Is 1000 calories too little?

I've been trying to eat 1000 or less for the past few days, but I've noticed I feel very sick because of this.
(In no way do I have an eating disorder.)
So is 1000 too little? Is 1200 enough?
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Replies

  • 1000 is not enough. As a nutrition consultant I never start anyone less than 1400 (female) or 1700 (male). Then I increase from there.
  • Okay thank you haha. MFP is recommending 1200, so I'm going to aim for about that 1200-1400. :)
  • peachmagic
    peachmagic Posts: 57 Member
    1000 calories a day is not healthy or sustainable, and you'll be far better off eating more. If you can check with a doctor, if you can't try not to eat less than 1200 a day.

    My doctor said 1200-1500 was a good range for weight loss for me.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    The MFP program also expects that you will eat back the calories you burn from exercise. If you go off the MFP calorie burns, I recommend eating back 50-75% of what it gives you. The database exercise burns are a bit high.

    As for how you are feeling, your body is telling you clearly that you need to eat more. Best wishes
  • Thank you. :)
  • Yes, I've noticed this tightness in my chest which I'm worried about. I guess 1000 really is a lot under what I need, haha.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    Yes, I've noticed this tightness in my chest which I'm worried about. I guess 1000 really is a lot under what I need, haha.

    See that concerns me a bit. How old are you? How tall? What is your weight? How much are you working out?

    If you don't want to answer those questions, that is fine, but please take a read through this link:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    It is long, but has a great amount of information to help you along the way to where you want to be without risking your health. There are many health risks to eating too little and not getting enough nutrition. You can message me if you have questions. I may not have the answers, but I will try.
  • I'm 18, 5'3 and 125 lbs. I exercise 3-8 times per week. Is 1500 good for that?
  • starrylioness
    starrylioness Posts: 543 Member
    I'm 18, 5'3 and 125 lbs. I exercise 3-8 times per week. Is 1500 good for that?

    Put that information into MFP and let it tell you what you need to eat. That's how I've lost my weight.
  • Lol it sounds like you're already where you need to be. Are you trying to lose weight, get toned in specific areas, or just get healthier in general?
  • I would like all of those, LOL.
  • censet7
    censet7 Posts: 1
    If you hear what I eat and how many lb I am You be Surprise. My All Entire Life I am Not diabetic But I cannot eat sweet at All. no ice cream and Never Eat chocolate never Cake, Never Ever Any Sweet Stuff in my Entire Life.I cannot Eat Sweet, it's. Burn my Troth when I eat Trust me A-B-C all Diabetic and Thyroid Test done nothing They Cannot Find Anything & I cannot even Drink Soda! Not Sweet But I drink Beer or Wine or Water. I eat Egg and Orange Juice Mornings, Salad and Fish and Salad all my Entire Life. I am addicted to salad If no salad I am not Eating Basically. How can I survive Less than 1000 Calorie A day I don't Know that But I keep Getting Big Why is That?
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    .
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    you exercise 3-8 times a week?why so much?

    are you athlete, if so then you should know that you should be eating much much more than that. at your age i was an athlete (working 5-10 times a week) and at 5'5 120 pounds i needed to eat a bit over 3K to maintain my weight... 1500 at your age with that much exercise is probably far to low for safe weightloss
  • cwoyto123
    cwoyto123 Posts: 308
    Yes, yes it is.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    No its not to little. But the problem is your appetite. You have to find food or beverages that suppress your appetite. You will eat less during the day and not have to struggle with your brain tricking you into thinking your hungry. I use synedrex and it suppresses my appetite through the day. My calories was 1200 to 1500 a day. Now its like 500 to 1000, or whatever I so choose cause im raely hungry. Also green tea suppresses it too. Try my advice and let me know cause what works for me may not work for someone else.

    Nicole-Scherzinger-no-baby-no.gif
  • 2BeHappy2
    2BeHappy2 Posts: 811 Member
    OP, I love your profile pic!
  • SomeNights246
    SomeNights246 Posts: 807 Member
    No its not to little. But the problem is your appetite. You have to find food or beverages that suppress your appetite. You will eat less during the day and not have to struggle with your brain tricking you into thinking your hungry. I use synedrex and it suppresses my appetite through the day. My calories was 1200 to 1500 a day. Now its like 500 to 1000, or whatever I so choose cause im raely hungry. Also green tea suppresses it too. Try my advice and let me know cause what works for me may not work for someone else.

    Nicole-Scherzinger-no-baby-no.gif

    What's really scary is... that comment came from a 24 yo male. 500-1000 is worrying for a 24 yo female. It is... terrifying for a male.
  • LadyRN76
    LadyRN76 Posts: 4,275 Member
    1000 calories is too little for ANYONE. Look at the links others have posted - you want to tone up HEALTHY...and be CONSISTENT. Doing it the unhealthy way does nothing for you and stresses your body causing harm and deficits in other areas.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    No its not to little. But the problem is your appetite. You have to find food or beverages that suppress your appetite. You will eat less during the day and not have to struggle with your brain tricking you into thinking your hungry. I use synedrex and it suppresses my appetite through the day. My calories was 1200 to 1500 a day. Now its like 500 to 1000, or whatever I so choose cause im raely hungry. Also green tea suppresses it too. Try my advice and let me know cause what works for me may not work for someone else.

