what 1200 calorie plan is better?

I eat whatever I want, but I tend to be pretty balanced anyways. I haven't lost as quickly as others have, but it's going down... slowly.

I couldn't eat 1200 calories of only "junk" food and be satisfied or feel good. Theoretically, if you could and your activity was the same, you'd lose basically the same, but quite possibly not keep the same muscle mass as with a better diet or look as good for other reasons.

On the other hand, while I would try to eat mostly nutrient dense items if on 1200, since it's such a low number (I did 1250 for a while), I know I'd eventually want a more flexible diet (as I did when at 1250) that included occasional items that weren't chosen for their nutrient profile (like some occasional fries or ice cream or pie). I'd also eventually want more calories.

My question is why is it all healthy or all "junk"? Why not eat mostly healthy with occasional "fun" foods or some other ratio? (And why 1200? Why not exercise and eat more calories?)

All up to you, though--experiment and see what works best.

NewMeAB2015 wrote: »

Hello my fellow people, so i know the difference between eating healthy and not eating healthy. My question is, is there a difference on the rate of losing weight if u eat up to 1200 calories of only healthy food? Or if you eat 1200 calories of whatever you want?

No, a calorie is a calorie and whatever you eat 1200 calories of will be the same result weight loss wise. But of course, there are still choices to make and 1200 calories of ice cream only will likely leave you feeling hungry and deprived and more likely to then eat more. Not to mention the health implications of eating only icecream, but I digress.

Your profile says you have 60lbs to lose, do you know your TDEE? You may well be able to eat a lot more than 1200 calories and lose weight.

I eat 1100 to 1200 a day...I have cut out a lot of junk food and sweets simply because they don't keep me full. And I don't miss them most days. If I do get a craving (like the Reese's pb eggs!), I make room in my calories for one. But I will say it took me about a month on 1200 and playing with different foods before I didn't feel hungry at the end of the day. I am hungry when I get up in the morning, but food that early doesn't sit well. I have my coffee and that subsides my hunger for a couple of hours. Then I am ready to eat my eggs or whatever else I had planned.

1200 good calories and 1200 bad calories are not the same thing! Yes, calories in, calories out, but.... Your body needs what you get from good calories for healthy functioning. You might still lose a little eating bad foods, but your body will suffer in other ways - not feeling satisfied - leading to over eating and /or binging, not being fueled properly for exercise, feeling fatigued, being nutrient deficient (can cause a host of symptoms), etc. Eat good foods and some bad calories every now and then. If you are fueling with the good foods and exercising regularly, your body can better handle and burn through the bad calories when you have them.

1200 is 1200. 2 filet of fishes and a coke. however, you will probably feel better if you eat nutrient dense foods. good luck!

1200 is a low number so if you eat calorie-dense unhealthy food, you'll reach your limit a lot quicker and still feel hungry whereas if you eat healthy food you can eat a larger quantity since it's usually lower in calories.

My goal is also 1200 and I eat healthy and I have a hard time not going over without starving myself for part of the day.

NewMeAB2015 wrote: »

I chose 1200 because according to my stats thats what i should eat to lose weight

To lose weight, or lose 2lbs per week? That sounds low to just "lose weight" at your age.