800 calories a day?

I dont know if anyone already said this but if you want to keep eating ramen just put half the seasoning packet. Thats will cut the sodium down by A LOT! plus it still taste good =] add some veggies too yum!

It should be fine as long as you're getting enough animal fat, which is what your body will use as energy. Milk, cheese, meat (not always lean meat) will give you lots to burn. And couple every meal with lots of different-coloured vegetables.
Your body does not burn calories, it burns sugar, carbohydrate and fat - reduce your intake of the first two of those and your body will go into ketosis, where it flips from being a carb-burner to a fat-burner. You will then burn the fat you ingest (which incidentally tastes gorgeous) and your body fat.

Dreadful idea, impossible to get nutrition on 800 a day, even more so if you eat empty calories.

Much better to eat cheap natural stuff like tuna, natural yoghurt, whatever meat (turkey?) and veg (carrots?) is cheap and aim for 800 net calories a day by doing exercise and not eating the exercise calories.

Plus exercise is free!

A 3 mile run should use up around 300 calories and take around half an hour AND speed up metabolism.

800 calories will slow your metabolism more as the body goes into starvation mode cause it thinks there is a famine. Hope you work out something cheap and healthy. Gotta get those fruits and veggies in somewhere, and cheap proteins like eggs, tuna. Having low GI, and less carbs also helps lots, and avoid the processesed foods. I used to have heaps more processed stuff but it really does slow down your body as the liver has to process it all. For info on how you can boost your liver to burn more fat see Dr Sandra Cabots web site: http://www.liverdoctor.com/index.php?page=liver-diet
I need to look at it again too ! eating the foods she recommends is really good detox too.
She is amazing ! her books have lots of cheap healthy recipees in them too. You could even freeze some meals for those busy times.

I know how busy being a student is, when i was studying my first degree I had two jobs, and full time uni studies to juggle not to mention trying to fit in social stuff ! Fast food/ processed foods can be so easy but all the rubbish in them the toxins really do build up in your body as it takes the liver longer to process it, and if its busy procesing that junk it doesnt process fat as efficiently.

You will figure out what works best for you !

Good luck :happy:

It might be sodium content you are eating. Lowering it to 800 will not help you lose weight. Choose healthier options. Sandwiches, salads, fruits, veggies. Limit mac n cheese.

800 calories is a great way to train your body to survive on very few calories, guaranteeing that you're going to be stuck eating very few calories. If you want to be "dieting" for the rest of your life, lose muscle mass, and look like you weigh more than you do... then go right ahead.

Or you could to as other suggested here, and exercise and eat with a small deficit. If you have 10 pounds go to, your body does not have enough fat to support a large calorie deficit.

I'm twice your age. I should have a slow metabolism. I used to think I had a slow metabolism because when I greatly reduced my calories, I lost weight very, very, very slowly. I used to aim for 800 calories a day and eventually got down to 130# and wore a size 8. This time around, I ate 1800-2000 calories, got a good amount of exercise, and at 130#, I wear a size 2 or 4. I retained muscle mass while losing fat, and have a better metabolism than I did 10 years ago. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/449570-mfp-mythbusters-losing-weight-fast-exercise-calories-girl

Get a $10 crock pot, some frozen veggies ($2 per 16 oz bag) and boneless chicken breast ($2 a pound if you shop sales), maybe a bottle of marinade for extra flavor or some cheese to sprinkle on top. You can get four meals out of that, at just about a dollar a meal. If you want less mess, they sell liner bags you can use in the crock pot. Cook a pile, eat what you want, and pull the bag out to put in your mini-fridge for leftovers.

Amen sistah!!

Also, here is a post about exercise from one of my friends on my wall this morning.

"I just read in the newspaper that a study showed the benefit of walking in place during TV commercials. It burns 148 calories in 25 minutes! Now that's using wasted time for fitness."

800 calories is a great way to train your body to survive on very few calories, guaranteeing that you're going to be stuck eating very few calories. If you want to be "dieting" for the rest of your life, lose muscle mass, and look like you weigh more than you do... then go right ahead.

Or you could to as other suggested here, and exercise and eat with a small deficit. If you have 10 pounds go to, your body does not have enough fat to support a large calorie deficit.

I'm twice your age. I should have a slow metabolism. I used to think I had a slow metabolism because when I greatly reduced my calories, I lost weight very, very, very slowly. I used to aim for 800 calories a day and eventually got down to 130# and wore a size 8. This time around, I ate 1800-2000 calories, got a good amount of exercise, and at 130#, I wear a size 2 or 4. I retained muscle mass while losing fat, and have a better metabolism than I did 10 years ago. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/449570-mfp-mythbusters-losing-weight-fast-exercise-calories-girl

Get a $10 crock pot, some frozen veggies ($2 per 16 oz bag) and boneless chicken breast ($2 a pound if you shop sales), maybe a bottle of marinade for extra flavor or some cheese to sprinkle on top. You can get four meals out of that, at just about a dollar a meal. If you want less mess, they sell liner bags you can use in the crock pot. Cook a pile, eat what you want, and pull the bag out to put in your mini-fridge for leftovers.

