{"id":270,"date":"2023-07-14T13:34:33","date_gmt":"2023-07-14T13:34:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alleasyweightloss.com\/?p=270"},"modified":"2025-05-01T20:22:43","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T20:22:43","slug":"is-a-1200-calorie-diet-or-any-super-low-calorie-diet-actually-realistic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alleasyweightloss.com\/index.php\/2023\/07\/14\/is-a-1200-calorie-diet-or-any-super-low-calorie-diet-actually-realistic\/","title":{"rendered":"Is a 1200-Calorie diet (or any super low-calorie diet) actually realistic?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"reviewer\">Reviewed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/author\/brian-st-pierre\">Brian St. Pierre, MSc, RD, CSCS<\/a><\/p>\n<hr class=\"top\" \/>\n<h2>If Jerry Seinfeld were into health and fitness he\u2019d ask, \u201cWhat\u2019s the deal with the 1200-Calorie diet?\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>(Thanks for the joke, Dad.)<\/p>\n<p>But seriously: If you look at the caloric recommendations of many popular weight loss diets, you\u2019ll notice that 1200 Calories is often the \u201cideal target\u201d for women. (For men, it\u2019s often 1500.)<\/p>\n<p>The 1200-Calorie diet is also an extremely popular topic on Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram. Allegedly, even Kim Kardashian followed this prescriptive diet.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s nothing special about 1200 Calories <em>specifically.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>However, all this hype makes a person\u2014or a concerned coach\u2014wonder about low-calorie diets<em> in general<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Most importantly:<strong> Is such a low caloric target safe and sustainable?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the following article, we\u2019ll address that question, as well as:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li><strong>Why some people <\/strong><strong><em>don\u2019t<\/em><\/strong><strong> lose weight on 1200\u2013Calorie diets.<\/strong> (Hint: It has nothing to do with their thyroid or metabolic adaptation.)<\/li>\n<li><strong>The daily calorie target that tends to stimulate weight loss<\/strong>\u2014and not unbearable cravings or deprivation.<\/li>\n<li>Four <strong>science-supported strategies that help regulate appetite and hunger<\/strong>\u2014so folks can follow their food plan for the long term.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>But first\u2026<\/p>\n<h2>Where did the 1200-Calorie diet come from, anyway??<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s thought that the 1200-Calorie Diet dates back to 1918, when Lulu Hunt Peters, MD, released a book titled <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gutenberg.org\/files\/15069\/15069-h\/15069-h.htm\"><em>Diet and Health with Key to the Calories.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Peters writes in an entertaining manner, which may be what led to the book\u2019s lasting popularity. In 2005, the book was reprinted digitally, more than 80 years after its initial release and long after Dr. Peters\u2019 death.<\/p>\n<p>For example, within its pages, you\u2019ll find lots of messy stick and circle figures, along with advice to \u201cskip this chapter. It will not interest you in the least.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Among the book\u2019s prescriptive advice, readers are cautioned against consuming too much animal protein, as it \u201cmakes the disposition more vicious.\u201d For exercise, Dr. Peters encourages women to brush their hair vigorously, \u201cat least 200 double strokes all over the head.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>(Not everything from this book survived the test of time.)<\/p>\n<p>Embedded throughout is encouragement to consume 1200 Calories. (Says the book: \u201cYou will be surprised how much 1200 Calories will be if the food is judiciously selected.\u201d)<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Peters\u2019 thinking\u2014as well as the thinking of today\u2019s 1200-Calorie diet proponents\u2014goes like this:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li>Most women need about 2200 daily Calories to maintain their weight.<\/li>\n<li>A pound of fat contains 3500 Calories.<\/li>\n<li>If you consume 1000 fewer daily Calories than you need, you will lose about two pounds of fat a week. (Because math.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Thing is, while the arithmetic is straightforward, fat loss is anything but.<\/p>\n<p>Because\u2014quick fact check\u2014<em>not <\/em>all women\u2019s total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) will be 2200 Calories. A woman\u2019s calorie needs will depend on many factors, including her body size, lean mass, age, dieting history, and activity levels.