What's the big deal about 1,200?
ReadyToWorkx
Posts: 7 Member
1,200 calories of course. I know it's the bare minimum you should eat, but most people preach it's unhealthy. I never really knew that until just recently. Maybe because I struggle to even consume 1,200 a day? Anyways, my question for you is do you think it's healthy? Why or why not? 
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Replies
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My fiance is 5 foot 2 and currently 114 lbs. She started her journey about 30 pounds heavier and as she got closer to her goal she was eating about 1,200. She felt great and had no health effects from eating this way. We would also be sure to have a nice cheat meal together every week and that probably brought the average weekly calories to about 1300 for her.9
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"Healthy" is subjective. Whether it is or isn't "healthy," it's usually not sustainable for most people. If I can lose weight eating as many calories as possible, I'm going to go that route.17
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Its hard to hit all the nutrition on 1200 but if you're small then its not unhealthy, eating below 1200 consistently is when your health can be effected after some time. I had a few MFP friends who lost hair and had brittle nails because they had eaten 1200 for too long - it was a lack of nutrients overall for long periods that caused that.
For me personally I can't eat lower for losing than 1600, but I'm very active. At maintenance I average 2000 cals at 5ft 2" - I wouldn't be interested in ever doing 1200 cals a day ever again, I chose to lose slowly so I had more calories to work on. This way I never felt deprived.
Sometimes restricting cals too much lead to binging.
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My mfp is set at 1390 per day. Over the last 3 weeks, this being my 4th, ive noticed im eating less and less andd my actually daily in take is about 1100, however this is when im at work due to set breaks etc but come saturday nigjt and sunday i have allowed my self a choc bar so when comes to an average daily it works out at 1260 (well that was last week). I feel fine . I feel better and enjoy my food alot more.
This of course is not for everyone.
I however i make sure i eat at least 1100 a day just so my body doesnt go in to starvation mode.3 -
It's a general rule which generally applies. However some people who are short, light, inactive or have a medical condition may need to eat that low to be in a calorie deficit.13
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Although there will always be outfliers, below 1200 calories and you're probably going to find meeting macro and micronutrient needs difficult.
And as always the lower you go the more chance of losing the good stuff you risk as there are limits on the amount of fat that can be utilised.
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I am 5'8 housewife training for the halfmarathon. My TDEE according to fitbit ranges from 2300-3000 cals. I would be miserable on 1200c. So I am loosing slowly on 300-500cal daily deficit that is allowing me to eat 2000-2700 cals (depends on the day).
Answer: 1200c is unhealthy for me. Might be ok for you, you need to find out for yourself.8 -
Depends on size and activity level. Can be great for some, way too small for others. I'm 5'3 and 125, so if sedentary it's about right for me. But since I'm not sedentary (training for a marathon) would be a stupid amount of calories that undercut my training goals and leads to unnecessary muscle loss.16
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EXACTLY!lemurcat12 wrote: »Depends on size and activity level. Can be great for some, way too small for others. I'm 5'3 and 125, so if sedentary it's about right for me. But since I'm not sedentary (training for a marathon) would be a stupid amount of calories that undercut my training goals and leads to unnecessary muscle loss.
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So I put in my information when I started MFP again after a few years because I have gained a lot, it said I need to consume 2700 calories a day (33yrs - 5'9" - 310.8) that was on the 1st of Jan. I have been eating a lot better than I was, one cheat meal a week, but have been averaging about 1100 calories. I mean even doing a slim fast diet only gets you to 1200 calories if your following it 100%.
But my question is this. Can you eat healthy low calorie foods all day and be well nutrified without having to hit such a high calorie number? By the way Im down 23 pounds as of this morning, and I rarely feel hungry during the day. I do a bit at night right before i go to sleep but i use water to combat that.
Any advice would be great, as Im losing some weight but I want to do it safely and make sure Im not going to damage my body in the long run3 -
I am 5'1'' and a few years ago I went from 198 to 130 lbs eating 1400. I was pretty miserable eating that little and losing about 3 lbs per week because I was very active. (I've since learned a lot and know better, but at the time I thought since I was eating "more than 1200" I was ok.)
