1200 Calorie Diet
rosson
Posts: 29 Member
I went to a doctors appointment this morning and was told to go on a 1200 calorie diet. She said women shouldn't consume more than that. How many calories do you eat? That seems low to me.
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Replies
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I eat 2,000-2,220 calories a day. That's based on what I need for my lifestyle and exercise.
1,200 is the lowest that a woman should generally go. It is absolute nonsense that women shouldn't consume more than that. Human calorie needs should be determined based on activity level and weight management goals.13 -
Women should not consume LESS than 1200. A limit on eating more than that makes no sense whatsoever as it depends on your height, current weight and activity level.11
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I agree and have always heard around 1500. I think she's a little misguided.2
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Yeah, find a new doctor, this one's steering you wrong.9
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What are your stats? Its possible one could be overweight enough that obesity-related health risks mean eating 1200 daily to get your weight down FAST is necessary. Did your doctor give you additional information, or refer you to a dietician? When do you next see your doctor for a progress check?
It is possible to plan low calorie yet filling meals. You'd need to aim for high vegetable content, lean protein and avoid calorie fillers like creamy sauces, fried foods, etc.
Some of my 'go to' low calorie meals, which I mainly use on occasions where I have a higher calorie meal planned elsewhere in the day:
Spaghetti squash with no-sugar added spaghetti squash, browned/crumbled/drained turkey sausage
Cabbage cooked with a little soy sauce, ginger, a small amount of sesame oil added to browned/crumbled blotted not drained pork sausage. **I've tried this one with leaner meat and to me it just tastes better with the pork sausage. 1 pound of sausage + 14-16 oz shredded cabbage makes a lot of food, enough for 4-5 meals for 1 person. Think egg rolls in a bowl.
Salad, ingredients of your choice, with lean meat like grilled chicken breast, ham or turkey, and a light dressing.
Lean strips of steak wrapped around asparagus spears, seasoned with salt/pepper/garlic served with a small side of cous cous5 -
Lately, I've been eating over 2000 calories daily (2370 yesterday, for example), and losing weight ultra-slowly. (Ultra slowly is how someone my size/age - 5'5", 125 pounds, age 65 - ought to lose weight.)
There is no "one calorie size fits all women" diet. When I was losing, I lost weight pretty handily on 1400-1600, plus exercise calories. Would you? Don't know. I lost way too fast at 1200 *plus* all exercise, had to correct when I suddenly got weak and fatigued, even though 1200 should have been OK for someone my then age/size (it wasn't).
We're all individuals.
If you are quite obese, it's possible that your doctor wants you to lose weight very fast, because very high body weight creates health risks all by itself. In that scenario, if your doctor's encouraging fast loss, she should be proposing to monitor you closely for health problems caused by a low-calorie diet.
Sometimes, doctors recommend a low calorie diet because (1) most people undercount their calories, and (2) a whole bunch of people aren't even going to try. (The literally shocked reaction by my doctor and his nurse, after I lost a material number of pounds between 6-month visits, tells me that someone losing meaningful amounts of weight is pretty rare.) Also, the average doctor gets only a few hours of nutritional training during medical school, so they tend to rely on handouts, and those have usually 1200 calorie diets for women.
There are more up-to-date, more reasonable ways to handle this. If you must lose weight fast for health reasons, ask your doctor for a referral to a registered dietitian for help in formulating a workable personal approach. If you're needing to lose weight, but your current weight isn't in itself a health crisis, it should be fine to use MFP to get a goal, and work with that.
1200 isn't universally necessary for all women of all sizes, of all activity levels, of all ages, to lose weight at some rate. That, I'd guarantee.7 -
I am losing about half pound a week at (a weekly average of) 1750 calories. I'm 5'5", 153lbs.8
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5'5", 168 lb, losing between .5 and 1 lb per week on 2000 calories gross, 1300 net. Saying women shouldn't eat more than 1200 calories is just nonsense and in some cases irresponsible. I would find a new doctor.3
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I am quite obese and she probably means well but she's one of those doctors. By that I mean if I go to the doctor for anything she says...well if you weren't overweight. We'll definitely have to discuss the calories. I'm not sure 1200 is enough. I've been doing WW and that's kinda worked when I use it properly.7
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You know, I wondered about this too, but I can definitely believe that even if that's not what the doctor said, or meant, it's what @rosson heard. There are lots of doctors who may be very knowledgeable but aren't great communicators. It's enough of a systemic issue that I don't think all the blame can be placed on patients for misunderstanding.
