Is it ok to eat less than 1000 calories?

2

Replies

  • quartzyyy
    quartzyyy Posts: 4
    Is it ok to die ??? No, you should not even eat below 1200 calories per day.
  • Lyadeia
    Lyadeia Posts: 4,603 Member
    If you are 118 pounds right now, there's no good reason to to lose 2 pounds per week. The faster you lose at this point, the more lean mass you will lose which is not good. Smaller deficits for small bodies trying to get smaller. :flowerforyou:
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    Go right ahead. You'll wind up in the ICU or in the morgue, but that's your choice, right?

    You couldn't have said this in a less snarky way? The OP was simply asking a question. Maybe not everyone knows the same things that you do.

    Public forum. If the person wishes to be snarky or that is just their personality....oh well.


    Wow. That's a shame you feel that way.
  • 1princesswarrior
    1princesswarrior Posts: 1,242 Member
    If you are absolutely in doubt go see a nutritionist. They can tell you what's normal for your height, weight, age, %bf, etc. And then give you an eating plan based your goals and what your body needs.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    If you are absolutely in doubt go see a nutritionist. They can tell you what's normal for your height, weight, age, %bf, etc. And then give you an eating plan based your goals and what your body needs.

    I'd like to say go with a registered dietitian...not nutritionist.
  • jennibear22
    jennibear22 Posts: 95 Member
    You already only weigh 118 lbs and say you want to lose 20lbs.... that would have you at 98 lbs..... that is really really low - even for someone of your height. Maybe you should try and go more slowly, and see how you look and feel when you have lost a few pounds. If you eat too little yes you will lose weight quickly, but it will not be in a healthy way or sustainable for you. Why do you feel you need to lose 20lbs? Think about what it is you want to achieve by losing this weight. Is it to be healthier, fitter, more toned?
  • DebbieLyn63
    DebbieLyn63 Posts: 2,654 Member
    I am going to guess that the OP is under 18, and knows very little about health and nutrition. You are setting yourself up for a lifetime of yo-yo dieting, and will end up with a messed up metabolism and severely overweight in 10-20 years if you aren't careful.

    If you continue to 'diet' by drastically cutting calories for a while, lose a little weight, then go back to eating the way you were and gain it all back again, then you are setting yourself up for a frustrating and unhealthy life.

    Educate yourself on what a healthy diet for you is, meaning a normal way of eating that gets an appropriate amount of calories, proteins, healthy fats and good carbs, and a regular amount of exercise. Figure out what you can sustain for the rest of your life, making small adjustments here and there when necessary.

    You must make some permanent lifestyle changes, and changes in your thinking, for this to work long-term. :flowerforyou:
  • leia_ophelia
    leia_ophelia Posts: 44 Member
    I don't think you could get enough nutrients eating 600 cal/day. I am about the same height and weight as you (5 ft, 120 lbs) and have 10 lbs to lose. I was able to drop down to 110 lbs before very slowly but I kind of gained it back over the year. I'm trying to lose it again.
    The closer you get to you goal the slower it gets. At some point when I only had 5 lbs to go, I was only losing less than 0.5 lbs a week. This is ok. What I did was to maintain 1100-1200 Cal/day goal, then exercise like crazy. You would find that with the exercise, even if you lose less than 0.5 lbs a week, you lose a lot more in inches! Focus less on eating less and more on exercising more.
  • lisabinco
    lisabinco Posts: 1,016 Member
    Seems like hardly any calories at all, but you are so small. Just eat when you're hungry and ensure your food is high quality, whole, and nutritionally dense food. No crap food. Quality calories in, so you're sure you're getting optimal nutrition.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Seems like hardly any calories at all, but you are so small. Just eat when you're hungry and ensure your food is high quality, whole, and nutritionally dense food. No crap food. Quality calories in, so you're sure you're getting optimal nutrition.

