Has anyone met there goal weight eating 1200 calories??
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Well, because while starvation mode is real, it is not nearly as powerful as most people assume. I remember I once did some hardcore looking to starvation mode. The reality is, while your metabolism will slow down, a starvation diet will still result in far more weight loss than a higher calorie one. I believe studiers found that the metabolism doesn't slow down more than 20% in bad cases and 40% in even the most extreme ones.
The actual reason people warn against a starvation diet is because for the large majority of us, if we eat a starvation diet, we will eventually break down and binge. And when we do binge, we will gain the weight back very quickly and potentially gain even more weight back on top of that because starving can harm muscle tissue.
However, the idea that it is impossible to lose weight on a starvation diet is blatantly false. Yes, it is dangerous, and yes, you will almost definitely fail to maintain the diet, but if you somehow manage to follow it, you'll lose weight, all warnings of starvation mode aside.
Let me preface this with... the whole starvation mode misconceptions are a HUGE pet peeve of mine... and yea, I've done the same research and even recently... I was aiming for sarcasm
< < F-F-F-FAILURE > > The real danger of starvation mode is the mental changes that can persist up to 8 months after returning to a less restricted diet... that said though, 1200 calories unless you're doing a crap load of exercise or massively morbidly obese isn't going to put you in starvation mode. It's easy to find literal metric tons of great scientific information on adaptive thermogenesis if you don't call it 'starvation mode'. Most people fall in the AT 10-20% range at worst when AT kicks in (worst self recorded was 50%, worst recorded by 3rd party was 40%, but anything above 10-20% is full on starvation (complete fasting) to engage it at that level more or a less)... but it doesn't kick in easily, it takes a serious serious calorie deficit to engage it... not one most people can reach unless morbidly obese (and it's kinda moot because of the deficit at that point) or absurdly active. Every 500 different from your expended amount per day is a lb a week... eating 300 more calories a day (1200->1500) isn't going to be made up by a change in your AT metabolic adaption level because it isn't going to effect it in any significant way even assuming you were at 20% metabolic rate change, you would STILL be 40 calories lower at 1200@20% than 1500@0%... if 1200 was even a reasonable number to put you into *fairly large* AT metabolic changes in the first place... and it's not. Not even close. The whole eat more to lose more idea floating around here by lay people who have never done an iota of research on the matter and who spout it off every single post they make when someone isn't losing weight makes me want to slam my head into my keyboard until I'm unconscious.
*arrrggghghhhhhh*
Edit: ... and to make this post legitimately informative, the cause for most people not losing weight is over estimating calorie expenditure (not their fault, the formula for calculating it wes made for steady state cardio and healthy weight people, figure it somewhere around 50-70% and you'll be a lot more accurate if you're not in a healthy range) or under calculating their food portions (their fault if they're not weighing foods, common underestimation of portion is 20-30% and as calorie deficit increases so does the margin of error on food portions, up to around 50%. Fix it by weighing what goes in your pie hole.) It was a real eye opener when I tried to find a potato that was the size the bag mentioned, 148g... to find none under 190g... and even worse when i saw the size of 4oz of chicken breast vs what i had been eating on average (~12oz) assuming that was an 'average' chicken breast.
Edit: Further, the big problem with starvation mode is the mental stuff some of it you're not even conscious of (like decreases in sleep movement and normal fidgeting) so don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating extreme calorie restriction, just saying the misinformation is infuriating. If someone is going to explain something, do it with out all the broscience bs.0 -
Oh my gosh, exactly! All of you people who are eating 1200 cals and not adding back in your exercise are going to have serious issues maintaining.
Never been overweight in my life and have always been healthy. So maybe I know something about my body and staying a normal weight that you don't.
I hate to be blunt, but people who have not figured out how to eat and exercise so as not to gain weight should not be lecturing people who have. People, who, by the way, don't care what you do, but who will speak up if you say silly things like 1200 is the cusp of starvation.0 -
Great GIF.0 -
I have a question...
