800 calories
swaser0816
Posts: 20
So I was reading a Bob Harper book the other day and he said as part of the 14 day jump start you should only eat three small meals totaling 800 calories each day. I also met one of the Biggest Loser constants in August (as you can see by my profile picture) and asked him what it was like and he said they are told to only eat 800 calories a day the whole time they are on the ranch.
I can't believe this...if it's so unhealthy to eat under 1200 calories why are they promoting it?
I can't believe this...if it's so unhealthy to eat under 1200 calories why are they promoting it?
0
Replies
-
I can't believe this...if it's so unhealthy to eat under 1200 calories why are they promoting it?
To get big results so people watch their show and buy the book. Money - it's all about the money.0 -
sure, sounds good to me0
-
It is a TV show and they want ratings. Bob wants to sell his book so he makes sure you see results fast. It does not translate well to real life.0
-
For one thing, the people on the show are morbidly obese. 800 calories is probably fine- the rest their bodies burn off as fat. If you are close to a healthy weight, 800 calories is called anorexia.0
-
Google how many of those contestants gain weight back after they leave the show.0
-
If you are close to a healthy weight, 800 calories is called anorexia.
While I agree 800 cals is not enough. I think that's a slight exaggeration, eating 800 cals a day does not mean you have anorexia.0 -
http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/06/23/biggest-loser-controversy-kai-hibbard-speaks-out/
They do not promote healthy weight loss. It's all about the show and ratings.0 -
For Ratings!
IF the people on that show lost weight in a healthy weight, it would take 12+ months to film.. and they weight loss would be a couple pounds a week.
Anyone can lose 5 pounds a week by starving themselves.0 -
if it's so unhealthy to eat under 1200 calories why are they promoting it?
It's not necessarily unhealthy if you get enough protein, vitamins & minerals. And doing it for 14 days isn't the same as doing it an entire TV season. Long-term VLCDs (very low calorie diets) should be medically supervised.1 -
I don't think eating 800 calories for a couple of weeks will cause long term damage, necessarily. But it sure isn't the only way to lose weight. Personally, I'd be unbearable to be around if I had to live on 800 calories a day. And it's like others have said, Bob wants his book to sell. For it to sell, people want dramatic results. A reasonable calorie deficit probably won't give you those dramatic results so, voila. A vlcd for your losing pleasure. It's all about the benjamins0
-
if it's so unhealthy to eat under 1200 calories why are they promoting it?
It's not necessarily unhealthy if you get enough protein, vitamins & minerals. And doing it for 14 days isn't the same as doing it an entire TV season. Long-term VLCDs (very low calorie diets) should be medically supervised.
Sorry but protein alone won't get you through, you also need carbs and fat to support nutritional needs.
Protein RDA for women is 46g per day. 4 calories per gram, that's 184 calories
Fat RDA - this one is mostly stated in percent, not grams. So let's used the minimum # of calorie recommendation and say 20-30% of a 1200 diet would be 240-360 calories. At 9 calories per gram, that's about 26-40 grams per day.
Carb RDA, minimum of 130grams, 4 calories per gram = 520
That's a total of at least 944 calories in order to get your RDA macros. 800 calories is too low
Obviously size, age, body fat, etc factor in but even a woman under 5 feet has a BMR of 1200 calories per day. BMR is the minimum # of calories your body needs to support basic function. Why would you ever eat less and risk health issues just to lose a few pounds? smh
P.S. I love Bob's workout DVD's but he is a total sell-out0 -
Sorry but protein alone won't get you through, you also need carbs and fat to support nutritional needs.
True about having some fat in the diet. Carbs are the least important nutrient, because the body can adapt by shifting to different energy substrates. The RDA doesn't mean we NEED those amounts - they're just recommendations that the masses can realistically stick to, since people enjoy eating carbs.0 -
Sadly, I think it's a case of giving the people what they want - Bob, Jillian, and probably other weight loss/workout "gurus" do have some great DVD programs and informative books out there, but they promote some crap as well.
I usually down over 800 calories by lunch time and I've done very well losing fat, inches, several sizes, and getting in the best shape I've been in for the past 20 years or so. And I'm going to keep it off - it's a lifestyle change, not a quick fix - eat 800 cals for awhile and yeah, you'll lose weight, but who wants to eat that low forever? :noway:
I started with Jillian DVDs and did several of Bob's workouts too - they can be tough, and a great workout. I've read some of their books, and I gleaned some good info and tips from them, but I wouldn't follow all of their advice. And it kills me when in the final weeks of Biggest Loser they are so pained and disappointed when a contestant, who has already lost over 100 lbs and is nearly to goal, only loses 7lbs a week. It's ridiculous. And sets most of us up with unrealistic expectations on how much we should be losing per week - I see it on the boards here all the time.
