My friends say eating 1000 calories a day is unhealthy

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Replies

  • ramseyrose
    ramseyrose Posts: 421 Member
    Google the Harris benedict formula. It will workout your BMR.
  • tuscaroragal
    tuscaroragal Posts: 78 Member
    I agree....I have one of MFP friends who has her calories at about 800-1000, and personally, I haven't found a kind way to tell her she is hurting herself trying to limit her calorie intake so much...and, I would like to add, she has only lost 1 pound...so, I agree with all the posters...1200 calories should be a minimum...I'm taller (and larger), so I am currently eating at least 1500-1600 calories a day, and have lost 20 pounds in 13 weeks...(with 45 minutes of cardio every day as well) it works, and your DON'T have to starve yourself...It's all about finding your own balance! Eat more HEALTHY calories! :)
  • hayley_m
    hayley_m Posts: 61 Member
    1000 calories does seem a bit low, although my doctor put me on an 800 cal a day diet with no carbs for 2 weeks, purely though to kick start weight loss, it did but then i piled it all back on...quickly!! it needs to be a balance to work and i would seriously consider upping it to 1200, this needs to be a lifestyle change not just a quick fix! try lots of small meals throughout the day rather than 3 meals and then maybe you will get a few more cals in sneakily rather than forcing yourself to eat? have breakfast, then a peice of fruit, then a small lunch, then a snack, then small dinner WITH a healthy pudding and then maybe another peice of fruit?? bananas are quite high in calories but yet good for you and give you energy but dont make you feel bloated, or a handfull of nuts?
    good luck with your journey though and im sure you'll find something that works for you!!
  • Stephers32
    Stephers32 Posts: 3 Member
    The really great thing about this site is that it tells you what you should be taking in...calories, fats, proteins, etc. There is no shortage of information out there on what you need to take in to satisfy what's called your 'Basal Metabolic Rate' (Basal or basic...I can't remember..but keep reading, it'll make sense I promise!). Your BMR is the amount of calories that any person needs to just exist on this earth (how your body regenerates cells, metabolizes the food you eat, breathing, etc...you know, the exciting stuff). So, like someone else posted, what you need if you just sat on a couch all day, without exercise.

    As someone who is 5'7" with a relatively sedentary lifestyle my minimum is 1200. I have been exercising and this site is great at telling me how many more calories I can take in (yay for exercise!). Like another Poster said, eating too little can make you gain weight because your body goes into 'survival' mode and hangs on to everything because it doesn't know where it's next meal is coming from.

    I hope that's somewhat helpful. - your friends are right but don't trust what they say, do the research yourself to know that it's true!

    Good luck!
  • ahanson6
    ahanson6 Posts: 102

    This is one of my favorite posts. Very clear explanation.
  • I could never survive on 1000 calories x way too little x yes i think very unhealthy x
  • ebgbjo
    ebgbjo Posts: 821 Member
    What is height and body frame? I am short, 4' 10 3/4" - there are many days where I am at 1k. I am fine.
  • elliecolorado
    elliecolorado Posts: 1,040
    Generally the rule of thumb is 1200 calories, but really I'd need more information to know if 1000 calories is unhealthy. If you are shorter than average it may be ok. My mom is only 4'10" and her BMR is only about 1200 plus activity it is about 1500, her nutritionist has her eating about 1000 calories a day to lose about a pound a week (without exercise), but for the average person, I wouldn't recommend going below 1200 calories a day.
  • joybell32
    joybell32 Posts: 252 Member
    Dober-I LOVE YOUR SIGNATURE PIC!!!!!!!!!!!! Too funny!
  • Dober-I LOVE YOUR SIGNATURE PIC!!!!!!!!!!!! Too funny!

    haha well i like to laugh at myself and you should have a sense of humour when it comes to dieting lol xxx
  • MyNameIsNotBob
    MyNameIsNotBob Posts: 565 Member
    1,000 is probably not enough, especially if you're exercising. I think your friends are right.

    If you've got concerns about your diet and weight loss, your doctor is probably the best place to start finding answers.
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