Is a 1000 calorie diet harmful?

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Replies

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,021 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?
    You need fat to burn fat.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png

  • AmyOutOfControl
    AmyOutOfControl Posts: 1,425 Member
    I want to get to 130 at least. Less if I can

    @SunflowerDaisey We have similar goals. I am 5'3" and want to get down to 130 pounds. I started at 183 and I am now down to 146 lbs. FYI - I am eating A LOT more than you and I am still loosing about a pound a week. I share my diary with friends. If you want to take a peek - send me a friend request. :)

    Just curious. How many calories do you average in a day?

    @fitmom4lifemfp It depends on my activity for the day. I eat more on running days and less on yoga/strength training days. On average I eat between 1600-1800 calories a day (give or take).
  • SunflowerDaisey
    SunflowerDaisey Posts: 54 Member
    My only question is why? Why would you purposefully eat such low calories when you don't have too?
    I thought it would be faster. This is my first time dieting.
  • xmichaelyx
    xmichaelyx Posts: 883 Member
    My only question is why? Why would you purposefully eat such low calories when you don't have too?
    I thought it would be faster. This is my first time dieting.

    Stop thinking of it as "dieting" - that's the surest way to fail.

    Choose an eating/lifestyle plan that you can live with forever, and stick to it.

    Also, fat isn't bad for you and doesn't make you fat. Eat more fat.
  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    It would be harmful for the people around me cause I would be one hangry *kitten*.

    Meow!
  • SunflowerDaisey
    SunflowerDaisey Posts: 54 Member
    xmichaelyx wrote: »
    My only question is why? Why would you purposefully eat such low calories when you don't have too?
    I thought it would be faster. This is my first time dieting.

    Stop thinking of it as "dieting" - that's the surest way to fail.

    Choose an eating/lifestyle plan that you can live with forever, and stick to it.

    Also, fat isn't bad for you and doesn't make you fat. Eat more fat.

    I don't think fat makes me fat. Some days it's just hard to get because I like naturally low fat foods. Thanks for your help.
  • SunflowerDaisey
    SunflowerDaisey Posts: 54 Member
    JaydedMiss wrote: »
    My only question is why? Why would you purposefully eat such low calories when you don't have too?
    I thought it would be faster. This is my first time dieting.

    its a faster way to lead to a binge cycle...

    not to mention a malnourished body

    I don't binge and I don't like lots of junk food at a time. I'm completely satisfied. It's why I was wondering if it's okay, but thank you for your help.
  • Fit_Trekkie
    Fit_Trekkie Posts: 27 Member
    edited April 2017
    fascha wrote: »
    Libby283 wrote: »
    tqdho96lrq4k.png

    Actually according to this upon complete information a diary entry on mfp...

    NIH says 1000-1200 is the minimum for women...

    I doubt they mean anyone 5'5" with barely weight to lose

    The odd part is that screenshot from MFP does not jive with data from the NIH which supposedly they got from the NIH as well. Now this is just the one part of the NIH site I found, there may be other sections.

    Calories

    To lose weight, most people need to reduce the number of calories they get from food and beverages (energy IN) and increase their physical activity (energy OUT).
    For a weight loss of 1–1 ½ pounds per week, daily intake should be reduced by 500 to 750 calories. In general:
    Eating plans that contain 1,200–1,500 calories each day will help most women lose weight safely.
    Eating plans that contain 1,500–1,800 calories each day are suitable for men and for women who weigh more or who exercise regularly.
    Very low calorie diets of fewer than 800 calories per day should not be used unless you are being monitored by your doctor.
  • kdavid1987
    kdavid1987 Posts: 107 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?

    Hi Sunflower, you may want to confer with a dietician, personal trainer, family doctor, etc. in order to determine what's best for you given your fitness goals. My concern is that your current calorie intake isn't sustainable from a long-term perspective.
  • MysteriousLeigh
    MysteriousLeigh Posts: 15 Member
    fascha wrote: »
    And for those who are eating that way for x weeks and are just fine, talk to me in 5 years pls. Your 4 weeks of anecdotal evidence is a joke

    Not really any cause to be rude about it, y'know. Nobody said this was a long-term goal.
  • SunflowerDaisey
    SunflowerDaisey Posts: 54 Member
    edited April 2017
    fascha wrote: »
    And for those who are eating that way for x weeks and are just fine, talk to me in 5 years pls. Your 4 weeks of anecdotal evidence is a joke

    Not really any cause to be rude about it, y'know. Nobody said this was a long-term goal.
    I don't understand why people are being rude. I just asked a question. This is the help section and it's very discouraging. I probably will never ask a question on here again.
  • SunflowerDaisey
    SunflowerDaisey Posts: 54 Member
    kdavid1987 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?

    Hi Sunflower, you may want to confer with a dietician, personal trainer, family doctor, etc. in order to determine what's best for you given your fitness goals. My concern is that your current calorie intake isn't sustainable from a long-term perspective.

    Thanks for the advice.
  • Rocknut53
    Rocknut53 Posts: 1,794 Member
    fascha wrote: »
    And for those who are eating that way for x weeks and are just fine, talk to me in 5 years pls. Your 4 weeks of anecdotal evidence is a joke

    Not really any cause to be rude about it, y'know. Nobody said this was a long-term goal.
    I don't understand why people are being rude. I just asked a question. This is the help section and it's very discouraging. I probably will never ask a question on here again.

