What's the absolute lowest you'll go on calories?

bethanyboomstick

I aim for 1,500-1,800 calories a day. If I'm somewhat below every now and then, I don't worry about it too much. However, if my total calorie count ever goes below 1,000, I will make myself eat something else, even if I don't feel like it, just to kick it up over that line.

What is your line of too few calories?

emilynbaldi

1400 is my absolute limit, and I really railed against MFP's little weight loss calculator when it said that's how little I'd need to eat to lose weight. I see that number and I think to myself: that's not enough to fuel any workouts or muscle growth.

So, fortunately for me, I've never had trouble not eating that little, lol. I did pull back my goal rate to make that number feel less excessive though, because it was causing me to binge on exercise just to "earn" enough calories for what I felt was a healthy amount of intake.

(5'11", 171lbs, approaching athletic).

Graelwyn75

The lowest I find I am able to do, even eating all natural and healthy foods, is 1500 net, and that can be a struggle sometimes, which is strange, as when I was in the throes of anorexia at 18, at my worst, I lived on just half a rice cake a day. How I did it, I will never know, but these days, I find hunger a really uncomfortable sensation.

With exercise, I rarely go below 2000, unless I am ill.
I must admit, I do sometimes see the people saying they are quite happy on 1200, and find my old thinking patterns emerging, and experience guilt that I seem to need so much more. But, I am tall and I am pretty active with a lot of lean mass.

carolineat111

1400

chrisdavey

lowest ever is about 1000. I make sure I make up for it the next day as I work on weekly averages.

Snip8241

1300

MrsLady30

Wow, congratulations for getting past being anorexic and eating a healthy diet. THat is a huge accomplishment!

The lowest I find I am able to do, even eating all natural and healthy foods, is 1500 net, and that can be a struggle sometimes, which is strange, as when I was in the throes of anorexia at 18, at my worst, I lived on just half a rice cake a day. How I did it, I will never know, but these days, I find hunger a really uncomfortable sensation.

With exercise, I rarely go below 2000, unless I am ill.
I must admit, I do sometimes see the people saying they are quite happy on 1200, and find my old thinking patterns emerging, and experience guilt that I seem to need so much more. But, I am tall and I am pretty active with a lot of lean mass.

tigerblue

1200 on non exercise days. But I prefer not to go under 1350, generally. I get pretty hungry under 1400, too. At 1500 I feel ok, although I will always want more .

seltzermint555

I know it's kind of silly but I adhere to the 1200 "rule"

newdaydawning79

1200 based on MFP's exercise calculations, so probably over 1300 since everyone says they're off by a decent amount. LOL

Erainor

I just try to make healthy choices every day. A lot of the time, if I make a mistake, I try to eat something healthier at the next meal. There are definitely foods that make me feel more "full" than others.

BombshellPhoenix

1800. I dunno, honestly haven't seen below 1900 in awhile, as I'm trying to bulk and even if I'm not hungry, I try to eat. My intake is set at 2450. I just...really like to eat

spirit095

Probably 1300-1400 for me

Graelwyn75

Wow, congratulations for getting past being anorexic and eating a healthy diet. THat is a huge accomplishment!

The lowest I find I am able to do, even eating all natural and healthy foods, is 1500 net, and that can be a struggle sometimes, which is strange, as when I was in the throes of anorexia at 18, at my worst, I lived on just half a rice cake a day. How I did it, I will never know, but these days, I find hunger a really uncomfortable sensation.

With exercise, I rarely go below 2000, unless I am ill.
I must admit, I do sometimes see the people saying they are quite happy on 1200, and find my old thinking patterns emerging, and experience guilt that I seem to need so much more. But, I am tall and I am pretty active with a lot of lean mass.

Thanks

CindyMarcuzAdams

My lowest is 800 to 900.

I aim for 1200 but some days I dont get there.

BramageOMG

You did not (specifically) say Net or Gross Calories. I typically eat 1700 - 1800 (gross) but net avg is around 1000.

Edit: Did the math: Avg for 74 days: 1194 NET

iseelondon

I follow MFP'S suggestion and aim for 1200 daily.

