Doctor suggests 800 calories a day

Zaeliekins
Zaeliekins Posts: 3 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I just got my physical and my doctor was asking about how I'm managing my weight. I told her about my calorie intake of about 1350 (mfp set goal) calories and she said that wouldn't help me lose weight and I need to go down to eating 800 a day.
I'm 205 lbs and 5'6"
I'm a little puzzled that a doctor would recommend such a low amount.
Just looking for opinions on this
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Replies

  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    I'd suggest getting a new doctor.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Ask your doctor to refer you to a dietician instead.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Wow....I'd get a new doctor. In general doctors know very little about nutrition (obviously).
  • jnv7594
    jnv7594 Posts: 983 Member
    edited June 2015
    Did she say why? I mean, calorie restrictions this drastic are usually only given as a last resort to people that have significant health issues from being very overweight. I would get a second opinion before cutting my calories that low, or just use your better judgement if you don't have any underlying health concerns that need immediate attention.
  • Unknown
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  • Debmal77
    Debmal77 Posts: 4,770 Member
    Like everyone said....new doctor....that is drastic.
  • Angelfire365
    Angelfire365 Posts: 803 Member
    ?!? I'm 5'7 and I've been loosing on 1550 cal? I'd just avoid your doctor's nutritional advice.
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    Havent we had this before? Aak your Dr why, clearly she is wrong about 1350 not working because thats a significant deficit. She may have her reasons and its up to you to find out what they are. It doesnt mean she is correct, but she should have no problem explaining things and then you cna make your own mind up.

    800 can be ok if you ae under medical supervision. If you arent sure then ask another Dr.
  • ercarroll311
    ercarroll311 Posts: 295 Member
    Woah, that's terrible.

    I had a similar experience with a doctor, telling her I was eating 1200 calories at 5'2" and 160 lbs and she said I just needed to eat less if that wasn't working.

    I've found much more knowledge (and interest) in these forums.
  • Zaeliekins
    Zaeliekins Posts: 3 Member
    Honestly I was only there for my yearly, no health concerns so far. I have successfully been losing weight with the help of mfp and exercise.
    I wasn't looking for her advise on losing it she just recommended it.
    Sirens went off in my head when I heard 800, I was thinking she might have been worried that I for some reason eating too few.
    Just wanted to share :D
  • Agathokakological
    Agathokakological Posts: 136 Member
    Zaeliekins wrote: »
    I just got my physical and my doctor was asking about how I'm managing my weight. I told her about my calorie intake of about 1350 (mfp set goal) calories and she said that wouldn't help me lose weight and I need to go down to eating 800 a day.
    I'm 205 lbs and 5'6"
    I'm a little puzzled that a doctor would recommend such a low amount.
    Just looking for opinions on this

    Were you losing consistently at the 1350 calories? Your profile says you've lost 59lbs. It seems like you're doing just fine with what you were eating. Cutting down to 800 seems quite excessive. I'd get another opinion or see a dietitian.
  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    Don't listen to your doctor lol. They only get around 8 hours of nutritional training during their degree course.

    From your profile it seems you're doing pretty well by yourself without any aid from a dietician, keep doing what you're doing OP!
  • ShellyBell999
    ShellyBell999 Posts: 1,482 Member
    Was that Mrs. Dr OZ??
  • melzy824
    melzy824 Posts: 45 Member
    You should never go below 1200 calories for a woman - or so everyone says. I am on 1200 calories and there is no way I could eat any less than that without starving myself.
  • barbecuesauce
    barbecuesauce Posts: 1,771 Member
    Zaeliekins wrote: »
    I just got my physical and my doctor was asking about how I'm managing my weight. I told her about my calorie intake of about 1350 (mfp set goal) calories and she said that wouldn't help me lose weight and I need to go down to eating 800 a day.
    I'm 205 lbs and 5'6"
    I'm a little puzzled that a doctor would recommend such a low amount.
    Just looking for opinions on this

    My opinion, as someone who started out at 5'6" and 200:

    Get a new doctor and insist on labwork. Even if you're not using a food scale, unless you're eyeballing and overestimating high-calorie items, you should still be within a deficit for losing at least a pound a week.

