1200cal/day really works.

Can't judge success after one week. Come back when you have been at your goal and on maintenance for at least a year.

By the way each loss, no matter how small should be celebrated and ENCOURAGED. So be gone with your sarcasm and negativity

Totally agree with this^^ Everyone should be supportive, not discouraging. Congrats on your loss so far!

Thank you

I refuse to support a 1200 calorie a day diet for someone who coud and should be eating a lot more...it will lead to failure and it is not healthy. I don't care how much success they have initially....because in 1month or 2 months they will be back saying help I couldn't maintain that or I have stopped losing or AMG my hair is falling out etc

1200 calories is definitely a divisive subject, but I only lose when I eat between 1000-1200 calories a day. I try to stick close to 1200. I am 5' 2.5". I maintain my weight at 1400 calories & start to gain if I consistently eat over that.

You don't SEE the CRAZINESS of ONLY being able to MAINTAIN weight at 1400 calories????? There's something wrong with that! SERIOUSLY!

ETA - just seen that you had gastrectomy - that's a whole different 'diet' there.
A person who didn't have the surgery should not have a 1400 calorie maintenance level. I have no idea how that surgery maintenance works

I don't know what the VSG has done to my metabolism. I do know that I can eat within that calorie level without the crushing hunger I had before the surgery. I don't think that maintaining at 1400 calories is crazy. When I run my numbers through the Scooby calculator with my current weight & age (41) I get a BMR=1343, TDEE=1611, & 20% calorie reduction=1289. If I change the weight to 130 (well within normal for my height of 5' 2.5"), I get a TDEE=1464. I just don't think that anyone can claim that these calculations are so spot on that a 200 calorie swing is outside the realm of possibility. For some people, 1200 calories is a valid number of calories.

I don't know what the VSG has done to my metabolism. I do know that I can eat within that calorie level without the crushing hunger I had before the surgery. I don't think that maintaining at 1400 calories is crazy. When I run my numbers through the Scooby calculator with my current weight & age (41) I get a BMR=1343, TDEE=1611, & 20% calorie reduction=1289. If I change the weight to 130 (well within normal for my height of 5' 2.5"), I get a TDEE=1464. I just don't think that anyone can claim that these calculations are so spot on that a 200 calorie swing is outside the realm of possibility. For some people, 1200 calories is a valid number of calories.

If you are totally sedendary and minus 20% but let's be realistic -20% if you are that small is not good. Trying to lose 2lbs a week when you only have 5-10 is not good.

I did my sisters for her to prove the same point

Here TDEE with her exercise is 2021....to lose 1/2lb a week she should eat 1819...

argument null and void as losing that fast is not healthy.

good for you, I think 4 lbs is sucess and helps you realize you can do it.

1200 calories is definitely a divisive subject, but I only lose when I eat between 1000-1200 calories a day. I try to stick close to 1200. I am 5' 2.5". I maintain my weight at 1400 calories & start to gain if I consistently eat over that.

You don't SEE the CRAZINESS of ONLY being able to MAINTAIN weight at 1400 calories????? There's something wrong with that! SERIOUSLY!

ETA - just seen that you had gastrectomy - that's a whole different 'diet' there.
A person who didn't have the surgery should not have a 1400 calorie maintenance level. I have no idea how that surgery maintenance works

I don't know what the VSG has done to my metabolism. I do know that I can eat within that calorie level without the crushing hunger I had before the surgery. I don't think that maintaining at 1400 calories is crazy. When I run my numbers through the Scooby calculator with my current weight & age (41) I get a BMR=1343, TDEE=1611, & 20% calorie reduction=1289. If I change the weight to 130 (well within normal for my height of 5' 2.5"), I get a TDEE=1464. I just don't think that anyone can claim that these calculations are so spot on that a 200 calorie swing is outside the realm of possibility. For some people, 1200 calories is a valid number of calories.

But if your TDEE is 1611 - you should be able to eat 1611 and not gain weight. That would be your maintenance level. But you said that you gain as soon as you eat over 1400 calories - see the problem?

I guess what I'm saying is that it is not an exact science & that the calculators should be used as a guide & not taken as the be all end all in fact. They give a good starting point but they may still need to be adjusted depending on the person.

I guess what I'm saying is that it is not an exact science & that the calculators should be used as a guide & not taken as the be all end all in fact. They give a good starting point but they may still need to be adjusted depending on the person.

I could kiss you. In a not creepy way.

My mom is over 60, 4'11 and has no cartilage in her knees. She can barely walk. Even at 40-50 years old, if I punch her data into most TDEE calculators her maintenance calories are close to 1400. People around 5 feet tall exist in the world. Their smaller bodies need less fuel than someone who is taller. The shorter you are, the less you need to eat. The more elderly you are, the less you need to eat. The more sedentary you are, the less you need to eat.

