So for those maintaining below 2000/day, is this a lifetime commitment?

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  • Jolinia
    Jolinia Posts: 846 Member
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    I'm 5'3 and 119 pounds with a goal weight of less than 110 pounds, unless I take up triathlon training I have no choice but to average out my week below 2000 or get fat again. That said, some days I eat over 2000, then I might eat very light the next day or two. It gives me a break from constantly having what I consider to be very small amounts of food on my plate.
  • aSaltandBattery
    aSaltandBattery Posts: 82 Member
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    I have a friend who is 5'1" and a programmer, so about as sedentary of a job as exists, and she can maintain a consistent weight on something like 1200-1400 calories. It's part of what bugs me (and drives her slowly insane) when people say "oh, you absolutely have to have more than the magical number 1200) Lots of people of smaller stature don't need 1500 calories to maintain, much less 2000.

    Thank you.
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    Options
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    cloudi2 wrote: »
    cloudi2 wrote: »
    Golly, did I say something inflammatory or what? Sheesh! Sorrrrrrrry!

    Ok. Lets just say you are all correct, and I am vewy vewy wong and that eating under 2000 calories per day is proper caloric intake for maintaining your desirable body weight, or, no, as I understand it here from the most authoratative posters on this thread, that real maintenance for a women, is more like, under 1800.

    My question IS: are you able and willing to undertake eating below that caloric amount of 1800 and do the physical formal excersize if that is part of your plan, FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, AND do you feel that might have ANY impact upon your health? Or quality of life?

    It looks like you are in denial about something.

    I'm extremely happy with my figure. I'm 5'7" 127lb 18-19% body fat, supercharged, 25" waist 37" hips (hourglass), tons of energy, never get ill, great skin, very strong bones, compete in triathlons and am strong. I'm 44.

    I maintain at 1750. Get over it.

    But, most days I eat 2250-2700 because of my training.

    Every time I think I know best and can eat more I just.....get fat...unless I'm purposely bulking then I get fat and muscley.

    You need to study more......

    Hi there Springfield,
    Glad to know you are feeling healthy!

    I was a low normal bmi most of my first 55 years of life just naturally. I didnt diet or watch my food intake at all, I didnt know what a bmi was! I started to gain slowly to the upper normal bmi after menopause. I dieted for the first time in my life then and maintained below 110 pounds for 5 years. I'm also 5' 7".
    I started to not feel so good, digestive problems, low energy, hair falling out. I was excersizing quite a lot, but no real major health problems came about and I wasn't put on any type of medication nor am I on any now and I don't have any health issues today.

    I began to read about caloric intake in relation to health while I was at that low weight, especially I was interested in the health of those of us over 60, but also about low intake plus excersize for everyone. There was a lot of conflicting information at the time.
    Meanwhile, I found that where at first I was maintaining on around 1300 to 1400 calories, even though I kept up with excersize and even increased it, that each 6 months to a year along I had to cut more calories in order to keep my weight loss maintained. So after reducing my calorie amounts to 1200, then 1000 per day, then eventually, in order to maintain my weight at or below 110, I was only able to eat 500 to 800 calories a day and still do a lot of excersize.

    Thank goodness I happened upon some reviews and some research writters who's papers, blogs, and web sites in some cases explained what was happening to me and I intentionally gained back to a weight that from whwt I read insures, as much as anything can do, my health will be robust into old age.

    I am glad to be able to say that now, at age 65 those issues I had while maintaining under 110 are now gone. the nervous energy I had has resolved to calm, my hair has regrown, I have adequate energy and the digestive issues have almost all cleared up as well.

    So my interest in this topic of maintenance continues to lead me to a curiosity of how other people manage to lose weight, maintain and do so without having to carry on their lives at a level of intake that to me, now, appears to be inadequate from the research and reading I have done.

    And I'm sure none of that had to do with the fact that you were underweight at 110lbs at 5'7 so having to eat very low calories to maintained your very low body weight.

    Of course you felt like crap at 110lbs - that's what happens when you're underweight.

