Under 1200 calories?

[lennet93]

Is it really bad to eat less than 1200 calories per day? I'm following the belly fat cure and doing the 30 day shred, most days I'm under 1200 calories even under 1000 a day on somedays.:ohwell: I'm not hungry and I don't feel deprived but I just don't want to slow my weight loss in any way because I have a lot to lose and I don't want to be hindering that in any way.

ETA: I'm not purposely eating under 1200 calories

[poookie]

as long as you're getting enough nutrients and aren't hungry, it can't be all that bad. the thing is, it can be tough to get the recommended daily allowances of certain minerals, vitamins, and nutrients when you eat below 1000 calories. over time, that will be detrimental to your health, as certain minerals are necessary for our overall health. as long as you don't keep it up for months at a time, you'll be ok :yep:

[MJ]

Not a good idea. It can trick your body into thinking it's in starvation mode and your metabolic rate will decrease. After a while, you won't lose any weight despite rigorous exercising. In fact, you may gain weight because you won't be able to sustain that low caloric intake for long and once you start eating regularly your body will hold on to everything (survival mode).

Losing weight that way isn't healthy. Don't do it. Instead, eat healthy and exercise smart. It just may take you longer than you would prefer to reach your goal, but you'll get there.

Check out the forums on myfitnesspal.com and sparkpeople.com for great advice and inspirational stories and pictures.

[Keen]

I don't think it's bad. My goal is not to exceed 1200 calories a day. I don't believe your body goes into starvation mode unless you don't eat for a long period of time but that's just my opinion.

[suburbanbushbabe]

You may not feel deprived but 1000 cals is so not enough. If you aren't giving your body enough nourishment, it will think it is starving, go into survival mode and hold onto that fat you want to lose. Same thing happens if you don't eat frequently enough. I had a boss once who only ate one meal a day and had one of those overhanging the belt bellies. Also, you may be sensitive to certain types of foods and may want to consider eating less or none of them. Sugars and simple carbohydrates for one. Some people are gluten or wheat sensitive and once they eliminate gluten they're good.

[topnotch1010]

I don't think it's bad. My goal is not to exceed 1200 calories a day. I don't believe your body goes into starvation mode unless you don't eat for a long period of time but that's just my opinion.

ITA. That's the only way I lost weight was to eat under approx 1200 cals per day.

[Keen]

ITA. That's the only way I lost weight was to eat under approx 1200 cals per day.

1200 calories can be a lot of food if you make the right food choice.

[FlowerHair]

It depends on your height and weight. If you are very short and close to your ideal weight, it might be okay for a while when you're trying to shed some weight. :yep:

Otherwise, my vote is No to eating less than 1200 cals/day, especially if you exercise as well, which you should do to keep from losing too much muscle.

[TrustMeLove]

I don't think it's a good idea. Alot of the scientific facts don't back up that sort of lifestyle as healthy.

And I hear it all the time that it's working for me..it's working for me..But, what's really going on in the body? And I would love to know the body fat percentage of persons who eat soo little calories but lose weight. Are the muscles being depleted or is this real fat?

I might be more inclined to accept this way of life if a person showed a pattern of increase physical fitness (measureable fitness, like now can do 45 push ups but before could only do 25..runs mile in 6.30 min now etc) and a decline in body fat.

I felt the same way on the BFC. Hunger went down drastically and I had to make sure I got in enough food to feed my body and my intense exercise routine. It paid off in the end. :yep:

ETA: As someone said above it also depends on your height and weight. For someone like myself who started out over 200lbs...1200 calories isn't going to get it. But for someone who is also 5'5 but ways 130...ugh that could be perfect for them..:yep:

[tocktick]

The odd day at 1100 or 1000 will not damage you but consistently eating like that for months probably will. Keep in mind that weight loss is 80% diet, so if you're planning to lose a lot there's going to need to be a time where the option to lower your calories down as you get smaller is there. If you're at under 1,200 you don't have that much room to move until you're basically eating like someone with an eating disorder (and your body probably react in kind whether you've got that mental issue or not). A sweet potato or protein shake after workout, sprinkling some dried fruit on cereal etc or adding more healthy fats like olive oil, nuts, olives in your salad, avocado and PB will increase cal intake. If you consume dairy, then even some low-fat cheese will work too.

It depends on your height and weight. If you are very short and close to your ideal weight, it might be okay for a while when you're trying to shed some weight. :yep:

Otherwise, my vote is No to eating less than 1200 cals/day, especially if you exercise as well, which you should do to keep from losing too much muscle.