CherokeeBabe

Goals: 1400 lowest, 1600 highest.

Sometimes I go over by a bit, sometimes enough that I hit my maintenance calorie goal. No biggie. As long as I'm not actively gaining and still keeping things in check, I'm good.

AliceDark

About 1650 (my target is 1700). Gym performance is important to me, so if I go much below that I'm just shooting myself in the foot. Plus, I like food. If I have leftover calories at the end of the day, I'm going to eat them.

madrose0715

I follow the TDEE - method. (My tdee is about 2500 cals/day on average) - have not really eaten below 2000 in uhmmm...a year or more? Losing consistently and almost at ultimate goal weight (145)... presently 153 lbs, 5'9"

Aaron_K123

1800 here, that seems to be the limit for me.

shabaity

I've been known to only hit 800 but that usually only happens when I get really upset, ie Sunday when I went to work and found out that the store I work for is closing in 2 days. My stomach gets upset and I can't eat till it calms down and honestly it and I didn't calm down till after I had gotten some sleep. But I tried to make up for it the next day I think I actually went over cause I couldn't find any nutrition info on the new sandwiches at Sonic's. Beyond that I try not to go below 1300 but I don't think I'm gonna get it today either just not hungry but still planning on getting into my new jar of pineapple or some ice cream.

Chevy_Quest

I am trying to net about 2200 calories every day. (I am calorie averaging)
However, I won't go below 1800 calories. I will eat a few teaspoons of peanut butter just to make sure I get there.

However.. to be honest.. My problem hasn't been going low it has been those "high" days!

stephanieluvspb

God I don't remember the last time I had xtra calories at the end of the day but I'm going to say the golden 1200 calories would be my lowest

harlanJEN

My average TDEE is 2200. Range is 2000-2500 depending on activity. I use 2200 as an average. I typically eat total cals of 1900-2200 with a weekly 2500 cal day to keep my leptin & ME happy. My primary fitness is heavy lifting 3 x week with an outdoor walk 3 - 4 days per week dependent on weather & my mood. My current goals are to lean up via fat loss / body recomposition by eating close to or just under TDEE and weight training Like. A. Boss. Even when I was in a more aggressive loss mode - 1700 was my lowest cal level.

GOAL: To eat as much as you can and lose FAT. Sustainable habits for LIFE.

Graelwyn75

My average TDEE is 2200. Range is 2000-2500 depending on activity. I use 2200 as an average. I typically eat total cals of 1900-2200 with a weekly 2500 cal day to keep my leptin & ME happy. My primary fitness is heavy lifting 3 x week with an outdoor walk 3 - 4 days per week dependent on weather & my mood. My current goals are to lean up via fat loss / body recomposition by eating close to or just under TDEE and weight training Like. A. Boss. Even when I was in a more aggressive loss mode - 1700 was my lowest cal level.

GOAL: To eat as much as you can and lose FAT. Sustainable habits for LIFE.

:drinker:

Willbenchforcupcakes

My rock bottom minimum is 2000. If I stay down there more then a day in a row, gym performance really suffers. When I'm in the peak weeks of a training cycle, 2700-2800 is too low.

randomtai

2000. Period.

Garrett1234

1800

Aaron_K123

I should say that 1800 is what I ate NET for rapid weight loss. Meaning if I exercised that day I'd eat more like 2300.

The only times I ate only 1800 was if I hadn't exercised the whole day.

The lowest I've ever netted over a period of time was netting about -2500 calories for 14 days straight.

Linnaea27

The lowest goal I've set for myself is 1350 net. I didn't like that at all and now the lowest calorie goal I'll use is 1400. I'm 5'1". I have been maintaining below the top of my weight range, without logging, for a couple months, but I'm working on losing a pound or two again now in preparation for going on a fancy vacation so I'm doing 1400 presently. Normally, when maintaining, it's around 1700 (my metabolism is faster than MFP's estimate).

Probably the lowest net amount I've eaten in a day was 900 or so-- BUT that was on a day when I gardened really hard for about 9 or 10 hours; I actually took in well above 2000 that day but the burn from that kind of gardening is crazy.