1000 calories or less diet

saraann4
saraann4 Posts: 1,296 Member
edited December 17 in Food and Nutrition
I am currently sitting at 260lbs and my goal is 200lbs. According to my Fitness Pal, I should be consuming 1860 calories a day. I can't manage to get up to 1200 calories a day. For the past couple days, I've only been eating up to 900 calories a day, BUT I am satisfied. I want to restrict my diet, but I don't want to feel like I'm eating too much. I also don't want my body to go into a starvation mode.

Also, if I add in my exercise for the day, I get like 292 calories added on to that. I don't exercise everday. I just enjoy taking my dogs for a walk whenever I can (usually on the weekends). I have an office job.

Is this good, bad, ok?
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Replies

  • s1lence
    s1lence Posts: 493
    There are lots of posts on this subject and LOTS of opinions. However the short and sweet of it is that many people point out the health factors of such a diet and the fact that a body will start to cannibalize itself from muscle and organ tissue before fat in order to fuel it throughout the day, thus making you feel less hungry. Everyone is different so you should take what people are going to say on this subject with knowing that. I am not a health care specialist or even know the first thing about calorie consumption so please understand that I make no suggestions besides to do research and talk to your doctor about your diet.
  • cior
    cior Posts: 133 Member
    I think you should eat at least 1,200 a day. I think it is recommended so you don't starve yourself. Maybe you should set yourself up for two pounds a week. I get the vibe that it is set only at a pound!
  • Inebriated
    Inebriated Posts: 271
    Why not add higher calorie foods to your diet such as peanut butter, avocados, trail mix, butter /oil in your cooking, etc? Eating 900 calories a day isn't maintainable for the long run.
  • fitby38
    fitby38 Posts: 307 Member
    There are lots of posts on this subject and LOTS of opinions. However the short and sweet of it is that many people point out the health factors of such a diet and the fact that a body will start to cannibalize itself from muscle and organ tissue before fat in order to fuel it throughout the day, thus making you feel less hungry. Everyone is different so you should take what people are going to say on this subject with knowing that. I am not a health care specialist or even know the first thing about calorie consumption so please understand that I make no suggestions besides to do research and talk to your doctor about your diet.

    .... and lots and lots and lots and lots ....
  • kdelost630
    kdelost630 Posts: 196 Member
    People on here have come to the general opinion that 1200 is the LEAST amount of calories you should consume a day, but I have actually found on several other websites, including http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/ and http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm, that say to eat even more. Based on this, I would say 900 calories is not enough for your body to function. You will probably lose weight, but it might be harder to maintain after you reach your goal weight.

    And like everyone else said, I'm not a professional. Just my observations. Hope this helps.
  • greyrealm
    greyrealm Posts: 12 Member
    I am 37 years old and 5'5 and went from 143 to130 in a month by eating 1200-1400 calories a month and exercising a little. My husband is 48 and is 5'10 and went from 183 to 169. My daughter is 17 and 5'2 and went from 129 to 122. We eat every hour on the hour from 7am until 8pm and then have a shake before bed. My advice is to eat at least 1200 calories a day and to eat more often and to eat healthy! Good luck with your goals!
  • palmerig88
    palmerig88 Posts: 623 Member
    How can you be satisfied? What are you eating?
  • fitby38
    fitby38 Posts: 307 Member
    How can you be satisfied? What are you eating?

    :laugh: LOL!!
  • b0t23
    b0t23 Posts: 260 Member
    I think when you first begin to lose wight, you have this rush of motivation and this desire to just lose weight.

    I think for the short term, eating so far under your daily calorie amount probably isn't going to do any real damage to your health.

    For long term I recommend starting to eat more as you lose weight. You will feel better. Combine this with maybe a little more exercise and a regular eating schedule.
  • KBside
    KBside Posts: 45
    I have the same issue on some days. Today, after exercise I had 954 calories left. Im not hungry, so I dont force myself to eat them. I usually have 300ish left on an avg. day. I have been trying to eat higher calorie foods at my meals and it seems to help.
  • bechtel1979
    bechtel1979 Posts: 20
    please do as suggested from mfp atleast do 1860 to 2500. anything less is extremely unhealthy , dangerous, be patient and you will meet your goals.
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    I am currently sitting at 260lbs and my goal is 200lbs. According to my Fitness Pal, I should be consuming 1860 calories a day. I can't manage to get up to 1200 calories a day. For the past couple days, I've only been eating up to 900 calories a day, BUT I am satisfied. I want to restrict my diet, but I don't want to feel like I'm eating too much. I also don't want my body to go into a starvation mode.

    Also, if I add in my exercise for the day, I get like 292 calories added on to that. I don't exercise everday. I just enjoy taking my dogs for a walk whenever I can (usually on the weekends). I have an office job.

    Is this good, bad, ok?

    You have a target of 1800- use it.

    At 900 calories you are consuming less than 50% of your calorific daily needs, maybe even less than 30% as we don't know your TDEE.

