Bummed by 1000 calorie count

2

Replies

  • Verity1111
    Verity1111 Posts: 3,309 Member
    It is SO dangerous to eat under 1200 calories PERIOD no ifs, ands, or buts about it..My 16 month old is supposed to eat 1300+! You need to eat your BMR or you won't burn just fat, but muscle too, so be very careful and try to calculate your BMR, which I would estimate at 1400 calories..it may be a little more or less, but not 1000! P.S. You don't even look fat too me so why someone would tell you to eat that low is crazy. You look very lovely <3
  • khara2012
    khara2012 Posts: 1,051 Member
    You've only got 40 lbs to lose....1,000 cals a day is ridiculous. I'm on 1250 a day and I find that difficult to be on. I'm usually 200 or so over but they're healthy cals and I'm still losing weight. I'm 5'4" and 42 yrs old.
    I hear ya on the coffee thing....I drank on average 6-8 cups a day, no sugar, but lots of half and half. It's not just my weight that changed that last week, but I was diagnosed with LPR which is a severe form of acid reflux and has burnt the lining of my throat and voicebox. The biggest things I was told to avoid was fat and cofffee. Well, sorry but coffee just wasn't happening, so I made the horrible decision to use skim milk instead of cream. I used to hate people like me and wonder how they even enjoyed their coffee with skim milk.....baahhhh. What I've done is set my coffee make to mild instead of strong, use less coffee per pot, and then the skim milk doesn't tast too bad. I admit it's not as pleasurable, so I'm down to about 3 cups a day but at least I can move in the morning and act human - lol.
    Good luck and be sensible. Don't starve yourself otherwise you'll just gain it right back :-)

    I love your story...except about the LPR. Thanks for sharing with me. I am definitely going to reconsider keeping my calories around 1200. My BMR said 1208, so I think I'm gonna' shoot for that!
  • Rilke
    Rilke Posts: 1,201 Member
    I love your story...except about the LPR. Thanks for sharing with me. I am definitely going to reconsider keeping my calories around 1200. My BMR said 1208, so I think I'm gonna' shoot for that!

    Excellent -- take charge of your own health :) I would eat your BMR at *minimum*. Good luck!
  • YossDillo
    YossDillo Posts: 19
    If you go under 1200 calories doesn't your body go into starvation mode? That doesn't seem safe. I'd get a second opinion or use the calorie calculator here.
  • Verity1111
    Verity1111 Posts: 3,309 Member
    If you go under 1200 calories doesn't your body go into starvation mode? That doesn't seem safe. I'd get a second opinion or use the calorie calculator here.
    Indeed!
  • Verity1111
    Verity1111 Posts: 3,309 Member
    I love your story...except about the LPR. Thanks for sharing with me. I am definitely going to reconsider keeping my calories around 1200. My BMR said 1208, so I think I'm gonna' shoot for that!

    Excellent -- take charge of your own health :) I would eat your BMR at *minimum*. Good luck!
    ^^^^^
  • kborton1122
    kborton1122 Posts: 914 Member
    I didn't read all of the replies to this post, but I'm sure others have mentioned this. But 1,000 calories is rediculous! I've been taught to eat 1200 a day MINIMUM. If you eat under 1200, your body will go into starvation mode and store fat. I would suggest plugging your weight loss goals into this site and see how many calories it suggests that you eat. Another very important factor is to make sure that you get in some kind of activity. This will burn calories, which will allow you to eat a little bit more if you feel like you need to. Best of luck!
  • indigochilds
    indigochilds Posts: 69 Member
    How tall are you by the way?
  • lavieboheme1229
    lavieboheme1229 Posts: 448 Member
    1,000 is not healthy! Like has been said, starvation mode is no good. I would suggest reading Portia DeRossie's (Ellen's wife) book "Unbearable Lightness". Granted, she is a model and not a writer, but it puts a lot into perspective. I just bought Zumba for the Wii, to make exercise fun. I don't know if you have kids, but have them do it with you, might be a great starting point.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    Prime example that doctors aren't dietitians. Definitely get a second opinion as that's ridiculously low.
  • sculley
    sculley Posts: 2,012 Member
    ******PLEASE READ!!********

    Back in 2006 my doctor told me the SAME thing. I was only 20 at the time, but I weighed about 180 pounds. He said it was healthier for me to lose the weight quickly then to stay like that. The plan I was on was (Eat 1000 calories a day, walk about 5 miles a day). Let me tell you, that ended me up in the emergency room!!! I was passing out almost daily. Regular doctors really are not great at giving out advice like this. A nutritionist or dietician would be better suited.

    My suggestions are to make those items treat meals.. (once a week or so) Eat more healthy foods so you can eat more and dont use up your calories so quickly and take a walk each day to gain a few more calories.

    How many calories are you eating a day now? More than likely prior to coming onto a site like this, more of us are eating around 2000 without logging foods. If you subtract 500 a day to lose a pound per week, you can still eat 1500 a day.

    ^^^This, I would take it from someone who had to learn the unfortunate way. WOW sounds like docs really dont understand but then again would you want a teacher who has no experience in special needs children telling you how to raise and take care of a special needs child. It's all about what they specialize in.

    Sounds like your getting some good advice :)
  • LilynEdensmom
    LilynEdensmom Posts: 612 Member
    That seems crazy low...start small replace things...The only caffeine I have given up is in the energy drinks. I replaced those with coffee and in my coffee I replaced the cream and sugar with stevia and skim milk.
  • captnemo44
    captnemo44 Posts: 82 Member
    To low of calories see if you can see a dietitian .
  • Hmmmm that seems wrong hun.

    Calculate your BMR (there's a calculator here under tools) and thats the amount of calories your body burns just to maintain its processes... Thats the bare minimum you should be eating.

    1000 calories seems really really low, like u said, I even find staying under 1200 very difficult.

    Maybe get s second (professional) opinion on that to be sure x
  • WhittRak
    WhittRak Posts: 567 Member
    Your doctor is wrong. The End.
  • happymiche
    happymiche Posts: 164 Member
    1000 calories a day would be too low even if you literally laid flat in bed ALL day long...Like a lot of others said, you need to find out your BMR and eat that every day--that's what your body NEEDS to function. If you ate 1000 a day, plus worked out, plus did your every day activities, your body could literally end up failing.
  • deadstarsunburn
    deadstarsunburn Posts: 1,337 Member
    See a dietitian. Of all the health professionals out there they will be the best suited to give you the best help.
  • aprilgicker
    aprilgicker Posts: 395 Member
    Maybe he said 1000 because he got tired of telling people the right number. They would go home and reduce by a soda And still not lose.:smile: Know what I mean
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    >>>>>IMPORTANT!!! To get your numbers right please visit---> http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/538381-in-place-of-a-road-map <---read the instructions. I lay everything out to help you have a true fat burning diet.<<<<<<<
  • FitLink
    FitLink Posts: 1,317 Member
    Err that seems realllllllly low. Second opinion?

    It's almost certain to be well below her BMR even without calculating it. I'd find a new primary care doc who understood how little MDs learn about nutrition and referred her to a nutritionist, who would put her on reasonable calories. 1000, or even 1200 is likely to be counter productive. It sure won't bring back a youthful "fit" look. "Skinny-fat," much as I hate the term, would be the likely result, and "skinny-fat" looks old.
  • Aid_B
    Aid_B Posts: 427
    1000 calories is far too low, you may need to increase your caffiine intake ! :laugh:

    Some Dr's are like google, you feed them information but they don't know enough and should send you to the correct site/specialist / dietician !
  • BigBoneSista
    BigBoneSista Posts: 2,389 Member
    Prime example that doctors aren't dietitians. Definitely get a second opinion as that's ridiculously low.

    This!

    And you don't have to give anything up. Moderation is key. Like they said above. Find your BMR and don't eat below it. If you exercise eat your BMR plus some of exercise calories back. Clean up your daily menu. You don't have to get rid of all the process foods but you don't want your menu over run by them. Add some whole foods if you haven't already.
  • Articeluvsmemphis
    Articeluvsmemphis Posts: 1,987 Member
    your outlook is a bit bleak. my bad VERY BLEAK. you won't lose anything or keep it off with that mindset. weight loss isn't about getting rid of the things you already have in your diet, it's learning to eat it in moderation and enjoy creating new healthy habits.

    coffee and creamer once a day, AWESOME :love: coffee every hour? :huh: :noway:

    putting a little exercise into your day can be fun, not something to dread

    country fried steak on the weekends, and making sure it fits your calorie goal for the day, nothing wrong with that.

    anddddddd 1,000calories is too low.
  • FitLink
    FitLink Posts: 1,317 Member
    You don't have to give up caffeine!

    word. and why would you if you really LOVE coffee? maybe cut out some of the 'creaminess' but you can still have coffee imo (unless you have an underlying health condition).

    Agreed. Caffeine is an appetite suppressant, and not harmful in moderate quantities at all. Unless it keeps you awake at night, there is no reason to quit caffeine.
  • My1985Freckles
    My1985Freckles Posts: 1,039 Member
    You don't have to give up caffeine!

    word. and why would you if you really LOVE coffee? maybe cut out some of the 'creaminess' but you can still have coffee imo (unless you have an underlying health condition).

    Maybe get the International Delight Singles for creamer portion control. Hubby and I really cut back on the amount of creamer we put in our coffee. In fact, I'm the only one who uses it anymore. Since I only use creamer at the house on the weekends (I drink a ridiculous amount of coffee at work every day -- Love you, Keurig!), the singles are the only way to keep it from expiring too fast! lol And then I know exactly how much is in my coffee without having to stand there with a measuring spoon.

    Caffeine also can energize you and help fuel your workouts!
  • frugalmomsrock
    frugalmomsrock Posts: 1,123
    I'd see a nutritionist, personally. Or a REAL personal trainer who majored in nutrition AND fitness--not just someone trained by a gym on how to get to you to perform a few exercises....
  • 1000 calories a day is of course too low. But I also disagree with Lord007, who suggested eating below your BMR. Both bad advice.

    You should be eating *at least* your BMR.

    On the other hand, coffee every hour is not a good idea either. Time to break that addiction.

    This.

    Your BMR is the minimum amount of calories you need to survive a coma. This number is what you need to consume is order to stay alive, if you did nothing all day except breathe. I don't know of anyone's who's would be less than 1000.

    Your doctor should never recommend less than your BMR. I think you need a second opinion, or just go to a registered dietitian who can help you devise a healthy nutrition plan.
  • SuperAmie
    SuperAmie Posts: 307 Member
    Coffee every hour? Yikes. I think you can still have coffee in your life, just in moderation. Maybe one or two a day? As for calories, 1000 does seem low. I would do two things:

    1. Add exercise in because besides making you healthier it allows you more calories.
    2. Concentrate of getting a ton of veggies. They fill you up and are low calorie, high nutrient foods.

    Ditto!!
  • XXXMinnieXXX
    XXXMinnieXXX Posts: 3,459 Member
    Seems ridiculously low. Like others have said find out your BMR and eat that plus exercise calories. This is important as your not very overweight. Your body needs fuel! Your more than entitles to see a dietitian. Request a appointment! X
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    If you were Obese II or III eating below BMR is okay for a week or 2 to burn off water weight and get the ball rolling but hormones will go nutzo and youll be posting the "I'm eating 1000 calories and havent lost an ounce! WTF?"