How long can you stay on a 1200-1400 calorie diet?
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I lasted about 2.5 months. I raised my calories to the 1500-1700 range and started moving more, and my rate of loss remained the same 2lbs/wk avg. At 1200 range all I wanted to do was sleep until I could eat again, and then go back to sleep until I could eat again.
I feel like a normal functional human being that can do more than just sleep through my misery by eating 1500 minimum.0 -
I'm currently in 1200 and exercise most days so I end up eating around about 1300ish. I'm happy on this. I'm losing approximately .5kgs per week. I am very short though. I'm having lots of fun eating low calorie snacks atm. To me it's a bit of a novelty still and I am slowly changing myunhealthy habits into healthy lifestyle0
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2-3 days.0
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mylosingtool0612 wrote: »How long can I do this? Is it too much if I restrict for 20 weeks?
I have less than 30 Pounds to lose (or max. 30)?
The more weight you have to lose at the start, the longer you can stay on it (assuming you're being smart about it). For someone with for example 100 pounds to lose, 3 or 6 or even 12 months, etc, is not going to cause any physical problems.
Mentally, who knows, it depends on the person....
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164 days ( so approaching 6 months) on 1200 calories... Last weeks it is up a bit towards 1300.
Lost 80 pounds going perfect!
I am doing this monitored/supported
I weigh EVERY solid food and measure every liquid except water & coffee & tea
I eat and cook as much as possible from scratch
Main foods are Meat, Fish, nuts, veggies, fruit, some diary and some grains pasta and potatoes
Next to that i eat my "take out chinese" , pizza, buffets, bottle of champagne or a beer. So i eat everything.
I only do not use salt at all and i am careful with sugar ( yes i eat all the fruit i want as long it fits in my calorie allowance) This for medical reasons.
But i fit it in my calorie amount, and yes i go over sometimes but dont stress about it at all.
It all come down to moderation and portion control. Normal life means eating sometimes that take out or buffet or that piece of chocolate or cheesecake, but after that back to portion control and moderation
I drink 2 to 3 liter water a day and when i want bigger meals i fill up on more veggies. I eat 3 main meals and 2 snack times a day.
Every evening i have a huge bowl of air-popped popcorn ( 240 calories) that is 80 grams of un-popped popcorn.
And i have my other snacks like almonds and protein bars.
Wise decisions and pre-planning your daily meals and snacks helps a lot. Being honest and not flipping out over fluctuations helps too. And patience!
This is how it works for me...but everybody is different.
I dont promote 1200 calories a day without (medical) support/guidance. But it is doable for sure.
Only when you dont need to go so aggressive, why should you do it?
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A better question is how long can you do it ? My ability and situation for doing it really has no bearing on how long you can or should do it.0
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mamapeach910 wrote: »mamapeach910 wrote: »I was on 1200 calories for year, and it crashed my metabolism and had my doctor call me at 9pm after she saw the lab results, completely panicked. Lesson learned: Don't do it for too long. It will take me quite some time to undo the damage I did by restricting my food intake so severely.
I’m sorry this happened to you, but I am surprised. You think the caloric deficit is to blame? I ask because loads of people eat around this number, and I wasn’t aware of any health risks…
Too many people UNNECESSARILY eat at this number at the expense of their lean muscle mass.
It's a foolish, foolish thing to do.
Many posts in this thread are making me smh.
It’s funny you should mention that, I was just looking at research about what the minimum caloric intake is to preserve muscle mass. The general consensus seems to be that if you’re (1) above 1,200 calories for women / 1,500 for men, (2) doing strength training, and (3) eating lots of protein, loss of muscle mass is minimized. I haven’t read any of the actual science articles though.
I think it depends on what’s best for each individual.
Some sources: http://evidencemag.com/fat-loss-deficit/, http://www.acaloriecounter.com/diet/calorie-deficit-to-lose-weight/, http://ratfactor.com/fat-loss-calculator#fatvsweight
It's funny you should mention strength training, because if you don't NEED to be doing 1200 calories, you won't be able to do progressive strength training at all.
I'm older, my TDEE is such that a 1 pound a week loss puts me at 1200 calories. 1 pound a week for needing to lose 60 pounds is low, but I can't eat at a smaller deficit. However, I make gains when I'm using weights because for my body size, I'm eating enough.
Editing to add that if you read the article, it did say that what you're saying applied only to overweight people. Aggressive losses without losing muscle mass don't apply to people who have less to lose.
