This 1200 calorie thing is driving me up a wall
Replies
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http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/weight/calsburned.htm
I use the "easy way" here for maintenance. Works great.
ummm... her "easy way" calculation says I should eat 4280 calories to maintain my weight. I'm 214 and I do aerobic exercise 6 days a week and lifting 3 days a week. I think that would qualify me for active...
That seems incredibly high to me....
OK, OK. . .I concur. I had never looked at her definition of "active" and I confess that I disagree with it. The definitions on this site seem much more realistic. I think the "active" numbers on her site would be for, oh say a farmer or bike messenger, not just a gym rat. I take my body weight and multiply by 15, which is somewhere between inactive and active (six one hour workouts per week, for the record) and this is slightly higher than what this site gives me.
That all being said, I think it's very important to remember that there's no "one size fits all" approach. Icandoit, you're hitting it right on the head when you say that moderation and listening to your body is absolutely the key.0 -
weird, it has my "reply" as a "quote"
my actual response starts with "OK, OK..."0 -
Jess,
what does the guide on this site say? I know this one is pretty close to correct. I have compared it to doing it with manual calculations and it comes out to within 100 calories of manual. If this site gives you similar numbers then it is probably right.
From what I've seen it's very accurate. I used my new HR/calorie monitor all day yesterday, which was an Off day. MFP states that my total calories burned are 1630 *without* exercise, just a sedentary lifestyle. I did walk some yesterday and do a bit of yoga, and after 15 hours of me being awake, I'd burnt 1639 calories. It puts my BMR (JUST what I'd burn if i were LYING in bed...not even daily activity) at 1300. When I got my BMR tested in our lab, it came out to 1265. So MFP is really accurate for me.
The value they give to lose weight (1200 for me) is based on the assumption that you *do not exercise*. It is your lifestyle calories - a deficit. Since I manually add my exercise, I choose a sedentary lifestyle...so it says to eat 1200 cals, but even on my day off I don't do that, because 1200 is less than my BMR and I don't mind having a smaller deficit on that one day. When I do log in my exercise, my calories will increase to 1800...but I've actually burn 2300 that day. That's how this stuff works, and why no one should have to eat less than 1200 calories to lose weight if they're active at all.0 -
I hesitate to write this, and let me stress that I am neither a trained nutritionist, nor do I claim to have any knowledge that I didn't acquire by normal research. But I feel like I have to say what I am saying below.yes some of us are 5'1" and 125 lbs... and over 50....
...so if I eat 1200 cals/day i will actually gain weight, how unfair is that?
Chrispchef1, I had a hard time with your comments, not because I thought that they were directed towards me or being negative or anything like that, but I couldn't make the math work in my head, so I went to the web and found a few BMR calculators. I put in Female 5 foot 1, 125 lbs, and over 50 (I put in 55 just to be sure) and all of them came up with a BMR of over 1200. That doesn't mean I think you are wrong, I just am curious how you came up with it because I am always wanting to learn more. Maybe there are factors I don't know about, in which case, I appologize for even bringing it up (feel free to verbally slap me if that is the case.).
Hi Banks -
I had originally gone to an insta-BMR calculator on the web and put my height (5'1") and age (50) in... it gave me 1168 calories/day 'just to exist'...
I have a fairly sedentary lifestyle (sit at computer all day) and prone to water-weight gain. Maybe those are factors for me? Or perhaps the BMR calc was bogus? Apparently there is a lot of info 'out there' that can lead us in different directions. This thread has been very enlightening!
I just wish it weren't true! Chalk it up to turning 50 I guess!
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I hesitate to write this, and let me stress that I am neither a trained nutritionist, nor do I claim to have any knowledge that I didn't acquire by normal research. But I feel like I have to say what I am saying below.yes some of us are 5'1" and 125 lbs... and over 50....
...so if I eat 1200 cals/day i will actually gain weight, how unfair is that?
Chrispchef1, I had a hard time with your comments, not because I thought that they were directed towards me or being negative or anything like that, but I couldn't make the math work in my head, so I went to the web and found a few BMR calculators. I put in Female 5 foot 1, 125 lbs, and over 50 (I put in 55 just to be sure) and all of them came up with a BMR of over 1200. That doesn't mean I think you are wrong, I just am curious how you came up with it because I am always wanting to learn more. Maybe there are factors I don't know about, in which case, I appologize for even bringing it up (feel free to verbally slap me if that is the case.).
