Is eating 800 calories okay?

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Replies

  • sue_langley
    sue_langley Posts: 63 Member
    find a protein drink you like to make up those calories, I feel so much better and I like how my body is looking now instead of how it looked in the past when I did various low calorie diets, only to gain it back and sometimes double. I now view food as fuel for my body to do what it needs to do to serve me : )
  • fbmandy55
    fbmandy55 Posts: 5,263 Member
    800 calories. .. For dinner right? Right? No?

    more than 800 calories for a single meal is too much.

    should be between 600 and 800

    Care to explain why?
  • mschicagocubs
    mschicagocubs Posts: 774 Member
    I just can't handle anymore of these posts today.

    I'm usually nice and helpful...but GOSHHH!:grumble:
  • thatpixichick
    thatpixichick Posts: 77 Member
    Last Summer I got frustrated with trying to lose the last 5 pounds, and stupidly cut down to around 800 calories, some days less (I had no idea about nutrition and literally thought I could eat nothing and fat would simply melt off leaving me with a lean and healthy looking body underneath, haha). It obviously made things worse. After a couple more weeks I gave up, ate badly again, and gained back a stone. This time I'm back down to the last 5 pounds, and I'm doing it at 1200 or some days 1400. Weekends usually more but I generally don't count them because it's mostly restaurant food or fast food and I see no point in estimating, just enjoy some indulgence! But anyway, I'm still losing, just more slowly, unlike before when my body held onto every last bit of fat it could. I'm currently losing half a pound a week, maybe a pound if I've been running the night before my weigh-in. And I'm cool with that :drinker: Slow and steady, treat your body like your friend not your enemy.
  • Oldtimer_65
    Oldtimer_65 Posts: 89
    Eating 800 calories is great. Just do it twice every day and you're golden.

    +1
  • sarafischbach9
    sarafischbach9 Posts: 466 Member
    No. The reason you are not hungry anymore is because your metabolism slows with low amounts of calories consumed. People with anorexia often lack an appetite because they have eaten a low amount of calories for so long their bodies get used to it.

    I would eat at your BMR, which you said is 1500. Maybe you can add an hour of exercise in, which will increase your TDEE.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I'm not 100% sure of my BMR though. I used an online calculator and I don't know how accurate it was.

    It's an estimate..........of course it's an estimate. You would have to be tested to get a much more accurate number.

    The point is 1200 is a value that's even MORE generic. 1200 is the lowest possible value MFP assigns....nothing more. 1200 has nothing to do with your height, weight, age, etc.

    How much bigger is your BMR than 1200...lots? If this is true then you are more likely to lose fat+muscle ....as opposed to (mostly) fat. When people are very (very) overweight, they may be put on a very low calorie calorie diet by a DOCTOR. This is not a do-it-yourself project. Very low calorie diets (VLC) .....should be medically supervised.
  • AnikaP81
    AnikaP81 Posts: 59 Member
    I am surprised no one has commented on her "claim" that she is "barely" in the healthy BMI range at 140 lbs and 5'6". Your goal weight of 120 lbs would put you at a BMI of 19.6, which is actually slightly under "normal" range (20 - 25). 140 lbs, puts you pretty much in the middle of the healthy range (22.8). So even if you have a very small frame there is no way that you "need" to lose another 20 lbs. My guess is that if you think you need to lose that much more, that incorporating strength training into your exercise routine (if you have one, and if not, start!) would benefit you a whole lot more. Less weight does not equal toned if you have hardly any muscle...

    I am the same height as you, but weigh more than you and there is no way that I would not be cranky if I ate 1200 kcal per day let alone LESS...

    Just my $0.02...
  • FerretBuellerr
    FerretBuellerr Posts: 468 Member
    I just wanna say that I am 5'6", and my goal weight was 125, and I did it eating anywhere from 1400-1900 cals/day (depending on how much and how intense the exercise was). There is honestly no need for you to be eating anything less than 1200 cals/day. Will it hurt you doing it every once and a while? No - but if it becomes a habit, YES.
  • fernwehwanderlust
    fernwehwanderlust Posts: 26
    Okay, well thanks to the people that were actually helpful. I think I'll try the weekly calorie count instead of daily. I do tend to eat more or less depending on my day before. And I've only started to diet, its not like I've lost lots of weight yet. But personally, I don't really feel all that deprived. I'm not eating diet foods, I'm just beginning to eat regular portions, and have lower calorie fruits and vegetables with every meal. I still love eating sweets, chips, and all the other high calorie, delicious food, but I try to reserve those as a treat, not as a snack.

    Is there a way to manually add calories to your daily? I couldnt find it.
  • fernwehwanderlust
    fernwehwanderlust Posts: 26
    In fact, I'd like to eat more, but I'm trying to only eat when I'm hungry, otherwise I tend to graze all day, or eat too much.

    Trading one kind of disordered eating habit for another kind of disordered eating habit isn't the best plan. It can be a slippery slope. Why not eat a healthy amount which will still allow you to lose weight, without demonizing any specific food groups? If you can "just eat about 800 calories once in awhile" to control eating, then you should be able to learn "just eat about 1500 calories every day" to control eating.

