1200 calories?
xNouvelleVie
Posts: 21
I think pretty much everyone has heard that if you don't get 1200 calories a day your body will go into starvation mode or whatnot. The question is how accurate is this really? Honestly, there are some days where I am just under 1200 and then I eat a snack to make it go over. However, like today I was under and I'm full. I honestly feel like I am getting plenty of food throughout the day and am not really hungry. So what is so "horrible" about staying under 1200? If you are constantly fueling your body with low calorie things is that such a bad thing? I feel like it would be dumb to force myself to eat the extra calories, every time it's under, esp when not hungry. I mean I suppose I could eat things with a little higher calories, but I feel fine throughout the day. And also when you exercise are you really supposed to eat them back as well? Like it always says you earned x amount of calories from exercise.
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Your body is probably getting full with less calories because it's not trying to store a lot of energy anymore. It's burning fat and understands that it's 'ok' to use the energy it's stored up already and be thin! Yay! I say eat until your satisfied and then stop. If you are not feeling hungry or sick or worn out its fine to eat less than 1200.0
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i eat 1000 calories a day on a diet but i have too otherwise the weight wont shift, People tell me i should eat more all the time but its frustrating as i have in the past and the scales won't budge. I know my own body though, do what you think and if your losing weight thats great x x0
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I'm eating 1300 cals a day and occasionally am slightly under.
Like you've mentioned some days I feel full.
Other days I don't.
I think in the long run low cals are harder to sustain - people who have succeeded on here talk about things in the long term. I'm on this amount because I have an injury and can't exercise at the moment.
When I can commence some exercise I probably will try eating back some of the calories only because I'm on the low end anyway.
A MFP friend who has had a big loss and has been at it for more than a year recently found she needed to eat slightly more to lose weight - but that was after a long period of time.
As long as you pay attention to your nutrition that is, try and eat healthy, nutritious foods I think you can eat at 1200 for a long time without it damaging your health. I think its important to be flexible and be prepared to try different things, rather than give up.0 -
I've been "successfully" using this app for over a year. Most days I eat right under 1000 calories. Today, I actually hit 1200. I don't have the usual eating schedule that other people do because I work 3rd shift. To me, it just doesn't sound healthy to eat just to have met a calorie goal that day. Even when the app tells me to recalculate my calorie goals, I rarely do. I know that if I'm allowed 1500 calories per day, I will not make smart choices past a certain point. I'll just say, "Oh I have 300 calories left to eat... WHERE IS THAT CAKE?!!!?!?!?!" Better to eat less with smart choices.0
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Starvation mode is a myth.
1200 calories is roughly the basal metabolic rate of a small, inactive woman. Basal meaning the very least that person should be consuming.
You should be eating more than that... simply because, if you continue to eat too few calories for a prolonged period of time, you will do more harm than good to your body's natural process. Hormones, including ones that regulate your metabolism, will eventually be all out of whack (amongst other things).
If your calorie allowance is "too much food" for you at the moment, feel free to consume more calorie dense foods to reach it.0 -
Starvation mode is a myth.
1200 calories is roughly the basal metabolic rate of a small, inactive woman. Basal meaning the very least that person should be consuming.
You should be eating more than that... simply because, if you continue to eat too few calories for a prolonged period of time, you will do more harm than good to your body's natural process. Hormones, including ones that regulate your metabolism, will eventually be all out of whack (amongst other things).
If your calorie allowance is "too much food" for you at the moment, feel free to consume more calorie dense foods to reach it.
^^ This. When I was younger I ate 1000 or less and exercised an hour or more a day thinking that low calories where the answer to losing weight. I became anorexic... lost hair, muscle mass, had cramps in my calves, passed out.... etc (it took two + years of this to realize the effects and as soon as I started eating normal again I gained it all back anyway). I may not be a doctor? But through personal experience 1000 calories are not enough for grown person, if you learn to eat for your body (500 under your daily calorie needs) you'll lose weight and not have to starve or damage yourself.
Lots of people on here can show you how to determine that...0 -
I wouldn't worry about being slightly under 1200 calories if it's just occasionally, but I wouldn't make a habit of it. I would definitely eat back exercise calories if I was only getting 1200 calories per day.0
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I'll just say, "Oh I have 300 calories left to eat... WHERE IS THAT CAKE?!!!?!?!?!" Better to eat less with smart choices.
Hahaha I love that! Thank goodness there are other people who eat like me!0 -
When I'm dieting, my ideal range is 1200 or 1300- I don't think you're doing anything wrong. If you feel satisfied eating the way you are eating, don't bother changing anything just because a bunch of fitness freaks are telling you you need to bump up your calorie intake.0
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I look at it as eating as much as I can and still lose. It is so much easier to start at a higher kcal allowance and adjust down than to start with the bare minimum and have no room to adjust. Being obese does give some leeway with the low number, but I'd rather stay close to my goal maintenance now and just be used to eating how I'm supposed to be eating when I get there.
