Opinions please - going under calorie goal

tamsyn1989

Hi, just need some advice. I am eating around 800 - 1000 calories daily, and feel as though I'm getting enough nutrition, but I am scared of losing weight to gain it back later...I have previously lost 20kg in 2 months and gained it back and more. I am now at my heaviest weight (93.7kg) after losing 3.3kg so far this week. Has anyone got any tips for keeping the weight off once you lose it? My theory is to lose another 10-15kg fairly rapidly before slowing down loss to 1kg a week to let my body adjust. In the long term I plan to watch portion sizes, minimise carbs and indulge in vegetables with moderate fruit and protein.
The last time I got to my goal weight of 62 kg I celebrated by eating anything and everything in sight. Am I destined to fail?

Liftng4Lis

People who lose weight rapidly are more likely to gain it back. Losing 7 pounds a week is considered rapidly and more than likely isn't going to be sustainable long term. That being said, If you have 60 pounds to lose, 800 calories a day is ridiculous for someone your size (something else not sustainable). None of this is necessary for weight loss and if at the end you're just planning on celebrating by "eating everything in sight", YEP you are probably destined to fail.

jemhh

Well, if you start eating anything and everything in sight, yes you will fail.

Long term maintenance is about calories in, calories out, just like weight loss. You are going to have to learn to eat at a reasonable and moderate level at some point. Eating at an extremely low calorie level during weight loss can make that transition more difficult because it is easy to get into the "thin means little food" mindset. So keep in mind that at some point you'll need to change tacts.

tamsyn1989

Thanks for your insight, the point I was trying to make was that I don't plan to do that again, I'm able to see where I went wrong... and have no plans to relive those mistakes in future! Going from a skinny 60kg to MOby **** in a year really wasn't my overall plan haha. Congrats on both of your weight loss to date, you have done so well. Any tips are welcomed I just wanted to know whether it is safer to lose more than .5-1kg per week safely, as I have a lot to lose...

malibu927

That's the thing...with crash diets you most likely aren't getting the nutrients you need, and you don't learn how to lead a healthy lifestyle which is what leads people to gaining it all back, and then some.I have as much weight left to lose as you and I'm doing it on twice as many calories a day.

mahanaibu

People who lose weight rapidly are more likely to gain it back. Losing 7 pounds a week is considered rapidly and more than likely isn't going to be sustainable long term. That being said, If you have 60 pounds to lose, 800 calories a day is ridiculous for someone your size (something else not sustainable). None of this is necessary for weight loss and if at the end you're just planning on celebrating by "eating everything in sight", YEP you are probably destined to fail.

This is not actually true. Look at Myth #3 in this report by the Los Angeles Times.

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/30/news/la-heb-weight-loss-myths-20130130

(Myth #3) Slow, gradual weight loss is easier to sustain than large, rapid weight loss: In fact, clinical trials have found that people who jump-start their diets by dropping a lot of weight in the beginning (by consuming only 800 to 1,200 calories per day, for instance) had the best results in long-term studies.

The report is covering an article that examined a large body of existing research and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. In other words, it's solid science.

TavistockToad

i can 99% guarantee that you are NOT getting all the nutrition you need on 800-1000 cals.

plus your 'plan' probably means you'll look squishy and flabby once you lose the weight anyway.

itsbasschick

if you lose weight fast, you lose muscle - since muscle is what burns calories when resting, that means that after a fast weight loss your body burns less calories than it did before, making it so very easy to gain weight gain. also, regardless of what you believe, you're probably not getting all the nutrition you need - i'd guess you believe that because chances are you don't know what nutrients you need.

btw, no one plans to gain the weight back, but if you don't take the time while losing weight to learn healthier eating habits, chances are good you will gain it back. after all, losing weight is temporary, but it took a lifetime of poor eating habits to get you to the weight you reached.

Liftng4Lis

This is not actually true. Look at Myth #3 in this report by the Los Angeles Times.

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/30/news/la-heb-weight-loss-myths-20130130

(Myth #3) Slow, gradual weight loss is easier to sustain than large, rapid weight loss: In fact, clinical trials have found that people who jump-start their diets by dropping a lot of weight in the beginning (by consuming only 800 to 1,200 calories per day, for instance) had the best results in long-term studies.

The report is covering an article that examined a large body of existing research and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. In other words, it's solid science.