The problem is that there is a maximum amount of fat that the body is capable of burning in a day. If a person is eating at a deficit above that, the body will burn muscle. If you don't have a lot to lose, that maximum is lower.
Another great thread! I'm learning some major stuff here. I've been at 1200/day and today did 1 hour of weights (full body). I'm eating back some exercise calories. Also walked 1 hour (3.5mph), going for another 1/2 hr now and another 1/2 after dinner. I am understanding why I was feeling fatigued and weaker last week. I'm still dropping and my clothes are getting real loose. What an education I'm getting. Thanks OP for the thread on this and all who are responding!
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I will add this - a large calorie deficit plus extensive working out is a recipe for body destruction. Smaller deficits and huge workouts, cool. Large deficits and light workouts, cool.
But together, and you're almost immediately breaking down lean body mass, without providing the tools to repair it.
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I will add this - a large calorie deficit plus extensive working out is a recipe for body destruction. Smaller deficits and huge workouts, cool. Large deficits and light workouts, cool.
But together, and you're almost immediately breaking down lean body mass, without providing the tools to repair it.
I am realizing this now. With so little I have to lose, I was sticking to a strict 1200 or less and feeling wasted, tired and really had to push myself in the workouts. I am starting to eat back a portion of exercise calories and working out more. I still don't know if I'm overdoing it yet and if I need to up my calories on a regular basis, but I'll get there. Great thread, great advice!
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I've been eating between 1200 and 1500 on most days since early January, with occasional exceptions (such as this weekend). During this time, my cholesterol profile improved. I recently had kidney, liver and metabolic panel tests which were completely normal.
Choose a calorie deficit that is safe and works with your body and your needs.0 -
My 1200 calories (plus exercise calories on most days) are more quality focused than they were before, so even though I may have been eating many more calories before, a lot of it was useless nutritionally. Not sure how that factors in, except that I don't feel cheated at all with 1200+ calories a day, and I run and/or lift heavy daily. I think even with the reduced calorie intake, I am in a better position to have meaningful workouts with a lower risk of injury than before MFP and the calorie restriction. Yay MFP.0
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I have been on 1200 calories since Nov.15, 2014. Almost 5 months. I have lost 60 pounds and am feeling great. I had blood work done in early November that came back alarming. Pre-diabetes, low iron, low vit d, low b12, thyroid screwed up. I started this journey the next day and would not change a thing. I had my blood work repeated in February and my A1C was back to normal, my vitamins were back on track and they actually needed to lower my thyroid medication!
I eat back half of my exercise calories and drink at least 10 cups of water each day. Life is good and getting better and better each day!0 -
I've been at 1350 now for 2 months. I do give myself breaks some nights, but I never eat at maintenance. I really need to lose the weight as soon as possible so I'm being quite strict.
For the record I'm 5'6" and 27 F
I do go over on lifting days by about 200 calories to help fuel my body0 -
15 minutes0
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i was in the same situation! no one warned me about the dangers of eating too little; i can't believe the dangerous amount of buzz the "magic 1200 calorie" diet has gotten.I was on 1200 calories for year, and it crashed my metabolism and had my doctor call me at 9pm after she saw the lab results, completely panicked. Lesson learned: Don't do it for too long. It will take me quite some time to undo the damage I did by restricting my food intake so severely.
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6 and a half months so far. Lost about 65lbs. Eat high protein and do cardio and weight training 4-5 times a week. No noticeable muscle loss. Started at 240lbs, now 175lbs and wearing size 10 and some 8's. I'm 5'8" and 47 years old. I was at 1200 for 5 months and recently switch to 1450 (although I don't reach that number all the time). I wanted to eat more fruit and nuts so I upped my calories. There are days I still come in at 1200 (mostly on weekends when I wake up later than normal). I don't eat back exercise calories and really "spend" my calories wisely. Candy and sweets are what got me into trouble so I stay away from them and choose fruit and tea to satisfy my sweet tooth. Feeling better than I have in years. Always take the stairs, drink lots of water and training myself to not live to eat. I love cooking and creating less calorie dense meals that I can enjoy and feel satisfied. I think it depends on what you eat. Some folks want desserts or the occasional pizza so 1200 calories won't work under those circumstances, I don't think. I'd be starving if I didn't spread my calories with high protein and lower cal options like egg whites, tofu, chicken breast, greek yogurt, etc. But I also eat whole eggs, cheese, olives, oil, etc.
