1200 calories works for me!

Hbazzell
Hbazzell Posts: 899 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I know I will get grief for this but I am begining to think that not everyone responds to food and exercise the same way. We ARE snowflakes!

I have seen friends get awesome healthy at 1800 calories TDEE method and also on the 1200 calorie eat back your workouts method. I also havea friend who worked out hard, including weights, ate mostly protein and good fats, but tried to work off ALL of the calories she ate that day (for a short period).

I started this about a year ago at 1200 calories and lost 15 lbs at 2 lbs a week give or take. Then I read about TDEE and eat more to weight less and upped it. I gained everything back at only 1700 calories a day. So, now I am back to 1200 (eating back some of my workouts though) and I am seeing the scale go down and I am feeling fine energy wise. 1200 calories of good healthy foods like eggs, fage yogurt, veggies, and protein isnt hard!

Anyway, this is kind of a rant. I am just here to say, if it works for you and you arent harming yourself, then go for it. See what works best for you and what you can stick with.

If 5:2 is your thing, do it! If TDEE works, do it! If you only eat red M&Ms then fine! Just be happy and healthy.


Rant complete :)
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Replies

  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    are you reposting this because the mods locked down your other thread where you said you only netted 500 a day..???
  • Hbazzell
    Hbazzell Posts: 899 Member
    That was not me and this isn't a repost. I don't really post much. I think the last thing I posted was pumpkin recipes lol.
  • Hbazzell
    Hbazzell Posts: 899 Member
    ...and 500 is wayy low. That is harming your body and is no way healthy. I would not condone that. I eat about 1200 calories, if I eat 1400 it's because I burned 200. Look at my profile pic, I am obviously an eater.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    my bad, I confused you with someone else...
  • Hbazzell
    Hbazzell Posts: 899 Member
    no biggie :)
  • aimforhealthy
    aimforhealthy Posts: 449 Member
    OP you seem really petite from your profile pic. If you're healthy, not always hungry and have plenty of energy on 1200 calories, no one's going to tell you to do anything different. Knock yourself out and good luck.
  • Hbazzell
    Hbazzell Posts: 899 Member
    Thanks for calling me petite haha. I wish! I am actually 5'8" and 169lbs.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    i dont think anyone is saying that you will not lose on 1200 a week ..they are just saying that it is not sustainable and then at some point you will binge or being eating at a higher level and put the weight back on ..

    you could of had same results and done 1pound per week loss and ate at 1400 per day which is not as much restriction ..
  • EdwardNortonFan43
    EdwardNortonFan43 Posts: 150 Member
    Good for you! I've been on a 1200 calorie a day diet these past few weeks, too.
  • Sovictorrious
    Sovictorrious Posts: 770 Member
    liz-lemon-oh-brother_zps037707d8.gif
  • Hbazzell
    Hbazzell Posts: 899 Member
    @ndj

    I tried 1700 and 1500, and 1400 and didnt lose (I stuck with them a couple months each). I stay about the same minus water weight flux.

    Some days I eat allll day but I am eating broccoli and spinach and spaghetti squash so I am eating a lot and getting nutrients but I am ending at 1200. I dont feel like I will binge because I am not feeling starved. I am going to give it 5 weeks and re evaluate.
  • aimforhealthy
    aimforhealthy Posts: 449 Member
    Thanks for calling me petite haha. I wish! I am actually 5'8" and 169lbs.
    GIRL. I'm also 5'8" and weigh 164 and let's just say I don't carry it as well as you do cause no one's calling me petite. :)

    I haven't looked at your diary, but 1200 calories on a diet primarily consisting of lean meats and veggies can be a lot of food. The couple of weeks I tried an all-paleo diet for s***s and giggles, I had a hard time netting above 1000 - and I was hitting all my macros and ate quite a lot of food. I'm sure you're not starving. Do you find it challenging to sustain week after week?
  • Hbazzell
    Hbazzell Posts: 899 Member
    @AIMFORHEALTHY

    You look amazing! Like I would never think you weigh close to what I weigh. It must be in all the perfect places.

