Does anyone lose wt. eating 1200 calories or less?

I am 35 and wt. 256lbs. I used to eat a lot mostly binge eating. Now That I found a formula that keeps me full 75% of time and cut my creaving down, I can only eat one meal a day and I would not be hungry for the rest of the day. after I joined MFP and starting logging in my meals, my MFP friends start commenting that I am eat to little (I lost 18lbs doing that). so I bumped up my calorie to reach MFP calorie goal. I have not lost a lbs since. I feel like to go back to what I was doing b/c it worked, but I am afraid. Any advice please?

I constantly eat under 1200 calories. I lost 26lbs so far. I am very active and am starting to train for my first half marathon on Sunday. I recently plateaued and took this week off of MFP and decided to not log my food and cut back on my exercise in order to "shock" my body. I do not have cheat meals or cheat days. I have tried this before and for me it does not work. I need a week where I can eat what i want in moderation without feeling guilty. I am getting back into it first thing Sunday morning and i know my weight will start coming off again. Everyone is different. If eating under 1200 calories works for you and you do not feel weak or are not getting sick then by all means go for it. Eating under 1200 calories does not mean you have an eating disorder as some people would say. I constantly get ridiculed for my food diary and I just simply say I know what works for me so please don't judge. Good luck to you and make sure you listen to YOUR mind and body as you know it best.

i would like to wish you luck for your first half! i just did my first half a little under a month ago and it was a great experience!
that being said, just be aware of the fact that you will probably need to up your intake A LOT so you aren't dragging during/after long runs and the race itself. you're going to feel like death if you eat less than 1200 and then burn 1300 on a 12 mile run, simply because your body requires a lot energy and it won't be getting enough.
by all means, do what works for you, but don't be surprised if you need to eat at least a couple hundred more to make it through!

And why would you even make a blanket statement like that? You don't know me. You don't know what works for me. You have no idea the type of healthy lifestyle I live. So how in the world would you know what was going on inside of my body? Are you a doctor? My doctor?

I have lost almost 110 lbs of the 150 that I hope to lose. I am eating anywhere from 600-1200 in 3 meals a day. I try to vary it up and down and have what hubby and I call "resetting our metabolism" days where I eat more in case that "starvation mode is actually true (the research by science/medicine is wishy washy on it). I gotta admit, it's hard sometimes. I'm banded (lap-band) but it is not filled at all though I still have some restriction. There are times that I could eat a lot more and I feel like I am really hungry even when I have eaten up to 1500 calories due to emotional eating. I have it covered most of the time and turn to the book "Shrink Yourself" by Dr. Roger L. Gould which has helped me tremendously! Wishing you luck with your diet. IF you are able to exercise a lot, you can lose eating more calories but it will be slower.

Also, I have a disability (FXTAS/FMS) and have to get my labs drawn every 6 months. All my levels have been tremendous. My Folate, Calcium, Potassium, vitamin D, and B12 are well within normal (I have a problem with my Vitamin D before I started dieting and now take vitamin D every day. I use EAS protein drinks normally once a day and take one a day-vita craves gummy every day) That's it!

PS: We all have different bodies, different metabolism rates, different medical conditions, what works for me probably won't work for a lot of people especially without WLS!
http://azlapband.com/blog/lap-band-helps-outsmart-hunger/

And why would you even make a blanket statement like that? You don't know me. You don't know what works for me. You have no idea the type of healthy lifestyle I live. So how in the world would you know what was going on inside of my body? Are you a doctor? My doctor?

Calm down...no need to be so aggressive. You do whatever you want with your body, but some people might not want to do that. We are collecting opinions, aren't we?

food is your friend.. the more you eat the better, combine sensible eating with resistance training and you can achieve desired aesthetics.

+1
Thank you!

Just because someone eats 1,200 or less doesn't mean food isn't their "friend" or they don't exercise.

And why would you even make a blanket statement like that? You don't know me. You don't know what works for me. You have no idea the type of healthy lifestyle I live. So how in the world would you know what was going on inside of my body? Are you a doctor? My doctor?

Calm down...no need to be so aggressive. You do whatever you want with your body, but some people might not want to do that. We are collecting opinions, aren't we?

No, we are offering advice based on what works for us, not telling her what she should be doing. You basically accused me of killing my metabolism by eating the way I do. Sorry for taking it out on you, but that is one thing that drives me nuts with the forum these days. Too many people who think they know what's best for everyone else. My apologies it was directed towards you.

900-1,000 calories helps me lose weight, 1,000-1,100 calories helps me maintain my weight and 1,200+ calories makes me gain weight.

Wow, you just killed your metabolism...

Not at all.

How can you maintain at 1200 calories a day?

No, we are offering advice based on what works for us, not telling her what she should be doing. You basically accused me of killing my metabolism by eating the way I do. Sorry for taking it out on you, but that is one thing that drives me nuts with the forum these days. Too many people who think they know what's best for everyone else. My apologies it was directed towards you.

Forums are not exactly the best source for seeking nutritional advice in the first place, especially this one, as I see. We are not the ones to give professional advice anyways. I didn't say it was best for everyone, I just expressed my point. There are plenty of people with the same view, and I believe it is fair for it to be mentioned. The TS can choose whatever she wants for her life. You keep doing what you are doing and whatever works for you, and I will be enjoying my 2000+ a day

900-1,000 calories helps me lose weight, 1,000-1,100 calories helps me maintain my weight and 1,200+ calories makes me gain weight.

Wow, you just killed your metabolism...

Not at all.

How can you maintain at 1200 calories a day?

