800 calories a day?
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Exercise, exercise, exercise! It doesn't need to cost a penny. Just get out there and walk whenever you can. You won't need to drop your calories, infact you'll get more and i'll bet the weight will start to come off. Start jogging if you can. Do jumping jacks in your room. Any physical movement is better than none. It also has the added effect of lifting mood and generally making you feel better. Dont concentrate on what the scales say, concentrate on how you look and feel - you could lose 10lbs but still not look the way you thought you would. But tone up and you will look a million dollars on your birthday. Use a couple of bottles of water or tins of beans as hand weights. Make time to do this and you'll be there in no time. I realy wouldn't recommend cutting calories. Good luck
Edited to add - eat protein too! Don't cut out carbs but eat nuts if you can afford them, keep a jar of nut butter, cheese is good and you can usually get 'snack' size portions. Ask for a small fridge for your birthday maybe, that will be a help.0 -
Hi...I don't think your headline was considered yelling, I took it for what you obviously meant and to make sure people saw it. I understand, you want constructive criticism, not just bad-mouthing.
I think the others who say you are not eating enough even on 1200 is dead on, and your body very likely thinks it is slowly starving...can do mass amounts of bad things, least of which is hold on to every calorie for dear life....please go and re-input your stats and use the recommended goal setter. Also try as much as you can to log everything you put in your mouth, as even if you are eating junk, if you are under your calorie goals you should still lose...but not if you are too far under your goal, it has the opposite effect.
As far as having no money..I hear ya...been there, done that..also when we moved out here, our apartment wasn't ready and we had to live in a hotel with a single hotplate and a microwave and little fridge..it was hellish trying to feed a family of 6 in that. Whatever stores are in your area, look for their sales adds, if you don't get it in the mail you can find them online..usually they start on Wednesdays. You can price match everything at walmart...it does add up to big savings and will allow you to stretch your dollar...especially on produce.....I always buy whatever fruits and veggies are on sale. Since you are buying just for you, you may be able to get fresh foods in you this way with what little money you have. 0 -
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
It is absolutely dangerous to think this is acceptable to do on a regular basis.....and your healthcare providers would tell you the same exact thing....0 -
I would eat more calories a day and exercise more. When I was in college they had a gym that all students could use for free! As far as nutrition, buy some canned goods. Look for sales and coupons.0
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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.
I agree. With that large a deficit, your body will use muscle for fuel as well as fat. You will destroy your metabolism and eventually start gaining because you will just be skinny fat. You can increase your metabolism by increasing muscle mass. In order to do this, you need to eat more and do weights. Wouldn't you prefer to be nice and lean and fit? Rather than tiny, but chubby and weak? And you won't have to worry about your slow metabolism, you will be able to maintain your ideal weight effortlessly. Think about it.
Seriously.. this
Or this...
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Haven't read the whole forum up to the point, but my only suggestions is to try and make those 800 calories as healthy as they can be.
I don't believe in "starvation mode" as it's perceived around here, though I do believe in nutrition-deficiency disorders. And you're going to give yourself one if you're living off of processed carbs.
Fresh fruit (apple and bananas keep find without a freezer), low sodium canned soups, tuna, yogurt, (I try to stay away from things like granola bars, but they're a hell of a lot better than easy mac), frozen veggies, etc.0 -
ok ..i just want to say ...i eat less then 1000 calories daily and i exercise 4 times a week at the gym and on my job i walk an average of 8000 steps a day ...i have a pedometer on my ipod ...and i lift sacks of mail so im moving constantly ..i dont feel like my body is in starvation mode or whatever .......in fact im overweight by the bmi charts ...i think someone else said somethign about VLCD diets .and i did one for 10 months ..eating 599 calories a day and lost alot of weight. i keep my calories low because if i eat more then say 1200 calories i tend to be hungry and will actually binge
....if i keep them low im happy ..not hungry and have energy ....im also 5' 1" ...so am i just different ??? or what 0 -
You will lose weight, but a lot of it will be muscle too. Try getting some of the nutrition bars and some fruit. You don't have to refrigerate those, or worry about preparing them. Eat whole foods when you can!0
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You can buy a banana at a grocery store for about $.17 a piece. Eat 3-4 of them, and you'll be eating 1200 calories instead of 800.0
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Do not go on such a low diet. Am pretty sure that will put your weight into more complex mode. 1200 calories is the basic minimum which the body requires for its survival and anything less than that, is what the starvation mode is on.
