What happens when you eat under your calories ?

ZulyPastor95
ZulyPastor95 Posts: 26
in Health and Weight Loss
Okay so MFP says that for me to be able to get to 120 pounds I have to eat 1200 calories daily, but what if sometimes I eat under 1200 ? Like let's say 1000 daily or 800 calories daily is it bad ? Will it stop your weight loss ?

Replies

  • ZulyPastor95
    ZulyPastor95 Posts: 26
    ??????
  • YouHadMyCuriosity
    YouHadMyCuriosity Posts: 218 Member
    I'm sure someone will give you a linger, more detailed reply, but 1200 calories is the minimum an adult should eat. Under that you will not have enough "fuel", and it is really unhealthy in the long run.
  • caracrawford1
    caracrawford1 Posts: 657 Member
    Is it necessary for you to be eating 1200 cals at 175 pounds?
    You can lose weight on more than that-- and more importantly, a higher proportion of it will be fat and you'll be less likely to put it back on. You realize as you lose weight, your caloric allowance will naturally drop. Therefore, you will want to eat more. 1200 leaves you nowhere to go.
    You should try to exercise. I doubt you can do that at your current calorie level. It stands to reason if you want to look like you go to the gym (and who doesn't) rather than be flabby at the 120 pounds you aim for, then you actually need to put some effort into exercise and you will need to eat more to fuel that.
  • desidieter
    desidieter Posts: 195
    Okay so MFP says that for me to be able to get to 120 pounds I have to eat 1200 calories daily, but what if sometimes I eat under 1200 ? Like let's say 1000 daily or 800 calories daily is it bad ? Will it stop your weight loss ?

    Unless a doctor or professional nutritionist tells you to eat only 1200, I would recommend eating more. Anything less than 1200 probably won't fuel you enough. Personally, if I eat only 800-1000 cals per day, I have a hard time functioning. And I can forget exercise on those days, because there's no way I've consumed enough to exercise properly.
  • ZulyPastor95
    ZulyPastor95 Posts: 26
    But then why does MFP give me only 1200 calories ? If technically I'm supposed to be eating more
  • ZulyPastor95
    ZulyPastor95 Posts: 26
    And I do cardio a lot I burn 200-400 calories four days out of the week
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    YOU DIE! Just kidding. Over time, though, if you consistently undereat, you will begin to suffer the various effects of malnutrition, which is no laughing matter.
  • desidieter
    desidieter Posts: 195
    Because most people input incorrect information about their activity levels, etc. when setting up their account. Here's a lengthy but thorough explanation: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets
  • 2013sk
    2013sk Posts: 1,318 Member
    Work out your BMR + TDEE!!! I say don't eat below your BMR!!! Mines 1450, and I never eat under this amount!

    You can eat 1200 calories if you want, but after time you will feel hungry!! So really its not going to work eating so little.

    I say workout to fuel your body, that's my moto!!! I eat ALOT but then I workout ALOT!!!

    If I didn't workout at all - Obviously I wouldn't eat like I am.... Make sense?
  • ssmkgp
    ssmkgp Posts: 1,425
    There are varying opinions and or studies available as to what happens to your metabolism if your net calories consistently fall below the 1200 calorie per day threshold. A consistent deficit can not only crash your metabolism, but your body will burn as much protein (muscle) as much as fat. This makes it difficult to maintain, and even if you lose weight quickly, you are more likely to gain it back fast the minute you discontinue said diet. It also makes working out harder and energy levels will drop.
    In my opinion, please DO NOT GO BELOW 1200 ! Eat those calories, your body needs them & it needs crabs.
  • desidieter
    desidieter Posts: 195
    Work out your BMR + TDEE!!! I say don't eat below your BMR!!! Mines 1450, and I never eat under this amount!

    You can eat 1200 calories if you want, but after time you will feel hungry!! So really its not going to work eating so little.

    I say workout to fuel your body, that's my moto!!! I eat ALOT but then I workout ALOT!!!

    If I didn't workout at all - Obviously I wouldn't eat like I am.... Make sense?

    I agree with all of this. Especially the part about not eating below your BMR. Eating 1200 calories or less probably give you the weight loss results you want for now, but in the long run, it's not sustainable. OP, you're 19 years old, right? I don't know what your current weight or other stats are, but at 19, I highly doubt your BMR is 1200.
  • ZulyPastor95
    ZulyPastor95 Posts: 26
    Can someone help me figure out what my bmr is ?? I'm 19 5'4 168 lbs
  • desidieter
    desidieter Posts: 195
    Can someone help me figure out what my bmr is ?? I'm 19 5'4 168 lbs

    Start here: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
  • ssmkgp
    ssmkgp Posts: 1,425
    And I do cardio a lot I burn 200-400 calories four days out of the week

    MFP has your calorie intake set to lose "X" number of lbs per week (approx). Workout calories burned are above an beyond the calculated calories needed to lose "x" lbs per week. So, it adds those workout calories back into the net calories consumed per day.
    To know your BMR & TDEE, you can use the IIFYM Calculator.

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