    Well, I try to eat around 4-5 times a day. I'm not really restricting any food groups, just being more mindful of what I'm eating and keeping my potions in check. And eating more fruits and veggies. And I'm not fasting, its just at the end of the day when I track everything, I occasionally find myself 100-300 calories under. I just wanted to know if its harmful, or if could I eat the defect the next day.
  • fernwehwanderlust
    fernwehwanderlust Posts: 26
    I'm gonna suggest something different. Do you know your body fat percentage? At your weight and height, if you don't have much muscle, I can see why you think you need to lose 20 more pounds. But MY GUESS is that what you really need to do is lose maybe 5 more pounds, BUT decrease your body fat percentage. If you lower your BF%, I think you'll be much happier with your body.

    It's all just an estimate. And the different ways to measure body fat percentage will all give you a different answer. But there's online calculators like this one http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/body-fat-percentage-calculator

    It's just a place to start. And I'm just guessing.

    Using the calculator you suggested, I got this "Your body fat estimates are 19.03 % using the U.S. Army body fat algorithm, or
    -52.70 % using the U.S. Marine body fat algorithm, or
    21.01 % using the U.S. Navy body fat algorithm, or
    25.90 % using the formula developed by the YMCA."

    I'm not sure if this good, but I know I don't have a lot of muscle. I don't care about what the scale says as much as how I feel when I look at myself. I'd like to look healthier, but I carry a lot of my fat nearer my skin, which is better than near my organs, but it also makes me look heavier than I am.
  • fernwehwanderlust
    fernwehwanderlust Posts: 26
    I am surprised no one has commented on her "claim" that she is "barely" in the healthy BMI range at 140 lbs and 5'6". Your goal weight of 120 lbs would put you at a BMI of 19.6, which is actually slightly under "normal" range (20 - 25). 140 lbs, puts you pretty much in the middle of the healthy range (22.8). So even if you have a very small frame there is no way that you "need" to lose another 20 lbs. My guess is that if you think you need to lose that much more, that incorporating strength training into your exercise routine (if you have one, and if not, start!) would benefit you a whole lot more. Less weight does not equal toned if you have hardly any muscle...

    I am the same height as you, but weigh more than you and there is no way that I would not be cranky if I ate 1200 kcal per day let alone LESS...

    Just my $0.02...

    Its just a general goal to work toward. Its much more definite than "Oh whenever I feel like I'm finally at my goal". Its not set in stone, and I doubt I'd even reach that. I do actually have a pretty small frame though, so my fat is more noticeable.

    Id like to try to strength train, but I'm unable to go to a gym, and theres only so many push ups, squats, and planks you can do.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,285 Member
    OP I think lots of posters missed the fact that you are eating 800 calories about once a month.

    If you are eating round about your target calories most days, the occasional day of 800 will be fine.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    I am surprised no one has commented on her "claim" that she is "barely" in the healthy BMI range at 140 lbs and 5'6". Your goal weight of 120 lbs would put you at a BMI of 19.6, which is actually slightly under "normal" range (20 - 25). 140 lbs, puts you pretty much in the middle of the healthy range (22.8). So even if you have a very small frame there is no way that you "need" to lose another 20 lbs. My guess is that if you think you need to lose that much more, that incorporating strength training into your exercise routine (if you have one, and if not, start!) would benefit you a whole lot more. Less weight does not equal toned if you have hardly any muscle...

    I am the same height as you, but weigh more than you and there is no way that I would not be cranky if I ate 1200 kcal per day let alone LESS...

    Just my $0.02...

    Its just a general goal to work toward. Its much more definite than "Oh whenever I feel like I'm finally at my goal". Its not set in stone, and I doubt I'd even reach that. I do actually have a pretty small frame though, so my fat is more noticeable.

    Id like to try to strength train, but I'm unable to go to a gym, and theres only so many push ups, squats, and planks you can do.
    Look into a progressive resistance training program that uses body weight exercises such as Convict Conditioning or You Are Your Own Gym. There are lots of variants to make body weight exercises progressively more difficult.
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member

    Its just a general goal to work toward. Its much more definite than "Oh whenever I feel like I'm finally at my goal". Its not set in stone, and I doubt I'd even reach that. I do actually have a pretty small frame though, so my fat is more noticeable.

    Id like to try to strength train, but I'm unable to go to a gym, and theres only so many push ups, squats, and planks you can do.

    Maybe look into picking up some second hand dumbbells or something to add to your workouts. I bought a crappy bench and barbell from craigslist for $30 and it's really opened up a lot of possibilities for me.


    I don't think eating under 1200 calories every once in awhile is a big deal. (she's talking once or twice a month here, people) Sometimes I'm just not hungry, stomach is feeling off, etc...and end up with a low calorie day, and I'm fine. Although I do think you can lose weight with a calorie goal higher than 1200. I also don't think there is anything wrong with your goal weight, although I may be bias because that's my height and weight and I'm pretty happy with it!

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