    Are you selling this stuff, because you've mentioned it in another post now too?

    Are you recommending that someone who is a normal weight, should be eating less than 1000 calories each day?

    As a guy, 1200 calories is way too low, never mind going less.

    ETA: Synedrex from: http://www.dietpillswatchdog.com/synedrex/
    Synedrex Concerns:
    Synedrex contains ingredients banned by the FDA
    May cause strokes and heart attacks
    Lack of independent customer reviews
  • No its not to little. But the problem is your appetite. You have to find food or beverages that suppress your appetite. You will eat less during the day and not have to struggle with your brain tricking you into thinking your hungry. I use synedrex and it suppresses my appetite through the day. My calories was 1200 to 1500 a day. Now its like 500 to 1000, or whatever I so choose cause im raely hungry. Also green tea suppresses it too. Try my advice and let me know cause what works for me may not work for someone else.

    That is really, amazingly, tragically bad advice.
  • squishprincess
    squishprincess Posts: 371 Member
    honestly it depends on your activity levels/lifestyle and weight/height and age. they say 1200 is the basic minimum, but ive read several places that some people on the shorter side (like me) are okay with 1100-1400 with an unactive or lightly active lifestyle. but it's only a little lower for me as i'm barely 5 feet tall haha. i would definitely increase to at least 1200-1300 if you're feeling sick or lightheaded or lethargic. especiallllllyyyyyyyyyy if you exercise frequently. hope you feel better soon!
  • 1000 calories as a daily goal is okay, IF you are consuming enough to cover your daily exercise. In other words, if you burn 750 calories exercising, you need to eat at least 1750 calories that day. However, I think 1000 calories is a bit tough to start with. I'd go for a more realistic (and less painful) 1200 calorie goal. MFP should be guiding you correctly, if you are diligent and pay close attention to your nutrition.

    Also note that the more you exercise, the more protein you require. The challenge is getting your protein from healthy sources, without all the accompanying fat and calories. On days of intense exercise, I've started using protein powders to make healthy smoothies to make up the deficit. Seems to work for me.

    Exercise is really the key to success. Diet alone isn't going to cut it, if you want to experience healthy weight loss. The worst thing you can possibly do is try to starve your body, or resort to weight loss drugs. Losing isn't that hard, it's just a matter of science. Exercise daily, count your calories, drink plenty of water, and monitor your nutrition. Put forth persistent effort, and with a little patience, the pounds will melt away.
  • errorist
    errorist Posts: 142 Member
    OP is in the middle of the healthy weight range for her (?) height. She is exercising up to 8 times a week, talking about eating 1000 calories, and has no specific weight-loss goals. Suggestion, if she is not a troll, that is - think about maintaining your weight, and recompositioning - increasing your muscle mass, by weight training.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,284 Member
    I'm 18, 5'3 and 125 lbs. I exercise 3-8 times per week. Is 1500 good for that?

    Why does your profile page say you are 23?

    I had a look at it to see how old you were to formulate my reply , before seeing this post.

    My reply is still the same though - 1000 calories is not enough. 1200 could be enough if you are older, shorter and
    sedentary.

    However you are not so short, and are certainly not older so I doubt even 1200 is enough.
    You don't have a lot to lose - I suspect you have set data to say you want to lose 2lb per week. With not that much to lose, this is too aggressive.

    To give you a comparison - I am about your height, I set myself as lightly active, and I am nearly 30 years older than you.
    I lost successfully on 1460.
  • aedreana
    aedreana Posts: 979 Member
    Unfortunately, MFP official forum guidelines prohibit my reply to your questions. Sorry!
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,284 Member
    Unfortunately, MFP official forum guidelines prohibit my reply to your questions. Sorry!

    Thank goodness for MFP official guidelines :smile:
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I'm 18, 5'3 and 125 lbs. I exercise 3-8 times per week. Is 1500 good for that?

    Put that information into MFP and let it tell you what you need to eat. That's how I've lost my weight.

    Yes - technically.

    MFP will tell you how many NET calories based upon "I want to lose XX pounds per week"

    OP - If you want to lose 10 pounds or less in total.....put 1/2 pound a week into MFP. Then MFP will add calories if you add exercise.

    But, if you don't want to do that you can use TDEE less a small percent....or less 250 calories (1/2 pound a week). TDEE should include all exercise up front and averages. This gives you consistency across days.

    http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/
  • boothejennifer
    boothejennifer Posts: 4 Member
    I sortive had this question although in a way I feel like I cannot eat more than 1200 cals a day to lose weight; reason being that I am only 4'9", about to be 37 and my healthy weight range is between 84-114 lbs.
    I am currently 130 lbs and still on the high side of overweight although I am a size 8/10 and small tops.
    MFP tells me to eat 1200 cals a day & I have def hit a weight loss plateau.....
    I have increased my exercise drastically to see if that helps but I do think someone of my height cannot expect to eat as much as an average height person and maintain a healthy weigh....I am the height of a 10 year old.
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    I'm 18, 5'3 and 125 lbs. I exercise 3-8 times per week. Is 1500 good for that?

    Wait, your profile says you're 23. Which is it?

    And what are you doing for exercise?