800 calories minimum is okay... for me!

myiceisonfire

This does NOT apply to everyone, only me.

I talked to a professional today about diet and weight-loss.

One of the things that they said was "1200 calories minimum is a general number."
They have a height/weight chart that says what everyone should eat minimum.
I am 5'6" and 207.2lbs. Because of my height/weight I am allowed 800 calories minimum!
Also, NOT to eat exercise calories.

Everyone is thinking "WHAT?" .... Because I am as over weight as I am, my body has extra stored up fat it lives off of.

This is not my opinion, this is the knowledge of a professional who studies specifically in healthy/food/diet! So if you want to attack this post, it's pointless, unless you are also a professional which for some reason has proof of otherwise.

Also if you're 5'6" and around 207lbs, don't assume this information is the same for you. Talk to your dr first.

camille97

I can guarantee there are some tight-wads who are still going to say you're starving yourself
Good for you for talking to a physician!
Otherwise you would be stuck eating 400 more calories than necessary... that would suck ^-^

chubswonky

Definitely good to know!

SarahofTwins

Nope not attacking here but glad you are on here to take that step in losing weight! Also everyone is different in their weight, sex, height, health issues, etc. I don't know how many times I've said that either bc others say you "have to" eat the 1200 in order to stay healthy...sorry but I dont agree bc EVERYONE is different. So that is all....:drinker:

paulmg1234

I see your point about being overweight and having enough fat to fuel your body's needs. I just think that only eating 800 calories a day is going to feel like torture. 2-3 days of eating so few calories may be possible, but don't you think a slower more sustainable way of losing weight may be easier? I've noticed the successful people on this site eat the calories that are allotted to them. They also exercise. All the best, whatever you decide, though.

pauljsolie

I was gonna say WHAAAAAT?!?!?!!! Then I got to the fact that this is a nutritionist. Go for it and see how you do. Your run of the mill general practitioner knows little about nutrition, or at least mine does.

chuckyp

Yes it all depends on how much stored fat you have to burn. I have two friends who were very obese and were on a medically managed weight-loss plan. During the initial phases of their weight loss, they were limited to 400 calories per day. But we're talking about people who had around 250 lb to lose.

Jennwith2ns

I say whatever works that you can handle and aren't harming yourself, go for it. But if you start feeling sick, faint or just not losing any weight, consider switching it up

Jennwith2ns

I will mention that my husband, before I met him, was going through a bad time and he lost 100 lbs in a year by eating barely 1000 calories a day and he was about twice your weight. So yes, it varies based on the person.

rileamoyer

I say follow your nutrtionist, but make him/her aware of this site and its features so you have a team approach. I expect after a short while your expert will up your caloric intake, especially as your start exercising. best wishes.

myiceisonfire

I see your point about being overweight and having enough fat to fuel your body's needs. I just think that only eating 800 calories a day is going to feel like torture. 2-3 days of eating so few calories may be possible, but don't you think a slower more sustainable way of losing weight may be easier? I've noticed the successful people on this site eat the calories that are allotted to them. They also exercise. All the best, whatever you decide, though.

I only eat when I'm hungry, and that's usually 700-900 a day. I don't try to eat less to lose weight, that's just what I happen to eat. If I'm hungry I eat, some days more than others *shrugs*

poisongirl6485

Shoot, I'm 5'6" and weigh 100 pounds more than you. So by your logic, I should be eating like 500 cals a day? I'd chew my damn arm off!

myiceisonfire

I say follow your nutrtionist, but make him/her aware of this site and its features so you have a team approach. I expect after a short while your expert will up your caloric intake, especially as your start exercising. best wishes.

He knows about the site Also i told him I was working out. He told me not to eat the calories I'm burning. It defeats the purpose.

joeygirl84

You do what you need to personally I have learned what does not work on my own diet ... It's a learning curve. Try it and just keep in mind of symptoms of not enough. So proud of you Brina.

DrBorkBork

As long as you're working with a health care professional, it's not really any one else's business what one eats

MelissaL582

Shoot, I'm 5'6" and weigh 100 pounds more than you. So by your logic, I should be eating like 500 cals a day? I'd chew my damn arm off!