So YOU'RE under the opinion, that someone NOT learning healthy eating habits (because really how did they if they crash dieted to where they are), is capable of sustaining weight loss long term?

mahanaibu

I'm not giving an opinion. I'm giving you science. A person who eats very carefully can actually get all the required nutrition in about 1,000 calories a day, but it requires the knowledge to make the nutrition work. I'm not advocating it as a way of dieting; I'm saying that this myth about people losing weight fast then gaining it faster is, according to the research, a myth. Read the New England Journal of Medicine article and argue with the research experts if you want. Science is science.

Liftng4Lis

I'm not giving an opinion. I'm giving you science. A person who eats very carefully can actually get all the required nutrition in about 1,000 calories a day, but it requires the knowledge to make the nutrition work. I'm not advocating it as a way of dieting; I'm saying that this myth about people losing weight fast then gaining it faster is, according to the research, a myth. Read the New England Journal of Medicine article and argue with the research experts if you want. Science is science.

I just did, AND I read the footnotes which tells you that they consider long term to be18 months. So yes I guess its great for 18 months you get to sustain your weight loss then you're more than likely going to gain it all back because you didn't learn healthy eating habits!

mahanaibu

Yes, and research also shows that people who maintain for 18 months have a much better chance of keeping it off...most people who fall off the wagon do it before 18 months. That's why most research considers 18 months to be a long term. Geez, you really want to stick to your shibboleths, don't you? I'm not really interested in getting into forum fights. I was injecting some solid research into the old sayings that get recycled here by people who don't actually have any science to back themselves up.

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SideSteel

I'm not giving an opinion. I'm giving you science. A person who eats very carefully can actually get all the required nutrition in about 1,000 calories a day, but it requires the knowledge to make the nutrition work. I'm not advocating it as a way of dieting; I'm saying that this myth about people losing weight fast then gaining it faster is, according to the research, a myth. Read the New England Journal of Medicine article and argue with the research experts if you want. Science is science.

It's worth noting that one of the two referenced studies used to justify fast rate of weight loss considered "fast" to be approximately 1.5lbs/week. For an overweight or obese person (obese people were used in this particular study) this really is closer to "moderate" by most standards, in my opinion.

The meta that they reference involves following the initial fast weight loss with an intervention program.

(http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMsa1208051)
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20443094)

Now that's not to say that I disagree with the notion that initial fast weight loss may have benefits in some people when it comes to long term results, but I think the above points are worth mentioning.

WalkingAlong

I am now at my heaviest weight (93.7kg) after losing 3.3kg so far this week.

I'm confused by this statement.

Fit_Housewife

This

So sick of the this is my opinion, I have no research to back it up, let me cram it down everyone's throat, some people have on this forum. People are different and shouldn't be attacked for the path they choose to lose weight whether you and your infinite knowledge agree.

Yes, and research also shows that people who maintain for 18 months have a much better chance of keeping it off...most people who fall off the wagon do it before 18 months. That's why most research considers 18 months to be a long term. Geez, you really want to stick to your shibboleths, don't you? I'm not really interested in getting into forum fights. I was injecting some solid research into the old sayings that get recycled here by people who don't actually have any science to back themselves up.

Liftng4Lis

Yes, and research also shows that people who maintain for 18 months have a much better chance of keeping it off...most people who fall off the wagon do it before 18 months. That's why most research considers 18 months to be a long term. Geez, you really want to stick to your shibboleths, don't you? I'm not really interested in getting into forum fights. I was injecting some solid research into the old sayings that get recycled here by people who don't actually have any science to back themselves up.

Wasn't my intention either BUT in this particular case, the OP asked if she was destined to fail. IMO she is not eating enough to get her nutrients and she self admitted she has a history of losing and gaining back. Learning healthy eating habits would be more beneficial to her long term to maintain her weight loss.

pbekkerh

>after losing 3.3kg so far this week

That must be mostly water.
If your MBR(minimum calories to keep you alive) is around 1600 calories and you eat 800, then your body has to deliver the missing 800 calories a day. That makes 5600 calories pr week which corresponds to 0.8 kg of fat !!

Even when eating nothing, you'll only burn 2.5 kg fat a week.

You don't just want to loose weight but to keep your weight afterwards, you need to change your eating habits and there is no "crash" way to do that, it will take a long period to do so.

I am just eating mostly things I used to but in smaller portions. But I have substituted most of my rice and potato intake because my calorie budget "punishes" me too much when eating high calorie food.
To stay on my daily goal I then have to do more exercise or eat less the rest of the day so I eat a lot more vegetables etc. instead.