    Hopefully most people here are planning to maintain at a healthy weight for their height.

    Yeah, this seems like a no brainer...I'm honestly confused as to what point the OP is trying to make exactly.

    I'm at a healthy weight and around 15-16% BF...I eat to fuel my activities appropriately (2600 - 3200 calories depending) and I exercise regularly. Not sure what the issue is here..most people are here to be healthy OP, not get underweight and try to maintain some super low body weight.

    I have no idea - but it's helping me pass a very quiet day at work.
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited February 2015
    Options
    I have a friend who is 5'1" and a programmer, so about as sedentary of a job as exists, and she can maintain a consistent weight on something like 1200-1400 calories. It's part of what bugs me (and drives her slowly insane) when people say "oh, you absolutely have to have more than the magical number 1200) Lots of people of smaller stature don't need 1500 calories to maintain, much less 2000.

    Thank you.

    Yes, you have it!

    I don't need any where these calories. It would take me only a couple of months to put on 10 pounds at 2000 calories - I would be 15 - 20 pounds heavier (putting me in the over weight BMI in couple of months (maybe sooner)).

    I think the OP is trolling now.. SEVEN pages and counting...

  • rosbodi
    rosbodi Posts: 1 Member
    Options
    and to feed the troll further ( I don't usually post on here, but am surprised no one has said this so far) there is a mountain of research that indicates caloric restriction is beneficial to health - beyond the excess weight issues.
    The 5:2 diet that's popular right now evolved from the very idea that fasting was healthy and that idea is based on some pretty sound research.


  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    edited February 2015
    Options
    My maintenance will be around 1400-1500, and since I can't be physically active every day I know I will need to devise some strategies. I plan to go on a perpetual yoyo diet where I lose and gain a certain number of pounds repeatedly, because I can't imagine having to live on no more than half the calories I'm used to consuming.

    Just to make it clear for OP. You don't really choose the number of calories you maintain on. If your maintenance is 1500 it would be pointless to try to maintain at 2000 or more because it wouldn't be called maintenance, it would be called weight gain.
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    Options
    My maintenance will be around 1400-1500, and since I can't be physically active every day I know I will need to devise some strategies. I plan to go on a perpetual yoyo diet where I lose and gain a certain number of pounds repeatedly, because I can't imagine having to live on more than half the calories I'm used to consuming.

    Can you lift to do a slow bulk and gain some muscle? - that can help raise your TDEE.

    It would also be a better use of the yoyo weight gain.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    Options
    My maintenance will be around 1400-1500, and since I can't be physically active every day I know I will need to devise some strategies. I plan to go on a perpetual yoyo diet where I lose and gain a certain number of pounds repeatedly, because I can't imagine having to live on more than half the calories I'm used to consuming.

    Can you lift to do a slow bulk and gain some muscle? - that can help raise your TDEE.

    It would also be a better use of the yoyo weight gain.

    I wouldn't be consistent enough with the training to gain enough muscle to make a difference due to my chronic back issues which flair up often and without warning, not to mention lifting may aggravate that (aside from the fact that I don't enjoy it). Thank you for the suggestion though.
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    Options
    My maintenance will be around 1400-1500, and since I can't be physically active every day I know I will need to devise some strategies. I plan to go on a perpetual yoyo diet where I lose and gain a certain number of pounds repeatedly, because I can't imagine having to live on more than half the calories I'm used to consuming.

    Can you lift to do a slow bulk and gain some muscle? - that can help raise your TDEE.

    It would also be a better use of the yoyo weight gain.

    I wouldn't be consistent enough with the training to gain enough muscle to make a difference due to my chronic back issues which flair up often and without warning, not to mention lifting may aggravate that (aside from the fact that I don't enjoy it). Thank you for the suggestion though.

    I thought I remembered you saying you had a medical issue. Never mind - gotta find what works for you when you have problems :flowerforyou:
  • Gamliela
    Gamliela Posts: 2,468 Member
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    mamadon wrote: »
    OP, I am curious to know why you are a member of MFP at all. If you feel they are misleading us in someway, then what is your purpose of being a member of this fitness site?