LOL! Me too. Chew my damn arm off, that is.

myiceisonfire

Shoot, I'm 5'6" and weigh 100 pounds more than you. So by your logic, I should be eating like 500 cals a day? I'd chew my damn arm off!

LOL! Me too. Chew my damn arm off, that is.

Please don't start eating 500 calories based off of what MY healthcare professional told ME. Everyone is different. Especially if you have health problems like diabetes etc. This post was not to be taken as advice that eating under 1200 calories is okay for everyone. Talk to your Dr first.

joeygirl84

Ps, eating burned ores isn't pointless. I royally screwed my body by only netting 200 a day by not eating some back at least. Just my experience.

Kelly_Wilson1990

That is what my doctor and nutritionist told me too. I eat between 800 and a 1000 calories a day and do not eat back my exercise calories.

Pebble321

Good on you for getting and following professional advice. It sounds as though that will work for you.

But for me, there is NO WAY I could survive on calories so low, eating much more than that and losing weight steadily is my preferred strategy.

As we all know, different strokes for different folks......

fteale

Go for it! Just remember you CAN eat a bit more if you start feeling faint. Most slimfast/weight watchers diets have you on 900 cals a day.

Laceylala

I am 5'6" and weigh 207. I spent the first half of the year eating around 1700 calories and couldn't lose anything. Now I am doing P90X and generally eat around 2000 a day.
Good luck to you. Hope it works.

brit49

Everyone is different, not attacking what ever works for you, than thats what you should do!!!.

myiceisonfire

Ps, eating burned ores isn't pointless. I royally screwed my body by only netting 200 a day by not eating some back at least. Just my experience.

I wouldn't say it's pointless. It all depends on how much you eat and how much you work out. If you're eating 800 calories a day, and burning 800, that's scary (to me, my opinion). And I'd be so hungry LOL

myiceisonfire

Go for it! Just remember you CAN eat a bit more if you start feeling faint. Most slimfast/weight watchers diets have you on 900 cals a day.

I agree. I wont stick with 800 a day on purpose. Some days I'm over 1,000. All depends if I'm hungry. If my hungry says, "Hey, feed me!" I say, "Hehe, okay! I love to eat!!!!"

brianna_bananas

dang, good luck. your probably going to be hungry with only 800 calories, i know i would. lol try and split it up a lot throughout the day to keep your metabolism going and also dont over exhert yourself when exercising cause you only have 800 calories in you for the whole day youll wear yourself out..

myiceisonfire

Everyone is different, not attacking what ever works for you, than thats what you should do!!!.

Totally agree, everyone is different. This is just my experience. Even if someone is 5'6" and 207lb that doesn't mean it's the same for them, especially if they have healthy problems.

myiceisonfire

dang, good luck. your probably going to be hungry with only 800 calories, i know i would. lol try and split it up a lot throughout the day to keep your metabolism going and also dont over exhert yourself when exercising cause you only have 800 calories in you for the whole day youll wear yourself out..

I was actually eating about 700-1,200 a day before I went to see the dr, so I'm actually okay with this. Doesn't mean I'm going to stick with only 800 a day. I'm going to most likely eat more. I love food too much! =P I was just saying it's minimum

kellyscomeback

If that's the instructions given to you by your Dr then there's nothing to discuss. I'm an inch shorter and started at 230+, I was told 1500 at least plus exercise, and I eat back most of my exercise calories so the weight is coming off and I easily stick to my calorie numbers.

shifthappens2011

My doctor told me the same thing. He said it's about making sure you get enough healthy protein and take supplements to make sure you don't dip too low on the basics. A good multi, extra calcium and I added a b complex. He set me at 800 per day.

He said that Weight Loss Surgery has changed attitudes about what a "safe" low cal diet is. After more than a decade of people having the surgeries ( and Optifast type diets) and people not dropping dead from starvation, they are changing attitudes. It's almost
unfortunate how little my body needs to function.

Getting_Fit_4_Life

Glad you're working with your doctor. Do what works for you