<sup>1<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>TDEE might be much higher than 2200 for some women and much lower for others.<\/p>\n<p>In other words, 2200 Calories is an average\u2014and not a universal number that applies to all women.<\/p>\n<h2>Why some people don\u2019t lose weight on a 1200-Calorie diet<\/h2>\n<p>Very low calorie diets <em>can <\/em>and <em>do <\/em>lead to fat loss\u2014if you stick to them, consistently.<\/p>\n<p>For many women, 1200 represents about half the calories they need to maintain their weight. That\u2019s enough of a deficit to lead to weight loss for<em> most <\/em>people, including folks with thyroid problems.<\/p>\n<p>It can even overcome <strong>adaptive thermogenesis<\/strong>\u2014or the \u201cslowing\u201d of the metabolism after an extended period of caloric deficit. (Colloquially, this is what some folks call \u201cthe starvation response.\u201d)<\/p>\n<p>We know about this because of research done almost 80 years ago.<\/p>\n<h3>How your body fights back against the 1200-Calorie diet<\/h3>\n<p>In the mid-1940s, University of Minnesota researchers published a study called \u201cThe Minnesota Starvation Experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In this study, 36 men voluntarily semi-starved themselves for six months\u2014all in the name of science. The men ate 1570 daily Calories from food carefully portioned by dietitians. The meals added up to half their normal intake.<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, their basal metabolic rates did drop\u2014by a whopping 40 percent\u2014but it didn\u2019t stop them from losing weight. After six months, every single one of the men had lost about 25 percent of their weight\u2014<em>no exceptions<\/em>. <sup>2, 3<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><strong>Problem is, semi-starvation is brutal.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The longer you sustain such a severe calorie deficit, the more your biology fights you, turning down metabolism and turning up hunger and cravings.<\/p>\n<p>(Your body wants you to survive the famine!)<\/p>\n<p>As a result, you may find\u2014as the men in the Minnesota starvation study did\u2014food becomes all you talk about, think about, and dream about.<\/p>\n<p>Food preoccupation became so intense for the Minnesota men that they would routinely lick their plates clean after meals, and even rummage through the trash for food scraps between meals.<\/p>\n<p>(Many of these behaviors persisted even after the study ceased. Study alumni reported needing to keep snacks with them at all times, so they would never have to worry about hunger again.)<\/p>\n<p>During sustained caloric deprivation, many other biological chemicals get out of whack, too, leading to more headaches, depression, anxiety, and cold intolerance.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, your ability to concentrate drops, mostly because you can\u2019t focus on anything other than \u201cWHEN\u2019S MY NEXT MEAL???\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At this low calorie amount, it\u2019s also difficult to consume enough food to meet all your nutrient needs, too. So, the risk of malnutrition goes up.<\/p>\n<h3>How the 1200-Calorie diet often fails<\/h3>\n<p>Because of everything we mentioned above, it\u2019s difficult to consume 1200 Calories day after day.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, what usually happens: Folks nail their calorie targets some days, and wildly exceed it on others.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cClients say \u2018I\u2019m eating 1200 or 1300 Calories a day.\u2019 That\u2019s usually true-<em>ish<\/em>,\u201d says Brian St. Pierre, MS, RD, Precision Nutrition\u2019s Director of Nutrition. \u201cThey\u2019re in the ballpark four to five days a week.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On the other days, however, dieters find themselves drawn to highly indulgent, calorie-dense foods like\u2026<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li>A whole pizza, plus two beers (2200+ Calories)<\/li>\n<li>A burrito, two margaritas, chips, and guacamole (2000+ Calories)<\/li>\n<li>A gourmet burger with fries and a cola (1500 Calories)<\/li>\n<li>Pasta with chicken and roasted garlic from The Cheesecake Factory (1910 Calories)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Even if you\u2019re following your regular low-cal diet for most of the day, just one of the above meals can push your daily total well above 3000 Calories.<\/p>\n<p>A so-called cheat day can also add multiple thousands of calories to your weekly total. Yes, you consumed 1200 Calories on many days\u2014but your daily caloric <em>average<\/em> may be north of 1800.<\/p>\n<p>Depending on your body size and activity level, that may mean no\u2014or just very slow\u2014fat loss.