Trainer said I should be only consuming up to 850 cal

monica1515

Why would you do it short-term? What is the point of killing yourself to do it knowing full well that it is going to come back as soon as you go back to living like normal?

A trainer, training manager, whatever does not mean anything. As everyone has already stated, look at his credentials. NASM (national academy of sports medicine) is one of the most renowned programs. The place I work at (and it will remain private) requires all their employees to have a bachelors in exercise science, etc AND th NASM certification at the bare minimum. It is then required you up your level of certification evey 6-12months.

850 calorie consumption a day is unhealthy, unethical, and not the first stupid thing I've heard trainers tell their client. You should be looking at losing that last 10 lbs in a lifestyle type manner,not a quick fix. You've worked hard to maintain, don't just through it all away. You are a smart woman. I can sense that just because you posted this post and that show you had a gut feeling that information was not the most sound peice of advice.

And as another woman stated on her, it is not his job to tell you that information. I love that she said that! For instance, I am NASM certified with a double major in exercise science and in human bio. But I cannot give my clients any nutritional information other than brush the surface. I do not have my dietician cert not a masters to be a dietician.

I'm sorry if I sound heated, this has got to be one of the biggest pet peeves of mine. You've invested your time and money into a trainer who's not giving you the proper service. And this is someone life we are talking about, not just a business deal.

I'd look elsewhere for a different trainer or see a nutritionist.

Keep you the fantastic work! This was a great issue to bring to the surface to people.

Blessings,
Monica

Dive_Girl

I have a girlfriend that has lost 55 pounds since September. She is under a doctors care for this weight loss and in the beginning he did put her on 850 calories to kick start her weight loss. I personally think it's going to extreme measures for something that should and can happen over a reasonable amount of time in healthy ways. Weight loss, to me, should be more about lifestyle changes and not the end goal. But again, that is just my non-professional opinion.

jillybeanruns

Definitely see a nutritionist. If 850 calories a day is okay for you, you're going to have to be really really regimented about everything you eat. It's going to have to be the most ridiculously healthy 850 calories you've ever eaten. But seriously, don't do it without seeing a nutritionist.

mlove1307

I know I couldn't do it. I could wipe that out in 1 meal and a snack. It doesn't sound healthy at all. I'd ask your doctor. Besides, if you're trying to loose weight and keep it off you have to change your life style. You're not really going to spend the rest of your life eating that little are you?

No, I might just do it short term.

No, no not a good idea. You WILL gain the weight back unless you continue to eat 850 a day forever. And that's a miserable life. Don't do it.. Your net calories shouldn't even be as low as 850. You need to eat more than that. I don't care how tiny you are. It's not okay to put your body through that and it will retaliate.

pavang82

Why would you do it short-term? What is the point of killing yourself to do it knowing full well that it is going to come back as soon as you go back to living like normal?

A trainer, training manager, whatever does not mean anything. As everyone has already stated, look at his credentials. NASM (national academy of sports medicine) is one of the most renowned programs. The place I work at (and it will remain private) requires all their employees to have a bachelors in exercise science, etc AND th NASM certification at the bare minimum. It is then required you up your level of certification evey 6-12months.

850 calorie consumption a day is unhealthy, unethical, and not the first stupid thing I've heard trainers tell their client. You should be looking at losing that last 10 lbs in a lifestyle type manner,not a quick fix. You've worked hard to maintain, don't just through it all away. You are a smart woman. I can sense that just because you posted this post and that show you had a gut feeling that information was not the most sound peice of advice.

And as another woman stated on her, it is not his job to tell you that information. I love that she said that! For instance, I am NASM certified with a double major in exercise science and in human bio. But I cannot give my clients any nutritional information other than brush the surface. I do not have my dietician cert not a masters to be a dietician.

I'm sorry if I sound heated, this has got to be one of the biggest pet peeves of mine. You've invested your time and money into a trainer who's not giving you the proper service. And this is someone life we are talking about, not just a business deal.

I'd look elsewhere for a different trainer or see a nutritionist.

Keep you the fantastic work! This was a great issue to bring to the surface to people.

Blessings,
Monica

Thanks. I see where you're coming from. Greatly appreciated.

pavang82

No, no not a good idea. You WILL gain the weight back unless you continue to eat 850 a day forever. And that's a miserable life. Don't do it.. Your net calories shouldn't even be as low as 850. You need to eat more than that. I don't care how tiny you are. It's not okay to put your body through that and it will retaliate.

I just want to break this plateau. Maybe 850 cal once/week wouldn't hurt?

