We actually need SO little to survive

darkguardian419

I'm eating 1000 calories a day (except for 2 "regular" days a week), but mine is intentionally extreme. The interesting part is that I'm in a severe deficit (TDEE is 3600), exercising 3x a day, and my lifts are still increasing.

You can easily eat a large amount more than you are (get your numbers right, make sure you measure EVERYTHING you eat), the only reason I'm at this extreme is to meet my job weight requirements in 2 months.

One of the best ways you can use this site is to experiment with what works for you, and find what you can maintain for the rest of your life.


ETA; You 'might' want to look into intermittant fasting of sorts. I've always found that when I eat breakfast, I'm starving by lunch. If I don't eat breakfast, I'm not hungry until 12-1pm, and I eat 3 times from 1 to 9pm... I'm not having an issue eating the way I do using this approach.

5ftnFun

Thanks everyone. Appreciate the input. Somewhat embarrassed. Didn't realize I was that extreme. (Fades into background). Will do more research, read more threads, come up with a healthier plan, good work. Bye.

Don't be embarrassed. No one knows everything. Lots of us are learning.

That's the truth! When I was a teen/young adult, we used to think getting a sunburn was a great way to get a head start on our summer tan, and smoking cigarettes & drinking TAB was a great way to help our diets (and I remember 800-1000 calorie diets were the norm). I lost my weight when I was about 20, but I know FAR more about nutrition & health now than I did back then.
I wish I knew back then what I know now. :ohwell:

Chief_Rocka

#firstworldproblems

Fullsterkur_woman

Thanks everyone. Appreciate the input. Somewhat embarrassed. Didn't realize I was that extreme. (Fades into background). Will do more research, read more threads, come up with a healthier plan, good work. Bye.

There's no need to be embarrassed and leave! Please let us *help* you come up with a sustainable, enjoyable way for you to eat!

You can peek into my diary if you want to. I weigh a bit over 180#, am a 5' 7" almost 38 year old female, and I eat 1800 calories a day. I get 180 grams of protein per day too. I have been getting my treats into my diet, and I eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. I went to bed feeling quite full yesterday, and I don't feel deprived (because some days I eat 2500+ calories). Then again, I'm quite content with losing no more than 1/2 a pound a week, because I do not want to lose any muscle mass. I'm not having a race with anyone to get as small as humanly possible as fast as humanly possible.

I encourage you to keep coming back to us for feedback. You just have to find what works for you.

msjersey73

try to increase your protein intake, so your getting at least 1500 cals daily.
and the rest sounds good. You inspired me!!!!
keep it up

quirkytizzy

Maybe it's to prove that I can do it when I am surrounded by obese people...my way of being better than everyone else - that is pathetic. But the effort required to get lean is a journey that is developing discipline and determination and planning and THAT has to be a good thing.

That's a very disordered way to look at it. 1) Your body is not a statement TOWARDS anyone else. 2) Deprivation - be it physical or mental - is not a way to prove strength or virtue.

msjersey73

Thanks everyone. Appreciate the input. Somewhat embarrassed. Didn't realize I was that extreme. (Fades into background). Will do more research, read more threads, come up with a healthier plan, good work. Bye.

TRY THE BOOK "THE NEW SUGAR-BUSTERS!"

BeachIron

Thanks everyone. Appreciate the input. Somewhat embarrassed. Didn't realize I was that extreme. (Fades into background). Will do more research, read more threads, come up with a healthier plan, good work. Bye.

Don't be embarrassed. No one knows everything. Lots of us are learning.

^ Seriously, this. You've also been respectful about it. There are a good number of people willing to help. If you are embarrassed then drop some PMs with questions. Everyone won't agree, but part of the learning process is weeding through advice and building a plan, then testing it.

_noob_

aren't we all judgy mcjudgersons today...

Looking at his dairy and going under the assumption that most all of us overestimate exercise, dude's just eating a low calorie diet. 1000 is net.

I don't see the big outrage here.

ironanimal

You should research the maximal metabolic rate for fat as energy - once you exceed that, any further deficit needs to come from your fat free mass.

ritchiedrama

OP you should read and watch this.

http://www.leighpeele.com/starvation-mode

Fullsterkur_woman

I don't see the big outrage here.

No outrage; just trying to help him with his mental outlook is all.

jacksonpt

Anyone question whether his 1000 cals REALLY are 1000 cals? Considering the most common mistake people make is underestimating how much they eat, wouldn't that be the first thing to check?

highervibes

I could not survive on 1000 calories a day. Seriously. I would die.

silvergurl518

there is a VERY big difference between surviving and being healthy....

QFT + infinity + 1.

do i want to survive? sure! but i'm not a castaway on an island with tom hanks and wilson. i want to enjoy food and enjoy life.

5ftnFun

I could not survive on 1000 calories a day. Seriously. I would die.