<\/p>\n<p>Even if weight loss <em>is <\/em>happening, people\u2019s expectations\u2014especially when they\u2019re acutely miserable eating 1200 Calories 4 or 5 days a week and think weight should be <em>free-falling<\/em> off\u2014can set them up for disappointment.<\/p>\n<p>(Talking to clients who are frustrated with their results despite claiming to eat a low-cal can be a tricky, sensitive conversation. For help, check out the 5 steps outlined here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/low-calorie-no-results\">\u201cHelp! My client\u2019s not losing weight despite claiming to follow a low calorie diet!\u201d)<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"callout_box\">\n<h2>3 types of clients who might do well on a 1200-Calorie diet<\/h2>\n<p>We just made very-low-calorie diets sound like the big bad wolf.<\/p>\n<p>But the truth is, they <em>can<\/em> be appropriate for some people like:<\/p>\n<p>\u25ba <strong>Small women<\/strong>: Someone who stands 4 feet, 10 inches tall, weighs 110 pounds, and doesn\u2019t exercise might consume 1200 Calories to maintain or lose a small amount of weight.<\/p>\n<p>\u25ba <strong>Clients adept at advanced nutrition protocols<\/strong>: \u201cIf you get paid to look a certain way during a specific time frame, you\u2019re often more comfortable with the tradeoffs,\u201d St. Pierre says.<\/p>\n<p>These clients\u2014like weight-classed athletes, figure competitors, or celebrities\u2014tend to use ultra low-calorie diets as a temporary tool.<\/p>\n<p>Along with water weight manipulation (and maybe some spray tanning\/contouring and good lighting) extreme \u201ccuts\u201d can get these clients competition or photo-shoot ready.<\/p>\n<p>After the big day is over, they return to a more sustainable calorie target.<\/p>\n<p>\u25ba <strong>Bariatric patients<\/strong>: The 1200 Calorie target might also make sense for someone who needs to lose weight rapidly for health reasons. Dr. Nowzaradan\u2014one of the stars of the TV show \u201cMy 600-Lb. Life\u201d\u2014famously recommends 1200-Calorie diets for his patients.<\/p>\n<p>In this case, the person should undergo the diet under the direction of a medical professional.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>(There\u2019s lots of misconceptions around low-calorie diets. If you\u2019re interested in understanding how they <em>really <\/em>affect your body, read: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/metabolic-damage\">Can eating too little damage your metabolism?<\/a>)<\/p>\n<h2>A better way to lose fat\u2014and keep it off.<\/h2>\n<p>One solution to the 1200-Calorie dilemma is counterintuitive: Bump your daily target up to around 1500 Calories, says St. Pierre.<\/p>\n<p>(For men: Go higher, to around 1800, depending on your activity level and body size.)<\/p>\n<p>You might wonder: \u2018If I (or my client) wasn\u2019t losing weight on a 1200-Calorie diet, how could I possibly lose weight by eating\u2026 MORE? Shouldn\u2019t I eat even LESS?\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s why it works: By adding just a few hundred daily calories, you\u2019ll reduce the intense hunger, cravings, fatigue, and food obsessions that make it so difficult to remain consistent.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt feels as if you\u2019re eating more because, on most days, you are,\u201d says St. Pierre.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYet, <strong>while you\u2019ll eat more each <\/strong><strong><em>day<\/em><\/strong><strong> with 1500 Calories, you\u2019ll likely consume less each <\/strong><strong><em>week<\/em>.\u201d<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>The chart below shows how.<\/p>\n<p>(Note: Because no one consumes the exact calorie amount\u2014day after day\u2014we\u2019ve varied the daily calories to make them more realistic.)<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><strong>Aiming for 1500 Daily Calories<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Aiming for 1200 Daily Calories<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Monday<\/td>\n<td>1520<\/td>\n<td>1205<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Tuesday<\/td>\n<td>1480<\/td>\n<td>1180<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Wednesday<\/td>\n<td>1510<\/td>\n<td>1215<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Thursday<\/td>\n<td>1490<\/td>\n<td>1900<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Friday<\/td>\n<td>1515<\/td>\n<td>3200<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Saturday<\/td>\n<td>1485<\/td>\n<td>2800<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Sunday<\/td>\n<td>1505<\/td>\n<td>1180<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Weekly total:<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>10,505<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>13,280<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Daily Average:<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>1500<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>1811<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>However, even after bumping up daily calorie allowances, some people may still struggle with intense hunger and cravings.