If you are on a low calorie diet, READ THIS!!!

1PatientBear
1PatientBear Posts: 2,089 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I pulled this post from another thread (with the permission of the person who posted it). She didn't want to post it herself but didn't mind if I shared her story. So, here you go....
I have an eating disorder. I have to go to the doctor twice a week to watch my blood pressure, that runs around 70/50 because if it gets lower than that, something could go wrong with my heart and I could die. My pulse is also extremely low. My oxygen saturation is low. My body temperature runs around 96 (where a normal body temp is 98.6). I have to regularly get blood test to check and make sure that there is no damage to my kidneys or liver and a slew of other things (There is an order for blood work sitting right beside me right now, the orders on it are TSH, CBC, CMP (chem 14), ESR (Sed Rate), A1C) because what I have done to my body. How did I get said eating disorder? Eating less than 1000 calories a day. Dropping weight quickly. Deciding since I was dropping weight so quickly I would drop down more and more and more. Now my teeth are falling out, my hair is coming out in handfuls, and there is something wrong with my kidneys.

Also, trust and believe me when I say this; your body will get used to running on little to nothing. Just because you don't feel hungry does not mean that you're not doing damage to your body. If I want to, I can go days without food and feel fine. Have tons of energy, sleep well, and be in no pain. Because of that its a slippery slope. When I was at my lowest weight (73 pounds and I am 5'8") I was never hungry. Food had no appeal to me. I could sit there and be surrounded by delicious things that smelled and looked amazing to everyone else, and my attitude was basically "eh."

PLEASE, PLEASE think about the long term ramifications of what you might be doing to your body if you are not fueling it properly.
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Replies

  • Thewatcher_66
    Thewatcher_66 Posts: 1,643 Member
    Word!
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member

    Also, trust and believe me when I say this; your body will get used to running on little to nothing. Just because you don't feel hungry does not mean that you're not doing damage to your body. If I want to, I can go days without food and feel fine. Have tons of energy, sleep well, and be in no pain.

    Quoting this part because I see this get tossed around all the time. People saying they don't feel hungry as an excuse.
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member

    Also, trust and believe me when I say this; your body will get used to running on little to nothing. Just because you don't feel hungry does not mean that you're not doing damage to your body. If I want to, I can go days without food and feel fine. Have tons of energy, sleep well, and be in no pain.

    Quoting this part because I see this get tossed around all the time. People saying they don't feel hungry as an excuse.
    many times ^THIS
    "listening to your body" is sometimes NOT the right thing to do
  • suziepoo1984
    suziepoo1984 Posts: 915 Member
    Just makes me sad. I hope people realize the long term results than looking for a short term quick fix. There is so much more to life than just looking slim or skinny or whatever. Health is of utmost importance , which people dont value when they have it!
  • Steph_cook92
    Steph_cook92 Posts: 3
    I've been eating around 1300 calories a day since May and I'm 5 ft 3, is this ok? I've lost weight and feel so much better in myself but this really scared me so I just want some advice?
  • sheenarama
    sheenarama Posts: 733 Member
    Thank you for posting this. I battled eating disorder since a teenager. Anyone who says nothing tastes as good as skinny feels is wrong. Skinny feels pretty shi**y.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    bump for my FL
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    (((Hugs to the person behind the person)))
  • suziepoo1984
    suziepoo1984 Posts: 915 Member
    I've been eating around 1300 calories a day since May and I'm 5 ft 3, is this ok? I've lost weight and feel so much better in myself but this really scared me so I just want some advice?

    If you have very less to lose, input goal as to lose 0.5 lbs per week and eat all the exercise calories back(HRM, not MFP estimated)
    If you have a lot of weight to lose, input goal as to lose anywhere between 1-2 lbs per week and eat back exercise calories as mentioned above.

    If you want to go by TDEE, calculate TDEE and deficit anywhere between 10-20% depending upon how much you have to lose. Lesser deficit if you have very less to reach your goal. And in this method, do not eat your calories back, because your activity level will be included in this.
  • leaaa92
    leaaa92 Posts: 164 Member
    Thanks for this.. What are your thoughts about a 1,200 calorie diet? That's what was set for me by MFP. On days that I workout, I still try to stay at 1200 cals. Is that unhealthy? I've been losing 0.2 to 0.8 lbs a day, weighing myself every morning at the same time. And I'm currently obese at 181 lbs, and I'm 21. Is my calorie goal okay? Oh, and I'm 5'3".
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member

    Also, trust and believe me when I say this; your body will get used to running on little to nothing. Just because you don't feel hungry does not mean that you're not doing damage to your body. If I want to, I can go days without food and feel fine. Have tons of energy, sleep well, and be in no pain.

