1200 cals a day?!
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...I'm finding it impossible...
If this is true, then it's not sustainable for you and it probably won't work in the long-term. It may take longer to lose the weight, but a smaller deficit would probably work better for you.0 -
My MFP profile is set to 1200. Most days I go over. Nevertheless, I remain under 2000/ most days. I see it as a speed post sign. Once I get close/go over, I look at my macros and go from there the rest of the day. It generally balances out over the course of a week.0
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It's because they have no idea how difficult it is to put on muscle mass. And sadly, they won't believe anyone when you tell them that it is 10 times harder, so once they figure it out, the damage is already done.Ht and wt says nothing about bf%. You are sacrificing muscle mass...plain and simple. Why would you want to lose mass to get to a number on a scale in order to work 10 times harder to put just a shred of that muscle back on. It boggles my mind every time someone says that.
Muscle mass is not all that difficult to gain. Up calories gently, while adding protein.
I eat 150 g or more protein a day.
I'm sorry, wut now? :huh: :noway: :laugh:
ETA: I just had to add, this is the most outrageous thing I've seen here all day.0 -
people don't be afraid:flowerforyou: YOU CAN EAT more and still lose weight:drinker:0
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I was eating 1200 on some days (ie twice a week) and about 100-200 less during the week, I was thinking I might lose weight quicker this way and I wasn't to hungry. For the first 6 weeks I lost 1kg a week, then nothing for about 2 weeks. I got onto these forums which suggested I eat to net 1200, so I did and the weight began to fall off again. .I'm now thinking about increasing my calories per day now, as I don't have much more to lose, therefore giving me a closer look at what my daily calorie intake will be once I reach my goal and start to eat to maintain. I find it easy to meet 1200 by choosing healthy options that fill you up rather than fatty sugary foods that make you want more.
I drink heaps of water, and have diet soda as a treat. The biggest thing for me has been learning the volumes of food.. I now weigh my foods and realised very quickly that, that was the reason I gained weight to begin with..0 -
I eat 1200 calories a day. Actually I must eat 1200, but I am in my first week of dieting, so it is someway impossible to go from a 2000+ calories a day to the miserable 1200. The first days I did 1800, 1600, 1400 and today I hope to resist the 1200.
Really hope that the hunger will go away. I like exercise, but now I cant do much, so I must do the work with diet.0 -
It's because they have no idea how difficult it is to put on muscle mass. And sadly, they won't believe anyone when you tell them that it is 10 times harder, so once they figure it out, the damage is already done.Ht and wt says nothing about bf%. You are sacrificing muscle mass...plain and simple. Why would you want to lose mass to get to a number on a scale in order to work 10 times harder to put just a shred of that muscle back on. It boggles my mind every time someone says that.
Muscle mass is not all that difficult to gain. Up calories gently, while adding protein.
I eat 150 g or more protein a day.
Uhm, you left out the difficult part.
But here is a little magic for you instead, since magic is easier:
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and our point is:I think people got the wrong idea about me. I stay 1200 or lower one time a week or so, not every day. I was just making the point that it is fairly easy to to if you eat the right stuff.
very.. VERY few people should have to. the 1200 calorie that MFP gives out is a flub in the system. I'm sorry you're not following.
I just logged my 770th day on this site today. I've been posting the following blurb for a while.here are some clues:
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
this could help.
I've bolded the important part so any future posters to this thread can see that there's a big bright light at the end of that godawful 1200 calorie tunnel that they get sucked into.
Feel free to take a look at those links yourself, it might help.
The thing is....I don't need help. I've lost 90 pounds without any suffering whatsoever and my weight loss has actually accelerated as I've moved forward. What I am doing is working for me.
The only point of my post was that if you stop eating foods that make you crave, if you just eat healthy, it is easy to keep your calories down. I'm not here to be the calorie police. I can see we have plenty of those here.0 -
lolOn days I don't exercise I don't have any problem staying below 1200 calories. I will eat 2/3 of a cup of oatmeal in the morning, which is 200 calories, then do a tuna salad with lettuce at lunch for 250 calories. Then i will eat 2 chicken breasts and some vegetables at dinner for 300 calories, and a half cup of frozen yogurt for 100 calories. I still have room for another serving of oatmeal at 200 calories and another 150 calories to spare.
If you eat healthy stuff all day, it isn't really that difficult to stay under 1200 calories.
Did bad today though, went to the Thai buffet and pigged out lol. Ate mostly vegetables and chicken though.
You are a man, you should not eat that little.
Maybe. But I've lost 90 pounds and I just had a full physical, and the Dr. says I am a helluva lot healthier than when I was fat.
Dude is also in his 40's. Do I think it's healthy and that muscle mass is most likely being sacrificed, yes, but 1200 probably isn't as far off for him as others.