I don't know if I'd die on 1000 calories a day, but someone close to me might be in danger.

pcastagner

Anyone question whether his 1000 cals REALLY are 1000 cals? Considering the most common mistake people make is underestimating how much they eat, wouldn't that be the first thing to check?

But the number on paper is always and unquestionably true! Obviously everything can be questioned except that!

highervibes

I could not survive on 1000 calories a day. Seriously. I would die.

I don't know if I'd die on 1000 calories a day, but someone close to me might be in danger.

True, I should correct it to SOMEONE would die if I were on 1000 calories/day lol

pucenavel

The majority of people would be in or nearing hypothermia after 20 minutes in 50 degree water.

I know a guy who can do that like he just stepped out of a warm bath.

There are differences in physiology.

Get over it. Not everyone needs to eat according to the "norm".

Oh, and 1000 calories of vegetables, fruits and fish is a far cry more nutritious than 1000 calories of pop-tarts.

ritchiedrama

The majority of people would be in or nearing hypothermia after 20 minutes in 50 degree water.

I know a guy who can do that like he just stepped out of a warm bath.

There are differences in physiology.

Get over it. Not everyone needs to eat according to the "norm".

Oh, and 1000 calories of vegetables, fruits and fish is a far cry more nutritious than 1000 calories of pop-tarts.

bcattoes

Thanks everyone. Appreciate the input. Somewhat embarrassed. Didn't realize I was that extreme. (Fades into background). Will do more research, read more threads, come up with a healthier plan, good work. Bye.

There's no need to be embarrassed and leave! Please let us *help* you come up with a sustainable, enjoyable way for you to eat!

You can peek into my diary if you want to. I weigh a bit over 180#, am a 5' 7" almost 38 year old female, and I eat 1800 calories a day. I get 180 grams of protein per day too. I have been getting my treats into my diet, and I eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. I went to bed feeling quite full yesterday, and I don't feel deprived (because some days I eat 2500+ calories). Then again, I'm quite content with losing no more than 1/2 a pound a week, because I do not want to lose any muscle mass. I'm not having a race with anyone to get as small as humanly possible as fast as humanly possible.

I encourage you to keep coming back to us for feedback. You just have to find what works for you.

If number of calories is the only issue, I'm not sure you can help the OP much. In looking at the past few days of both your diaries, he eat MORE than you.

msjersey73

The majority of people would be in or nearing hypothermia after 20 minutes in 50 degree water.

I know a guy who can do that like he just stepped out of a warm bath.

There are differences in physiology.

Get over it. Not everyone needs to eat according to the "norm".

Oh, and 1000 calories of vegetables, fruits and fish is a far cry more nutritious than 1000 calories of pop-tarts.

THIS IS ABSOLUTE TRUTH!

Fullsterkur_woman

If number of calories is the only issue, I'm not sure you can help the OP much. In looking at the past few days of both your diaries, he eat MORE than you.

I rather thought my point was that the number of calories *wasn't* the only issue. I don't even care how many calories he's eating (assuming it is adequate). All I'm trying to get across is that the madonna-*kitten* complex so many people have around food and calorie restriction is a self-destructive attitude and that getting the most out of your calories (nutrition AND pleasure) is a *good* thing!

bcattoes

If number of calories is the only issue, I'm not sure you can help the OP much. In looking at the past few days of both your diaries, he eat MORE than you.

I rather thought my point was that the number of calories *wasn't* the only issue. I don't even care how many calories he's eating (assuming it is adequate). All I'm trying to get across is that the madonna-*kitten* complex so many people have around food and calorie restriction is a self-destructive attitude and that getting the most out of your calories (nutrition AND pleasure) is a *good* thing!

Oh, sorry I missed your point. Can't say I really know what you are saying in this one either, but hopefully the OP gets it.

johnrossmckay

I checked around a bit. I'm thinking I am over representing calories burned during exercise.

I also notice that many of the people who feel I am eating too little are eating less than I am. At least gross as opposed to net.

highervibes

I checked around a bit. I'm thinking I am over representing calories burned during exercise.

I also notice that many of the people who feel I am eating too little are eating less than I am. At least gross as opposed to net.

Some people have excercise already factored into their TDEE method, so net numbers are irrlelevant in those cases. My fitbit adds extra calories all the time, but my goal based on TDEE is 1900.

jacksonpt

I checked around a bit. I'm thinking I am over representing calories burned during exercise.

very possible, and very common.

I also notice that many of the people who feel I am eating too little are eating less than I am. At least gross as opposed to net.

Net is more important than gross.

johnrossmckay

Yeah and I also allow my fitbit to add and subtract exercise calories to my total. Right now it is cancelling out the workout I entered for tonight because it can tell I haven't done it yet. So sometimes when I walk 14000 or 15000 steps at work but don't report it, fitbit does the addition. If it feels I over represented the burn from a workout it subtracts. I have to take it off to play guitar because I can get a thousand steps for a few songs.

pcastagner

Net is not more important than gross, because energy balance and nutrition are two separate issues.

johnrossmckay

Good point. I missed that.