Results with 1200 Calories

And, on another note- why is it so hard for people to educate themselves? Go figure out your resting metabolic rate (RMR), your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and if you want to lose weight, eat at TDEE -10 to 20%. Several others have provided links to easy websites that help you do that. This way, you can lose weight without harming yourself. 1200 is a silly number to be hung up on. You may find that your TDEE -20% is 1200, but you'll probably be about 5 feet tall; good for you! Just get educated, make a smart choice and be kind to your body.

Most folk that go after these 1200 cal threads here are genuinely concerned about the health of others. It can seem like we're all negative etc, but it genuinely comes out of a place of concern... it's no fun to witness someone ruin their metabolism, and self esteem, with yo-yo weight loss/ gain. I did it. I was on the VLCD for a while (accidentally, from a place of grief) and when I started eating "normal" again (aka 3 meals a day) I ballooned up! So I figured out my numbers, and I'm looking great again, with lots of energy, no crabbiness, lifting weights, and damn proud of myself. I look much better fit than I did skinny fat too.

By the way: MFP puts EVERYONE at 1200 when you want to lose 2 lbs per week. Doesn't mean it's right, scientific, or anything. I have no idea why they do that, it's a dangerous and stupid thing to suggest. It suggested 1200 for me; I calculated my BMR (basal metabolic rate- what it takes to keep me breathing and my heart pumping, organs alive, etc) and it's 1375!! How can 1200 sustain me? Answer is, it can't. I've been thinking for a while that all of us concerned folk should petition MFP to have a *real* BMR/ RMR/ TDEE calculator so that the newbies don't get mislead into dangerous feats with their poor metabolisms.

We care about all of you! Really! I hate to see you all disappointed in 1 year when that fast weight loss boomerangs back on you, leaving you in despair. Happened to me. Educate yourself, do it right the first time.
Sincerely
Greenmeena

Foremost, these are MY results with the whole 1,200 calories matter- I'm not nutritionally educated enough to recommend anything to anyone, so take it with a grain of salt.

The first time I lost a significant amount of weight (235 to 165 - and for the record, I'm 5'10), I did so eating around 1,200 a day. I was seventeen at the time and lost the weight gradually, over the course of about two years. I combined it with cardio exercise, pilates, and some light weights and had fantastic results- however, I filled those 1,200 calories with as many fruits, veggies, and lean proteins as possible. When I eat that little, I make every calorie count and try not to toss them out on processed foods.

I found my own way around the minuscule number in which I could be satisfied. For breakfast, I often had my favorite blended drink (1 small banana, 1/2 cup of almond milk, and a teaspoon of cinnamon or dark unsweetened cocoa powder.) or a piece of fruit with honey. Lunch would be a big kale/baby spinach salad with a small amount of dressing and a handful of nuts. Dinner would be fish, a small lean steak, or grilled chicken with veggies on the side. Very few times would my meals surpass 300 calories, unless we went out to eat- and even then I would scrounge up the nutritional information online and find the low-calorie menu whenever possible. By being creative with my fruits/veggies/protein, my meals were filling and I didn't feel as though I was starving.

I had success with that- my skin cleared up, I maintained my weight for years following a similar pattern, and rarely binged due to being content with my food choices. My main consequence was becoming too hung up on the numbers, and I've heard of numerous people feeling it necessary to dip their required calories lower and lower once they're used to 1,200. Depending on who's following the plan, it could be playing with fire. I wouldn't go around brazenly recommending it- just because it worked for me, doesn't mean it will work for everyone. As indicated by quite a few responses, some bodies will not take well to it.

I gained about 20 lbs. of my weight back over the 2012 holidays due to me tossing my routine out the window and eating whatever the hell I wanted- to unreasonable proportions. I don't think I turned down anything sweet or decadent!

Wow. Lots of post saying the same thing here but I need to reiterate.

I've lost weight 3 times eating 1200 calories...what does that tell you? Sure it works. But you can't eat 1200 calories forever. It screws your metabolism and puts you on an unhealthy yoyo dieting cycle.

You feel full after a long time eating 1200 calories because your body adapts to it, but it isn't actually getting what it needs. The RDA is based on 2000 calories because that is how much we need to eat to get all our essential nutrients.

No. The RDA is based on (a) men, who are used as the 'norm' even though there are large gender differences involved and (b) represent an "average" height/weight/age - meaning there's a normal distribution around that number. Nutritional requirements scale with size, age, etc. I'm 55-pushing-56, 5' 1/2", and my goal really is about 1200 calories (1250) to lose, but only 1350 or so to maintain.

...Those who argue most fervently for it are those who are in the midst of starving off the pounds...

I sincerely hope I don't come across as arguing fervently in favor of 1200 calories daily! Because I honestly see the point being made from the other side. For *me* I believe it makes sense because 1. I'm short, 2. I'm post-menopause with a naturally decreasing appetite (so I notice in myself), and 3. I'm quite sedentary (my exercise is usually a brisk walk with my dog). I absolutely agree 1200 is not for everyone! And I appreciate reading the valuable info to the contrary.

