1200 cal diet makes me light headed

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Replies

  • mysteck
    mysteck Posts: 1 Member
    U can eat more calories then lose the extra by excercising. Im doing 1200 cal but around 1700 then walk briskly for about an hour, losing 500 calory
  • RuNaRoUnDaFiEld
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld Posts: 5,864 Member
    jaywirth88 wrote: »
    i feel like I have eaten LOTS of food today. A lot of nutrient dense low calorie foods, and i'm not at 1200 yet.

    You don't know how many calories you have had as you log the same weights all the time. If I buy a bag of apples every apple weighs differently yet yours weigh the same day in day out, and your cheese and your almonds etc. Without weighing you really don't know what you are eating calorie wise.

    An example, I started calorie counting 11 years ago. Without scales, I thought a tablespoon of peanut butter was what was left on the spoon when I ran a knife over the top. Turns out that tiny scrape actually is almost 2 tablespoons when I weigh it. I used to count 4 Brazil nuts as 20 grams as that was what most books told me back then. Now I weigh them 3 nuts can easily contain over 20 grams. Over a full day this really adds up.

    OP, 1200 is low. Slow your weight loss down a little. Add 100 calories extra to it and see how you get on, still too low add another 50. Play around with it a bit. This should be liveable with for life not torture. You won't stick to it that way. Good luck


  • kimny72 wrote: »
    OP, I eat around 1600 cals per day. I eat pasta, rice, fruit, ice cream, anything I want. I pre-plan my meals and am careful with my serving sizes by using a food scale.

    Also, your MFP calorie goal puts you into the deficit you need without exercise. So if you go to the gym, you should be logging your exercise and eating back @ half those calories as well.

    I usually have eggs or oatmeal for breakfast, no more than @ 300 calories, but I'm not usually very hungry in the morning.

    Eat all your calories, hang in there, and good luck!

  • Activity has much to do with how much you need to eat to maintain your "engine".... I eat around 1,500 calories a day just to maintain and that is without exercise. I eat 1,800-2,000 on a workout day because if I don't my body will starve. If you are still "hungry" that is definitely a sign of thirst. Make sure you are drinking half your body weight in ounces in water consumption.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    My fitness pal recommends for me to eat 1230 calories a day even with me being active. If I put the very active it'll allow me a few hundred more but since I only lift weights and walk but don't do cardio, I don't think I am very active. I've found that if I make the right choices in my meals I can still get full and not go over and if I do it's not by much. You just have to find what makes you feel full longer. I do get the feeling sometimes like my cheeks are sinking in but that's if I skip a snack or eat later than usual. If you feel like you're just not able to stick within the calories and feel good, lower how much weight you want to lose a week. Sometimes going slow is the best way or else you'll burn yourself out.

    What are your stats: height, weight, age and how much are you trying to lose?

    1230 at active seems very low.

  • CurlyCockney
    CurlyCockney Posts: 1,394 Member
    edited September 2015
    lmaharidge wrote: »
    lmaharidge wrote: »
    I don't get why everybody's attacking these people for eating under 1200 cal there are days I don't get over 1200 cal and it's really none of your business whether or not I do so and why. The fact that you're getting headaches 0P means that you're not eating enough. If heightening your fat or carb intake doesn't help your headaches, then you should adjust your goal

    There is a reason why MFP has a minimum. If you choose to ignore that minimum and comment in public that you do, then common sense dictates that you should expect to be called out on it. That isn't an attack.

    The minimum is 1000... Your comment makes no sense

    Screen grab from MFP's help page where you can see the minimum calorie settings.

    n2wuqugyjams.jpg


    The study linked to by the MFP help pages says:

    "A patient may choose a diet of 1,000 to 1,200 kcal for women and 1,200 to 1,500 kcal for men.".

    The NHS says that anything below 800 kcals per day is a VLCD and should only be followed for up to 12 weeks.

    So, I really don't know why MFP is fixated on 1200 or why some of the stuff repeated here is taken to be true, but I assume that it's something to do with eating disorders and nannying everyone "just in case".

    I am not recommending that anyone goes under what's safe for them, but neither am I deciding where that safety is.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    lmaharidge wrote: »
    lmaharidge wrote: »
    I don't get why everybody's attacking these people for eating under 1200 cal there are days I don't get over 1200 cal and it's really none of your business whether or not I do so and why. The fact that you're getting headaches 0P means that you're not eating enough. If heightening your fat or carb intake doesn't help your headaches, then you should adjust your goal

    There is a reason why MFP has a minimum. If you choose to ignore that minimum and comment in public that you do, then common sense dictates that you should expect to be called out on it. That isn't an attack.