Myself, if I were under or at 1200 at lunchtime I'd be light headed...
When I get rid of this last 10 pounds of belly fat I'll start worrying about my muscle mass, but I'm not exactly wasting away at 185 and 5'11.
<---same weight and height as you in this pic... and i am a woman in her 40's
you should not wait till you are done to focus on muscle, you should be trying to preserve it the whole time...you will look WAY better when you get to your goal.
Ok, let me clarify. I am hitting the weights twice a week to stay toned, I am just not trying build muscle mass while I lose the last bit of belly fat. My first goal is to get rid of the belly fat.
As far as my weight, I know a lot of the men on here like the big body builder look....that's not what I am going for. I prefer a slender look for myself. So whatever amount of muscle mass I will try to build after I lose this last little bit of belly fat, it won't be very much anyway.
By the way everyone, I ate at least 3500 calories yesterday, probably more, so don't worry about me, I'm not going into starvation mode anytime soon lol.0 -
I eat 1800 calories a day and am losing weight. I eat/drink what I want. It's about moderation not deprivation. :flowerforyou:
Is that your "base" calories that you eat, no exercise calories? I have been stuck at just over 200 pounds for like, forever! I have tried 1200 calories, eating back my exercise calories, 1500 calories (TDEE) and eating back exercise calories and not eating back exercise calories. My body will not budge. I burn 600 calories 4 times a week doing a 5-mile walk. I'm frustrated, but not giving up.0 -
It's because they have no idea how difficult it is to put on muscle mass. And sadly, they won't believe anyone when you tell them that it is 10 times harder, so once they figure it out, the damage is already done.Ht and wt says nothing about bf%. You are sacrificing muscle mass...plain and simple. Why would you want to lose mass to get to a number on a scale in order to work 10 times harder to put just a shred of that muscle back on. It boggles my mind every time someone says that.
Muscle mass is not all that difficult to gain. Up calories gently, while adding protein.
I eat 150 g or more protein a day.
I'm sorry, wut now? :huh: :noway: :laugh:
ETA: I just had to add, this is the most outrageous thing I've seen here all day.
Yes - I agree...
Muscle mass is easy to gain !! :noway: All you need to do is up protein !! :noway:
It's statements like this....I can eat 1200 gross & add muscle.....because I eat lots of protein. :laugh:
Adding muscle is hard work AND you need to fuel your workouts.0 -
I would do whatever works best for you! I'm just getting back on track this week after maintaining for a couple months and my goal is 1250 calories a day, but I usually dip into my exercise calories. That's how I lost twenty pounds a couple months back so I'm sticking with it. I am hungry a lot but having to stay within that calorie range really makes me think about what I'm eating so I can get the most out of my food. Maybe you should up your calories to 1400 and see if that works for you. Good luck!0
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I would do whatever works best for you!
Ding Ding Ding Ding.0 -
When I started at 1200/day, I became mean, tired, weak, and, a few times, dizzy. I determined that safety and a sane, loving relationship with my family (especially the little ones) was far more important than a number somebody's machine determined. Listen to what your body is telling you; slow and steady will get you there the right way!
Good luck!0 -
I just calculated my BMR and it is close to yours at 1495. multiply it by 1.2 bc i am mostly seditary due to my job ( you can look up the multiplier if you are more active. for lightly active, as an example, it is 1.37)
so to lose a pound a week (since a pound is 3500 calories) i would have to be at 1294 daily but some days are easier than others and i am always under my weekly goals- i come close on days but not close as a week in whole-so it was easier to look at is as a week:
3500 calorie deficit per week= 1lb. 3500/7=500 deficit a day
1294x7=9058 calories per week which would make me lose 1lb.
But again, I am more likely to hit the weekly number than the daily one ALL SEVEN DAYS. I might do 5 days at the least though
Since you only have 17 more pounds to lose (according to your ticker), it would probably be better to aim for 0.5 lb per week loss instead of 1 pound. The closer you get to goal weight, the more calories you should be eating to slow down your weight loss. This helps make transitioning into maintenance so much easier because you don't have a big jump in calorie intake.