That said, it's only happened on a few occasions, but I have had doctors give me flat-out incorrect information about medicine and/or the human body before. Not about off-the-wall, bizarre conspiracy theory type stuff, either, but everyday normal stuff you'd think they would know. I've also had a few be incredibly rude and condescending. Sometimes the wrong individuals and the rude individuals overlapped - not always, but sometimes.
I think it's good that rosson came here to clarify, because even if the doctor was more nuanced, or meant to be, in her response, she's getting more detailed information now and can make a good plan moving forward.
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I wish I could believe it's unlikely a doctor said that, but there are certainly doctors out there with a poor understanding of nutrition and weight management, as well as doctors who aren't good at communicating certain concepts (so their patients walk away with an understanding that is not what the doctor intended).13 -
I'm 5'3", 56 years old, and currently weigh in the 117s (maintenance). I lose weight on less than 1700 - 1900 calories (with daily activity and exercise). I'm not even particularly active - mostly a daily walk and everyday chores with a very tiny bit of yoga & strength training thrown in. I would find 1200 calories to be very unpleasant! When I was losing, I ate around 1400 - 1500. It wasn't super fast, but the weight came off. I was just overweight when I started, so most of my weight loss was within normal BMI.
As said above, doctors get very little nutrition training and what they do get was often written decades ago. The 1200 calorie diet may have made more sense when people couldn't weigh food easily, nutrition info on food was rare, and the internet didn't exist. That way lots of normal errors would get cancelled out and that 1200 calorie diet was probably really an intake of 1500+.
If you are losing well on your current diet plan, just keep on doing that.6 -
@rosson: this thread might be a good starting point for you. It explains very clearly how many cals you should eat. Hope it helps.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10569458/why-eating-too-little-calories-is-a-bad-idea/p12 -
Agree with the others that mentioned drs receive very little training on nutrition. when I had lost weight in the past and then went to the physical, the dr asked me how I lost it all so she can tell her other patients as she had regularly told them to try something like Nutrisystem.
My recent annual with a different dr was also shocked I had lost weight since the last visit but at least was nodding her head in agreement when I had mentioned just watching portions & exercise when she asked me how I did it.
I'm eating and losing at about 1500 calories. 1200 was too low for me, even 1300 was, and caused me to binge eat quite a bit5 -
Honestly, I don't think doctors should be giving out a lot of diet advice unless they have specific training in that--which most don't. I really think a lot of GP's should have RD's on staff, with a focus on educating patients who need it on healthy weight control.
GP's really do just have a general knowledge about a lot of things, with more specific knowledge about common problems for which people go to their doctors. You would think nutrition would be one of those things they'd actually have more specific knowledge about, but nope!8 -
The OP hasn't told us how old she is and that makes a big difference. I'm an older female (61). When I enter my stats into mfp, indicate that I am sedentary, and that I want to lose 1 pound per week, I am given 1200 calories. That's it. No more.
I choose, however, to "move" every day and eat half my calories back. Guess how much I've been consistently losing? 1 pound per week. (I only eat half my calories back because I know that often burns are over rated, plus it gives me some room for error when weighing and measuring my food).
And my base maintenance calories are only 1500. Still not a lot to work with.5 -
Its way to late for me to edit, but that was supposed to be nosugar added SAUCE.nanastaci2020 wrote: »What are your stats? Its possible one could be overweight enough that obesity-related health risks mean eating 1200 daily to get your weight down FAST is necessary. Did your doctor give you additional information, or refer you to a dietician? When do you next see your doctor for a progress check?
It is possible to plan low calorie yet filling meals. You'd need to aim for high vegetable content, lean protein and avoid calorie fillers like creamy sauces, fried foods, etc.
Some of my 'go to' low calorie meals, which I mainly use on occasions where I have a higher calorie meal planned elsewhere in the day:
Spaghetti squash with no-sugar added spaghetti squash, browned/crumbled/drained turkey sausage
Cabbage cooked with a little soy sauce, ginger, a small amount of sesame oil added to browned/crumbled blotted not drained pork sausage. **I've tried this one with leaner meat and to me it just tastes better with the pork sausage. 1 pound of sausage + 14-16 oz shredded cabbage makes a lot of food, enough for 4-5 meals for 1 person. Think egg rolls in a bowl.
Salad, ingredients of your choice, with lean meat like grilled chicken breast, ham or turkey, and a light dressing.
Lean strips of steak wrapped around asparagus spears, seasoned with salt/pepper/garlic served with a small side of cous cous
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I am quite obese and she probably means well but she's one of those doctors. By that I mean if I go to the doctor for anything she says...well if you weren't overweight. We'll definitely have to discuss the calories. I'm not sure 1200 is enough. I've been doing WW and that's kinda worked when I use it properly.
Congrats on the progress you've made so far! A followup with your doctor and/or a referral to a specialist seems wise. But its also great that you're taking steps to educate yourself, and not waiting until the next appointment to start doing SOMETHING.1 -
I am quite obese and she probably means well but she's one of those doctors. By that I mean if I go to the doctor for anything she says...well if you weren't overweight. We'll definitely have to discuss the calories. I'm not sure 1200 is enough. I've been doing WW and that's kinda worked when I use it properly.
If WW works for you and you like it, no reason to change that to the doctor's apparently uninformed views (and I cynically think many doctors throw out overly low numbers assuming people can't count properly or will lose focus if the loss isn't swift).
If you want to try calorie counting, I'd set up MFP and see what you get. Depending on height and age, you likely will get 1200 if you put in 2 lbs, but that's only if sedentary (most are at least lightly active or could be if they just walked somewhat more) and also before any exercise, which will increase cals. Many find 1 or 1.5 lbs a better goal for them too. I did start with a lot to lose and so chose 2 lbs, but with exercise/activity ate around 1500-1600 even with that goal.2 -
ridiculous59 wrote: »The OP hasn't told us how old she is and that makes a big difference. I'm an older female (61). When I enter my stats into mfp, indicate that I am sedentary, and that I want to lose 1 pound per week, I am given 1200 calories. That's it. No more.
I choose, however, to "move" every day and eat half my calories back. Guess how much I've been consistently losing? 1 pound per week. (I only eat half my calories back because I know that often burns are over rated, plus it gives me some room for error when weighing and measuring my food).
And my base maintenance calories are only 1500. Still not a lot to work with.
Yeah, but at that point it's MFP telling you that you're trying to loose too fast and to knock it back some. A pound a week is a lot if you're not actively obese. That's where it bottoms out. To meet that goal you probably would have to eat LESS and it won't let you.2 -
ridiculous59 wrote: »The OP hasn't told us how old she is and that makes a big difference. I'm an older female (61). When I enter my stats into mfp, indicate that I am sedentary, and that I want to lose 1 pound per week, I am given 1200 calories. That's it. No more.
I choose, however, to "move" every day and eat half my calories back. Guess how much I've been consistently losing? 1 pound per week. (I only eat half my calories back because I know that often burns are over rated, plus it gives me some room for error when weighing and measuring my food).
And my base maintenance calories are only 1500. Still not a lot to work with.
I don't think anyone is arguing that 1,200 isn't an appropriate goal for some people, especially if one includes additional calories when extra activity is done. It's the blanket statement that women shouldn't eat more than 1,200 that is the issue. For many women, 1,200 wouldn't be enough calories.5 -
You have to do what works for you you. It may take a while to find the balance. It takes patience, perseverance, studying your own data, challenging phony diet “rules”.
I’m 58, female, 5’7” and active.