    Eat the full allowance. It already has a deficit built in for you to lose weight. There is no need to restrict yourself even further.

    This thread may not last long as MFP do not take kindly to very low cal diets.
  • chachadiva150
    chachadiva150 Posts: 453 Member
    I am currently sitting at 260lbs and my goal is 200lbs. According to my Fitness Pal, I should be consuming 1860 calories a day. I can't manage to get up to 1200 calories a day. For the past couple days, I've only been eating up to 900 calories a day, BUT I am satisfied. I want to restrict my diet, but I don't want to feel like I'm eating too much. I also don't want my body to go into a starvation mode.
    I mean this in a supportive manner. If you can't manage 1200 calories a day, then how did you gain weight in the first place? If you are overweight, I think you must have the ability to eat a much larger number of calories in a day.

    There is very little real estate between 900 and 1200. That's an extra chicken breast and some veggies. It's quite easy to get in another 300 calories. Are you afraid to eat?
  • doubglass
    doubglass Posts: 314 Member
    talk to your doctor, see a therapist.
  • DSCLBD
    DSCLBD Posts: 40
    Do you weigh your food? I think the first step would be to weight every single item (down to the onion added to a salad) to make sure you are recording correctly :) If you are guessing the weights, then your calorie count would be off.
  • LosingToRun
    LosingToRun Posts: 6
    A lot of people get heavy by eating calorie dense foods. Then when they switch to nutrient dense, less calorific food they can consume the same (or even higher) volume of food but be far under the same calorie amount that led to their higher weight. Having trouble hitting a calorie goal eating healthier foods is a common problem when someone makes drastic dietary changes.

    To the OP: you are correct to not want to eat to the point where you feel stuffed, and keep forcing food in yourself. The trick is to find some healthful but calorie dense foods to round out your new, healthier diet. Nuts, nut butters, olive oil, higher fat milk and avocados are some things that can help. I find 2% milk mixed with protein powder a good way to help hit my calorie goal without falling back on old, less healthy foods. Just keep trying different things out until you find the best way to hit your goal. You will find a way to balance making healthy food choices and properly fueling your body.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    I am currently sitting at 260lbs and my goal is 200lbs. According to my Fitness Pal, I should be consuming 1860 calories a day. I can't manage to get up to 1200 calories a day. For the past couple days, I've only been eating up to 900 calories a day, BUT I am satisfied. I want to restrict my diet, but I don't want to feel like I'm eating too much. I also don't want my body to go into a starvation mode.

    Also, if I add in my exercise for the day, I get like 292 calories added on to that. I don't exercise everday. I just enjoy taking my dogs for a walk whenever I can (usually on the weekends). I have an office job.

    Is this good, bad, ok?
    I'll bite my tongue to save a lashing.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal & Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • JMarigold
    JMarigold Posts: 232 Member
    Posts like this make me feel two things . . .

    1. Really? Are sure its only 1000 calories you are eating?

    2. Why can't I have this problem? I wish I could spend my time figuring out what to eat extra rather than what not to eat. T

    But to be fair and honest I truly think that you will find that your body will rebel against for doing this if you are open to listening to thesigns. You will become fatigued. I notice if I'm shorting myself too much my HRM reports lower heart rate so obviously my body begins conserving energy and burning less by keeping my heart rate lower. Also irritability. Head starts getting foggier. You feel more need for napping. It comes on slowly but surely.
  • pinkita
    pinkita Posts: 779 Member
    I remember when I started eating healthy that I had no appetite when dinner time came, and had to practically force myself to eat. But that feeling doesn't last long!! :laugh: The longer you do this you'll see.

    But getting back to your original question (and someone may have already pointed this out)... it's generally not good to eat below your basal metabolic rate (BMR). Doing so will slow down your metabolism.
  • laineyluma
    laineyluma Posts: 358 Member
    Maybe you aren't really only eating 900 cals a day. Make sure to weigh every bite of food that you eat and don't "esitmate" because usually those "estimates" are wrong.

    If you are struggling to eat 1200 calories I don't understand how you got to 260 lbs.
  • Elf_Princess1210
    Elf_Princess1210 Posts: 895 Member
    I am currently sitting at 260lbs and my goal is 200lbs. According to my Fitness Pal, I should be consuming 1860 calories a day. I can't manage to get up to 1200 calories a day. For the past couple days, I've only been eating up to 900 calories a day, BUT I am satisfied. I want to restrict my diet, but I don't want to feel like I'm eating too much. I also don't want my body to go into a starvation mode.

    Also, if I add in my exercise for the day, I get like 292 calories added on to that. I don't exercise everday. I just enjoy taking my dogs for a walk whenever I can (usually on the weekends). I have an office job.

