Will 1200 calories put me in starvation mode?

trogalicious · March 2013

lemme guess, you signed up... set it to 2lbs loss?

How much are you trying to lose anyway?

da_bears10089 · March 2013

i understand that there is debate on whether 1200 calories is too low or not... BUT if you can figure our what your numbers are in regards to BMR and TDEE and you can eat MORE than 1200 and still lose weight steadily, why wouldn't you?

hannah1011z · March 2013

you're dead already. it's started. your body is eating your muscle, then it's gonna start on the bone.

Umm. No.

NOT REALISTIC DUDE. AM I the only one that came accross bad too?

xoxsashaxox · March 2013

I did 1200 calories for a few months to kickstart my weightloss and i didnt go into starvation mode lmao. American people in particular believe people need so many calories and a rediculous amount of food to be healthy, when in reality the leanest healthiest people not only excersise daily but eat so healthy even after having 3 meals a day plus snacks they only make it to about 1200-1500 calories a day (for women). Your height also comes into play. at 1200 calories a day i am 120 pounds at 5'5.

BlueInkDot · March 2013

Again: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

BlueInkDot · March 2013

Not necessarily, as starvation mode is a overused/abused terms. But there is a high probability that it will hinder your long term success.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/419136-what-am-i-doing-wrong
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/419393-need-serious-help-please
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/420759-gaining-weight-on-a-low-carb-diet-please-help
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/421412-so-fed-up-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/446248-why-am-i-gaining-weight
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/447513-disillusioned
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/448803-not-loosing-weight-or-inches
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/454374-gaining-with-scrict-diet-and-workouts
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/455392-no-results-at-all-despair
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/457566-why-cant-i-loose-weight-or-inches
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/457037-feeling-disheartened
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/467001-why-1200-c-a-day-and-still-no-weight-loss
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/480698-assistance-please-this-is-getting-ridiculous
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/480186-tiredness
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/487729-the-scale-wont-move
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/493331-i-need-some-straight-up-advice-on-this-dieting
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/503342-mfp-lied-help
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/509836-i-can-t-seem-to-lose-any-weight
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/517635-what-is-wrong-with-me
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/526497-1000cal-day-diet-daily-work-out-not-losing
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/552142-giving-up
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/557832-why-am-i-not-loosing-weight-help-im-doing-everything-i
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/585081-help-working-out-and-eating-1200-calories-no-change
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/589043-sick-of-trying-with-no-results
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/665625-could-someone-look-at-my-logs
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/668039-why-haven-t-i-lost-weight-in-2-weeks
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/680195-helppppp
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/705854-hair-loss
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/713154-900-calories-a-day
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/713967-not-seeing-any-progress
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/721909-1200-every-day-and-no-change-demotivated-completely
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/739340-1200cal-daily-for-3-weeks-and-havent-lost-a-single-pound
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/854231-calorie-problem
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/854236-stuck-fat
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/867360-i-m-scared
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/873449-need-advice
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/890176-not-losing-with-1200-calorie-plan
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/892991-4-weeks-dieting-and-haven-t-lost-1-pound
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/901715-anybody-busting-their-butts-and-seeing-no-results
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/905033-why-am-i-not-losing
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/905493-daily-600-net-calories-no-weight-lost-what-s-wrong
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/922076-plateau-time-again

You rule so hard, taso.

roobe18 · March 2013

"Starvation Mode" is basically a myth. If it were true, people wouldn't die from starvation. It is possible that eating less than 1000 calories will slow down your matabolism a bit, but you will still lose weight. For example, if you expected to lose 1 lb a week on 1500 cals, and 2 lbs a week on 1000 cals, then you would likely expect to lose 3lbs a week on 500 cals but actually you would only lose something like 2.4lbs on 500. So bottom line, you'll still lose, just not as fast as you might expect for such restricted calories. But you have to ask yourself. If "starvation mode" is such a scary thing and it makes you supposedly gain weight, then why does the medical community (and not just a few quack Dr's, but MOST of the medical community) put people on VLCDs of 800 cals or less for drastic weight loss? How are people so successful with weight loss surgery where they're eating only 500-800 cals a day? I have been eating approx 800 cals for two months now and have been very successful. I feel great and haven't had any problems. I take plenty of multi vitamins to ensure I'm not losing out too much nutritionally. I must admit though, I haven't lost weight as fast as I would have thought. I've had weeks were I've lost nothing. But I've had weeks like that on every other diet I've ever been on.