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I am quite obese and she probably means well but she's one of those doctors. By that I mean if I go to the doctor for anything she says...well if you weren't overweight. We'll definitely have to discuss the calories. I'm not sure 1200 is enough. I've been doing WW and that's kinda worked when I use it properly.
Okay, yeah, you have a crappy doctor, find a new one. This has been my experience with PCPs as well - no matter what my actual complaint was, every visit I was just told to lose weight, end of story. I've only ever had specialists give a damn about whatever I needed to see them for.4 -
I love MFP! I'm a retired RN and need to lose some weight. I put in my specs and received a 1280 cal level to lose 1 lb a week. I had to increase my protein intake to recommended level, then I started dropping 1 lb a week. I couldn't believe how on target MFP is in my case.The amount of food is enough for me. I don't feel deprived or starving. I plan meals and snacks in the morning to stay within parameters. I have seen members tell hungry feeling members to go up 100 calories a day, wait a day or two, and then go up again if needed. So put in your specs and tell the program whether you want to lose or maintain. I bet it will be pretty close to what you need.8
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It is possible your doctor said that, and medical schools don’t teach much about weight loss, however, as a health care provider myself I know for a fact that many patients twist the words their provider tells them.
I had a patient just yesterday who had been told by multiple people that he had liver disease and this was well documented. Yesterday when I mentioned it to him again, he said no one ever told him he had liver disease. They do this all the time. Claim we said things that we didn’t say or claim we never told them something that we clearly did.
Many people, probably most, can lose weight eating substantially more than 1200 calories per day. It depends on many factors.7 -
It is possible your doctor said that, and medical schools don’t teach much about weight loss, however, as a health care provider myself I know for a fact that many patients twist the words their provider tells them.
I had a patient just yesterday who had been told by multiple people that he had liver disease and this was well documented. Yesterday when I mentioned it to him again, he said no one ever told him he had liver disease. They do this all the time. Claim we said things that we didn’t say or claim we never told them something that we clearly did.
Many people, probably most, can lose weight eating substantially more than 1200 calories per day. It depends on many factors.
In addition to people who claim they never heard things (which I'm sure does happen a lot), there are also people who just don't do a good job of processing at the doctor's office. My husband usually has an outstanding memory, but he has medical anxiety and for important stuff he has to get written notes or I'll go with him to chat with the doctor as well. Otherwise, he'll just blank out on really important stuff. Fortunately, he knows this happens so he's able to plan for it and let his doctors know what he needs.9 -
janejellyroll wrote: »It is possible your doctor said that, and medical schools don’t teach much about weight loss, however, as a health care provider myself I know for a fact that many patients twist the words their provider tells them.
I had a patient just yesterday who had been told by multiple people that he had liver disease and this was well documented. Yesterday when I mentioned it to him again, he said no one ever told him he had liver disease. They do this all the time. Claim we said things that we didn’t say or claim we never told them something that we clearly did.
Many people, probably most, can lose weight eating substantially more than 1200 calories per day. It depends on many factors.
In addition to people who claim they never heard things (which I'm sure does happen a lot), there are also people who just don't do a good job of processing at the doctor's office. My husband usually has an outstanding memory, but he has medical anxiety and for important stuff he has to get written notes or I'll go with him to chat with the doctor as well. Otherwise, he'll just blank out on really important stuff. Fortunately, he knows this happens so he's able to plan for it and let his doctors know what he needs.
This is true too. My mom is an RN too and she tends to get anxious and forget to ask questions that she has been meaning to ask. Sometimes writing things down helps.5 -
Lol. For me it’s not anxiety, it’s just stuff goes in one ear and out the other. I don’t know if it’s age or no longer giving a *kitten*, but I sincerely can’t remember what people tell me as soon as they’ve said it.2
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Just because a doctor is a doctor doesn't mean they know a lot about nutrition, weight loss and calories. A blanket statement that women shouldn't eat more than 1200 calories is factually incorrect.
Keep your doctor if you are happy with what they do for your medical circumstances but do find someone else to advise on weight loss6
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