Even i was in the same state (maintaining 1200 calories for more than a month) where i couldnt loose any more weight, then i've started increasing my calorie intake to 1500 for exactly 2.5 weeks and booom.... my weight loss started again. Believe me do not try any thing below 1200 and this just makes the things more worst.0 -
ok ..i just want to say ...i eat less then 1000 calories daily and i exercise 4 times a week at the gym and on my job i walk an average of 8000 steps a day ...i have a pedometer on my ipod ...and i lift sacks of mail so im moving constantly ..i dont feel like my body is in starvation mode or whatever .......in fact im overweight by the bmi charts ...i think someone else said somethign about VLCD diets .and i did one for 10 months ..eating 599 calories a day and lost alot of weight. i keep my calories low because if i eat more then say 1200 calories i tend to be hungry and will actually binge ....if i keep them low im happy ..not hungry and have energy ....im also 5' 1" ...so am i just different ??? or what
And your profile says you did that VLCD how many times, and each time ended unsuccessfully? Was it really the fault of falling off the wagon, or the wagon was on such a pot-holed road that it was going to happen eventually?
True, you can lower your metabolism (not starvation mode unless you are constantly below your BMR for extended time), but you can easily get there as you chase that declining metabolism to try to remain below it.0 -
I have a really slow metabolism and if I dropped my calories that low I would definitely lose weight at first. As soon as I started eating again though i would gain it all back and more. I would recommend boosting your metabolism by exercising. And I know how hard it is to be a broke college student, because I am one. I'm constantly working, in class, or doing homework. I've still found ways to work better food into my diet. It gets repetitive sometimes but I'd rather be healthy than have variety. Bananas and apples are usually fairly cheap. Green bell peppers, lettuce, and carrots are also really cheap, especially if you buy whole carrots instead of baby. Oatmeal is filling and cheap, especially if you buy a large container of rolled oats instead of instant.
Before you drop your calories try spiking them first. You might see an initial gain but you'll most likely lose if you stay at that level. If you aren't eating enough calories your body just holds onto everything you do eat.
And no matter what you do, try to get all your nutrients.
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ok ..i just want to say ...i eat less then 1000 calories daily and i exercise 4 times a week at the gym and on my job i walk an average of 8000 steps a day ...i have a pedometer on my ipod ...and i lift sacks of mail so im moving constantly ..i dont feel like my body is in starvation mode or whatever .......in fact im overweight by the bmi charts ...i think someone else said somethign about VLCD diets .and i did one for 10 months ..eating 599 calories a day and lost alot of weight. i keep my calories low because if i eat more then say 1200 calories i tend to be hungry and will actually binge ....if i keep them low im happy ..not hungry and have energy ....im also 5' 1" ...so am i just different ??? or what
I'm no expert on the matter, but I have read that when you're obese it's a different story altogether with calorie intake... your body is much more willing to use up your fat stores rather than go straight to using your lean muscle mass as an energy source. When obese you can afford to have a lower calorie intake.0 -
I wasn't losing weight at 1200 either, and I found that when I INCREASED my calories to 1400 I lost 3Ibs in the first week Maybe your body is in starvation mode so you won't lose any weight? I'm a poor student too haha, I know how you feel! xx 0
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Hey there...
What are your stats, including for maintenance?! 800 cals in my opinion is far too low, you're only going to struggle further with losing weight if you go that low! Whatever your maintenance cals are....reduce them by 20% and give that a month and see how you get on!
As a rule of thumb, aim to get in 2lts of water a day, at least 5 portions of fruit/veg, lay off the Cokes etc and make sure you have protein with every meal. It's important that you don't go any longer than 4 hours in between meals so get two snacks a day in!
I hope that helps!
Sarah0 -
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and I drink lots of milk.
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Try switching dairy for soya, its around the same price, has calcium and is just as nice! Iv cut out dairy and lost loads this month and my skin is loads better! I also try to workout everyday.0 -
I'm a collage student right now but no longer live on campus. When I lived on campus my dorm was tiny and I shared with another girl who was 3 times my size. I'm 5'1 and right now about 120lbs. I'm trying to get down to 112lbs but it's very slow going.