So I can't speak of long term.

With that said I offer anyone to look at my (open) diary and tell me it seriously appears I am "starving off the pounds".

As I said, I looked at the diaries of those who share the more calorie POV (not many have open ones), and I gotta say none (of the few I've seen) seem to be truly *eating* more than me. I've seen increased calories due to beer (I had 2 myself tonight LOL), lots of chocolate, sugary cereal, canned veggies, fast food ~ but honestly none impressed me as to having more healthy food volume than I eat.

see my ticker.

@_@ Wow...

Why are people so willing to credit/blame MFP for why they eat 1200 daily...("...because that's what MFP said to do")...but then don't eat back exercise calories? In case people don't know, eating back exercise calories is what MFP says to do too. (Yes, I realize there are other approaches where you wouldn't (such as a TDEE - X%), but those would almost certainly/very likely have you eating more than 1200.)

TL;DR - Cherry-picking pieces of the plan is *not* following the plan.

This is a fair point, and I know my individual reason won't apply for all, but this is why I was flexible with mine: the highest activity level at .5 lbs a week put me at 1330 calories. Moderate activity put me at 1200. So I guess I was doing a TDEE approach but without the language. Since MFP bottoms out at 1200 no matter the goals/stats, I believe it is different for me to not eat the exercise calories as my deficit wasn't quite as great anyway. (It's been awhile, so I may have some numbers wrong, but I think MFP estimated me to lose .3 - .7 lbs a week on the various activity settings.)

The other point I wanted to respond to that someone else made is the "Never starve again." I paid much more attention to my diet and health at 1200 than I admittedly do now, and I didn't go hungry or starve. The days I was hungrier for whatever reason, I ate more. I agree 100% that if someone *is* starving on 1200 calories, it is not the plan for that person to be following.

I have actually found that it is difficult for me to maintain 1200 calories a day, not because it's not enough, but because it is too much. I have trouble meeting that goal every day, and if I do get to it I am super full and don't feel like eating breakfast the next morning. I am also only 4'11", so that could have something to do with it. But I think everyone should find what works for them and work it! Everybody is different, so what works for one person may not work for another.

This is actually probably a sign that you should try to sneak a bit more food in. You may have thrown some of your hunger mechanisms off. I haven't checked your diary, but if you are eating lots of "diet" foods or just a lot of vegetables, try adding some healthy fats into the foods you are already eating. (I'm barely taller than you, and being this height is not really a reason to have a smaller appetite.) I did look at your profile and assume you must be busy. You may be getting so tired that you don't experience the hunger. Maybe try bringing even a single serving of almonds or cashews to munch on while out and about.

Some people are mentioning maintaining goal weight after being on 1200 cals. I look at it this way - if the person goes back to eating the way they were before losing the weight, of course they'll gain. Likely the way they were eating before was over their maintenance calories, after all that's how they got overweight in the first place. Even going to your maintenance cals suddenly might cause some gain initially. When I get to goal weight I plan to go up to my new maintenance cals gradually, increasing by 100 cal increments over a period of time. Shouldn't balloon up that way.

exactly! people alwayz gain there weight back because they go back to stuffing there facez. if u go up gradually it shouldnt be problem an ur body will get used to it. im so sick of people saying i have an eating disorder jus cuz i eat little. my lifestyle isnt tha same as their's. >_____>

OK, I'm kind of over this. I'm tired of all these folks who think they're diet and fitness experts! Let's face it - if we were experts we wouldn't be here! LOL. There is no magic bullet. There is no magic formula. You just have to do your best. The REAL litmus test is what happens once you reach your goal. Hopefully by then good habits will have been formed, bad habits shelved, lifestyles will have been modified to include food education and exercise and voila!! = long-term success.

And regarding the whole "loose skin" slam from earlier on this thread - you don't avoid loose skin because you're eating more, you don't get it because you're young! Duh.

bink

UUURRRGG here we go...'you're starving at 1200'. What a load of cr**. I have tons of energy, I'm losing weight, my periods haven't stopped, I've not suddenly gained weight and you know what, I enjoy not eating f*** loads of food.

I'll see you at the finish line (I'll be there before you)!

I actually didn't say you were going to lose your period, and you obviously have a bad relationship with food if you thinking eating what your body NEEDS to simply maintain it's functioning level is "loads of food." Also it is starving yourself, the average body needs at least 1700 calories to function every day, anything less than that is starving it.

Do you expect your car to run without gas? Do you use your cell phone without charging it? Stop thinking of your body as a number on a scale, and start thinking of it as a machine that needs energy to function. The bottom line is losing weight at 1200 calories is not healthy because a) you aren't feeding it properly b) it's not ideal to live on 1200 calories for the rest of your life. The damage it does to your metabolism, and yes the potential harm it can do if your body goes into starvation mode and starts to consume it's own muscle. (Also your period doesn't need to stop for your body to be doing this, I was anorexic and my period never stopped not even when I was 115lbs so that's a mute point.) Also talking about muscle and starvation, guess what's a muscle in your body? YOUR HEART

you had me until you said starvation mode...sorry but you can't be eating 1200 cals a day and be in starvation mode. Your body will not start to consume muscle for energy unless you eat nothing for three days and even then, the effects of starvation mode are minimal...

