Shorties: does being short equal eating less than the minimu

MoonIite
MoonIite Posts: 341 Member
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I looked at a few diaries and noticed those who are shorter in height tend to eat less than the minimum standard of 1200 calories. Sometimes only averaging 700/900 calories. I know it's not my place to judge other people, because frankly it's none of my business, but I can't understand how they're able to function/sleep at night following such a low calorie diet (with workouts factored in). I'm 5'1" and lose 0.5/0.6 lb a week consuming 1400/1500 calories a day. Sometimes I end up eating more to compensate for the calories from exercise.

Edit: I hope no one takes offense to this, I didn't create it with the intention of starting drama. I was just curious, that's all.

Replies

  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    I'm not super short - but I'm definitely not tall either. lol. I'm 5'4". I consume 2200-2500 NET calories a day. I am currently maintaining my weight, but I know if I go under 2000 I will gain weight. If I go over 3000, I will lose more weight.

    So, I have to say that just because you are the shorter side doesn't mean you have to live on less than 1200 calories a day. I would seriously die if I ate so few calories. My body would be so ticked off at me.
  • kapeluza
    kapeluza Posts: 3,434 Member
    I'm 5' and my goals are set at 1200
  • lambchop1042
    lambchop1042 Posts: 102 Member
    I think it has more to do w/individual metabolism and body fat content (well really muscle mass since muscle requires more calories than fat). I have a high body fat content of 28% and a slow metabolism therefore my body doesn't require as much energy. Simple math really, but everyone is different. 1200 is not some "magic" number although MFP tries to make it seem that way.

    I'm 5'2", 138 lbs, and eat around 600-1000 a day (1000 on days when I exercise). When I eat what MFP says, I gain like crazy so I listen to my body.
  • Luvmysixpack
    Luvmysixpack Posts: 43
    I am on a program through a health club where I eat 1000 when no exercise is done and 1200 when there is a work out. I started out a much higher calorie range. I had a nutritionist do a body scan that factors in mucsle, fat and my metabolism for them to get the calorie base I am supposed to have. I have a friend who did a weight loss surgery and she only gets 600 a day and take a LOT of supplements.
  • Soulbird81
    Soulbird81 Posts: 86
    I'm 5'2" and even though my goal is 1200 there are just some days that I don't make it there and can easily funtion on 800-1100 a day, even with workouts. I don't lose during then but I don't gain either, nor do I have any issue with focus, functioning, or sleep.

    Height however doesn't have anything to do with it. My husband is 5'11" and he was a wresler all through school and now fights MMA. When he has to cut weight for fights his body is so used to very little food because of what he had to do to cut weight in high school that he can easily lose and function on very little in terms of calories. He has never ever been overweight though either and has been at times borderline underweight per his BMI
  • lilwashee
    lilwashee Posts: 222 Member
    actually according to my nutrition book 1200 is a magic number i wont get into that cuz im not going to start drama but please do research!
  • shreyaj
    shreyaj Posts: 196
    I'm 5'0 and I started with a calorie goal of 1200 because of course everyone wants to lose 2 pounds a week. However it just wasn't realistic for me I was hungry all the time to the point where I couldn't sleep at night. I was doing 5 days a week at the gym with a 500 calorie burn which means your actually only digesting 700 calories, I couldn't understand why the weight wasn't comming off, I increased my calories to 1400 with more lean meat, good fats, and veggies and the weight came off much faster and I felt much better, it's important to fuel your body if you are exercising, but EVERYONE'S body is different and reacts differently it was a matter of trial and error for me.
  • Soulbird81
    Soulbird81 Posts: 86
    In complete 100% honesty I noticed that also....when I eat all of my 1200 calories and then eat back my "earned" calories, which I've been told I should do (per MFP) I gain...understand that I eat very little sugar and almost no processed foods. I am also a vegetarian and limit my dairy intake but gets TONS of beans, grains, veggies, and fruit into my day. I definitely listen to my body and how I feel and that tends to help me more than trying to reach a certain calorie intake.
  • aimelee
    aimelee Posts: 216 Member
    I am 5'3 and maintaining my weight right now at 1570 calories a day. Some days i don't eat all of them, but i never go below 1200. i feel like my body would be very angry with me if i ate less than that!
  • rachelleahsmom
    rachelleahsmom Posts: 442 Member
    Just subbing to this thread to read again later.
  • i_love_vinegar
    i_love_vinegar Posts: 2,092 Member
    im 4'10" and i set my goal at 600 calories, although I usually go to 850 calories in that case anyways xD I don't feel starving at all btw