So, if you lose weight eating 1200 calories and not eating back exercise calories.
How many calories are you going to eat to maintain your weight when you reached your goal?
Whatever amount you can eat and maintain your weight. There's no one formula that will work for everyone. You observe how your body responds to more calories and whatever exercise you're doing. If you gain weight you eat less or exercise more if you can. You have a mental line in the sand and if your weight exceeds it you bring your weight back to a normal level.0 -
sounds like pure misery...
Crying all the way to the Petite Size 2s.
More seriously, as you age your metabolism usually slows down and if you want to stay at a healthy weight you simply can't eat the way you did when you were 20. You admire your body for being amazingly efficient and cultivate other interests besides stuffing yourself without thought on every occasion.
Too many people fail to understand that THIS is the "lifestyle choice." Instead, they chatter on about how they're going to change but secretly think they can go back to living in the manner that got them fat in the first place.
(eat more to lose slower so you can eat more later!)
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This poster appears to have been logging for about a week and is drinking most of her calories in booze. Not sure she's terribly concerned about safe weight loss.If i eat 1200 a day im lucky to lose 1-2 pound a week i stay under 1000 and i lose an amount i am happy with not at goal yet but im getting close i think it also depends on your height your weight your metab rate x
Just saying, at least by your picture... you ~shouldn't~ be losing more than 1-2lbs a week under any circumstance. The closer you get to your goal weight the less you will lose safely. Generally speaking it's only safe to lose 2-3lbs a week when you're >75lbs over weight... then 1-2 down to 20-30 lbs overweight... then 0.25-1lb till you're down to goal weight.
As another poster said at least she is honest. That's half the battle.
It also tells me that if she chooses to indulge then she needs to find a middle ground where she can do so without guilt or without forgoing nutrition. I think most of us would at least agree that eating at 1200 requires reasonable nutritional knowledge and a willingness to sacrifice. But if she chooses to drink so be it. She can still cover all the bases and have success without running on the treadmill for ten hours on a Monday just because she thinks she screwed up on a weekend.
I remember the first week I did my diary..big eye opener but I knew it would be - cringed as I put it in but I knew I had to for the sake of being honest with myself. So kudos to OP for squaring up.
She may sit at 1200/whatever during the week to allow for a bigger weekend or she could set herself a daily level with same deficit per day with both options giving her a decent deficit over course of week.0 -
im on a 1200 cal diet, im always under by 200 or less.. but i am losing without any exercise.
im aiming to lose the weight first then exercise to keep it off and eat healthy but have whatever i want in calories.
i dont know if it will work but i cant do anything untill ive lost the weight first .
opinions welcomed.0 -
Oh my gosh, exactly! All of you people who are eating 1200 cals and not adding back in your exercise are going to have serious issues maintaining. I lost all of my weight--65 lbs--6 years ago. The most I've come back up is 10 lbs, and I think it's mostly muscle from my kettlebell addiction--my pants still fit. When you net below 1200 cals a day, you are slowly slowing your metabolism down. Your body doesn't know what to do--it's not technically starving, but it's sure not getting enough, so it's holding onto everything you eat. STOP! For your sake, stop. You are probably going to gain a bit of weight for the next couple of weeks while you try to bring your body back up to a normal caloric intake, but good god--just do it. You MUST be 1200 cals or above on a net basis. Add your exercise back in. I try to net around 1400 when I gain a bit of weight, and it's totally fine. I still lose weight. When I'm maintaining I net between 1800 and 2000--so if I run 11 miles (which I do sometimes), I will seriously eat around 3200 cals for the day and be TOTALLY fine. Stop starving yourself. Love the below post. Awesome.Hi am worried i will gain by just eating 1200 calories a day but im full and don't feel the need to eat any more not even my net calories I have a personal trainer 5x a week will i still lose weight??
Has anyone met there goal weight just eating 1200 calories??