    Is this good, bad, ok?
    I'll bite my tongue to save a lashing.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal & Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    What, can't you give constructive criticism without tearing someone apart?
  • Elf_Princess1210
    Elf_Princess1210 Posts: 895 Member
    just eat healthy calorie dense foods ( ie. nuts, seeds, dried fruits, ect.) I had the same problem until I got used to eating low cal food. Eating small meals more often helped me a lot too.
  • naomi8888
    naomi8888 Posts: 519 Member
    I had a very overweight friend who swore she didn't eat junk. She house sat for me and I saw all the junk food wrappers
  • sem41278
    sem41278 Posts: 89 Member
    how do you think you got fat in the first place?? overeating!!!! so please dont complain about eating too little. if eating too little was the problem, why would any of us be on this site in the first place??????

    Totally! I think a lot of fat people overestimate exercise / underestimate eating. I had a very overweight friend who swore she didn't eat junk. She house sat for me and I saw all the junk food wrappers

    ya- a lot of fat people do that. what a crap statement.

    This fat prson understands where OP is coming from because when I'm in diet mode I mentally do not want to eat-- I'm out of my "fat people" mode of eating mentality.

    those darn fat people-- they just can't figure out how to eat and exercise.
  • Bodhizephyr
    Bodhizephyr Posts: 48
    I am 37 years old and 5'5 and went from 143 to130 in a month by eating 1200-1400 calories a month and exercising a little. My husband is 48 and is 5'10 and went from 183 to 169. My daughter is 17 and 5'2 and went from 129 to 122. We eat every hour on the hour from 7am until 8pm and then have a shake before bed. My advice is to eat at least 1200 calories a day and to eat more often and to eat healthy! Good luck with your goals!

    This is not normal eating. It might work short term, but you're swapping one eating disorder for another. Exercising a little - I think you've missed the point of this site. myFITNESSpal not getyourselfanotherabnormalunhealthyhabit.

    As you may have guessed - as a former eating disorder sufferer - I hate it when people recommend such strange ideas to people.

    I am declining to comment about the influence over the young person in this post!
  • mmstgr
    mmstgr Posts: 578 Member
    Not sure of your height, but you are nearly the same weight as my boyfriend, with the same goal.
    I cannot and will not try to tell you how many exact calories to eat, as every person is different.
    But I can tall you that my bf is 6'0" and near to the weight you are. If he were to eat only 1200 cals a day, I think he would rot.
    I don't even eat that little. But everyone is different.
    I have a couple questions though. Please don't take them as rude or negative. I certainly do not mean them to be, although I can see how they might come off wrong.
    How are you not hungry? Have you completely changed your diet? Because I know you can fill up on healthy foods just as well as unhealthy ones, but it would take an awful lot of carrots and broccoli to fill my bf (or myself)\
    You should remember that you didn't gain the weight overnight. And it's not going to go away overnight either.
    Have you set up a visit with your doctor? I think it's always a good idea to let your doctor know when you are planning such an undertaking in the change of ones body (and mind).
    I wish you all the best!
  • pinkita
    pinkita Posts: 779 Member
    Geez, I don't get why some people have been so negative/judgmental in their remarks to the OP. Please read the reply from LosingToRun on the first page of this thread, it's a great explanation. I experienced the same thing OP did in the beginning because when you eat healthier, you're getting in a lot more fiber, more nutritious foods, etc., therefore feeling FULLER sooner. To OP, when you get used to eating better it'll be easier to eat all your calories.
  • atjays
    atjays Posts: 797 Member
    With your exercise you should be eating no less than 1500 . There is no way someone of your weight is "Satisfied" at 900 calories. You're just fooling yourself or lying to us . Eat right, exercise and the weight will fall off.
  • springseternal
    springseternal Posts: 245 Member
    3 weeks ago, I was at 258. I'm at around 240 now. I lost the first 8 pounds while on vacation, the next 10 came after I joined here. When I got back from vacation I had to ask myself what I did in that 10 day period of time that was so different that weight could fall off of me like that. The answer was: I was eating small amounts consistently. I am an over-eater. However, the way I over eat was to eat 600-900 calories for two or three days (bc I was so busy at work or whatever) then on day four I would be off and would eat all day. I could easily take in 4000 calories in those days. Then the next day, 900 calories. I am still struggling with keeping my daily calories up, but it's gotten easier. I still struggle with the "habit" of over eating on my days off, but it's gotten easier. I haven't had a "binge" day in well over a week.

    My point is, eat your calories! LOL. You and I are starting at a very similar place, so if you'd like, friend me and we can encourage each other to make those healthy choices.
  • barackobamamama
    barackobamamama Posts: 21
    I eat about a 1000 calories or less most days, just like you. I've lost 23 pounds so far (currently at 222 or so) and people keep telling me I'm going to enter starvation mode (which is B.S.) and that my body is going to start eating its own tissues, blah blah blah. I don't listen to them. Why the hell would my body eat my muscles when there's so much yummy, delicious fat for it to digest? If you aren't hungry, then don't force yourself to eat.
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