Thank you for the advice! Always helpful as we try to figure this out. I actually was very slow in losing the first 17 and had a higher calorie goal which i never seemed to go over on, so i just recently changed it to a lower goal to try to motivate myself for the last 17 pounds. I first focused a lot on carbs and now am thinking calories is an easier focus while still maintaining the life changes i have made with carb consumption. I had no idea incrreasing calories slowed down the loss, but i will definitely keep all this in mind! Thanks again
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Please, Please, Please, Please, Please check out these sites
http://eatmore2weighless.com/
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/3834-eat-more-to-weigh-less
Background on me - I started out over 300 lbs. put myself on a strict 1200 cal diet, working out 3-5 days a week, lost a good amount of weight, fairly quickly, then just stopped. It didn't matter how/what I ate, how much I worked out, scale stopped moving. I am in the process of trying to reset my metabolism because I've learned that I completely shot it by eating so little. I did eventually get under 200 lbs, but wish I had done it a better way. I'm not going to get into the argument that 1200 calories is wrong, but looking back it was definitely wrong for me. I recommend you finding your bmr and educating yourself on losing weight eating your max (of good clean foods of course) and hopefully you won't damage yourself the way that I did...good luck either way 0 -
I eat 1800 calories a day and am losing weight. I eat/drink what I want. It's about moderation not deprivation. :flowerforyou:
Is that your "base" calories that you eat, no exercise calories? I have been stuck at just over 200 pounds for like, forever! I have tried 1200 calories, eating back my exercise calories, 1500 calories (TDEE) and eating back exercise calories and not eating back exercise calories. My body will not budge. I burn 600 calories 4 times a week doing a 5-mile walk. I'm frustrated, but not giving up.
This confuses me. Are you saying that 1500 IS your TDEE? That's not right. Your BMR is probably close to 1500. And if you were eating at TDEE plus eating more for exercise, then you would gain weight. If you burn 600 calories 4 times per week in exercise, your TDEE is certainly not 1500, it is probably around 2,200.0 -
I did 1200 for a week - mostly as an experiment. I exercised everyday and ate those calories back - if I hadn't I think I would have caved on day 2 and given up entirely. Even with that, I ate over 1200 net on 4 of the 7 days - I couldn't do it.0
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Maybe you should be eating more... (please look in to your BMR & TDEE)
YES! It does sound counterproductive but/especially if you are exercising - YOU NEED MORE CALORIES lol I had lost about 12 lb on the 1200 cal limit that MFP gave me (fine and dandy) but I ended up exhausting myself because I wasn't providing myself with enough nutrition(energy) to sustain my daily routine let alone exercise on top of that. The weight came off, sure - slowly. Then all I wanted to do was ...well, nothing...and eat and it came right back. This go around I've increase my intake to 1400 (+/- 200 cal on a day to day basis depending on exercise and intensity) and literally 20 lb have fallen off of me in the last two months. I am 5'9" tall and went from 193.2 to 172.0 in two months. I'm sure WHAT I'm eating that makes up my daily 1400 calories has everything to do with how well this is working - (mostly clean/unprocessed foods and that is ON a Budget it can be done) but I don't feel hungry/deprived of food - I'm well rested every day and I'm losing weight. EAT to LOSE is real!! haha
Feel free to add me if you'd like to peek my diary etc. Cheers and best of luck to you!0 -
I've been eating 1200 calories a day since november. I have lost 33 lbs.
Some days I find it difficult to eat 1200 calories a day and hardly ever go over.
I eat a lot of veggies and lean meats. I avoid breads and starches. I feel like I eat all day and I'm still far short of 1200 calories.
You need to reasses WHAT you're eating instead of how many calories you are eating.
Brown Rice has less calories than white rice and makes you feel fuller longer.
Quinoa is full of fiber and protein so you can avoid more meats and eat a quinoa stir fry instead.
Coconut oil is a healthy fat that is better for you than vegetable oil. So is Olive Oil.
Eat more raw veggies and less cooked.
Have a Green veggie with each meal. i.e. A green smoothie for breakfast. Snack on Celery. have a nice salad for lunch. 3oz of chicken for dinner with a side salad.
Check the calories in your sauces and dressings. Cut wout what is un necessary. I no longer use mayo, katsup, bbq sauce. it's no necessary if you know how to use spices correctly in your foods.
Avoid pre-made mixes. They usually have hidden sugars that you don't need and added calories. Make your own spice mixes from natural spices. You can find recipes for them on line just google search. Homemade spice mixes taste better anyway.
There are so many ways to cut out calories and stay below 1200 a day. You just have to really want it and really think about what is going in your mouth before you eat it.0 -
:drinker: I'm on 1200 a day and some days i don't even eat all my calories, but, I cut out all sodas and drink unsweet tea or water with lemon, saving all my calories for food, and I found that diet soda actually made me wanna eat more so I cut that out too,yogurt or Instant oatmeal for breakfast,with a banana or something then salad or tuna or something light for lunch then whatever for supper, just watching the starchy stuff, you can eat anything you want just watch the portion size0
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Hi, from my experience, it is important that the calories come from a good nutritious food. If calories come from sugar and cookies, I get very hungry quickly, but if I eat slow burning carbs, I stay fuller longer. So look closely at what you eat; the numbers by themselves don't mean much because if the body is not getting the nutrients it needs, it will torture you with cravings and demands for MORE FOOD! 0
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I would do whatever works best for you!
