will you gain weight going under your calorie goal?

2

Replies

  • Zarebeth
    Zarebeth Posts: 136 Member
    Okay, it isn't stavation mode, per se. It's metabolism. And everyone's is different. Some people burn calories like Humvee's, some are like SUVs and passenger cars. I am a Smart Car. lol

    But less than 1200 calories and you will lose good weight for a while and then you will STALL. The year before last, I was on a 1200 calorie a day diet working with an obesity doctor at the University of Minnesota. I lost 30 pounds, then stopped dead. I continued my 1200 calories a day for two more months with no more weight loss. Finally I gave up, then it all came back on because I was starving. I wasn't in a sustainable place for the long haul.

    Eat your 1200 calories a day, minimum. I would say start higher, like 1400 to 1500 calories. Exercise is a bonus, but I don't reduce the calories because of it unless you work out at a very high intensity. Then when you hit that stall, you have something to give up, instead of your resolve! Your body will get used to whatever level you are on, no matter what it is... and stop your loss. When you get to that point you need some wiggle room to cut back. If you start out at less than 1200 calories, where are you going to cut back?

    Not to mention, your body would rather waste muscle than fat when your metabolism stops. So you aren't doing yourself any favors. I have lost 11 pounds this month on 1500 calories a day, and I am insulin-resistant and have over 100 pounds to lose. When I stall, I will reduce my food intake 100 to 200 calories a day, and lose some more. That is the best way to do it, trust me.

    This time I will get there. So can you!
  • 1Timothy4v8
    1Timothy4v8 Posts: 503 Member
    I have lost all my weight before and I am losing it fast now doing what you are doing,

    I stay at 1500 a day, fruit and veggies are free, and most day's I burn about 1060 a day, I been at this for about a month and lost 21, I feel great, as long as I pick filling foods, like burtoes and stuff, I am content, I also been eating ice cream, if you are creative enough you can find foods that will keep you saticfied at 1500, however if you feel light headed or if any thing like that then you should up your calories, =) lesten to your body, and your tummy will shrink and you can go longer on less =)

    10039000.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter
  • HonkyTonks
    HonkyTonks Posts: 1,193 Member
    You won't gain weight but you are risking losing lean muscle mass as well as fat. You lose that, you will have a lower metabolism, which means you'll need to eat less than your leaner peers in order to maintain the same weight. If you're happy to do that, then go ahead.
    You have to ask yourself.. do I wanna look like this:

    Skinny-Fat1.jpg

    Or this

    Skinny-Fat.jpg

    I know which I'd choose ;)
  • robinogue
    robinogue Posts: 1,117 Member
    You won't gain weight but you are risking losing lean muscle mass as well as fat. You lose that, you will have a lower metabolism, which means you'll need to eat less than your leaner peers in order to maintain the same weight. If you're happy to do that, then go ahead.
    You have to ask yourself.. do I wanna look like this:

    Skinny-Fat1.jpg

    Or this

    Skinny-Fat.jpg


    Hey I resemble the first picture :embarassed:
    I know which I'd choose ;)
  • laackmannk
    laackmannk Posts: 6
    it is so frustrating! keep with it. listen to some of the good advise that is given to you. re-look at your food diary and adjust where needed. you may have to do something drastic like cut out ALL processed foods and processed sugars. also take a look at when you are eating your foods. you may not be eating the correct things before and after your work outs. it's possible that what you are eating something after your work outs that your body is hanging on to instead off continuing to burn off? although I'm not an expert but that is something that I have struggled with.

    good luck!
  • HonkyTonks
    HonkyTonks Posts: 1,193 Member
    aww robinogue.. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, just for me (I am currently overweight) my goal is to be very lean, because I want a fast metabolism as well (so I can eat more!!) lol
  • sbw2012
    sbw2012 Posts: 22
    i'd love to comment back to each one of you! thanks so much for the advice everyone! i seen where someone put they're eating more than they did before maybe thats my problem! i went to the grocery today and got lots of fruits and vegetable to up my calories even more. :) i also worked out tonight and burned roughly 400+ calories. once again THANKS EVERYONE!
  • HorrorChix89
    HorrorChix89 Posts: 1,229 Member
    Or this

    Skinny-Fat.jpg

    I know which I'd choose ;)

    Or this
    enhanced-buzz-3094-1283038148-28.jpg
    At least she looks more like a female that the muscular chick
  • whitcappen
    whitcappen Posts: 5 Member
    Okay make sure you eat 1200....when you enter your work out on your counter and it gives you more calories DONT EAT THEM BACK. I was doing that and wasn't really losing the weight so I talked to the doctor and she said that if you want to lose weight then don't eat these calories back. Just make sure that you eat 1200 so that your body can function!
  • jheath123
    jheath123 Posts: 101
    I like the 35 calorie bread...aunt Millie's makes a few different varieties like white, wheat, whole wheat and potato. The one bad thing about bread is the carbs that turn into sugar that can turn into fat....I am in an epic battle trying to keep carbs down. Even limiting bread a lot of other foods have carbs.
  • lgraham92
    lgraham92 Posts: 7 Member
    eventually yes. and banking doesn't always work.

    Starvation mode (for the 2nd poster in this thread) isn't a myth.

    /eyeroll.

    At the risk of starting a flame war - If you legitimately think Starvation mode isn't a myth, I do ask you, care to explain Africa or Etheopia to me? How come they aren't all obese?

    Thought so.

    The worst thing that will happen if you eat to low is your metabolism will start to slow a tiny bit, and if you do it for an extended period of time, you may be prone to binge eating and gaining all the weight back. I've lost close to 105lbs now eating at what people would call "Starvation mode calorie levels", and yet, here I am, still losing weight, not in this fabled "starvation mode" people talk about.

    TLDR: Starvation mode doesn't exist (Link me to a study that proves it does), undereating may cause binging.
  • daffodilsoup
    daffodilsoup Posts: 1,972 Member
    At least she looks more like a female that the muscular chick

    I'd still choose the "muscular" chick.
  • live4turns
    live4turns Posts: 314 Member
    So you're eating a little over 600 cals a day?

    No, you're not "eating healthy" and you should not keep doing what you're doing. If you keep eating this way, you're going to end up in the hospital or worse in the very near future.
  • live4turns
    live4turns Posts: 314 Member

    Or this
    enhanced-buzz-3094-1283038148-28.jpg
    At least she looks more like a female that the muscular chick

    Rihanna!
  • TNoire
    TNoire Posts: 642 Member
    I can't stress this enough over and over

    As a female no less than 1200 cals a day as a male no less than 1800 cals a day

    WHY?

    your body goes into starvation mode which in the long run your body will store everything and cause MASSIVE weight gain over time, it takes your body a long time to get out of the starvation mode

    you need fuel for the fire so to speak how do you think your body runs?

    FOOD need it want it and its good for you!

    But as long as ur hitting 1200/1800 and your burning 600+ your okay as long as ur not doing and burning like 4000+ cals a day and eating that little :D


    there is some muscle that looks good then there is this.........

    she looka like a man...... :noway: :indifferent: :sick:
    they creep me out >_<

    Nikki_Fuller.jpg
  • microwoman999
    microwoman999 Posts: 545 Member
    As long as you are eating 1200 calories a day you are fine. I would eat 1200 calories a day and not eat back exercise calories and I did fine. I would switch between 1200 and 1400 every two weeks and I am still alive and fine. I also burned as much as 1000 to 1200 calories a day and did not eat back exercise calories and I did not die or go to a hospital and I am completely fine!

    I don't mean to be rude, because you and I are in the same boat, but it's not the same boat that the OP is in.

    She has a LOT less weight to lose than we do, and eating a long way under your calorie limit when you don't have the same ah... surplus? is a completely different story.

    Actually if I am correct she has more weight to loose than me I have 50 left to go and it looks like she has 70 to go but I am just saying she is not going to go to a hospital, which is what someone posted up above. I understand that everyone is different and I was just giving an opinion like everyone else.
  • jennannec
    jennannec Posts: 25
    OH GOSH! all this is starting to scare me because i generally dont eat that much in a day for the sheer fact i am at school and there isnt really easy access to healthy foods! ahh i am scared now!
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    I doubt that you'll gain weight, but you certainly won't gain health if you don't give your body enough good nutrition.
    And you might find that you don't lose weight as steadily as you should because your body may well start trying to work more efficiently in order to make the most of the low amount of energy that you are taking in.
  • jennannec
    jennannec Posts: 25
    so what do you think i should do to stop this from happening?
  • asmithson19
    asmithson19 Posts: 59
    Bump -
  • Thatsdatdiva601
    Thatsdatdiva601 Posts: 209 Member
    Bump
  • shmo1969
    shmo1969 Posts: 85 Member
    Try to eat at least 1200 cal a day. When I exercise that much I eat some of the cal for a total of around 1400 a day. If you are not hungry then stick with the 1200. You are doing great!!! :)
  • brush2000
    brush2000 Posts: 1
    Wow, congratulations Sara. I'm just really getting into this fitness program and I'm gonna need some encouragement. Would you mind sharing some tips with me on your weight loss success. I need to lose 70 lbs. I had a baby last year and after she was born I put on an additional 30 lbs. I have no friends right now but hopefully we can be friends.
  • mrsmammahunter
    mrsmammahunter Posts: 221 Member
    drink a few slim fast drinks a day 200 cal a glass there is your 600 calories right there =]
  • jennannec
    jennannec Posts: 25
    drink a few slim fast drinks a day 200 cal a glass there is your 600 calories right there =]

