Come on, mfp. 1200?
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Replies
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katandwaves wrote: »I looked again and it was set at 1.5 pounds loss/week for 1,200. When I changed it to 1 pound/week it suggests 1,450. I know I have the ability to select my own calorie goal as well as eat back some of the calories through exercise. I just know that I struggle with sustaining on the low end. I think 1,500 is reasonable so I'll see how that goes.
I tried the clean eating thing and lasted 3 weeks then I lost it and went on a major binge and am now the heaviest I've ever been. I was 140 consistently up until a few years ago.
Thanks, ladies for all of your responses and support!
- Katrina
I'm 5'2 and 41 and started here with a goal to lose 25 lbs. Because of my height, even a selection of 1 lb/week with a sedentary activity level gave me a goal of 1200 cals. I quickly realized that wasn't enough for me, I was always over my cals (even with eating back exercise cals) but was still losing. I started reading on these forums about how 1200 really isn't appropriate for that many people, really only extremely petite, older, and very sedentary.
I raised my goal first to 1400, then to 1500, still eating back exercise cals and still losing. I lost about the weight I set out to lose eating between 1600-1800 cals. I'm now maintaining a 30 lb loss with a TDEE of 2200 cals.
If I were you I would try the 1450 cals but make sure you eat back some exercise cals. Also focus on logging accuracy using a food scale ideally. Give it 6-8 weeks and track your progress, then adjust from there.
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RunRutheeRun wrote: »It isn't for everyone. I have a fairly active job, so 1200 would not work for me. Generally those who are smaller and older are ideal for that amount.
Well. I'm not small, nor am I old, and it is working just fine. I workout 6x/week for an hour each time. Personally, I just think one needs to get used to feeling mildly hungry most of the time. *shrugs*
If you are really eating 1200 you are losing muscle and fat...no thanks.
I prefer to keep my muscle and lose at a slower rate. *shrugs*
and there is no reason to feel even "mildly hungry" most of the time...it's like you are punishing yourself for gaining weight. SMH
OP your goal should be to eat as much food as possible and still lose a reasonable amount of weight....that way you know you aren't losing as much muscle as fat....which in the long run is not a good thing.
When I start here I was at the same weight...I chose 1lb a week...got the same calorie goal as you and it was great...I ate back exercise calories, was never hungry, and I have lost 50+ lbs and have kept most of my muscle.
^^ great reply @SezxyStef
and I am nodding head vigorously in agreement
Samesies...
Im always intrigued as to why people defend the 1200 cal goal? If it is possible to eat more and still lose, why do people not want to try? Why would you want to be "mildly hungry" all the time. That sounds miserable.19 -
You're supposed to eat back exercise calories on top of that by the way.3
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WinoGelato wrote: »RunRutheeRun wrote: »It isn't for everyone. I have a fairly active job, so 1200 would not work for me. Generally those who are smaller and older are ideal for that amount.
Well. I'm not small, nor am I old, and it is working just fine. I workout 6x/week for an hour each time. Personally, I just think one needs to get used to feeling mildly hungry most of the time. *shrugs*
If you are really eating 1200 you are losing muscle and fat...no thanks.
I prefer to keep my muscle and lose at a slower rate. *shrugs*
and there is no reason to feel even "mildly hungry" most of the time...it's like you are punishing yourself for gaining weight. SMH
OP your goal should be to eat as much food as possible and still lose a reasonable amount of weight....that way you know you aren't losing as much muscle as fat....which in the long run is not a good thing.
When I start here I was at the same weight...I chose 1lb a week...got the same calorie goal as you and it was great...I ate back exercise calories, was never hungry, and I have lost 50+ lbs and have kept most of my muscle.
^^ great reply @SezxyStef
and I am nodding head vigorously in agreement
Samesies...
Im always intrigued as to why people defend the 1200 cal goal? If it is possible to eat more and still lose, why do people not want to try? Why would you want to be "mildly hungry" all the time. That sounds miserable.
So much this!2 -
WinoGelato wrote: »RunRutheeRun wrote: »It isn't for everyone. I have a fairly active job, so 1200 would not work for me. Generally those who are smaller and older are ideal for that amount.
Well. I'm not small, nor am I old, and it is working just fine. I workout 6x/week for an hour each time. Personally, I just think one needs to get used to feeling mildly hungry most of the time. *shrugs*
If you are really eating 1200 you are losing muscle and fat...no thanks.
