Is a 1000 calorie diet harmful?

SunflowerDaisey

Hello. I'm 5'5 154lbs. I have been eating 1000 calories net. I always meet my protein and carb goal. I don't always meet the fat goal. I eat really healthy and get lots of vitamins. I also take a vitamin tablet just in case. I also don't binge on junk to gain everything back. Is this diet okay or harmful?

quiksylver296

Harmful. And against MFPs rules.

janejellyroll

Assuming you are measuring correctly and you are only eating 1,000 calories, this is not a good idea.

Your body needs fat, your body also needs energy. Depriving yourself of these is harmful long term.

The two options aren't "eat 1,000 calories" or "binge on junk." You can choose to nourish yourself properly while losing weight.

livingleanlivingclean

Really healthy is getting sufficient macro and micronutrients.... Which you aren't.

LivingtheLeanDream

YES! its harmful!
Why on earth would you even want to eat that low? how miserable that would make you feel!

You don't have a lot of weight to lose, set MFP to lose 0.5-1lb per week, eat the calories it gives you then plus eat back at least half any exercise calories.

To under eat consistently is really unhealthy and will cause all manner of problems in the long run. Loss of muscle mass is a big problem. Do you want to have your hair falling out ?

I already know this thread will get locked as MFP will not promote anything to do with VLCD.

SunflowerDaisey

I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.

quiksylver296

SunflowerDaisey wrote: »

I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.

You asked if it was harmful. We told you it is. Now you're arguing your point.

janejellyroll

SunflowerDaisey wrote: »

I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.

If you're regularly meeting your macro goals while only eating 1,000 calories, then I suspect you must have custom set them. MFP won't give you macro goals that equate to a calorie goal of 1,000 unless there is some sort of error.

manuel_kasko

SunflowerDaisey wrote: »

I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.

If you were meeting the macros then you wouldn't be consuming 1000 calories. The macros are what makes up those calories.

Not eating enough fat will lead to your hormones going all wacky. Your body needs you to consume fats to keep stable hormones and also to actually lose fat.

Up your calories and try to meet all your macro targets. As mentioned it's really really not healthy to be on 1000 calories and it's actually counter productive because your metabolism will actually slow down because you're starving yourself.

PrincessMel72

Harmful. 1200 is the MINIMUM

SunflowerDaisey

quiksylver296 wrote: »

SunflowerDaisey wrote: »

I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.

You asked if it was harmful. We told you it is. Now you're arguing your point.

At that point no one gave me a reason why. I still don't understand why it is? I'm not arguing. I'm just trying to understand.

diannethegeek

You can't eat "really healthy" and undereat. You also can't meet your macros but not meet your fat macro. These statements don't go together.

comeonnow142857

It's complicated. Without medical supervision it's generally recommended to go to a more moderate diet. Lyle McDonald wrote THE book on PSMF and still generally recommends against it (it's an "if you MUST" kinda book).

SunflowerDaisey

manuel_kasko wrote: »

SunflowerDaisey wrote: »

I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.

If you were meeting the macros then you wouldn't be consuming 1000 calories. The macros are what makes up those calories.

Not eating enough fat will lead to your hormones going all wacky. Your body needs you to consume fats to keep stable hormones and also to actually lose fat.

Up your calories and try to meet all your macro targets. As mentioned it's really really not healthy to be on 1000 calories and it's actually counter productive because your metabolism will actually slow down because you're starving yourself.

Thank you for actually helping me. I appreciate it. This is my first time dieting.

janejellyroll

SunflowerDaisey wrote: »

quiksylver296 wrote: »

SunflowerDaisey wrote: »

I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.

You asked if it was harmful. We told you it is. Now you're arguing your point.

At that point no one gave me a reason why. I still don't understand why it is? I'm not arguing. I'm just trying to understand.

Here's a reason: there is a limit to the amount of fat your body can metabolize in a day. Once you reach that limit (which happens quickly when you have a huge deficit), your body will then burn muscle. Not only will this lead to unpleasant physical changes (muscle is what gives our bodies pleasing definition), you *need* muscle. Your heart is a muscle. You really don't want to target your muscles when losing weight.

Also, your body needs a certain amount of fat to function. On a VLCD, it's likely you're not getting sufficient fat to keep your body working well. You already say that you miss the goal some days and it's likely you have custom set your macros to be below what you might optimally need.

Large deficits are associated with low energy, hair loss, and health issues like gall stones. If continued long term, they have the potential to damage your metabolism, resulting in you burning fewer calories than someone of the same weight as you.

I suspect you may reject some or all of this information, but you asked if this is a good idea. It isn't. Those are some of the reasons why.

annacole94

Depends on how you're netting it. What are you actually eating, gross? What's your exercise, and what does MFP credit you for it?

You don't have a lot of weight to lose. Crash dieting with an extremely low calorie level is a recipe for yoyoing and gaining it right back.

manuel_kasko

SunflowerDaisey wrote: »

quiksylver296 wrote: »

SunflowerDaisey wrote: »

I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.

You asked if it was harmful. We told you it is. Now you're arguing your point.

At that point no one gave me a reason why. I still don't understand why it is? I'm not arguing. I'm just trying to understand.

1. Fats help hormones, you need fats otherwise you're hormones will go all wacky.
2. Metabolism, your metabolism will slow and weightloss will slow drastically.
3. You're starving yourself. The 1200 minimum is for women and 1500 for men. It's the minimum your body needs to actually function.

Edited out my 4th because you said it's your first time dieting.

Use the MFP calculated intake.
If you don't meet the fats or can't meet them then make up for it with some more protein or carbs to get you to the MFP calculated intake.

SunflowerDaisey

Thanks everyone for your help.

TimothyFish

SunflowerDaisey wrote: »

Hello. I'm 5'5 154lbs. I have been eating 1000 calories net. I always meet my protein and carb goal. I don't always meet the fat goal. I eat really healthy and get lots of vitamins. I also take a vitamin tablet just in case. I also don't binge on junk to gain everything back. Is this diet okay or harmful?

Maybe. Health guidelines call for women to eat at least 1,200 calories per day, but that is total, not net. If you are eating more than 1,200 calories but your exercise is bringing your MFP net below 1,200 then that is a different situation than if you are just eating 1,000 calories. Also, when some surgeries are done, patients are put on diets that low, but nutritionists design their diet to include the proper balance of nutrients. This also makes a difference concerning the harmfulness of such a diet. It is better to get your nutrition from food and being out in the sunlight rather than from pills. The need to take vitamin pills is an indication that your eating habits aren't healthy.

cbelc2

It depends on your height and weight and your doctor's goals for you. It's hard to get standard nutrients for an adult in less than 1200 calories. I find it difficult and I eat no added sugars or refined grain or fatty meat other than fish.