Is it safe to not eat unless hungry?

bcattoes

If you are really only eating 500 calories and not feeling hungry that could signal some medical issues. Either that or you are not really eating a healthy balance of food. It doesn't seem like you could get enough protein, carbs and fat on just 500 calories a day. And all of those are necessary to be healthy.

christine24t

You NEED to eat at least 1,200 calories a day or more. At least between 1,200-1,300 for weight loss, depending on your weight. If you eat any where below 1,200, your body with signal itself to starvation mode and it's very unhealthy. You will gain weight EASIER if you eat under 1,200 calories. You will lose muscles instead of fat. You won't be losing any inches. You need at least 1,200 calories a day, you need the energy. 600 calories is waay too low and extremely unhealthy. So start eating at least 1,200 or more, exercise, and you will get to your goal weight in no time!
Stay healthy and never give up. (:

Thank you for the kind post. I actually don't want any muscle, so I don't exercise much. I am guessing it is unhealthy, but if I don't want muscle tone, would this actually be ideal then? Sorry I'm so stubborn lol

Trust me, you want muscle tone!! Muscle does not weigh anymore than fat, it just takes up less room so your body will LOOK better even if the scale is the exact same weigh. Don't stress about the number so much. I'm guessing what you mean by not wanting muscle is you don't want to look like a female body builder. You have to do a lot of strength training to get like that. But exercising and doing strength training a couple of times a week will not make your body look like that.
Exercising is good for your cardiovascular health, so you need to do it. I don't get why you want to lose weight but say you don't exercise. Doesn't really make sense - the only reason it would make sense is if you were injured and couldn't physically exercise.
You sound like you have some problems understanding nutrition, so maybe take a nutrition class or speak to a nutritionist.

fteale

I net 1200 cals and I am 5'5" I don't think the rule applies to someone who is 4'9". I actually very much believe in eating when you are hungry. Like you, I eat breakfast, but after that only eat when I feel my stomach rumbling. It works for me.

Also, I have shrunk an inch apparently in the last 3 years. You can lose height through compression of cartilage, it's not necessarily bone loss.

ladyhawk00

I net 1200 cals and I am 5'5" I don't think the rule applies to someone who is 4'9". I actually very much believe in eating when you are hungry. Like you, I eat breakfast, but after that only eat when I feel my stomach rumbling. It works for me.

Also, I have shrunk an inch apparently in the last 3 years. You can lose height through compression of cartilage, it's not necessarily bone loss.

1200 would not necessarily apply to someone at 4'9"...however, 600 is still not appropriate, for anyone, at any time.

Compression of cartilege does happen...but not in 21 yr olds unless they are ELITE athletes doing MAJOR damage to their joints.

i_love_vinegar

You NEED to eat at least 1,200 calories a day or more. At least between 1,200-1,300 for weight loss, depending on your weight. If you eat any where below 1,200, your body with signal itself to starvation mode and it's very unhealthy. You will gain weight EASIER if you eat under 1,200 calories. You will lose muscles instead of fat. You won't be losing any inches. You need at least 1,200 calories a day, you need the energy. 600 calories is waay too low and extremely unhealthy. So start eating at least 1,200 or more, exercise, and you will get to your goal weight in no time!
Stay healthy and never give up. (:

Thank you for the kind post. I actually don't want any muscle, so I don't exercise much. I am guessing it is unhealthy, but if I don't want muscle tone, would this actually be ideal then? Sorry I'm so stubborn lol

Trust me, you want muscle tone!! Muscle does not weigh anymore than fat, it just takes up less room so your body will LOOK better even if the scale is the exact same weigh. Don't stress about the number so much. I'm guessing what you mean by not wanting muscle is you don't want to look like a female body builder. You have to do a lot of strength training to get like that. But exercising and doing strength training a couple of times a week will not make your body look like that.
Exercising is good for your cardiovascular health, so you need to do it. I don't get why you want to lose weight but say you don't exercise. Doesn't really make sense - the only reason it would make sense is if you were injured and couldn't physically exercise.
You sound like you have some problems understanding nutrition, so maybe take a nutrition class or speak to a nutritionist.

Thank you! I just don't want any real tone at all. I think it looks good on other people, but it just isn't something I want for myself. I don't exercise much, but i want to lose weight that I gained through over eating. Thank you for all the help

i_love_vinegar

I net 1200 cals and I am 5'5" I don't think the rule applies to someone who is 4'9". I actually very much believe in eating when you are hungry. Like you, I eat breakfast, but after that only eat when I feel my stomach rumbling. It works for me.

Also, I have shrunk an inch apparently in the last 3 years. You can lose height through compression of cartilage, it's not necessarily bone loss.

