1200 calorie myth
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it's all in what you eat. my wife had gastric sleeve surgery and her doctor had her on a 600 calorie diet following which consisted of mostly protein. they wanted her on that for the first year. if i had elected for the surgery it wouldve been the same thing.0
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I started about 4 days using Myfitnesspa and since I want to lose weight, it told me I have to eat 1200 calories per day. Only yesterday I ate these 1200 calories and that's because I had chocolate too. Since I started the program I exercise daily. Usually 20-30 mins per day so supposedly I can eat more calories if I want. The 1200 program doesn't allow me to eat many fat foods but I can have a full breakfast and lunch and then a light dinner, plus fruits in between. So, I guess it's not that bad, right?
try a month...or longer...4 days...I agree it isn't hard especially when you are on your willpower...
I would also add that dietary fat is an essential macronutrient and when people don't get enough they jack their hormones up and then they're all like, "HALP....eating 900 calories per day and not losing....HALP!"0 -
I think what would be helpful is seeing a registered nutritionist and find out what your BMI is and what is your current weight and height, they calculate what your calorie in-take should be. I agree with some of posts from the other members that you have to put into account that if your calorie in-take is too low it will affect your muscle, hair and energy.:huh: :0
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And then there's the fact that people here act like it's always exactly1200. For everyone. A 6' man can eat 1200 calories even if it's not *advisable*, but if you're a 5' woman and you eat 1000 you're going to DIE OF MALNUTRITION RIGHT NOW BUT ALSO GET FAT BECAUSE YOUR BODY WILL GO INTO STARVATION MODE.
I think it's all sort of personal and you just need to figure out what works for yourself and your body. The numbers are guidelines, but everyone's different and you have to do what feels best.
NOPE NOPE NOPE
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/761810-the-starvation-mode-myth-again
She won't get fat, she'll get skinny BUT she can also die because that's way too low to get enough nutrients into her body.
No one has ever died of a diet of 1200 calories a day. I have worked since 1976 in the Nutrition field of Humanitarian Aid and the people who die ( starve to death ) usually do so because they eat 600 ( even 800 calories will maintain a body, marginally, but it is not too little to starve to death ) calories or less a day over a long period of time. Usually that starts at around 4.5 month for people with a normal starting weight and takes longer for people who are a bit heavier. Once the phase of organ failure starts, it still takes several weeks of great suffering for adults to succumb to this very low calorie diet
WHO, UNICEF, The Hunger Project and many more aim to feed people in emergency or long term critical situations about 1000 calories a day of high nutrition food paste. This is a specially formulated paste full of nutrients that will not cause any adaptation problems ( because most people who have eaten so few calories over a long time cannot just start eating again ) and will fully nourish people. One must also keep in mind that in many cultures people just don't eat as much as people do in the US and often a standard diet in let's say Africa or India is around 1400 calories for women......and those are women who often do hard physical labor, like crushing rocks for construction, carrying water, fire wood or work in the fields.
I agree that 1200 calories if not well planned and administered can lead to deficiencies ( especially in developed countries ), because there is not much space for empty calories. However in comparison with populations let's say in Africa or India those people are often better nourished on less calories than the average American, because their culture does not include processed foods, added sugar, soft drinks, alcohol.....all calories that while providing energy to run a body do not provide nutrition for health.0 -
Yes, I agree. I run/jog/spin or powerwalk for an hour a day then walk at lunch. I would starve to death on 800 calories, not to mention your metabolism goes into starvation mode. My Doctor who is a real "granola" who is Vegan and doesn't eat wheat told me that 1200 calories for me is low enough.0
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not bad at all....the only thing i have been cautioned about from my doctor is that after logging in my daily exercise i should not eat the extra calories that mfp credits me for...i am also not tired lethargic depressed and my nails are growing and my hair isn't falling out....the best thing to do is find out what works for you and stick to it....for me,,, i have been on this 1200 calorie daily diet for 2 and 1/2 months... the weight is coming off slowly which is good for me because i am not getting the side effects mentioned above... i have lost a total of 15 pounds...20 more to meet my goal....so good luck...0
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I believe RDA was developed in the 1950, pre WW2 as a rationing minimum for a 120 lb female. Which, to me means you can survive (probably short term) on 1200, but can't LIVE an 1200. I'll have to research to be sure though.
The war stopped in 1945......so 1950 was not " pre-war "......0 -
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sophia-herbst/1200-calories_b_4816597.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000046
Best thing I've ever read about it.
So glad I came across your post here. Just read through that link, and I'm sure happy I did.0 -
Anorexics eat about 800 calories a day and that seems to work out for them...