Everyone is different. Some can handle it and some can't or won't. I haven't suffered a day since I've started losing weight. In fact, on my vacation I ate some higher cal options and felt like crap. When I get closer to maintenance (around 140-150lbs) I may allow for an occasional night out with friends but I've changed my lifestyle for good.0 -
Hi, i been on 1200 cal for 9 months now lost 77lbs down 42m0
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I didn't know that it could be dangerous to eat just 1200 calories. I've been averaging between 1100-1300, but I'm short and I need to lose probably around 90lbs total. Does that make a difference?0
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I've been eating 1350-1450/day since Thanksgiving and it seems very do-able to me. I am short - 5'1" - and 47 years old. I'm assuming if I were younger I'd be able to eat a bit more than this and still lose, but I mean I definitely don't feel like I'm starving or anything.0
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Six hours, because that's just breakfast and lunch.0
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I LIVE on 1340. But I'm old and sedentary. Eat back most of exercise.0
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I did 1200 for about three years. Lately I've been aiming for 1300-1400.
I don't find it difficult at all. You can certainly get decent nutrition on that many calories.0 -
I maybe accidentally have a day where I eat 1200 calories because either I'm oddly not hungry that day, or if my meals have just been very filling. But that's just every few weeks or so.
I could never purposefully do it consistently.
Typically I eat from 1500-1800 depending on how hungry I am or how active I've been in terms of both exercise and daily activity stuff.
I don't know how people can be on 1200 and say it's fine, that sounds absolutely miserable to me. But hey, everyone's different.0 -
I eat ~1200. However, that doesn't include exercise calories. I walk 3-5 miles every day and just started adding in a few blogilates videos every other day. I eat back between .5 and all of my exercise calories---just recently cut back to half, because I lost enough to stop losing on eating all of them. Basically, I exercise to eat more. I've been doing it since November. My health is so much better now. I'm also short, otherwise sedentary, and a 35 year old woman. My actual calories eaten is usually around 1330-1400. I don't sweat it if I go over a little, because it prevents binges. My macros need a ton of work, though...that's my next thing to work on, after adding in the blogilates more regularly.0
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A few days ago, I decided to go from 1375 cals/day (which MFP suggested would get me 1.5 lbs/wk) down to 1200. I have kept to both numbers quite closely and not eaten my exercise calories. So far, I feel strong and am losing at a speed that I feel I can maintain for at least another month. 6 lbs so far in 3 weeks. I am athletic, so if this 1200 begins to impede my performance, I will go back up to 1375. I read your thread because I have been thinking I could stay on 1375 for the rest of my life, as I am not experiencing hunger - at all! So I think you perhaps can be on 1200 for a long time as long as you check in with your body to see how it is going.0
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It really depends.
I'm extremely short (4'10)
So eating 1200 calories hasn't been an issue for me.
I've been doing this for going on 8 months now and I'm down 17+ pounds.
I haven't had any bad side effects, or anything of that sort.
But I do give myself cheat days once to twice a week and allow myself to eat pretty much what I want within my calorie limit.
The lowest I go is 1100 calories, when I'm not exercising at all in the day. But I don't do that very often, it usually just ends up happening.0 -
mylosingtool0612 wrote: »How long can I do this? Is it too much if I restrict for 20 weeks?
I have less than 30 Pounds to lose (or max. 30)?
I am 40 years old, 5' 4", sedentary and started at 179 lbs with a calorie goal of 1330 about 24 weeks ago. My calorie goal is now 1270. I don't know if I will drop any lower. I usually eat between 1300 to 1500 and exercise about 30 minutes a day.
It doesn't feel too restrictive to me. I have lost 18 lbs not 30 though in this time period.
If you gave MFP your correct information- or some other calorie calculator- and set a goal of 1 pound a week and it tells you to eat something between 1200 and 1500 then it is probably a reasonable goal for you.
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I lost 20 pounds over about 6 months eating at 1300, I have since gone up to 1500 and am still losing, now at about .25-.5 pounds per week, which is appropriate for me as I am approaching maintenance and I'm not even clear how much more I really want to lose. (5'6", 45 years old)0
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I need to lose about 70 pounds and myfitnesspal has me at just over 1400 (1lb/week level). I'm pretty short and not active (desk job) but still the idea of eating that little for over a year seems... dubious. I'm having trouble managing it so far...0
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