Will you lose weight? Of course you'll lose weight. That's what happens when you eat 1200 calories, you lose weight. All kinds of people have lost weight on 1200, from tiny middle aged women to 6'0 men in their twenties (We are all special snowflakes, except for the fact we all eat the same number of calories? Yep).
I can't tell you what will work for you, only what has thus far worked for me.
I'm 25. I'm sedentary in every day life (I spend a lot of time playing video games at this stage. I work in education, so I'm just hanging out until fall, at least.) I work out 5-6 days a week (depending on my mood. If I don't want to, I won't.) which comes to 3-4 hours a week. So not a whole lot, at all.
My goal is 1825. I lose weight at 1825. I've dropped 15 pounds in 3 months eating between 1650-1825. I've been over and under these numbers but it all balances to an average of 1750 (I keep track of my average calories, it's proven to be insightful)
Now people will say "I'm sedentary, 1200 is right for me!"
Well I'm sedentary and I saw screw that.
"I don't work out for hours and hours!"
Me either. I'm kind of lazy.
"Well it works for me!"
Eating more would probably work to. I could lose on 1200, but why? For the joy of smaller portions? Nope.
"Well I don't eat a bunch of crap!"
Cool, me either. I'm making a nice 6oz piece of fresh salmon (pre cooked) with a nice sour cream and basil sauce. I'm gonna have a side of broccoli and some rice. I'm having turkey and black bean chili for dinner, maybe some more rice, but probably not. I had pancakes, bacon, and a cheese and broccoli omelet for breakfast. I had a protein bar after lifting and I will have room for ice cream later, while still clocking in under goal. So. Not exactly sucking down crap over here.
"Well I'm older."
Well the OP is 26 so /shrug to that.
That said do whatever makes you warm and fuzzy on the inside, but please be aware most people don't have to eat that way. I fully believe most people just can't wrap their mind around a higher number (I know, I know, I would eat more if I could! I tried for a whole two weeks! Kbrowhateveryousay.) If you want to be one of those people, do you. Me, I'll keep losing on 1800+. Also, my salmon is done and I need to sprinkle some cheese on my broccoli. Why? Cause I have the calories/macros for that.
This. Good advice right there.
My understanding was you were safe within a thousand calorie deficit. that means some people (the shorter ones) are going to be ok under 1200 calories. Looking at my maintenance calories I'll only be able to eat 1500 to maintain.
I think in order to get skinny adn then stay skinny I am going to have to log for the rest of my life.0 -
you're doing it wrong. It won't last.im on a 1200 cal diet, im always under by 200 or less.. but i am losing without any exercise.
im aiming to lose the weight first then exercise to keep it off and eat healthy but have whatever i want in calories.
i dont know if it will work but i cant do anything untill ive lost the weight first .
opinions welcomed.0 -
you're doing it wrong. It won't last.im on a 1200 cal diet, im always under by 200 or less.. but i am losing without any exercise.
im aiming to lose the weight first then exercise to keep it off and eat healthy but have whatever i want in calories.
i dont know if it will work but i cant do anything untill ive lost the weight first .
opinions welcomed.
how do you suggest i do it then? i cant exercise until i lose the weight and have back surgery so i can get mobile again
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read the rest of this thread our create your own. 1000 calories and you're losing? No kidding. Or search one of the other 500 thread per day about low calorie diets and why the original posters have failed time and time again.. and come back to do it all over again.
you're doing it wrong. It won't last.im on a 1200 cal diet, im always under by 200 or less.. but i am losing without any exercise.
im aiming to lose the weight first then exercise to keep it off and eat healthy but have whatever i want in calories.
i dont know if it will work but i cant do anything untill ive lost the weight first .
opinions welcomed.
how do you suggest i do it then? i cant exercise until i lose the weight and have back surgery so i can get mobile again0 -
read the rest of this thread our create your own. 1000 calories and you're losing? No kidding. Or search one of the other 500 thread per day about low calorie diets and why the original posters have failed time and time again.. and come back to do it all over again.
you're doing it wrong. It won't last.im on a 1200 cal diet, im always under by 200 or less.. but i am losing without any exercise.