    I don't think MFP and CC are the bad guys. Its those higher commitees in the government that set and publicize the status on what is healthy bmi, proper caloric intake etc.

    MFP is just going with that government status of these things and I just said I thought they (mfp and cc) know that the newer more accurate caloric intakes for specific weight info is out there. But what can they do? fly in the face of the FDA and WHO? not likely. those guys are like gods, the FDA and the WHO I mean.

    why am I a member? its an easy way to track my calories, because I am susceptible to overestimate my calories, and I need to keep my calorie level up over 2300. Sometimes I slip down under that. I don't always count calories, but from time to time I find it helpful because my imagination will come into play and I don't really know how much I'm eating. I tend to enjoy eating and I eat for different reasons at different times. If I change eating certain things its always good to check for a few days to get an idea for sure I'm at least at 2300 or averaging that over a few days anyway.

    Thanks for asking, that was a good opportunity to make clear something that was murky in my earlier post! thanks again.
  • Gamliela
    Gamliela Posts: 2,468 Member
    Options
    gia07 wrote: »
    @iron_feline, you have a point. 5'7" and 110 pounds is underweight. I am 5'4" and weighed 110 almost my entire life until I got older and the hormones, menopause and crap started happening!
    Gia, I know, I know, on both counts. It was so easy for me to lose weight I just kept doing it and got hooked. and yep, the menopause is sooo bleck. It does end though and I didn't use hormone therapy and I feel great now that its over! :smiley:
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    Options
    cloudi2 wrote: »
    mamadon wrote: »
    OP, I am curious to know why you are a member of MFP at all. If you feel they are misleading us in someway, then what is your purpose of being a member of this fitness site?

    I don't think MFP and CC are the bad guys. Its those higher commitees in the government that set and publicize the status on what is healthy bmi, proper caloric intake etc.

    MFP is just going with that government status of these things and I just said I thought they (mfp and cc) know that the newer more accurate caloric intakes for specific weight info is out there. But what can they do? fly in the face of the FDA and WHO? not likely. those guys are like gods, the FDA and the WHO I mean.

    why am I a member? its an easy way to track my calories, because I am susceptible to overestimate my calories, and I need to keep my calorie level up over 2300. Sometimes I slip down under that. I don't always count calories, but from time to time I find it helpful because my imagination will come into play and I don't really know how much I'm eating. I tend to enjoy eating and I eat for different reasons at different times. If I change eating certain things its always good to check for a few days to get an idea for sure I'm at least at 2300 or averaging that over a few days anyway.

    Thanks for asking, that was a good opportunity to make clear something that was murky in my earlier post! thanks again.

    Where is this info - you still haven't posted ANYTHING that backs your claims.
  • Gamliela
    Gamliela Posts: 2,468 Member
    Options
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    cloudi2 wrote: »
    cloudi2 wrote: »
    Golly, did I say something inflammatory or what? Sheesh! Sorrrrrrrry!

    Ok. Lets just say you are all correct, and I am vewy vewy wong and that eating under 2000 calories per day is proper caloric intake for maintaining your desirable body weight, or, no, as I understand it here from the most authoratative posters on this thread, that real maintenance for a women, is more like, under 1800.

    My question IS: are you able and willing to undertake eating below that caloric amount of 1800 and do the physical formal excersize if that is part of your plan, FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, AND do you feel that might have ANY impact upon your health? Or quality of life?

    It looks like you are in denial about something.

    I'm extremely happy with my figure. I'm 5'7" 127lb 18-19% body fat, supercharged, 25" waist 37" hips (hourglass), tons of energy, never get ill, great skin, very strong bones, compete in triathlons and am strong. I'm 44.

    I maintain at 1750. Get over it.

    But, most days I eat 2250-2700 because of my training.

    Every time I think I know best and can eat more I just.....get fat...unless I'm purposely bulking then I get fat and muscley.

    You need to study more......

    Hi there Springfield,
    Glad to know you are feeling healthy!

