Doc wants me to do 1100 cals a day-I think she's cray cray

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Replies

  • JoanB5
    JoanB5 Posts: 610 Member
    A 5'3" person may or may not be able to do well on 1100-1200. It depends on how much weight their body is having to support currently.

    Eating exercise calories back, total diet is more like 1400 on exercise days. It can be done. You just have got to do great planning, make sure you choose filling foods, lean meats, fruits, cut some things like unnecessary bread or starches, and space meals and lean snacks evenly through the day so that you don't feel "hungry" all day.

    Recommended sustainable weight loss is one pound a week.

    Set your MFP on "Lightly Active", it will calculate your TDEE, then it subtracts 500 calories a day (recommended to lose a pound a week). This is a healthy and sustainable weight lose.

    In my opinion, it is okay to lose some muscle if you have weight to lose. Muscle is built as you are working out. If you've been sedentary, either cardio or lifting will do.

    If people have a lot of weight to lose, the first goal is to lose weight. Muscle can be built over time. I wouldn't worry too much about it. It just needs to be nurtured as you go. It's easier on the whole body to move less weight. On knees, for every pound loss, I think I read in Prevention magazine lately it's four times that amount of pressure of your knees.

    Now, a 5'3" person lifting heavy probably cannot support their lifting on 1100-1200. Lifting creates a very different situation to plan for. Not sure I've figured it out myself as I transition to some lifting. I do know that it is difficult to build muscle on a deficit, but not impossible. I was gaining in muscle areas and losing in fatty areas over the last four months. Just be intentional, smart, consistent, reasonable, and faithful in your approach and it will all come together.
  • reddcat
    reddcat Posts: 314 Member
    bumping as there is a lot of good info.
  • girlspice
    girlspice Posts: 2
    If this is medically supervised then it can be safe. There are VLCD that are 800 calories and people do just fine. So, instead of saying that the doctor is crazy you have to decide what is best for you. NO reduction in calorie plan works if the person is not invested in the plan. I lost 55 pounds on a VLCD and I have managed to keep it off. I am dedicated and determined to stay healthy. I now workout 6-7 days a week and eat 1028 calories or less a day but I eat very healthy. My blood work a month ago was excellent. I am fortunate to be at goal weight and MFP has helped me to do this. I record everything I eat and my exercise. I wish you the best on your journey to a healthier lifestyle.
  • Pinkylee77
    Pinkylee77 Posts: 432 Member
    Interesting thread you go to a specialist in weight loss don't like what he tells you so instead of having a conversation with him you go on a form with lay people who don't have the background in medicine and ask them. What is wrong with this picture.
  • yenna42
    yenna42 Posts: 17
    Truth- I did seek out the help of specialist. However, I am very interested in people who are actually DOING this. I sought professional help initially because I really thought diet pills could be a good aid to get me going. Turns out they're just not for me. If I can get some valuable information and support here for free, then awesome!
  • LinFlemmer331
    LinFlemmer331 Posts: 100 Member
    My cardiologist told me to eat as much fish, chicken and vegetables that I want and the weight will fall off. He said to stay away from fruit because the sugar will raise insulin and make it harder to lose. I have been trying the TDEE -20 way and have lost 30 lbs in 4 months. My brother has lost 45 lbs in a few months by going On the Bulletproof executive diet. It is Paleo plus. I think you will gain the weight back plus more if you reduce your calories too low, plus you won't keep with it.
  • Sparlingo
    Sparlingo Posts: 938 Member
    Don't ruin your health... but man oh man did I get a chuckle out of that Jesse Spano reference. It was a "very special episode" and I am sure they would be happy to know it is still helping people! ;)

    Terri, I chuckled too! Love those "very special" episodes. All the cool shows were doing it!

    OP: A moderate calorie deficit, moving more (my personal preference is a mix of cardio and resistance training), and eating better are all you really need. Arguably you don't even need to eat better, but I recommend it :wink:.

    I have a feeling you know what you have to do :smile:. You'll get there!
  • metacognition
    metacognition Posts: 626 Member
    Don't do it. How many of these people lose weight for good and the long term? Very few. Your doctor is just repeating standard advice for non-active people who want to drop water / fat / muscle fast with absolutely no respect for what happens in your body and how it will affect weight maintenance in the long term.

    Going that low is asking for a binge, muscle loss, and diet failure. Anyone at 200 pounds can cut to 2000 calories a day and probably lose some weight if they do a little exercise.

