Is there a way to eat less calories but get enough nutrients?

JemmaRae98
JemmaRae98 Posts: 8 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Lately I've cut my calorie consumption way down and I know from past experience that if you eat less than 1000 calories a day you won't get enough nutrients but if I take vitamins and make sure that the food I eat has lots of nutrition will I be able to prevent the side affects of under eating?

Replies

  • CooCooPuff
    CooCooPuff Posts: 4,374 Member
    edited April 2016
    If you're underage, which I am assuming you are given this post and your age listed, please speak with your parents or another trusted adult.

    Unless you are under very specific circumstances, the morbidly obese under diligent medical observation, there is no reason to knowingly undereat.
  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    You can't get protein and fat from a vitamin (and if you could, it would have calories) so...No.
  • JemmaRae98
    JemmaRae98 Posts: 8 Member
    pomegranatecloud wrote: »
    You shouldn't be under eating. Why are you trying to have less than 1000 calories? Do you have an eating disorder?

    I used to restrict calories and I lost a lot of weight but I feel like since then I've gained too much back so I figured I should start restricting again
  • pomegranatecloud
    pomegranatecloud Posts: 812 Member
    JemmaRae98 wrote: »
    pomegranatecloud wrote: »
    You shouldn't be under eating. Why are you trying to have less than 1000 calories? Do you have an eating disorder?

    I used to restrict calories and I lost a lot of weight but I feel like since then I've gained too much back so I figured I should start restricting again

    You don't need to restrict yourself to the point of starving yourself to lose weight. Clearly eating less than 1,000 calories is not sustainable for you or healthy. You can lose weight by reducing your calories so that you are eating a healthy amount and make small sustainable changes so that you're not yo-yo-ing. Surely, MFP is not recommending that you eat under 1,000 calories. You should consider meeting with your doctor and nutritionist to help you understand your calorie needs, and how to lose weight in a healthy manner.
  • charlottebdixon
    charlottebdixon Posts: 8 Member
    18 is not under age, however restricting calories will give you a bigger 'loss' but a bigger gain in the long run. Best bet is to have minimum 1200 calories without exercise but if you are exercising, up the calories a bit. Stay safe.
  • Nicklebee93
    Nicklebee93 Posts: 316 Member
    Eating under calories should only been done with the supervision of a Doctor. Why? Because you don't know what your body is lacking or if it's getting the right nutrition, even if you are taking over the counter vitamins.

    Just eat at a proper deficit. You more than likely gained all the weight back, maybe even some extra, because you didn't learn to properly eat. Start off eating 1,500 calories. Add in some exercise and take things slowly and properly.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    charlottebdixon wrote: »
    18 is not under age, however restricting calories will give you a bigger 'loss' but a bigger gain in the long run. Best bet is to have minimum 1200 calories without exercise but if you are exercising, up the calories a bit. Stay safe.

    @charlottebdixon - 18 is the minimum age requirement to have an account. It is not uncommon for threads to be started by teens who lied about their age so they could create the account.
    Not saying the OP is lieing, but it also wouldn't come as a surprise if he or she was.
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
    JemmaRae98 wrote:
    Lately I've cut my calorie consumption way down and I know from past experience that if you eat less than 1000 calories a day you won't get enough nutrients but if I take vitamins and make sure that the food I eat has lots of nutrition will I be able to prevent the side affects (sic) of under eating?
    No, you won't.
    One of the worst side effects of long-term starvation (which is pretty much what you're describing,
    unless you are very short, so that being 100 lb or less would put you at a healthy BMI)     is loss of muscle
    mass... which not only means that you look sickly & unattractive, but you are physically weak so you don't
    want to exercise to rebuild that muscle.

    And rebuilding muscle is much harder than maintaining it.
    Eat at a sensible calorie level for your age & goal weight, add weightlifting to your exercise routine, and
    I'll bet in a few months you will look and feel awesome, even if you don't lose lots of weight you will likely
    lose inches and get strong, which is a great boost to self-confidence!

    AND, to make matters even worse, starvation lowers your RMR (resting metabolic rate) even after you
    start eating sensibly again. It carries over for months, sometimes years, so you'll have to eat even less than
    a healthy person of the same weight.


    ***********************


    BTW...
    Define "way down"? What are your current stats (height, weight, true age, average daily calorie intake)?
    What had you been eating before this change?

    You have to realize that carbs, protein, and fat are nutrients.
    If you're eating food, you're eating some combination of those.
    You need them all to be healthy.

    If you want to get the most nutrition with the fewest calories, lean heavily toward a plant-based diet
    (in this case meaning "food intake"), with a wide variety of colors. Choose unrefined grains, fresh whole
    fruits & veggies. Get healthy fats from fatty cold-water fish, avocados, eggs.