    I was a low normal bmi most of my first 55 years of life just naturally. I didnt diet or watch my food intake at all, I didnt know what a bmi was! I started to gain slowly to the upper normal bmi after menopause. I dieted for the first time in my life then and maintained below 110 pounds for 5 years. I'm also 5' 7".
    I started to not feel so good, digestive problems, low energy, hair falling out. I was excersizing quite a lot, but no real major health problems came about and I wasn't put on any type of medication nor am I on any now and I don't have any health issues today.

    I began to read about caloric intake in relation to health while I was at that low weight, especially I was interested in the health of those of us over 60, but also about low intake plus excersize for everyone. There was a lot of conflicting information at the time.
    Meanwhile, I found that where at first I was maintaining on around 1300 to 1400 calories, even though I kept up with excersize and even increased it, that each 6 months to a year along I had to cut more calories in order to keep my weight loss maintained. So after reducing my calorie amounts to 1200, then 1000 per day, then eventually, in order to maintain my weight at or below 110, I was only able to eat 500 to 800 calories a day and still do a lot of excersize.

    Thank goodness I happened upon some reviews and some research writters who's papers, blogs, and web sites in some cases explained what was happening to me and I intentionally gained back to a weight that from whwt I read insures, as much as anything can do, my health will be robust into old age.

    I am glad to be able to say that now, at age 65 those issues I had while maintaining under 110 are now gone. the nervous energy I had has resolved to calm, my hair has regrown, I have adequate energy and the digestive issues have almost all cleared up as well.

    So my interest in this topic of maintenance continues to lead me to a curiosity of how other people manage to lose weight, maintain and do so without having to carry on their lives at a level of intake that to me, now, appears to be inadequate from the research and reading I have done.

    And I'm sure none of that had to do with the fact that you were underweight at 110lbs at 5'7 so having to eat very low calories to maintained your very low body weight.

    Of course you felt like crap at 110lbs - that's what happens when you're underweight.

    Hopefully most people here are planning to maintain at a healthy weight for their height.

    Yeah, this seems like a no brainer...I'm honestly confused as to what point the OP is trying to make exactly.

    I'm at a healthy weight and around 15-16% BF...I eat to fuel my activities appropriately (2600 - 3200 calories depending) and I exercise regularly. Not sure what the issue is here..most people are here to be healthy OP, not get underweight and try to maintain some super low body weight.

    yes, I know stuff about being unhealthy at a low bmi.
    but even when I got to a perfectly healthy bmi, I couldnt maintain that weight level without being at w serously deficit caloric intake. only point there was that it may be necessary to keep lowering calories and or upping excersize to maintain even a 'healthy bmi' at any age.
    I hope getting healthy is everyone's status, whatever their size.

  • Gamliela
    Gamliela Posts: 2,468 Member
    Options
    My maintenance will be around 1400-1500, and since I can't be physically active every day I know I will need to devise some strategies. I plan to go on a perpetual yoyo diet where I lose and gain a certain number of pounds repeatedly, because I can't imagine having to live on more than half the calories I'm used to consuming.

    Can you lift to do a slow bulk and gain some muscle? - that can help raise your TDEE.

    It would also be a better use of the yoyo weight gain.

    I wouldn't be consistent enough with the training to gain enough muscle to make a difference due to my chronic back issues which flair up often and without warning, not to mention lifting may aggravate that (aside from the fact that I don't enjoy it). Thank you for the suggestion though.

    I thought I remembered you saying you had a medical issue. Never mind - gotta find what works for you when you have problems :flowerforyou:
    No, no medical issues! thanks.
  • snowflake930
    snowflake930 Posts: 2,188 Member
    edited February 2015
    Options
    cloudi2 wrote: »
    mamadon wrote: »
    OP, I am curious to know why you are a member of MFP at all. If you feel they are misleading us in someway, then what is your purpose of being a member of this fitness site?

    I don't think MFP and CC are the bad guys. Its those higher commitees in the government that set and publicize the status on what is healthy bmi, proper caloric intake etc.