You should check out some very helpful threads.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974889-in-place-of-a-road-map-short-n-sweet
http://nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/0 -
I've read a ton of articles debunking "starvation mode". Although the authors do acknowledge that having a low-calorie diet can effect your health and metabolism negatively, most agree it will take about a year. For me, being 5'2 and 130lbs and a sedentary lifestyle, according to MFP my resting calorie burn is 1,650. Many people will agree that to lose weight you need a calorie deficit of about 500.
MFP set my deficit as 480, making my daily calorie intake 1,170. Because it is pretty low, I often do eat most of my exercise calories back, but I also have binge eating problems so that's mostly me taking advantage of it so I can eat super unhealthy and not feel guilty - which I usually do anyway, haha oops!
When I don't exercise though I usually make it to just about 1,000 calories and I do feel full and if I do eat any more than that, its literally just out of boredom.
Everyone is DEFINITELY different when it comes to this because people will say "You HAVE to eat more to lose weight" "You HAVE to eat your exercise calories back" and, well, you get it. If you feel full and happy at 1000 calories, then I say don't worry about it!
Do what works for you :drinker:0 -
It never ceases to amaze me how many "anomalies" seem to congregate together in one place.
The wonders of the internet, I suppose...
sigh0 -
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This is offensive, non-constructive and innapropriate. Either give advice to people, share your opinions constructively or get off the site?0 -
I did give advice. Constructive advice.
What's inappropriate is telling somebody it's perfectly OK to live on 1000 calories or less, when all conventional wisdom points to the opposite.
Whilst, for some people, this may be possible it isn't helpful for the vast majority of people and implying that it is, is actually detrimental to someone's health in the long run.0 -
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This is offensive, non-constructive and innapropriate. Either give advice to people, share your opinions constructively or get off the site?
Ah, I see. New.0 -
Yes but you also have to understan that every person is different and what works for one may not work for someone else. I eat a 1000 calories to lose weight but to maintain i do eat alot more. At the end end of the day it is what works for you, and being negative doesn't help anybody.0
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If you eat "a lot more" than 1000 calories to maintain your weight, you should know it's wholly unnecessary to eat 1000 or less to lose weight.
Whilst, yes, you may lose mass very quickly on such a drastic caloric restriction it's important to remember that you're losing mass which includes lean mass and body fat. Nobody should be aiming for that amount of muscular atrophy just to see a "pleasing" number on the scale, not least because it's much less healthy than simply achieving that number would imply.0 -
WOW!
I eat 1980 Cals Dailey, But I'm also a Runner and I lift weights, My head would be spinning if I ate 1000 /1200cals every day.
So far I've lost 4 stone in weight and 4 dress sizes - So must be doing something right!
What works for one, Does not necessarily fit the life style of another. If I did not Run Dailey and Lift, and Just stuck to the recommended 10k steps and light workout, maybe I could eat as little as 1400, But I'm guessing I would probably not lose much weight with such a low intake
You have to Fuel a workout!0 -
I've read a ton of articles debunking "starvation mode". Although the authors do acknowledge that having a low-calorie diet can effect your health and metabolism negatively, most agree it will take about a year. For me, being 5'2 and 130lbs and a sedentary lifestyle, according to MFP my resting calorie burn is 1,650. Many people will agree that to lose weight you need a calorie deficit of about 500.
^
This, definitely this. And also this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/761810-the-starvation-mode-myth-again
Say it with me... SCIENCE!!!0 -
Im lucky if I manage 800 calories I day. I feel full but force myself to eat because i know this little amount of calories are very bad. However analysing my diet at the end of the day Im nearly always above recommended amounts of sugar and carbs. Im trying to make better choices but its going to take me a long time to change.0
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WOW!
I eat 1980 Cals Dailey, But I'm also a Runner and I lift weights, My head would be spinning if I ate 1000 /1200cals every day.
So far I've lost 4 stone in weight and 4 dress sizes - So must be doing something right!
You have to Fuel a workout!
I normally eat 1200 calories by noon. I don't know how anyone gets by on that or less for an entire day.0 -
Yes but you also have to understan that every person is different and what works for one may not work for someone else. I eat a 1000 calories to lose weight but to maintain i do eat alot more. At the end end of the day it is what works for you, and being negative doesn't help anybody.
This sounds like crash dieting to me. If maintenance is so much higher than 1000 calories, why do you feel the need to swing that pendulum so far back and forth?0 -
The reason why you probably find it hard to eat 1200 cals or more is because you are eating diet food. This kind of food is not healthy. Low fat items and low this and that are not healthy food choices. If you switch to whole food and non-processed foods you shouldn't have a problem reaching your calorie goal.
The other factor is that with 1200 cals you are definitely not going to be getting a nutrient dense diet with meat, dairy, etc and all those things your body needs. Veggies are healthy sure, but they aren't the only thing your body needs. You most likely aren't getting enough fats or protein if you eat this low in calories.
On top of that, the reason why you aren't hungry is because your metabolism is very very low. What's happening is that your body is so used to eating that low that if you try and eat more it feels like you are stuffing yourself and you might gain weight. The reason this is a bad thing, and why all these ladies that have posted here to say that they eat so low are not doing the best thing for their body is because if you EVER stop eating a starvation level diet, you will gain weight because yes, you've crashed your metabolism.