Ratings and money - a promise of quick results is what sells, and they will push just about anything they can to make that promise and get people to buy what they're selling.0 -
Because no one would buy a book called "Eat Things in Moderation and Move Around'.0
-
Because no one would buy a book called "Eat Things in Moderation and Move Around'.
I love this :drinker:0 -
I eat 800 calories a day and I eat five times a day - Its very easy to stay satiated all day with 800 calories if you know what to eat. You also will get the proper nutrients as well. I will give you a rough run down on what I eat - breakfast consists of one whole egg and three egg whites with lots of veggies to make and omelet - very filling and black coffee - Lunch - is either cottage cheese or a greek yogurt both with good protein and I also have a pc of fruit usually a banana. then I have a mid day snack which is either a super greens drink or a antioxidant drink if I have the greens drink i have a pc of fruit (orange, grapefruit or apple) if I have the antiox drink I have a both big bowl of raw veggies with it and spray a little dressing on it. DInner consists of a 5 ounce piece of either fish or lean meat and a cup of a green veg and a cup of other veg (any) steamed. Night snack - sf jello with cool whip and if im still hungry I pop some air popped popcorn. I drink 64 ounces of water a day and take a few vitamins. I have read on here a few times that your body goes into starvation mode if you only eat 800 cal. a day - that is not true if you are eating, healthy foods and you are eating five times a day. People think you need to eat bread and such to get carbs - you can get a ton of carbs from fruit and veggies - just healthy carbs thats all. I personally can not lose weight on a higher calorie diet - everyone is different. The same plan is not going to work for everyone. You have to try things out and see what works best for you. I do have a cheat day once a week. I think thats important to continued success
Good Luck everyone ! 0 -
I was taking a few training courses and my instructor said that a lot of dieting programs (the one she mentioned was that Dr. -something- medicalized weight loss clinics) have strict low calorie diets to follow. the problem is the low calories slow down your metabolism and trap you into eating that way for life. If you wanted to up your calories after eating in a deficit for so long, you would have to go through a period of weight gain in order for your metabolism to even out... if it could... 800 calories a day may not be anorexic, but it`s a recipe for an eating disorder for sure.0
-
I think for some people 800 works as long as you don't shock your body a ton when you go off of it, and you will get off of it at some point because, well, it SUCKS! You can probably get enough nutrients and such to be fine but will be low on energy (low fuel=low energy) and lose lean muscle mass with that weight. Also, those people on BL have babysitters around ALL the time which (idk about you but) I'm the only one holding myself accountable, preparing my meals, counting my cals and motivating myself during workouts.0
-
I eat 800 calories a day and I eat five times a day - Its very easy to stay satiated all day with 800 calories if you know what to eat. You also will get the proper nutrients as well. I will give you a rough run down on what I eat - breakfast consists of one whole egg and three egg whites with lots of veggies to make and omelet - very filling and black coffee - Lunch - is either cottage cheese or a greek yogurt both with good protein and I also have a pc of fruit usually a banana. then I have a mid day snack which is either a super greens drink or a antioxidant drink if I have the greens drink i have a pc of fruit (orange, grapefruit or apple) if I have the antiox drink I have a both big bowl of raw veggies with it and spray a little dressing on it. DInner consists of a 5 ounce piece of either fish or lean meat and a cup of a green veg and a cup of other veg (any) steamed. Night snack - sf jello with cool whip and if im still hungry I pop some air popped popcorn. I drink 64 ounces of water a day and take a few vitamins. I have read on here a few times that your body goes into starvation mode if you only eat 800 cal. a day - that is not true if you are eating, healthy foods and you are eating five times a day. People think you need to eat bread and such to get carbs - you can get a ton of carbs from fruit and veggies - just healthy carbs thats all. I personally can not lose weight on a higher calorie diet - everyone is different. The same plan is not going to work for everyone. You have to try things out and see what works best for you. I do have a cheat day once a week. I think thats important to continued success Good Luck everyone !
Joined Oct 2012, 6 pounds lost. Seems legit. -_-0 -
They were morbidly obese. They were also on a supervised VLCD. VLCD's are fine for morbidly obese as long as their nutrient values are being met.So I was reading a Bob Harper book the other day and he said as part of the 14 day jump start you should only eat three small meals totaling 800 calories each day. I also met one of the Biggest Loser constants in August (as you can see by my profile picture) and asked him what it was like and he said they are told to only eat 800 calories a day the whole time they are on the ranch.
I can't believe this...if it's so unhealthy to eat under 1200 calories why are they promoting it?