    MFP is just going with that government status of these things and I just said I thought they (mfp and cc) know that the newer more accurate caloric intakes for specific weight info is out there. But what can they do? fly in the face of the FDA and WHO? not likely. those guys are like gods, the FDA and the WHO I mean.

    why am I a member? its an easy way to track my calories, because I am susceptible to overestimate my calories, and I need to keep my calorie level up over 2300. Sometimes I slip down under that. I don't always count calories, but from time to time I find it helpful because my imagination will come into play and I don't really know how much I'm eating. I tend to enjoy eating and I eat for different reasons at different times. If I change eating certain things its always good to check for a few days to get an idea for sure I'm at least at 2300 or averaging that over a few days anyway.

    Thanks for asking, that was a good opportunity to make clear something that was murky in my earlier post! thanks again.

    Help me understand, so this is a conspiracy? All of us here who are maintaining at under 2000 calories, are misguided by the FDA & WHO, and it is a figment of our imagination that we are maintaining and doing well, and are happy and satisfied with the results?

    Who knows our bodies and ourselves better than each of us. We are adults and know what works for us.
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    edited February 2015
    Options
    cloudi2 wrote: »
    My maintenance will be around 1400-1500, and since I can't be physically active every day I know I will need to devise some strategies. I plan to go on a perpetual yoyo diet where I lose and gain a certain number of pounds repeatedly, because I can't imagine having to live on more than half the calories I'm used to consuming.

    Can you lift to do a slow bulk and gain some muscle? - that can help raise your TDEE.

    It would also be a better use of the yoyo weight gain.

    I wouldn't be consistent enough with the training to gain enough muscle to make a difference due to my chronic back issues which flair up often and without warning, not to mention lifting may aggravate that (aside from the fact that I don't enjoy it). Thank you for the suggestion though.

    I thought I remembered you saying you had a medical issue. Never mind - gotta find what works for you when you have problems :flowerforyou:
    No, no medical issues! thanks.

    That was not for you but the person I quoted.

    Also of all my posts -This one you reply to?
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    Options
    cloudi2 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    cloudi2 wrote: »
    cloudi2 wrote: »
    Golly, did I say something inflammatory or what? Sheesh! Sorrrrrrrry!

    Ok. Lets just say you are all correct, and I am vewy vewy wong and that eating under 2000 calories per day is proper caloric intake for maintaining your desirable body weight, or, no, as I understand it here from the most authoratative posters on this thread, that real maintenance for a women, is more like, under 1800.

    My question IS: are you able and willing to undertake eating below that caloric amount of 1800 and do the physical formal excersize if that is part of your plan, FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, AND do you feel that might have ANY impact upon your health? Or quality of life?

    It looks like you are in denial about something.

    I'm extremely happy with my figure. I'm 5'7" 127lb 18-19% body fat, supercharged, 25" waist 37" hips (hourglass), tons of energy, never get ill, great skin, very strong bones, compete in triathlons and am strong. I'm 44.

    I maintain at 1750. Get over it.

    But, most days I eat 2250-2700 because of my training.

    Every time I think I know best and can eat more I just.....get fat...unless I'm purposely bulking then I get fat and muscley.

    You need to study more......

    Hi there Springfield,
    Glad to know you are feeling healthy!

    I was a low normal bmi most of my first 55 years of life just naturally. I didnt diet or watch my food intake at all, I didnt know what a bmi was! I started to gain slowly to the upper normal bmi after menopause. I dieted for the first time in my life then and maintained below 110 pounds for 5 years. I'm also 5' 7".
    I started to not feel so good, digestive problems, low energy, hair falling out. I was excersizing quite a lot, but no real major health problems came about and I wasn't put on any type of medication nor am I on any now and I don't have any health issues today.

    I began to read about caloric intake in relation to health while I was at that low weight, especially I was interested in the health of those of us over 60, but also about low intake plus excersize for everyone. There was a lot of conflicting information at the time.
    Meanwhile, I found that where at first I was maintaining on around 1300 to 1400 calories, even though I kept up with excersize and even increased it, that each 6 months to a year along I had to cut more calories in order to keep my weight loss maintained. So after reducing my calorie amounts to 1200, then 1000 per day, then eventually, in order to maintain my weight at or below 110, I was only able to eat 500 to 800 calories a day and still do a lot of excersize.