Ding Ding Ding Ding.
Doing "whatever works best for you" to lose weight now can have unintended health consequences later on down the road. Which is what people are trying to educate you on. Right now the priority is lose this weight STAT, not caring about any consequences. Same reason people take other unhealthy measures like <insert fad very low cal diet or magic pill of the day here>.0 -
I'm on 1200, and I agree that it is difficult. On gym days, it's easy, because I put in burn 500-1200. If I don't do the gym, I try to eat light, like more veggies, and less meat, pasta, processed foods, etc.
But even if you clock in above the 1200, notice that it still calculates that you will be losing weight over the next 5 weeks. It's just that you won't lose as much.
Yesterday or the day before I ended up with 1500 net calories. After I finished the entries, it said "if you eat like this every day, you will lose 6 pounds in 5 weeks" or something like that. So no big deal. Still losing weight. Just depends how fast you want to lose it.0 -
I eat 1800 calories a day and am losing weight. I eat/drink what I want. It's about moderation not deprivation. :flowerforyou:
Is that your "base" calories that you eat, no exercise calories? I have been stuck at just over 200 pounds for like, forever! I have tried 1200 calories, eating back my exercise calories, 1500 calories (TDEE) and eating back exercise calories and not eating back exercise calories. My body will not budge. I burn 600 calories 4 times a week doing a 5-mile walk. I'm frustrated, but not giving up.
This confuses me. Are you saying that 1500 IS your TDEE? That's not right. Your BMR is probably close to 1500. And if you were eating at TDEE plus eating more for exercise, then you would gain weight. If you burn 600 calories 4 times per week in exercise, your TDEE is certainly not 1500, it is probably around 2,200.
I got to read this later, but you're right - my bad on my TDEE, BMR, etc.!!! Thanks. I know I'm doing something hugely wrong. 0 -
I eat 1800 calories a day and am losing weight. I eat/drink what I want. It's about moderation not deprivation. :flowerforyou:
Is that your "base" calories that you eat, no exercise calories? I have been stuck at just over 200 pounds for like, forever! I have tried 1200 calories, eating back my exercise calories, 1500 calories (TDEE) and eating back exercise calories and not eating back exercise calories. My body will not budge. I burn 600 calories 4 times a week doing a 5-mile walk. I'm frustrated, but not giving up.
This confuses me. Are you saying that 1500 IS your TDEE? That's not right. Your BMR is probably close to 1500. And if you were eating at TDEE plus eating more for exercise, then you would gain weight. If you burn 600 calories 4 times per week in exercise, your TDEE is certainly not 1500, it is probably around 2,200.
I got to read this later, but you're right - my bad on my TDEE, BMR, etc.!!! Thanks. I know I'm doing something hugely wrong.
Use this calculator:
http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
Chose the "lose fat 20% calorie reduction"
Eat that much every day, don't eat more for exercise. Keep up the same sort of exercise schedule.0 -
I would do whatever works best for you!
Ding Ding Ding Ding.
Doing "whatever works best for you" to lose weight now can have unintended health consequences later on down the road. Which is what people are trying to educate you on. Right now the priority is lose this weight STAT, not caring about any consequences. Same reason people take other unhealthy measures like <insert fad very low cal diet or magic pill of the day here>.
shhh... this guy has it figured out already. We can give him the same advice later when he isn't happy with how things are going.0 -
I would do whatever works best for you!
Ding Ding Ding Ding.
Doing "whatever works best for you" to lose weight now can have unintended health consequences later on down the road. Which is what people are trying to educate you on. Right now the priority is lose this weight STAT, not caring about any consequences. Same reason people take other unhealthy measures like <insert fad very low cal diet or magic pill of the day here>.
shhh... this guy has it figured out already. We can give him the same advice later when he isn't happy with how things are going.
The gift that keeps on giving.0 -
I would do whatever works best for you!
Ding Ding Ding Ding.
Doing "whatever works best for you" to lose weight now can have unintended health consequences later on down the road. Which is what people are trying to educate you on. Right now the priority is lose this weight STAT, not caring about any consequences. Same reason people take other unhealthy measures like <insert fad very low cal diet or magic pill of the day here>.
I hear you, but the most dangerous health epidemic in the country is..........obesity.
I'm not telling people to do extreme diets....those never last. I have even said in this thread that if you call yourself "dieting" you are going to gain all the weight back anyway.
But this attitude that a lot of people have on here that they know what is right for everyone....that's just not reality. People have different goals and there are a lot of different healthy ways to get weight loss accomplished.0
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