Hi Banks -
I had originally gone to an insta-BMR calculator on the web and put my height (5'1") and age (50) in... it gave me 1168 calories/day 'just to exist'...
I have a fairly sedentary lifestyle (sit at computer all day) and prone to water-weight gain. Maybe those are factors for me? Or perhaps the BMR calc was bogus? Apparently there is a lot of info 'out there' that can lead us in different directions. This thread has been very enlightening!
I just wish it weren't true! Chalk it up to turning 50 I guess!
Yeah, I guess I could see that as your BMR, every site has a little fluctuation. I guess all I would say about that is: BMR isn't the same as maintain. BMR is if you did absolutely nothing all day, I mean, no getting up, no walking, no using the TV remote, no reading books etc. You get what I mean. Hold on while I pull down your maintiain..........ok back, to maintain, you need about 1500 cals a day (again, I went to 3 different calculator sites that were between 1350 and 1600 so you see, it's not always exact with these things).0 -
Ladies, Men....just listen to your bodies.
1200 calories is a guideline and if you're exercising it shouldn't be a problem. If you're starving at night, your body is telling you to eat.
I posted this before about myself: I'm 5'4 and 144 pounds but I have trouble eating 1200 calories a day because my body just won't let me do it. I'm not going to push myself to eat 1200 calories if I think I'm gonna loose it in the bathroom.
Everyone's bodies are unique. Just listen to it. Diet is one thing, but starvation is another.0 -
Ladies, Men....just listen to your bodies.
1200 calories is a guideline and if you're exercising it shouldn't be a problem. If you're starving at night, your body is telling you to eat.
I posted this before about myself: I'm 5'4 and 144 pounds but I have trouble eating 1200 calories a day because my body just won't let me do it. I'm not going to push myself to eat 1200 calories if I think I'm gonna loose it in the bathroom.
Everyone's bodies are unique. Just listen to it. Diet is one thing, but starvation is another.
I can't listen to my body, it keeps telling me to eat Reses Peanutbutter Cups! :ohwell:0 -
Couldn't agree more, since being HEALTHY is the whole idea. There's no way I would let myself starve or get overly obsessed with the numbers.
For me, the challenge is pushing the exercise and building muscle mass to use calories more efficiently... I'm really out of shape, so that probably accounts for part of it. Once I get into shape, I'm sure the 1200 will be more realistic and prove out the numbers.
I'm just kinda frustrated, because I love to cook and eat and entertain, (doesn't that sound familiar?) and for the time being, my lifestyle needs to be modified to reach my fitness goals.
Isn't that what we're all here for? 0 -
Ladies, Men....just listen to your bodies.
1200 calories is a guideline and if you're exercising it shouldn't be a problem. If you're starving at night, your body is telling you to eat.
I posted this before about myself: I'm 5'4 and 144 pounds but I have trouble eating 1200 calories a day because my body just won't let me do it. I'm not going to push myself to eat 1200 calories if I think I'm gonna loose it in the bathroom.
Everyone's bodies are unique. Just listen to it. Diet is one thing, but starvation is another.
I can't listen to my body, it keeps telling me to eat Reses Peanutbutter Cups! :ohwell:
Mine is saying something about chocolate cake....:huh: hehe:bigsmile:
I can't go by hunger at this level of activity...some days I'm not hungry at all, others I'm starving all day. Today I'm supposed to eat 2000 cals...am I hungry? no. Will I eat them anyway? Yes, because I worked out for 2 1/2 hours and if I don't I'm endangering my health. Unfortunately hunger isn't indicative of our true caloric needs. If it were, obese people would never be hungry, and underweight people would always be starving.0 -
Jess,
what does the guide on this site say? I know this one is pretty close to correct. I have compared it to doing it with manual calculations and it comes out to within 100 calories of manual. If this site gives you similar numbers then it is probably right.
Thanks Banks, This site says my BMR is a little over 1600, which is actually what I found out on my own through experimenting. I'm pretty clear on how many calories I should be eating.
My comments on the website noted was not due to any confusion on my part as to how many calories I should eat, but more due to a concern that someone who may not have previous experience with managing their caloric intake may refer to the site and get what appeared to be faulty numbers.0 -
Jess,
what does the guide on this site say? I know this one is pretty close to correct. I have compared it to doing it with manual calculations and it comes out to within 100 calories of manual. If this site gives you similar numbers then it is probably right.
Thanks Banks, This site says my BMR is a little over 1600, which is actually what I found out on my own through experimenting. I'm pretty clear on how many calories I should be eating.
My comments on the website noted was not due to any confusion on my part as to how many calories I should eat, but more due to a concern that someone who may not have previous experience with managing their caloric intake may refer to the site and get what appeared to be faulty numbers.
I feel goofy. . .that calculation works for me, and I've seen it in several published sources (Prevention, Self and Real Simple) so I took it for granted that it would work for everyone. But, if I counted myself as "very active", I'd probably be overeating.
mea culpa.:flowerforyou:0 -
I have a friend (well, she is my wife's friend but...)that is a certified nutritionist and physical therapist, as well as a certified trainer. One of these days, I'm gonna write down all these questions and ask her. I'll post the answers on here when I do. There is so much info out there, there is bound to be differences, I'm gonna grill her hardcore. I'll try to get really detailed facts covering everything I can think of. Maybe I could even get her on here for a question and answer. If we could get a chat room on this site, that would be perfect. Otherwise, maybe I'll find a free chat room (or use AIM or something) for it.
Would anyone be up for that?0 -
just to no for a woman its 1500 cals min and a man 2000cals as if u eat less it comes off your muscle and not yur prob areas.also the first meal of next day goes straight to your prob areas.also if u always eat 1200 cals thats all you will lose0
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I was watching Biggest Loser (Australia) on Wednesday and the contestants are allowed 1200 calories per day, regardless of the exercise they do.0
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I have a friend (well, she is my wife's friend but...)that is a certified nutritionist and physical therapist, as well as a certified trainer. One of these days, I'm gonna write down all these questions and ask her. I'll post the answers on here when I do. There is so much info out there, there is bound to be differences, I'm gonna grill her hardcore. I'll try to get really detailed facts covering everything I can think of. Maybe I could even get her on here for a question and answer. If we could get a chat room on this site, that would be perfect. Otherwise, maybe I'll find a free chat room (or use AIM or something) for it.
Would anyone be up for that?
......or you could start a magazine!
For those of you going "HUH?" -- This is in reference to a very old post banks started --long story, not educational....just ignore my "off-subject" reply.
~Cheryl0 -
I was watching Biggest Loser (Australia) on Wednesday and the contestants are allowed 1200 calories per day, regardless of the exercise they do.
Are you sure, that they weren't talking about 1200 calories, not counting exercise calories? Because if they work out the same way the BL in the US does, they are burning somewhere in the neighborhood of 2000 to 3200 calories a day just by exercising. I imagine they aren't counting the exercise calories. That's one of the issues I have with the biggest looser, they don't give details, they just give random information that, not given the proper context, can be dangerous.
Stan Lee said it best: "With great power comes great responsibility!" (OK, OK, so I'm a dork)0 -
Does that mean we can call you "Spiderbanks"? 0
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Does that mean we can call you "Spiderbanks"?
Lol, when I hang upside down, I pass out. And I'm not particularly fond of heights.
Also, I want to live in the NY that he lives in, ever notice that no matter how many people
there are in the scene, none of them are overweight?0 -
http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/weight/calsburned.htm
I use the "easy way" here for maintenance. Works great.
Also, her healthy body calculator (she's a dietician) is great. There's a link to it on the link I posted.
I calculated calories for my current weight and target weight, and both seemed very logical to me. For my target weight, may calorie intake came out to about 1700 cals, which is about what if feel I need to keep my energy level up throughout the day. Thanks for the link, I'm definitely going to use these values!
:flowerforyou:
Megan0 -
Hi all, just joined yesterday and have been skimming through the posts to get a better idea of what I should be doing. I checked out the thread megan posted a link to and it says my intake for maintenance would be approx 1790cals. (calculation is weight x 10). The BMR calculator on Tools section on this site says1527. On my goals I set it to lose 2lbs per week. On my food diary it looks as though I have been averaging 700 - 800 cals a day.
I definately do not want to go into the starvation mode or lose muscle instead of fat as I do virtually no excerise atm (will be trying over the comming weeks to rectify this). Does anyone have any idea what amount of calories I should be aiming for? On food diary it's set to 1200 cals, I am 5ft 6. Also, if i need to hit 1200 cals a day is it ok to eat something later at night?0 -
Jess,
what does the guide on this site say? I know this one is pretty close to correct. I have compared it to doing it with manual calculations and it comes out to within 100 calories of manual. If this site gives you similar numbers then it is probably right.
Thanks Banks, This site says my BMR is a little over 1600, which is actually what I found out on my own through experimenting. I'm pretty clear on how many calories I should be eating.
My comments on the website noted was not due to any confusion on my part as to how many calories I should eat, but more due to a concern that someone who may not have previous experience with managing their caloric intake may refer to the site and get what appeared to be faulty numbers.
I feel goofy. . .that calculation works for me, and I've seen it in several published sources (Prevention, Self and Real Simple) so I took it for granted that it would work for everyone. But, if I counted myself as "very active", I'd probably be overeating.
mea culpa.:flowerforyou:
No worries, I don't think anyone puts up information to cause harm to anyone else. That's why I love this place because we can have open disucssion about all the different information and resources we all use.
:flowerforyou: Jessica0 -
Yes I am sure it is 1200 calories. It was perfectly clear.0
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i am 5'8" and currently 150lbs.
i really want to get down to 125-130 lbs.
on this site they told me i should eat aroudn 1200 calories a day.
i put my excercise level as light, because i only get to really work out twice a week when i have dance for four hours. the other days i might run for 20 minutes, but that's it.
on dance days i eat more calories, probably around 1600.
but, i'm not frustrated.
before i started counting calories i was hungry all the time! even though i was eating upwards of 2300 calories a day!!!!
but now that i see what i am eating, i'm not hungry. i'm fine with my 1200 calories.
it can be done is what i'm saying.
you just have to monitor what you're eating and plan your meals.
EXERCISE IS KEYY!!
good luck :]0 -
i am 5'8" and currently 150lbs.
i really want to get down to 125-130 lbs.
on this site they told me i should eat aroudn 1200 calories a day.
i put my excercise level as light, because i only get to really work out twice a week when i have dance for four hours. the other days i might run for 20 minutes, but that's it.
on dance days i eat more calories, probably around 1600.
but, i'm not frustrated.
before i started counting calories i was hungry all the time! even though i was eating upwards of 2300 calories a day!!!!
but now that i see what i am eating, i'm not hungry. i'm fine with my 1200 calories.
it can be done is what i'm saying.
you just have to monitor what you're eating and plan your meals.
EXERCISE IS KEYY!!
good luck :]
Wow is this post OOOOOOLLLLLDDDDD
Anyway, if you're 5'8" and 150 lbs there's NO WAY you should be eating 1200 calories. Just because you can set a 2 lb a week goal, doesn't mean you should. Your BMR is somewhere around 1500 calories a day, that means that you are eating 300 less then that on most days (less if you don't factor in your exercise). Try for 1/2 a pound per week. You just don't have the fat stores to support a 2 lb a week weight loss plan. You gotta be patient, take it slow, exercise, and eat enough to keep your body healthy.0 -
OMG...I need to start getting more sleep.....I saw this, my tummy jumped and I immmediately clicked on your username (the banks one) and thought OMG..he left again.
I tell ya these old posts are freakin some of us out that you've left again:brokenheart: :laugh: :blushing: I find I don't automatically look at the date when I first open the thread....guess I best start doing that:blushing: for my sanity
But I do love when your threads pop up that I'd never read before I always learn something important from each of THEM.
Thanks for that....for all the time you took on your rants, explaining info, etc etc.:drinker: :bigsmile:0 -
LOL, course technically I was wrong about the 1200 thing being a myth.
The World Health Organization came up with that number for WOMEN only, back in the 80s. BUT here's the thing.
The number was published as the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM a female needs to eat a day in order to sustain herself and be able to meet a reasonable macronutrient level.
And that was an AVERAGE of all the women polled, so you may or may not be able to survive on 1200, but that doesn't mean it's healthy. Notice the word sustain. That means NOT DIE OF MALNUTRITION. That doesn't mean you can work out, it doesn't mean you'll have healthy skin, nails, and hair, it doesn't mean you'll be vibrant and lively all day. It just means you probably won't starve to death.0 -
I love these old rant threads.
:laugh:0 -
me too, lol, we all had such a hard time setting people straight without ya, Banks. I love how mad your posts can get, lol it's funny :laugh:0
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Ha! I'm an angry person in general. :explode: 0
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Ha! I'm an angry person in general. :explode:
Why do you keep bumping your old threads???? I thought you left??? :noway:
j/k :bigsmile:0
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