    I am a pescatarian so I eat fish, eggs, minimal cheese, and vegetables. Recently tried to reduce carbs; that is the only thing I struggle with. I am over them a lot but I have them set to 30% so it isn't too bad. I have some Oreos in my diary recently that were in the house tempting me but most of my food is pretty nutritios. One day I ate like 12 ounces of salmon too. That was a beast day lol.
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    Great job taking the time to try out various intakes and put real effort into finding what works for you. Good luck in your fitness and health journey. :flowerforyou:
  • KyliAnne26
    KyliAnne26 Posts: 209 Member
    Yay! I'm glad we're friends :) You look awesome, and I'm totally jealous of your cute hair bob.
  • determinedbutlazy
    determinedbutlazy Posts: 1,941 Member
    Well, you eat back your exercise calories, so you're using MFP the way it was designed. If it wasn't working, I would be more surprised.
  • Hbazzell
    Hbazzell Posts: 899 Member
    Thanks to those who are supportive of the "what works for you" method :) I have just noticed, as most have, that anyone here who is on a low caloire diet gets bashed heavily on this site and I just wanted to advocate for those who feel pressured to change whats working for them just because someone else says so.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I am honestly not trying to give you a hard time here - just trying to put this into context. You admit that you do not log regularly on your profile, and you have only logged for the last 6 weeks, with quite a few missing days during that period. How do you know that you are eating at that level? Also, you are averaging over 1,400 on the days you log (you do mention you eat your exercise calories back).

    I am not a 'you have to eat more or your hair will drop out and you will go into starvation' person, but I am just wondering how you are making the assertion that 1,200 works for you?
  • EdwardNortonFan43
    EdwardNortonFan43 Posts: 150 Member
    I am honestly not trying to give you a hard time here - just trying to put this into context. You admit that you do not log regularly on your profile, and you have only logged for the last 6 weeks, with quite a few missing days during that period. How do you know that you are eating at that level? Also, you are averaging over 1,400 on the days you log (you do mention you eat your exercise calories back).

    I am not a 'you have to eat more or your hair will drop out and you will go into starvation' person, but I am just wondering how you are making the assertion that 1,200 works for you?

    Does it really matter? She is obviously happy with what she is doing.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I am honestly not trying to give you a hard time here - just trying to put this into context. You admit that you do not log regularly on your profile, and you have only logged for the last 6 weeks, with quite a few missing days during that period. How do you know that you are eating at that level? Also, you are averaging over 1,400 on the days you log (you do mention you eat your exercise calories back).

    I am not a 'you have to eat more or your hair will drop out and you will go into starvation' person, but I am just wondering how you are making the assertion that 1,200 works for you?

    Does it really matter? She is obviously happy with what she is doing.

    Read the comments in the thread and try to actually read what I am asking. I am not bashing her at all.
  • determinedbutlazy
    determinedbutlazy Posts: 1,941 Member
    I am honestly not trying to give you a hard time here - just trying to put this into context. You admit that you do not log regularly on your profile, and you have only logged for the last 6 weeks, with quite a few missing days during that period. How do you know that you are eating at that level? Also, you are averaging over 1,400 on the days you log (you do mention you eat your exercise calories back).

    I am not a 'you have to eat more or your hair will drop out and you will go into starvation' person, but I am just wondering how you are making the assertion that 1,200 works for you?

    Does it really matter? She is obviously happy with what she is doing.

    Read the comments in the thread and try to actually read what I am asking. I am not bashing her at all.

    Got to agree, someone who is citing success using a method they're not actually using properly/consistently is a bit odd.
    Making a forum post about it is even weirder.
  • LiftAllThePizzas
    LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
    I am honestly not trying to give you a hard time here - just trying to put this into context. You admit that you do not log regularly on your profile, and you have only logged for the last 6 weeks, with quite a few missing days during that period. How do you know that you are eating at that level? Also, you are averaging over 1,400 on the days you log (you do mention you eat your exercise calories back).

    I am not a 'you have to eat more or your hair will drop out and you will go into starvation' person, but I am just wondering how you are making the assertion that 1,200 works for you?

