My doctor wants me to eat way below my BMR.
tashac2000
Posts: 12 Member
Sooo. I weigh 334 5'7 and I've lost about 20 pounds or so since January. My BMR is around 2200. I eat about 1800-2000 calories a day. I am not active at this time. My doctor told me that she wants to eat between 1200-1600 a day. While I'm sure I will lose faster (this is not my goal) I'm pretty sure I will starve. Any thoughts on this?
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My thoughts are that you should talk to your doctor about your concerns and get a second medical opinion, possibly from an integrated health practitioner. We don't know your health or the reasons your doctor wants you to lose quickly. We don't know your doctor's qualifications. If there are reasons you need to eat that low, and you don't think you can, I would say aim for the upper end and investigate foods that are known to be more filling.0
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Definitely check this with another doctor. Seems like you're doing a good job though!0
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I take it you mean 334 pounds ? Bigger people (I was 373 at 5' 7") can eat below their BMR due to having more fat to burn. I was eating for 1500 and did not feel like I was starving.
Is there any reason why the Doctor wants you to lose faster ?0 -
Thank you for your responses. And yes I meant 334. She didn't point out any specific reasons that she wants me to lose faster. I thought about seeking a second opinion. I'm already eating below my BMR, I don't want to go to low. I notice I lose more when I eat on the upper range of 1900-2000. My goals are to lose slowly so that I can keep the weight off.0
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Thank you for your responses. And yes I meant 334. She didn't point out any specific reasons that she wants me to lose faster. I thought about seeking a second opinion. I'm already eating below my BMR, I don't want to go to low. I notice I lose more when I eat on the upper range of 1900-2000. My goals are to lose slowly so that I can keep the weight off.
Unless there is a medical reason to lose weight more quickly, I think it's fine to follow the plan you mention. It sounds like you have a good idea of how you will be most successful from a psychological standpoint. To be safe, I'd ask the doctor about your plan and if she says no, ask her why.0 -
My doctor advised me to take Phentermine and eat 950 calories and <50 carbs- I was 6'3" and 322# at the time. I did it for about 3 months and lost 30 some pounds but felt like I was dying- today is actually 1 year since I quit that plan and learned the right way to do things on this site. Everyone wants fast results but more important are lasting results.0
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Wow. I could not imagine eating less than 1,000 calories a day. I think I need to switch doctors. She also wants me to cut out sweet potatoes and eat low diet foods. I don't have diabetes so I can't imagine why I can only have 1 oz of potatoes a day.0
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I eat under my BMR under the care of a dietician. I would suggest you go to a dietician if you can, well worth the money.0
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My dr had me eating way down and I started gaining weight -- and FAST! I am now seeing someone who has DOUBLED my calorie goal and Tripled my exercise (well within "normal" ranges). We will see how that works...0
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Doctors dont do a lot of nutrition education (my doctor told me i would never get to 220 pounds and then told me I would never get to goal!)...I started at 380 pounds and am under 200 pounds now and I ate 1800 calories (altho looking back I think i could eat more)....i always look at it as...if i can lose at 1200 calories....and i can lose at 1800 cals (albeit slower) why go for the lesser option...i want to eat as much as I can while still losing weight!! LOL It will also give you more room to move with if you hit a plateau (and as a side note...i still eat 1800 cals and am losing
) 0 -
My dr had me eating way down and I started gaining weight -- and FAST! I am now seeing someone who has DOUBLED my calorie goal and Tripled my exercise (well within "normal" ranges). We will see how that works...