im aiming to lose the weight first then exercise to keep it off and eat healthy but have whatever i want in calories.
i dont know if it will work but i cant do anything untill ive lost the weight first .
opinions welcomed.
how do you suggest i do it then? i cant exercise until i lose the weight and have back surgery so i can get mobile again
ok thanks this place is a maze id be here all day and night if i read every post.. ill take a look 0 -
Did you read back to the poster I'd commented on and her diary (who was not the OP, by the way)? There are a lot of possibilities that simply weren't there. The day I'd referred to in particular she'd eaten less than 100 calories of actual food in a day and over a thousand in alcohol. There were others where it was a major component of what got down to 800 calories at times. I don't believe she logged any exercise.
This poster appears to have been logging for about a week and is drinking most of her calories in booze. Not sure she's terribly concerned about safe weight loss.If i eat 1200 a day im lucky to lose 1-2 pound a week i stay under 1000 and i lose an amount i am happy with not at goal yet but im getting close i think it also depends on your height your weight your metab rate x
Just saying, at least by your picture... you ~shouldn't~ be losing more than 1-2lbs a week under any circumstance. The closer you get to your goal weight the less you will lose safely. Generally speaking it's only safe to lose 2-3lbs a week when you're >75lbs over weight... then 1-2 down to 20-30 lbs overweight... then 0.25-1lb till you're down to goal weight.
As another poster said at least she is honest. That's half the battle.
It also tells me that if she chooses to indulge then she needs to find a middle ground where she can do so without guilt or without forgoing nutrition. I think most of us would at least agree that eating at 1200 requires reasonable nutritional knowledge and a willingness to sacrifice. But if she chooses to drink so be it. She can still cover all the bases and have success without running on the treadmill for ten hours on a Monday just because she thinks she screwed up on a weekend.
I remember the first week I did my diary..big eye opener but I knew it would be - cringed as I put it in but I knew I had to for the sake of being honest with myself. So kudos to OP for squaring up.
She may sit at 1200/whatever during the week to allow for a bigger weekend or she could set herself a daily level with same deficit per day with both options giving her a decent deficit over course of week.
So you're raising a lot of "possibles" with no basis.
Based on what we do know, she also can't be satisfied with a 1-2 pound weight loss and is drastically underconsuming on calories. These are not behaviors I'm going to encourage in a thread where someone is looking for validation of a 1200 cal diet.
Apologies, I thought it was OP you were referring to. Wasn't attacking what you'd said. However, same could be applies to that poster to. In otherwords..increase cal to allow for moderate consumption of alcohol (which is a task in itself so yes abstinence is better for sake of adherence sometimes) if that's their indulgence. Agree if that's taking up the better part of their calorie allowance then it's not behavior to encourage. I see it quite often actually and it's unfortunate.0 -
im down from 250 to 202 right now eating 1200 calories (since february), my bf % went from 24% to 15% so far, with lifting and doing cardio
wow... 24 to 15% on 1200 calories?
yup, i'm trying to get to like 7%, and i see no reason why i won't get there continuing this way. I also lift for like 2 hours a day and do atleast an hour of cardio, and i certainly don't re-eat those calories that i burn.
good luck with your damaged metabolic goals in 2014 bro....0 -
All of you guys are freaking amazing. I'm on 1,750 and totally not losing like I should. I've lost inches but I keep gaining my weight back. 1200 huh? I don't even know what I could eat with that little wiggle room.0
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I have never eaten less than 1500 unless I'm really sick, and I'm losing.0
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All of you guys are freaking amazing. I'm on 1,750 and totally not losing like I should. I've lost inches but I keep gaining my weight back. 1200 huh? I don't even know what I could eat with that little wiggle room.
