Is a 1000 calorie diet harmful?
SunflowerDaisey
Posts: 54 Member
Hello. I'm 5'5 154lbs. I have been eating 1000 calories net. I always meet my protein and carb goal. I don't always meet the fat goal. I eat really healthy and get lots of vitamins. I also take a vitamin tablet just in case. I also don't binge on junk to gain everything back. Is this diet okay or harmful?
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Replies
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Harmful. And against MFPs rules.29
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Assuming you are measuring correctly and you are only eating 1,000 calories, this is not a good idea.
Your body needs fat, your body also needs energy. Depriving yourself of these is harmful long term.
The two options aren't "eat 1,000 calories" or "binge on junk." You can choose to nourish yourself properly while losing weight.23 -
Really healthy is getting sufficient macro and micronutrients.... Which you aren't.8
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YES! its harmful!
Why on earth would you even want to eat that low? how miserable that would make you feel!
You don't have a lot of weight to lose, set MFP to lose 0.5-1lb per week, eat the calories it gives you then plus eat back at least half any exercise calories.
To under eat consistently is really unhealthy and will cause all manner of problems in the long run. Loss of muscle mass is a big problem. Do you want to have your hair falling out ?
I already know this thread will get locked as MFP will not promote anything to do with VLCD.7 -
I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.1
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SunflowerDaisey wrote: »I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.
You asked if it was harmful. We told you it is. Now you're arguing your point.
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SunflowerDaisey wrote: »I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.
If you're regularly meeting your macro goals while only eating 1,000 calories, then I suspect you must have custom set them. MFP won't give you macro goals that equate to a calorie goal of 1,000 unless there is some sort of error.25 -
SunflowerDaisey wrote: »I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.
If you were meeting the macros then you wouldn't be consuming 1000 calories. The macros are what makes up those calories.
Not eating enough fat will lead to your hormones going all wacky. Your body needs you to consume fats to keep stable hormones and also to actually lose fat.
Up your calories and try to meet all your macro targets. As mentioned it's really really not healthy to be on 1000 calories and it's actually counter productive because your metabolism will actually slow down because you're starving yourself.6 -
Harmful. 1200 is the MINIMUM7
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At that point no one gave me a reason why. I still don't understand why it is? I'm not arguing. I'm just trying to understand.quiksylver296 wrote: »SunflowerDaisey wrote: »I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.
You asked if it was harmful. We told you it is. Now you're arguing your point.
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You can't eat "really healthy" and undereat. You also can't meet your macros but not meet your fat macro. These statements don't go together.16
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It's complicated. Without medical supervision it's generally recommended to go to a more moderate diet. Lyle McDonald wrote THE book on PSMF and still generally recommends against it (it's an "if you MUST" kinda book).4
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manuel_kasko wrote: »SunflowerDaisey wrote: »I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.
If you were meeting the macros then you wouldn't be consuming 1000 calories. The macros are what makes up those calories.
Not eating enough fat will lead to your hormones going all wacky. Your body needs you to consume fats to keep stable hormones and also to actually lose fat.
Up your calories and try to meet all your macro targets. As mentioned it's really really not healthy to be on 1000 calories and it's actually counter productive because your metabolism will actually slow down because you're starving yourself.
Thank you for actually helping me. I appreciate it. This is my first time dieting.1 -
SunflowerDaisey wrote: »
At that point no one gave me a reason why. I still don't understand why it is? I'm not arguing. I'm just trying to understand.quiksylver296 wrote: »SunflowerDaisey wrote: »I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.
You asked if it was harmful. We told you it is. Now you're arguing your point.
Here's a reason: there is a limit to the amount of fat your body can metabolize in a day. Once you reach that limit (which happens quickly when you have a huge deficit), your body will then burn muscle. Not only will this lead to unpleasant physical changes (muscle is what gives our bodies pleasing definition), you *need* muscle. Your heart is a muscle. You really don't want to target your muscles when losing weight.
