Less than 1200 calories?

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Replies

  • ConsciousGirl
    ConsciousGirl Posts: 56
    Thanks, I think I'll stick to 1200 calories then because it suits my weight, height (~5'4) and BMR the most. Also, I know I won't be in starvation mode because even on 1000 calories a day I feel full. I plan to increase the intake on some days so my metabolism doesn't decrease though.
  • shydaisi
    shydaisi Posts: 788 Member
    The best thing to do to boost your metabolism is strength training.
  • sunshinegirl2012
    sunshinegirl2012 Posts: 52
    depends on your height/weight, how much fat you have to lose and your goal. personally I have about 10-15 left to lose and my goal is set to 1200 but I usually feel full at 1000. I eat more if my body tells me I'm actually hungry, if not 1000-11000 usually does it. right now I'm on a raw diet (looooads of veggies and fruits, which are low cal) and I feel stuffed even though I still have to eat about 300 more calories tonight!! all depends at where you're at. if you're hungry feed your body healthy food, if you're not then don't obsess over it, just don't starve yourself (:
  • lodro
    lodro Posts: 982 Member
    And then, unless you weigh and measure all your food, you'll likely underestimate your calorie intake. This alone can make a difference of 300 calories. So 1200 calories may in reality be closer to 1500. Also the comments about starvation mode: yes, it exists, but only a very small segment of people on MFP is actually going to experience it: for starvation mode your bodyfat % has to be below 6%: only then does your body start to consume muscle in a serious way to feed you.

    If you're consistently at 1200 though you need to be very alert as to your nutrients, because every calorie has to count then.
  • ConsciousGirl
    ConsciousGirl Posts: 56
    And then, unless you weigh and measure all your food, you'll likely underestimate your calorie intake. This alone can make a difference of 300 calories. So 1200 calories may in reality be closer to 1500. Also the comments about starvation mode: yes, it exists, but only a very small segment of people on MFP is actually going to experience it: for starvation mode your bodyfat % has to be below 6%: only then does your body start to consume muscle in a serious way to feed you.

    If you're consistently at 1200 though you need to be very alert as to your nutrients, because every calorie has to count then.

    I understand that which is why I quick add 200 calories in case of any underestimation. Thanks for the info though :)
  • TNoire
    TNoire Posts: 642 Member
    females no less than 1200 a day
    males no less than 1800 a day

    why?

    if you eat less your body goes into starvation mode which causes it to store which causes weight gain

    3500 burned cals = loss on 1lb of fat
    3500 cals = 1lb of fat put on

    low carb is key my dietitian says 150 or less per day =)

    lean meats, red meat and taters 3-4 times in a 2 week period, whole grains keep you fuller longer, heavier meals in the morning, sodium no more than 2400mg a day, fresh fruit and veggies, don't drink you calories, 8+ glasses of water a day, stay away from junk food/fast food/processed food, treat it when you meet your goals, um trying to remember what else

    but i learned all this when I gained 195lbs from quitting smoking, got on track with healthy eating and workouts and lost 156lbs in 19 months (put some back on with stress of buying/selling houses) but back on track now =)

    you can do it!
  • ConsciousGirl
    ConsciousGirl Posts: 56
    females no less than 1200 a day
    males no less than 1800 a day

    why?

    if you eat less your body goes into starvation mode which causes it to store which causes weight gain

    3500 burned cals = loss on 1lb of fat
    3500 cals = 1lb of fat put on

    low carb is key my dietitian says 150 or less per day =)

    lean meats, red meat and taters 3-4 times in a 2 week period, whole grains keep you fuller longer, heavier meals in the morning, sodium no more than 2400mg a day, fresh fruit and veggies, don't drink you calories, 8+ glasses of water a day, stay away from junk food/fast food/processed food, treat it when you meet your goals, um trying to remember what else

    but i learned all this when I gained 195lbs from quitting smoking, got on track with healthy eating and workouts and lost 156lbs in 19 months (put some back on with stress of buying/selling houses) but back on track now =)

    you can do it!

    Thanks for the info! I have been eating healthy foods since forever and I hate fatty foods and junk food anyway (my friends think I'm weird for this haha). So on that note I guess I'm okay.
    I'll definitely try and eat up to 1200 calories but I can't be exactly on the dot so a tiny weeny bit below should be fine, right?
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member

    low carb is key my dietitian says 150 or less per day =)

    Sorry, but "Low Carb is key my dietician says 150 or less per day" is tailored for your own individual care. The OP is a different individual altogether, and what works for you, may not be advisable for the OP... You really shouldnt be sharing medical and/or nutritional advice that was designed for you, for another person....
  • TNoire
    TNoire Posts: 642 Member
    females no less than 1200 a day
    males no less than 1800 a day

    why?

    if you eat less your body goes into starvation mode which causes it to store which causes weight gain

    3500 burned cals = loss on 1lb of fat
    3500 cals = 1lb of fat put on

    low carb is key my dietitian says 150 or less per day =)

    lean meats, red meat and taters 3-4 times in a 2 week period, whole grains keep you fuller longer, heavier meals in the morning, sodium no more than 2400mg a day, fresh fruit and veggies, don't drink you calories, 8+ glasses of water a day, stay away from junk food/fast food/processed food, treat it when you meet your goals, um trying to remember what else

    but i learned all this when I gained 195lbs from quitting smoking, got on track with healthy eating and workouts and lost 156lbs in 19 months (put some back on with stress of buying/selling houses) but back on track now =)

    you can do it!

    Thanks for the info! I have been eating healthy foods since forever and I hate fatty foods and junk food anyway (my friends think I'm weird for this haha). So on that note I guess I'm okay.
    I'll definitely try and eat up to 1200 calories but I can't be exactly on the dot so a tiny weeny bit below should be fine, right?

    Easy way to get the exact 1200 cause you honestly should do no less, having a egg this morning instead of fat free cooking spray put a 1/2tsp of oil in the pan instead those little extra things or a extra half a apple or drink a glass of milk or juice will help you bump those calories when you can't get them =)
  • TNoire
    TNoire Posts: 642 Member

    low carb is key my dietitian says 150 or less per day =)

    Sorry, but "Low Carb is key my dietician says 150 or less per day" is tailored for your own individual care. The OP is a different individual altogether, and what works for you, may not be advisable for the OP... You really shouldnt be sharing medical and/or nutritional advice that was designed for you, for another person....

    Actually its what she tells everyone she told me but every dietician has there own methods with all there folks, tho its helped me I lost 156lbs in 19 months doing it that way =) But to each there own!
  • helenlovesjosh
    helenlovesjosh Posts: 8
    a little less is ok, Like maybe 1100 or 1000, but its really best if you try to stick with the goal amount, because if you don't take in enough calories it could mess up your metabolism and possibly cause you to gain weight.
  • TNoire
    TNoire Posts: 642 Member
    a little less is ok, Like maybe 1100 or 1000, but its really best if you try to stick with the goal amount, because if you don't take in enough calories it could mess up your metabolism and possibly cause you to gain weight.

    yep your body goes into starvation mode and starts storing everything which causes weigh gain
  • lodro
    lodro Posts: 982 Member
    That statement is at best a qualified truth. As has been pointed out elsewhere, numerous times.
  • adamamn
    adamamn Posts: 5
    I'm also having the same problem. My normal diet doesn't reach 1200 calories.Sure if I keep eating cakes and such I might go over 1200Cal. I think that's how I gained 10lb in a month.
    I'm 5'4" female currently at 126lb. I used to be 110lb. And then I got to 120lb and boomed to 130lb within a month.
    I even ate pizza today and I'm still under 1200 Cal. I'm sure there's a few give or take.
    I really don't think I need to force feed myself to reach 1200 Calories.
  • BeetleChe13
    BeetleChe13 Posts: 498 Member
    I'm a small woman, and I know for myself that eating more than 1200 calories has benefited me. My calorie goal was 1200 when I was trying to lose, and each pound came off slowly. Now that I'm set to maintenance and my goal is 1700, I'm eating all the healthy food I could desire, and I've lost an extra 2 pounds since upping my calorie intake. This is my experience, and I also believe that eating less than 1200 would be more detrimental than beneficial to my body.
  • dancin2011
    dancin2011 Posts: 92 Member
    This is just me and I've learned this through trial and error. But I DO have to force myself to get all of my calories in. If I eat less than 1200, that scale goes up. It is very frustrating. I feel very full all day and am never ready to eat when I am 'supposed' to. I am trying to make myself do it anyway though because that's the only time I see the scale go down. Seems so backwards.
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