Mamakatspokane

OK..here's my own personal experience...not scientific facts. You can lose weight eating those kind of low cals (ever seen an anorexic?) HOWEVER..when I was eating 900-1100 to lose I could only eat 1200-1300 to maintain or I'd gain weight. Wouldn't you rather have it come off slow than to be eating "diet cals" for the rest of your life to maintain your loss....Like I said this was MY experience

stormieweather

Instead of eating less to break a plateau, one of the most common suggestions I've read is to 'refeed' (ie: eat more!!). Basically, eat at maintenance for a couple of weeks, then drop down a few hundred calories for a while. From what I've read, this helps trick your body into letting go of those last few pounds.

This is a much safer idea than dropping to unbelievably low levels, because the chances are good that anything you lose at 850 calories will come right back once you start eating normally again.

Just my thoughts and I'm certainly no nutritionist (or expert).

thirtyby40

Once again I am guilty of getting too fired up to read the posts so I hope I don't repeat anyone else...

I think it should be noted that Personal Trainers are not required to take courses in nutrition. The courses they take may touch on it, however they are not all taught the science. They are taught basics that are easily misused.

I worked with a personal trainer for a long while. Although she gave me a kick butt workout my pounds were not coming off. She thought I was under exaggerating what I ate, which I wasn't. She and I kept me so restricted on calories that of course I was in starvation mode. I often think I should give her a call to share the information I have discovered that has allowed me to lose unlike when I worked with her. But alas I don't want her to feel like a failure, she is a total sweetheart (even if she shouldn't be giving nutrition advice)

sdirks

Instead of eating less to break a plateau, one of the most common suggestions I've read is to 'refeed' (ie: eat more!!). Basically, eat at maintenance for a couple of weeks, then drop down a few hundred calories for a while. From what I've read, this helps trick your body into letting go of those last few pounds.

This is a much safer idea than dropping to unbelievably low levels, because the chances are good that anything you lose at 850 calories will come right back once you start eating normally again.

Just my thoughts and I'm certainly no nutritionist (or expert).

stormieweather's got a MUCH better idea. Your body needs fuel and sleep. I just broke a 5 day plateau by going to bed 2 hours early. Between jobs, kids, chores, relationships, social outtings, etc., we don't get nearly enough sleep (women especially, because we need 1-3 hours more per night than men).

Try eating to maintain for a week or two. Do some yoga or walk and get all the extra sleep you can! MFP is about losing weight in a healthy, natural way. If you're a statistically "average American female, 24-50 years old" (5'4" and size 14 dress), 850cals/day is starvation central. NOT healthy and NOT what we support or promote on MFP. Again, talk to a medical professional or certified nutritionist. They'll assess--scientifically, medically and personally--exactly what's right for your body.

Good Luck!

taylorfriedchicken

I have been on about 800 calories a day for about a month (now I eat from 800-1050 a day). I lost 24 lbs so far doing what I am doing but for my next 20 lbs or so I am uping my calorie intake to the recommended 1200. I have lost weight but your body may get use to the 859 calories and as soon as you go back to a normal calorie intake, you may begin to gain a few pounds at first but with extra exercise and no junk food, that weight should come off.

I had a similar issue and now I want to eat more so I asked for advice and the previous statements I had told you was the advice I received.

Your other question is HOW do you maintain 850 calories?

answer: WHOLE FOODS. Fruits & vegetables! I try to sort of stick to a motto that if it was messed with after it was picked from the ground or from a tree, I don't eat it. With meats I eat chicken and I grill it with squeezed lemon on top of it. I also eat shrimp and either squeeze lemon too or add garlic powder. As far as dairy products go, I always drink fat free milk, fat free yogurt (yoplait light) and I am a big cheese person and weight watchers string cheese (only 50 calories a stick) does the job. If I want bread products (which of course I do!) I make sure that they are whole wheat from tortillas to english muffins to pasta. If i chose to eat a bread product for a meal, I make sure to not eat it during another meal in the same day. I also like to snack on a handful of walnuts and raisins.

Trust me, with all these low calorie foods, you are eating constantly so you're never going hungary. However, you are constantly thinking about what you are eating next. Food will always be on your mind.

If you need anymore help please message me and I'll give you an example of a 800 calorie day for me.

Good luck!

BamaRose0107

Instead of eating less to break a plateau, one of the most common suggestions I've read is to 'refeed' (ie: eat more!!). Basically, eat at maintenance for a couple of weeks, then drop down a few hundred calories for a while. From what I've read, this helps trick your body into letting go of those last few pounds.

This is a much safer idea than dropping to unbelievably low levels, because the chances are good that anything you lose at 850 calories will come right back once you start eating normally again.

Just my thoughts and I'm certainly no nutritionist (or expert).

stormieweather's got a MUCH better idea. Your body needs fuel and sleep. I just broke a 5 day plateau by going to bed 2 hours early. Between jobs, kids, chores, relationships, social outtings, etc., we don't get nearly enough sleep (women especially, because we need 1-3 hours more per night than men).

