800 calories a day?

kellicarter11
kellicarter11 Posts: 178 Member
in Food and Nutrition
OK HEADLINER! DO NOT BE RUDE OR YELL AT ME..

Ok so here is the deal I am not losing weight on 1200 calories a day. I know my body and I have a very slow metabolism. So therefore I am going to be starting a diet of 800 calories. I am a broke college student with only a microwave to cook in. I try to eat as healthy as I can but usually I get crap like mac and cheese or cup o noodles....Now my question if I am limiting to myself to 800 and everyone thinks I should eat at least 1200 why? I mean all I am going to do is eat more of the junky stuff. and do I really need to eat more of that?

With that being said if anyone has any HELPFUL suggestions on how to get all the nutrients I need to keep my body healthy (vitamins or something) I would appreciate being told. Thanks and be polite folks
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Replies

  • SteffieSunshine
    SteffieSunshine Posts: 61 Member
    You would be better off just getting a can opener and eating some tuna and canned veggies than making mac & cheese or ramen noodles. Do you have a fridge? If so, get some whole wheat wraps and turkey, add lettuce, tomatoes, roasted red peppers. And definitely take a multi-vitamin and supplement your calcium too.
  • kiesh82
    kiesh82 Posts: 131 Member
    Do you have a meal plan at school? You'd be better off eating @ the cafeteria (sandwiches, salads, fruit, veggies, yogurt, etc) than cup o noodles and such. You may not be losing weight on 1200 cals because of the amount of sodium in the pre-packaged food you're eating.
  • kellicarter11
    kellicarter11 Posts: 178 Member
    honestly I work through the dinner shifts and have class during lunch so I pretty much on my own and I so don't have any money lol
    at work I try to eat some turkey on wheat
    and I drink lots of milk.
    DO you guys think the 800 cal plan is dangerous I am only going to do it to lose ten pounds then I will be at my goal weight and go back to maintence cals which I can usually pull about 1500 off
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I wouldn't recommend this. However if you do choose to do it you need to see a nutritionist first so you can plan to get your nutrients. It doesn't sound like you're getting enough nutrition for your calories. Either go to the cafeteria and choose wisely, or see about a modest grocery budget and buy healthy food. It's a slippery slope once you start restricting below 1200 calories. I just hope you don't regret it later. Good luck.
  • debs6
    debs6 Posts: 232 Member
    Kelli - it might be nice if you treat people the way you would like to be treated. You can't demand that people be nice and not yell by starting your post by yelling at us- sorry, just a tip on how to treat others if you want them to respond positively to you.
  • spgabby86
    spgabby86 Posts: 323 Member
    Do you have a meal plan at school? You'd be better off eating @ the cafeteria (sandwiches, salads, fruit, veggies, yogurt, etc) than cup o noodles and such. You may not be losing weight on 1200 cals because of the amount of sodium in the pre-packaged food you're eating.

    I agree...I wouldn't lower my calories to 800...I'd exam the foods I'm eating and the amount of exercise I'm putting in.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    honestly I work through the dinner shifts and have class during lunch so I pretty much on my own and I so don't have any money lol
    at work I try to eat some turkey on wheat
    and I drink lots of milk.
    DO you guys think the 800 cal plan is dangerous I am only going to do it to lose ten pounds then I will be at my goal weight and go back to maintence cals which I can usually pull about 1500 off

    I hope you really do go back up-- unfortunately I've seen lots of people who just continued to restrict until they were at 400 cals per day. When you do increase do it gradually and give your body time to adjust so that you won't gain your weight back overnight.

    ETA: the best way to boost your metabolism is through exercise. If you're restricting calories for a slower metabolism you usually end up slowing it more. Just FYI before you decide.
  • cocolo89
    cocolo89 Posts: 1,169 Member
    def stay away from those food. buy the cheap sandwich bread, strive for whole wheat, get some deli meats and lots of veggies. You don't have to spend a lot to eat healthy. You can use the the veggies to make yourself a salad or other stuff...
  • kellicarter11
    kellicarter11 Posts: 178 Member
    Sorry
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    Just a warning, eating that little will only serve to reduce your metabolism further. I highly suggest you think about this before continuing this plan. There are healthy ways to increase your metabolism, including building muscle, which you cannot do eating so little.

    With that in mind, it would be a good idea to invest in multivitamins. If there is a Target near you, they have the cheapest I've seen. The Up&Up brand gummy vitamins are very good and affordable.
  • cloud2011
    cloud2011 Posts: 898 Member
    On so few calories, you might be losing muscle weight, not fat. Think of food as fuel. If you don't have enough fuel in your car, it won't run. So 800 calories isn't enough fuel to properly make your engine (your metabolism) run properly. 800 is a crash diet. They don't work in the long run. It leads to yo-yo'ing where you lose, then gain, then end up worse off.