There is help though, you have to do a reefed and eat at maintenance or above for a few weeks. If you do this, you'll be able to eat sooooo much more food and be much more healthy and still lose weight after the reefed.
A good site is Eat More 2 Lose Weight and they have a lot of info on this topic. I doubt you'll follow my advice but you are welcome to look at my diary (I use calorie cycling so some days I eat 1700 -- my low days, and other days I eat 1900 or 2300 or so). You are welcome to look at my pictures and see that eating this much has not caused me to get fat or prevent me from losing weight. That said, I am very active so that comes into play but if I were to eat 1200 cals, I can tell you that I would NOT be able to be active or build the muscle I have now. All the best.0 -
Im lucky if I manage 800 calories I day. I feel full but force myself to eat because i know this little amount of calories are very bad. However analysing my diet at the end of the day Im nearly always above recommended amounts of sugar and carbs. Im trying to make better choices but its going to take me a long time to change.
You definitely aren't eating enough and I know from previous posts that the reasons why are because you are a "picky" eater to the extreme. Being near the recommended amounts of sugar and carbs will not make up for a lack of protein and fat in your diet. Based on your previous post, and now this post, I urge you to please seek nutrition advice from an expert.0 -
For me, being 5'2 and 130lbs and a sedentary lifestyle, according to MFP my resting calorie burn is 1,650. Many people will agree that to lose weight you need a calorie deficit of about 500.
There's the important stat, you're a short, small woman. The OP isn't. Don't apply the same reasoning to what is needed for your weight loss to hers (in terms of calorie level) and tell her that 1200 is fine for her.
OP - You can lose weight on 1000 calories. You can. You'll lose a lot of muscle though, which means when you get to goal the amount you will have to eat to maintain will be drastically smaller than someone else of equvialent stats. Which further means that you run the risk of gaining a bit when you stop restricting because you won't be aware of the difference in your calorific needs. I also imagine that after a while you'll be tired and cranky and you run the risk of nutritional deficiencies.
You also run the risk of binging by being so restrictive - I say that without looking at your diary, but I can only assume you've cut alot out of your diet to get so low.
At 300lbs odd you can easily eat 2000 calories a day and lose at a nice steady pace by eating things like... full fat diary, nuts, using oil when cooking and even *gasp* the occasional chocolate/sweet treat of your choice.0 -
Starvation mode is a myth.
1200 calories is roughly the basal metabolic rate of a small, inactive woman. Basal meaning the very least that person should be consuming.
You should be eating more than that... simply because, if you continue to eat too few calories for a prolonged period of time, you will do more harm than good to your body's natural process. Hormones, including ones that regulate your metabolism, will eventually be all out of whack (amongst other things).
If your calorie allowance is "too much food" for you at the moment, feel free to consume more calorie dense foods to reach it.
^^^^This
^^^^This
And more of THIS^^^^^^
Ladies, please PLEASE eat more than 1000 calories per day, and at the very least 1200. Even a tablespoon of peanutbutter will get you there sometimes.
And for anyone that is running at less than 1000 calories and has 300 left, cake certainly is an option if it fits in your macros.
Not one single person on this site is going advise eating more than 1200 to sabotage them or secretly hope they gain weight. We have been around a while and have had experience with what works and what does not. I, for one, was doing the whole 1200 per day, sometimes under, and found myself stalled, in a bad mood and tired all the time. Learning from the people on MFP I came to realize I was not eating enough, so it took a while to wrap my head around it but I raised my calories and BOOM, started losing again. I lost my last 5 lbs I wanted to lose, and I am in my 40s.
Being thin is one thing, being healthy is another. There is a good deal of damage we can do to ourselves by not giving our bodies the nutrition it desperately craves.0 -
Is it possible that people just eat lots of low calorie foods like I do? I eats lots of food and a lot of it is just low cal, I feel full and I don't want to eat those extra calories all the time. MFP tells you you're not eating enough if you add your workouts and go back up but its not because you haven't eaten enough. If you feel full, you are fine. Your body would tel you if you're hungry so listen to it.0
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I've been "successfully" using this app for over a year. Most days I eat right under 1000 calories. Today, I actually hit 1200. I don't have the usual eating schedule that other people do because I work 3rd shift. To me, it just doesn't sound healthy to eat just to have met a calorie goal that day. Even when the app tells me to recalculate my calorie goals, I rarely do. I know that if I'm allowed 1500 calories per day, I will not make smart choices past a certain point. I'll just say, "Oh I have 300 calories left to eat... WHERE IS THAT CAKE?!!!?!?!?!" Better to eat less with smart choices.
Why? If you have the calories left....what's wrong with cake?0 -
I tend to think that if you are logging your calories on this site (and have no idea how many calories is in the food you are eating) you never really know for sure if you are getting 1200 calories or 2000 because of the incorrect entries on here. Unless you put every thing you eat on here yourself and know it is correct, I bet you are eating more than 1200 and don't even know it. I think that is why 1200 calorie diets work for newer people to this site. They are really eating more than they think they are! :noway:0
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