800 Calorie a Day - Suggestions

How much are you working out? and are you eating those calories back?

I agree with this. It never hurts to get a second opinion.

I will start off by saying I had weight loss surgery.

For breakfast I have a protein shake (I use Syntrax Matrix protein powders) made with milk. Sometimes I have a scrambled egg with veggies and a slice or 2 of bacon.

For lunch I have 2-3 oz of protein (steak, pork chops, shrimp, fish, hamburger, crab or sometimes chicken). Chicken doesn't agree with me too well now. I have that on top of a cup of lettuce with tomato, cucumber, carrot, a sprinkle of cheese and I use real full fat dressing but I do the fork dip trick.

For dinner I have 2-3 oz of protein and some kind of veggie - I like steamed green beans, zucchini, yellow squash, carrots or more salad.

For snacks I have string cheese, mini pepperoni, sliced ham or roast beef, jerky, sliced cheese or bariatric protein bars made for WLS patients.

I eat between 800-900 calories a day and that's how my days look.

Again, OP has NOT had surgery. This is only applicable to you and other folks that HAVE had surgery. It isn't that it's bad advice, it's just like trying to use the wrong key on a lock.. doesn't fit.

Cereals are always a good way to go, i eat special k, 2 bowls a day, means i can have a bigger lunch because of the other calories.
Cherry tomatoes and cucumber are a really low calorie snack, i can pretty much eat as much as i like.
Winter or not, there's only 40ish calories in ice lollies, a nice bit of flavour to add to your day

You are absolutely wrong, with all due respect. Cereal is the absolutely worst way to go. I can make a very big salad that includes an egg or a pouch of tuna for under 250 calories. What do you get for 250 calories as far as cereal ( and nutrition ) is concerned.
With 800 calories no one can eat " pretty much as much as they like", because every calorie counts.

I suggest eating more and lifting weights and cardio and eating like a human being should. And a new doctor.

Before anyone starts with 800 calories being too low for a daily consumption - I will start by saying I was put on the calories by my Doctor. I questioned him as well - about the STARVATION MODE, and he disagrees with it. He says as long as you are eating throughout the day, your body will burn. So the reason I'm posting is I'm looking for suggestions on what to eat. I've completed a week (yesterday I want over)- but I'm eating similar every day. I want to add variety, but still stay in the Calorie requirement.

Thank you!

I don't want to bash your MD, because I know nothing about your back ground and on what he bases his advise; but I would like to point out that most MDs know as good as nothing about nutrition. Only one course is required and that is not much. Also, if your MD is older, he learned the little bit he knows before many new nutrition facts ( for example that it is not necessary to eat breakfast, or anywhere from 3-6 meals through out the day ) and probably advises his patients according to that.
Unless you are 4'10" tall or less, I would recommend that you eat at least 1200 calories. Those 400 calories make a world of difference in the amounts of food you can eat, the variety you can chose and in your general health and is much more sustainable than 800 calories.
The difference over two month on average is less than a kilo in predicted weight loss. This means you lose a little bit slower, but I think you could maintain over the long run, while it is quite doubtful with 800 calories. I would suggest you consult a nutrition specialist, because it is furthermore possible that you could eat even more than 1200 calories and still lose weight. I would not conform myself with 800 calories.
Good Luck !

I just to throw it out that not all nutritionists know what they're talking about either. The one I saw when I had gestational diabetes said I was guaranteed to have GD with any other pregnancies and that I would for sure get type 2 diabetes. She also said I really shouldn't eat much, if any fruit, limited the vegetables I could eat, and told me to use artificial sweeteners. Everything she said was completely unnecessary and untrue. I didn't have GD with my two pregnancies after that and my sugar levels are great. Thankfully, I had enough sense to know better.

Yup, doctors know little about nutrition, and most nutritionists aren't much better. Their education is influenced by big food and pharma, it's been that way for many years. The best thing by far, is seeing an expert that specializes in metabolism. Those people know that naturals fats are healthy and that sugar should be limited (for metabolic disorders such as excess fat!) and that eating too little is a fail.

It seems to me you are looking for a quick fix. It takes time to gain and it will take time to lose. Well good luck with your plan. YOu really should be lifting weights to build muscle as you lose fat.. You need more calories than that to build any muscle. Who cares what the scale says your goal should be fit.

I just to throw it out that not all nutritionists know what they're talking about either. The one I saw when I had gestational diabetes said I was guaranteed to have GD with any other pregnancies and that I would for sure get type 2 diabetes. She also said I really shouldn't eat much, if any fruit, limited the vegetables I could eat, and told me to use artificial sweeteners. Everything she said was completely unnecessary and untrue. I didn't have GD with my two pregnancies after that and my sugar levels are great. Thankfully, I had enough sense to know better.