    are those tasty?
  • dalessandro12
    dalessandro12 Posts: 4
    I'm new to posting here so go easy on me.....to the original poster, I do the same thing. I have my goal set to 2000 and that I what I eat, regardless of what I do that day.

    Currently, I am training for a triathlon and often burn close to 1800 calories a day exercising (measured using a heart rate monitor cycling over 20 miles and running close to 5 miles). Does that mean I am suppose to eat close to 4000 calories a day? I simply can't do that. I don't believe in "making up calories" because I like to lose weight through the burning of calories....if I work hard for over 2 hours why eat them back? Maybe that is just me but I have talked with a friend and certified trainer and they say it is ok. Been sticking to this for over 2 months now and I feel strong at the gym, am gaining significant strength AND am dropping weight and inches.

    I suggest you find what works with you and stick to it - as long as you feel good then more power to you!

    Just my .02 cents
  • lala4u
    lala4u Posts: 16 Member
    sara look do wat best for u ok. cus none of these ppl are doctors or professionals ok. we cant do your journey only you can. they will give you advice the way they are doing ok. not everybody way is the right way for everybody else. i suppose to eat 1500 cals a day but sometimes i eat 1026 n sometimes ill eat under a 1000 n my dr say im doing good. he told me to listen to my body and dat wat i do. i used listen to ppl but i came to realize nobody can run my journey but me. so do wat best for u. if u think ur not eating enough then eat a lil more but if u think ur doing good keep going. there isnt a perfect way to lose weight. its only ur way. listen to ur body. thats ur real critic.
  • summalovaable
    summalovaable Posts: 287 Member

    /eyeroll.

    At the risk of starting a flame war - If you legitimately think Starvation mode isn't a myth, I do ask you, care to explain Africa or Etheopia to me? How come they aren't all obese?

    Thought so.

    The worst thing that will happen if you eat to low is your metabolism will start to slow a tiny bit, and if you do it for an extended period of time, you may be prone to binge eating and gaining all the weight back. I've lost close to 105lbs now eating at what people would call "Starvation mode calorie levels", and yet, here I am, still losing weight, not in this fabled "starvation mode" people talk about.

    TLDR: Starvation mode doesn't exist (Link me to a study that proves it does), undereating may cause binging.

    I believe this is another example of where interpretation of a phrase can be the only debatable issue. (i.e muscle vs fat, no one cares we all know what you mean).

    But you're correct, starving children won't become fat. Because the body does not have enough energy (food) to store fat (the body uses the minimal food it gets everyday and re adjusts how much energy it expends to fit this) That does not mean though, that their bodies work at a normal "first world" level, in other words their metabolism might only require 500 calories where we may require upwards of 2000.

    Starvation mode is simply a term used in the weight loss world to describe the bodies natural function of maintaining homeostasis. So I suppose its just another way of saying : your metabolism has slowed down, so you are unable to lose weight as quickly as you once were.

    It's a bit more complicated than this, but the details seem unnecessary. Eat properly, treat your body well or eat as little as possible it you want to look like a starving African child (your words, not mine:flowerforyou: )
  • vguynes
    vguynes Posts: 753 Member
    Bump
  • TNoire
    TNoire Posts: 642 Member
    drink a few slim fast drinks a day 200 cal a glass there is your 600 calories right there =]

    The rule is not to drink your calories unless you can't make your 1200 (female) 1800 (male) goal, I personally drink fit & active shakes from aldi's to jump my body now and then but usually I drink water or use my ninja blender to make a fresh glass of juice for a healthy snack :)

    The fit & active shakes are only 170 cals and are loaded with protein and vits :)
This discussion has been closed.

Categories