    Quoting this part because I see this get tossed around all the time. People saying they don't feel hungry as an excuse.

    Agreed 100%. This gets parroted all the time by every person that is trying to justify their dangerous diet. "I don't feel hungry, I feel great all the time, everything is going great!". Then two months later "Why is my hair falling out?"
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    I've been eating around 1300 calories a day since May and I'm 5 ft 3, is this ok? I've lost weight and feel so much better in myself but this really scared me so I just want some advice?
    hi there...depends...how much are you exercising?
  • MireyGal76
    MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
    *this made me cry*
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    Thanks for this.. What are your thoughts about a 1,200 calorie diet? That's what was set for me by MFP. On days that I workout, I still try to stay at 1200 cals. Is that unhealthy? I've been losing .2 - .8 lbs a day, weighing myself every morning at the same time. And I'm currently obese at 181 lbs, and I'm 21. Is my calorie goal okay?

    How much have you lost per week for the last 4 weeks? I'd shoot for 1lbs/week with your current goal in mind. If you're losing more than that I'd scale the calories up a bit as you've probably got too extreme of a deficit going.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member

    Also, trust and believe me when I say this; your body will get used to running on little to nothing. Just because you don't feel hungry does not mean that you're not doing damage to your body. If I want to, I can go days without food and feel fine. Have tons of energy, sleep well, and be in no pain.

    Quoting this part because I see this get tossed around all the time. People saying they don't feel hungry as an excuse.
    many times ^THIS
    "listening to your body" is sometimes NOT the right thing to do

    Yup. Hell, that's why most of us are here right? If I listened to my body I would eat 5000 calories a day easily. Which, coincidentally is how I made it to 300lbs and how I ended up here. It goes both ways too, you can be eating way too little and suffering dangerous health side effects as a result if you just listen to your (non-existent) hunger signals.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Tagging.

    Much hugs to the OP and I hope people really take the experience to heart.
  • leaaa92
    leaaa92 Posts: 164 Member
    Thanks for this.. What are your thoughts about a 1,200 calorie diet? That's what was set for me by MFP. On days that I workout, I still try to stay at 1200 cals. Is that unhealthy? I've been losing .2 - .8 lbs a day, weighing myself every morning at the same time. And I'm currently obese at 181 lbs, and I'm 21. Is my calorie goal okay?

    How much have you lost per week for the last 4 weeks? I'd shoot for 1lbs/week with your current goal in mind. If you're losing more than that I'd scale the calories up a bit as you've probably got too extreme of a deficit going.

    I just started being "serious" about my diet and exercising at the beginning of September. So it has almost been 3 weeks and I've lost around 6 lbs. I've been steadily losing, and I'm happy about it, but I want it to be healthy.
  • Moonbeamlissie
    Moonbeamlissie Posts: 504 Member
    While you are reading this keep in mind that many doctors put people on low calorie diets and it works fine. I am sure this person took low calorie overboard. Just because you eat at a lower calorie does not mean all of this will happen to you! Also keep in mind this person is 5'8 so the calorie requirements for her would not be the same for me who is barely 5ft. I just thought I would put this out there because someone could read this and then automatically think they are going to end up in this condition. Sometimes the power of the mind can push someone into thinking they have an issue when they really do not. Everyone is different :)
  • Rays_Wife
    Rays_Wife Posts: 1,173 Member
    Thanks for sharing this. This bears repeating.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Lots of ^this...

    ...good luck to the original author...

    ...and in to see where this thread goes.
  • martymum
    martymum Posts: 413 Member
    bumping cos this needs to stay at the top for everyone to read!
  • dee_squared
    dee_squared Posts: 12
    Thanks for sharing! All the best to the MFPer going through this x
  • ChrisM8971
    ChrisM8971 Posts: 1,067 Member
    Unfortunately I am seeing a number who are setting themselves 300-700 calorie goals, then they exercise 1,000 calories and eat nothing back.