Also, your body needs a certain amount of fat to function. On a VLCD, it's likely you're not getting sufficient fat to keep your body working well. You already say that you miss the goal some days and it's likely you have custom set your macros to be below what you might optimally need.
Large deficits are associated with low energy, hair loss, and health issues like gall stones. If continued long term, they have the potential to damage your metabolism, resulting in you burning fewer calories than someone of the same weight as you.
I suspect you may reject some or all of this information, but you asked if this is a good idea. It isn't. Those are some of the reasons why.19 -
Depends on how you're netting it. What are you actually eating, gross? What's your exercise, and what does MFP credit you for it?
You don't have a lot of weight to lose. Crash dieting with an extremely low calorie level is a recipe for yoyoing and gaining it right back.4 -
SunflowerDaisey wrote: »
At that point no one gave me a reason why. I still don't understand why it is? I'm not arguing. I'm just trying to understand.quiksylver296 wrote: »SunflowerDaisey wrote: »I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.
You asked if it was harmful. We told you it is. Now you're arguing your point.
1. Fats help hormones, you need fats otherwise you're hormones will go all wacky.
2. Metabolism, your metabolism will slow and weightloss will slow drastically.
3. You're starving yourself. The 1200 minimum is for women and 1500 for men. It's the minimum your body needs to actually function.
Edited out my 4th because you said it's your first time dieting.
Use the MFP calculated intake.
If you don't meet the fats or can't meet them then make up for it with some more protein or carbs to get you to the MFP calculated intake.2 -
Thanks everyone for your help.7
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SunflowerDaisey wrote: »Hello. I'm 5'5 154lbs. I have been eating 1000 calories net. I always meet my protein and carb goal. I don't always meet the fat goal. I eat really healthy and get lots of vitamins. I also take a vitamin tablet just in case. I also don't binge on junk to gain everything back. Is this diet okay or harmful?
Maybe. Health guidelines call for women to eat at least 1,200 calories per day, but that is total, not net. If you are eating more than 1,200 calories but your exercise is bringing your MFP net below 1,200 then that is a different situation than if you are just eating 1,000 calories. Also, when some surgeries are done, patients are put on diets that low, but nutritionists design their diet to include the proper balance of nutrients. This also makes a difference concerning the harmfulness of such a diet. It is better to get your nutrition from food and being out in the sunlight rather than from pills. The need to take vitamin pills is an indication that your eating habits aren't healthy.11 -
It depends on your height and weight and your doctor's goals for you. It's hard to get standard nutrients for an adult in less than 1200 calories. I find it difficult and I eat no added sugars or refined grain or fatty meat other than fish.2
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janejellyroll wrote: »SunflowerDaisey wrote: »
At that point no one gave me a reason why. I still don't understand why it is? I'm not arguing. I'm just trying to understand.quiksylver296 wrote: »SunflowerDaisey wrote: »I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.
You asked if it was harmful. We told you it is. Now you're arguing your point.
Here's a reason: there is a limit to the amount of fat your body can metabolize in a day. Once you reach that limit (which happens quickly when you have a huge deficit), your body will then burn muscle. Not only will this lead to unpleasant physical changes (muscle is what gives our bodies pleasing definition), you *need* muscle. Your heart is a muscle. You really don't want to target your muscles when losing weight.
Also, your body needs a certain amount of fat to function. On a VLCD, it's likely you're not getting sufficient fat to keep your body working well. You already say that you miss the goal some days and it's likely you have custom set your macros to be below what you might optimally need.
Large deficits are associated with low energy, hair loss, and health issues like gall stones. If continued long term, they have the potential to damage your metabolism, resulting in you burning fewer calories than someone of the same weight as you.
I suspect you may reject some or all of this information, but you asked if this is a good idea. It isn't. Those are some of the reasons why.
Thank you. It was very helpful.1 -
SunflowerDaisey wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »SunflowerDaisey wrote: »
At that point no one gave me a reason why. I still don't understand why it is? I'm not arguing. I'm just trying to understand.quiksylver296 wrote: »SunflowerDaisey wrote: »I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.