    **********************


    Here are some posts you need to read before you do serious damage to your body.
    See your doctor/pediatrician for more detailed explanations, and to be sure that your goals are healthy.
    They might even give you a referral to a dietician or eating disorder specialist.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10012907/logging-accuracy-consistency-and-youre-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/819925/the-basics-dont-complicate-it/p1

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/872212/youre-probably-eating-more-than-you-think/p1

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/833026/important-posts-to-read/p1


    This is a blog post I did about goal setting, including weight, calories, and macros
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-06-08-setting-goals-667045
    It has links to lots of useful info.
  • charlottebdixon
    charlottebdixon Posts: 8 Member
    shadow2soul wrote: »
    charlottebdixon wrote: »
    18 is not under age, however restricting calories will give you a bigger 'loss' but a bigger gain in the long run. Best bet is to have minimum 1200 calories without exercise but if you are exercising, up the calories a bit. Stay safe.

    @charlottebdixon - 18 is the minimum age requirement to have an account. It is not uncommon for threads to be started by teens who lied about their age so they could create the account.
    Not saying the OP is lieing, but it also wouldn't come as a surprise if he or she was.

    Yes I understand that but her name states '98', which would be 18 years old, however this is a valid point and did not realise about the age limit which seems very reasonable!
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    JemmaRae98 wrote: »
    Lately I've cut my calorie consumption way down and I know from past experience that if you eat less than 1000 calories a day you won't get enough nutrients but if I take vitamins and make sure that the food I eat has lots of nutrition will I be able to prevent the side affects of under eating?

    Severe calorie restriction should not be done without the supervision of a doctor. It is extremely hard to get enough protien, fat, vitamins and minerals when restricting to that level. To be healthy you should NOT eat that little.
  • JemmaRae98
    JemmaRae98 Posts: 8 Member
    @MKEgal Thanks for all the info! Since I've struggled with eating too little in the past I know some of the bad effects of eating too little I was just hoping to avoid them this time! I will definitely try doing the more plant based diet!

    And I'm 5'4" around 115 (still live with my parents and not a loud to have a scale but that's what I was last time I went to the doctors) and I AM 18 for those who were wondering, and before I started dieting again I was probably eating around 1,500 calories a day. Not sure if you were actually asking me to say all that so hopefully you were!
  • misskarne
    misskarne Posts: 1,765 Member
    OP, please get professional help for your disordered thinking and eating.

    You "feel like you've gained too much back" - I would wager heavily that you are in fact not overweight and this is your disordered thinking at play...
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    edited April 2016
    JemmaRae98 wrote: »
    @MKEgal Thanks for all the info! Since I've struggled with eating too little in the past I know some of the bad effects of eating too little I was just hoping to avoid them this time! I will definitely try doing the more plant based diet!

    And I'm 5'4" around 115 (still live with my parents and not a loud to have a scale but that's what I was last time I went to the doctors) and I AM 18 for those who were wondering, and before I started dieting again I was probably eating around 1,500 calories a day. Not sure if you were actually asking me to say all that so hopefully you were!

    Is there a reason why you are not allowed to have a scale? Is it because of past eating issues?
  • JemmaRae98
    JemmaRae98 Posts: 8 Member
    @Christine_72 Because I stress about my weight a lot and my parents for some reason think it would be better if I didn't know what I weighed
  • upoffthemat
    upoffthemat Posts: 679 Member
    JemmaRae98 wrote: »
    @MKEgal Thanks for all the info! Since I've struggled with eating too little in the past I know some of the bad effects of eating too little I was just hoping to avoid them this time! I will definitely try doing the more plant based diet!

    And I'm 5'4" around 115 (still live with my parents and not a loud to have a scale but that's what I was last time I went to the doctors) and I AM 18 for those who were wondering, and before I started dieting again I was probably eating around 1,500 calories a day. Not sure if you were actually asking me to say all that so hopefully you were!

    That doesn't sound very bad at all. Is there a reason you aren't allowed to have a scale? Even for a relatively sedentary 18 year old at 5'4" I can't believe you are gaining weight if you are actually eating at 1500 calories.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,199 Member
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    JemmaRae98 wrote: »
    @MKEgal Thanks for all the info! Since I've struggled with eating too little in the past I know some of the bad effects of eating too little I was just hoping to avoid them this time! I will definitely try doing the more plant based diet!

    And I'm 5'4" around 115 (still live with my parents and not a loud to have a scale but that's what I was last time I went to the doctors) and I AM 18 for those who were wondering, and before I started dieting again I was probably eating around 1,500 calories a day. Not sure if you were actually asking me to say all that so hopefully you were!

    Is there a reason why you are not allowed to have a scale? Is it because of past eating issues?

    I think the OP has or is recovering from an ED abs that is probably why she is not allowed a scale.

    OP, I hope you will speak to a professional about this and not restrict your calories.
  • CooCooPuff
    CooCooPuff Posts: 4,374 Member
    edited April 2016
    JemmaRae98 wrote: »
    @Christine_72 Because I stress about my weight a lot and my parents for some reason think it would be better if I didn't know what I weighed
    It is better for some people. I would definitely speak with a professional or, if you have one, someone on your support team before you try losing.