For me 1200 would be way too little and put me in a huge deficit, and it would be very hard for me to stick with mentally.
For other people 1200 may be what they need to create a deficit, there's nothing wrong with that.3 -
So I put in my information when I started MFP again after a few years because I have gained a lot, it said I need to consume 2700 calories a day (33yrs - 5'9" - 310.8) that was on the 1st of Jan. I have been eating a lot better than I was, one cheat meal a week, but have been averaging about 1100 calories. I mean even doing a slim fast diet only gets you to 1200 calories if your following it 100%.
But my question is this. Can you eat healthy low calorie foods all day and be well nutrified without having to hit such a high calorie number? By the way Im down 23 pounds as of this morning, and I rarely feel hungry during the day. I do a bit at night right before i go to sleep but i use water to combat that.
Any advice would be great, as Im losing some weight but I want to do it safely and make sure Im not going to damage my body in the long run
Whoa! 23 pounds in as many days?!? Yikes! Slow down my friend, you're going to burn out. If you are male the minimum is actually 1500
eta: and That's just over half of what YOUR body needs. I hope you reconsider. There are a lot of complications that go with this kind of weight loss.11 -
I'm tall and 1200 calories would make me miserable as well as have a negative health effect for me.4
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You'd have to be very small, height and weight-wise, older, and relatively inactive in order to be overweight at 1200 calories. For example, I ran some quick numbers at www.tdeecalculator.net and a 60 yo woman who is 4'11" and 115 lbs would have a TDEE of 1197 if sedentary. That's in the middle of the healthy weight zone for that height. If you're on this forum trying to lose weight, the odds are slim that you have to struggle to eat 1200 calories. The fact is that most people are terrible at estimating how many calories they eat. After practice they can improve but at the start, pretty bad.7
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I think it depends on WHAT you eat that makes it unhealthy. If that 1,200 consists of nutrient dense food it won't be bad for you.2
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Refugees in camps are reduced to 1600 calories when supplies are scarce. Eating too little doesn't do your metabolism any favours - you set yourself up to need to eat that little forever to maintain. It is difficult to get sufficient nutrition on 1,200 calories every day.
I *net* around my target daily (1350), but eat around 1500-1700 most days, and am losing a pound a week. That's perfect for me. I do use Google Fit to adjust my activity - it counts my steps and even on a day where I don't do that much (just walking around to and from my desk job, plus maybe a 20-30 min errand at lunch) it bumps it up 200 calories.1 -
that number just came from the fact that most people have a difficult time getting proper nutrients with less calories. It can be done, but you have to be very careful what you eat.
The other reason is that unless you are very small framed, most people would lose weight too quickly on less than 1200 calories. Losing weight quickly has its pros and cons, but I think most people can agree that the slower the better unless you are at risk due to being overweight.
Personally, if you can fit your nutrients into 1200 or less, and don't lose too quickly, then there is nothing wrong with it - especially for a short term like 3-6 weeks or so. Just make sure you are getting your nutrition goals correct.0 -
ReadyToWorkx wrote: »1,200 calories of course. I know it's the bare minimum you should eat, but most people preach it's unhealthy. I never really knew that until just recently. Maybe because I struggle to even consume 1,200 a day? Anyways, my question for you is do you think it's healthy? Why or why not?
If that calorie goal is appropriate for your size and activity level and you eat 1200 calories of nutrient dense foods then it is healthy enough.
If you choose that number because you want to lose weight very fast and/or you don't meet your nutritional needs then it is unhealthy.
My goal without exercise is 1200 calories. I am a 42 year old 5'4" sedentary woman. With exercise I eat between 1300-1600 calories. I prelog my food every day for the whole day to help meet my goals.
If you are struggling to reach 1200 calories you need to change what you eat and drink.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10142490/a-list-of-calorie-dense-foods/p1
If you consume stuff like full fat dairy, bananas, avocado, whole eggs, nuts, pasta, rice, bread then it is very easy to get to 1200 calories.6 -
The problem is that some people - I cannot say whether the original poster is like this, I just make a general statement - are proud of their very low calorie intake. It's a form of extreme control, and is one of the warning signs of eating disorders.