    Does it really matter? She is obviously happy with what she is doing.
    Yes, it matters, because the obvious message here is "and it can work for you" so it would make a difference to leave out, "even though I'm not actually doing it so I can't even honestly say it works for me."
  • Hbazzell
    Hbazzell Posts: 899 Member
    Hey Sara! I did 1200 cals back in january for 2.5 months and I logged 206 days in a row then (moving up to and back down from 1700, 1500, 1400). I just came back to logging on MFP. It has been a week and I am 1 lbs down on the 1200. Thats how I know it worked for me, because it did in the past and it is again already.
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    1200 net is perfectly fine for some individuals. The debate isn't even about the number itself but rather the process by which persons go about reaching the estimate. Below are two examples of women who'd end up with a 1200 net diet based on their baseline stats and choice, but only one chose the suitable weekly weight loss goal.

    Not appropriate: A 5'2" female at 150 lbs who exercises 4-6 days per week and chooses a 2 lb per week weight loss goal.

    Appropriate: A 5'2" female at 225 lbs who does not exercise and chooses a 2 lbs per week weight loss goal.
  • EdwardNortonFan43
    EdwardNortonFan43 Posts: 150 Member
    I am honestly not trying to give you a hard time here - just trying to put this into context. You admit that you do not log regularly on your profile, and you have only logged for the last 6 weeks, with quite a few missing days during that period. How do you know that you are eating at that level? Also, you are averaging over 1,400 on the days you log (you do mention you eat your exercise calories back).

    I am not a 'you have to eat more or your hair will drop out and you will go into starvation' person, but I am just wondering how you are making the assertion that 1,200 works for you?

    Does it really matter? She is obviously happy with what she is doing.
    Yes, it matters, because the obvious message here is "and it can work for you" so it would make a difference to leave out, "even though I'm not actually doing it so I can't even honestly say it works for me."
    HUH?
  • Hbazzell
    Hbazzell Posts: 899 Member
    I should have explained I just came off a 3 month break but I was an avid logger, weigher of food, from January to about July. That is when i experimented with everything, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1700, and not logging (but keeping concious of intake and output). Also, during my break I had the same grocery list and the same routine with food so I didnt get too far off. Also didnt gain any weight during my break.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Hey Sara! I did 1200 cals back in january for 2.5 months and I logged 206 days in a row then (moving up to and back down from 1700, 1500, 1400). I just came back to logging on MFP. It has been a week and I am 1 lbs down on the 1200. Thats how I know it worked for me, because it did in the past and it is again already.


    Hi!

    Legit question here, have you been tested for anything that would mean that you could not lose on 1,400- 1,700 (net, I assume). Assuming gross of say 1,600 ish, this *should* be a deficit in general for your size. Obviously, I am not trying to pry into personal stuff, so I will not be offended if you do not want to respond to the question.

    Again...not bashing (seemingly for others and not for you as you have taken the question in the way I was asking - just to get context).

    IMO, looking at someone's rate of loss over a period of time is important thing...1lb over a few weeks (??) is obviously not a big deficit and therefore not 'unhealthy'.
  • Hbazzell
    Hbazzell Posts: 899 Member
    Sara,

    I am not offended at all. I havent been tested. I saw a nutritionist and she suggested I consider it if I dont lose on a 1700 cal plan where I only eat back extreme workouts (10k, half marathon, crazy hihkes), not normal ones (hour at gym). I didn't lose on that, actually gained about 4 lbs. That weight came off when I stopped logging though. I just dont have any other symptoms for hypothyroid.

    However, I should note that even though I have only lost 5 net pounds since Janurary, my body does look a little bit tighter and I am stronger. I think I have gained muscle although my BF% has stayed at about 28% this whole time according to my scale. The issue is it doesnt look like I have lost fat. There is a lot of fat over the muscle. That is why i am vutting calories again.
  • Hbazzell
    Hbazzell Posts: 899 Member
    From Jan 2013 to March I was at 1200 cals, I lost about 13-15lbs. (I weighed 165lbs)
    Then March I did 1400 (maintained weight)
    April to may I saw the nutritionist and did 1700 cals but a lot of days toward the end were 1500 because i started gaining quickly and freaked.
    By July I was 170lbs again (5 less than I started)

    I had wisdom teeth surgery two weeks ago and couldnt eat solid food so i was at about 1200 or less but not logging, just assuming since I only ate some yogurt and percocets. This last week I have logged the food at 1200ish. I was 168 this moring. I havent seen the 160s since last time I was on 1200cals.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Thank you. Just making a suggestion here (as I am a busy body) - you may want to try upping your protein, and possibly your fats if you can and see if you respond better to a different macro mix. In any event, good luck.

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