1000-1200 calories per day and lost no weight ??????

But how can eating more calories per day make me loose weight surly it works the other way around doesn't it ?

I can see why you would draw that conclusion. It's the same concept I used when I was anorexic. However, you need to eat as close to the amount of calories MFP recommends based on your lifestyle and your goal. If you don't eat enough calories, your body goes into starvation mode, and will take everything you eat, no matter how small, and hold onto it for as long as possible, in order to keep you alive. So, if you need to eat 2500 calories in order to MAINTAIN your weight, and you want to lose 1 LB a week, you should consume as close to 2,100 or so calories. If you only eat 1000 - 1200, when you should be eating 2100, your body will freak out and become convinced that you are dying, and the only way to survive is to hold onto every pound inside your body, and treat every morsel introduced as something to never let go. It's very unhealthy, it can kill you, and that is not good.

For the last 3 weeks I have been consuming 1000-1200 calories per day eating fresh fish salad and veg grilled chicken boiled eggs and water and earl grey tea

I am doing per week about 2 hours cardio which is walking

Have weighed myself and I have not lost 1 lb ???????

Don't listen to these "eat more to lose more" people. Jumping up to 1500 or 1800 calories will destroy your metabolism. Slowly creep up by 100 calories every two weeks and see if that makes a difference.

But how can eating more calories per day make me loose weight surly it works the other way around doesn't it ?

Eating more will speed your metabolism. Also it depends on what your calories are. Are they healthy nutritious calories or empty calroies? Also you can be building muscle which weighs more than fat. Keep in mind the scale does not tell the whole story I gained 5 lbs and lost an inch in my waise. Keep your chin up.

Wow three myths in a single post.

1. Eating more doesn't speed up your metabolism.
2. A calorie is a calorie. PERIOD. It doesnt matter where you get them from.
3. You don't build muscle on a caloric deficit. You don't build a significant amount within a span of three weeks, either.

Too few calories can cause your body to go into starvation mode. Your body says OH CRAP! and hangs on to whatever it can, since it thinks you are starving.

This ones easy.


You have 60lbs to lose...

I'm guessing you should be eating between 1800-2000 to lose weight.

And where did you get your medical degree?

1. don't trust the initial setup that MFP provides. If you put in the wrong/inaccurate information, it'll tell you to eat an amount that may not be applicable.
2. Make sure you eat enough.
3. Figure out what works for you and is sustainable/healthy/long term.
4. avoid fads. don't buy in to any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"
5. Don't cut out anything now that you don't plan on literally giving up forever.
6. GET A FOOD SCALE. Weigh everything. No, seriously.
7. Get an HRM with a chest strap. You'll at least have a better idea of what you're burning. It'll be more accurate than the generic info in the exercise database.. and even more than the cardio machines. This is great for steady state cardio (run/walk/etc)
8. Don't go balls out. You'll burn out. I see 300 lb people show up here, instantly start working out and cutting their intake SEVERELY... trying to cut out all of their carbs at once.. whatever. Take it slow. Figure out how much you need to eat FIRST in order to lose.. then incorporate exercise.
9. Don't cardio yourself to death.
10. Take the information on the forums with a grain of salt. A lot of people that have been here for a while.. and have been successful, may seem jaded. They give out GREAT advice day after day, only to be met with people that refuse to listen.
11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
12. don't set time restrictions.
13. measure yourself weekly. Don't just weigh. Measure and take pictures.
14 BE PATIENT.
15. Avoid forum topics that have "1200" in the title. It's just full of butthurt. Lots of it.
16. If you ask a question on the forum, give as much information as you can ("yes, I have a food scale and weigh my food" is worlds better than "I eat a palm full of miscellaneous boiled chicken parts..sometimes.")
17. Be honest with yourself and honest with us.
18. This isn't a game, it's about changing your lifestyle. Do that.

pretty much that.

...and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:

the typical MFP users does this:
1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that.. then they work out on top of it.. creating an even bigger deficit.
5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, not losing weight.
7. Get on the forums, ask why they aren't losing.
8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
9. Argument ensues about who is right.

Now. That being said. These threads happen hundreds of times per day. Most times, and I mean really.. seriously.. 95% of the time.. people get the 1200 number because they don't put the right information in when they set up the account. There are a great number of people that are trying to help. I'm one of 'em.

I'm a hardcore advocate of actually finding out what works for the individual.. by means of other calculators, averages, time, practice, and patience.

Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.

Find out what you need: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

and make sure to read: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

So look, just by your post, it sounds like you think you have to eat "diet food" and obviously very little of it. You're doing it wrong. Read this wall of text up there and help yourself make this manageable.


And make sure to OUTRIGHT IGNORE people that tell you stuff like cutting something 100% out of your diet... like below.

make sure you are eating protein with each meal, lots of veggies, healthy fats like coconut and olive oil. Low fat diet do not help anybody lose weight or get healthier. Low carb diets do.Get rid of sugar if you haven't yet. Don't give up.

Low carb diets aren't magic. That's so 2002.

But how can eating more calories per day make me loose weight surly it works the other way around doesn't it ?

Eating more will speed your metabolism. Also it depends on what your calories are. Are they healthy nutritious calories or empty calroies? Also you can be building muscle which weighs more than fat. Keep in mind the scale does not tell the whole story I gained 5 lbs and lost an inch in my waise. Keep your chin up.

Wow three myths in a single post.

1. Eating more doesn't speed up your metabolism.
2. A calorie is a calorie. PERIOD. It doesnt matter where you get them from.
3. You don't build muscle on a caloric deficit. You don't build a significant amount within a span of three weeks, either.

Its simply my opinion no need to criticize. And yes if you are lifting weights u will build muscle. All I was saying is that you can gain weight but look different. So just because no weight was lost dont give up. I am not saying up calories to over 2000. But to eat more frequently does speed the metabolism. and if u are eating an Apple instead of a cinnamon roll those calries dont matter? They ask for suggestions not for us to bash any one persons thoughts. Everyones body is different and we all have to do whats best for us. So keep your head up and your weight will come off.

My guess is that the OP is not measuring his food with a food scale, and is actually eating more than 1000-1200 calories per day.

My guess is that the OP is not measuring his food with a food scale, and is actually eating more than 1000-1200 calories per day.

Or he's getting too much sugar.




















I'm kidding!

@Ray's Wife, thank you for saving me the trouble

The amount of herp derp in this thread is incredible.