    I average 1600 calories a day - at 102 pounds - and still lose weight.
  • honkytonks85
    honkytonks85 Posts: 669 Member
    So I'm trying to lose 40-50ish pounds off of my 5'7 frame. I'm currently at 200 even. Since I'm wildly impatient, I've gone to one of those "Physician Assisted Weight Loss" Centers starting about a month ago. They first of all prescribed diet pills, which I quit after three days (felt like Jessie Spano on Saved by the Bell). They also put me on a 1200 calorie diet with 90 grams of protein/ less than a hundred carbs. In the past month, I've dropped 5 pounds (all muscle, so ugh!) and five inches off my waist (Thank you Zumba). I went to the doc today, and she wants me to cut ANOTHER 100 calories. I really want to drop the fat and not my muscle, so this just sounds like bad ju-ju. I am open to any advice and suggestions.

    Thanks!!!

    I'd be more inclined to listen to your doctors advice over a bunch of people on an internet forum. Maybe if you're concerned you should seek another doctors advice.
  • AbsoluteNG
    AbsoluteNG Posts: 1,079 Member
    Net 1200 or you will die.
  • Hughesers
    Hughesers Posts: 22 Member
    I am 5ft 10 and I am doing 1200 a day, but usually eat 100 calories less, I find it difficult to get my calories up without adding too much sugar. I have been on this for 3 weeks and I have lost 3kgs, so must be doing something right. I have extra food when exercise too
  • Hughesers
    Hughesers Posts: 22 Member
    should have read when I exercise too
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    I'd say kick the physician's weight loss thing to the curb. Exercise, lift weights, and eat at a moderate deficit. Use this site, it'll probably work!!

    ^^^ this
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    cray-cray.jpg
  • jus_in_bello
    jus_in_bello Posts: 326 Member
    They first of all prescribed diet pills, which I quit after three days (felt like Jessie Spano on Saved by the Bell).
    There's never enough time! I don't have time to study, I don't have time to wash my hair!!!
    Give them back to me Zack I need them!!!

    I'm so excited - I'm so excited - I'm so...so....SCARED!


    *ahem* = sorry, moment's over. don't know what came over me. Hope your dr/weight situations get worked out :)

    ^ This.

    Also, stop going the the center, find a buddy and go to the gym, you don't need to pay someone to tell you what you already know. Eat enough, work out, and lift heavy. Repeat.
  • ozchuck
    ozchuck Posts: 9 Member
    Are you kidding? This is a doctor.

    The doctors advice will automatically outweigh anything that anyone who has NEVER MET YOU has to say on the topic.

    1100 calories is perfectly reasonable for a woman looking to lose weight.

    You've got to remember that you are an older lady, Who probably doesnt burn 1000calories a day at work.

    Of course, you will have to eat a LOT of vegetables and healthy food sources for this to be ok.

    I see you're averaging around 1400 a day at the moment, and you're not losing weight.

    Obviously if the current total is not low enough for weight loss, you need to go lower.

    If you're a chubby person, as you say, you definitely did not 5lbs of muscle. Thats ridiculous.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    If you are concerned, perhaps seek out a registered dietitian (not nutritionist) and get a second opinion.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    The doc's office has a magical scale that reads your body composition. So yeah, woohoo I lost five pounds! But oh wait a minute, it's the part you want to keep. Great advice, geesh

    Those things are incredibly inaccurate. Also, I have no words for a doctor that thinks that you lost 100% muscle and then even more bizarrely thinks that dropping calories more will lead to fat loss and not muscle loss - that is completely the inverse of what would happen. Are you sure they said muscle and not LBM? (Not that it changes the awfulness of the advice.)

    Print this off and show them, then get another doctor.

    http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=218
  • gertudejekyl
    gertudejekyl Posts: 386 Member
    I would think that doctor is cray cray as well. That's messed up.

    Here's a great place to start, if you're looking for some basic information - I found it very helpful.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/952996-level-obstacles-lose-weight-target-fat-easy

    cray cray !!! ha hah hah hah I luv cray cray !
  • JessHealthKick
    JessHealthKick Posts: 800 Member
    Truth- I did seek out the help of specialist. However, I am very interested in people who are actually DOING this. I sought professional help initially because I really thought diet pills could be a good aid to get me going. Turns out they're just not for me. If I can get some valuable information and support here for free, then awesome!

    reduce caloric intake, eat fresh and healthy foods - get rid of everything processed. No sausages, hamburgers etc etc all that junk. No pop tarts and junk like that. No sodas, pops, whatever you call them - don't drink your calories.

    Get rid of all gluten from your diet as there is a chance you are intolerant (just try adding it back in after a month and see what your body tells you - mine gets constipated, bloated, stomach aches and acne).