    Thank goodness I happened upon some reviews and some research writters who's papers, blogs, and web sites in some cases explained what was happening to me and I intentionally gained back to a weight that from whwt I read insures, as much as anything can do, my health will be robust into old age.

    I am glad to be able to say that now, at age 65 those issues I had while maintaining under 110 are now gone. the nervous energy I had has resolved to calm, my hair has regrown, I have adequate energy and the digestive issues have almost all cleared up as well.

    So my interest in this topic of maintenance continues to lead me to a curiosity of how other people manage to lose weight, maintain and do so without having to carry on their lives at a level of intake that to me, now, appears to be inadequate from the research and reading I have done.

    And I'm sure none of that had to do with the fact that you were underweight at 110lbs at 5'7 so having to eat very low calories to maintained your very low body weight.

    Of course you felt like crap at 110lbs - that's what happens when you're underweight.

    Hopefully most people here are planning to maintain at a healthy weight for their height.

    Yeah, this seems like a no brainer...I'm honestly confused as to what point the OP is trying to make exactly.

    I'm at a healthy weight and around 15-16% BF...I eat to fuel my activities appropriately (2600 - 3200 calories depending) and I exercise regularly. Not sure what the issue is here..most people are here to be healthy OP, not get underweight and try to maintain some super low body weight.

    yes, I know stuff about being unhealthy at a low bmi.
    but even when I got to a perfectly healthy bmi, I couldnt maintain that weight level without being at w serously deficit caloric intake. only point there was that it may be necessary to keep lowering calories and or upping excersize to maintain even a 'healthy bmi' at any age.
    I hope getting healthy is everyone's status, whatever their size.

    You were very underweight for what I suspect was a long time and probably destroyed a lot of your muscle mass. You probably also screwed up your metabolism by your severe calorie deficit. This is why you had such issues.

    You are not the norm - don't assume everyone should be like you. Just because you had issues at a lower calorie amount doesn't mean everyone else will.
  • Gamliela
    Gamliela Posts: 2,468 Member
    Options
    cloudi2 wrote: »
    My maintenance will be around 1400-1500, and since I can't be physically active every day I know I will need to devise some strategies. I plan to go on a perpetual yoyo diet where I lose and gain a certain number of pounds repeatedly, because I can't imagine having to live on more than half the calories I'm used to consuming.

    Can you lift to do a slow bulk and gain some muscle? - that can help raise your TDEE.

    It would also be a better use of the yoyo weight gain.

    I wouldn't be consistent enough with the training to gain enough muscle to make a difference due to my chronic back issues which flair up often and without warning, not to mention lifting may aggravate that (aside from the fact that I don't enjoy it). Thank you for the suggestion though.

    I thought I remembered you saying you had a medical issue. Never mind - gotta find what works for you when you have problems :flowerforyou:
    No, no medical issues! thanks.

    That was not for you but the person I quoted.

    Also of all my posts -This one you reply to?
    Lol, I know, I'm getting tired, I realized it too late, but did delete it. :smile:
  • Laura3BB
    Laura3BB Posts: 250 Member
    Options
    Hee hee this post is such fun. :D
  • Gamliela
    Gamliela Posts: 2,468 Member
    Options
    cloudi2 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    cloudi2 wrote: »
    cloudi2 wrote: »
    Golly, did I say something inflammatory or what? Sheesh! Sorrrrrrrry!

    Ok. Lets just say you are all correct, and I am vewy vewy wong and that eating under 2000 calories per day is proper caloric intake for maintaining your desirable body weight, or, no, as I understand it here from the most authoratative posters on this thread, that real maintenance for a women, is more like, under 1800.

    My question IS: are you able and willing to undertake eating below that caloric amount of 1800 and do the physical formal excersize if that is part of your plan, FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, AND do you feel that might have ANY impact upon your health? Or quality of life?