Now, all that said, do I reccomend that diet for everyone? No. Especially if you don't think it's something you can maintain for a significant amount of time. But if you don't feel like eating over 1200 calories every day, don't worry that some big bad fat monster is going to come and pack you with pounds. Dont stuff yourself with food just because you feel like you have to hit a magic number of 1200 when you're really not in the mood to eat anything more.

hannah1011z · March 2013

I am sedentary and have never been a person to voluntarily work out. I have been seeing a dietitian and she told me to stay between 1200 and 1400 per day. I have been doing that for 2 months with very little exercising (I have a bulged disk in my back) and I have lost 18 pounds in 2 months. I have kept between 1200 and 1400 everyday and I am doing fine.

Oh no You DID ent!. Dietitians are quacks who know nothing about nutrition. Idiots on MFP say so so it must be true.

So we should listen to a guy with responses like yours? Oh my, I think ill take my chances with the doctors and nutritionalists that have their degrees and facts

RunHardBeStrong · March 2013

Not necessarily, as starvation mode is a overused/abused terms. But there is a high probability that it will hinder your long term success.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/419136-what-am-i-doing-wrong
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/419393-need-serious-help-please
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/420759-gaining-weight-on-a-low-carb-diet-please-help
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/421412-so-fed-up-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/446248-why-am-i-gaining-weight
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/447513-disillusioned
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/448803-not-loosing-weight-or-inches
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/454374-gaining-with-scrict-diet-and-workouts
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/455392-no-results-at-all-despair
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/457566-why-cant-i-loose-weight-or-inches
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/457037-feeling-disheartened
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/467001-why-1200-c-a-day-and-still-no-weight-loss
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/480698-assistance-please-this-is-getting-ridiculous
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/480186-tiredness
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/487729-the-scale-wont-move
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/493331-i-need-some-straight-up-advice-on-this-dieting
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/503342-mfp-lied-help
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/509836-i-can-t-seem-to-lose-any-weight
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/517635-what-is-wrong-with-me
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/526497-1000cal-day-diet-daily-work-out-not-losing
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/552142-giving-up
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/557832-why-am-i-not-loosing-weight-help-im-doing-everything-i
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/585081-help-working-out-and-eating-1200-calories-no-change
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/589043-sick-of-trying-with-no-results
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/665625-could-someone-look-at-my-logs
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/668039-why-haven-t-i-lost-weight-in-2-weeks
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/680195-helppppp
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/705854-hair-loss
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/713154-900-calories-a-day
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/713967-not-seeing-any-progress
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/721909-1200-every-day-and-no-change-demotivated-completely
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/739340-1200cal-daily-for-3-weeks-and-havent-lost-a-single-pound
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/854231-calorie-problem
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/854236-stuck-fat
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/867360-i-m-scared
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/873449-need-advice
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/890176-not-losing-with-1200-calorie-plan
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/892991-4-weeks-dieting-and-haven-t-lost-1-pound
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/901715-anybody-busting-their-butts-and-seeing-no-results
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/905033-why-am-i-not-losing
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/905493-daily-600-net-calories-no-weight-lost-what-s-wrong
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/922076-plateau-time-again

i highly recommend reading every single one.

Me too!

meredith1123 · March 2013

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/865024-1200-and-why-it-won-t-work

How weird! When it's worked perfectly fine for me. :drinker:

Seems to work just fine for me..... although not when i was MUCH bigger. You have to slowly decrease as weight is dropped but ive got 5 pounds left to lose and if i eat 1200 cal and still exercise four days a week... i lose no problem.

just sayin..

JAllen32 · March 2013

No its fine. That is where I started out, and was for about the first year, until I started working out harder. And had lost about 45 lbs. Then I upped my cals because I was burning more and needed more fuel. But 1200 should be fine for you.

Colombianchick29 · March 2013

same here
! I have lost 17lbs so far. started on 1200 now that I work out ( has only been 2-3 weeks) I upped my cal to 1390

Renothefox · March 2013

If you would like to know without guessing this is what you do. Do a calculation to find out your lean body mass. (google it) This is an important number to know. This mass is what needs healthy nutritious food, especially protein. Go as low as you want on calories, the only caviat is you have to get in 1.5g of protein for every pound of your lean body mass. Eat one meal a day if you want, IF you get all that protein in, no? then do two big meals, can you eat all that protein in two meals? I usually get close.

The answer to your question is No. Starvation means burning muscle for food in my mind. If you get your protein for the day, when ever doesn't matter and how long your not eating doesnt matter. It will be hard to go super low on calories because your protein requirements limit this, if you don't get that protein your body will steal it from your muscles and that will be 'starvation mode'

So, what to do? Eat good sources of Protein and vegies will give you the lowest calories for carbs. Some cottage cheese is good to.

NoahandPresleysMom · March 2013

no. ive been on 1200 cals as doctor directed.

da_bears10089 · March 2013

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/865024-1200-and-why-it-won-t-work

How weird! When it's worked perfectly fine for me. :drinker:

how long have you been limiting yourself to 1200 calories?

