Is it bad to eat a low ammount of calories?

Gioeyebrow

Im 6'2 i weigh 250lbs and i just lowerd my calories to 1300 is thos un healthy or is ther anyone els doing this?

pootle1972

I would eat the calories mpf set for your weight and lifestyle now. It isn't unhealthy to eat 1300 but if you are set a higher amount I'd eat those.

xxnellie146xx

You will be fine eating 1300

punkrockgoth

Not a doctor or a nutritionist, have no idea what you're eating or how active you are, so really I have no idea. It could be really unhealthy. You could be fine.

Are you constantly tired, unable to focus, cold, dealing with mood swings and battling constant cravings, especially for high calorie foods? You may need to eat more.

chandanista

If you lose more than 2 pounds a week, you are losing non-fat mass and that's generally considered unhealthy. I'm much shorter, and lighter, and still losing around 1.5-2 lb/week on 1580 a day.

nineteentwenty

You'll lose weight alright, and you won't starve, but with your relative size it may be mentally difficult to make the switch so quick. Since that's a pretty big leap, you're way more likely to experience cravings, sleep changes, mood swings, etc, which can all be some side effects of a sudden low calorie diet.

jkal1979

As a male, your minimum is 1500, and given your stats that may be too low as well. You are setting yourself up to lose more muscle than you would if you set a more reasonable calorie goal.

lemurcat12

jkal1979 wrote: »

As a male, your minimum is 1500, and given your stats that may be too low as well. You are setting yourself up to lose more muscle than you would if you set a more reasonable calorie goal.

This. Also, I'd talk to a registered dietitian before cutting lower than standard recommendations.

pink_bebe15

I think you have to gradually reduce your calorie intake for a permanent weight loss goal.

TeaBea

pink_bebe15 wrote: »

I think you have to gradually reduce your calorie intake for a permanent weight loss goal.

Wha?

OP is male. He's already eating below MFP guidelines. Fast weight loss = a larger percentage of lean muscle loss.

As you get closer to goal, your weekly weight loss = less. NOT your weekly calorie intake. We all can't lose 2 pounds a week forever....at least not in a healthy manner.

http://www.coachcalorie.com/is-losing-2lbs-per-week-realistic-for-everyone/

isuckatmath

If you don't have serious health issues that warrant faster weight loss, and depending on fitness level and activity, you may need more. In my case, I'm staying around 1,200 or lower because of health issues and upcoming surgeries that require a faster weight loss.

EliseTK1

Registered Dietitian here- 1300 kcal per day for you is likely too low. (I'm assuming you don't have major thyroid issues, amputations, or paralysis.) It will not be sustainable, and there's a good chance you will lose a large amount of muscle. I'd recommend consulting with an RD in person to develop a plan that will be effective for you long term. Also, some clinics and gyms offer indirect calorimetry, meaning they strap a mask to you and measure your calorie expenditure at rest and during exercise. That may be helpful if it's available in your area.

jkal1979

TeaBea wrote: »

Wha?

OP is male. He's already eating below MFP guidelines. Fast weight loss = a larger percentage of lean muscle loss.

There seem to be quite a few replies in here that are overlooking the important fact that the OP is male.

dubird

jkal1979 wrote: »

TeaBea wrote: »

Wha?

OP is male. He's already eating below MFP guidelines. Fast weight loss = a larger percentage of lean muscle loss.

There seem to be quite a few replies in here that are overlooking the important fact that the OP is male.

Male or female, for someone who's 6'2" and 250lbs, 1300 seems really really low to me, even at sedentary. A quick check on Scooby's calculator gives an estimate of 2300 to lose weight.

OP: Talking to dietitian would be a good idea if you're concerned. If you lower your calories too much, you are not only going to be desperately hungry a lot, you also won't be getting the nutrition your body needs. As you lose weight, you will start lowering your daily calorie goal, but at your height, I don't think you'd ever get down to 1300 calories even for losing weight.

nutritionK

Eating a low calorie amount daily can be really dangerous and also non efficient if your goal is to loose weight, it would seem like you are getting there but you will be loosing water and muscle mass which is not so good for your metabolism cause it makes it slow down and also the more muscle mass you have the more calories you burn.
As a man you should be eating at least 1800 calories, eating clean and exercising daily so you can achieve your weight loss goals.

[Edited by MFP Mods]

Gioeyebrow

Thanks for your help you guys but am i really gonna lose muscle mass if im eating nothing but salads? Thats what im doing and they fill me up preaty good

sunflowerhippi

fluffygio wrote: »

Thanks for your help you guys but am i really gonna lose muscle mass if im eating nothing but salads? Thats what im doing and they fill me up preaty good

Even more muscle mass probably if you aren't eating protein! Your body might be getting lots of nutrients but that will not give you the protein you need.

motorcycle21

Does salads really fill u up? I'm hungry within 30 min.. What are you putting in them? How much have you lost

Gioeyebrow

So what should i eat if i want to keep a low amount of calories? I might raise my calories 100 or 200 but i feel realy motivated to lose the weight and be healthy ive been working out almost every day too does that help? Nothing big just walking and little internet workout

TeaBea

fluffygio wrote: »

Thanks for your help you guys but am i really gonna lose muscle mass if im eating nothing but salads? Thats what im doing and they fill me up preaty good

It's not just about low calorie. It's not just about staying "full." Staying at a reasonable deficit is goal #1. Getting all nutritional needs is step #2.