We weren't allowed to have microwaves in out dorm although some people snuck them in and hid them during Room Check. The kitchen we had only had one stove and it was usually locked because would try to cook at 2am and pass out on the couch allowing food to burn and the fire alarms to go off. Btw 3am fire drills in 20 degree weather is not cool when everyone sleeps nude (for the most part). Our "healthy" food had to come from either the cafe or the campus grocery store. Our meal plan gave a few extra bucks a week to either spend at on-site places like Pizza Hut or to shop in the store.
Do I think 800 cal diet is unhealthy and would cause you to gain more weight? Nope, not at all if you're full. But what do I know? I'm just a forum blogger. Yet I know when I'm full and I know when not to eat. Maybe I'll get lucky and hit 1600 cal, maybe I'll only eat 500 (after exercise).0 -
Ok there's a lot of good info in this thread, and there's some not so good. Some people say yeah go for it, others say eat more and exercise. I know which side of the fence I sit, however...
Bottom line is that you're not losing weight on 1200 calories and you want to drop to 800 calories.
My 2c? Go and see your doctor! Seriously!
With so many opinions, how do you know who is right or wrong? Go and see a medical professional and explain to them that you want to lose weight and drop your calorie intake. Be honest with them and tell them exactly what you are eating and why. Have you had medical confirmation that your metabolism is slow, or have you done an online test, or read symptoms online and thought "yep, that sounds like me"?
I'm not saying that you are doing this, but some people put a post on a forum so that they can get the feedback that they want and disregard the rest, whether right or wrong. Get the best information from the right source, perhaps you need professional assistance in setting a diet.
I'd hate to give nutritional advice here, then find out later that you had a medical condition that was worsened by my advice.0 -
Hi There,
Just read your forum entrry, I personnally woudl stick to the 1200 cals and increase your exercise, remember if calories burnt through exercise is more than calories in, it does not matter what you eat or how you prepare it, you will lose weight, but you need to have enough cals to keep your body going or you will feel tired all the time.0 -
800 calories- HUGE mistake. You will eventually eat more calories- you ca'nt live on 800 calories a day long term.0
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Quite the opposite in fact - if you are obese your body would still rather use your muscle tissue rather than fat to burn for fuel. Crash diets (i.e. under 1200 to 1000 calories) are not suitable for obese people long term - they will lose their underlying muscle and lean body mass before the fat.0
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I'll be honest... I would do a serious evaluation of your food and your activity level. If you're busy (and I suspect you are), then it is very possible 1200 calories isn't enough. If your body feels like it is starving because of a lack of proper nutrition, it won't lose weight. It will hang onto all that it has for fear you will just plain stop feeding it. Starvation mode doesn't happen overnight, but long term severe calorie restriction will result in a slower metabolism and other negative symptoms (some people report thinning hair or hair loss, some report a feeling of general "blah", etc).
I wouldn't lower your calories.
I would, however, log ALL of your food and drink for an entire week to get a good idea of how much you are REALLY consuming. It is a proven fact that most people underestimate the food they consume. Also, stop drinking your calories. You need to use those calories on real food - not on milk.
I just think it is time to REALLY evaluate what you're doing. I think once you take an honest look you may find things are far different than you think they are.
As for too much sodium - it will cause your body to retain water. However, not everyone is negatively affected by sodium - I'm one of those people. I can consume large quantities of sodium and be just fine. So, not everyone has to worry about it.
THIS! I don't loose on 1200, at first I did but once my body got used to it the loss stopped and I got very frustrated. Upping my calories to 1400 however saw the weigh coming off steadily again. Some of us need more than others to keep our metabolism going x0 -
Oh and how about getting a crock pot? a few mins of prepearing in the morning means a lovely healthy meal waiting for you when you get home. I Love my crock.0
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MyFitnessPal strongly recommends that users follow the calorie guidelines automatically assigned by the site, unless they are under the direct supervision of a doctor.