Please please please read the above post and think about your life. You are so young and i hate to see you get the wrong idea of how the body works so early. None of us are experts, but any nutritionist or doctor would tell you 800 calories is just not enough food for vital nutrition. The people that have done it will tell you...you will feel weak and tired...Sure you might get skinny...but do you really want to be skinny with not muscle, structure, weak, and tired? There is another way. You dont have to eat all bad food. Maybe eat what you can and supplement with fruits, peanut butter, etc to get you to about 1400 calories a day and do a 20-30 min workout a day. This will start boosting that metabolism and getting those pounds off without sacrificing your energy and nutrients. As the above post states....you can lose weight eating as much as 2000 calories a day if you get moving! Do a little more research before you decide to only eat 800 calories...please please please.

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% fat

There is some crazy advice being thrown around here but this is awesome. Can you please tell me why she should not have more than 4% fat?

Hi Kelly
I'm not going to read through the entire thread, so forgive me if I have missed something.

I just had a nosey at your tracker and I see you add items as Quick Calories. I think you'll be so much better off noting exactly what you are eating in order to pin point where/what is not working for you.
You also say that you drink a lot of milk. Depending on whether it is full fat or half fat, you have to count your milk calories.

I really believe that if you start tracking correctly and noting absolutely everything the pass your lips, you're on your way to solving your problem.

Is there any way that you could acquire a 2 plate stove? IT would be so much better if you could cook pasta at home and add dressings & fruit vegetables. It will be much cheaper, more filling and kinder to your purse! Microwave a fist size potato and add a small knob of butter and cottage cheese and tuna. Delicious!!

Water? You have to try to drink your 8 glasses of fresh water from the tap of bottle. Nothing added - just good old plain water.

Good luck hey!

Hi Kelli
I think everyone knows how you feel. We have all been at the point where we feel some drastic measure would be the only way for us to reach our goal. But have been down that road more than once, it never helps in the long term. The only way to truly reach your goal and love your body is to lose the excuses and learn how to institute a healthy discipline. I have just applied this principle to my weight loss efforts. As long as I am consistent and disciplined, I feel healthier, happier and I lose weight at a healthy pace.
As for the financial issue, my family is low income living in an expensive town, so I know how it feels to think you need to buy the "cheap" foods. But they do not work out to be cheap in the long run when you have to pay medical expenses. If you can buy just the right amount of healthy nutrient rich food and drink water then it will work out to be cheaper. Also I don't know about the area where you live, but if you are on such a low income you may be eligible to receive help from your local Salvation Army food bank, they can provide you with good canned and dried supplements so you can spend your budget on fresh foods to create a balanced meal. It's a little hard to get past your pride at first, but it does help a lot.
Best of luck in your efforts.

One more question: to everyone who said she should lower her sodium, how will this help her fat loss?

Is the answer that it won't but may give a psychological boost as it helps with water retention which translates to a loss on the scale?

Ding, ding, ding...we have a winner!!

I think whoever though of capitalizing words means yelling is stupid!! It can also mean trying to emphasize something, trying to be understood. The tone of the letter is what matters. Be that as it may, the real point to her topic is that she desparately needs help and is humble enough to ask. I am new to this new lifestyle so I don't have a lot to contribute as far as others may in nutritional advice but the girl does not have a lot of money. When I was a kid with no mom and no dad at home I would eat rice with butter, pork and beans, and my friend would share V-8 juice with me every morning on the way to school. I went for whatever was available and would satisfy my needs.

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 normally wouldn't suggest prepackaged foods, but if you take a look in the frozen section and read labels you can find frozen dinners that are a complete meal. You need to look for low sodium. Also you can add frozen veggies to your diet. There are many things you can make without a stove. Bed Bath and beyond has some really cool microwave gadgets for under $10.I saw a roasting tray to make things like chicken. Things like canned tuna, hummus, beans low sodium soups are all better options than mac n cheese and ramen. As for the below 1200kcal, it's not advisable, and can be dangerous.

OP - just wondering, have you tried applying for Food Stamps? I'm not sure the exact guidelines for students, but if you qualify as being your own separate household you should qualify for assistance that could help you afford some more healthful foods. :-)

I have to echo what others are saying about *not* dropping your calories drastically low. You are probably more active than you think, having to walk to class and whatnot, 1200 might actually be a bit too low for your body to happily want to drop any weight, especially if you have to rely on high-sodium foods for the majority of your calories. For comparison, I am 5'4" and currently 130 lbs (have lost 35 lbs since starting), my goal here on MFP is set to lose 1/2 lb per week and allows me 1370 calories, plus I exercise and eat back those calories so I normally eat around 1600-2000 by the end of the day and still lose weight. If I were to eat a strict 1200 and no extra for activity/exercise, I'd be tired and grumpy and have no clue if the scale would cooperate with me or not. I ate 1200-1400 when I was just starting out at 165 lbs and not exercising, but once I lost some weight and started incorporating exercise I had to bump those calories up to give my body more of what it needs. I still eat processed foods, but less now than I did before, more fresh produce and a focus on getting plenty of protein. You are already in your 'healthy' range, so any weight you want to lose will come off slowly, and rightly so. If you do it slowly/moderately, your body is more likely to be able to keep it off.