You have protein, fat and carb goals. Are you meeting your protein goals everyday? That's what muscle relies on. Because your calories are so very low, most of your calories need to come from protein (more than 50%). That's why very low calories are not a good idea.

Feeling full has nothing to do with whether your body is burning lean muscle mass. You are feeling full on low calorie-high volume foods with high fiber. High volume low calories aren't that nutrient dense. You are getting some vitamins.....but not protein and fat. Salads are not fueling existing lean muscle.

Eating nothing but salads doesn't sound like a lifestyle change to me. Losing weight is step #1. Keeping it off (often the hardest part) is step #2. When you're at goal, you will be eating all foods (not just "diet foods"....salads by your definition) .....portions and calories are going to be important for regular food too.

sunflowerhippi

You also should be eating back the calories your burning.

You should always eat you BMR. That is the lowest you should consider eating and even that should be your lowest net goal after eating back your workout calories.

http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/a-beginners-guide-to-your-metabolism/

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/hollyseidson/view/bmr-tdee-explained-finally-511734

Gioeyebrow

Wait you guys i posted this wrong i actually weigh 344 not 250 i accidantally gave u my goal lol but if i do meet my nutritional needs its ok? And also eating back the calories i burn might add a whole new meal to my plan is that not good? Im sorry to have so many question thanks a bunch

sunflowerhippi

Okay so yes you have a lot to loose but still you need to eat a lot more then you are. My boyfriend is 6'2 and 215 now, used to be close to 300 and he looses weight at 2500 calories a day. You would be shocked how much work it is to move your body around when you are heavier and how much you really burn.

At your height and weight your BMR is 2916 CALORIES/DAY via bodybuilding.com, BMR is "The release of energy in this state is sufficient only for the functioning of the vital organs, such as the heart, lungs, brain and the rest of the nervous system, liver, kidneys, sex organs, muscles and skin. BMR decreases with age and with the loss of lean body mass. Increasing muscle mass increases BMR."

So 1300 is WAY to low.

Calories to maintain weight: 3492
2lbs a week is 1000 calories a day, so 2492

You are eating to drop 4+lbs a week.

sanfromny

Don't set yourself up for failure. The weight will come off. Be patient and believe in the process. You haven't given any good reason to eat that low of calories. I'm 5'2" 157 and I eat 1300 cals!

dubird

fluffygio wrote: »

So what should i eat if i want to keep a low amount of calories? I might raise my calories 100 or 200 but i feel realy motivated to lose the weight and be healthy ive been working out almost every day too does that help? Nothing big just walking and little internet workout

Motivated to lose weight is good, but if you're not doing it in a healthy way, you will suffer for it later. Crazy strong hunger cravings, feeling weak and light headed, malnutrition. Not something you want to have to go through!

If you want to add muscle, you need to add protien. I honestly don't know what the limit should be, but you should at least be getting the recommended amount from MFP. Filling up on salads is helpful, and if you're including a lot of high-nutrient foods in your salad, that's fine for part of your day. But while counting calories is key to losing weight, you do need to make sure you're hitting your macros so you're also getting adequate nutrition.

If you're not liking the suggestions we have, I would say talk to your doctor. Tell him/her that you're trying to lose weight and you need to know what your daily calorie limit should be and what balance of macros you need to stay healthy.

TeaBea

fluffygio wrote: »

Wait you guys i posted this wrong i actually weigh 344 not 250 i accidantally gave u my goal lol

Your TDEE is 3607 (calculator below). At 344 you have a ways to go. Losing 2 pounds a week is reasonable for you. If you ate 2,607 calories a day you would lose 2 pounds a week. Don't worry about eating exercise calories at this point.

http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

Because you have a ways to go, losing lean muscle mass is not so much a risk. BUT, you still need to be getting adequate nutrition. People who go on very low calorie diets often do so with medical supervision. These are not do-it-yourself projects. Unless you are getting help from a dietician.....please stop eating so few calories.

Weight loss is a marathon not a sprint. 1300 is crash and burn territory. Better to find something that is sustainable long term, than do an extreme diet and give up after a few months.

Gioeyebrow

Ok thanks a bunch you guy im going up to 1700 i think that gives me space for my needs you guys are the best

Gioeyebrow

motorcycle21 wrote: »

Does salads really fill u up? I'm hungry within 30 min.. What are you putting in them? How much have you lost

Sryy to answer your question so late but yea they fill me up speacially sence i dont like dressing i get to eat a lot more salad but i just barely started dieting so ive only lost 20 lbs in 25 days

honeysprinkles

That seems pretty low for your height/weight. I am 5'6" and 160 right now, eating about 1500-1600. Walking 12k steps a day and my fitbit puts me at 2300 calories burned. You probably don't need to eat that little to lose...why make it harder on yourself than it needs to be?

starryphoenix

chandanista wrote: »

If you lose more than 2 pounds a week, you are losing non-fat mass and that's generally considered unhealthy. I'm much shorter, and lighter, and still losing around 1.5-2 lb/week on 1580 a day.

Unless if you have a lot of water weight, then it's okay to lose more than 2 pounds a week. This usually happens at the beginning for me or when I get off track and start getting back on. I lost 5 pounds last week for example. I'm pretty sure most of it was water because I was getting back on track.

uconnwinsnc1

Well, if you have anything on your side, it is your age. A 21 year old male has a bit of extra leeway when it comes to eating. I do suggest a bit more than 1300, though. You ultimate goal is to average 2 pounds a week, but when you first start it is very likely you'll lose more than that per week.

Have you started weigh training? At 24 now I wish I started when I was 21.