    Sorry about assuming you were underage. It just happens a lot on the forums.
  • JemmaRae98
    JemmaRae98 Posts: 8 Member
    @CooCooPuff Oh no problem about the age thing I get it :) thanks for the advice!
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    JemmaRae98 wrote: »
    @MKEgal Thanks for all the info! Since I've struggled with eating too little in the past I know some of the bad effects of eating too little I was just hoping to avoid them this time! I will definitely try doing the more plant based diet!

    And I'm 5'4" around 115 (still live with my parents and not allowed to have a scale but that's what I was last time I went to the doctors) and I AM 18 for those who were wondering, and before I started dieting again I was probably eating around 1,500 calories a day. Not sure if you were actually asking me to say all that so hopefully you were!

    Your posts concern me. I suggest you seek treatment with an eating disorder specialist.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    I agree, it sounds like an obsessive thinking problem with underlying anxiety issues.

    Jemma, at 18 you need to eat. Your bones and brain are still developing. Please get some counseling.
  • JemmaRae98
    JemmaRae98 Posts: 8 Member
    @cmriverside why would anxiety affect my eating? Not trying to be rude, just curious what you ment:)
  • upoffthemat
    upoffthemat Posts: 679 Member
    People are concerned because they have gone through various unhealthy relationships with food and health in their lives and know how dangerous it can be, not to mention how it can keep you from living and enjoying life.

    It is awesome that you are concerned about yourself and your weight at your age, but it seems you are focusing on the wrong thing. Your weight is only a small marker of your overall health and focusing on that to the exclusion of other things is dangerous. Most of us have been there in one way or the other and don't want to see you go down this road.

    Focus on your total health, nutrition, exercise, everything. A body that can perform is so much better than a body that meets some specious aesthetic criteria. Being healthy is important and should be a priority, but it is easy to cross the line into unhealthy obsession and you seem really close to that line.
  • Gamliela
    Gamliela Posts: 2,468 Member
    MKEgal wrote: »
    JemmaRae98 wrote:
    Lately I've cut my calorie consumption way down and I know from past experience that if you eat less than 1000 calories a day you won't get enough nutrients but if I take vitamins and make sure that the food I eat has lots of nutrition will I be able to prevent the side affects (sic) of under eating?
    No, you won't.
    One of the worst side effects of long-term starvation (which is pretty much what you're describing,
    unless you are very short, so that being 100 lb or less would put you at a healthy BMI)     is loss of muscle
    mass... which not only means that you look sickly & unattractive, but you are physically weak so you don't
    want to exercise to rebuild that muscle.

    And rebuilding muscle is much harder than maintaining it.
    Eat at a sensible calorie level for your age & goal weight, add weightlifting to your exercise routine, and
    I'll bet in a few months you will look and feel awesome, even if you don't lose lots of weight you will likely
    lose inches and get strong, which is a great boost to self-confidence!

    AND, to make matters even worse, starvation lowers your RMR (resting metabolic rate) even after you
    start eating sensibly again. It carries over for months, sometimes years, so you'll have to eat even less than
    a healthy person of the same weight.


    ***********************


    BTW...
    Define "way down"? What are your current stats (height, weight, true age, average daily calorie intake)?
    What had you been eating before this change?

    You have to realize that carbs, protein, and fat are nutrients.
    If you're eating food, you're eating some combination of those.
    You need them all to be healthy.

    If you want to get the most nutrition with the fewest calories, lean heavily toward a plant-based diet
    (in this case meaning "food intake"), with a wide variety of colors. Choose unrefined grains, fresh whole
    fruits & veggies. Get healthy fats from fatty cold-water fish, avocados, eggs.


    **********************


    Here are some posts you need to read before you do serious damage to your body.
    See your doctor/pediatrician for more detailed explanations, and to be sure that your goals are healthy.
    They might even give you a referral to a dietician or eating disorder specialist.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10012907/logging-accuracy-consistency-and-youre-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/819925/the-basics-dont-complicate-it/p1

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/872212/youre-probably-eating-more-than-you-think/p1

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/833026/important-posts-to-read/p1


    This is a blog post I did about goal setting, including weight, calories, and macros
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-06-08-setting-goals-667045
    It has links to lots of useful info.

    I would like to read the science on RMR decreasing from low calorie intake, could you post some links please? :)

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,717 Member
    I'm an inch taller than you are, around 5 pounds heavier, and more than 40 years older . . . and I still lose weight while eating 1700 calories daily while sedentary. (I do get exercise, but I eat back all those calories.)

    I'm certain that at your age & height, you can and should eat at least the 1500 in order to be healthy. You may even need to eat more.

    And please do talk to a professional about your concerns, you're already quite light for your height, and it's important to be sure you stay healthy.
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