Thank you for the personal insight. I really appreciate someone to relate to.
I am thinking it could be due to my past job, where I had to lift things much heavier than myself...maybe the catching sick thing just added on to it ^.^

I'm not quite sure, but I am healthy in that aspect.

ladyhawk00 (didn't want to quote since I've been doing too much haha): I agree. I will try and find a happy medium, even if that means eating more than I feel like eating. 600 is the lowest I usually go, so I don't think it will be too hard. Thank you everyone again

Mindful_Trent

[Thank you! I just don't want any real tone at all. I think it looks good on other people, but it just isn't something I want for myself. I don't exercise much, but i want to lose weight that I gained through over eating. Thank you for all the help

FYI - not wanting much muscle definition/tone/obvious muscles (a six pack like you mentioned in a previous post) is very different from not wanting "any muscles" as you said in another previous post.

In case you missed my 1st reply - healthy muscles are essential for a healthy body. They prevent injury and help support bone health. Even if you don't want to do anything that will give you visible "bulk" - you *really* need to make sure you're eating enough to prevent loss of muscle mass and to do exercise to support cardiorespiratory health. Most cardio exercises will NOT cause muscle growth/bulk, especially if you're in a calorie deficit - but eating enough calories (including protein) and doing some exercise that engages your muscles will help ensure you're at least maintaining an adequate amount of muscle mass to prevent general injury and musculoskeletal and heart-muscle-related problems.

i_love_vinegar

[Thank you! I just don't want any real tone at all. I think it looks good on other people, but it just isn't something I want for myself. I don't exercise much, but i want to lose weight that I gained through over eating. Thank you for all the help

FYI - not wanting much muscle definition/tone/obvious muscles (a six pack like you mentioned in a previous post) is very different from not wanting "any muscles" as you said in another previous post.

In case you missed my 1st reply - healthy muscles are essential for a healthy body. They prevent injury and help support bone health. Even if you don't want to do anything that will give you visible "bulk" - you *really* need to make sure you're eating enough to prevent loss of muscle mass and to do exercise to support cardiorespiratory health. Most cardio exercises will NOT cause muscle growth/bulk, especially if you're in a calorie deficit - but eating enough calories (including protein) and doing some exercise that engages your muscles will help ensure you're at least maintaining an adequate amount of muscle mass to prevent general injury and musculoskeletal and heart-muscle-related problems.

Thank you accountantboi! You really clarified what I meant to say, since I'm not always the most clear in what I say Yes, I just dont visible muscles. I will do cardio exercise without worry now. Probably cleaning the house a lot more too. I appreciate your kind advice, it really is helping me.

rdmelinda

In general for 4 ft. 9 in. a healthy weight range is 86-115 pounds (which corresponds to a BMI of 18.6 to 24.9). http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/
It's a pretty wide range taking into account different amounts of bone mass and muscle. Also in general it is considered most healthy to eat somewhere between 3 to 6 times per day. If you eat in the morning, have an afternoon snack and eat dinner, that would be 3. Some people do better with 3, others do better with 4, 5, or 6 (for example 3 small meals and 3 snacks). Not everyone should eat 6 times per day. We should all listen to our hunger as long as we are meeting our bodies' needs for carb, protein, fat, vitamins, mineals and water. It is true that stronger muscles are good for bones, and healthy heart and lungs are always good. Six packs are not required (but can look nice!). Good luck in your quest for health...if you were healthy at your previous weight and you want to get back to it after a period of overeating, more power to you! And you should look for a Registered Dietitian...a nutritionist might have a PhD or just be a vitamin salesperson.

ajl2

Your Basal Metabolic rate according to your current height and weight and age is 1124 calories per day. It represents the minimum amount of energy needed to keep your body functioning, including breathing and keeping your heart beating. Your Basal Metabolic Rate does not include the calories you burn from normal daily activities or exercise.

To put it another way, 1124 calories is the amount of calories you need to SURVIVE if you were to do absolutely nothing but sit on your butt all day. If you are only eating 600 calories every day you are eventually going to kill yourself.

I really feel that you probably have an eating disorder and you should seek help.

Avalonis

Your Basal Metabolic rate according to your current height and weight and age is 1124 calories per day. It represents the minimum amount of energy needed to keep your body functioning, including breathing and keeping your heart beating. Your Basal Metabolic Rate does not include the calories you burn from normal daily activities or exercise.

To put it another way, 1124 calories is the amount of calories you need to SURVIVE if you were to do absolutely nothing but sit on your butt all day. If you are only eating 600 calories every day you are eventually going to kill yourself.

I really feel that you probably have an eating disorder and you should seek help.

I agree, but a lot of people have been trying to steer her in the right direction and she comes up with a reason not to each time.

People only get help when they are ready to. She did make the first step in asking on here, but she needs to get serious about being healthy. If she TRULY wants help, she's at the right place. Anyone on here will be willing to try to support her. But it just doesn't seem like she's ready to do it the healthy way yet.

I hope she reads this and realizes what she's doing isn't healthy, and will eventually kill her.

P.S. To the OP - Trust me, you won't get a 6 pack without WANTING it and working very hard for it. If it was that easy, most people would have one