Looking to add people on 1200 calories a day

Ever heard the phrase 'you can catch more flies with honey, than with vinegar'? The messengers who are saying "eat more than 1200" are SO NEGATIVE. No one wants to take advice from people who are so negative. People will make their own decisions about their health, and do their research (or not do their research). Folks are here looking for encouragement, and one who is wise understands how to give it, and how to correct someone to get them on the right path, and hopefully on the path that is right for that individual.

A lot of us posted positive and helpful replies. Some even shared their experiences eating 1200 calories per day, and the (often) inevitable gaining back of weight lost.

Some people will always be a bit rude, but that is no reason to ignore helpful advice! Don't focus on the few negative posts - lots of posts here are very positive.

Wow! I have learned a ton by reading this thread. I only got so far as page 5 so far but it was enough with all the links to help me find out that I need to replan!

I am only 5'2" and only wanted to go from 136 down to 120 so I thought 1200 was what I should eat, and that is what MFP showed when I put my numbers in. I have read a lot on here and now realize that I the reason I am so exhausted and have headaches nearly everyday is because I am not getting enough nutrients especially now that I am exercising much more.

I'm wading through all the information, and I am a little daunted figuring it all out, but thank you for all the links. I will be eating more from now on.

I'm glad we were able to help. Good luck to you!

I'm on 1200 calories a day because I don't exercise. I feel like I'm starving all the time!!!

What's your BMR? Even if you don't exercise much, you still need to give your body enough energy to fuel your vital organs! If you aren't eating at least your BMR that might explain why you're so hungry (and if you're actually starving, that means your body will throw a hissy fit and likely lose weight slower)

Wow! I have learned a ton by reading this thread. I only got so far as page 5 so far but it was enough with all the links to help me find out that I need to replan!

I am only 5'2" and only wanted to go from 136 down to 120 so I thought 1200 was what I should eat, and that is what MFP showed when I put my numbers in. I have read a lot on here and now realize that I the reason I am so exhausted and have headaches nearly everyday is because I am not getting enough nutrients especially now that I am exercising much more.

I'm wading through all the information, and I am a little daunted figuring it all out, but thank you for all the links. I will be eating more from now on.

I'm glad we were able to help. Good luck to you!

We got through to one person Mia!!

I'm on Paleo + RS so eating more around 1800 right now but I'd be happy to benefit from your group.

Oh boy, looks like it's time to post this AGAIN!

Reposting my previous reply to a similar topic:

"How did you set up your MFP account? You need to pick an accurate activity level. Too many folks pick "sedentary" when they are actually lightly active or even more. Also set your goal to lose no more than 1 pound/week to achieve a sustainable weight loss. Plateaus, inadequate intake & hunger are the biggest cause for people to quit. View this as a lifestyle change, not a diet. You need to find a happy medium between eating too much & dieting, so you can live with it for life! After finding your actually calorie goal, then eat back exercise calories. I'm not sure how you are measuring your exercise calories? If using MFP then most folks find their calories burns high & thus eat back 1/2-2/3 of the actual calorie burn. Other methods of measuring vary in accuracy depending on the device.

If you prefer a more constant daily calorie goal, then you can switch to the TDDE-deficit method. The following I just posted in another thread:

If you let MFP set your calories, then yes, you eat back exercise calories. I decided to use the TDEE method mostly, because I didn't like the constantly changing calorie goal. ... If you want a more constant calorie goal, then I'd switch to the TDEE-deficit method & self-set your calorie & macro goals. For protein, ensure you are getting AT LEAST 1 gram/pound lean body mass--for most women that's 100-125 grams/day. Your fat should be set at 0.4 grams/pound of lean body mass. Carbs are whatever is left. ... meet your calorie goal most every day!!! If after 3-4 weeks, you're not losing then adjust your daily calorie goal by 100 calories & watch for another 3-4 weeks. You may need more calories or less calories, it can be a little trial & error from the TDEE-deficit calculation. If you need to lose >20 pounds, set your deficit at TDEE-20%. If your need to lose 10-20 pounds, then TDEE-10 to 15%, and once you're down to <10 pounds to lose, set your goal to TDEE-5-10%.

Meeting your macros, especially protein, is very important! You want to lose fat not muscle (lean body mass), so protein intake is very important. The more lean body mass you lose, the lower your BMR will be. That's where folks get lost in the "starvation mode" idea. It's not so much borderline/low calories cause "starvation," as it robs you of your lean body mass, and as the lean body mass drops, so does your BMR (i.e. daily basal calorie burn). Resistance training/heavy lifting is also essential for maintaining lean body mass/muscle as well."

Here's a link to Heybales TDEE calculator: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/heybales

"Go to heybales profile page & look for the link to his Excel spreadsheet. It's a few lines down from "About Me." The spreadsheet is great! I've been using it for 8 months now & have lost tons of weight, as has my family. The instructions are at the top of the document. You change the values in "yellow" & the others will adjust to give you your %BF, BMR, TDEE & macro goals. It also allows you to enter your activity in "hours." I redo my numbers monthly or after I've lost 5 pounds. The second tab also allows you to track your values over time, so everything is in one simple spreadsheet!"



