STOP Under-Eating Folks!!

When you think about it, you gain weight by OVER eating, so you HAVE to Under-eat to lose it! Simple science there!

That isn't science, and no, you don't. You have to eat at a moderate calorie deficit, and move more.

I don't know why you read the OP's post as "preaching".

I agree with this post to some extent. It's probably more for the people who complain and look for advice, but then don't take the advice they are given. To the person who said starvation mode doesn't exist, you are wrong. It does exist. And people automatically think that eating a lot means high-calories - it doesn't. I can eat a HUGE salad with spinach, steak, veggies, and consume less calories that a measly pizza pocket, and be much more full. It's about what you eat, and how you are feeding your metabolism than about the amount of calories you consume.

Stress also causes weight gain, so why stress about how many calories you're eating, when the stress alone will cause you to gain weight?? Doesn't make sense to me.

I agree - don't worry be happy....and healthy

Well, what can I say?

I'm sorry if my post offended you - I certainly didn't intend to ruffle feathers or insult anyone. And I didn't mean to sound preachy.

I'm just happy I found MFP, and I'm thankful for all the information people have shared, and the support offered. I guess I just wanted to share too.

So again - my apologies to anyone I've insulted. And thank you to others who have commented. :flowerforyou:

Mary

It's a sensible post, and you're far more gracious than the forums deserve. :drinker:

I am really confused at many of the responses. All the OP was saying is that you don't have to starve yourselves and you can take it slow. I don't think it was meant to be at all negative. She has discovered these things and wanted to share them, because many people think they have to lose as much weight as possible in as short a time as possible, and can end up making themselves miserable, uncomfortable or ill.

She wasn't saying anyone HAS to do anything - just that losing weight doesn't have to be a miserable experience.

It didn't come off that way to me. Rather it seemed sanctimonious and "my way or the highway." Her way might work for some, but let me tell you, with only 30-some pounds to lose to begin with, why on earth would I take the freaking slow boat to China route and remain fat and frustrated?

My weight gain was due to a medical problem that got progressively worse and was finally diagnosed and treated. I'm on my way back to the size 6 that I maintained for years, and am adding in some additional exercise for better tone and to ward off age related medical problems like osteoperosis. I don't go hungry or binge. Frankly my BMI is well within the healthy range, I could stop "dieting" right now, but I want a supermodel body. Given my frame and overall health, having less than 20% body fat is a doable goal for me. I don't need someone preaching to tell me I'm doing it wrong. The reality is that I seem to be the one doing it right.

I don't have a huge amount of weight to lose, either. But I've chosen to "take the freaking slow boat to China route" so I could really focus on changing some awful eating habits and improve my fitness. Nonetheless, it's looks like we've made similar progress for having joined MFP at roughly the same time, no? So maybe there's more than one right answer.

I really dislike it when people set themselves up as the expert on something that they clearly have had a problem with themselves... i.e. dieting. If the OP was an expert I would expect her to be at her perfect weight for her age and height, which she clearly is not. What exactly makes the OP and expert? That she is dieting now and going to an nutritionist, (the person working at the health food store here calls himself a nutritionist too? This does not make you an expert for how all people should eat. Do you really think that all people lose at the same rate?

Quit preaching and just work your own program. Give people a pat on the back with they need it, move on.

I really dislike it when people set themselves up as the expert on something that they clearly have had a problem with themselves... i.e. dieting. If the OP was an expert I would expect her to be at her perfect weight for her age and height, which she clearly is not. What exactly makes the OP and expert? That she is dieting now and going to an nutritionist, (the person working at the health food store here calls himself a nutritionist too? This does not make you an expert for how all people should eat. Do you really think that all people lose at the same rate?

Quit preaching and just work your own program. Give people a pat on the back with they need it, move on.

I am sorry and with all due respect, I cannot agree with you....at all. This is like saying a doctor should never get sick, or every sports coach would have to be slender and if they are not they are a bad coach.
I think someone who is a nutrition expert can have the kind of relationship ( for all kinds of reasons from childhood starvation and abuse to rape and violence of other forms ) with food that does not allow them to have the perfect body. We all have often said " I know I should not do this " ( have that extra drink, drive drunk, eat to feeling unwell, buying something even though the credit card is maxed out ) and we still go ahead and do it for irrational unexplicable reasons we go ahead . We all have our demons to fight and just because let's say a dietician is overweight does not mean they don't know what they are talking about.
I believe that applies to a certain degree to almost all of us, because many of us became overweight even though we knew better.
I think the OP was well meaning , but miscalculated her tone a bit.....something that happens to all of us. What I resented was the blanket statement in regard to 1200 calories, because as so many have said, we are all different.