Mohana94

This is not actually true. Look at Myth #3 in this report by the Los Angeles Times.

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/30/news/la-heb-weight-loss-myths-20130130

(Myth #3) Slow, gradual weight loss is easier to sustain than large, rapid weight loss: In fact, clinical trials have found that people who jump-start their diets by dropping a lot of weight in the beginning (by consuming only 800 to 1,200 calories per day, for instance) had the best results in long-term studies.

The report is covering an article that examined a large body of existing research and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. In other words, it's solid science.

So YOU'RE under the opinion, that someone NOT learning healthy eating habits (because really how did they if they crash dieted to where they are), is capable of sustaining weight loss long term?

A person who loses weight extremely quickly and through whatever crash dieting can still maintain the weight they lost. Weight loss is about calorie deficit after all right? It's more about what they do after that. They have to apply healthy eating habits and not overeat after. They have to eat within their maintenance calories and not go back to whatever diet they were having originally.

Having said that, I think eating 800-1000 calories alone and trying to lose weight on that is extremely unhealthy, and can lead to hair loss and muscle mass loss instead of fat loss. It's best to do it the slow and steady way.

segovm

Honestly whatever you do to get the weight off is probably better than keeping the weight on. The forums are full of people that really want to help but even the "experts" wildly disagree about the healthiest ways to lose weight.

I eat about 2000 calories a day and ride my bike for around four and a half hours every afternoon which means I "net" just a few hundred calories on average. According to most of the MFP "experts" I should have died long ago instead of just dropping a bunch of weight and getting much healthier, faster and stronger.

If you are ever in doubt just go chat with a doctor and see what they have to say.

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Mohana94

Honestly whatever you do to get the weight off is probably better than keeping the weight on. The forums are full of people that really want to help but even the "experts" wildly disagree about the healthiest ways to lose weight.

I eat about 2000 calories a day and ride my bike for around four and a half hours every afternoon which means I "net" just a few hundred calories on average. According to most of the MFP "experts" I should have died long ago instead of just dropping a bunch of weight and getting much healthier, faster and stronger.

If you are ever in doubt just go chat with a doctor and see what they have to say.

Oh look who it is.....The guy that loves criticizing MFP members but thinks he has all the answers. Oh wait....In before he claims I'm fat shaming. Boo hoo, I'm a victim.

wait what? Consulting a doctor before any weight loss is a good thing.

WalkingAlong

OP- I don't think that profile pic is a good idea for this forum. I can't read anything but the headline and maybe it's tongue in cheek but it looks rather pro-eating disorder.

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Mohana94

Honestly whatever you do to get the weight off is probably better than keeping the weight on. The forums are full of people that really want to help but even the "experts" wildly disagree about the healthiest ways to lose weight.

I eat about 2000 calories a day and ride my bike for around four and a half hours every afternoon which means I "net" just a few hundred calories on average. According to most of the MFP "experts" I should have died long ago instead of just dropping a bunch of weight and getting much healthier, faster and stronger.

If you are ever in doubt just go chat with a doctor and see what they have to say.

Oh look who it is.....The guy that loves criticizing MFP members but thinks he has all the answers. Oh wait....In before he claims I'm fat shaming. Boo hoo, I'm a victim.

wait what? his reply sounds reasonable and consulting a doctor before any weight loss is a good thing. Also riding a bike for four and a half hours every afternoon and eating 2000 calories daily for a guy means you have quite a large calorie deficit daily not 'just a few hundred calories a day'. It would be a lot more.

My reply to him was not simply based on that one post. It's based on his posting history and the things he has said before.

Alright I'm new here so I'll take your word for it

Mohana94

Honestly whatever you do to get the weight off is probably better than keeping the weight on. The forums are full of people that really want to help but even the "experts" wildly disagree about the healthiest ways to lose weight.

I eat about 2000 calories a day and ride my bike for around four and a half hours every afternoon which means I "net" just a few hundred calories on average. According to most of the MFP "experts" I should have died long ago instead of just dropping a bunch of weight and getting much healthier, faster and stronger.

If you are ever in doubt just go chat with a doctor and see what they have to say.