Hope this helps! Good luck!!!

me too Anyone can add me

Wow! I have learned a ton by reading this thread. I have been eating 1200 and had no idea that I was putting myself at risk. I am reading all the links and I see that I need to re-plan! The post by the lady who's hair started falling out, and the person whose hormones got messed up really woke me up.

I am only 5'2" and only wanted to go from 136 down to 120 so I thought 1200 was what I should eat, and that is what MFP showed when I put my numbers in. I have read a lot on here and now realize that I the reason I am so exhausted and have headaches nearly everyday is probably because I am not getting enough nutrients especially now that I am exercising much more.

I'm wading through all the information, and I am a little daunted figuring it all out, but thank you for all the links. I will be eating more from now on. I might be asking for help to work out macros, I have a lot of learning to do I see.

Does mad Happy dance!!! Everything in this thread was now worth it.

hello, I am new and would like to have support so I can reach my goals.

Wow! I have learned a ton by reading this thread. I have been eating 1200 and had no idea that I was putting myself at risk. I am reading all the links and I see that I need to re-plan! The post by the lady who's hair started falling out, and the person whose hormones got messed up really woke me up.

I am only 5'2" and only wanted to go from 136 down to 120 so I thought 1200 was what I should eat, and that is what MFP showed when I put my numbers in. I have read a lot on here and now realize that I the reason I am so exhausted and have headaches nearly everyday is probably because I am not getting enough nutrients especially now that I am exercising much more.

I'm wading through all the information, and I am a little daunted figuring it all out, but thank you for all the links. I will be eating more from now on. I might be asking for help to work out macros, I have a lot of learning to do I see.

Does mad Happy dance!!! Everything in this thread was now worth it.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
:drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

A light shines from heaven and angels start singing "Hallelujah"

Wow! I have learned a ton by reading this thread. I have been eating 1200 and had no idea that I was putting myself at risk. I am reading all the links and I see that I need to re-plan! The post by the lady who's hair started falling out, and the person whose hormones got messed up really woke me up.

I am only 5'2" and only wanted to go from 136 down to 120 so I thought 1200 was what I should eat, and that is what MFP showed when I put my numbers in. I have read a lot on here and now realize that I the reason I am so exhausted and have headaches nearly everyday is probably because I am not getting enough nutrients especially now that I am exercising much more.

I'm wading through all the information, and I am a little daunted figuring it all out, but thank you for all the links. I will be eating more from now on. I might be asking for help to work out macros, I have a lot of learning to do I see.

Yay! I am so glad to read this! Truly I am.

As for those saying this was so negative, it's not at all! Just because someone disagrees does't make it a negative. There is legit concern here! There are also good reason why people should be concerned about eating 1200 cals. I am glad one person read the links is going to get a better understanding. Best of luck!

So I saw a nutritionist a few years ago.

And when I told her MFP had suggested 1200 calories a day for me, she said that wasn't exactly right.

To keep the weight OFF and not gain it back, it's ideal to eat at least 1500 calories a day. 1200 calories daily puts you at a greater risk to not be able to maintain it.

She suggested this nutrition plan (hope this helps some of you, btw I'm 19 and 5'2, 185 pounds)

Breakfast: 400 calories
3 hours later snack: 100 calorie
Lunch: 400 calories
3 hours later: 100 calorie snack
Dinner: 400 calories
3 hours later: 100 calorie snack

She explained to me that the little meals throughout the day constantly fuel the fire (your metabolism) to keep it going at a more efficient rate.

When I was on this plan, I lost ten pounds a month, totaling about a 35lb loss in 3 months. Unfortunately, I completely gained it back by eating constant junk and didn't even try to diet my freshman year of college over the course of the year. But I do believe I would have gained it back MUCH faster if I was at 1200 a day. It's more about adapting to a healthier lifestyle that you can carry throughout your life, not a temporary fix. Good luck to all of you xoxo

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She explained to me that the little meals throughout the day constantly fuel the fire (your metabolism) to keep it going at a more efficient rate.

A nutritionist said this?

Egads.

I mean, it isn't *bad* advice...but the science is bogus...

Sorry, that isn't the topic of this thread, so I'll end my derail here...)

I'm with Jof here.

Eating all day is NOT necessary to be successful i weight loss.

(

She explained to me that the little meals throughout the day constantly fuel the fire (your metabolism) to keep it going at a more efficient rate.

A nutritionist said this?

Egads.

I mean, it isn't *bad* advice...but the science is bogus...

Sorry, that isn't the topic of this thread, so I'll end my derail here...)

I'm with Jof here.

Eating all day is NOT necessary to be successful i weight loss.

^Agree with this. Dietary needs don't get met better or more proficiently if spread out throughout the day. Not saying that it doesn't work for some people, but it isn't an absolute.