Easily. Like I said, I sit at a desk all the time. I exercise regularly but mostly walking. I'm not looking to lean up right now. I'm not looking to build muscle and create definition right now either. I'm just living life and maintaining my weight loss. When I start hitting the weights then I will adjust those numbers accordingly... but for now, after 2.5 years of tracking, those numbers are what works for me personally.

900-1,000 calories helps me lose weight, 1,000-1,100 calories helps me maintain my weight and 1,200+ calories makes me gain weight.

Wow, you just killed your metabolism...

Not at all.

How can you maintain at 1200 calories a day?

Easily. Like I said, I sit at a desk all the time. I exercise regularly but mostly walking. I'm not looking to lean up right now. I'm looking to build muscle and create definition. I'm just living life and maintaining my weight loss. When I start hitting the weights then I will adjust those numbers accordingly... but for now, after 2.5 years of tracking, those numbers are what works for me personally.

There is no possible way to build muscle on 1200 a day. Calories in vs calories out.

I do just fine and I'm certainly not starving on 1,200 or less a day.

Breakfast = Approximately 500 calories



Lunch = Approximately 300 calories



Dinner = Approximately 200 calories



Morning, Afternoon and Evening Snacks = Approximately 50 calories

8-10 cups of water per day and green tea for other beverage.
I also take a probiotic with my meals because I can't stand yogurt.

I really think you should speak to your doctor and a dietitian about what is a healthy amount to be eating per day with what your lifestyle is (how active, your job, number of hours sitting vs. standing, etc.) and what your goals are.

If you eat less than what you need for your resting metabolic state, you will lose weight, but it is an unhealthy weight loss. And one that will unsustainable in the long run. Once you go below the minimum number of calories your body needs to perform essential tasks, your body starts breaking down ALL materials in your body, not just fat and excess weight. It will also start to break down muscle tissue and use it for sustenance. And this is very dangerous. You never want your body to enter into starvation mode.

And remember, weight loss takes time. 1-2 lbs per week is healthy, anything more than that tends to be unsustainable in the long run. The most important thing is changing your lifestyle to something that you can sustain for life. It's the only way to keep the weight off permanently. A quick fix is no different than a fad diet. You'll end up putting all the weight back on and more when you return to eating "normally". And everyone plateaus, it's frustrating, but it happens.

Bottom line: check with a registered health care professional as to what you should be eating, how much, how frequently, and what a realistic weight loss should be for you in a specific time period. Their opinion is the most important because it's their job to keep you healthy and safe. People on this site can provide advice, but it may not be accurate and/or healthy. And longterm all weight loss is about achieving a healthy lifestyle overall.

Also, check out http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/ It's a documentary on weight gain in the States (you can stream it for free from their site) and has various interesting exercise and fitness options that certain States have set up. There may be a similar program near you that can help. Additionally, they talk about how just increasing your exercise and even losing small increments of weight slowly makes a huge impact on your overall health.

For me: I eat 1200-1400 calories per day and work out at least 45 minutes, 6 days a week. And I try to eat 5 times a day - breakfast, mid-morning snack (yogurt cup/banana), lunch, late afternoon snack (cos we eat dinner late), and dinner. I've been losing weight steadily. I'm not a gym person, so you'll rarely find me in one, unless they have a fun class!

I have lost a little over 33 pounds since the first of the year eating a base of 1200 calories. I work out almost every day and eat some but not all of my workout calories back. I have, usually, one day a week that I am over my calorie goal but i still track everything I eat. Works for me. I hope you find what works for you.

No, we are offering advice based on what works for us, not telling her what she should be doing. You basically accused me of killing my metabolism by eating the way I do. Sorry for taking it out on you, but that is one thing that drives me nuts with the forum these days. Too many people who think they know what's best for everyone else. My apologies it was directed towards you.

Forums are not exactly the best source for seeking nutritional advice in the first place, especially this one, as I see. We are not the ones to give professional advice anyways. I didn't say it was best for everyone, I just expressed my point. There are plenty of people with the same view, and I believe it is fair for it to be mentioned. The TS can choose whatever she wants for her life. You keep doing what you are doing and whatever works for you, and I will be enjoying my 2000+ a day

I so agree with you. There is no way I could only eat 1200 cal or less everyday. I would not have energy and be tired.

I lose on 1200 but I am only at 112.5 lbs. While you can lose on 112 lbs, I'd eat more now so that when you need to drop lower as you get lighter, you have room to drop. If you eat 1200 now, and your body gets used to it, what will you do once you've lost more? Yes, you will still lose, but more slowly I believe than if you work your way down as your body weight drops.

I am 5'5 and currently weigh 181 lbs. MFP has me at 1510 cal, but I am very active and typically earn quite a few exercise calories. Some of which I log and some I don't. I eat around 1500 on days I don't work out and closer to 1800 on days that I do work out. Before joining MFP and learning better health I started out at 212 lbs and wanted to lose weight so I just decided that 1200 cal decided like a good number and I did lose weight and rather fast. But as fast as I lost weight was as fast as I stalled out and found it very difficult to continue the loss. I believe unless you are very very inactive or already close to goal weight that 1200 is just too low to fuel your body .

I agree with the statement above in that as you lose weight you are suppose to reduce your calories to continue the weight loss or exercise more or eventually the weight will stop coming off as your body learns what to expect. I am proof of it. I am now working my way back up and buidling my metabolism back up to an acceptable level so i can drop calories again and ultimately lose more weight.

I disagree with the "whatever works" statements. Take those with a grain of salt. Whatever works isn't always whatever is right or what will work for life. If you stop losing weight at 1200 calories and decide to drop it lower..do you think you could keep up with eating 900 calories the rest of your life and get proper nutrition? Probably not.