You have broken a relationship with food, you're not eating healthfully or naturally. It's a bit like a game. And again and again I see this "Oh I just can't seem to eat XX number of calories". It's effectively bragging, they want to convey how much they are in control and how little they need. They've already made up their mind they want that little, and the rest is just a grand parade of how wonderfully in control they are. They're not going to suddenly eat 800 calories more per day as someone said it's a bad idea.23 -
About 10 years ago, long before I found MFP, I did a strict 1200 calorie diet for about a year. I'm not short or petite in any way, and I'll admit it was very hard at times. I just thought 1200 was the number anyone would eat on a diet. I basically lived on Lean Cuisene, frozen vegetables, hard boiled eggs and peanut butter and jelly on diet bread.
I'm sure if someone is creative or a good cook they can work it out so that they are eating a better variety. There isn't anything wrong with the foods I was eating, I have Lean Cuisine for lunch now. The problem is that it's all I was eating. I lost weight very quickly but it was in the long term unsustainable for me.
I had no idea about eating back exercise calories back then, and I was working out very hard. I like the MFP way much better. Right now I have a goal of 1340 calories a day and I eat all of my exercise calories back. It definitely feels healthier and I'm losing weight steadily. I'm all about MFP!4 -
So I put in my information when I started MFP again after a few years because I have gained a lot, it said I need to consume 2700 calories a day (33yrs - 5'9" - 310.8) that was on the 1st of Jan. I have been eating a lot better than I was, one cheat meal a week, but have been averaging about 1100 calories. I mean even doing a slim fast diet only gets you to 1200 calories if your following it 100%.
But my question is this. Can you eat healthy low calorie foods all day and be well nutrified without having to hit such a high calorie number? By the way Im down 23 pounds as of this morning, and I rarely feel hungry during the day. I do a bit at night right before i go to sleep but i use water to combat that.
Any advice would be great, as Im losing some weight but I want to do it safely and make sure Im not going to damage my body in the long run
Whoa! 23 pounds in as many days?!? Yikes! Slow down my friend, you're going to burn out. If you are male the minimum is actually 1500
eta: and That's just over half of what YOUR body needs. I hope you reconsider. There are a lot of complications that go with this kind of weight loss.
Im not really in a rush to lose weight, Im not really trying to "diet" either. I am trying to institue a life style change that will be a permanent part of my life. "Eat to live not live to eat" I think the only reason im losing quickly right now is because I was eating so badly for a long time. I confess that sometimes I would order two meals through a drive thru because I was that hungry. I would drink soda and sweet tea constantly and snack on unhealthy things like ice cream bars, chocolate bars, even having a huge bowl of ice cream before bed.
But now all i drink is water (except for the occasional cheat meal), and choose high protein-low sugar foods, as well as measuring out snacks and even the sandwiches I eat to get the exact calorie counts. I snack on almonds, bananas, apples, boiled eggs etc. I have even tried some of those meal replacement slim fast shakes. I track my weight every day, same time every day (and I know your not really suppose to because weight fluctuates constantly. And I have noticed if I hit over 1500 calories I gain back. thats the only reason im floating at 1200 daily.1 -
For the whole "nutrient" thing, can't you just pop a multi-vitamin? I mean one of those Penn and Teller dudes lost a bunch of weight really fast by going to like a 500-calorie-a-day diet.0
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maillemaker wrote: »For the whole "nutrient" thing, can't you just pop a multi-vitamin? I mean one of those Penn and Teller dudes lost a bunch of weight really fast by going to like a 500-calorie-a-day diet.
