Why not 1000 calories?

joyanna2016 · March 2020

NovusDies wrote: »

I think for most people the real danger to the body is staying overweight or obese. The danger to the mind is failing to succeed because you engaged in a crash diet mentality.

I have been on my share of crash diets. They have always ended the same way. Not with hair falling out or getting to goal being skinny fat, but with a binge-like overfeed. I cannot recall a single time I saw it coming either. I have a self-defense switch that kicks in when I am starving myself.

Many of my crash diets started with a honeymoon phase too. I felt great. I was euphoric. I believe that is another self-defense mechanism. If you think of it terms of needing your body to go out and hunt or gather food you need to feel great. If you felt bad it would hurt your chances to eat again. Once that kicks in though the clock is ticking. How long you have until you start to feel the actual way you should I am sure varies from person to person. Some people may not have one at all.

Crash diets lead to me or worse. I spent 30 years spinning my wheels. My health worsened. My joints are prematurely worn from carrying too much weight for too long. I have reversed most of my health situations but not all some are permanent but basically mitigated for now. My joints are what they are. I am working hard to preserve them for as long as I can.

I have said in these forums a few times that if you want to lose weight fast go slower. It took me 2 years to lose over 200 pounds. It took me 28 years to fail to lose any weight. 2 years is SPEEDY by comparison.

This left an impression on me. Powerful testimony. Thank you. I think its funny that it makes me think of Doc in Cars when he's talking to Lightning McQeen about racing cars in dirt and he says to go right you've got to turn left. It's counterintuitive. Just like dieting slowly. I need patience.

joyanna2016 · March 2020

amyepdx wrote: »

joyanna2016 wrote: »

Geez! Forget I ever asked.

You didn’t get any useful advice from all the thoughtful replies and strategies that people took the time to offer to you?

I did. I didnt mean that. I just meant all the unexpected controversy and hateful posts it caused... some of them have been deleted somehow. But yes, thanks to all for the insights.

joyanna2016 · March 2020

Well, ive heeded everyone's advice and decided to eat a minimum of 1200 calories and usually a little bit more instead of before when I was eating a maximum of 1200 calories and usually a little bit less. This may seem minor to someone else but it's major to me. It's very hard changing my mentality about at the end of the day if I see my total calories is say... 1100 ...to think that's not good instead if that's good. Slow and steady wins the race. Thank you all for your posts.

emmamcgarity · March 2020

joyanna2016 wrote: »

Well, ive heeded everyone's advice and decided to eat a minimum of 1200 calories and usually a little bit more instead of before when I was eating a maximum of 1200 calories and usually a little bit less. This may seem minor to someone else but it's major to me. It's very hard changing my mentality about at the end of the day if I see my total calories is say... 1100 ...to think that's not good instead if that's good. Slow and steady wins the race. Thank you all for your posts.

I think you’ve made a wise choice. If you are also exercising, be sure to track your activity calories. MFP is set up for you to include those calories in your target. I sometimes eat more than my target for social events and keep an eye on my weekly calorie intake. Finding balance will help you stick to it over time.

slbbw · March 2020

joyanna2016 wrote: »

Well, ive heeded everyone's advice and decided to eat a minimum of 1200 calories and usually a little bit more instead of before when I was eating a maximum of 1200 calories and usually a little bit less. This may seem minor to someone else but it's major to me. It's very hard changing my mentality about at the end of the day if I see my total calories is say... 1100 ...to think that's not good instead if that's good. Slow and steady wins the race. Thank you all for your posts.

Also important is to realize what your deficit is. If this is to hit a 1.5 or 2lb per week loss then going over by 100 calories means that you are still losing weight, just not as fast.

Why not 1000 calories?

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