Try eating to maintain for a week or two. Do some yoga or walk and get all the extra sleep you can! MFP is about losing weight in a healthy, natural way. If you're a statistically "average American female, 24-50 years old" (5'4" and size 14 dress), 850cals/day is starvation central. NOT healthy and NOT what we support or promote on MFP. Again, talk to a medical professional or certified nutritionist. They'll assess--scientifically, medically and personally--exactly what's right for your body.

Good Luck!

I am at a plateau right now also. I am in your shoes I have 10 more pounds to lose and they are being stubborn. I am eating to maintain for the next week to jump start my weightloss again. I have tried in the past to eat 1200 calories or less to lose the weight but it is just not realistic I always lose but gain it back when I start feeding my body what it needs. I really don't want to have to eat 1200 calories for the rest life. After this week I will eat what MFP recomends to lose 1 pound a week. This is the only thing that I have found that works long term.

I will also say to be on that extreme of a restriction you should really talk to a professional (Doctor or Nutritionist). Whats the point of losing ten pounds if you damage your body in the process?

pavang82

I am at a plateau right now also. I am in your shoes I have 10 more pounds to lose and they are being stubborn. I am eating to maintain for the next week to jump start my weightloss again. I have tried in the past to eat 1200 calories or less to lose the weight but it is just not realistic I always lose but gain it back when I start feeding my body what it needs. I really don't want to have to eat 1200 calories for the rest life. After this week I will eat what MFP recomends to lose 1 pound a week. This is the only thing that I have found that works long term.

I will also say to be on that extreme of a restriction you should really talk to a professional (Doctor or Nutritionist). Whats the point of losing ten pounds if you damage your body in the process?

First of all, congrats to losing 115 lbs. That's such a big accomplishment. So proud of you though. Anyhow, it's so hard for me to lose these last 10lbs. I feel like I wanna give up.

Sunsh1ne

Don't give up, you've come so far! There have to be other ways to break through the plateu, not just starving yourself. What's your regular exercise regimen like? Maybe if you mix it up and do something completely different, you'll shock your body into surrendering its last 10 lbs.

BamaRose0107

I am at a plateau right now also. I am in your shoes I have 10 more pounds to lose and they are being stubborn. I am eating to maintain for the next week to jump start my weightloss again. I have tried in the past to eat 1200 calories or less to lose the weight but it is just not realistic I always lose but gain it back when I start feeding my body what it needs. I really don't want to have to eat 1200 calories for the rest life. After this week I will eat what MFP recomends to lose 1 pound a week. This is the only thing that I have found that works long term.

I will also say to be on that extreme of a restriction you should really talk to a professional (Doctor or Nutritionist). Whats the point of losing ten pounds if you damage your body in the process?

First of all, congrats to losing 115 lbs. That's such a big accomplishment. So proud of you though. Anyhow, it's so hard for me to lose these last 10lbs. I feel like I wanna give up.

I know how you feel, it is frustrating, but you can do it! Don't give up! If you are still doing what you need to do to get healthy you are still succeeding. The number on the scale is just being stubborn. Have you measured recently or noticed a change in the way your clothes fit? 850 calories might be ok for you for a short time, but I would still talk to a doctor just to make sure it would not do more harm than good. Good Luck, I hope you can break this plateau!:flowerforyou:

DrBorkBork

Maybe it would be possible to do it semi-safely. If you consume 1200 calories a day, that's 8400 a week. Perhaps you could divide it up so that you eat two or three days a week, and higher amounts the rest. Sort of force your body to go "wait a minute, what are we doing here" and go into overdrive on metabolizing those calories. Just a thought.

pavang82

Don't give up, you've come so far! There have to be other ways to break through the plateu, not just starving yourself. What's your regular exercise regimen like? Maybe if you mix it up and do something completely different, you'll shock your body into surrendering its last 10 lbs.

I workout 5 time/week. ON Mon, Wed, and Fri I run about 4 miles on the trendmill. ON Tues and Thurs I just started strength training.

Fieldsy

a toddler probably eats more than what this trainer is telling you to eat

DrBorkBork

a toddler probably eats more than what this trainer is telling you to eat

I know mine does! She gets about 1,000 calories a day when she's actually in the mood to eat.

pavang82

a toddler probably eats more than what this trainer is telling you to eat

WOW...congrats on your 225 lbs lost. Just curious how long it took ya. YOu look great.

Fieldsy

a toddler probably eats more than what this trainer is telling you to eat

WOW...congrats on your 225 lbs lost. Just curious how long it took ya. YOu look great.

it took me about 4-4.5 years I am guessing......thanks