You asked if it was harmful. We told you it is. Now you're arguing your point.
Here's a reason: there is a limit to the amount of fat your body can metabolize in a day. Once you reach that limit (which happens quickly when you have a huge deficit), your body will then burn muscle. Not only will this lead to unpleasant physical changes (muscle is what gives our bodies pleasing definition), you *need* muscle. Your heart is a muscle. You really don't want to target your muscles when losing weight.
Also, your body needs a certain amount of fat to function. On a VLCD, it's likely you're not getting sufficient fat to keep your body working well. You already say that you miss the goal some days and it's likely you have custom set your macros to be below what you might optimally need.
Large deficits are associated with low energy, hair loss, and health issues like gall stones. If continued long term, they have the potential to damage your metabolism, resulting in you burning fewer calories than someone of the same weight as you.
I suspect you may reject some or all of this information, but you asked if this is a good idea. It isn't. Those are some of the reasons why.
Thank you. It was very helpful.
You're welcome. Good luck!0 -
OP others have already covered why this is not recommended. It's also not necessary, in order to lose with. What is your overall goal, how much weight are you trying to lose? At most you should be aiming for a loss of 1 lb/week, and if only trying to lose 20 or so pounds, then a goal of 0.5 lb/week would be more appropriate. What calorie goal does MFP provide if you put in one of those goals, with your current stats? That's what you should be aiming to NET.
Cutting calories very low, and losing weight rapidly, also can have adverse effects like loss of lean body mass (becoming skinny fat instead of retaining muscle), hair loss, sallow skin, brittle nails and fatigue.0 -
Like others have already mentioned it is too low so I won't add to that point but even at 12-1600cals. The only macro you can really afford to be under on is carbs. Your body needs protein to support muscle recovery and fat to support hormone synthesis but you don't really NEED excess carbs for anything. I eat about 1460 and carbs is really the only macro I can manipulate to create a deficit tbh. I have a 128p and 128c with a 50f goal; so obviously carbs is the only macro that changes for me depending on my goal.2
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Because eating that low of calories would make me want to punch rabbits in the face! Hanger is REAL! (I am your size BTW)5
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SunflowerDaisey wrote: »
At that point no one gave me a reason why. I still don't understand why it is? I'm not arguing. I'm just trying to understand.quiksylver296 wrote: »SunflowerDaisey wrote: »I'm meeting the macros guys. Every now and then I don't meet the fat.
You asked if it was harmful. We told you it is. Now you're arguing your point.
Calories are a unit of energy...your body requires energy to function properly...dieting in general isn't optimal...VLCD less than optimal in providing for your body's energy needs. Part of proper nutrition is actually fueling your body, not just macro/micro nutrition.
VLCDs most often result in advancing adaptive thermogenesis...it does this by shutting down "non-essential" functions...things like growing hair and nails, menstraul cycle, etc...effectively your body just slows your metabolism down by shutting things down to be more efficient given the lack of energy coming in...you also lose more lean mass than otherwise, further slowing metabolism...there is a finite amount of fat that can be oxidized to compensate for energy deficiencies...so the body will compensate by other means as necessary.
VLCDs should be under the observation of medial professionals for these and many more reasons.0 -
Actually according to this upon complete information a diary entry on mfp...
NIH says 1000-1200 is the minimum for women...13 -
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Actually according to this upon complete information a diary entry on mfp...
NIH says 1000-1200 is the minimum for women...
Wow, this is new. Men can go down to 1200? I've done that a couple of times and I wanted to eat the world the next day, whether it was living or already cooked.
And the OP hasn't answered what her gross calories are. She said she's netting 1000. Isn't that less harmful than if she were only eating 1000 and exercising on top of that? I'm genuinely curious.7 -
Do you exercise? I ask simply because (to me at least) your weight/height doesn't seem excessive and at worse (again IMO) you'd be "curvy".0
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