I take the Men's Vitacraves Gummies. Delicious and full of vitamin A & C0 -
Your body needs actual nutrients - healthy fats, protein - plus fibre. No, you can not just pop a vitamin, and losing a bunch of weight super fast isn't necessarily a great idea.maillemaker wrote: »For the whole "nutrient" thing, can't you just pop a multi-vitamin? I mean one of those Penn and Teller dudes lost a bunch of weight really fast by going to like a 500-calorie-a-day diet.9 -
I'm 5"7 and I'm eating the recommended 1260 for my height to loose 2lbs pw and I'm not even eating the whole 1260 most days I'm just not hungry and it's working a treat I am loosing the 2 pound weekly!! I think personally if you feel genuinely hungry and not just craving food then you should increase your intake but if not it's fine because your still getting plenty of nutrients and because I am counting my Cal's I actually find I am eating a lot more good nutrients than when I was eating more food which is probably why I feel satisfied all the time and don't feel the need to eat any crap2
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If you "struggled" to eat 1200 a day, there's no reason to be overweight. If you're struggling now to meet it, it's because your choice of foods aren't calorie dense.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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For a while, last year I was eating around 1200 net calories. I am active and 5'6.5" tall. It was not sustainable and led to binging and a reverse effect where I actually put on more weight. Now I am still suffering the after effects and trying to get back on track..... I definitely think slow and sustainable loss is the only real way to go.5
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lemurcat12 wrote: »Depends on size and activity level. Can be great for some, way too small for others. I'm 5'3 and 125, so if sedentary it's about right for me. But since I'm not sedentary (training for a marathon) would be a stupid amount of calories that undercut my training goals and leads to unnecessary muscle loss.
And age. My sedentary BMR is getting closer to that magic number.1 -
So I put in my information when I started MFP again after a few years because I have gained a lot, it said I need to consume 2700 calories a day (33yrs - 5'9" - 310.8) that was on the 1st of Jan. I have been eating a lot better than I was, one cheat meal a week, but have been averaging about 1100 calories. I mean even doing a slim fast diet only gets you to 1200 calories if your following it 100%.
But my question is this. Can you eat healthy low calorie foods all day and be well nutrified without having to hit such a high calorie number? By the way Im down 23 pounds as of this morning, and I rarely feel hungry during the day. I do a bit at night right before i go to sleep but i use water to combat that.
Any advice would be great, as Im losing some weight but I want to do it safely and make sure Im not going to damage my body in the long run
Whoa! 23 pounds in as many days?!? Yikes! Slow down my friend, you're going to burn out. If you are male the minimum is actually 1500
eta: and That's just over half of what YOUR body needs. I hope you reconsider. There are a lot of complications that go with this kind of weight loss.
Im not really in a rush to lose weight, Im not really trying to "diet" either. I am trying to institue a life style change that will be a permanent part of my life. "Eat to live not live to eat" I think the only reason im losing quickly right now is because I was eating so badly for a long time. I confess that sometimes I would order two meals through a drive thru because I was that hungry. I would drink soda and sweet tea constantly and snack on unhealthy things like ice cream bars, chocolate bars, even having a huge bowl of ice cream before bed.
But now all i drink is water (except for the occasional cheat meal), and choose high protein-low sugar foods, as well as measuring out snacks and even the sandwiches I eat to get the exact calorie counts. I snack on almonds, bananas, apples, boiled eggs etc. I have even tried some of those meal replacement slim fast shakes. I track my weight every day, same time every day (and I know your not really suppose to because weight fluctuates constantly. And I have noticed if I hit over 1500 calories I gain back. thats the only reason im floating at 1200 daily.
If you're eating 1200 a day and then suddenly eat over 1500 and "gain" from it, it's just water weight/more food in your system to digest, not a fat gain.12 -
maillemaker wrote: »For the whole "nutrient" thing, can't you just pop a multi-vitamin? I mean one of those Penn and Teller dudes lost a bunch of weight really fast by going to like a 500-calorie-a-day diet.
A 500 calorie a day diet is bound to provide insufficient protein, which helps with muscle retention, and fat, which is required in order for the body to absorb many vitamins. If an actual bariatric doctor has a patient on such a diet, it is for a limited time and under medical supervision.
Your average everyday Joe Blow "I need to lose 50 lbs" guy is going to end up lethargic, with terrible looking skin, hair loss, brittle nails, and no sex drive when doing such a diet. When it is over, he's going to look in the mirror and think "this is not what I thought I'd look like at this weight" and then will spend the next few years trying to build back the muscle that he lost so that he could get to the point where his friend who dieted on 2000 calories was once he hit his goal weight.15
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