1300 calories a day. Healthy?

ParisArkw · November 2011

When I started up on MFP 3 weeks ago it had my daily calorie goal at 1400. I've since lost 3 pounds, and it has lowered my calorie goal to 1380. 20 calorie difference, not so bad. But now I'm a little concerned about how much lower that calorie goal is going to get. Is it really healthy?

I know this has probably been asked time and time again, and I apologize.

I understand that on days I work out, I get to eat more calories. But on days I am unable to work out, do I really need to eat 1380 to continue to lose weight?

It's kind of difficult as it is, fitting all the nutrition I need and eating foods that make me full, WHILE keeping little treats that I enjoy in the diet, all the while keeping it at 1400...Is MFP eventually going to have me down to 1200 calories a day?

It is my goal to exercise 60 minutes x 5 days a week. And to lose 1 pound a week.

I guess what I'm wondering now, is, once I reach my goal of successfully exercising that much a week, how many calories will I be able to consume day-to-day, theoretically, for the rest of my life? Because 1400 seemed like it was not easy, but it was achievable. And now I'm just flustered at how much I might have to trim back.

shovav91 · November 2011

While it may technically be in the healthy range, the amount of calories you burn just by breathing and pumping blood through your body is probably more than that in itself. I would say 1400 is the lowest I would ever go personally. That's just my opinion though. If you're having success with that many calories a day, why change it?

Jarvis95 · November 2011

i found the MFP calculator really low, check out the calculator at livestrong.com

Lyadeia · November 2011

While you are losing weight, you eat less calories. So when you reach your goal, you shouldn't still be eating at the same deficit of you will continue to lose. You can't really compare the 2 because maintenance calories are more than weight loss calories.

jellybaby84 · November 2011

I don't know, it really depends on you.

I'm on 1200 and it's ample food for me, as long as I make the right choices and don't blow it on high calorie, non filling foods.

Juleeroch · November 2011

I started using this site about 6 weeks ago. Ideally I wanted to lose 1 to 1.5 lbs a week. However MFP recommended that I only lose 0.5 lbs a week on 1200 calories a day. Not easy - tho it is achievable - i have lost 3lbs so far, however it is very hard work, and it doesnt make it easier when one reads on here that some people lose 3lbs in one week. !!!! MFP will not go below 1200 calories a day. Now I seem to have plateaued. I simply go up and then down a few ounces a day.

Juleeroch · November 2011

I don't know, it really depends on you.

I'm on 1200 and it's ample food for me, as long as I make the right choices and don't blow it on high calorie, non filling foods.

Maybe thats where i'm going wrong. I tend to eat a lot of "snacks" which although tasty are probably high in calories and not filling. Perhaps I need some help here.

Rae6503 · November 2011

What is your weekly lose goal? That is why sets the deficit. There's nothing wrong with losing slower so you can eat more. It's probably even healthier / more sustainable. I never went below 1750.

ATT949 · November 2011

I don't know your height but, unless you're, quite short, 1300 calories won't cause you to gain weight.

Insofar as losing weight, 1300 calories will probably give you a slow weight loss.

You may well lose weight faster but cutting your calories. I used a low calorie diet and lost 95 pounds in 7 months.

My diet was modeled after the diet provided by Lindora, a company based here in Southern California that has helped hundreds of thousands of customers lose weight over its 40+ year history.

My diet was 800 to 1000 net cals/day and I exercised three times a week on the elliptical.

My diary is public and my results are posted here:

http://cbeinfo.net/weight.htm

Many folks don't want to drop their calorie levels to that low. MFP recommends 1200 calories and there are valid reasons to eat 1200 calories.

There are also valid reasons to eat 1300 or 1000 or 800 calories.

The great thing about weight loss and the exchange of ideas, is that we have many ways to accomplish our goal.

if you feel more comfortable at the 1200 level, that's all that matters.

Best of luck in your weight loss!

ParisArkw · November 2011

Thank you EVERYONE for your helpful replies!!! I reallyreally appreciate it.

Julee- When I'm in a snacky mood, I tend to have a big salad for dinner, because all those veggies equate to very little in calories and allow for some tasties. =b I add a boiled egg or some form of protein, too, so that it helps to feeling full for a longer period of time. =3 Good luck conquering your plateau, you can totally do it.

Rachel- I'm currently wanting to lose 1 pound a week, and I have been achieving this goal so far, for the past 3-4 weeks. I suppose if I meet a hard *kitten* plateau, maybe I'll cut back on calories then, haha. When you stuck to 1750+, what pace did your weight loss go at?

ATT- I'm 5'3", is that considered short? Haha. In relating it to 1300 calories, I'm guessing it is. Thank you for your reply. If you don't mind me asking, are you still trying to lose weight? Are you still sticking to a low calorie diet?

zoeeverett · February 2013

i started just over a month ago and my calorie goal is 1300 a day. i find it quite easy and am most days under my goal. i just have to make sure i check the calories on everything i eat and on days when i know i will be over, to do more exercise.

Timshel_ · February 2013

I eat around 1200 to 1500 every day and burn anywhere from 400 to 800 in exercise that I don't eat back. I feel great, with good energy, and plenty of focus.

Really it just depends on the person. Some people plateau and don't lose weight if their caloric intake is too low.

ksuh999 · February 2013

A lot depends on your height and age. As you get older you need less calories.

eyeshuh · February 2013

Thank you EVERYONE for your helpful replies!!! I reallyreally appreciate it.

