no energy, at 1200 calories a day
Replies
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You're starving yourself, and tired as a result?
Shocker.
What do you think the answer is?
And... seriously? Crash diet while breastfeeding?
Come on people.
I second this
You definitely need to eat more because I'm sure 1200 calories is lower than your maintenance calories.. and I assume you are active during the day. instead of thinking about calories... e.g. you could have 3 slices of cheesecake for 1200 calories, think about nutrition and vitamins. Eat more vegetables to fill you up on low cal, focus on high protein and good fats, e.g. eat almonds, avocado, which will help you feel full, and burn fat as well.
I'm 18 yrs old, 5'4, 117lbs and I burn around 500 calories/day by exercising. I'm trying to lose fat, so I"m eating at a 500 cal deficit which is around 1300 calories. But for more energy focus on nutrition not calories.
you could also exercise more so you could eat more..
Don't lose more than 0.5 kg /2 pounds a week (well you can if you want to) but I've been there.. I've been anorexic will all fat no muscle and it's not attractive I can tell you. If you lose 2 pounds a week you maintain most muscle and lose fat, not water weight.
Good luck!0 -
Eat more, lose weight faster.
I am sure those words scare you. If not, you probably just think I am nuts for saying them. But it is true- eat more, weigh less. I am not saying whatsoever to go eat a Big Mac and a Large Fry; just eat more calories.
You said that you feel like you have no energy- that is a sign right there that your body is telling you to eat more. I would higher your calories to 1,550 and you will see a drastic difference in just that.
I hope you have figured it all out since there have been a lot of people posting on here trying to give you advice already. 0 -
Why doesn't MFP just re-do their stupid calculator that tells everyone they should be eating 1200 calories? Seriously, who was the genius that came up with that? It would save the OP's time, the hundreds of other people's time that don't know better but just eat what MFP tells them to, and it would save my time by not having to post this:
http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
OP - use the above to calculate how many calories you need. 1200 = silly.
it's all dependent on user input. It merely subtracts the deficit required for the desired weight loss from their TDEE and does not go below 1200, so it tells people to eat 1200 calories if they put themselves as sedentary and want to lose 2lbs a week0 -
Why doesn't MFP just re-do their stupid calculator that tells everyone they should be eating 1200 calories? Seriously, who was the genius that came up with that? It would save the OP's time, the hundreds of other people's time that don't know better but just eat what MFP tells them to, and it would save my time by not having to post this:
http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
OP - use the above to calculate how many calories you need. 1200 = silly.
It's not MFP's fault that people are stupid and can't figure out how this tool works or what net calories mean. MFP is just a calculator, people still have to provide the brains. 1200 is fine for many people so long as they're netting that number and eating back their exercise calories...if you're doing it right, you're going to gross roughly the same calories with MFP as you will with scooby (which is what I use BTW).0 -
Hello, im a 5'4 female at 145 pounds, with a goal of 125. I've been on a 1200 calorie diet, and it works for me because I don't get that hungry, but lately I've had NO energy. I'm tired. I havnt been sleeping so well because I have a baby, but my energy is just 0. im too tired to leave the house, I can't get myself to exercise and its depressing.
news flash - it is not working..
up your calories to about 1350 a day and see how that goes ..still feeling crappy up it to 1400..
how old is the baby? you are not breastfeeding on 1200 a day are you?0 -
it turns into crash diet when people have symptoms like the OP...You're starving yourself, and tired as a result?
Shocker.
What do you think the answer is?
And... seriously? Crash diet while breastfeeding?
Come on people.
how is 1200 calories a crash diet?0 -
OP, I have not read all the replies since I'm finding most are saying the same thing over and over (eat more) with which I agree. But I did want to suggest you request having a blood draw to check your thyroid levels also. Fatigue and not sleeping well are very common symptoms of low thyroid function.0
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Congratulations for your beautiful new baby. I'm going to agree with the others, eat more, take as much rest as is possible with a baby....and research how many new calories you are burning now.
Eat super healthy, if you go a bit over 12000 oh well so be it, maybe aim to lose weight more slowly so that you don't feel as exhausted.
I think you'd feel exhausted anyway with a baby so hopefully some new moms will be able to give you good advice.
AND AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!0 -
Are you sure you don't have an underlying condition maybe? I'd say go to your doctor to get checked out, if it's not that then it probably does mean you need to eat more for sure. 1200 calories is really not much at all and you probably burn a lot of calories without noticing.