<\/p>\n<p>So, here are four strategies that make maintaining a calorie deficit a little more comfortable, and make fat loss more sustainable.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Include lean protein at every meal.<\/h3>\n<p>Protein takes longer to digest than carbohydrates or fats. It also stimulates the release of hunger and appetite-suppressing hormones like cholecystokinin (CCK) as well as drives down levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin.<\/p>\n<p>According to a scientific theory known as the <strong>protein leverage hypothesis<\/strong>\u2014often referred to as \u201cprotein hunger\u201d in lay circles\u2014the human body will keep hunger and appetite fired up until basic protein needs are met.<\/p>\n<p>(Note: There\u2019s conflicting research on this hypothesis\u2026 which is why it\u2019s still termed a <em>hypothesis<\/em>\u2014and not, say, a <em>law.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<p>Eat mostly low protein foods and you\u2019ll likely remain frustratingly hungry, even though you\u2019ve consumed a lot of calories. <sup>4<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>(See our \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/what-should-i-eat-infographic\"><strong>What Should I Eat?!<\/strong><\/a>\u201d infographic for the best protein sources.)<\/p>\n<p><strong><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\u25b6\" class=\"wp-smiley lazyload\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" data-src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/25b6.png\"> How to do it<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>Aim for <em>at least<\/em> 4-5 palm-sized portions of lean protein daily.<\/p>\n<p>Try to spread your intake out relatively evenly, consuming 1 to 2 palm-sized portions during every meal and snack.<\/p>\n<p>High protein sources include fish, shellfish, chicken, turkey, beef, eggs and egg whites, cultured cottage cheese, unflavored Greek yogurt, tofu, tempeh, seitan, and protein powders.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Increase your intake of non-starchy veggies.<\/h3>\n<p>If you ate an entire head of cauliflower, you\u2019d likely feel as if you were walking around with a brick in your stomach.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, you\u2019d only have consumed 146 Calories, give or take.<\/p>\n<p>Compare that to the <em>half <\/em>slice of pizza you\u2019d get for the same number of calories and you can understand why non-starchy veggies can help with fat loss.<\/p>\n<p>Loaded with water and fiber, veggies offer tons of volume for very few calories.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Nurses Health Study, which tracked the health outcomes of 133,000 people over several decades: Every additional daily serving of veggies (and fruits too, for that matter) was associated with a drop in weight. <sup>5<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><strong><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\u25b6\" class=\"wp-smiley lazyload\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" data-src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/25b6.png\"> How to do it<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>Gradually increase your daily veggie target over time, aiming for <em>at least<\/em> 4 fist-sized servings a day (along with 2-3 cupped handfuls of fruit). This increases the volume of food you eat without spiking caloric intake, so you can feel more satisfied with less.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, sometimes an order of fries or a slice of pizza is worth it\u2014yes, even <em>instead <\/em>of carrot sticks or a salad entree.<\/p>\n<p>Likely, the best meals are built with plenty of vegetables and lean protein to help you feel full and satisfied <em>and <\/em>small to moderate amounts of the really delicious mouth-happy foods that bring you pleasure.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Gravitate toward minimally-processed whole foods.<\/h3>\n<p>When people reduce calories, they sometimes lean hard into pre-packaged foods that are marketed for weight loss, such as sugar-free pudding cups, packaged diet bars, fat-free hot dogs, low-carb bread, and diet shakes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese kinds of foods aren\u2019t usually satisfying,\u201d says St. Pierre.<\/p>\n<p>First, they don\u2019t taste particularly great, so they often leave you yearning for the real, full-fat, full-carb, full-sugar deal.<\/p>\n<p>On top of that, they lack key nutrients\u2014especially protein and fiber\u2014that help keep hunger and appetite in check.<\/p>\n<p>By shifting <em>away <\/em>from highly-processed foods and \u201cdiet foods\u201d and <em>toward<\/em> minimally-processed whole foods, you\u2019ll automatically consume more fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.<\/p>\n<p>End result: You\u2019ll feel less hungry and more satisfied.<\/p>\n<p><strong><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\u25b6\" class=\"wp-smiley lazyload\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" data-src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/25b6.png\"> How to do it<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>Start by making small swaps.<\/p>\n<p>For example, maybe you\u2019re a chip-lover, and you tend to reach for them (and reach again) when you\u2019re hungry between meals.<\/p>\n<p>Now think: What\u2019s a minimally-processed food that you like and would even look forward to eating, that you could keep accessible during those snack-attacks, so you have an alternative to chips?<\/p>\n<p>Chances are, that choice is also going to end up being more nutritious and satiating\u2014while also being lower-calorie, partly because it\u2019s harder to overeat minimally-processed foods. (Unlike chips! [<em>shakes fist<\/em>])<\/p>\n<p>Sounds simple, but we\u2019ve seen people dramatically transform their diet over time with this approach\u2014with way less effort than people who simply try to restrict their food intake.<\/p>\n<p>When you\u2019re ready, you can do other swaps, gradually increasing your intake of minimally-processed whole foods until they compose most of your diet.<\/p>\n<p>(For ideas on how to make these relatively painless swaps, check out this piece: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/meal-plans-usually-suck\">Meal plans usually suck: Here are 6 better ways to transform your diet<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>In our experience, most people can find an excellent balance between health and pleasure when minimally-processed foods comprise roughly 70 to 80 percent of their overall diet.<\/p>\n<p>(If you\u2019re curious about the many other reasons highly-processed foods make you feel like you always need MORE, check out: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/why-you-cant-stop-overeating-infographic\">Why you can\u2019t stop overeating junk food<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<h3>4. Add resistance training.<\/h3>\n<p>Usually, weight loss comes from a combination of fat loss and muscle loss.<\/p>\n<p>Muscle loss, however, is associated with an increase in the hunger hormone ghrelin and the appetite hormone insulin-like growth factor (IGF).<\/p>\n<p>Basically, your body is trying to maintain muscle mass, so it\u2019s turning up hunger and appetite in order to nudge you to eat its building blocks.<\/p>\n<p>Though strength training doesn\u2019t 100 percent eliminate muscle loss during weight loss, it can preserve most of it.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s key because, according to recent research, preserving lean mass may help blunt at least some of the appetite and hunger increases folks experience as they lose weight. <sup>6<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><strong><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\u25b6\" class=\"wp-smiley lazyload\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" data-src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/25b6.png\"> How to do it<\/strong>: If you\u2019re not doing it already, add a twice-weekly strength training session to your routine, following a program that targets all of your major muscle groups.<\/p>\n<p>(If you\u2019re just getting started with strength training, consider downloading our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/video-exercise-library#14dayworkout\">FREE 14-day at-home workout program<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<h2>The honest truth: Some hunger is inevitable.<\/h2>\n<p>Anyone who tells you that you can \u201close weight without hunger\u201d is likely trying to sell you something.<\/p>\n<p>If you follow the 1200 Calorie Diet\u2014or just consume fewer calories than your body is used to\u2014your body is going to toss up a hunger flare.<\/p>\n<p>That said, if you\u2026<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li>Slightly bump up your overall calorie intake<\/li>\n<li>Optimize your consumption of lean protein, veggies, and whole foods (while still allowing some \u201cjust for pleasure\u201d treats so you don\u2019t feel deprived)<\/li>\n<li>Incorporate regular strength training<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u2026 You\u2019ll be able to lose fat without feeling <em>exceptionally<\/em> hungry and deprived\u2014and even keep it off.