I prefer to keep my muscle and lose at a slower rate. *shrugs*
and there is no reason to feel even "mildly hungry" most of the time...it's like you are punishing yourself for gaining weight. SMH
OP your goal should be to eat as much food as possible and still lose a reasonable amount of weight....that way you know you aren't losing as much muscle as fat....which in the long run is not a good thing.
When I start here I was at the same weight...I chose 1lb a week...got the same calorie goal as you and it was great...I ate back exercise calories, was never hungry, and I have lost 50+ lbs and have kept most of my muscle.
^^ great reply @SezxyStef
and I am nodding head vigorously in agreement
Samesies...
Im always intrigued as to why people defend the 1200 cal goal? If it is possible to eat more and still lose, why do people not want to try? Why would you want to be "mildly hungry" all the time. That sounds miserable.
I think sometimes there is a feeling of accomplishment or a tendency towards perfectionism. Sometimes it's driven by impatience. And sometimes there is a penitential element.
Not saying it is *only* driven by these things, but those are things that I've observed and tendencies I have sometimes had to access myself for.5 -
WinoGelato wrote: »RunRutheeRun wrote: »It isn't for everyone. I have a fairly active job, so 1200 would not work for me. Generally those who are smaller and older are ideal for that amount.
Well. I'm not small, nor am I old, and it is working just fine. I workout 6x/week for an hour each time. Personally, I just think one needs to get used to feeling mildly hungry most of the time. *shrugs*
If you are really eating 1200 you are losing muscle and fat...no thanks.
I prefer to keep my muscle and lose at a slower rate. *shrugs*
and there is no reason to feel even "mildly hungry" most of the time...it's like you are punishing yourself for gaining weight. SMH
OP your goal should be to eat as much food as possible and still lose a reasonable amount of weight....that way you know you aren't losing as much muscle as fat....which in the long run is not a good thing.
When I start here I was at the same weight...I chose 1lb a week...got the same calorie goal as you and it was great...I ate back exercise calories, was never hungry, and I have lost 50+ lbs and have kept most of my muscle.
^^ great reply @SezxyStef
and I am nodding head vigorously in agreement
Samesies...
Im always intrigued as to why people defend the 1200 cal goal? If it is possible to eat more and still lose, why do people not want to try? Why would you want to be "mildly hungry" all the time. That sounds miserable.
I don't get it either, unless it's someone who has to be on 1200 out of necessity. What's the point in reaching your goal weight a few months earlier if they're going to feel longer and harder. Personally, I have been going a few years (which included long maintenance breaks) and I could go for a few more with minimal discomfort, while one month on 1200 calories felt longer than the 3 years I spent around here and it was stressful. My average base weight loss calories range between 1400 and 1800 (I'm obese) plus exercise calories, depending on my appetite and mood.3 -
I do 1200 a day. Very active here. It doesn't bother me. But for a 190 pound person 1200 doesn't sound right if you are trying to maintain. To lose weight on a sedentary setting that does sound about right4
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It isn't for everyone. I have a fairly active job, so 1200 would not work for me. Generally those who are smaller and older are ideal for that amount.
Well. I'm not small, nor am I old, and it is working just fine. I workout 6x/week for an hour each time. Personally, I just think one needs to get used to feeling mildly hungry most of the time. *shrugs*
If you are really eating 1200 you are losing muscle and fat...no thanks.
I prefer to keep my muscle and lose at a slower rate. *shrugs*
and there is no reason to feel even "mildly hungry" most of the time...it's like you are punishing yourself for gaining weight. SMH
OP your goal should be to eat as much food as possible and still lose a reasonable amount of weight....that way you know you aren't losing as much muscle as fat....which in the long run is not a good thing.
When I start here I was at the same weight...I chose 1lb a week...got the same calorie goal as you and it was great...I ate back exercise calories, was never hungry, and I have lost 50+ lbs and have kept most of my muscle.
I completely agree with this. I'm 5'3" and 110 pounds. I'm small, but not old, and I'm highly active. Regardless, I still eat way more than 1200 calories when it comes to gross, not net, calories. I would be a mess on such a small amount. I'm trying to maintain my weight, but I'm still losing at 1800 to 2200 calories per day. 1200 gross calories per day is quite unnecessary for most people or more easily managed by older people or people with a higher body fat percentage.4 -
It isn't for everyone. I have a fairly active job, so 1200 would not work for me. Generally those who are smaller and older are ideal for that amount.