Riding a bike for four and a half hours every afternoon and eating 2000 calories daily for a guy means you have quite a large calorie deficit daily and it probably works for you because you are on the higher end of the scale. For someone who is around 90 kg that would not work quite as well.

destiny7221

I have been through the wringer with weight loss. I have lost and gained a 100 lbs more than once. In 1982 I had my stomach stapled and managed to lose and maintain my weight for a few years but it came back slowly. In 2002 I had to have the procedure reversed and the weight slowly, but surely, came back. I topped out at 250, only 10 lbs shy of my original weight before the surgery. I am in the process of dieting once again.
I realize this time that there is no ending date here. Achieving my goal will not be the end of the process. Weight loss is a lifelong process, and I think understanding that the changes being made have to be lifelong changes, in order to sustain the weight loss. Its hard and falling off the wagon is easy. You just have to remember that one slip doesn't mean the end of the road. Its only when those slips become more frequent that problems arrive and you will be right back riding the weight loss rollercoaster.
Best of luck.

segovm

Honestly whatever you do to get the weight off is probably better than keeping the weight on. The forums are full of people that really want to help but even the "experts" wildly disagree about the healthiest ways to lose weight.

I eat about 2000 calories a day and ride my bike for around four and a half hours every afternoon which means I "net" just a few hundred calories on average. According to most of the MFP "experts" I should have died long ago instead of just dropping a bunch of weight and getting much healthier, faster and stronger.

If you are ever in doubt just go chat with a doctor and see what they have to say.

Riding a bike for four and a half hours every afternoon and eating 2000 calories daily for a guy means you have quite a large calorie deficit daily and it probably works for you because you are on the higher end of the scale. For someone who is around 90 kg that would not work quite as well.

Yeah I started 119 days ago at 265 lbs and have been increasing the amount of riding as I have gotten fitter. This just happens to be what works for me. I don't think anyone would have recommended it but four months in I still feel pretty dandy.

kgeyser

Hi, just need some advice. I am eating around 800 - 1000 calories daily, and feel as though I'm getting enough nutrition, but I am scared of losing weight to gain it back later...I have previously lost 20kg in 2 months and gained it back and more. I am now at my heaviest weight (93.7kg) after losing 3.3kg so far this week. Has anyone got any tips for keeping the weight off once you lose it? My theory is to lose another 10-15kg fairly rapidly before slowing down loss to 1kg a week to let my body adjust. In the long term I plan to watch portion sizes, minimise carbs and indulge in vegetables with moderate fruit and protein.
The last time I got to my goal weight of 62 kg I celebrated by eating anything and everything in sight. Am I destined to fail?

OP, is this "lose rapidly then slow down" the same plan you used before when you lost 20kg in 2 months and gained it all back?

My advice is to stop with the 800-1000 calorie nonsense; the benefits don't outweigh the drawbacks. Find a reasonable calorie deficit, and eat that. Because keeping weight off in the long run means being consistent, not bouncing all over the place between eating everything in sight and severely restricting calories. Figure out how you want to eat for the rest of your life, including foods you want to indulge in from time to time, and start eating that way now.

RenegadegirlME

OP Tamsyn....

Keeping your weight off is about two things. 1, learning everything you can about yourself, your nutrition needs, your energy needs, etc while you are losing weight. The work you do now will pay off later. 2, what you do to LOSE the weight is what you need to do to maintain your goal weight. By the time you hit goal what you're eating/doing every day is what you need to do to keep it off. There is no finish line. Think about that. The last pounds are painfully slow. If you stop doing any of the things that got you to goal, you won't stay there. Period.

So learn, learn, learn all you can while you are losing. Then apply what you learn to stay there.

Hint, probably the most important thing you need to figure out is WHY you overeat.

As for fast weight loss... you'll stop losing fast even if you stay at 800 cal a day... without the weight loss reinforcing it, I think you'll naturally increase your calorie intake as you start to trust your body and the plan you're on, AND realize that this isn't a race and it's for life. As far as getting enough nutrition at that level... it's doubtful. But there are people eating 3000+ cal a day who aren't meeting their nutritional needs because they're eating junk. You probably know in your heart that you're undereating. Spend some time thinking about why you're doing that. It's part of what you need to learn about yourself.

I wish you well.

laisa65

800-1000 is way too low and not safe. Check out this eating plan devised by a UK doctor - Fast Diet, Lose Weight Stay Healthy by Dr. Mosley. Five days a week you eat normally, then 2 days per week you fast going down to 500-600 calories. I think this would be a safer healthier alternative, others reporting good weight loss (I am just starting today) and easy to go on maintenance later perhaps fasting one day a week. Good luck.