Eating too few calories?

_8080808_
_8080808_ Posts: 16 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Hello! I'll be starting out with apologizing for my English, its my second language.
But, I wanted to ask you a question. I'm 161.5 cm (around 5'3-5'4) and weigh 59.6 kgs today (131 lbs I think?). I've been tracking my calories for a while with another app, and I've found that some days I eat as few as 700-900 calories without trying. I don't feel hungry or unsatisfied. However, I've looked it up and found that eating lover than 1200 calories a day is dangerous and could mess up your metabolism, but I don't really feel like eating more just for the sake of it, you know? But should I do it anyway, what do you think?
Hugs from me! :)

Replies

  • LeanButNotMean44
    LeanButNotMean44 Posts: 852 Member
    You are correct that eating so few calories mess up your metabolism if done for a prolonged period of time, not to mention that it is pretty impossible to get the necessary nutrients your body needs.

    The bigger issue though is are you weighing your food? If you are not, then it is very likely that you are eating more than you think. You need to use a food scale and track everything.
  • _8080808_
    _8080808_ Posts: 16 Member
    I don't track everyday, but the days I do I'm doing it precisely (is that a correct sentence tho?). The days when I get this low is when I eat very simple and easy to track things, so I'm pretty sure it's still pretty low even if its not 100%. If I eat this a few days, like 2-3 days a week, is it still dangerous?
  • ohmscheeks
    ohmscheeks Posts: 840 Member
    Most replies will tell you to hit the 1200 *shrugs*. Getting in the habit of eating when you're not hungry doesn't seem like a good idea. Is there anyway you are eating more than you think?
  • _8080808_
    _8080808_ Posts: 16 Member
    Well I don't think so, but I may have missed something?
    For breakfast those days I usually have homemade porridge, for lunch some soup, and for dinner a salad, or something like that. I don't drink any beverages except from water and green tea (which I count, too). I don't chew any gum, don't have snacks (usually, I count them otherwise obviously). Maybe some calorie content is wrong? I've checked a few different sites and they all say the same though.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    _8080808_ wrote: »
    I don't track everyday, but the days I do I'm doing it precisely (is that a correct sentence tho?). The days when I get this low is when I eat very simple and easy to track things, so I'm pretty sure it's still pretty low even if its not 100%. If I eat this a few days, like 2-3 days a week, is it still dangerous?

    If you focus on your overall weekly deficit and it's not too high, then I don't think eating low on a few days is harmful. It seems like a form of intermittent fasting. But you'd want to be eating at maintenance on the other days, not doing like 1300 calories.

    How much are you losing per week?--that's the best way to figure what your real deficit is.

    Also, I find it a little concerning if you really aren't hungry on that few calories--are you sure you aren't trying to eat that low or finding that when you stick to your rules about how to eat you come out that low? It's a bad idea to eat that low for a variety of reasons (if not part of a sensible overall IF plan, at least), and one would be that it often leads to overeating or binging on other days.
  • wkwebby
    wkwebby Posts: 807 Member
    Where is your protein in your diet? If that is all you eat, all I see is some carb, sodium and water. Try at least hitting your protein and fat macro. If you concentrate on eating meat or proteins, you will more than likely hit your target of calories. Your body needs protein to help you build your muscles and fats will keep your hormones and skin in balance.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories