on 1200 cals a day. how much exercise should i be doing???

Hi everyone! im on the herbalife weight loss challenge. i have a shake for brekfast and one for lunch then a healthy dinner. my daily cals are 1200.

i need to loose about four stone / 56 pounds before jan 2009 as im going to be a skinny bridesmaid! wishful thinking ha ha!

anyways....ive got a cross trainer and a multi gym. im not too sure how long i should be working out for and how many days per wk?

any advise would be very much appreciated.

x

On 1200, no exercise. You need to eat more if you are going to be working out.

Original Post by merylwhite1:

On 1200, no exercise. You need to eat more if you are going to be working out.

 ^ This. What a shame that you are wasting your money on herbalife while you could just be eating healthy and exercising. It will work just the same, just more healthier since you are getting all the nutrients you need.

Even if it's just 1200 calories, you need to walk briskly for about 30 minutes every other day (or brisk walk for 20 minutes every day0 to keep your metabolic rate up. else your body will reduce the metabolic activity given your reduced intake

The issue here for you will be staying motivated when your energy reserves are low (when you eat too little) - there is pretty good scientific evidence and some well established anecdotal evidence that suggests it's harder to exercise and lose weight and stay motivated with large calorie deficits (calories in vs., calories out).  

Generally speaking you have a lot of weight to lose and you are eating enough to not affect your metabolism with your eating habits - motivation will be your major hurdle - keeping it up so to speak.

The answer to your question "how much should you exercise" - as long as your doctor says you can do so - you should exercise as much as you can.  Allow for recovery periods (that depend entirely on your exercise routine) and go like a whirling dervish!

you may reach your goal, and be a skinny bridesmaid, but after so many months of slowing down your metabolism at 1200 cals a day and no exercise you'll put it all back on the second you eat normally. 

i know, i've been there. 

why not focus on strength training, toning up, and eating a balanced healthy diet?  You'll feel better, look better, and lose weight and inches. 

I'd rather be a healthy, strong, bridesmaid than a skinny one.

Original Post by thesuperbex:

why not focus on strength training, toning up, and eating a balanced healthy diet?  You'll feel better, look better, and lose weight and inches. 

I'd rather be a healthy, strong, bridesmaid than a skinny one.

Yeah, cause a gown's train can get heavy - you'll need your strength (that wasn't meant to sound sarcastic, I swear). 

Eat more, move more.

Yeah, cause a gown's train can get heavy - you'll need your strength (that wasn't meant to sound sarcastic, I swear).

this made me lol.  you'll need all the energy you can get to deal with all the "wonder" that comes from being in a wedding.  I know, I'm less than 2 months away from my bridemaid duty. ahhhh.

I'm cutting off half of my train, to give my maids a break . I've never been a maid, so I don't really know what to expect from them. Buy a dress, show up, stand in the right spot, tell me I'm pretty?

Original Post by amethystgirl:

I'm cutting off half of my train, to give my maids a break . I've never been a maid, so I don't really know what to expect from them. Buy a dress, show up, stand in the right spot, tell me I'm pretty?

 Don't forget throw you a shower and plan your bachelorette party

I did the 1200 calorie thing for a while. It sucked. I had no energy and I was a huge ***** to everyone because I was so hungry. I upped my calories to 1500, and while I'm still hungry, I at least have some energy.

Your best bet is to find your calorie burn for the day, and eat enough that you have a 500 calorie deficit. Also, what kind of exercises are you doing? I've had super awesome results with weight lifting Monday Wednesdsay Friday and doing cardio on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and sometimes I do cardio on my lifting days as well, just for fun.

Really, you don't want to eat too little. Its no fun, and your body just gets used to the deficit so you can't lose weight on it anymore.

So that's really interesting that you asked this question.  I agree 1200 cal a day is not enough for working out ... but here's my conundrum: CC set my goals to take in 1200 cal/day and burn 2150 cal/day.  REALLY?  That's like 2 hrs of aerobic exercise a day!!  I'm not sure I trust CC!

 Well id just like to say thankyou to Danaof doom, deepalinaair, legaleli and emily for the positive feedback. havnt really got anything to say to those of you who left negitive feedback apart from - why bother writing anything if your not going to be positive and support other online members? Ignorant and spiteful comments are not appreciated.

Thanks again!

FYI see feedback i got from the tools sec on cal intake:

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yeah I get mad when I don't get the answers I want too.