Is eating under 600 calories good for you?

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Replies

  • Mavrick_RN
    Mavrick_RN Posts: 439 Member
    I think you already know there is something very wrong with eating only 600 calories a day.

    You didn't survive two heart attacks to malnourish yourself with a 600 cal/day diet. Your friends are mistaken about what they eat if they are doing this on a consistent basis. A few days maybe (if you're sick, having intestinal issues or trapped in an elevator with only a package of M & Ms)

    Certainly NOT a way to live and enjoy life. Your dog could probably eat 600 cal/day.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    dbanks80 wrote: »
    Itreadlightly wrote: »
    I am a 61 year old woman with an eating disorder that I can trace back to my teenage years eating less than 500 calories for weeks...

    And what is your point?

    I think she is saying she developed an ED from eating that low. I took it as a cautionary tale.

    Ditto.

    Plus, to whoever flagged it for Abuse, that post does not meet that criteria: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10007789/flagged-content-reported-posts-warning-points

    You can flag it again to remove the flag.

    If you disagree that it is a cautionary tale and would like a moderator to review the post, you need to click Flag then Report.
  • Spook_Nuke_Em
    Spook_Nuke_Em Posts: 408 Member
    Definitely not healthy.

    My breakfast is 600 calories.
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    No, absolutely not.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    barkleyjeffl wrote: »
    I have had a few friends tell me that they are only eating 600 calories a day. I want to lose weight but not at the risk of my body failing. So, does anyone know is this ok to do?

    600 calories is generally a prescribed diet....by a medical professional. 600 calorie diets are generally for the morbidly obese, and aren't "regular food" either. These are shakes (or meals) designed by dieticians, and likely include vitamin injections.

    Very low calorie diets play havoc with your health......don't do it.
  • Sukisumi
    Sukisumi Posts: 96 Member
    edited January 2016
    It is extremely unhealthy.

    In my late teens and early 20s, I was obsessed with losing weight... to the extent that I developed an eating disorder. I ate 440 kcals a DAY for about 2 years! I logged everything. I would also exercise to burn 400+ kcals a day so I practically lived at a negative input.

    I became very sick. My hair started falling out, I was fainting and vomiting all of the time and it destroyed me. Trust me, I did not look good. Thin yes, good no.

    Do not do this to yourself. I wish I could have those miserable years of my life back but I never can. I have now gained 6 stone since then and I'm overweight, no doubt because I destroyed my metabolism before. I had to teach myself how to eat again because my body started rejecting food. This time I am going to do it healthily.

    Sorry for the long post but it brings back a lot of memories and it upsets me to think that other people would consider doing it too.

    Eat a healthy amount and exercise (reasonably). That's by far the best way. =) Good luck and all the best! xx
  • kiara1066
    kiara1066 Posts: 119 Member
    Itreadlightly wrote: »
    I am a 61 year old woman with an eating disorder that I can trace back to my teenage years eating less than 500 calories for weeks...

    And that's probably why you have an eating disorder it's not healthy I hope you got the help you need. Op eating under 600 calories is not good for you. As others mentioned if under a doctors supervision some people have been informed to eat around 800 calories, but that's the extreme route the doctor choose for them. I haven't heard about eating 600 calories even with the VLCD under a doctors care personally. Eat more use the MFP recommended caloric intake listed .
  • barkleyjeffl
    barkleyjeffl Posts: 21 Member
    I'm not about to do it. My friend is not that heavy to take that much of a big change... We have doctor in our town that people go to and he's telling her to eat only 600 cals a day... and yes every day.. not the 5:2. I think its crazy (plus my heart doctor would have my head! LOL)

    I'm eating around 1300 cals most days, others more. I want to win this contest but not at the expense of my life. I think I'm lowering my weight safely with the help of my PCP, nutritionist, and cardiologist. In 2 weeks I've lost 7 pounds.