I agree, especially with the bold text. I think under 1200 is ok when:

* the first point FlowerHair made (provided you're 5'0" and under, plus not that active), since their maintenance cals aren't that much to start with.

* a pretty inactive person, eating high raw or a very very clean diet (even then I think under 1000 is pushing it and it's mainly those who are closer to their goal who could do this)

* eating low calorie for a very short time

* you've always been very thin and just naturally do not have an appetite (these are the folks who just naturally thin/ectomorphs and on top of that eat 1-2 meals and a snack a day. This is their "maintenance" calories but they're often underweight.)

* you actually do not give two fuggs where your weight loss is coming from and think you're the exception to scientific facts etc (e.g - folks on biggest loser or should I say those who put them on the plans) :spinning:

I sometimes browse a forum specifically for people losing weight and there are an incredible amount of threads like this:

Person A: "I was losing 2/3/4lbs a week for a few weeks. I'm working out doing running/videos/spinning etc 5/6x a week. I eat about 1000-1200 a day. Suddenly, my weight loss has stopped but I haven't changed anything nor am I doing anything wrong".

Person B, D, F - Z: "Increase your calories. It worked for me.".

You cannot out-smart your body. If you've managed to get to "goal" at under 1200, then that doesn't mean you've outsmarted it either. It means you've compromised your metabolism and will probably join the hoards of people who really struggle to maintain (or worse still, the people who blow up at 1,300 and over after a few months) because they ate way too little. Many of whom also over-trained too.

[kbragg]

I don't believe is starvation mode so much but there is a such thing as "energy balance." The body is smart and always looking to reach a point of equilibrium. What this means is if you consistently eat under 1200 calories, you body will slow down your metabolism so that you ONLY burn that many calories per day. Then your only solution will be to continue to reduce calories to continue losing weight. Since you have a lot to lose this is a bad idea. Just look up all the horror stories of the women on Kimkins who ended up with heart problems and hair loss from eating so few calories. Those poor women would regain QUICKLY on just 1000 calories a day:nono:

A better plan of action is to "zig zag" your calories so the body doesn't get used to one set caloric number and will continue to burn fat. Lift weights to increase your metabolism. IMO it's better to be lean and tight and able to eat 2400 calories a day and maintain you weight, than being skinny fat (skinny with flabby arms, cellulite and a pooch) and not able to eat over 1000 calories a day without regain.:nono:

Here's a good site to help you figure out how many calories you should be eating: http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm It even has a zig zag chart that shows you how to vary your intake so you can keep fat loss going:yep: BUT if you've been eating very low calories for an extended period of time, and it says you need to eat 1700 then gradually increase your calories by 50 calories a day a week at a time (For example Week 1: 1050, Week 2: 1100, Week 3: 1150, and so on) so you don't start rapidly gaining fat. This could easily be done but adding 1/2 tablespoon of butter, 1 teaspoon of olive or coconut oil, 6 almonds, etc. Just a little at a time.

Now this only applies if you are like me and love food and love to eat:lachen: I train in a way so that when I reach goal I won't have to be that freaky relative whose terrified to eat a piece of birthday cake or have a coney dog at the Fair (ummmmm....Funnel Cake:lick: I think I should change my name to Homer Simpson:lachen:). I am on this journey not only to reach goal but to show my family that you can be a healthy weight, and still live life:yep:

[NappyMD]

Op, I am mystified as to how you are doing the shred on so little calories. You will most surely consume muscle! Triple check your calories, many time you are eating more than you think. Just getting enough proteins, oils, and carbs should get you to 1200. Maybe you mean 1200 net (after subtracting exercise?). If you are truly undereating, yet not hungry, I fear for your metabolism, so take ticktock's advice asap!

[lennet93]

Thanks for the replies ladies...I must be really slow because this seems confusing to me:look: MFP says that I should consume 1460 calories per day in order to lose 2 lbs per week but when I enter my exercise, it gives me an extra 300 calories for exercise, so on the days that I workout I should eat about 1700 calories? That seems like a lot:ohwell:

[TrustMeLove]

I would dial my MFP calories back to calculate 1.-1.5 lbs lost on diet and continue a workout program that incoporates weight training 3 days a week and at least 2 days of cardio (or whatever work out you are doing) not eat any caloies MFP says you have due to exercise...

[MiSs_RoChELLe]

As you loose weight are you supposed to reduce the amount of calories you eat?

[TrustMeLove]

As you loose weight are you supposed to reduce the amount of calories you eat?