    It looks like you are in denial about something.

    I'm extremely happy with my figure. I'm 5'7" 127lb 18-19% body fat, supercharged, 25" waist 37" hips (hourglass), tons of energy, never get ill, great skin, very strong bones, compete in triathlons and am strong. I'm 44.

    I maintain at 1750. Get over it.

    But, most days I eat 2250-2700 because of my training.

    Every time I think I know best and can eat more I just.....get fat...unless I'm purposely bulking then I get fat and muscley.

    You need to study more......

    Hi there Springfield,
    Glad to know you are feeling healthy!

    I was a low normal bmi most of my first 55 years of life just naturally. I didnt diet or watch my food intake at all, I didnt know what a bmi was! I started to gain slowly to the upper normal bmi after menopause. I dieted for the first time in my life then and maintained below 110 pounds for 5 years. I'm also 5' 7".
    I started to not feel so good, digestive problems, low energy, hair falling out. I was excersizing quite a lot, but no real major health problems came about and I wasn't put on any type of medication nor am I on any now and I don't have any health issues today.

    I began to read about caloric intake in relation to health while I was at that low weight, especially I was interested in the health of those of us over 60, but also about low intake plus excersize for everyone. There was a lot of conflicting information at the time.
    Meanwhile, I found that where at first I was maintaining on around 1300 to 1400 calories, even though I kept up with excersize and even increased it, that each 6 months to a year along I had to cut more calories in order to keep my weight loss maintained. So after reducing my calorie amounts to 1200, then 1000 per day, then eventually, in order to maintain my weight at or below 110, I was only able to eat 500 to 800 calories a day and still do a lot of excersize.

    Thank goodness I happened upon some reviews and some research writters who's papers, blogs, and web sites in some cases explained what was happening to me and I intentionally gained back to a weight that from whwt I read insures, as much as anything can do, my health will be robust into old age.

    I am glad to be able to say that now, at age 65 those issues I had while maintaining under 110 are now gone. the nervous energy I had has resolved to calm, my hair has regrown, I have adequate energy and the digestive issues have almost all cleared up as well.

    So my interest in this topic of maintenance continues to lead me to a curiosity of how other people manage to lose weight, maintain and do so without having to carry on their lives at a level of intake that to me, now, appears to be inadequate from the research and reading I have done.

    And I'm sure none of that had to do with the fact that you were underweight at 110lbs at 5'7 so having to eat very low calories to maintained your very low body weight.

    Of course you felt like crap at 110lbs - that's what happens when you're underweight.

    Hopefully most people here are planning to maintain at a healthy weight for their height.

    Yeah, this seems like a no brainer...I'm honestly confused as to what point the OP is trying to make exactly.

    I'm at a healthy weight and around 15-16% BF...I eat to fuel my activities appropriately (2600 - 3200 calories depending) and I exercise regularly. Not sure what the issue is here..most people are here to be healthy OP, not get underweight and try to maintain some super low body weight.

    yes, I know stuff about being unhealthy at a low bmi.
    but even when I got to a perfectly healthy bmi, I couldnt maintain that weight level without being at w serously deficit caloric intake. only point there was that it may be necessary to keep lowering calories and or upping excersize to maintain even a 'healthy bmi' at any age.
    I hope getting healthy is everyone's status, whatever their size.

    You were very underweight for what I suspect was a long time and probably destroyed a lot of your muscle mass. You probably also screwed up your metabolism by your severe calorie deficit. This is why you had such issues.

    You are not the norm - don't assume everyone should be like you. Just because you had issues at a lower calorie amount doesn't mean everyone else will.

    actually, I didnt face such issues, they were mild, given my age. My weight resolved over about three years fairly naturally. I'm happy with the outcome. Actually my muscle mass is high for not doing much activity, but then it always was. Bone density is good too. so my take on this is that because I never dieted or restricted any foods, ate like I wanted for 55 years, I had an ok start. and I managed to weather the five years of restricting cals well. Glad I'm done with it though.