    If you think these comments are rude, post something about ACV or starvation mode! Everyone has 2 cents to contribute and most contributions are helpful, just don't take it too personally. Read it, grumble a little and move on to the next comment. It's up to you to determine what may be helpful for your specific concerns. Coming on here is the best start for your journey, learn from it! Over time you will be able to pick out those that are truly being helpful and those that just want to criticize. There are a specific few that I have learned from and look forward to comments they may make on any given topic.
  • kq1981
    kq1981 Posts: 1,098 Member
    Don't be discouraged by one or two peoples rudeness. Some people are highly passionate and some mean well. I got roasted on my very first post because I didn't have enough knowledge on a subject but it didn't deter me and I've learned so much, am inspired daily and keep learning. Keep growing and educating yrself by reading and interacting in these forums.
    As for 1000 calories, it's not safe. Use 200 calories eating some nuts or a piece of fruit to make up to 1200. I Cld never sustain this way of eating long term on such a small deficit. Good luck
  • Traveler120
    Traveler120 Posts: 712 Member
    fascha wrote: »
    And for those who are eating that way for x weeks and are just fine, talk to me in 5 years pls. Your 4 weeks of anecdotal evidence is a joke

    Not really any cause to be rude about it, y'know. Nobody said this was a long-term goal.
    I don't understand why people are being rude. I just asked a question. This is the help section and it's very discouraging. I probably will never ask a question on here again.

    My advice is to listen to your body, not random people on the internet. All you need to ask yourself is -Are you losing at a reasonable rate? How does your body feel? What do your lab tests show? etc. If all is well, then all is well, regardless of what people say here.

    Plus, you said 1000 NET, which to me means you're subtracting exercise from your TOTAL intake. Regardless, I think if someone is eating and feeling full, it doesn't matter what the calorie amount is. There's no reason to eat more if you're not hungry. Your body will tell you what's up. If you're hungry, eat some more. If you're not, don't. That's how people who don't count calories yet are at healthy weight do it.



  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Well now I feel like my life has been a lie, is 5'5 considered little!? I thought I was average!

    I thought 5'4 was average. As a 5'3 person, I consider myself within the average range. If 5'5 is "little," what am I, child-sized? ;-)

    I got my threads mixed up and thought she was 5'2 lol! Though at 5'4 I usually feel like a short person, maybe I just hang with giants :lol:
  • heiliskrimsli
    heiliskrimsli Posts: 735 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    I find it so odd that some people are so invested in the fact that some guidelines say the minimum isn't 1200 cals, it's 1000 cals. That's the "minimum". It doesn't change the fact that it's inappropriate for the vast majority of people. And just because it won't "kill you" doesn't mean it's optimal.

    These are the same people who have (very erroneously) said that a BMI of 20 is underweight. There are people here who don't support weight loss unless it's within their own particular very narrow frame of what is allowable, and you'll see them pop up often when anyone doesn't fit within the tiny box that they've decided is the One Right Way.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    edited April 2017
    fascha wrote: »
    And for those who are eating that way for x weeks and are just fine, talk to me in 5 years pls. Your 4 weeks of anecdotal evidence is a joke

    Not really any cause to be rude about it, y'know. Nobody said this was a long-term goal.
    I don't understand why people are being rude. I just asked a question. This is the help section and it's very discouraging. I probably will never ask a question on here again.

    My advice is to listen to your body, not random people on the internet. All you need to ask yourself is -Are you losing at a reasonable rate? How does your body feel? What do your lab tests show? etc. If all is well, then all is well, regardless of what people say here.

    Plus, you said 1000 NET, which to me means you're subtracting exercise from your TOTAL intake. Regardless, I think if someone is eating and feeling full, it doesn't matter what the calorie amount is. There's no reason to eat more if you're not hungry. Your body will tell you what's up. If you're hungry, eat some more. If you're not, don't. That's how people who don't count calories yet are at healthy weight do it.



    There are some difficulties in meeting nutritional needs with a lower calorie limit. From personal experience, to have a fully balanced day, I need about 1550 calories. Could it be done on less, probably, but I can lose just fine on 1600, so why mess with it.

    Can you see a registered dietician to help you set up a meal plan that will be balanced and help you reach your goals in a healthy manner? There's really only so much people here can do for you. Mostly it's going to be conjecture because we aren't there living it. Seek some help from professionals closer to you.

    As for people supporting the sub 1200, I really don't understand how that is helpful in any situation where we don't have the complete picture. It's not appropriate for the vast majority of the population

    Edited: getting my threads mixed up
  • ruqayyahsmum
    ruqayyahsmum Posts: 1,513 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Well now I feel like my life has been a lie, is 5'5 considered little!? I thought I was average!

    I thought 5'4 was average. As a 5'3 person, I consider myself within the average range. If 5'5 is "little," what am I, child-sized? ;-)

    Im 5ft 1.8......... im fun sized!
  • ejbronte
    ejbronte Posts: 867 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Well now I feel like my life has been a lie, is 5'5 considered little!? I thought I was average!

    I thought 5'4 was average. As a 5'3 person, I consider myself within the average range. If 5'5 is "little," what am I, child-sized? ;-)

    I hope not, because I'm five feet even! At that height, depending on activity, I'll average between 1200 and 1500 per day. In maintenance for going on two years now at this level - I find my weight creeping up toward 110, though, which is heading toward dangerous territory for me, so I'll be narrowing things down a bit.
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    Well now I feel like my life has been a lie, is 5'5 considered little!? I thought I was average!

    Same here, except I'm 5'4! I keep telling my husband that's average and he keeps patting me on the head and saying 'It's so cute that you think that.' The fact that both of our boys outgrew me at roughly 11.5 years old isn't helping :tongue:
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