Good luck, I hope this works better for you.0 -
Doctors dont do a lot of nutrition education (my doctor told me i would never get to 220 pounds and then told me I would never get to goal!)...I started at 380 pounds and am under 200 pounds now and I ate 1800 calories (altho looking back I think i could eat more)....i always look at it as...if i can lose at 1200 calories....and i can lose at 1800 cals (albeit slower) why go for the lesser option...i want to eat as much as I can while still losing weight!! LOL It will also give you more room to move with if you hit a plateau (and as a side note...i still eat 1800 cals and am losing)
Awesome. My exact thoughts were if I only eat 1600 now, what will I do once I hit a plateau?0 -
Thank you for your responses. And yes I meant 334. She didn't point out any specific reasons that she wants me to lose faster. I thought about seeking a second opinion. I'm already eating below my BMR, I don't want to go to low. I notice I lose more when I eat on the upper range of 1900-2000. My goals are to lose slowly so that I can keep the weight off.
is this a medical doctor or a Nutritional doctor? I would go for a second opinion. As someone who lost over 100 in a year following MFP guidelines. Best of luck to you.0 -
Do what is right for your body. If you are finding success and eating healthy choices, do it. I started at 279.2 lbs, and started eating .between 1200 and 1400 calories a day. At first I thought I was starving until I learned the difference between appetite and hunger. I had to do a study of what healthy eating was all about. (lots of veggies and fruits, whole grains, and lean meats in moderation. I kept myself on a strict regimine for two months and then started allowing myself the occasional bite of dessert or t treat of a "off regemine" meal. I am amazed at the amount of food I can eat when the bulk of it is fruits and veggies. Like I said, I started at 279.2 on January 4, and am now at 247.2 at last weigh in. (32 lbs). I am not suggesting at all that you do as I do. You do have to be careful not too eat too few calories or your metabolism will crash. But if you tend to be inactive like I am, you would not starve at a lower number of calories. I know what works for me and am not going hungry at all. Sometimes I almost feel guilty eating that last snack to bring it up to 1300, because I am often satisfied. Do what is for your body and metabolism.0
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For some people, it's more important to get the weight off quickly than it is to preserve lean body mass. When OP is at goal weight her BMR will be lower by virtue of her being at a healthy body weight for 5'7" - somewhere around 1500 calories. I would think if she eats at maintenance for her future goal weight that would be a good idea even though it may be lower than her current BMR. But then I'm not an expert in any way.
I'm pretty sure the "don't eat below your BMR" rule is more to keep you from slowing your BMR down unnecessarily... but it's going to slow with weight loss anyhow. Especially from a high weight like in the 300's.
EDIT: long way of saying I think over 1500 is necessary.0 -
Check out this info. Knowledge is power.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/912920-in-place-of-a-road-map-3-20130 -
As far as I'm concerned, the biggest part of the battle is finding a diet plan you can stick with. It took me a long, LONG time to figure this out. If you're happy with - and getting results with - the plan you're on right now, then don't change it! You can always change it later when you hit a plateau, but even then, you don't have to drop your caloric intake all the way down. It's all about getting there, not the pace at which you get there. Good luck to you!0
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If you're not comfortable with your doctor's advice, definitely see someone else- hopefully someone who specializes in nutrition and weight management. Having said that, I started at 309 and I am at 1460 calories per day, and I am not hungry at all. I think you can eat quite a lot for not many calories if you choose wisely. It is hard to figure out at first though, and if you don't need to work that hard in order to see results you're happy with, there's nothing wrong with choosing not to.0
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Is your doctor fit?0
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you wont starve. alot of eating is habit. just train ur body to eat less. ur body will adapt and hunger will lessen. but training the mind is so hard0
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I started out at 347 lbs eating an MFP recommended 1720 kcals per day. I've lost 80 lbs since October 1. As my weight loss goes down, my calories allowed go down too, of course. I'm currently at 1450 per day with an activity level set at lightly active and I don't eat back exercise calories. (I do about an hour of strength training and an hour of cardio 6 days a week. This week my exercise log shows 689 minutes.) I don't think the recommendation of 1500 is unreasonable, but you can get a second opinion always.0
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if you're not active, i would eat what your doctor tells you, drink lots of water and eat good things, 20 grapes are better than 20 raisins...eat food that's filling. congrats on the 20 pound loss....0
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You've lost 20 pounds eating at a deficit in 3 months. If you keep up at the rate you're going, you'll be below 300 by this time next year, and below 200 at this time the year after. So what's the rush? I'm sure your doc has good intentions, but it seems like you've got this.0
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I am not a doctor, but would make the comment that a doctor may not know everything - especially if they are a General Practitioner. I would seek the advice perhaps of a qualified nutritionist / dietician?