Julee- When I'm in a snacky mood, I tend to have a big salad for dinner, because all those veggies equate to very little in calories and allow for some tasties. =b I add a boiled egg or some form of protein, too, so that it helps to feeling full for a longer period of time. =3 Good luck conquering your plateau, you can totally do it.

Rachel- I'm currently wanting to lose 1 pound a week, and I have been achieving this goal so far, for the past 3-4 weeks. I suppose if I meet a hard *kitten* plateau, maybe I'll cut back on calories then, haha. When you stuck to 1750+, what pace did your weight loss go at?

ATT- I'm 5'3", is that considered short? Haha. In relating it to 1300 calories, I'm guessing it is. Thank you for your reply. If you don't mind me asking, are you still trying to lose weight? Are you still sticking to a low calorie diet?

I'm also 5'3". I found MFP to estimate TDEE super low, so I bumped my activity level up to "Lightly Active". Though now I let my Fitbit adjust my activity for me. I am within 10lbs to my goal, so I'm also only set to .5lb a week. My "no exercise" calories is 1450. To answer your question, yes, MFP expects you to only eat the 1380 if you do absolutely no exercise. However, I am guessing that you have your activity level set to Sedentary, which I think most people (even those with desk jobs!) are not. Try setting your activity level to "Lightly Active" and see what happens.

G30Grrl · February 2013

i found the MFP calculator really low, check out the calculator at livestrong.com

Actually, Livestrong set my calories at 1089 per day.
I'm sticking with 1200. If I want to eat more, I just work out longer to "buy" more calories.

lilmissbamaqueen · February 2013

Find out your BMR, and try to not eat under that.

beautyisnotashape · February 2013

I didn't even read your entire question. That is NOT enough calories. Your body needs energy and nutrients. A calorie is simply a unit of energy. If you eat 1600 calories a day and a lot of them are fruits and veggies do you really think that will stop you from losing weight? Love your body. Fuel your body with what it needs. Eat nutrient rich foods and as much non processed food as you can. DON'T BE AFRAID TO EAT

dsjohndrow · February 2013

You really should see what the calories are to maintain the weight you WANT to be. Makes it all a lot easier. Don't go below that.

issyfit · February 2013

Hi from Issaquah. I've been eating 1300 for over a year now and losing slowly but steadily. However, I am 66 with multiple joint problems and not able to exercise much and also have a long history of yoyo dieting. I would think for someone as young as you are that you could be successful with more,

Aviendha_RJ · February 2013

I try to stick to low-calorie meals for breakfast & dinner... usually waffles & corn syrup with fruit, or fat-free yogurt with berries and granola.

Lunches I alternate between sandwich wraps (usually tuna with ranch dressing instead of mayo), or chicken breast. Sometimes I'll have salads (caesar or garden) with fat free dressing & chicken, or a healthy soup with low sodium.

I budget about 100-150 calories for snacks... for which I usually pick a banana, or granola bar & some cucumber slices, or baby carrots, or light spreadable cheese with crackers... depending on if I'm hungry (& I'm usually not).

For dinner then, I end up with about 500-600 calories... so I fill half my plate with veggies, & then can have salmon, halibut, cod or other fish, chicken, pork chops, or beef (like tonight) and I don't feel guilty about having a full 5-oz meat portion because I have the extra calories available.

I try to keep some exercise calories available for evening snacks like air-popped popcorn, light spreadable cheese with crackers, piece of fruit, or a fat-free pudding cup.

DO NOT deprive yourself of TASTE. That's the KILLER. It'll getcha every time!

thelovelyLIZ · February 2013

To be honest, most of my weight loss occurred while I was eating about 1350. I was starting around 145lbs, 5'4". I did a good job eating lots of fruits and vegetables and other foods that are low in calories but very filling. I was usually exercising about 30 minutes 4-6 times a week, mostly cardio with some moderate lifting. My runs felt fine, but I had a hard time putting on any muscle.

I think that was okay for a short time (around four months maybe?). Now I eat much more though. Don't really know how much, as I don't track anymore. Probably ranges from 1770-2500 depending on how active I am that day. I run 3 times a week, averaging between 15-20 miles a week and do heavy lifting 2-3 times a week. All that being said, weigh a little more, but I'm still the same size I was at my low weight, thanks to all the lean muscle I've built. It takes more calories to maintain that muscle, so I'm cool with eating more.

Julesconan · February 2013

Im limited to 1200 per day and am having no trouble with it. I did recently finish the HCG 500 cal diet, so as you can imagine, this seems like alot to me. It is now the norm.
I think if you are feeling deprived, or that you are hungry then I would listen to your body. (not as far as the bad food cravings) but fill yourself up with good foods as has been mentioned earlier.

lisa483 · February 2013

I'd say it depends on your BMR, figure out what that is and stay above that and below TDEE, you should do just fine.

Good luck :0)

SARgirl · February 2013

I also started out at 1450 and then agreed to let MFP adjust my settings after I lost 10 pounds where I went down to 1370! I was not happy about that (I like to eat)! So when it asked me again after the next 10 pounds I said no! I figured I was still losing so why lessen my calories again! I continued to lose and when I got down to the last 5 pounds or so I changed my setting to .5 pounds lost a week so I got to eat more and still lose!

1300 calories a day. Healthy?

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