    Somedays I will go to 1,400 calories...

    I still feel hungry quite often, but eating 1,200 calories...I lose maybe .2 lb per week so xD

    I hope this answers ur questions x)

    ps: I always feel hungry (until my stomach hurts), so want to clarify haha xD I just love eating u_u he he
  • MoonIite
    MoonIite Posts: 341 Member
    Thanks everyone. I just find it a bit concerning that a couple of users are only taking in 400/500 calories a day. Maybe they're not being honest about their logging...who knows? I do believe that 400/500 calories is too low, even for short people.
  • Mommawarrior
    Mommawarrior Posts: 897 Member
    I am 5 feet short and I would die if I ate less than 1200 calories a day. My diary is empty right now cause I was out of town with limited computer access for 2 weeks....and we are fixing to go camping for the next few days so I won't be logging, but starting Tuesday morning I will be logging again and you can see that this short girl puts away some food.....LOL
  • MoonIite
    MoonIite Posts: 341 Member
    I tried sticking to only 1200 calories on rest days (as MFP suggested) and I was starving. I had to increase my intake to 1400 calories so I didn't feel deprived. It's interesting how everyone's caloric intake varies so much. I also make sure that I eat back most (if not all) of my exercise calories.
  • Eve1972
    Eve1972 Posts: 297 Member
    I am 5 feet almost 1 and net around 900 and I function quiet well. Workout an hour a day (Turbo Fire/ChaLean Extreme), have a ton of energy and have lost 97 lbs. Some people just don't need as many calories as others.
  • Sezmo83
    Sezmo83 Posts: 331 Member
    I'm 5'2 or 5'3, I seem to shrink and grow lol, so not THAT short but not exactly tall. I have my diary set for losing 2lbs a week which gives me 1200 calories but aim to net between 1200 and 1600 (what mfp gives me to lose 1lb a week). I honstly can't see how I'd be able to eat a healthy but satisfying diet on less than 1200 calories. I wouldn't be falling off the wagon, I'd be taking a running jump off it!
  • BeanieB21
    BeanieB21 Posts: 31
    my calories are 1370 / day and i have to say i find it pretty hard to stay under my goal! Maybe its because im used to eating so much fast food that im still adjusting to eating less! personally i dont know how anyone can only eat 700 cals and not be starving ( i get super cranky when im hungry:tongue: ) but i wish at some point in the day id have the restraint to stop eating haha
  • elise1421
    elise1421 Posts: 3
    I'm 5'1" and I eat around 900 calories a day. It started with 1200, but I adjusted to eating less more quickly, and I eat lower-calorie more filling foods, i.e. 1/8 cup plain oatmeal is about 35 calories and it fills me up as much as a bowl of 130 calorie cereal. If I'm hungry and want to have seconds, I just walk away from the kitchen and if I'm still hungry in an hour, I have a banana or something. I figure I have enough body fat that I can afford to eat very little. Plus, I've discovered that reading books in my free time keeps me away from food, since I totally get lost in the novels.
  • kmumansky
    kmumansky Posts: 119
    I'm 5'1'' and if I'm netting under 1200 calories its not by much, and usually I'm still hungry on those days but its late at night and I dont like going to bed right after eating. If I worked out more I'd be able to eat more, I aim to net around 1200 calories....but I'm just getting back into working out so am not up to a 300-500 burn yet. Once I get there I will be super Happy as I will be able to eat 1500-1600 calories a day! :)
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