What's the maximum permissible calorie deficit allowed per day at a low weight?

svel713

I'm two pounds above my usual weight. I was looking at my deficit and it was around 700. I've eaten 1300 calories today, so its not like I've gone below 1200.

I work an active job and then work out for 1-1.5 hours a day. Walking (Pokemon Go) with 20-30 mins bodyweight weight exercises.

So I'm wondering: is it really that bad to have such a huge deficit at a low weight? I hear people shouldn't lose more than 0.5lb/week. That's 250 calories a day. My weight loss deficit runs at 0 weekends (maintenance) and 400-700 calories a week on weekdays.

I have room for 80 cals of Halo Top but I'm not actually hungry.

So is it that damaging? Or is the deficit warning because most women at lower weights would have a deficit that pushes them below 1200? Note: My doctor says my blood work is great and I look healthy so I have no idea what to think.

kshama2001

When we lose weight, we lose more than fat, we lose muscle as well. This is especially true when you have a huge deficit at a low weight.

I wasn't clear about your goal weight - are you only two pounds away from it? If so, what's the hurry? That two pounds could be normal fluctuations, especially if you are a female with a menstrual cycle. Many of us retain water when we ovulate as well as premenstrually.

PAV8888

10% to 20% deficit off of your actual TDEE

GottaBurnEmAll

PAV8888 wrote: »

10% to 20% deficit off of your actual TDEE

Adding to this I'd say that it should be closer to 10% if you don't have much weight to lose. You can have a high enough TDEE to create a 20% deficit even at a low weight, but that doesn't mean you should do it.

singingflutelady

A little research shows that her weight was 99lbs at 5'2 in july so BMI 18.1 so +2 lbs is 101 and BMI 18.5 unless she gained more since then.. you should not be trying to lose weight or be in a deficit

PAV8888

Research not done by me as on phone. Echo that obviously at BMI sub 20 (and even more so at a sub normal range like the OP's apparent 18.xx) caloric restriction is not a valid answer.

svel713

singingflutelady wrote: »

A little research shows that her weight was 99lbs at 5'2 in july so BMI 18.1 so +2 lbs is 101 and BMI 18.5 unless she gained more since then.. you should not be trying to lose weight or be in a deficit

I am 101lbs and trying to get back to 99lbs for an event where I will be in a bikini and there will be lots of photography.

I gained the weight for a follow up visit to show my new doctor I can gain if needed. She didn't ask me to, I just did it on my own out of fear of being forcibly shoved into expensive inpatient treatment that would cost tens of thousands of dollars that I can't afford.

She checked my labs (which she directly told me would check for anorexia through albumin levels & a few other things) and gave me clearance to stay at 99lbs when they came back normal.

And since 18.xx BMI is up for discussion, I have to ask. Why is the cutoff at an 0.5 mark? I feel like it should have been 18-25. I looked way fat my whole life in the 21-23 BMI range. Maybe its the low height?

TeaBea

svel713 wrote: »

singingflutelady wrote: »

A little research shows that her weight was 99lbs at 5'2 in july so BMI 18.1 so +2 lbs is 101 and BMI 18.5 unless she gained more since then.. you should not be trying to lose weight or be in a deficit

I am 101lbs and trying to get back to 99lbs for an event where I will be in a bikini and there will be lots of photography.

I gained the weight for a follow up visit to show my new doctor I can gain if needed. She didn't ask me to, I just did it on my own out of fear of being forcibly shoved into expensive inpatient treatment that would cost tens of thousands of dollars that I can't afford.

She checked my labs (which she directly told me would check for anorexia through albumin levels & a few other things) and gave me clearance to stay at 99lbs when they came back normal.

And since 18.xx BMI is up for discussion, I have to ask. Why is the cutoff at an 0.5 mark? I feel like it should have been 18-25. I looked way fat my whole life in the 21-23 BMI range. Maybe its the low height?

If you look fat at the low end of recommended weight guidelines could be you have a higher body fat %. People with more lean muscle (think firm & taut) will look better at higher weights. This is one reason you don't want aggressive weight loss. With too few calories your body uses lean muscle mass as fuel.

TimothyFish

Given that the average person needs 2,000 calories per day the maximum deficit is about 2,000 calories. But it isn't wise to go without eating for extended periods. For short periods it is fine for a healthy person.

jseams1234

svel713 wrote: »

singingflutelady wrote: »

A little research shows that her weight was 99lbs at 5'2 in july so BMI 18.1 so +2 lbs is 101 and BMI 18.5 unless she gained more since then.. you should not be trying to lose weight or be in a deficit

I am 101lbs and trying to get back to 99lbs for an event where I will be in a bikini and there will be lots of photography.

I gained the weight for a follow up visit to show my new doctor I can gain if needed. She didn't ask me to, I just did it on my own out of fear of being forcibly shoved into expensive inpatient treatment that would cost tens of thousands of dollars that I can't afford.

She checked my labs (which she directly told me would check for anorexia through albumin levels & a few other things) and gave me clearance to stay at 99lbs when they came back normal.