But seriously, 2 year olds need 1,000-1,400 calories a day. I think a fully grown adult needs more food than a toddler in order to function.
Actually a toddler needs more as they are more active than the average adult. They are constantly running, moving, playing and jumping. Most adults are stuck at a desk all day, traveling in their car or just running errands which doesn't burn as many calories. That's why kids need a lot of calories, they are crazy haha.0 -
...ever heard of BMR?
The amount you burn resting doing absolutely nothing is around 1200. Therefore, if you eat less than this a day, you're just gonna have no energy at all, and risk having an eating disorder, becoming anorexic, etc.0 -
Maintaining/losing/gaining weight requires us to pay attention to the signals our bodies give us. I'm a believer in setting a reasonable calorie limit based on height, weight, and activity. 800 calories everyday seems like it would be unhealthy for almost everyone. But an 800 calorie day here and there when you're stressed or busy isn't going to kill you. But it certainly isn't a reasonable daily goal. Which is why people who do that often experience extreme fatigue, hunger, hair loss, and an inability to regulate body temperature.
Listen to your body. If you're lethargic and can't concentrate eat and drink water. Each person has a different ideal daily calorie intake and that ideal can change day to day based on activity levels. So let's all be gentle with ourselves and respect what our body tells us.0 -
...ever heard of BMR?
The amount you burn resting doing absolutely nothing is around 1200. Therefore, if you eat less than this a day, you're just gonna have no energy at all, and risk having an eating disorder, becoming anorexic, etc.
Calorie restriction doesn't = eating disorder. A lot more has to happen to be Anorexic.0 -
Thanks for the correction. I wasn't around then, and was repeating something someone told me. Guess that'll teach me to look it up first. :blushing:0
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Thanks for the correction. I wasn't around then, and was repeating something someone told me. Guess that'll teach me to look it up first. :blushing:
You actually are not wrong in that the RDI's were developed in WWII, it's just that it was in the early 40's, not the 50's. They were developed with service members, overseas relief forces and potentially vulnerable populations in mind.0 -
RDA is minimum requirements...
and I would love to see me get enough protien (120g) on 1200 calories...
and on 1200 calories you lose muscle along with fat and you are weak, lethargic, hair gets brittle, nails don't grow well and are thin...
your body needs fuel and 1200 calories is not enough to fuel your body at rest let alone doing regular daily activity and never mind adding in exercise...
This is not true for everyone. I've been doing it for months and have seen no side effects other than a consistent loss of about 1.2 pounds a week.0 -
...ever heard of BMR?
The amount you burn resting doing absolutely nothing is around 1200. Therefore, if you eat less than this a day, you're just gonna have no energy at all, and risk having an eating disorder, becoming anorexic, etc.
With that said, MFP actually set my caloric restriction below my basal metabolic rate. Been on this for about 2 months, no real noticeable difference in energy.0 -
All I know is that eating so few calories, especially if you are working out, makes you feel tired and hungry all the time. And it also seems unsustainable for a lifetime.
I am losing 1 lb./week on 1600-1800 calories per day (and I work out) and the changes I'm making are easy, doable, and something I can follow for the rest of my life.
For folks who want to lose faster, maybe 1200 calories works, but not sure it's sustainable long term. But then again, plenty of people (the vast majority) lose weight and then regain it plus more, with very restrictive dieting.0 -
All I know is that eating so few calories, especially if you are working out, makes you feel tired and hungry all the time. And it also seems unsustainable for a lifetime.
I am losing 1 lb./week on 1600-1800 calories per day (and I work out) and the changes I'm making are easy, doable, and something I can follow for the rest of my life.
For folks who want to lose faster, maybe 1200 calories works, but not sure it's sustainable long term. But then again, plenty of people (the vast majority) lose weight and then regain it plus more, with very restrictive dieting.
Not necessarily... It might make YOU feel that way but may not translate the same for someone else. I'm not advocating pro or con, just saying what is working and sustainable for you might not be the same answer for the next person.0 -
I have logged in for 43 days (in a row) as of today, and I started at 1000 a day whilst walking over 5KMs a day. I initally lost weight but then it came to halt where my scale never changed for almost 4 days. I realised after reading other's blogs and doing online research that I needed to up my calorie intake the further I walk in KMs so I upped to 1200 and have been on it since. I am losing from a pound to 2 a week now. I am nearing 60KMs a week in my walk so I will need to up it again to 1500 calories/day so that my body has enough fuel.
Hope that helps0 -
But seriously, 2 year olds need 1,000-1,400 calories a day. I think a fully grown adult needs more food than a toddler in order to function.
Have you ever been a parent? Those kids have crazy energy and move wayyy more than I ever do.0
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