Well. I'm not small, nor am I old, and it is working just fine. I workout 6x/week for an hour each time. Personally, I just think one needs to get used to feeling mildly hungry most of the time. *shrugs*
I could technically choose 1200 calories, but I don't because I want fat loss....not fat+muscle loss *shrugs*4 -
MFP allows you to set goal where you want. I change mine depending on whats going on. Lots of people lose eating more than 1200. I wish I were one of them!0
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Weight loss is always fat + muscle loss. I believe muscle retention has more to do with protein intake and resistance training, and losing at a slower rate can help minimize muscle loss, but it's not the amount of calories per se. But there's no magic "lose fat only" method to weight loss.
Eating 1200 is not going to guarantee a higher rate of muscle loss in and of itself, it's going to depend on a lot of factors, including highly individual factors like height and weight. 1200 could be a perfectly appropriate amount for a person to eat and still retain muscle.
OP, you can set MFP for a lower loss-per-week goal, which should bump your calories up a bit, and eat back a portion of your exercise calories. The calorie goal is a recommendation, but not a hard and fast number, and a lot of people end up tweaking them a bit.13 -
Sailrabbit.com/bmr/
That's what I used to set my deficit (you can set a custom calorie count). I want to lose around 1.5 a week (1 pound would be more comfortable, but I'm on a deadline) but it was spitting me out 1200 calories at 5'6" and 170 lbs.
I get hangry sometimes at 1380! I'd straight murder someone at 1200!
I like the sailrabbit.com calculator because there's a section towards the bottom where you can say you want to burn an average of X calories a day in exercise. Plug that in with your guesstimate of a weeks exercise ÷7 and you get one with exercise calories built in.
It works better for me, and might give you a more reasonable deficit, whatever your goals are. Even if you don't use it like that, you can still see how your exercise calories affect your weight loss in a clear(er) way than with MFP. Helps to make a more sensible goal all around.0 -
It isn't for everyone. I have a fairly active job, so 1200 would not work for me. Generally those who are smaller and older are ideal for that amount.
Well. I'm not small, nor am I old, and it is working just fine. I workout 6x/week for an hour each time. Personally, I just think one needs to get used to feeling mildly hungry most of the time. *shrugs*
If you are really eating 1200 you are losing muscle and fat...no thanks.
I prefer to keep my muscle and lose at a slower rate. *shrugs*
and there is no reason to feel even "mildly hungry" most of the time...it's like you are punishing yourself for gaining weight. SMH
OP your goal should be to eat as much food as possible and still lose a reasonable amount of weight....that way you know you aren't losing as much muscle as fat....which in the long run is not a good thing.
When I start here I was at the same weight...I chose 1lb a week...got the same calorie goal as you and it was great...I ate back exercise calories, was never hungry, and I have lost 50+ lbs and have kept most of my muscle.
Nope. I strength train daily, and have pretty good muscle definition, if I do say so myself.
5 -
A high deficit (which 1200 may or may not be, depending on size and activity) does make it more likely that you will lose more muscle than necessary, although protein consumption and strength training can help alleviate that. Also, someone who has more fat to lose can get away with a higher deficit without it being a problem than someone closer to goal.3
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It isn't for everyone. I have a fairly active job, so 1200 would not work for me. Generally those who are smaller and older are ideal for that amount.
Well. I'm not small, nor am I old, and it is working just fine. I workout 6x/week for an hour each time. Personally, I just think one needs to get used to feeling mildly hungry most of the time. *shrugs*
If you are really eating 1200 you are losing muscle and fat...no thanks.
I prefer to keep my muscle and lose at a slower rate. *shrugs*
and there is no reason to feel even "mildly hungry" most of the time...it's like you are punishing yourself for gaining weight. SMH
OP your goal should be to eat as much food as possible and still lose a reasonable amount of weight....that way you know you aren't losing as much muscle as fat....which in the long run is not a good thing.
When I start here I was at the same weight...I chose 1lb a week...got the same calorie goal as you and it was great...I ate back exercise calories, was never hungry, and I have lost 50+ lbs and have kept most of my muscle.
Nope. I strength train daily, and have pretty good muscle definition, if I do say so myself.
as I said if you really are eating 1200 chances are you are losing more muscle than you think.
ETA: muscle definition comes from losing the fat on the muscle not from building extra muscle.Weight loss is always fat + muscle loss. I believe muscle retention has more to do with protein intake and resistance training, and losing at a slower rate can help minimize muscle loss, but it's not the amount of calories per se. But there's no magic "lose fat only" method to weight loss.
Eating 1200 is not going to guarantee a higher rate of muscle loss in and of itself, it's going to depend on a lot of factors, including highly individual factors like height and weight. 1200 could be a perfectly appropriate amount for a person to eat and still retain muscle.
OP, you can set MFP for a lower loss-per-week goal, which should bump your calories up a bit, and eat back a portion of your exercise calories. The calorie goal is a recommendation, but not a hard and fast number, and a lot of people end up tweaking them a bit.
Yes that is all true but at 1200 calories you have to be very diligent to get in enough protein and unless you are doing light resistance training 1200 probably is not fueling the resistance training that well...esp if said person admits they are "mildly hungry all the time" not a good indication that the body is being fueled properly.7 -
I'm only 5'3 and could never do 1,200 cals. I don't like the idea of getting "used" to feeling hungry.7
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It isn't for everyone. I have a fairly active job, so 1200 would not work for me. Generally those who are smaller and older are ideal for that amount.
Well. I'm not small, nor am I old, and it is working just fine. I workout 6x/week for an hour each time. Personally, I just think one needs to get used to feeling mildly hungry most of the time. *shrugs*
How tall are you and how much weight are you losing per week (on average over a month or so)?
How many pounds away from your goal weight are you?
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janejellyroll wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »RunRutheeRun wrote: »It isn't for everyone. I have a fairly active job, so 1200 would not work for me. Generally those who are smaller and older are ideal for that amount.
Well. I'm not small, nor am I old, and it is working just fine. I workout 6x/week for an hour each time. Personally, I just think one needs to get used to feeling mildly hungry most of the time. *shrugs*
If you are really eating 1200 you are losing muscle and fat...no thanks.
I prefer to keep my muscle and lose at a slower rate. *shrugs*
and there is no reason to feel even "mildly hungry" most of the time...it's like you are punishing yourself for gaining weight. SMH
OP your goal should be to eat as much food as possible and still lose a reasonable amount of weight....that way you know you aren't losing as much muscle as fat....which in the long run is not a good thing.
When I start here I was at the same weight...I chose 1lb a week...got the same calorie goal as you and it was great...I ate back exercise calories, was never hungry, and I have lost 50+ lbs and have kept most of my muscle.
^^ great reply @SezxyStef
and I am nodding head vigorously in agreement
Samesies...
Im always intrigued as to why people defend the 1200 cal goal? If it is possible to eat more and still lose, why do people not want to try? Why would you want to be "mildly hungry" all the time. That sounds miserable.
I think sometimes there is a feeling of accomplishment or a tendency towards perfectionism. Sometimes it's driven by impatience. And sometimes there is a penitential element.
Not saying it is *only* driven by these things, but those are things that I've observed and tendencies I have sometimes had to access myself for.
Well said. I see the penitential element especially in women, who seem to feel more shame in having become overweight in the first place, and thus have more of a drive to atone by suffering with hunger.7 -
katandwaves wrote: »Why does myfitnesspal suggest 1,200 calories a day? I am 5'8, about 190 pounds. I work full time so I'm at a desk all day. I'm doing about 3+ days a week of spinning/elliptical.
Any suggestions on what my calorie goal should be?
OP, I'm 5'4" and when I was 145 lbs, I lost weight eating 1500-1600 cals while lightly active. You should def be able to lose weight on more than 1200! I think your plan makes sense - change your goal to 1 lb, and feel free to eat back some of your exercise calories too.
Also, if you don't have a food scale, get one! Using it as often as possible will help you make sure you are eating what you think you are. Especially in the beginning, it's a great way to make sure a portion size is really what you think it is. Good luck!0 -
katandwaves wrote: »Why does myfitnesspal suggest 1,200 calories a day? I am 5'8, about 190 pounds. I work full time so I'm at a desk all day. I'm doing about 3+ days a week of spinning/elliptical.
Any suggestions on what my calorie goal should be?
The bolded is why. Your TDEE (without exercise) is only about 1900. If you want to eat more, make sure your goal is set at 1lb per week and make sure you are eating back at least some of your exercise calories.
There is a big difference in eating and sustaining on 1200 calories depending upon whether or not your eating that level net, or gross. Make sure that's your net, not your gross.1
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