Then try a number between 1750 and 1200. 1750 is obviously too many calories for you to lose weight.0 -
I have been eating 1200 most days, with one "cheat" meal a week (parties, dinner out, etc). I didn't really work out at first, so it took 6 months to lose about 20 pounds. When I started working out I lost the next 7 pounds pretty quickly.0
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I lost almost 75 pounds and got back to my pre-pregnancy weight eating only 1200 calories a day but once I hit my goal weight and I starting eating just a few hundred more calories a day I gained 20 pounds. I've lost 15 pounds using the TDEE -20% method so I eat between 1650-1700 calories a day. Eating 1200 calories everyday just to maintain sounds miserable. There is no way I could do it.0
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Great GIF.
^^^^ :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:0 -
How you spend or eat your calories are what is really most important. I have found I can eat anywhere from 1200 - 1500 cal a day and lose weight as long as I am getting my protein. I burn an average of 800-1100 calories per work out (5 x's a week) so I really try to make sure I get plenty of lean protein.. watch the fruit calories since many of them convert to sugar...
when I skip the protein and comsume too much fruit... the wt loss stops or stalls...
I am 47 BTW. so no spring chicken.. have to work 3x a hard for each lb... but I love pushing my body to new limits again... love it when I am running circles around the young'ns at the gym....0 -
bump0
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Hi zombie thread flame baiter
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Yep, I ate 1200 calories for 10 months and lost 30kg (66 pounds). Only one or two cheat meals in the period but otherwise extrememly strict. Slowly built calories over a few months up to maintenance losing another 8kg (17lb) in the process and no magical fairy starvation mode rubbish nor any metabolic damage.
I continue to eat at maintenance and sometimes over to make up the amount of exercise I now do, and I havent put back on a thing all year, my profile says all I've done and what im up to.0 -
I'm eating 1200 calories a day but I still haven't reached my goal yet. I've left all sort fast food and dairy products. I'm eating healthy. Exercise every day and a dose of Roca Labs formula 4-5 days a week. I'm 50 lbs down in 2 .5 months. I hope it works. I still have 75 lbs to lose. 0
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It may also depend on when you eat too! I'm on 1200 cals a day but I eat 4 meals. It is really just my regular meals spread out (specifically lunch). My PT said it would be better for my metabolism especially when working out. I often found myself craving everything on the planet around 4-5pm. I wouldn't eat dinner when I got home since my workout routine started at 6. So what she got me do is carb load prior to working out (I just eat a PB sandwich) which is enough to get me through the workout. Then when I'm done I eat plain tuna and baby spinach w/carrots, or a protein shake (for example).
The big difference between eating 4 meals versus 3 meals is that I got fuller quicker (I also drink a lot of water), I am still losing weight, I have enough energy for the whole day, and my body doesn't go into "starvation mode".0 -
Eatting below 1000 kcal is probably a result of metabolic damage. I would suggest you to increase 50 kcal per week slowly and try to fix the metabolism. If you dont lose weight at calorie intake that low something is wrong with your body.
To much stress + too low calorie intake can lead in bad hormone balance and that leads to not lose any weight.
I can't imagine how could any1 live with that small amount of food..
SUGGESTION: Start highering your calorie intake 50-100 kcal per week till you hit 1400-1800 kcal then start lowering in the same way.
Sleep 8hours a day
Drink enough water.
Avoid stress.
Sample my girlfriend:
175cm; 65kg
Loosing weight at 1700kcal
Macronutrient:
190g carbohydrates
110g protein
50g fats
She feels great and she is still losing, when losing weight stops she will lower 10g-20g carbs to continue.
Good luck everyone.0 -
I know this is an old thread but I really don't get the craziness. I am a 5'8 172lb female and MFP told me to lose 1.5lbs per week I need 1290 cals. Why do people get so worked up if that is what the dang website says to do? Again, I know this is old but I have seen like 5 of these post jus browsing the boards today.0
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1290 PLUS exercise. The problem is people who don't also eat more for exercise, they are creating an unhealthily large deficit.0
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I started my 1200 diet yesterday and I recently became a vegan i'm trying to lose 17 pounds by june but fitness pal said i can lose it by march soo we will see lol. ! wish me luck0
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