    I think the suggestion to see a nutritionist is a good one.
  • HotBodUnderConstruction
    HotBodUnderConstruction Posts: 420
    Do you live in a dorm? Every dorm has a kitchen on each floor.
  • ShrinkingChelle
    ShrinkingChelle Posts: 187
    honestly I work through the dinner shifts and have class during lunch so I pretty much on my own and I so don't have any money lol
    at work I try to eat some turkey on wheat
    and I drink lots of milk.
    DO you guys think the 800 cal plan is dangerous I am only going to do it to lose ten pounds then I will be at my goal weight and go back to maintence cals which I can usually pull about 1500 off

    How much Milk is a lot of milk? and do you log that?
  • kellicarter11
    kellicarter11 Posts: 178 Member
    Not in my dorm. I live in a box and the only thing my dorm has is a communal bathroom)
    and at least a cup a day (I don't usually count it and its usually skim or one percent so I really eat 900 cals a day)
  • grantacconda
    grantacconda Posts: 15
    under 1200 is starving the body - you will not lose weight
  • TracyP111
    TracyP111 Posts: 51
    You say you need to lose only ten more pounds. Is it possible you're already at the weight your body wants to be?? Maybe you're big boned and the fitness charts are lower than they should be for you.

    Also, if it's only ten pounds, I would just eat the calories needed to maintain for a month or two, then go back to trying to lose a 1/2 pound to a pound a week, and see if that helps get you off the plateau. I just think 800 is too low, particularly since I remember being a student, and I was constantly moving from one thing to another, holding down a job, etc, and you need energy to get those things done.
  • sarahsmom1
    sarahsmom1 Posts: 1,501 Member
    I would do the 1200 calories you can get lots of food that needs no cooking, sandwiches, cheese and crackers, fruits, veggies, salads etc lots to choose from Good luck
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    Do you live in a dorm? Every dorm has a kitchen on each floor.

    I'm jealous of where ever you go to school. We have one tiny kitchen for a thirteen story dorm building.
  • debs6
    debs6 Posts: 232 Member
    Typing all in upper case = yelling.
  • CaoimheAine
    CaoimheAine Posts: 195
    I would say stay at 1200. Log everything, snack on fruit and vegies. and stop eating mac and cheese and such haha :) good luck xx
  • TracyP111
    TracyP111 Posts: 51
    Not in my dorm. I live in a box and the only thing my dorm has is a communal bathroom)
    and at least a cup a day (I don't usually count it and its usually skim or one percent so I really eat 900 cals a day)

    You should log anything that has calories. It's the only way to know for sure what you're taking in. That's what got me starting to lose weight....being mindful of everything that goes in my body.
  • HotBodUnderConstruction
    HotBodUnderConstruction Posts: 420
    Not in my dorm. I live in a box and the only thing my dorm has is a communal bathroom)
    and at least a cup a day (I don't usually count it and its usually skim or one percent so I really eat 900 cals a day)

    Well, do you have outlets in your "box"? If you do, then buy a lean mean grilling machine for $20 at Wal-mart and grill vegetables and chicken on it. Also, you can buy frozen vegetable steamer bags for your microwave.
  • petreebird
    petreebird Posts: 344 Member
    honestly I work through the dinner shifts and have class during lunch so I pretty much on my own and I so don't have any money lol
    at work I try to eat some turkey on wheat
    and I drink lots of milk.
    DO you guys think the 800 cal plan is dangerous I am only going to do it to lose ten pounds then I will be at my goal weight and go back to maintence cals which I can usually pull about 1500 off

    I hope you really do go back up-- unfortunately I've seen lots of people who just continued to restrict until they were at 400 cals per day. When you do increase do it gradually and give your body time to adjust so that you won't gain your weight back overnight.

    ETA: the best way to boost your metabolism is through exercise. If you're restricting calories for a slower metabolism you usually end up slowing it more. Just FYI before you decide.

    ^^This...can you get some exercise in to boost your metabolism so that you can eat at least 1200??
  • ShrinkingChelle
    ShrinkingChelle Posts: 187
    Not in my dorm. I live in a box and the only thing my dorm has is a communal bathroom)
    and at least a cup a day (I don't usually count it and its usually skim or one percent so I really eat 900 cals a day)

    Is there anything else that you are eating or drinking that you dont count, maybe you are getting more calories then you think you are getting?
  • angel79202
    angel79202 Posts: 1,012 Member
    OK HEADLINER! DO NOT BE RUDE OR YELL AT ME..