    Eat vegetables with every meal including breakfast, eat whole foods like eggs, chicken, lean red meat, greek yoghurt, fruits, brown rice, nuts and seeds, coconut oils instead of canola oils.

    I could go on forever... or you could just look at my diary and get an idea. I am 5'7 as well and started at close to 150lb and now at 140lb after a few months. Slow movements, but I don't have much to lose. What I can tell you is that I have a lot more energy, wake up ready to go rather than struggle to get out of bed, my skin is clearer and I feel so much better.

    Then there is exercise... that's a whole other post.

    Hop you appreciate my spam xx :flowerforyou:

    edit: of course chocolate and pop tarts in MODERATION are OK. Just not between each meal!!
  • volume77
    volume77 Posts: 670 Member
    So, "cray" is just like saying crazy, without the z? Why is everyone saying it like that, did I miss something? Was this on South Park , or something?
    cray cray is the new crazy
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    Yep, cray-cray. What happens when weight loss slows again - is she gonna recommend you cut another 100, then another, then another? Sounds like a plan destined to fail.

    Eat a sensible deficit, lift weights, enjoy life.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    I've always felt it prudent to ask another doctor for a second opinion on the statements of one of their colleagues. I would not use the internet as a second opinion source, especially when there are so few parameters and conditional data provided.

    Go see another doctor whose practice is this, and talk to them.
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    Crazy Dr didn't force you to part with money. Crazy Dr didn't force you to eat so little. Crazy Dr didn't force you into anything. That was all you. Sorry I know it's hard when you want results right away.... aint gonna happen BTW..... but unless there was a gun held to your head.....:huh:

    You obviously knew about being here on this site, yet still went against even the minimum you would have been given here?


    Who's the crazy one now?
  • Sharkington
    Sharkington Posts: 485
    I'm obviously not qualified to give medical advise, but yeah, 1100 calories seems waaaaay too low - especially for someone who 5'7''. :noway: Personally I'd feel strange with any place that prescribes diet pills, weight loss center, or not.
  • sugarlips1980
    sugarlips1980 Posts: 361 Member
    All the debate about starvation mode aside, for me the danger about super low cal diets is psychologically because before long I feel deprived and I'll lose it and pig out, putting the weight lost back on and often more. I've done the extreme dieting and my weight has yo yoed many times over the years! Now I've lost 28 pounds, fairly gradually since last September, by not staving myself and making exercise a permanent part of my life. I'm 5ft 7 and eat about 1400-1700 cals a day, depending on how much of my exercise cals I feel the need to eat back that day. You got to have patience, slow and steady is best! Good luck!
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    I'm going to say something that may come off as a bit cray. The only time low calorie diets are deemed Ok is if someone is under a doctor's care. The OP is under a doctor's care. Either get rid of the doctor's care loophole or admit that a VLCD can be Ok in certain situations. While it's not the way I'd go about it, if I found a doctor I trusted enough to start this process with I'd probably see it thru. Honestly, 1200 isn't a magical number. 100 calories above or below doesn't make it or break it.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I'm going to say something that may come off as a bit cray. The only time low calorie diets are deemed Ok is if someone is under a doctor's care. The OP is under a doctor's care. Either get rid of the doctor's care loophole or admit that a VLCD can be Ok in certain situations. While it's not the way I'd go about it, if I found a doctor I trusted enough to start this process with I'd probably see it thru. Honestly, 1200 isn't a magical number. 100 calories above or below doesn't make it or break it.

    Would you trust a doctor that said that the 5lb loss she had was all muscle and that reducing calories by 100 would make the next 5lb all fat? Based on a BIA device. :tongue:

    Although, I really hope that was a misunderstanding/miscommunication of what the doctor was actually saying.
  • pcastagner
    pcastagner Posts: 1,606 Member
    I'm going to say something that may come off as a bit cray. The only time low calorie diets are deemed Ok is if someone is under a doctor's care. The OP is under a doctor's care. Either get rid of the doctor's care loophole or admit that a VLCD can be Ok in certain situations. While it's not the way I'd go about it, if I found a doctor I trusted enough to start this process with I'd probably see it thru. Honestly, 1200 isn't a magical number. 100 calories above or below doesn't make it or break it.


    You're crazy. Everyone knows there are magic numbers related to 6 and 12. 360 degrees in a circle. 12 hours on the clock face.

    Duodecimal, man. Get with it!
  • jessicae1aine
    jessicae1aine Posts: 885
    If it feels wrong, then it is wrong.

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