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019ll feel more satisfied, you\u2019ll mentally feel better, and you\u2019ll physically feel better,\u201d says St. Pierre. \u201cYou can still make progress, just in a way that sucks a lot less.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tjQuery(document).ready(function(){<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tjQuery(&#8220;#references_link&#8221;).click(function(){<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tjQuery(&#8220;#references_holder&#8221;).show();<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tjQuery(&#8220;#references_link&#8221;).parent().hide();<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t});<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t});<\/p>\n<h2>References<\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"references_link\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Click here to view the information sources referenced in this article.<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"references_holder\">\n<ol class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li>Pontzer H, Yamada Y, Sagayama H, Ainslie PN, Andersen LF, Anderson LJ, et al. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8370708\/\">Daily energy expenditure through the human life course<\/a>. Science. 2021 Aug 13;373(6556):808\u201312.<\/li>\n<li>Kalm LM, Semba RD. <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/15930436\/\">They starved so that others be better fed: remembering Ancel Keys and the Minnesota experiment<\/a>. J Nutr. 2005 Jun;135(6):1347\u201352.<\/li>\n<li>Tobey JA. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC1526048\/\">The Biology of Human Starvation<\/a>. Am J Public Health Nations Health. 1951 Feb;41(2):236.<\/li>\n<li>Grech A, Sui Z, Rangan A, Simpson SJ, Coogan SCP, Raubenheimer D. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9828743\/\">Macronutrient (im)balance drives energy intake in an obesogenic food environment: An ecological analysis. <\/a>Obesity. 2022 Nov;30(11):2156\u201366.<\/li>\n<li>Bertoia ML, Mukamal KJ, Cahill LE, Hou T, Ludwig DS, Mozaffarian D, et al. <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosmedicine\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pmed.1001878\">Changes in Intake of Fruits and Vegetables and Weight Change in United States Men and Women Followed for Up to 24 Years: Analysis from Three Prospective Cohort Studies<\/a>. PLoS Med. 2015 Sep;12(9):e1001878.<\/li>\n<li>Turicchi J, O\u2019Driscoll R, Finlayson G, Duarte C, Hopkins M, Martins N, et al. <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31950141\/\">Associations between the proportion of fat-free mass loss during weight loss, changes in appetite, and subsequent weight change: results from a randomized 2-stage dietary intervention trial<\/a>. Am J Clin Nutr. 2020 Mar 1;111(3):536\u201344.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<h2>If you\u2019re a coach, or you want to be\u2026<\/h2>\n<p>\nYou can help people build <em>sustainable<\/em> nutrition and lifestyle habits that will significantly improve their physical and mental health\u2014while you make a great living doing what you love. We&#8217;ll show you how.\n<\/p>\n<p>\nIf you\u2019d like to learn more, consider the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/nutrition-certification-level-1-register-now\">PN Level 1 Nutrition Coaching Certification.<\/a><\/strong> (You can enroll now at a big discount.)\n<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/1200-calorie-diet\">Is a 1200-Calorie diet (or any super low-calorie diet) actually realistic?<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\">Precision Nutrition<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reviewed by Brian St. Pierre, MSc, RD, CSCS If Jerry Seinfeld were into health and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alleasyweightloss.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alleasyweightloss.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alleasyweightloss.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alleasyweightloss.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alleasyweightloss.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=270"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/alleasyweightloss.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":271,"href":"https:\/\/alleasyweightloss.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270\/revisions\/271"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alleasyweightloss.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=270"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alleasyweightloss.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=270"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alleasyweightloss.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}