[Lori Bell]

Originally Posted by beerab

I would say 1400-1500 is too low for you. You weigh 280, therefore need more calories to sustain than someone at a lower weight. I'm at 212 and if I ate 1200 calories a day I'd starve! I eat between 1300-1500 most days....

Isn't it funny how different we all are. I ate 1200 calories a day at 333 pounds and I didn't starve. I had 190 pounds of stored fuel to keep me running efficiently.

[MeowMix]

Originally Posted by Lori Bell

Isn't funny how different we all are. I ate 1200 calories a day at 333 pounds and I didn't starve. I had 190 pounds of stored fuel to keep me running efficiently.

I'm the same way. I tell people I'm eating 1200 calories and they tell me I'm going to send my body into starvation mode. But I tell them, look at all this fat on me . . my body has plenty to run of off.

I know how my body reacts to starvation, I starved myself in highschool .. I got awful headaches and was a MONSTER, snapping at everyone! So I know I'm not starving, in fact I haven't felt this good in years.

It's different for everyone though. Do what feels right for you body.

[time2lose]

All right, an ugly monster is raising its head with me, not new, I have been having this thought for awhile now. I have difficulty sticking with 1200 calories/day. I can stick with 1500/day just fine. I feel weak and inferior.

I think sometimes I justify the 1500, to myself anyway. Is the secret to being able to stick to 1200 calories finding plenty of low calorie food that you can eat in volume? Or is it just will power?

[Lori Bell]

Originally Posted by time2lose

All right, an ugly monster is raising its head with me, not new, I have been having this thought for awhile now. I have difficulty sticking with 1200 calories/day. I can stick with 1500/day just fine. I feel weak and inferior.

I think sometimes I justify the 1500, to myself anyway. Is the secret to being able to stick to 1200 calories finding plenty of low calorie food that you can eat in volume? Or is it just will power?

Oh shucks, don't feel inferior. That is what is so great about calorie counting, everyone can choose what works best for them...and according to your ticker you have found the best for you!

I stuck to (Dr. Approved) 1200 calories most of the time because I was SO SICK AND TIRED of being fat. I wanted it gone as quickly and as safely as possible. I've lost weight fast, I've lost weight very slowly and everywhere in between, and no matter how I lost it, it ALWAYS has come back. The slower you lose it doesn't mean it will magically stay gone. NOW, you might learn new behaviours going slow, that will hopefully stick in the long term...but once I had a taste of sugar, the moderation and new behaviors took a nose dive.

I think what drives me nuts is when people constantly use the term "starvation mode" in reference to a 1200 calorie diet. So much in fact that I've been taking pictures of my food. I plan to start a thread one of these days that shows how much food 1200 calories really is....Volume and nutrition is the key for me. 1200 calories can be A LOT of delicious food.

[time2lose]

Thanks, Lori

I am not getting discouraged in terms of "I might quit.", no way, no how. I am in this for life. There are too many things at stake to give up.

I don't think that 1200 calories would be starvation mode for me. At 54 and 5'2", my caloric need is pretty low and I have plenty of fat stored. But 1200 calories/day seems to be the ultimate pinnacle that is beyond my reach. When I first started, I saw a dietitian who said "1200 calories/day". I can do a 1200 calorie day here and there but just have not been able to stick to that.

I tried the 1200 calories when the dietitian told me that but just could not stick to it. I think that going from 3,000 or 4,000 calories a day, that 1200 was just overwhelming. At first I ate 1500-1800 a day and gradually lowered my calories to 1500 maximum. I lost well for the first 6 months. The past 6 months my weight loss has slowed. I am going to work on dropping my calories some more. I may try 1200 for one day a week and then two, etc.

I am still working on my food. I need to add more low calorie foods.

Lori Bell originally posted: I plan to start a thread one of these days that shows how much food 1200 calories really is....Volume and nutrition is the key for me. 1200 calories can be A LOT of delicious food.

That would be wonderful! It could really help me and probably many others.

[Onederchic]

I don't think 1200 is starvation mode either. I may recommend more at times but only if someone is eating 1000 calories or less and not losing but of course, I am no expert so my recommendations have no clout. I believe Lori has stated before that she did 1200 4 days a week and 1500 3 days a week, maybe you could try that? She is living proof that it can work, maybe you will have the same success. I also agree with low calorie, nutritious foods in volume. I have to have a lot on my plate or I feel deprived and it works for me. Good luck with your goals

PS - Lori, I would love to see the pics

[Lori Bell]

That's exactly right Onederchick. About 2 months into my 1200 calories/day I added extra weekend calories. So I had 1200 cal 4 days/week and 1500 cal 3 days/week for over a year. A weekly average of around 1330/day. Even now I stick to my 1200 on Monday thru Thursday. Guess I secretly want to see the 140's

[Onederchic]

Hehe