Some people are sedentary at any age because THEY ARE PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO DO EXERCISE. Not everyone on this journey is under 40 with a perfectly functioning body. Granted the OP is not disabled, but my mother is and if she came on these boards without explaining her situation, which she shouldn't have to on a weight loss support board, and got jumped on by you judgmental "gurus", I'd be livid for sending her here for support.

I'm a little taller than my mother. My sedentary TDEE (NOT my BMR, but my actual TDEE) is estimated by these non-concise online calculators to be around 1600 to maintain. I do not exercise daily, some days I am mostly sedentary. I don't even need to explain further than that to justify myself, neither did the OP. I don't need to answer questions about how active my theoretical child is so internet strangers who know nothing about me can pass judgment on whether my lifestyle is healthy. If I did choose to eat 1200 a day, you people seriously think a 300-400 calorie deficit on days I don't work out and sit on my *kitten* all day is going to make my hair fall out in 2 months? Have you people even seen what an actual starving person looks like and what they eat?

I think it's sad that someone IMMEDIATELY gets judged and scrutinized as soon as they drop the 1200 bomb. OP mentions she has twins, and you people immediately pick that apart and make assumptions based on ONE SENTENCE she typed about them about their activity level and how that relates to how much this random person you know nothing about should eat.

1200 a day is not healthy for everyone, but it is not going to kill everyone who eats that amount and is actually sensible and healthy for certain heights, ages, and activity levels. I like how there's mostly no concern or compassion in 10 pages of this BS, but just judgment, bickering, splitting hairs, and this self-righteous "Just wait... you'll fail eventually. Have fun starving to death and your hair falling out while my completely different body and lifestyle eats more than you do!" tone.

So now that I got my hangry rant off my chest, congrats on the loss OP! Hope you find a successful and healthy path that you can stick with and enjoy. It's a long journey and don't get discouraged by the various speed bumps you'll encounter along the way.

I agree with you, It doesn't matter how small our accomplishments are. That lady can come back with her negative comments when someone gives a crap. on another note, congrats! I just started the same calorie diet and im excited to see it work!

I lost about 35lbs on 1200 a day. I gained it all back pretty quick because I couldn't maintain it.

Better to have made the effort and failed, having gained the knowledge to try again than to have done nothing at all to change your situation. Some of us are in such a rut, the only future that we know we can deal with is tomorrow.Great you have made time to research and plan, butt some just have to take action to get the ball rolling.

I lost 50 lbs in a week eating only one grape a day. It's called the grape diet you should check it out! Just one grape can change your life!

If you have grapes sir then lets make wine! otherwise quit whining !!!!

I guess what I'm saying is that it is not an exact science & that the calculators should be used as a guide & not taken as the be all end all in fact. They give a good starting point but they may still need to be adjusted depending on the person.

I could kiss you. In a not creepy way.

My mom is over 60, 4'11 and has no cartilage in her knees. She can barely walk. Even at 40-50 years old, if I punch her data into most TDEE calculators her maintenance calories are close to 1400. People around 5 feet tall exist in the world. Their smaller bodies need less fuel than someone who is taller. The shorter you are, the less you need to eat. The more elderly you are, the less you need to eat. The more sedentary you are, the less you need to eat.

Some people are sedentary at any age because THEY ARE PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO DO EXERCISE. Not everyone on this journey is under 40 with a perfectly functioning body. Granted the OP is not disabled, but my mother is and if she came on these boards without explaining her situation, which she shouldn't have to on a weight loss support board, and got jumped on by you judgmental "gurus", I'd be livid for sending her here for support.

I'm a little taller than my mother. My sedentary TDEE (NOT my BMR, but my actual TDEE) is estimated by these non-concise online calculators to be around 1600 to maintain. I do not exercise daily, some days I am mostly sedentary. I don't even need to explain further than that to justify myself, neither did the OP. I don't need to answer questions about how active my theoretical child is so internet strangers who know nothing about me can pass judgment on whether my lifestyle is healthy. If I did choose to eat 1200 a day, you people seriously think a 300-400 calorie deficit on days I don't work out and sit on my *kitten* all day is going to make my hair fall out in 2 months? Have you people even seen what an actual starving person looks like and what they eat?

I think it's sad that someone IMMEDIATELY gets judged and scrutinized as soon as they drop the 1200 bomb. OP mentions she has twins, and you people immediately pick that apart and make assumptions based on ONE SENTENCE she typed about them about their activity level and how that relates to how much this random person you know nothing about should eat.

1200 a day is not healthy for everyone, but it is not going to kill everyone who eats that amount and is actually sensible and healthy for certain heights, ages, and activity levels. I like how there's mostly no concern or compassion in 10 pages of this BS, but just judgment, bickering, splitting hairs, and this self-righteous "Just wait... you'll fail eventually. Have fun starving to death and your hair falling out while my completely different body and lifestyle eats more than you do!" tone.

So now that I got my hangry rant off my chest, congrats on the loss OP! Hope you find a successful and healthy path that you can stick with and enjoy. It's a long journey and don't get discouraged by the various speed bumps you'll encounter along the way.

Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you! That kind of nasty bitterness makes people want to leave and never come back. I seldom make posts on here for fear of backlash, and that is just sad. Like OP, I've just started again early last month and just trying to figure things out. This process takes a while and the journey is of self discovery and learning. I believe that at this stage of the weight loss (the initial stage) extra sensitivity should be employed because of the learning curve. When others who have gone through their very own unique journey and maybe have even reached goal and are maintaining, they should be guiding and encouraging others. Otherwise all your doing is trolling. Shame on whomever felt the need to *attempt* to hurt and shame others on this post. That is not the heart not the intent of this program.

you don't have to eat 1200 to maintain, you eat lower to lose and higher to maintain and even higher to gain..that's the formula as I know it..

I lost 50 lbs in a week eating only one grape a day. It's called the grape diet you should check it out! Just one grape can change your life!

Haha I'm interested!!

The thread started with "try it, you'll like it!"

Not, "If you have a medical problem that makes you have a lower than normal BMR". There's a reason those calculators are called "averages." That means it will work for most people. That's why everyone is all excited, not that 1200 isn't right for everyone in the whole world. It is wrong for the VAST majority of healthy people if they want to not lose LBM and maintain their weight loss in a non-life crushing way.

So hey, if you want to keep doing that same thing over and over and continue to fail, have at it. Otherwise, maybe you should take advice from people who are and have succeeded? Madness, I know.

Have you even read this thread? Like, the whole thing?

Sure, the first post had "You should try it!" in it, but it got sickeningly out of control after that.

No, everyone shouldn't try 1200 calories, or P90X, or raw food veganism., or a lot of other methods out there. They aren't for everyone. Conversely, it's not your place to tell people that those things shouldn't be attempted by anyone, without knowing their full story. Which is what the vast majority of the people in this thread did, while also resorting to nasty remarks that were out of line IMO.

But someone who does try those things within reason shouldn't automatically be assumed to be "doin' it wrong" and will crash and burn.

The point I was trying to make is that 1200 is great for SOME PEOPLE, and EVERY TIME someone says they eat 1200 on these forums, everyone ignores every logical reason someone can sensibly eat 1200 and start spouting BS about hair falling out and failure.

Who knows, maybe OP saw all those 1200 threads go into flames, tried it herself, had success, and felt the need to un-demonize it. I don't agree with the phrasing of her original post but I also don't think her hair is going to fall out or think her children's activity level has anything to do with anything that's my business, unlike a lot of people on here.

Also, I was speaking about extraneous issues that makes someone very sedentary, you can be perfectly healthy yet very inactive with a TDEE that reflects that. My point is there are reasons certain people would need to eat around 1200 to lose, and that it would not kill them. If OP is short and sedentary, this thread shouldn't be 10 pages of "OMG UR GONNA FAIL AND DIE!!!11"

Also, thanks for being a perfect example of that self-righteous tone I was talking about.

So hey, if you want to keep doing that same thing over and over and continue to fail, have at it. Otherwise, maybe you should take advice from people who are and have succeeded? Madness, I know.

Do you even know anything about me? Who are you even addressing like that? Look at my ticker. I've been at this for years and haven't gained all my weight back or... crushed my life or whatever you just said. You don't know what I eat, what my physical activity is always like, exactly how much I eat, my physical circumstances. You don't know any of that. So exactly what makes you or anyone on here qualified to say stuff like "if you want to keep doing that same thing over and over and continue to fail, have at it"? Like... who's failing here, exactly?

I've succeeded quite nicely, thanks for the support and caring.

Congrats on your loss.

Also, I'm wary of taking advice from random internet people, because their methods aren't necessarily right for everyone on planet earth. And yes, this includes the OP, who I don't agree with 100% but have enough restraint to not phrase it like an a-hole. I don't pretend to be a medical professional or expert on nutrition/weight loss and tell others what they should be doing because I lost 37 pounds doing what worked for me personally. I can give anecdotal advice if they ask for it, but I'm not going to tell them to their face that they are going to fail and make hurtful nasty remarks to try and make myself feel smart and superior.