    We all know this is wrong but there is another thing I am seeing that scares me as well and that is the number of supportive friends who say things like "great job" or Way to Go" because the post says they ate less than their goal without ever looking at their diaries to see what they are eating.

    I personally cannot comment without checking an open diary first
  • CometMeebru
    CometMeebru Posts: 122
    Lol @ comparing a person with an eating disorder to someone with a reduced calorie diet. And let's be real here, most of the people who eat less than 1500 calories/day, only do so for a short period of time.
  • Camera_BagintheUK
    Camera_BagintheUK Posts: 707 Member
    I want to know WHY is it that MFP seems to default to 1200 calories for so many people? I religiously stuck to that for 8 months - it worked, I lost 2 stone, but then hit a plateau. Now I'm eating 1500 net and losing again.

    I changed because when I tried a range of TDEE calculators I got various numbers ranging from 1400 to 2100 - so I worked out the average and worked from that. Seems to be working for me.

    But NONE came in as low as MFP - and whenever I changed my settings on MFP - whatever I changed - activity levels, how much I want to lose, etc - the most it did was add 40 calories to my daily allowance - 1240! :noway:

    Is there some problem with MFP? Why? Why don't they sort it then?
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    While you are reading this keep in mind that many doctors put people on low calorie diets and it works fine. I am sure this person took low calorie overboard. Just because you eat at a lower calorie does not mean all of this will happen to you! Also keep in mind this person is 5'8 so the calorie requirements for her would not be the same for me who is barely 5ft. I just thought I would put this out there because someone could read this and then automatically think they are going to end up in this condition. Sometimes the power of the mind can push someone into thinking they have an issue when they really do not. Everyone is different :)

    Keep in mind that most doctors are not well versed in nutrition (which is why you should include working with a registered dietitian) AND most people who try to do really low cals are NOT doctor supervised.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    I want to know WHY is it that MFP seems to default to 1200 calories for so many people? I religiously stuck to that for 8 months - it worked, I lost 2 stone, but then hit a plateau. Now I'm eating 1500 net and losing again.

    I changed because when I tried a range of TDEE calculators I got various numbers ranging from 1400 to 2100 - so I worked out the average and worked from that. Seems to be working for me.

    But NONE came in as low as MFP - and whenever I changed my settings on MFP - whatever I changed - activity levels, how much I want to lose, etc - the most it did was add 40 calories to my daily allowance - 1240! :noway:

    Is there some problem with MFP? Why? Why don't they sort it then?

    There's no problem with MFP. In fact, it works great if you use it correctly. So many people get a 1200 calorie goal because:

    1) 1200 is the minimum amount that MFP will assign anyone
    2) Everyone goes crazy and puts in ridiculous goals (ie: losing 2lbs/week). This results in MFP giving a bottomed-out goal of 1200.
    3) MFP adds back your exercise calories, unlike a TDEE-style approach. Too many people don't eat back their exercise calories resulting in a dangerously low intake.

    Long story short, using the TDEE method or the MFP method should actually give you the same amount of overall calories if you're doing it right. I've calculated it both ways and it gives me the same amount. MFP only gives a too-low goal if you're choosing an unhealthy or unsustainable loss rate. This is the end-users fault, not MFP's.

    The only thing I think MFP could be doing better is providing better guidelines around recommend loss rates depending on how much you have to lose. Although now that I think of it, I think it does do that to at least some degree - most people just ignore it and shoot for the moon.
  • 1PatientBear
    1PatientBear Posts: 2,089 Member
    Lol @ comparing a person with an eating disorder to someone with a reduced calorie diet. And let's be real here, most of the people who eat less than 1500 calories/day, only do so for a short period of time.

    This post is more geared to the people who are trying to eat under 1000 calories a day, not people who are reducing to 1200+.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Lol @ comparing a person with an eating disorder to someone with a reduced calorie diet. And let's be real here, most of the people who eat less than 1500 calories/day, only do so for a short period of time.


    And this assertion is based on...?
  • ChrisM8971
    ChrisM8971 Posts: 1,067 Member
    Lol @ comparing a person with an eating disorder to someone with a reduced calorie diet. And let's be real here, most of the people who eat less than 1500 calories/day, only do so for a short period of time.


    And this assertion is based on...?

    Its not based on some of the diaries that I have been looking at

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