    You have lost 59 pounds to date. How long have you been stalled at 205? A couple of weeks? It does happen sometimes. Weight loss isn't linear and the body seems to play catch-up every so often, even if you're logging everything correctly.

    If your loss has simply slowed, perhaps it is time to consider picking up an exercise that you can progressively improve yourself in (non-scale victories are just as valid as scale victories). If you are not using a scale, buy one. If you are eating out frequently, realize that restaurant food often has large calorie variances with what is listed.
  • OffKilter5150
    OffKilter5150 Posts: 24 Member
    There's nothing magical about 1200 calories, but there's little doubt that, unless on a medically supervised program, that 800 is too low.
  • barbecuesauce
    barbecuesauce Posts: 1,771 Member
    Zaeliekins wrote: »
    Honestly I was only there for my yearly, no health concerns so far. I have successfully been losing weight with the help of mfp and exercise.
    I wasn't looking for her advise on losing it she just recommended it.
    Sirens went off in my head when I heard 800, I was thinking she might have been worried that I for some reason eating too few.
    Just wanted to share :D

    Oh, well if you're losing, then disregard my advice about labs, etc. Doctors don't know anything about weight loss, it seems.
  • Alyssa_Is_LosingIt
    Alyssa_Is_LosingIt Posts: 4,696 Member
    I_Will_End_You wrote: »
    I'd suggest getting a new doctor.

    This.
  • debsdoingthis
    debsdoingthis Posts: 454 Member
    I_Will_End_You wrote: »
    I'd suggest getting a new doctor.
    Emphatic +1

  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    I_Will_End_You wrote: »
    I'd suggest getting a new doctor.

    I want this to be my answer, but I'm not sure because I don't know the whole story.

    Did your doctor say why you should be eating so few calories? is there a medical issue going on that needs immediate attention?
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    Precisely, its not uncommon to not get all relevant information, its also not uncommon for people to jump to conclusions.
  • cohenson5
    cohenson5 Posts: 2 Member
    I think you should get a new doctor and see a dietitian for more clarification on calorie intake for weight loss.
  • yusaku02
    yusaku02 Posts: 3,472 Member
    at 200+ you would be losing on 1600 which is twice what the crackpot said.
  • Alyssa_Is_LosingIt
    Alyssa_Is_LosingIt Posts: 4,696 Member
    999tigger wrote: »
    Precisely, its not uncommon to not get all relevant information, its also not uncommon for people to jump to conclusions.

    OP's profile says that she has lost 59 lbs. She mentioned in the thread that she's lost weight eating 1350 calories per day. Her doctor told her that 1350 wouldn't "help her lose weight" and that she should actually be eating 800 calories.

    We can only use the info that we've been given, but to me, the doctor sounds like a moron about nutrition and should just stick to what he/she does best.
  • gurlygirlrcr80
    gurlygirlrcr80 Posts: 162 Member
    you could ruin your metabolism dropping that low for a consistent amount of time....i would suggest a nutritionist...
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    gurlygirlrcr80 wrote: »
    you could ruin your metabolism dropping that low for a consistent amount of time....i would suggest a nutritionist...

    Can't ruin your metabolism, and you want a dietitian. Anyone that wants can call themselves a nutritionist.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    Did she offer to set up occasional checkups and bloodwork while you're doing this? If not, she's not actually supervising you and is just giving you bad (terrible!) advice.

    Good for you for paying attention. We all have to be our own advocates. New doctor, stat.
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    Do you have a life-threatening medical condition that requires an extreme caloric restriction in order to get the weight off as quickly as possible? If not, find a new doctor.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    Id see another dr. I was 209 and Im 5'6 1/2 and lost weight no problem with a caloric range of 1500-1800+ if you lose weight already then keep eating at the 1350.
  • urloved33
    urloved33 Posts: 3,323 Member
    well thats a dose of #starveyourselftodeath

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