STOP Under-Eating Folks!!

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.

Thank you for brining an educated opinion to this discussion.

Your post makes a lot of sense

prepare to have hangry people yell at you over it.

^^^ this!

I don't understand why people are so quick to defend 1200 calorie diets against the advice "you know, the vast majority of people can eat more than that and still lose weight, and lose it more easily without the risk of bingeing, and actually maintain their goal weight more easily when they get there". but they are. maybe they enjoy self-deprivation.

a small minority of people, e.g. short, small framed, sedentary older women, will find that 1200 cals/day is the right amount to lose on, because their TDEE may be very low. But it worries me when 20 somethings who are doing loads of exercise are eating only 1200 cals/day

im short and small framed but i workout a lot im in my 20s and i eat 12-14 a day and im not hungry so i dunno why you feel like everyone needs to eat more then that and i dont binge if i want something i eat it i just eat a smaller portion of it!

I don't really care what you as an individual choose to do when you have all this information about metabolism and how much you should eat for your size and activity levels. However there are a lot of people out there who simply do not know that they can eat more and have a much easier time losing weight, and actually be healthier and find maintenance a lot easier.

Anyway, if you're here to defend eating 1200 calories a day and how it's worked for you, go right ahead and do that. I will carrying telling people that the vast majority can eat considerably more than that and still lose weight, because it's true.

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

Perhaps you should wait a while before posting a thread such as this one. You are in the 'honeymoon' phase of weight loss right now, as you have only been at it for 6 weeks, and being almost 200 pounds overweight, you can lose quickly on a modest deficit. When the initial water weight is gone, and it gets down to the hard part, then you will see for yourself that it isn't quite so cut and dried as you put it in your OP.

For those of us who have been at this for awhile, and are succeeding by doing what we have found works best for us, a new person coming in preaching about what we should and shouldn't do, can certainly be offensive and ruffle some feathers. Think about it, if it was as simple as you stated, then why did it take you to age 61 and 200 lbs overweight to figure out?

I'm glad you have found your motivation and what is working for you. I hope you keep your zeal for your own health's sake, but try not to get discouraged when the newness wears off and you find yourself having to make some calorie adjustments to continue losing.
Under-eating is a very vague term and means different levels for different people.

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

Don't tell other people what to do. People will eat however they want. You assume a lot about people.

See you in a months time posting on the forums asking why you have hit a weight loss plateau

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.

I think you think I give a flying fig what you think I should do. Really? I've eaten this way for 18 months and please tell me how much I've lost? Oh and in those 18 months this is the FIRST time I've ever lost less than 8lbs.This is also the first time I've stalled. Do what you do but leave me to do as I do. I don't pretend to know what works for you so please don't pretend to know what works for me. Grrrrrr I seriously hate it when someone pretends they have all the answers for EVERYONE.

I think you assume everything is about you and need to chill the f**k out, the amount of posts of people saying they can't lose weight on 1200 calories is ridiculous and I agree with everything in the post because a lot of those people argue back saying eating 1200 is fine. It also seems more like it was aimed at those who don't eat back calories which I'm pretty sure you do.

I only take offense to this because every website people have given me to determine my needed calorie intake gives me between 1200-1300 calories. I still eat 6 times a day, usually. If I'm still hungry, I will eat more. If I work out, I will eat more. If I'm over or under by a bit, no big deal. It's just a guideline. I really don't understand why you get so upset at others for the way they eat or exercise... Do they get all upset at you?? If someone on your friends list is complaining about being hungry, tell them to eat. Maybe give them a low cal, high protein, snack idea.... If it annoys you this much, delete them. Every one is here to better themselves. No one deserves to be put down and made to feel like even when they try to make themselves better and healthier, they still aren't doing it right.