    The minimum is 1000... Your comment makes no sense

    Screen grab from MFP's help page where you can see the minimum calorie settings.

    n2wuqugyjams.jpg


    The study linked to by the MFP help pages says:

    "A patient may choose a diet of 1,000 to 1,200 kcal for women and 1,200 to 1,500 kcal for men.".

    The NHS says that anything below 800 kcals per day is a VLCD and should only be followed for up to 12 weeks.

    So, I really don't know why MFP is fixated on 1200 or why some of the stuff repeated here is taken to be true, but I assume that it's something to do with eating disorders and nannying everyone "just in case".

    I am not recommending that anyone goes under what's safe for them, but neither am I deciding where that safety is.

    Let's see ... the OP is feeling light headed ... an obvious indicator of improper fueling. Over the past three days, Jaywirth88 netted under 500 one day, under 300 one, and under 100 on the other.

    Do you not see why those types of numbers get noted?
  • CurlyCockney
    CurlyCockney Posts: 1,394 Member
    I'd tell the OP to ask someone who is medically qualified to judge what's caused this light-headedness and what to do about it, but this is the Internet so that's not likely to happen.

    My point was more about the 1200 kcal mantra.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    I'd tell the OP to ask someone who is medically qualified to judge what's caused this light-headedness and what to do about it, but this is the Internet so that's not likely to happen.

    My point was more about the 1200 kcal mantra.

    If you don't like the 1200 minimum ... there are places that don't have it.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    edited September 2015
    evileen99 wrote: »
    jaywirth88 wrote: »
    Everyone keeps telling me it is too little, but I have been eating this way for about 3 weeks now, and I feel great. Between my low carb, high protein diet and trying to drink a gallon of water a day, I dont feel like I'm starving myself. I just eat lots of low calorie, nutrient dense foods.
    How great will you feel when your hair starts falling out? Keep eating like this and I can guarantee you it will.
    ^^ this ...I have a few mfp friends who did find their hair was falling out!

    and OP, eat more as others have said. Light headedness is a sure sign of not enough food being eaten to fuel your body effectively.

  • CurlyCockney
    CurlyCockney Posts: 1,394 Member
    This place doesn't have it either, you can log and complete your diary (if that's important to you) as long as you have eaten over 1000 kcals. You can also log and complete your diary with a 200 kcal NET, as long as you've eaten over 1000 kcals. The only thing you can't do here is complete your diary if you've eaten under 1000 kcals.

    The false sense of security MFP instills, coupled with its weird translation of a study it quotes, is rather misleading. Personally, I don't trust MFP to tell me how many calories are in an egg, let alone how many my body needs to lose weight healthily. It's a good tool to use once you get information from other places though.
  • RuNaRoUnDaFiEld
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld Posts: 5,864 Member
    lmaharidge wrote: »
    lmaharidge wrote: »
    I don't get why everybody's attacking these people for eating under 1200 cal there are days I don't get over 1200 cal and it's really none of your business whether or not I do so and why. The fact that you're getting headaches 0P means that you're not eating enough. If heightening your fat or carb intake doesn't help your headaches, then you should adjust your goal

    There is a reason why MFP has a minimum. If you choose to ignore that minimum and comment in public that you do, then common sense dictates that you should expect to be called out on it. That isn't an attack.

    The minimum is 1000... Your comment makes no sense

    Screen grab from MFP's help page where you can see the minimum calorie settings.

    n2wuqugyjams.jpg


    The study linked to by the MFP help pages says:

    "A patient may choose a diet of 1,000 to 1,200 kcal for women and 1,200 to 1,500 kcal for men.".

    The NHS says that anything below 800 kcals per day is a VLCD and should only be followed for up to 12 weeks.

    So, I really don't know why MFP is fixated on 1200 or why some of the stuff repeated here is taken to be true, but I assume that it's something to do with eating disorders and nannying everyone "just in case".

    I am not recommending that anyone goes under what's safe for them, but neither am I deciding where that safety is.

    The NHS 800cal diets are supervised diets and the people using them are told to do nothing pretty much, no excersie at all. The 1200 allows for the buffer of normal life. Getting to work, walking the dog around the block etc.
    To recommend any one eats under 1200 really does need to only come from people who are medically trained and with the benefit of seeing their blood results, BP readings etc.
  • CurlyCockney
    CurlyCockney Posts: 1,394 Member
    I'd tell the OP to ask someone who is medically qualified to judge what's caused this light-headedness and what to do about it, but this is the Internet so that's not likely to happen.

    My point was more about the 1200 kcal mantra.

    Then if that's your approach what's the point in being on this site to give and receive advice? If your recommendation is to say "talk to your doctor" you should know, that jobs already taken by another member.

    I was asked what advice I'd give the OP. If there is a script on how to answer such questions, please send the link. In the absence of a script, I'll stick to being honest, thanks.

    I don't know what other member you're referring too, or why it would have any bearing on what I typed, but obviously something has bugged you.
  • CurlyCockney
    CurlyCockney Posts: 1,394 Member
    lmaharidge wrote: »
    lmaharidge wrote: »
    I don't get why everybody's attacking these people for eating under 1200 cal there are days I don't get over 1200 cal and it's really none of your business whether or not I do so and why. The fact that you're getting headaches 0P means that you're not eating enough. If heightening your fat or carb intake doesn't help your headaches, then you should adjust your goal

    There is a reason why MFP has a minimum. If you choose to ignore that minimum and comment in public that you do, then common sense dictates that you should expect to be called out on it. That isn't an attack.

    The minimum is 1000... Your comment makes no sense

    Screen grab from MFP's help page where you can see the minimum calorie settings.

    n2wuqugyjams.jpg


    The study linked to by the MFP help pages says:

    "A patient may choose a diet of 1,000 to 1,200 kcal for women and 1,200 to 1,500 kcal for men.".

    The NHS says that anything below 800 kcals per day is a VLCD and should only be followed for up to 12 weeks.

    So, I really don't know why MFP is fixated on 1200 or why some of the stuff repeated here is taken to be true, but I assume that it's something to do with eating disorders and nannying everyone "just in case".

    I am not recommending that anyone goes under what's safe for them, but neither am I deciding where that safety is.

    The NHS 800cal diets are supervised diets and the people using them are told to do nothing pretty much, no excersie at all. The 1200 allows for the buffer of normal life. Getting to work, walking the dog around the block etc.
    To recommend any one eats under 1200 really does need to only come from people who are medically trained and with the benefit of seeing their blood results, BP readings etc.

    I agree! Which makes it all the more odd (to me) that people who aren't medically trained and seeing those results make such odd claims about what is healthy for people based on something that MFP have made up.
  • CurlyCockney
    CurlyCockney Posts: 1,394 Member
    I'd tell the OP to ask someone who is medically qualified to judge what's caused this light-headedness and what to do about it, but this is the Internet so that's not likely to happen.

    My point was more about the 1200 kcal mantra.

    Then if that's your approach what's the point in being on this site to give and receive advice? If your recommendation is to say "talk to your doctor" you should know, that jobs already taken by another member.

    I was asked what advice I'd give the OP. If there is a script on how to answer such questions, please send the link. In the absence of a script, I'll stick to being honest, thanks.

    I don't know what other member you're referring too, or why it would have any bearing on what I typed, but obviously something has bugged you.

    So you choose to bypass that the OP stated that 1200 calories wasn't enough apparently and they didn't feel well but just because you've got a personal issue with the whole 1200 calorie stuff you decided to advise the OP to ignore good advice. Seems rather selfish to do that just so you can go against the 1200 information.

    Yes, saying that I don't recommend anybody does anything harmful to their health and that maybe they should see their doctor if they feel unwell translates exactly to what you've said. Maybe not on this planet, but somewhere I'm sure it does.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    MFP suggests me to be on a 1200 calorie diet, but it makes me light headed.

    What foods can I eat that could make me feel full without busting my calorie limit?
    1200 cals would be great if i'd stay in bed all day... but going to school, studying, the gym, the dog walks, shopping for groceries, doing my dishes... 1200 cals disapears pretty fast!!! and im always hungry like a horse when i finish my workout!!

    I think that if i put the MFP stat to 1 lb a week, I get 1580 cals, which is better... but to do this, id have to eat nothing but veggies and lean protein... no rice, carbs, or fruit (I was told even natural sugars in fruit converts to fat so i have to limit fruit).

    1 lb a week is a reasonable goal.
    Make sure you have your activity level set correctly. If you are moving around a lot most days you probably want to choose lightly active rather than sedentary.
    You are supposed to eat calories earned from exercise with MFP. Since estimates of calories burned can be off you might only want to eat half the calories earned from exercise.
    1580 calories should accommodate eating normal foods fairly easily. My calorie goal is less than that and I eat beef, pork, chicken thighs, pasta, rice, fruit and bread all the time. You need to look at portion size.
    Protein, fats and fiber will help you feel more satisfied. If you are always hungry maybe try eating more foods that have these things. Fat is okay. Your body needs some fat to function properly.
    I pre-log my food and that helps me see how things fit my day. I look at calories first and my protein goal second. I don't worry too much about the other things.

  • br3adman
    br3adman Posts: 284 Member
    I get headaches / light headed when I don't eat sugar. Try eating an apple/bananna or some chocolate candy when you feel like this. Usually I'll eat something really sweet like rasinets or Carmel it goes away in a few mins. Hope this helps
  • tincanonastring
    tincanonastring Posts: 3,944 Member
    edited September 2015
    jaywirth88 wrote: »
    i feel like I have eaten LOTS of food today.

    That's because you're not logging accurately:
    jaywirth88 wrote: »
    this morning i had 2 eggs with half a serving of cheese and a couple slices of turkey and it was only 215 calories.

    Your logging is off.

    2 eggs - my medium eggs weighed 93g this morning - 140c
    1 slice cheese (let's say it's 20g) - 70c
    2 slices turkey (let's say 50g) - 50c

    260 calories. You're off by almost 20%. Maybe you weighed them and they came out differently, but I'm guessing you're logging is off. Horses, not zebras.

    ETA: You're also undereating at a dangerous level, even for the limited time you've been on it. Despite what appear to be common logging errors, you do seem to be netting around 500-800 calories on some days and that's just not good for you.

  • This content has been removed.
  • tincanonastring
    tincanonastring Posts: 3,944 Member
    br3adman wrote: »
    I get headaches / light headed when I don't eat sugar. Try eating an apple/bananna or some chocolate candy when you feel like this. Usually I'll eat something really sweet like rasinets or Carmel it goes away in a few mins. Hope this helps

    But rasinets come in a box

    :lol:
  • clh72569
    clh72569 Posts: 280 Member
    Eat some protein. Slices of turkey, laughing cow cheese, baby bel cheese.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    _Terrapin_ wrote: »
    jaywirth88 wrote: »
    Everyone keeps telling me it is too little, but I have been eating this way for about 3 weeks now, and I feel great. Between my low carb, high protein diet and trying to drink a gallon of water a day, I dont feel like I'm starving myself. I just eat lots of low calorie, nutrient dense foods.
    People are probably telling you this since your logging 800+ cal burns a day. Consuming 1200 calories and burning 800 calories probably is what catches their eye.

    Wow (not is a good way) -

    Losing lean muscle mass wouldn't be a goal of mine........
  • MFP suggests me to be on a 1200 calorie diet, but it makes me light headed.

    What foods can I eat that could make me feel full without busting my calorie limit?

    Your eating the same amount off calories that is advised for 3 year old child thats not healthy for your body
  • husseycd
    husseycd Posts: 814 Member
    I'm not sure why people (especially women) seem so proud to eat so little. It's like this badge of honor or something.

    There's no prize for going too fast except higher probability of muscle loss. Doing too much too fast almost always results in failure. I see it all the time. Someone decides it's time to lose weight and then immediately jump into a super insane workout program while cutting all the bad foods. Then they give up after a few weeks or a month.

    Sustainable weight loss is almost always the best approach. If you don't have a huge amount of weight to lose, one method is what fat2fitradio suggests. Which is: Eat at your goal weight.

    Using myself as an example. I weigh 130 lbs. If I wanted to weight 125 lbs, as a moderately active 39 year old woman, I would need to eat about 2050 calories per day to reach that goal. That would then become my current maintenance, and is about 100 calories or so less than the calories I need to maintain 130 lbs.

    It can be difficult to shake the last couple of lbs, so that's where they recommend eating a few hundred calories less once you get closer to goal.

    Anyway, being proud to eat so little makes zero sense to me.
  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    edited September 2015
    1200 calories seems so miserable... lol.

  • dkirby1020
    dkirby1020 Posts: 2 Member
    Biggest tip I can give is lots of small meals. Eat something every couple hours, preferably with high fiber. Fiber makes you feel full. Low cal fiber snacks are fruit. Small portions of beans go a long way too. 1/2 cup beans will make you feel full for a couple hours and provide great nutrition. Any time in between your meals/snacks you can have practically unlimited raw veggies too. Beyond that 1200 might be too low for your activity level or body.
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