And since 18.xx BMI is up for discussion, I have to ask. Why is the cutoff at an 0.5 mark? I feel like it should have been 18-25. I looked way fat my whole life in the 21-23 BMI range. Maybe its the low height?

I suspect an eating disorder and from your own account so does your doctor. Yikes.

kshama2001

svel713 wrote: »

singingflutelady wrote: »

A little research shows that her weight was 99lbs at 5'2 in july so BMI 18.1 so +2 lbs is 101 and BMI 18.5 unless she gained more since then.. you should not be trying to lose weight or be in a deficit

I am 101lbs and trying to get back to 99lbs for an event where I will be in a bikini and there will be lots of photography.

I gained the weight for a follow up visit to show my new doctor I can gain if needed. She didn't ask me to, I just did it on my own out of fear of being forcibly shoved into expensive inpatient treatment that would cost tens of thousands of dollars that I can't afford.

She checked my labs (which she directly told me would check for anorexia through albumin levels & a few other things) and gave me clearance to stay at 99lbs when they came back normal.

And since 18.xx BMI is up for discussion, I have to ask. Why is the cutoff at an 0.5 mark? I feel like it should have been 18-25. I looked way fat my whole life in the 21-23 BMI range. Maybe its the low height?

Yikes. So your doctor is concerned about you being anorexic, and you are concerned about being involuntarily committed for being a danger to yourself due to anorexia.

Your biggest concern should not be those two pounds, but getting treatment.

Sgrands99

"I'm two pounds above my usual weight."

Huh?

ottbbabe2002

Dr. Probably knows best. When people start worrying about an eating disorder it's time to reflect. Many people try and rationalize their dieting as being normal. But when you start prioritizing looks over your health you are entering a bad place.

ottbbabe2002

I know it might sound silly, but disordered eating is addictive and a person can easily lose control. If the people around you are worried it's time to start making changes. This is an addiction that can stick with you for the rest of your life. It's really not worth it.

svel713

kshama2001 wrote: »

svel713 wrote: »

singingflutelady wrote: »

A little research shows that her weight was 99lbs at 5'2 in july so BMI 18.1 so +2 lbs is 101 and BMI 18.5 unless she gained more since then.. you should not be trying to lose weight or be in a deficit

I am 101lbs and trying to get back to 99lbs for an event where I will be in a bikini and there will be lots of photography.

I gained the weight for a follow up visit to show my new doctor I can gain if needed. She didn't ask me to, I just did it on my own out of fear of being forcibly shoved into expensive inpatient treatment that would cost tens of thousands of dollars that I can't afford.

She checked my labs (which she directly told me would check for anorexia through albumin levels & a few other things) and gave me clearance to stay at 99lbs when they came back normal.

And since 18.xx BMI is up for discussion, I have to ask. Why is the cutoff at an 0.5 mark? I feel like it should have been 18-25. I looked way fat my whole life in the 21-23 BMI range. Maybe its the low height?

Yikes. So your doctor is concerned about you being anorexic, and you are concerned about being involuntarily committed for being a danger to yourself due to anorexia.

Your biggest concern should not be those two pounds, but getting treatment.

She was concerned only at first. But I also live in the south, where obese people are seen as average sized.

Its sad that I am finally comfortable with myself, have the body to be in a hobby I've always wanted to be in, and people want to take that away from me.

TeaBea wrote: »

svel713 wrote: »

singingflutelady wrote: »

A little research shows that her weight was 99lbs at 5'2 in july so BMI 18.1 so +2 lbs is 101 and BMI 18.5 unless she gained more since then.. you should not be trying to lose weight or be in a deficit

I am 101lbs and trying to get back to 99lbs for an event where I will be in a bikini and there will be lots of photography.

I gained the weight for a follow up visit to show my new doctor I can gain if needed. She didn't ask me to, I just did it on my own out of fear of being forcibly shoved into expensive inpatient treatment that would cost tens of thousands of dollars that I can't afford.

She checked my labs (which she directly told me would check for anorexia through albumin levels & a few other things) and gave me clearance to stay at 99lbs when they came back normal.

And since 18.xx BMI is up for discussion, I have to ask. Why is the cutoff at an 0.5 mark? I feel like it should have been 18-25. I looked way fat my whole life in the 21-23 BMI range. Maybe its the low height?

If you look fat at the low end of recommended weight guidelines could be you have a higher body fat %. People with more lean muscle (think firm & taut) will look better at higher weights. This is one reason you don't want aggressive weight loss. With too few calories your body uses lean muscle mass as fuel.

If it helps, both measurements and a body fat scale read me around 18.5%. That's the upper athletic range for women.

Wish I could get a DEXA scan. Based on pictures I've seen of body fat ranges, I'm closer to a 20-22%.

Psychgrrl

No one “wants” to take anything away from you, people just want you to be healthy in body and mind. And it doesn’t sound as though you’re either one of those things right now. If the hobby is more important to you than your health or how you look in the long run, that’s your choice.

All we can do is express concern for what you’re doing to yourself because we’ve done it to ourselves or watched it happen to those we love. Same story, different person. It would be nice to see a better ending.