Is 1000 Calories Enough?

2»

Replies

  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I weigh 134.2lbs and would like to get down to 130-128lbs. I don't exercise just to eat back calories. It's just someday I'll eat 1000 like today and I feel full, so I think do I need the extra 200 calories? I've had my 5 a day including fruit and veg.

    If you are trying to lose less than 10 pounds ......... a 1/2 pound a week loss is a healthy goal. HEALTHY weight loss means you are losing mostly fat.

    NO ONE should exercise just to eat calories back ...... exercise is to MAINTAIN muscle mass (while dieting)..... so you end up losing more fat than muscle.

    But when you don't eat enough ..... you are essentially exercising to LOSE muscle.

    Your body needs much more than fruits and vegetables ..... are you getting plenty of protiens (to fuel muscle) ... are you getting healthy fats ...... fat is required for many things .... absorbing vitamins for one.

    Feeling full is not a good indicator of nutrition .... drink lots of water .... feel full ...... eat lots of fiber ..... feel full. Sure water and fiber are good for you .... but they won't help you maintain muscle mass.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    Okay I'll stick to 1200 a day, I appreciate your help and advice. Guess I got some eating to do lol

    EAT MORE!!!! I'm 5'2 and eat between 1700-2000 calories and if you noticed the ticker i have lost a lot of weight.
  • nomeejerome
    nomeejerome Posts: 2,616 Member
    Okay I'll stick to 1200 a day, I appreciate your help and advice. Guess I got some eating to do lol

    OP:
    Listen to what people are telling you. That is not enough. Is 1200 appropriate for some people? it is possible. But you are not one of those people. You asked a question, received answers. Now listen.
  • RunHardBeStrong
    RunHardBeStrong Posts: 33,069 Member
    I weigh 134.2lbs and would like to get down to 130-128lbs. I don't exercise just to eat back calories. It's just someday I'll eat 1000 like today and I feel full, so I think do I need the extra 200 calories? I've had my 5 a day including fruit and veg.

    If you are trying to lose less than 10 pounds ......... a 1/2 pound a week loss is a healthy goal. HEALTHY weight loss means you are losing mostly fat.

    NO ONE should exercise just to eat calories back ...... exercise is to MAINTAIN muscle mass (while dieting)..... so you end up losing more fat than muscle.

    But when you don't eat enough ..... you are essentially exercising to LOSE muscle.

    Your body needs much more than fruits and vegetables ..... are you getting plenty of protiens (to fuel muscle) ... are you getting healthy fats ...... fat is required for many things .... absorbing vitamins for one.

    Feeling full is not a good indicator of nutrition .... drink lots of water .... feel full ...... eat lots of fiber ..... feel full. Sure water and fiber are good for you .... but they won't help you maintain muscle mass.

    All of this plus 1400 calories is not a bad day as stated in original post. 1400 is probably closer to where you should be, if not more esp. if you are pushing the exercise hard. I am 5'7" and average an intake of 2,000 calories and still lose weight (read as fat).
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    Hey OP,

    Is it that you have some magical number in mind for the scale? Are you actually trying to just lose a few pounds or change HOW YOU LOOK?

    I ask because "changing a number on a scale" and "changing how my body looks" doesn't typically take the same path. If you don't believe me, and plenty of folks don't, at least do yourself a favor and check out Staci over at Nerdfitness.

    Here, I'll even give you a link to follow: http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
  • TyTy76
    TyTy76 Posts: 1,761 Member
    Good Luck OP!
  • AbbieGriff
    AbbieGriff Posts: 8
    How much a day would you suggest? I will still burn 300 a day since that's just to improve my fitness I do about 30 minutes on a bike then 3kg/5kg dumbbells for muscle.
  • AbbieGriff
    AbbieGriff Posts: 8
    Hey OP,

    Is it that you have some magical number in mind for the scale? Are you actually trying to just lose a few pounds or change HOW YOU LOOK?

    I ask because "changing a number on a scale" and "changing how my body looks" doesn't typically take the same path. If you don't believe me, and plenty of folks don't, at least do yourself a favor and check out Staci over at Nerdfitness.

    Here, I'll even give you a link to follow: http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

    I'll check it out now, thanks
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    How much a day would you suggest? I will still burn 300 a day since that's just to improve my fitness I do about 30 minutes on a bike then 3kg/5kg dumbbells for muscle.

    don't even bother with the tiny dumbbells. they won't "tone" anything like you're thinking.

    According to scooby's, you should be eating around 2100 calories... with your stats and doing your workouts.

    Seriously, check out the link I posted. I don't think you're actually wanting to lose weight as much as you're wanting to change how you look. Go pick up heavy stuff. Eat more food. Problem solved.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    How much a day would you suggest? I will still burn 300 a day since that's just to improve my fitness I do about 30 minutes on a bike then 3kg/5kg dumbbells for muscle.

    don't even bother with the tiny dumbbells. they won't "tone" anything like you're thinking.

    According to scooby's, you should be eating around 2100 calories... with your stats and doing your workouts.

    Seriously, check out the link I posted. I don't think you're actually wanting to lose weight as much as you're wanting to change how you look. Go pick up heavy stuff. Eat more food. Problem solved.

    This!!! ^^^^
  • AbbieGriff
    AbbieGriff Posts: 8
    How much a day would you suggest? I will still burn 300 a day since that's just to improve my fitness I do about 30 minutes on a bike then 3kg/5kg dumbbells for muscle.

    don't even bother with the tiny dumbbells. they won't "tone" anything like you're thinking.

    According to scooby's, you should be eating around 2100 calories... with your stats and doing your workouts.

    Seriously, check out the link I posted. I don't think you're actually wanting to lose weight as much as you're wanting to change how you look. Go pick up heavy stuff. Eat more food. Problem solved.

    Thanks! I think I'll start off with 1,500/1,600 and slowly build up to 1,800-2,000, you have opened my eyes, since I thought eating over 1,400 was very bad. Thanks:)
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    How much a day would you suggest? I will still burn 300 a day since that's just to improve my fitness I do about 30 minutes on a bike then 3kg/5kg dumbbells for muscle.

    don't even bother with the tiny dumbbells. they won't "tone" anything like you're thinking.

    According to scooby's, you should be eating around 2100 calories... with your stats and doing your workouts.

    Seriously, check out the link I posted. I don't think you're actually wanting to lose weight as much as you're wanting to change how you look. Go pick up heavy stuff. Eat more food. Problem solved.

    Thanks! I think I'll start off with 1,500/1,600 and slowly build up to 1,800-2,000, you have opened my eyes, since I thought eating over 1,400 was very bad. Thanks:)

    Make sure you fully understand you will probably gain a little water weight when doing this. Typically, when you increase calories, you also increase carbs. More carbs = more glycogen and water. It will level out in a few weeks and fall right off. I have seen some people lose up to 5 lbs once this happens. Also, adding more proteins and fats can be beneficial and the settings on MFP should be viewed as minimums. Even then, I would adjust macro's to around 40% carbs 30% protein and 30% fats.

Categories