800 calories is too low. If you lose the 10lbs then nearly double your calories the weight will almost certainly come flooding back on. The less you have to lose, the smaller the deficit should be and there's a very good chance that 1200 is not enough and is the reason you are not losing. Set your weight loss goal at 1/2lb a week, eat as close to your allotted calories as possible and at least a portion of your exercise calories.0 -
By the sounds of what you have been eating then it does seem to me that it's quality not quantity of food that's causing you not to lose more weight. When I was a student I also only had a microwave to cook with but I lived off foods like jacket potatoes with nice fillings and steamed rice done in the microwave and also poached eggs they take next to no time. I know this seems carb heavy but if you do a smaller quantity of carb but find yourself toppings you love you feel like you've eaten a decent meal and your getting plenty of good nutrients. Don't drop to 800 cals you'll do yourself more damage than good in the long run xxx0
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Any and every article I ever read about weight loss says for women not to eat below 1200 calories and for men not to eat below 1500 calories because this is the minimum amount of calories you can eat and still get your vitamins and minerals if your eating well rounded meals, once you dip below this number you can start to put your body into starvation mode and vitamin deficiency mode which will be defeating your goal of health and a leaner body. I've also met with 2 different board certified hospital nutritionist who said the same thing in their teaching to me about nutrition last year, you must eat enough to sustatin your health but little enough that you can lose with in combination with exercise. Please meet with a nutritionist if your able to if not speak with the health advisors on campus or seek one out at least for a one time counsel that you can afford to pay for it is well worth it just find one at the hospital so you know their legitimate and properly trained. You can even ask this question of the nutritionist on sparkpeople.com if you sign up over on that board as well.
As far as affordable but healthy food while living on the dorms, whole wheat bread, peanut butter, oatmeal, brown rice does well in the microwave, eggs if you have a fridge to store them in I microwave them all the time spam a bowl mix them so they don't explode while cooking, drink no more than 2 -3 cups of milk per day you said you were drinking tons full adult women usually don't need more than 2 cups unless you're a teen then 3 cups. By in season fruits there more affordable, carrotts keep well, also potatos can be microwaved. I also like the suggesstion of can tuna, also pinto beans in a can or any others. And when you can't keep lots of fresh veggies can are always a good alternative such as corn, strean beans etc just rinse them if your concerned about the salt. Can you have a crock pot in your room.if so you can buy the dry beans in the bag there cheaper and you can cook half or a whole bag in a small crock pot but that's only good if you have a little fridge to store left overs in if not back to the can version. Lots of reasonable healthy options I would lay off the noodles and mac there the worst and there full of carbs which don't help your cause.
Best of care on your journey, health first
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dont stick too same calorie intake daily increase and decrease so you body dont get use too it also i only drink water and do not snack also keep your meals too no more than 400 calories and no more than 4% fat0
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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.
Good advice.
I've been in that situation as a young dieter myself - desperate to loose weight and not seeing the results I wanted quick enough. But by reducing my calories below 1200 I simply sent my body into starvation mode, slowed my metabolism and force my body into gaining or maitaining weight. Plus not eating enough is no fun!!
I then did it the right way. Eating healthy and balanced (and as a former poor uni student I know its hard, but there are cheap healthy options like those suggested above - it just takes longer to search the supermarket isle to come up with new ideas. After a while it even becomes fun) and exercising, I lost 10kg. Unfortunately, I then graduated, saved up and went travelling for 8 months - I now have 5kg of that back lol.
Dont waste time and effort doing it the wrong way. Good luck!0 -
And your profile says you did that VLCD how many times, and each time ended unsuccessfully? Was it really the fault of falling off the wagon, or the wagon was on such a pot-holed road that it was going to happen eventually?
True, you can lower your metabolism (not starvation mode unless you are constantly below your BMR for extended time), but you can easily get there as you chase that declining metabolism to try to remain below it.
Insanity?
doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results?
Hope the point was made here because i'm seeing a lot of good-great posts and a lot of "Damn I wish we had a :::SLAP::: button!" posts.0 -
Just be careful not to lose muscle mass if you've got such a low caloric goal. I am poor and can get to 1100 - 1200 per day before exercise and losing weight 2-3 lbs per week. My quick eats are as follows: part skim mozzerella cheese sticks, turkey breast sandwich slices, cucmbers, raw almonds, natural peanut butter, premier nutrition protien bars, premier nutrition protein shakes, low-fat/non-fat cottage cheese, hard-boiled eggs, and for dinner usually some seafood or chicken breast and more leafy green vegetables usually steamed.
I split these foods up and eat 5 times a day between 200 - 300 calories every 2 or 3 hours. I'm never hungry and very satisfied. Hope part of these ideas help a little.0
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