Well, what can I say?

I'm sorry if my post offended you - I certainly didn't intend to ruffle feathers or insult anyone. And I didn't mean to sound preachy.

I'm just happy I found MFP, and I'm thankful for all the information people have shared, and the support offered. I guess I just wanted to share too.

So again - my apologies to anyone I've insulted. And thank you to others who have commented. :flowerforyou:

Mary

It's a sensible post, and you're far more gracious than the forums deserve. :drinker:

I am really confused at many of the responses. All the OP was saying is that you don't have to starve yourselves and you can take it slow. I don't think it was meant to be at all negative. She has discovered these things and wanted to share them, because many people think they have to lose as much weight as possible in as short a time as possible, and can end up making themselves miserable, uncomfortable or ill.

She wasn't saying anyone HAS to do anything - just that losing weight doesn't have to be a miserable experience.

It didn't come off that way to me. Rather it seemed sanctimonious and "my way or the highway." Her way might work for some, but let me tell you, with only 30-some pounds to lose to begin with, why on earth would I take the freaking slow boat to China route and remain fat and frustrated?

My weight gain was due to a medical problem that got progressively worse and was finally diagnosed and treated. I'm on my way back to the size 6 that I maintained for years, and am adding in some additional exercise for better tone and to ward off age related medical problems like osteoperosis. I don't go hungry or binge. Frankly my BMI is well within the healthy range, I could stop "dieting" right now, but I want a supermodel body. Given my frame and overall health, having less than 20% body fat is a doable goal for me. I don't need someone preaching to tell me I'm doing it wrong. The reality is that I seem to be the one doing it right.

I don't have a huge amount of weight to lose, either. But I've chosen to "take the freaking slow boat to China route" so I could really focus on changing some awful eating habits and improve my fitness. Nonetheless, it's looks like we've made similar progress for having joined MFP at roughly the same time, no? So maybe there's more than one right answer.

I joined trying to lose weight several years ago, but was unsuccessful in getting to my goal due to a medical condition that was finally diagnosed and treated late last year. A couple of moths ago I was cleared to get back to business and I've lost 18 pounds in a couple of months. My eating habits were never a problem and I've never stopped doing yoga. So no, our situations are nothing alike.

Your post makes a lot of sense

prepare to have hangry people yell at you over it.

Starvation mode is a term that is abused on here...True starvation mode is in fact, when your body is actually starving (i.e. feeding on internal organs after it has burned through all else to survive). Look it up...it's not a magical occurrence as soon as you eat less than 1300 calories.

That being said, the 1200 mark is mainly about macros. It seems very difficult for the average adult to get the proper nutrient needs with such a small amount of calories.

I couldn't function on 1200 calories, but I cannot comment on other's intake as I don't know their height, weight, lifestyle, and activity level. Everyone is different, so it's best to focus on what works for you and how you're eating in order to get to your goal.

I mentioned this in another post yesterday. I am a nutrition specialist ( and have been since 1976) in International Humanitarian Aid and work for the PanAmerican branch of the WHO. We consider 800 calories " hunger " and anywhere from 700 calories down to 500 calories ( and yes there are millions of people who live on 500 calories a day ! ) as " starvation " or " extreme starvation " mode. I know this is extreme, but must say that I find 1000-1200 calories not so low for SOME PEOPLE so they could not live and even thrive. I am 65 and five feet tall and my daily calorie allotment is 1640. I can only eat with great difficulty that much. I usually eat anywhere from 1000-1200 calories and in comparing foods with others, in general I eat more, because I eat only whole fresh food. I agree with you; you cannot handle 1200 calories and go hungry, while I must force myself and eat ( and no I never had a ED and love food ). We are a good example of the spectrum. I don't like it when non professionals tell me what will happen to my body and my life, if I don't eat the way they see fit. I might not know my body 100%, but still know it better than an absolute stranger.
I have so far not been able to find real scientific material to back up the " eat at least 1200 calories or you are going to starve " philosophy other than in diet related material mostly from the US. However it is possible that I have not found the correct material yet. I am a fairly new member, but no stranger to exercise and weightloss and the first time that I have heard of the " 1200 calorie code " being made " law " ( albeit unwritten ) is here on MFP.