    Ok so here is the deal I am not losing weight on 1200 calories a day. I know my body and I have a very slow metabolism. So therefore I am going to be starting a diet of 800 calories. I am a broke college student with only a microwave to cook in. I try to eat as healthy as I can but usually I get crap like mac and cheese or cup o noodles....Now my question if I am limiting to myself to 800 and everyone thinks I should eat at least 1200 why? I mean all I am going to do is eat more of the junky stuff. and do I really need to eat more of that?

    With that being said if anyone has any HELPFUL suggestions on how to get all the nutrients I need to keep my body healthy (vitamins or something) I would appreciate being told. Thanks and be polite folks

    as someone who used to have an eating disorder, I urge you not to do this..I started by decreasing for just two weeks..yes u lose, but you will throw your body into starvation mode and ultimately gain..I understand the lack of funds..but try to buy frozen veggies, lean proteins, and healthy food..it can be done on a budget. ..

    instead of going to 800, try 1200 but with sodium under 2000, more water and whole grains, veggies and protein...it's better for u in the long run..
  • LabRat529
    LabRat529 Posts: 1,323 Member
    Kelli,

    You can repair a slow metabolism. It takes work, but it's worth doing, and in my opinion it's a much much smarter plan than eating 800 calories a day. 800 calories a day will only trash your slow metabolism further... you might lose weight, but at what cost? Do you really want to live your whole life on nothing but 800 calories a day? I can eat twice that and still lose weight.

    Think about it. Do you really want to damage your body further than you already have?

    As for eating healthy in college with a small income and only a microwave: Find an Asian Food Market. I'm talking one of those discount places where everything on the shelf is labeled in not-english I know that sounds crazy, but I've had great success finding very very cheap and healthy veggies in an Asian market. You'll need to be a bit daring and try things even when you don't know the name of what you're eating, but it's green stuff and its good for you.

    Also... rice = very cheap. Lentils = very cheap and good for you. Buy a tiny crock pot. That should fit in your dorm. It's well worth the price.
  • Bree2B
    Bree2B Posts: 2 Member
    Chances are, your body thinks it's starving and is slowing down your metabolism further so it can survive. There are lots of ways to save money, like making your own soup at home on the weekend and having it for lunch all week, but if you have a slow metabolism the best thing you can do is eat more often, like every 3 or 4 hours. Break what you are eating into smaller portions and eat more frequently, rather than cutting out more calories. There are lots of cheap, good foods out there too, like oat bran. You can buy it in bulk and make it like instant oatmeal in the microwave in the morning. Add a little milk and cinnamon - yum.
  • Leiki
    Leiki Posts: 526 Member
    I know what you mean about not being able to have the money/ resources to eat healthy. I rented a room, and they didn't allow more than light cooking in the facilities. I was only working part time and trying to make rent.

    I survived by buying whole wheat bread, lean deli meats, and lettuce (maybe the occasional tomato) and making sandwiches. I used relatively healthy spreads like salsa or grey poupon mustard. For snacks, I ate yogurt and fruit or veggie sticks. It was hard for me to finish a loaf by myself, so I refrigerated/ froze anything I didn't think I could finish. For example, if you buy the duo pack of bread, it's cheaper. Freeze all but half a loaf. Defrost it a night before you consume it in the fridge section.

    You don't want to put canned food/ microwavables in your body too often. The sodium level in those products will bloat you, and cause health issues down the line.
  • KarmaxKitty
    KarmaxKitty Posts: 901 Member
    If you're not losing on 1200, you might not be getting the nutrients your body needs, or you might need to consume more. Once you drop below 1200, it's difficult to get the nutrients in. Your body needs energy to run on, especially if you're working out. I'd say try RAISING your calorie intake first and see what happens. Most of the time, weight will fluctuate up a little first, and then you begin losing steadily again. The jump from 800 to 1500 will cause another bought of weight gain, not only because of the calorie difference, but because the body will have to reset the way it uses those calories.
  • kellicarter11
    kellicarter11 Posts: 178 Member
    One thing I will not force myself to do is to eat food I don't like. I do try to eat food that is healthy when I can. Like I will choose fruit or turkey over chips at work. But to be honest I can only eat 800 calories and feel full. I am not hungry at the end of the day. And the over eating I am doing now is a result of boredom. I don't want to be unhealthy but I don't want to be chubby either I am 5'1 and weigh 129 which is at the top of my weight chart.
    Oh and the other thing I live in Joplin Missouri
    you might have heard of it (half of it just recently got blown away) :( So there isn't things here like Asian Markets and such there is walmart or food for less
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