VLCD's aren't for general population since they won't be supervised and most are just trying to lose a few vanity pounds and not pounds to save their life.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
And do you exercise too? Because if you do, then you're netting less than 800 calories a day.I eat 800 calories a day and I eat five times a day - Its very easy to stay satiated all day with 800 calories if you know what to eat. You also will get the proper nutrients as well. I will give you a rough run down on what I eat - breakfast consists of one whole egg and three egg whites with lots of veggies to make and omelet - very filling and black coffee - Lunch - is either cottage cheese or a greek yogurt both with good protein and I also have a pc of fruit usually a banana. then I have a mid day snack which is either a super greens drink or a antioxidant drink if I have the greens drink i have a pc of fruit (orange, grapefruit or apple) if I have the antiox drink I have a both big bowl of raw veggies with it and spray a little dressing on it. DInner consists of a 5 ounce piece of either fish or lean meat and a cup of a green veg and a cup of other veg (any) steamed. Night snack - sf jello with cool whip and if im still hungry I pop some air popped popcorn. I drink 64 ounces of water a day and take a few vitamins. I have read on here a few times that your body goes into starvation mode if you only eat 800 cal. a day - that is not true if you are eating, healthy foods and you are eating five times a day. People think you need to eat bread and such to get carbs - you can get a ton of carbs from fruit and veggies - just healthy carbs thats all. I personally can not lose weight on a higher calorie diet - everyone is different. The same plan is not going to work for everyone. You have to try things out and see what works best for you. I do have a cheat day once a week. I think thats important to continued success Good Luck everyone !
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
I suggest eating 800 calories a day is not healthy we can reduce our weight gradually.I would like give some natural weightloss0
-
Don't think I could do 800. I did just under 1,000 one day this week, and about 1,100 another. But no way I could keep that up for more than a day here or there.
I will say, I had a week losing nothing, and decided to try cutting way back a couple of days. I'm down almost 3 lbs. this week. So, I dunno, maybe a day here or there of really low intake can get things moving. But 800 over the long term? Just doesn't seem like it can be a good idea. If you're not making TV show drama, why be in that big a hurry anyhow?0 -
I had over 800 for dinner. Doing fine. Happy..not hangry. 800 a day for more than a few days is nuts...IMHO.0
-
Do you actually think that show is about health, at all? No. It's about losing weight at any cost, even if it's dangerous.
Here's an article with an interview from someone from the Biggest Loser: It will give you an indepth look at what they go through.
http://www.bodylovewellness.com/2010/06/09/kai-hibbard-biggest-loser-finalist-part-1-of-3/0 -
I'm on an 800 calorie diet right now. I've been on it a little less than a month and I have lost about 25 pounds. I feel great. I get my stats checked about once or twice a week - all looks good and getting better. I've gotten two blood tests this month, one at the beginning, one at the end of the month, all is fine. I take multivitamins, and my diet is formulated to have a balance of carbs, protein and fat but is protein based. I exercise for about an hour, three times a week. Mostly just walking.
If anyone is doing an 800 calorie diet, i suggest they check in with their doctor often but it can be very healthy if done right. We had one girl in our group on the 800 calorie diet who was on blood pressure medication and was able to quit it after two weeks of dieting.
Aside from being overweight, I don't have any major health issues but some people who have gone on an 800 calorie diet have and their health improved. Just have to take it easy on the intensive exercise and talk to a doctor to be sure everything is balanced.0 -
A friend's boyfriend is morbidly obese and doesn't take care of himself or his diabetes. His blood sugars and several other things got so out of whack he was locked in ICU with nothing but a saline drip and one can of an Ensure drink a day for several weeks. He could have all the PLAIN water he wanted. The doctor said it was drastic measures and not something they recommend, but it was the only way they could save his life. He had to stay that way until his levels came back into normal.
Yeah, he lost a ton of weight but it was more about trying to stabilize him. He was doing well when they released him, even started exercising and eating right... but old habits die hard and I'm pretty sure he had to be hospitalized again a few weeks ago. So, long term, probably not.
When I realized people on biggest loser were no longer losing weight in a sound way and it was all about pushing ratings and products, I stopped watching.0 -
Sorry but protein alone won't get you through, you also need carbs and fat to support nutritional needs.
True about having some fat in the diet. Carbs are the least important nutrient, because the body can adapt by shifting to different energy substrates. The RDA doesn't mean we NEED those amounts - they're just recommendations that the masses can realistically stick to, since people enjoy eating carbs.
Not true. You need carbs because your brain cannot function on anything but glucose and glucose only comes from carbs. Some people on very low carb diets for long periods of time develop crippling depression. Some have developed dementia-like symptoms which seem to be irreversible.
http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/carbs.html
http://www.cbn.com/health/nutrition/drlen_020807.aspx
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200404/low-carb-state-mind
http://brainblogger.com/2008/06/26/blood-glucose-and-the-brain-sugar-and-short-term-memory/0 -
I can't imagine the amount of stress those contestants go through. Do they release full blood work periodically to the public for all the contestants?0
-
At 16 I ate 750 calories a day.
A bowl of frosted flakes with 1% milk, a couple packets of fruit snacks, and something else I don't remember, because I was so hungry and exhausted.
I also tried to exercise a half hour on an elliptical and an hour of cheerleading.
Clearly I ended up healthy and trim for life.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.3K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 423 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions