If your eating under 1200 (females) or 1600 (males) please r

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dominarrygel
dominarrygel Posts: 21
in Health and Weight Loss
Just a bit of background I'm a young guy, 19 years old, and I got the idea to start counting calories to lose some weight. Started with 1600 per day but that number quickly dropped as I realized I could eat less and lose more (or so I thought). I went down to between 600-800 calories a day with lots of exercise. I ignored my family who tried to tell me I needed to eat more. I was forced to go to the doctor and she talked some sense into me and I realized I had a problem-my body was not being fed and I was hurting myself.

I upped calories to 1200, then to 1500 and now its between 1700-1800 calories- and I managed to keep my weight loss (cause I stopped under eating before it was too late). Looking back I realize I was crazy to starve myself- it made me moody, I took laxatives, I was obsessed with my battle against food and food even haunted my dreams! I'm not 100% now though I have hypothyroidism which I think is related to my undereating and my metabolism is still off but I am way better off than if I waited even longer to start eating!

So why'd I want you to read this?

Because I want you to know what I didnt know and to get help now. Dont kid yourself and say I can live off under 1000 calories per day forever (It wouldnt be fun or healthy just try eating more for a month). Will the first while of eating healthier be hard- HELL YEAH!!

But trust me when I tell you it IS well worth it in the long run!
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Replies

  • dominarrygel
    dominarrygel Posts: 21
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    Well I hope this helps someone:)
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
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    Thank you for sharing you're story mate. I hope people read this as it it's definitely true.
  • Saezimmerman
    Saezimmerman Posts: 93 Member
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    Thanks for sharing. I'm glad to know that you are on the road to good health.
  • DebbiesHardWork
    DebbiesHardWork Posts: 5 Member
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    Thank you for sharing your story. I've been frustrated this week because I didn't have a weight loss and have been very diligent in exercising and staying around 900-1000 cal. per day. Should I try to eat back the calories I've burned to obtain the 1200? Just wanting others opinions. My doctor is the best source, I'm aware.
  • KareninCanada
    KareninCanada Posts: 831 Member
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    Thank you for sharing your story. I've been frustrated this week because I didn't have a weight loss and have been very diligent in exercising and staying around 900-1000 cal. per day. Should I try to eat back the calories I've burned to obtain the 1200? Just wanting others opinions. My doctor is the best source, I'm aware.


    At LEAST 1200. Probably more like 1400-1500 at the low end. Find out what your BMR is, and make that be your absolute minimum.
  • pigwidgeon82
    pigwidgeon82 Posts: 79 Member
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    you are starving yourself. never eat below 1200. my dr told me to never eat below 1400, but even that is low.
  • geckofli
    geckofli Posts: 155 Member
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    thanks man it gives me the ****s when people reccomend eating less then 1200cals aday, my understanding was thats what your organs need to function, im glad you've changed your ways i hate seeing people torture themselves on here. if everyknow and again people dont make it to the 1200cals thats cool itll balance out but aiming for less then that and then tearing yourself up is a waste of time and energy.

    Im sure you've helped more then a few people by sharing your story, i know for every forum i actually comment on there is at least 8 more ive read but not been motivated or brave enough to comment on. you've done and are doing well (:
  • dominarrygel
    dominarrygel Posts: 21
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    Definitely make sure your net calories are at least that 1200- you should probably go even higher though!
  • chachita7
    chachita7 Posts: 996 Member
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    TY... not that I didn't know, but it worries me when I read things such as - fasting, eating only 1 meal to shrink the stomach, etc.

    My calorie intake is between 1200-1500 - I am losing weight just fine!!!
  • skippyninja
    skippyninja Posts: 18
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    Cheers for the post.... i find this interesting... with exercise etc I'm averaging about 750 a day intake with a target of 1500........ but im not starving myself :S

    I could eat more or more cal heavy meals but I dont really need to or want to I'm surviving fine and not starving at all?
  • dominarrygel
    dominarrygel Posts: 21
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    I didnt think I was starving myself when I actually was...

    I hope you start eating more before you regret it later
  • nixrun
    nixrun Posts: 44
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    I eat 4 to 5 times a day to where I feel full each time yet I'm always under my calories and I feel like I'm stuffing my face. I don't feel starved at all and if I try to eat more I feel like I'm going to throw up. So I'm not sure how I can reach my calorie goal, any suggestions?
  • BarbWhite09
    BarbWhite09 Posts: 1,128 Member
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    Glad you shared your struggle. I've had the same type of problems in the past & still battle them each day.
  • anabell31
    anabell31 Posts: 268
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    It was great to read this. Since I started tracking my food on here, I'm beginning to think that I've been under-eating for a good while. I'm actually eating more now just to get my net cals up. But some days (like today) I'm still about 500 calories short and I just can't eat anything else... Time to work on bigger meals or more frequent snacks ^^
  • moochachip
    moochachip Posts: 237 Member
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    I eat 4 to 5 times a day to where I feel full each time yet I'm always under my calories and I feel like I'm stuffing my face. I don't feel starved at all and if I try to eat more I feel like I'm going to throw up. So I'm not sure how I can reach my calorie goal, any suggestions?
    Are you eating when your body is telling you to, and you're eating over 1200 calories?


    I'm glad you came out and said all of this. I too had this problem - There would be days where I would eat 800 calories, and end it there. I was so proud of myself, and felt good when I turned away from food...

    ..And then ended up in the hospital. Moral of the story, it's not worth it. It's still a struggle telling myself I'm fine with eating 1500 calories, but taking it day by day.
  • hagamivida
    hagamivida Posts: 129
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    Definitely worth repeating and I am glad you changed your mental view of losing weight and got healthy.

    I am struggling to eat enough but it isn't intentful calorie restriction. I think it may be a medication I am on that is severely reducing my appetite. I see my dr at the end of the month so hopefully I am not doing too much damage until then. :-/ I have managed to get a few hundred more calories jn for a few days this week so I am really happy about that.

    Again, glad you are spreading the message of being healthy and not focusing on a certain number or the wildly inaccurate BMI. Good luck!
  • Mawskittykat
    Mawskittykat Posts: 241 Member
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    I was eating 1200 calories and lost for a little while, then when I reached a plateau I upped my calories to 1300 and started losing again. But then again I reached a plateau. I then upped it to 1400 calories and did really good for a while then I got stuck for a total of 10 weeks. I was so discouraged. I started reading and realized that even though I didnt feel hungry, I ruined my metabolism eating such a small amount. Will it work, maybe for a while, but not forever. You are absolutely right. We need fuel to go just like a car does. And 1200 isnt enough. I now eat 1500 to 1600 with 1650 being my BMR. SO far I havent had any more stand stills, I feel great, and when I am hungry I eat. It doesnt matter if it is 1700, which isnt very oftern, when my body is hungry I eat. Thanks for the reminder.
  • Babs540
    Babs540 Posts: 19 Member
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    I know someone that is crash dieting and taking in too few calories, and it's sad. The truth is that it's less efficient then a gradual decrease in your calories and increase in activity. If your not sure about whether your getting proper nutrition to sustain your activity level and general health, I insist it's vital to consult with a nutritionist or a doctor. Cutting back too many calories isn't just affecting your weight & energy level, it also puts other things at risk like the nutrients necessary for building bones, muscle, brain function, and proper nervous system function. Food lets us live, and to eat healthy is to be healthy. Don't starve yourself to lose weight, push your self in your exercise regiments to build a better body.

    Seriously, i'm so glad this topic was posted. The health effects of improper nutrition can be detrimental to the rest of your life. And no 'Body' is worth risking your general health for.
  • whitcappen
    whitcappen Posts: 5 Member
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    Thank you for sharing this story! It is currently something I am dealing with now... I will only eat max 950 calories on a good day! My stomach has shurnk so much not from not feeding my body that is even harder to eat right and reach the 1200 calories. But thank you again for sharing I am glad to know I am not the only one who has/had this issue!
  • carolsohn
    carolsohn Posts: 33 Member
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    Thanks for sharing. I had less than 500 calories today because I'm going on vacation in 8 weeks. It's really stressing me out but I just don't think there's any way I'd allow myself to be happy/comfortable in my 8-week-ahead-future body if I consumed 1200+ per day. Ugh...

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