Yes well they may be minimal if you do it now and again. However the effects of starvation mode for prolonged periods of time are proven to eventually kill you , And yes cause heart failure.

Also 1200 is starving, it may not make your body consume your heart but it (as was said by another poster and myself) messes with your metabolism and is not a goal to aim for (for most!).

Perhaps another word would be better but "starving" pretty much sums up my experience with 1200 calories. That or "ravenous" and "b%tchy"

This is way too much of a generalization.

Surely you're not going to claim that a sedentary 5'4 120lb female who does maybe 2-3 workouts/week (at best) of some light aerobics is going to be "starving" if they eat 1200 cal/day are you?

This arbitrary 1200 red line is pretty useless when it's not tied into someones TDEE

UUURRRGG here we go...'you're starving at 1200'. What a load of cr**. I have tons of energy, I'm losing weight, my periods haven't stopped, I've not suddenly gained weight and you know what, I enjoy not eating f*** loads of food.

I'll see you at the finish line (I'll be there before you)!

I actually didn't say you were going to lose your period, and you obviously have a bad relationship with food if you thinking eating what your body NEEDS to simply maintain it's functioning level is "loads of food." Also it is starving yourself, the average body needs at least 1700 calories to function every day, anything less than that is starving it.

Do you expect your car to run without gas? Do you use your cell phone without charging it? Stop thinking of your body as a number on a scale, and start thinking of it as a machine that needs energy to function. The bottom line is losing weight at 1200 calories is not healthy because a) you aren't feeding it properly b) it's not ideal to live on 1200 calories for the rest of your life. The damage it does to your metabolism, and yes the potential harm it can do if your body goes into starvation mode and starts to consume it's own muscle. (Also your period doesn't need to stop for your body to be doing this, I was anorexic and my period never stopped not even when I was 115lbs so that's a mute point.) Also talking about muscle and starvation, guess what's a muscle in your body? YOUR HEART

According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), the average person needs 1800 to maintain their weight so no, eating 1200 to lose weight isn't starving yourself.

"1800 to maintain" but 1200 isn't starving? You yourself just said the average is 1800 and I am not a math major but 1200 isn't 1800. Like I said spend your life eat in 1200 or eat normal and work out. Muscle is beautiful skinny with saggy skin not so much. Ravenous and b&tchy also not attractive... but it is your body.

Let me tell you my story...

I started dieting after my son was born in 2003, I figured diet was simply "stop eating so much" and 1000 calories sounded like a good reasonable number to go by. I lost all of my baby weight, became weight fixated, and lost more weight. I went from the 1000 calories to anorexia (this doesn't happen to everyone, but let's face it eating 1200 calories is border line anorexia. After all 1000 calories is only 200 less!) I was super skinny, I had never been so skinny, 5'8" 115lbs. Eventually I ate normal again, because you know life is a good feeling, being alive and all that jazz.

2006 I decided at 5'8" 150lbs I needed to get my eating habits under control. I set my goal at 1200, and lost to 129lbs in a few months. I was constantly crabby, I had no energy, I was so ravenous that if I didn't get to eat my scheduled meal I would start biting heads off. I was a real peach to be around. However, I was super skinny!!! YAY! Guess what? Eventually I got sick of starving and ate normal again, and balooned to 150lbs in about a month.

2008 I started working out, still not eating enough but better 1400 calories with a good work out. I lost the weight pretty fast still, but always felt hungry! (I wonder why? I was burning all of my calories with daily calorie useage, and then I was working out and burning even more.) I eventually made my goal weight, and body fat, and I was very fit! However again, STARVING, again I ATE NORMAL again I GOT BACK TO 150lbs without blinking an eye.

This time? I am eating normal, feeding my metabolism, making smarter choices, working out like a champion. I would reach my "goal weight" in a few months with 1200 calories, have the worst attitude ever, and be starving 24/7. This time? I am eating 1700 to 2200 calories, the weight is coming off slow, my muscles are beautiful. I am not a complete *kitten* to be around, and am enjoying my work outs. I can eat whatever I want and not have my butt go up three sizes.

MY SUGGESTION? FEED YOUR BODY. WORK HARD. Or you can ruin your metabolism, and eat 1200 calories the rest of your life, or do it the other way. Oh yes, and lift heavy things up and down, you will not get bulky and your body will thank you for it.

1200 iz NOT ''border line anorexia''. what r u even talking about?

My body. And it is for me. At 1200 calories my body could not maintain its functions, and the fixation on food led me to anorexia. Did you not read the post? By the way my BMR to just have my body "function" at a sedentary level is 1990 ...certainly isn't 1200. Starving is starving. Why eat 1200 when I can give my body what it actually needs 1990 or more!