Is eating strictly 800 calories a day bad for you

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Replies

  • DebSozo
    DebSozo Posts: 2,578 Member
    It says 1200 daily, most of the food I eat is fiber or protein and I stick to two 300 calorie meals and banana and grapes to make up the 200. Believe me I want to eat more just afaid ill gain instead of lose just needhealthy ideas

    800 calories a day is not healthy or sustainable. The reason MFP recommends 1200 calories minimum is because one can have difficulty getting all of the nutrients one needs under that amount without doctor's supervision. If you go too low you can become depleted at some point and get very tired. You need enough calories to care for your 5 children. Please take care of yourself.
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
    If you're 4'8", then 800 cal/day is reasonable.
    Otherwise, no.

    You're probably eating more than you think.
    Weigh &/or measure your foods, until you have a good eye for estimating.
    Record everything. Make your diary private, but you have to be honest with yourself & have good data.

    Include some healthy fats (nuts, avocado, salmon).
    Dip your baby carrots in hummus.
    You could pretty much have unlimited veggies, close to unlimited fruits, and a serving of whole grain & protein & still lose weight.

    Play around with your diary, entering various foods you LIKE & seeing how they come out in calories.
    I love peanut butter, but it's got 100 cal/T, so I have some on toast for breakfast instead of 3 thick PBJ sandwiches for dinner.
    Make a big pot of vegetable barley soup. Throw in chopped-up leftover pot roast if you feel like it. Or a can of beans. Very healthy, very low-cal.

    *****************

    Here are some helpful posts. Definitely read sexypants.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10012907/logging-accuracy-consistency-and-youre-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/819925/the-basics-dont-complicate-it/p1

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/872212/youre-probably-eating-more-than-you-think/p1

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/833026/important-posts-to-read/p1


    Goal setting, including weight, calories, and macros
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-06-08-setting-goals-667045
  • farrell16
    farrell16 Posts: 49 Member
    Im new to the dieting and afraid to keep gaining, I started the 800 calories a day thing and in total I have lost 10 I need healthy ideas to get up to 1200 calories if 800 is not safe long term I have 5 kids so cooking healthy is sometimes a challenge really really need ideas please

    Yes that is far too little for calorie intake and is not safe.
  • kelleemayling
    kelleemayling Posts: 9 Member
    I'm 4'11 and was just put on an 800 calorie a day diet plus prescribed phentermine today by my endroconolgist. If your short like me 800 is ideal to lose weight and 1200 to maintain after you reach your goal. If your average height id say 1200 is the lowest you should go.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    I'm 4'11 and was just put on an 800 calorie a day diet plus prescribed phentermine today by my endroconolgist. If your short like me 800 is ideal to lose weight and 1200 to maintain after you reach your goal. If your average height id say 1200 is the lowest you should go.

    800 is not necessarily ideal to lose weight. it depends on your BMR/tdee and your activity level. there are some women here your height who eat more than that and lose weight. what may be ideal for you may not be for others
  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    edited February 2017
    RodaRose wrote: »
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10142490/a-list-of-calorie-dense-foods/p1
    avocado
    cheese
    full fat dairy
    Greek yogurt
    ice cream
    peanut butter (or other nut butters)
    dark chocolate
    less lean cuts of meat (including beef, pork, sausage, etc.)
    seeds (chia, flax, sunflower, etc.)
    nuts
    olive oil
    coconut oil
    butter
    beans and lentils
    protein shakes, bars, and smoothies
    hummus
    beef jerky
    cornbread
    tuna
    full calorie condiments
    full calorie sauces & dressings
    sour cream
    guacamole
    whole grain pasta
    rice
    bacon
    whole eggs
    quinoa
    fruit and fruit juices
    pretzels
    bananas
    scones
    muffins (bran, blueberry, banana nut, etc.)
    potatoes (sweet, red, gold, purple, white, etc.)
    dried fruit (raisins, apricots, plums, dates, etc.)
    granola
    coconut
    salmon
    edamame
    olives
    honey
    molasses

    Gee, that's such a good list. I wish I'd thought of it.

    You did. It was a quoting error on the posters behalf. I never posted the list or even had anything to do with it, nor did I claim I had anything to do with it @diannethegeek
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Yes, and you know that or you wouldn't be asking!
  • foojay
    foojay Posts: 4 Member
    Michael Mosley says 800 cals per day is doable but only for 8 weeks. It is called (I think) The Fast Beach Diet. I do his 5:2 way of life and have lost 15kgs. I have 500 cals or less twice a week. I have lapsed now and again and sometimes had as much as 800 cals but I still call that a fast and have on occasions only done one fast a week so my weight loss has been slow. I, like most folk, love food, think food, dream food, find comfort in food grrrrr. But Im getting there thanks to the MFP app
  • CynthiasChoice
    CynthiasChoice Posts: 1,047 Member
    Bariatric patients stay on a diet under 800 calories a day for a few months. And "under a doctor's care" could just mean a visit once a month. I'm not commenting one way or another - just thinking out loud.
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