    Huuuuhhhh....no. Eating 600 cals of "healthy" food is still 600 calories and NOT recommended. I see people on here at 4'10 eating waaayyy more than that at maintenance.
  • lisabinco
    lisabinco Posts: 1,016 Member
    You already only weigh 118 lbs and say you want to lose 20lbs.... that would have you at 98 lbs..... that is really really low - even for someone of your height.
    I agree. My sister is 4'11" and 98 lbs is a good weight for her size. Maybe 100-105 is a better weight for your height. Just sayin'...
  • leia_ophelia
    leia_ophelia Posts: 44 Member
    I am about her height 5 lbs and my normal weight is 95 lbs to 117 lbs (18.5-22.9 BMI) based than on the WHO study for Asian BMI. So for her height 98 lbs is kind of normal is she is Asian or has a small body frame.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    You already only weigh 118 lbs and say you want to lose 20lbs.... that would have you at 98 lbs..... that is really really low - even for someone of your height.
    I agree. My sister is 4'11" and 98 lbs is a good weight for her size. Maybe 100-105 is a better weight for your height. Just sayin'...

    After looking at the OP's profile I think they might want to talk to a counselor, just in case. The idea that she thinks she's flabby at 118lbs is worrisome. OP, you might be looking more towards body comp if you are at a higher body fat %.

    In that case, I'd say you should focus more on weight training. You can look into NROLFW, Stronglifts, Wendler, or Starting Strength. If you don't have access to equipment, then Convict Conditioning and You Are Your Own Gym.

    But definitely talk to someone about how you are perceiving yourself and your body. Getting fit and healthy isn't just a physical thing..it's a mental thing as well.
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    Seems like hardly any calories at all, but you are so small. Just eat when you're hungry and ensure your food is high quality, whole, and nutritionally dense food. No crap food. Quality calories in, so you're sure you're getting optimal nutrition.

    Toddlers eat more than that. My four year old sister, who is basically a walking stick figure, had a serving of cream of wheat and a slice of toast with nutella for breakfast; that's 290 calories in her breakfast alone. 600 calories isn't enough for an adult, even if that adult is trying to lose weight.
  • annabunnell1
    annabunnell1 Posts: 1 Member
    Okay...a lot of NO's which is correct, but not many are saying why! If you eat less than 1200 calories in a day your body believes that you are starving. So when your body thinks you are starving it drops your metabolism to conserve body fat that it may need to use to stay alive. Therefore, you will actually lose less weight at 600-1000 calories than if you ate 1200-1300 each day. If you want to make up for the additional calories exercise!! I suggest getting a fit bit and then the more you move the more calories you can eat or you will have as "under goal calories." Hard work and patience will keep it off. Speedy weight loss generally means you will quickly put it back on.
  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    It is almost never okay to eat less than 1000 calories. There are some great threads you can educate yourself on nutrition and healthy weight loss on this forum and I'll link you to a few of them:


    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819925-the-basics-don-t-complicate-it

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets



    Best of luck to you in your endeavor :flowerforyou:
  • underwater77
    underwater77 Posts: 331 Member
    Go right ahead. You'll wind up in the ICU or in the morgue, but that's your choice, right?
    Good lord. Why so rude??
  • volume77
    volume77 Posts: 670 Member
    there is no reason to eat so few calories
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,426 MFP Moderator
    You already only weigh 118 lbs and say you want to lose 20lbs.... that would have you at 98 lbs..... that is really really low - even for someone of your height.
    I agree. My sister is 4'11" and 98 lbs is a good weight for her size. Maybe 100-105 is a better weight for your height. Just sayin'...

    After looking at the OP's profile I think they might want to talk to a counselor, just in case. The idea that she thinks she's flabby at 118lbs is worrisome. OP, you might be looking more towards body comp if you are at a higher body fat %.

    In that case, I'd say you should focus more on weight training. You can look into NROLFW, Stronglifts, Wendler, or Starting Strength. If you don't have access to equipment, then Convict Conditioning and You Are Your Own Gym.

    But definitely talk to someone about how you are perceiving yourself and your body. Getting fit and healthy isn't just a physical thing..it's a mental thing as well.

    qft. Stop thinking weighing will automatically makes you better looking. The more muscle you have the more lean and tight your body will be. Fuel your body, weight train and get fit not skinny.
  • tanialuke
    tanialuke Posts: 36 Member
    if you dont have anything nice to say then dont say anything at all. we learn that when we are two, well at least most people do.
    Go right ahead. You'll wind up in the ICU or in the morgue, but that's your choice, right?