Yup, doctors know little about nutrition, and most nutritionists aren't much better. Their education is influenced by big food and pharma, it's been that way for many years. The best thing by far, is seeing an expert that specializes in metabolism. Those people know that naturals fats are healthy and that sugar should be limited (for metabolic disorders such as excess fat!) and that eating too little is a fail.

Unlike internet users who know everything about nutrition.

Or. OR. You could eat 1200+ and then BURN 400+?!? That would be good. Yup.
You will drop weight if you starve yourself, but it will be muscle too. Instead burn some of it off with exercise. Seriously.

You may want to check out a website devoted to VLCD, as this one doesn't support them, but here are a few suggestions:

Egg beaters with fat free cheese and real bacon bits
Salads with vinegar and spices instead of dressing
Protein shakes
Soups made with veggies and chicken, can be made creamy with fat free cream cheese
Fat free cottage cheese with berries OR defatted peanut flour and Splenda
Fat free Greek yogurt and frozen berries with Splenda
lunch meat wrapped around a cheese stick, wrapped in spinach or lettuce

Hope this helps!

VERY BAD ADVICE!!!!!! :mad:

ETA: Op~you need a new doctor!!

Yes. The worst advice. Fat IS a necessary macro. Obviously all the low fat bs and everyone switching to canola and soy when they do eat fat has NOT helped the obesity/disease epidemic.

A bunch of processed fat free food is not food imo. Reduced fat means increased sugar. High sugar diets are not good for anyone who needs to lose weight, or who has any other metabolic disorder - which are all too common these days.

Again, OP has NOT had surgery. This is only applicable to you and other folks that HAVE had surgery. It isn't that it's bad advice, it's just like trying to use the wrong key on a lock.. doesn't fit.

Silly question, but if someone ate like they had weight loss surgery but didn't have it, how is that a huge problem? The surgery is likely just training wheels to help keep the patient on the lower calories/smaller meals anyway. I'm willing to bet if someone would actually eat the sleeve diet for 3 months without surgery they'd lose the same weight as someone who did the surgery and ate that way, and they wouldn't have the potential surgery risks.

I think people seriously miss the point when it comes to VLCDs. The problem is not the low calories, it's the adherence. When someone has surgery, you are not PHYSICALLY CAPABLE of taking in very many calories, which is why they can be very successful long term. If someone without surgery is on 800 calories a day, they may be weak/tired/fatigued/etc., but they are also likely to gain the weight back because they are not on a meal plan that will be sustainable for the long term. That being said, for someone with less than 40 lbs to lose a VLCD is absurd. My argument is pointed more towards the obese (someone who qualifies for weight loss surgery).

People on here are just harsh!!! My doctor also recommended a 800 calorie diet and it worked. I don't understand why people feel the need to think what works for them will work for everyone and they know all the answers. Well excuse me but if you are so smart you wouldn't be on here like the rest of us being fat and struggling!! If 800 calories works heck yeah i say go for it ! If it isn't your thing then just pass the post and keep your mouth shut!! we are here for support not people to be negative about everything we try!!! uhhhh smdh!! but with that little tantrum said cereal is great and i love fiber bars and now that some are only 90 calories a bar they are even better!!!

I use the app to track my eating and exercise habits. I've lost a decent chunk of weight without the app (the first 35) so I think I'm just fine without advice actually...how much did you lose on an 800cal diet? How long were you on it? And how did you feel? I get low blood sugar and have to eat throughout the day and if I eat less than 1000-1200 my body freaks out and I feel like crap, plus don't lose.
To each their own though.

People on here are just harsh!!! My doctor also recommended a 800 calorie diet and it worked. I don't understand why people feel the need to think what works for them will work for everyone and they know all the answers. Well excuse me but if you are so smart you wouldn't be on here like the rest of us being fat and struggling!! If 800 calories works heck yeah i say go for it ! If it isn't your thing then just pass the post and keep your mouth shut!! we are here for support not people to be negative about everything we try!!! uhhhh smdh!! but with that little tantrum said cereal is great and i love fiber bars and now that some are only 90 calories a bar they are even better!!!

I'm here because I'm fat and struggling....who knew!

1000 calories I could probably have given suggestions ( like 2 eggs and 2 bacon for under 300 calories ) but at 800 calories that's just a tad too small to feel like you are eating anything.

You should go back to your doc and have him either provide you a meal plan or refer you to a nutritionist, if this is what you are sticking to you will need to get as much bang for your caloric buck as humanly possible because you most likely feel all starvey all day..