out, but it is far more important to focus on macro nutrients like fat, carbs, and protein, and sugar compared to things like calories. A salad that is 200 calories is not only more filling, but is better for your body than a candy bar of equal value.

    Not true.. You can not gain fat from excess sugar, fat or carbs unless your calories exceed your TDEE.

    BTW, the only way you might not see more weight loss is based on the sodium content so you will hold onto additional water weight.
  • rachelabdy
    rachelabdy Posts: 52 Member
    I've often wondered this :)
    Thinking to satisfy chocolate cravings - one day soon... haven't done it yet... I'll have a Cadbury PIcnic for my lunch (not as part of lunch or a small amount as a snack) that will be my actual lunch, then eat resonable and clean the rest of the day - just cause my cals say I can - so I will!
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    yes but it's unlikely that the macros will be the same.

    not optimal obviously
  • lexlyn14
    lexlyn14 Posts: 290 Member
    I really appreciate every ones opinion on this topic...I Think I will eat my last 240 calories on a snicker bar:laugh:
  • phildawson75
    phildawson75 Posts: 205 Member
    There are no junk or clean food that's just labels we've given them, its just that some food has more nutrional than others. It's all just fuel for your body, and all about the calories.

    Whilst you could live off soley fast food and lose weight, you'll A. Be very hunger as it tends to be high calorie so you won't have much within your goal and B. you'll be deficient in lots of vitiamins and minerals your body needs to be healthy.

    Eating a mixture of foods in moderation is key, absolutely no reason to cut any food from your diet when losing weight.
  • Ed98043
    Ed98043 Posts: 1,333 Member
    Here's an article about a professor who experimented on himself with a restricted-calorie junk food diet: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html
  • DexterDarko
    DexterDarko Posts: 235
    I think the empty calories would put you at a disadvantage.
  • apittmanrn
    apittmanrn Posts: 200 Member
    Yes..but you wouldn't be healthy very long if you did that all the time. Or feel good.
    if the question was CAN I eat 1200 cals of junk food in a day...honey, I can do that in an hour.

    Haha. Me too!!
  • Vansy
    Vansy Posts: 419 Member
    You can, but I doubt you would feel full/satisfied off 1200 calories of junk food.....which would probably lead to you consuming more than 1200 calories.
  • lexlyn14
    lexlyn14 Posts: 290 Member
    thanks so much...
  • babydiego87
    babydiego87 Posts: 905 Member
    Yes..but you wouldn't be healthy very long if you did that all the time. Or feel good.
    if the question was CAN I eat 1200 cals of junk food in a day...honey, I can do that in an hour.
    beat you: did it a few weeks ago in 20 minutes. ;)
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    You could eat 1,200 calories in junk food and lose weight...but you wouldn't be getting proper nutrition doing so. It's difficult to get proper nutrition on 1,200 anyway...with junk food, no way. You'd lose weight, just be really unhealthy...so if that's your goal, go for it.
  • olDave
    olDave Posts: 557 Member
    well....try it and see. That's the only way you'll know for sure.
  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
    Watch Super Size me movie.. he ate only junk food (fast food) and you can see what type of problems he ran into with his health from not eating properly.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    Watch Super Size me movie.. he ate only junk food (fast food) and you can see what type of problems he ran into with his health from not eating properly.

    that was from eating too much.

    Watch Fat Head for a calorie controlled version. (and skip the low carb dogma at the end)

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/research-review/hormonal-responses-to-a-fast-food-meal-compared-with-nutritionally-comparable-meals-of-different-composition-research-review.html
  • xoTalim
    xoTalim Posts: 212 Member
    Yes. But you won't be getting ANY nutrients that are essential for your body to function properly. I'll treat myself to some chocolate every now and then when I have enough calories for it. But I don't go entire days eating just junk food.

    You won't feel full anyway, because junk food is already so high in calories. You'd be able to maybe have a couple bags of chips and some chocolate. Or a burger and fries at a fast food place and that's it. Not the best way to try to lose weight. Treat yourself every once in a while. You'll appreciate it more that way.
  • sallyaj
    sallyaj Posts: 207 Member
    In the documentary Fat Head, the guy eats 2000 calories a day at McDonald's and other fast food places. Not only does he lose 12 pounds, but all his blood lipid indicators improve.

    So, depends on how you characterize junk, but ostensibly, yes, you can.

    I highly recommend the movie. It's a life changer.
  • joey_805
    joey_805 Posts: 1
    you would lose weight, like the guy that did the twinkie diet, but you will also lose muscle mass.
  • Poprocket_2012
    Poprocket_2012 Posts: 142
    .
    [/quote]

    Not true.. You can not gain fat from excess sugar, fat or carbs unless your calories exceed your TDEE.


    [/quote]

    I never knew that
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    1200 of junk would be horrid. You would feel so empty & want to eat more, in fact the sugar in it would make you want to eat more. I cant think of anything worse.
  • NeverGivesUp
    NeverGivesUp Posts: 960 Member
    We all make our choices and are the only ones that have to live with them. I prefer to eat healthy food in order to feel good within my body, to have good skin, nails and hair, and not have to take supplements in order to get what I am missing out of my diet. I proudly eat all the nutrition I need.
  • LiftAllThePizzas
    LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
    There are more than two options.

    You can aim for 80-90% of your calories from nutritious foods, and the rest from candy, cake, ice cream, or whatever else you really enjoy. Then you can actually be healthy AND lose weight, AND enjoy eating the stuff you like, all at the same time.
  • Xiaolongbao
    Xiaolongbao Posts: 854 Member
    Thanks to those who mentioned the Fat Head movie. I just watched it (on youtube in case anyone else is interested), some interesting ideas although as someone who is a vegetarian for ethical reasons I'm not in a hurry to emulate his diet.

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