NoahandPresleysMom · March 2013

"Starvation Mode" is basically a myth. If it were true, people wouldn't die from starvation. It is possible that eating less than 1000 calories will slow down your matabolism a bit, but you will still lose weight. For example, if you expected to lose 1 lb a week on 1500 cals, and 2 lbs a week on 1000 cals, then you would likely expect to lose 3lbs a week on 500 cals but actually you would only lose something like 2.4lbs on 500. So bottom line, you'll still lose, just not as fast as you might expect for such restricted calories. But you have to ask yourself. If "starvation mode" is such a scary thing and it makes you supposedly gain weight, then why does the medical community (and not just a few quack Dr's, but MOST of the medical community) put people on VLCDs of 800 cals or less for drastic weight loss? How are people so successful with weight loss surgery where they're eating only 500-800 cals a day? I have been eating approx 800 cals for two months now and have been very successful. I feel great and haven't had any problems. I take plenty of multi vitamins to ensure I'm not losing out too much nutritionally. I must admit though, I haven't lost weight as fast as I would have thought. I've had weeks were I've lost nothing. But I've had weeks like that on every other diet I've ever been on.

Now, all that said, do I reccomend that diet for everyone? No. Especially if you don't think it's something you can maintain for a significant amount of time. But if you don't feel like eating over 1200 calories every day, don't worry that some big bad fat monster is going to come and pack you with pounds. Dont stuff yourself with food just because you feel like you have to hit a magic number of 1200 when you're really not in the mood to eat anything more.

well said!!!!!!!!!!!!

judychicken · March 2013

Bump

lisamarie2181 · March 2013

Not necessarily, as starvation mode is a overused/abused terms. But there is a high probability that it will hinder your long term success.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/419136-what-am-i-doing-wrong
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/419393-need-serious-help-please
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/420759-gaining-weight-on-a-low-carb-diet-please-help
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/421412-so-fed-up-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/446248-why-am-i-gaining-weight
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/447513-disillusioned
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/448803-not-loosing-weight-or-inches
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/454374-gaining-with-scrict-diet-and-workouts
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/455392-no-results-at-all-despair
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/457566-why-cant-i-loose-weight-or-inches
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/457037-feeling-disheartened
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/467001-why-1200-c-a-day-and-still-no-weight-loss
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/480698-assistance-please-this-is-getting-ridiculous
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/480186-tiredness
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/487729-the-scale-wont-move
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/493331-i-need-some-straight-up-advice-on-this-dieting
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/503342-mfp-lied-help
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/509836-i-can-t-seem-to-lose-any-weight
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/517635-what-is-wrong-with-me
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/526497-1000cal-day-diet-daily-work-out-not-losing
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/552142-giving-up
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/557832-why-am-i-not-loosing-weight-help-im-doing-everything-i
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/585081-help-working-out-and-eating-1200-calories-no-change
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/589043-sick-of-trying-with-no-results
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/665625-could-someone-look-at-my-logs
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/668039-why-haven-t-i-lost-weight-in-2-weeks
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/680195-helppppp
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/705854-hair-loss
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/713154-900-calories-a-day
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/713967-not-seeing-any-progress
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/721909-1200-every-day-and-no-change-demotivated-completely
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/739340-1200cal-daily-for-3-weeks-and-havent-lost-a-single-pound
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/854231-calorie-problem
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/854236-stuck-fat
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/867360-i-m-scared
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/873449-need-advice
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/890176-not-losing-with-1200-calorie-plan
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/892991-4-weeks-dieting-and-haven-t-lost-1-pound
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/901715-anybody-busting-their-butts-and-seeing-no-results
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/905033-why-am-i-not-losing
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/905493-daily-600-net-calories-no-weight-lost-what-s-wrong
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/922076-plateau-time-again

This is an awesome post. sad to see so many though at the same time!

I think people get crazy with starvation mode, I think it is more of a metabolic slowdown. You should really find what calories are right for you, 1200 might be it, but looking at you, you look young, and have a feeling you might need more than that.

I would check out the road map, I don't have the link but I am sure you have seen it around here, and find out what cals are right for you. And if you already did and that was the number you got, then you should be just fine

Good luck!

NoahandPresleysMom · March 2013

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/865024-1200-and-why-it-won-t-work

How weird! When it's worked perfectly fine for me. :drinker:

worked well for me. Last time after having my son I lost 150 lbs on 1200 als a day.

babydiego87 · March 2013

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/865024-1200-and-why-it-won-t-work

How weird! When it's worked perfectly fine for me. :drinker:

how long have you been limiting yourself to 1200 calories?

If by 'limiting' you mean not stuffing my face, making wise choices and eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, then I have been eating 1200 calories since Feb. With zero problems.

For reference: I'm 5'3" and net 1200.

Will 1200 calories put me in starvation mode?

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