    You couldn't have said this in a less snarky way? The OP was simply asking a question. Maybe not everyone knows the same things that you do.

    Public forum. If the person wishes to be snarky or that is just their personality....oh well.
  • volume77
    volume77 Posts: 670 Member
    Is it ok to have a root canal without novacaine? Yes, i suppose.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    if you dont have anything nice to say then dont say anything at all. we learn that when we are two, well at least most people do.
    Go right ahead. You'll wind up in the ICU or in the morgue, but that's your choice, right?

    You couldn't have said this in a less snarky way? The OP was simply asking a question. Maybe not everyone knows the same things that you do.

    Public forum. If the person wishes to be snarky or that is just their personality....oh well.

    Posts a comment about how people shouldn't be rude but makes an insulting insinuation that those who might be a bit snarky or who are just rude are two year olds.

    Seems legit.

    anywho, hope the OP decides to follow the advice given and succeeds in her goals.
  • SisterhoodoftheShrinkingPants
    SisterhoodoftheShrinkingPants Posts: 474 Member
    Thnx a bunch everyone. Every time I lose weight I end up giving up in the end. I think it's because I always have unreasonable goals. I think now, I'll change my goal to about 1 pound per week.

    Good job! You can do this! This site has helped me lose over 40 lbs and in a HEALTHY way. I follow the suggested cal goal and then exercise and eat most of the cals back. I keep losing and losing! Dont give up this time, you can do it, get lots of support and log in daily :)
  • SisterhoodoftheShrinkingPants
    SisterhoodoftheShrinkingPants Posts: 474 Member
    After looking at the OP's profile I think they might want to talk to a counselor, just in case. The idea that she thinks she's flabby at 118lbs is worrisome. OP, you might be looking more towards body comp if you are at a higher body fat %.

    She may be what some call "skinny fat" or maybe she wants to change her diet and feel better. I found eating crap like I was didnt just keep me fat, it kept me sick. I know that even at my goal wt I will have to focus on composition as you referenced. I think its a common misnomer that being skinny is ideal, clearly its better to have tone and definition, but people dont pay much attention to that aspect I think.
  • origamixstarzz
    origamixstarzz Posts: 15 Member
    Thnx for all the advice. It was rather unreasonable for me to want to lose two pounds a week. I think now I'll go slower and set a less extreme goal. Instead of twenty pounds maybe ten pounds for now. I'll try 1 pound a week and I wont go less than 1000 calories. I want to lose weight in a healthy way. So...wish me luck:smile:
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Thnx for all the advice. It was rather unreasonable for me to want to lose two pounds a week. I think now I'll go slower and set a less extreme goal. Instead of twenty pounds maybe ten pounds for now. I'll try 1 pound a week and I wont go less than 1000 calories. I want to lose weight in a healthy way. So...wish me luck:smile:

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  • MelsAuntie
    MelsAuntie Posts: 2,833 Member
    Go right ahead. You'll wind up in the ICU or in the morgue, but that's your choice, right?
    Good lord. Why so rude??


    Truth. Nothing rude about that at all. And I'm not the only one making similar statements on this thread.
  • dancaetano17
    dancaetano17 Posts: 2 Member
    No, just subtract around 300 calories from your maintenance calories and eat that each day. Also if you burn 400 calories, don't eat it back...because that's how you lose the weight, if you eat it back you are just maintaining.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    No, just subtract around 300 calories from your maintenance calories and eat that each day. Also if you burn 400 calories, don't eat it back...because that's how you lose the weight, if you eat it back you are just maintaining.


    Not true.
  • HealthFitNow
    HealthFitNow Posts: 1,205 Member
    That is starvation mode for me. I found I gained weight, even though I wasn't eating as much. It's like the hormones shut off and your body doesn't burn the calories...only stores them.

    I wouldn't recommend it.

    Health is more important IMO. You're nearly there. Courage, mon ami.

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