This is not fair as I am disabled

Then ignore it.

Is your doctor saying this, or is it the site?
If it's the site, ignore it, because MyFitnessPal doesn't know anything about your individual life or needs. If your doctor is telling you this, there's probably a good reason.

As long as your thyroid is good the MFP figures should be fine. If it means you have to increase the amount you eat then increase slowly over a few months. If your thyroid is shot subtract about 10%
Really eating too little is likely to harm your organs rather than help you lose weight in a healthy manner.
Eat fresh made foods if you can. Processed food and soda are not recommended

Nothing wrong with any foods as long as your body is ok with them.

Just as for a normal healthy person fruit is fantastic, but for someone that is insulin resistant they are one of the worst things ever, no better than eating a highly sugared cream cake.

(Insulin resistance doesn't know difference between natural sugar and any other type of sugar).

And always take a good quality 1 a day multi vit with minerals pill, then you make sure your getting all ya daily needs.

MFP is just a guide, what ya doc tells ya is just a guide, just do what works for you and listen to your own body, if ya screwing up it will let you know.

Blessed be

You get this warning automatically on MFP when you eat under 1000 calories for the day. My ability to exercise or be active is severely limited due to lung disease. Therefore, to lose weight, I have to eat around 1000 - 1100 calories. I have lost weight doing this so you probably really don't need to eat below the 1000 calorie mark to lose weight.

I'm on oxygen so walking or swimming just aren't really doable right now, never mind something more strenuous. I did buy an exercise bike and use it 5 - 6 days/week. On days I ride my bike, I usually eat between 1200 - 1300 calories.

Calculate your BMR - this gives you an idea of what your body uses in a day if you were to lie in bed for 24 hours doing nothing; that is, the calories your body uses to carry on basic physiologic and metabolic functions. This will give you an idea of why they recommend that you eat at least 1000 calories per day. That and because it's hard to get sufficient quantities of the nutrients your body needs when you consistently eat under 1000 calories.

My sister has MS and has to use a Mobility Scooter / all the general muscle fatigue issues associated with MS.

She is fortunate enough to have access to a couple of targeted classes per week which focus on the exercises she can do rather than those that she can't... However like most people who's disability means they are much less physically active, her recommended calorie intake (supported by her GP) is lower than someone without a disability. I think (but don't quote me on this) her maintenance is 1000-1200 Cals per day, so obviously her weight loss target is even lower.

I think its reasonable to say that these are exceptional circumstances and the warnings MFP supply are based on 'standard' usage. I also think that it is right that MFP set these alerts up - I've seen so many threads where people who clearly have eating disorders try and justify why the guidelines don't apply to them: Its good that they get the advice and support they really need from the forums.

As such, whilst you have my sympathy for your circumstances, I think you need to take a pragmatic approach to your use of tools such as MFP rather than getting frustrated over their 'fairness'. Talk with your doctor or dietitian to establish what is right for you and work with that information.

Good Luck.

longandpink wrote: »

I am worried that people who are disabled and sit a lot do not lose weight.

They can lose weight, but you're right that they have fewer tools and less flexibility. They might be only capable of losing weight more slowly since they can't add the different kinds of cardio exercises that others can do.

If they can move at all without pain, there are beneficial exercises that professional physiologists can find for their limitations.

I eat more than that and still lose well. I'm disabled, too, but I go to physical therapy 3X a week. There are many physical therapy exercises that can be done in the wheelchair or in a recliner/bed after transferring. Light resistance bands/wrap around weights can also be added, eventually graduating to harder ones. Stretches are also good to do. Even when I wasn't going to PT or exercising, though, I still ate more than that and lost.

:huh:

Meh. Ignore the notification and move on.

Iron_Feline wrote: »

Just don't close your diary each day - no message, no more whining that it isn't fair.

There ya go.

Liftng4Lis wrote: »

MFP is protecting themselves with the disclaimer. If it bothers you, ignore it.

This. Seriously, it's obvious why they believe they need it and I'd bet there are far more cases where people probably use the site for unhealthy calorie cutting (pro ana stuff, for example) than have a medical reason supported by a doctor for going below 1000. I support their efforts to avoid having the site misused and avoid encouraging people from starving themselves, and think the fact that some number of people who are being advised by their doctors on a VLCD or some other such thing will have to see a message that they know doesn't apply to them seems really not a big thing. Suck it up.

People who aren't able to exercise for various reasons have been able to lose weight using this app.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1058378-oh-noes-i-am-eating-below-my-bmr

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

Edit: Edit in goals to allow for negative adjustment. Ignore the general 1200 estimate, within reasonable limits. Make sure you get enough vitamins and minerals. Ask your doctor. Do what works for YOUR body.

mikeyrp wrote: »

In defense of the OP, it can be very difficult to feel positively about yourself and about the challenges of weight loss, and it must be very disheartening at the start of a journey to get going on a tool which tells you that you are doing things wrong which you know are right for you.

@Castleann, this is all about confidence that your diet can work, and that MFP can support you. I 100% believe in both.

You might want to start or join a forum group for people with similar needs to yourself so you can get support from others going through a similar experience.

^^^^^This

Thanks. If I could edit out my post I would. I clearly didn't understand.