900 calories and eating "diet" foods - nah, I don't think so IMHO. :noway: Eat well, eat protein, vegies, some fruit, some carbs, reduce fast food/highly processed foods, eat to target, get some exercise daily - the weight will come off! Many people, incuding those in this thread, have lost weight just doing this. Check out all the success stories, especially Ed Davenport (my hero!)
Just put in your stats to MFP, have a realistic weight loss goal - being bigger you could probably look at 2 lb a week?), and see how you go. If you have no other issues (diabetes, heart, stuff like that) and do some exercise, then you will lose weight. Because of your current weight, even gentle walking will burn calories because you are basicially weightlifting your own body.
Well done on your decision, and your weight loss to date, that is great, :flowerforyou: I hope you get a second opinion, or at least discuss with doctor why they want this tiny intake?
Edited for typos - haven't drunk my morning coffee yet! (Black no sugar!!)0 -
Sooo. I weigh 334 5'7 and I've lost about 20 pounds or so since January. My BMR is around 2200. I eat about 1800-2000 calories a day. I am not active at this time. My doctor told me that she wants to eat between 1200-1600 a day. While I'm sure I will lose faster (this is not my goal) I'm pretty sure I will starve. Any thoughts on this?
Do the number MFP tells you and as long as you are seeing results stick to it. Every 10 lbs lost MFP will ask you if you want to update your program. If you say yes it will drop your calories a bit at a time, the closer you are to the ideal weight range the lower it will be. My wife's goal was 1280 to lose 1 lbs a week. If you doing on MFP it will be a gradual drop and not a massive one. Water, fruits and physical activity will keep you from starving.0 -
Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I will get a second opinion and seek out the advice of a nutritionist. Changing eating habits take time and I still have a LONG way to go to get it right. My next step is to get my butt in gear and exercise!0
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Okay... I'll preface this by saying that I am a Project Manager in real life so hopefully my comments may make sense
I do not see myself as being on a diet to lose weight at all. I see this as Project "Me" and Project Me is not about being on a diet. The primary goal of Project "Me" is to make long term lifestyle changes which have the consequence of creating a better and healthier me and not just for the duration that I intend to be on MFP. This project is about learning what is healthy to put in my body, what nutritional values are in food, being more active in my life.
If I was just on a diet, then the word "diet" has short term connotations and makes me think of long term failure. Hence I dont see that as a long term solution for the way I have previously chosen to live my life.
I spoke to a friend of mine that I havent seen for a while. She happens to be a Doctor. When I told her what I was doing she said something along the lines of "Why would you do that? Life isnt about how much you weigh or how you look. It's about being happy."
Guess she would have been the first person I would have expected to be behind me 100% and I thought she would have put a high value on fitness... Apparently not! Surprised me but I guess every medical person has their own ideas. 0 -
My dr had me eating way down and I started gaining weight -- and FAST! I am now seeing someone who has DOUBLED my calorie goal and Tripled my exercise (well within "normal" ranges). We will see how that works...
you can't eat under your bmr and gain weight. you have to consume more calories than you expend in order to gain weight, and since bmr is your base calorie expenditure without moving, it is impossible to gain weight eating under it.0 -
Okay... I'll preface this by saying that I am a Project Manager in real life so hopefully my comments may make sense
I do not see myself as being on a diet to lose weight at all. I see this as Project "Me" and Project Me is not about being on a diet. The primary goal of Project "Me" is to make long term lifestyle changes which have the consequence of creating a better and healthier me and not just for the duration that I intend to be on MFP. This project is about learning what is healthy to put in my body, what nutritional values are in food, being more active in my life.
this! Don't think diet. Think new lifestyle0
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