    It just scares me for her.
  • MelaniaTrump
    MelaniaTrump Posts: 2,694 Member
    edited January 2016
    I have a cousin in law that is involved with a metabolic center place. One doctor on staff. Probably graduated from med school in the Virgin Islands or Grenada.
    They told her to go on 600 or so daily calories. She had to drink their shakes and eat their bars.
    She ended up losing weight and losing $3,200.
    A year later, I saw her again. She gained all the weight back. She learned nothing.
    You should eat a lot more than 1,300 a day. That's just crazy.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    barkleyjeffl wrote: »
    I'm not about to do it. My friend is not that heavy to take that much of a big change... We have doctor in our town that people go to and he's telling her to eat only 600 cals a day... and yes every day.. not the 5:2. I think its crazy (plus my heart doctor would have my head! LOL)

    I'm eating around 1300 cals most days, others more. I want to win this contest but not at the expense of my life. I think I'm lowering my weight safely with the help of my PCP, nutritionist, and cardiologist. In 2 weeks I've lost 7 pounds.

    It just scares me for her.

    How do you know what her doctor is telling her what to eat? Because she says so? She could easily be making that claim when the doctor said no such thing.

    Also 1300 cals is too little for a guy.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    not to mention eating so little and being malnourished can cause heart attacks or worse. a friend of ours who is a pastor. had a young lady whom he knew,had an eating disorder and she had a few heart attacks because she wasnt eating enough calories and she was under 25 at that. so no,if you value your life you will eat more than that.I have a family member who has an eating disorder and its not pretty what it does to your body.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Never.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    edited January 2016
    barkleyjeffl wrote: »
    I have had a few friends tell me that they are only eating 600 calories a day. I want to lose weight but not at the risk of my body failing. So, does anyone know is this ok to do?

    Your profile says you are 43, how old are your friends? This sounds like something teenage girls with eating disorders encourage. In short, no, 600 cal/day is not good.

    When you set up your information here, how many calories/day did it give you?

    ETA: I saw your update. No, that is way too low for your friend without medical supervision including regular blood work for monitoring, and appropriate supplementation to cover the lack of nutrition. As for you, a guy should be getting about 1500 cal minimum to make sure you are getting enough nourishment from your food. However, if your cardiologist and PCP are on board and are monitoring you, then hey, sometimes the benefits outweigh the risks. Good for you for trying to take control over your life, and for looking out for your friend!
  • kk_inprogress
    kk_inprogress Posts: 3,077 Member
    No, absolutely not. Diets that low in calories are only okay under the direct and constant supervision of a doctor who is trained in weight loss and nutrition.
  • samchez0
    samchez0 Posts: 364 Member
    I think if you have to ask then you already know the answer.
  • cbelc2
    cbelc2 Posts: 762 Member
    I don't think you can get enough nutrients in only 600 calories. Maybe consult your doctor for a calorie limit? I default to MFP and am netting 1200 per day.
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    Doctors who do that when someone isn't morbidly obese are very shady. They are out there, but it should probably be illegal. Tell your friend to steer clear of that whole place. There are docs in Hollywood who will put thin women on very low cal feeding tubes to wear at home for a week or two, too, but that doesn't make it safe just because the con-man happens to have an MD. It's disturbing and greedy.
  • chastity0921
    chastity0921 Posts: 209 Member
    So, while I was in school we learned about very low calorie diets (VLCD). They range from 400-800 calories. They are effective (obviously) for quick weight loss, but are physiologically like starvation. People are provided special meal replacements and typically lose about 3-5 lbs per week. They're usually used to resolve problems from a morbidity. Definitely not for just anyone, and they need to be administered and monitored by a multidisciplinary team including an RD and MD.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,332 Member
    edited January 2016
    barkleyjeffl wrote: »
    I have had a few friends tell me that they are only eating 600 calories a day. I want to lose weight but not at the risk of my body failing. So, does anyone know is this ok to do?

    No it is not ok to do. http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/518970/who-should-eat-500-calories-a-day/p1

    Even the 1300 calories a day for a male is too little.
  • jewdels
    jewdels Posts: 1 Member
    My best friend tried several extreme low calorie diets last year. Every one ended up with her in the ER because her body shut down. She eventually lost her job due to inability to function on any level for a year. She also gained back everything that she did lose and more. She is now working out and working on a diet with enough calories and nutrients to keep her going. Make sure you eat enough to keep yourself going. Good luck!
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    Are your friends anorexic teenage girls?
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    I ate 500 calories a day for quite a while.... Until I was hospitalized for anorexia and started treatment/refeeding.....
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