What's wrong with 1200 calories?
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alizesmom
Posts: 219 Member
I don't get it. I keep reading posts from people who insist it isn't possible to stay on 1200 for long. I've basically done so since December with a 54 pound loss so far. Am I missing something? Harming myself? I feel full and content and don't deprive myself of treats.
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I think it's highly dependent on height. At 5'0 right now 1200 is less than one pound per week loss for me. If you are much taller 1200 wouldn't be ideal as it would leave you super hungry and that could lead to binge eating.0
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Since you're older, 1200 is fine. You won't burn as much as someone a third of your age who wants to quickly lose ten pounds for bikini season, so your caloric needs are going to be less than them as well.0
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Are we talking gross or net?0
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It depends on your stats/calorie needs. A 5'9" 250 lb 20 year old woman shouldn't be eating 1200 calories to lose.0
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Thanks. That all makes sense. I'm 60 1/2 inches and 62.0
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2nd all that's said, I eat 1200-1300 and I'm 5'2, and sedentary. But then you have 6'5 men posting that they eat 1200 and wonder why they can't gain muscle.0
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I agree with those who mentioned that shorter individuals need less than taller ones. I would also put out there that I firmly believe that the vast majority of people who think they are eating 1200 calories are eating much more than that. Most of them are just making mistakes in their counting or doing too much estimating (not weighing food on a scale). I know I was terrible when I first started counting yet still lost weight due to the fact that I has so much to lose, the margin of error I had was large. This margin diminishes as time goes on and weight comes off. Those claiming 1200 calories may infact still be in a deficit, but they are likely eating more than they think. Especially if they are "easily" sticking to 1200 calories. While I'm sure they're are people out there who need to eat an accurately counted 1200 in order to lose weight, as was pointed out above, it's a minority of folks who are shorter and have smaller frames to begin with.0
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It's possible. I've been averaging 1200 for a long, long time.
I have no idea why people like to believe that it's not possible and gave up trying to figure it out. They like believing it, they're happier with that thought, so whatever.0 -
It's possible. I've been averaging 1200 for a long, long time.
I have no idea why people like to believe that it's not possible and gave up trying to figure it out. They like believing it, they're happier with that thought, so whatever.
Just because it's right for you doesn't make it right for everyone. I thought we'd already established that though.
What is right for a 300 lb 30 year old male wouldn't be right for a 50 year old 5'0 female. What is right for a 300 lb 5'0 female wouldn't be right for a 100 lb 5'0 female. Etc. Etc.0 -
blankiefinder wrote: »It's possible. I've been averaging 1200 for a long, long time.
I have no idea why people like to believe that it's not possible and gave up trying to figure it out. They like believing it, they're happier with that thought, so whatever.
Just because it's right for you doesn't make it right for everyone. I thought we'd already established that though.
What is right for a 300 lb 30 year old male wouldn't be right for a 50 year old 5'0 female. What is right for a 300 lb 5'0 female wouldn't be right for a 100 lb 5'0 female. Etc. Etc.
In fact, I have repeatedly said exactly the opposite. Over and over again.
I don't remember discussing it with you. I don't remember discussing anything with you.
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blankiefinder wrote: »It's possible. I've been averaging 1200 for a long, long time.
I have no idea why people like to believe that it's not possible and gave up trying to figure it out. They like believing it, they're happier with that thought, so whatever.
Just because it's right for you doesn't make it right for everyone. I thought we'd already established that though.
What is right for a 300 lb 30 year old male wouldn't be right for a 50 year old 5'0 female. What is right for a 300 lb 5'0 female wouldn't be right for a 100 lb 5'0 female. Etc. Etc.
In fact, I have repeatedly said exactly the opposite. Over and over again.
I don't remember discussing it with you. I don't remember discussing anything with you.
I was replying to what you said here not what you may have said elsewhere.
Not sure why you took it so personally. And you may very well have said it elsewhere, but I wouldn't know; you didn't say it here. Perhaps you're reading 'tone'. That never goes well.0 -
Alizesmom, we are almost twins. I lost on 1200 and it ended up being my sedentary maintenance number too. 1400 TDEE maintenance.
There is nothing wrong with petite people having a 1200 cal goal.
Well done on your loss.
Cheers, h.0 -
I'm 5'7' and have a 1200 daily limit.... Am I to tall for this to be doing me any good?0
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I'm 5'7' and have a 1200 daily limit.... Am I to tall for this to be doing me any good?
Amy, what are your stats? Without any knowledge of your situation (other than your ticker that says 40 lbs to lose still), I would say it is probably ok, but you will need to make sure that you are netting the 1200 calories, not gross. At your height you wouldn't want to dip below that mark.
By the way, you are the same height as me, with the same pounds to lose goal that I had when I started. I was netting in the 1200-1400 range, and lost at a rate of approximately 1 pound every 5 days. (I thought I was netting higher but my burns must have been higher than I thought because I lost faster than expected, but my maintenance calories were correct based on 7 months of maintenance now). I started at 169 and bottomed out at 131.0 -
It's dependent on a lot of factors.
I was on 1200 calories for quite a few months to lose the majority of my weight and I found it really testing. I was actually eating quite a substantial amount less than was necessary so I personally felt pretty deprived on this. Having said that, I work-out a lot so I did need the extra energy. For small and less active people, 1200 may be a little more manageable (stats also play a part). 1200 is the lowest recommended amount so it can be quite extreme for a lot of people.0 -
I'm 5'7' and have a 1200 daily limit.... Am I to tall for this to be doing me any good?
Probably...at the same height I lose 1lb a week on 1600.
The 1200 minimum is based in science. The actual RDA of all macros and vitamins and minerals can fit into 1200 if you eat almost perfectly....that means major planning on what you will eat.
I personally feel deflated, weak and tired on 1200 because it's not enough for me. I am 42, 5 ft 7 and weight about 143-144 lbs and lift heavy and am quite active.
And remember RDA are minimum recommended amounts...not the best guide.
I think that those who actually do 1200 a day are missing out on vital nutrition to a degree.
Regardless of age and stats very rarely do people sit down and plan to hit all required vitamins, minerals, macros etc.0 -
If you're shorter and lighter and/or older and you need to go as low as 1200 calories to lose weight, it is what it is. If you are able to lose weight eating substantially more than that, I do not understand dipping down to 1200 just to be able to lose faster.
I personally could not live on 1200 calories for any prolonged period of time. I didn't gain 100+ pounds because I don't enjoy food. I get 1600 calories a day and have no problem eating that and more. But I'm also 5'11 and even being close to goal weight, 1200 calories is not going to do it for me. I'd rather be a few pounds heavier than eating 1200 calories a day.0 -
I think OP is probably right in her calculations for her - a 62 year old woman, just over 5 feet tall.
Given that 1200 would be about right amount for her, there is no reason to think she is not doing that accurately or nutritiously0
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