I'm 5'3 and eat 1470 calories a day. I have enough energy, I can do workouts and everything, and I lose a pound a week. How many pounds are you planning to lose a week? It sounds like 2. I'd lower it to 1 pound, even half a pound if you like a week and see how you go. 1200 calories is really the lowest amount you can eat a day before it becomes unhealthy.0 -
Oh yeah and did you know your burn around 600 cals from breastfeeding (if you do breastfeed that is). That would really not be much calories you are taking in. With the lack of sleep, the running around to soothe your baby, dress it etc, you'd be burning even more. Please please please up your calorie intake.0
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While the quickest answer that people come up with is "up your calories", as a few others here have mentioned lack of energy could be caused by other things as well such as depression or other mental conditions or a seasonal change in mood or lack of a particular nutrient in the body which a blood work might reveal. The "1200 calorie/day will destroy you" thing is a myth as those who have tried it such as myself know very well. I have been on a 1300 cal/day diet for the past 5 months with no issues. I am 5'7" and currently weight 163 lbs and I follow a 100/80/20 keto diet. I have had zero issues with lack of energy so far and I simply do not feel hungry because my body has adjusted to this diet. There simply hasn't been enough longitudinal studies to see the effect of eating lower than recommended calories in your body. Most people that say it's bad either haven't tried it or they have tried it for a few days and figured it didn't work for them. Sure I can take another spoon of coconut oil and get 130 calories but does my body really need that? I don't know. What you read here is people's opinions and their personal experiences. There may not be much science behind it and everybody's body and living condition is different. As with everything else, take people's comments with a grain of salt (including mine!) and try it for yourself. Just make sure you do regular blood work and consult with a couple of physicians/dietitians if you change your diet drastically.0
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You're starving yourself, and tired as a result?
Shocker.
What do you think the answer is?
And... seriously? Crash diet while breastfeeding?
Come on people.
how is 1200 calories a crash diet?
Nobody got fat eating 1200 calories, it's a crash diet because it is the MINIMUM amount a female should eat, people are too quick to jump on here with only a few lbs to lose and hit "lose 2lbs per week" which is too fast a loss and then complain that they put weight back on when they try to transition into maintenance.
Too many people on these boards also say "well 1200 (or less) worked for me" eating below BMR for long periods of time IS NOT healthy and is probably what leads to the tiredness etc0 -
Hello, im a 5'4 female at 145 pounds, with a goal of 125. I've been on a 1200 calorie diet, and it works for me because I don't get that hungry, but lately I've had NO energy. I'm tired. I havnt been sleeping so well because I have a baby, but my energy is just 0. im too tired to leave the house, I can't get myself to exercise and its depressing. Had anyone felt this way? I just literally wanna lay down all day. My eyes are droopy and heavy. Am I not having enough calories?
Most likely you need to eat a little more. Also, when you say you eat 1200, is that the total you are taking in, or is that your net after exercise? It might be enough as your Net Intake after exercise burns are subtracted, but is probably too low for total intake.
So yeah, basically eat more, and make sure what you ARE eating is nourishing for your body. There is a big difference in terms of health, between eating 300 more calories of cake and 300 more calories of lean protein and vegetables. It also wouldn't hurt to take a multivitamin, but only as a supplement, don't expect it to make up for a deficient diet.
Eat more.
I'm editing because I noticed other people mentioning breastfeeding so I thought maybe you were. Since I see you are not, I'm taking out my mention of that. However, the rest of my comment stays the same.0 -
Get your thyroid levels drawn. Get a tsh test and have them test your thyroid antibodies. Developing thyroiditis postpartum is more common than people think. Doctors chalk up fatigue to being a new mom when, in fact , you may be hypothyroid. I know this all too well. Happened to me. While I wad breastfeeding.0
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i didn't read all the previous comments, but i had this problem, and with blood work, found out i have a severe b12 decency, i take an over the counter vitamin and i feel wonderful now! i do not have health insurance so i pay like 5 dollars a month for my b12 from walmart! i feel amazing, i am guessing that when i lowered my calories, ibegan to feel it worst than when i was overeating 0
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Um, who said anything about breastfeeding. My daughter is 14 months old
How are we supposed to know how old your daughter is for one, and for two most people do breastfeed so obviously people are going to think that. Hardly anyone bottlefeeds babies that I know of. We're trying to help here.0 -
Um, who said anything about breastfeeding. My daughter is 14 months old
How are we supposed to know how old your daughter is for one, and for two most people do breastfeed so obviously people are going to think that. Hardly anyone bottlefeeds babies that I know of. We're trying to help here.
Good point, but also the OP didn't bite anyone's head off, she just corrected the misconception, so there's no need to be defensive.0 -
My first response was DUH!!! But that sounded unkind. U r starving your body. Food=energy! Good healthy food. Veggies, grains, protein!!!!!0
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Um, who said anything about breastfeeding. My daughter is 14 months old
How are we supposed to know how old your daughter is for one, and for two most people do breastfeed so obviously people are going to think that. Hardly anyone bottlefeeds babies that I know of. We're trying to help here.
Good point, but also the OP didn't bite anyone's head off, she just corrected the misconception, so there's no need to be defensive.
I know, but these things need to be written so people know what to suggest.0 -
As others have said EAT MORE!!0
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Do you take vitamins? Because it sounds like you may be developing a deficiency.
Yes. This is exactly the reason a mother of a toddler is tired.
Vitamins.
Nothing to do with a new baby and possibly too few calories.
Chew your Flintstones . . . smdh0 -
As a father of a 3 year old I can tell you sleep is the x factor... Meaning, getting enough of it is really hard to do. That said, getting your appropriate calories in becomes even more important. With your stats, 1200 calories per day is just not enough. At the very least shoot for 1400-1500 if you are sedentary... 1800 if you are training 3-5 days per week. First and foremost you need to feel good and function before you worry about fat loss.0
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