Yes. :yep:

I do Weight Watchers so I reduce points which is a fancy word for calories. I started at 31 points and now I'm at 25 points. At 31 points I weighed 231 pounds at 25 points I weighed as of last week 185.8 pounds.

[tocktick]

As you loose weight are you supposed to reduce the amount of calories you eat?

If you're heavier, you need more calories in order to simply maintain that mass because it takes a lot of energy (calories). This is why some who is 195lbs at 5'2 can eat 2200 and lose a lot of weight for quite a while. However, as they get smaller less calories are needed because there is simply less fat. The 5'2" woman may need to eat around 1,400 cals once down to 125lbs in order to lose to keep losing since maintenance cals will be less than 2200 (unless she's super active).

1,200 is supposed to be the general rock-bottom amount your body needs in order to do perform vital functions such as pumping blood, working your organs etc. Eating lower than this for a prolonged period means that your body is going to prioritise where that energy (calories) goes. Hence why many people who restrict for too long suffer from heart problems due to the body eating muscle, as well as poor skin, hair and nails, lethargy and osteoporosis.

[Lisa]

Is it really bad to eat less than 1200 calories per day? I'm following the belly fat cure and doing the 30 day shred, most days I'm under 1200 calories even under 1000 a day on somedays.:ohwell: I'm not hungry and I don't feel deprived but I just don't want to slow my weight loss in any way because I have a lot to lose and I don't want to be hindering that in any way.

ETA: I'm not purposely eating under 1200 calories

Would you mind posting what you are eating? I need HELP!!

[kayex]

I will offer up myself as an example as I have met with my doctor, thoroughly researched the subject of nutrition and have joined many weight loss sites to learn the science behind their programs.

I am 5'0 or a little under. If I do not work out at all do nothing just live my life and eat 1200 calories I will lose 2 pounds per week - as long as I eat those 1200 calories. Dare I go under I will not lose, I know this as right now I am working very hard but not eating enough. My weight loss has been stagnant and I am only attempting to lose 10 pounds. If I exercise moderately meaning walking for 30 minutes per day, not in any way close to physical exertion, the amount of calories I can consume daily and lose 2 pounds per week jumps to 1580. Imagine what I can eat if I exercised rigorously.
I was told this by my doctor, my alloted points on WW correlates this, Sparkpeople, calorie counter, webMD and a few other confirm it along with my body and my weight loss progress.

I lost the most weight the fastest when I was eating the most food. Mini meals all throughout the day and walking for an hour a day. It was a chore for me to eat all that food so sometimes and I highly recommend this I would just eat a handful of nuts, a can of sardines or use olive oil to saute instead of chicken broth just to up my calories really quickly. Find ways to eat your minimum daily caloric requirement and since you said you have quiet a few pounds to lose I honestly don't think your requirement is 1200 to keep your body functioning as it should. Do not shortchange yourself like that as it will really screw with your metabolism and as many of the ladies mentioned you will be wondering why later on you stopped losing and possibly even started gaining.

[kbragg]

I will offer up myself as an example as I have met with my doctor, thoroughly researched the subject of nutrition and have joined many weight loss sites to learn the science behind their programs.

I am 5'0 or a little under. If I do not work out at all do nothing just live my life and eat 1200 calories I will lose 2 pounds per week - as long as I eat those 1200 calories. Dare I go under I will not lose, I know this as right now I am working very hard but not eating enough. My weight loss has been stagnant and I am only attempting to lose 10 pounds. If I exercise moderately meaning walking for 30 minutes per day, not in any way close to physical exertion, the amount of calories I can consume daily and lose 2 pounds per week jumps to 1580. Imagine what I can eat if I exercised rigorously.
I was told this by my doctor, my alloted points on WW correlates this, Sparkpeople, calorie counter, webMD and a few other confirm it along with my body and my weight loss progress.

I lost the most weight the fastest when I was eating the most food. Mini meals all throughout the day and walking for an hour a day. It was a chore for me to eat all that food so sometimes and I highly recommend this I would just eat a handful of nuts, a can of sardines or use olive oil to saute instead of chicken broth just to up my calories really quickly. Find ways to eat your minimum daily caloric requirement and since you said you have quiet a few pounds to lose I honestly don't think your requirement is 1200 to keep your body functioning as it should. Do not shortchange yourself like that as it will really screw with your metabolism and as many of the ladies mentioned you will be wondering why later on you stopped losing and possibly even started gaining.

@ the bolded, that's why I do what I do:lachen: Me lurve food!:lachen: