I haven't got a clue, I've confused myself into oblivion about this very thing.

... I kinda gave up on trying to figure it out.

 

.

 

I had a reputable doctor tell me to stay between 700 & 800 calories a day for weight loss. He said that short people (I'm 5'2") don't need as many calories because they don't have as much body to maintain. He also said I'd never be able to take in as many calories as taller people (or those w/ a fast metabolism) without packing on the pounds. This makes perfect sense to me. I think people say otherwise because they are afraid they'll be held accountable if something goes wrong. That's my 2 cents.

 

I had a reputable doctor tell me to stay between 700 & 800 calories a day for weight loss. He said that short people (I'm 5'2") don't need as many calories because they don't have as much body to maintain. He also said I'd never be able to take in as many calories as taller people (or those w/ a fast metabolism) without packing on the pounds. This makes perfect sense to me. I think people say otherwise because they are afraid they'll be held accountable if something goes wrong. That's my 2 cents.

Those are some good 2 cents.

 

Ty! Bottom line is we are ALL different. There can't possibly be one set rule for everyone, right?

 

Ty! Bottom line is we are ALL different. There can't possibly be one set rule for everyone, right?

Yeah!

To apply one fixed rule to define humanity goes against the whole of the human condition (if you can say that). xD

 

Ok, this is what I was feeling too. I am glad we are on the same page. My thought is eat when you are hungry. Eat what sounds good as long as it is healthy. Drink when you are thirsty. Sleep when you are sleepy. This will make you healthy. Don't get too hungry, thirsty, or sleepy or it throws off your sensors that regulate your inate ability to regulate these patterns.

 

Ok, this is what I was feeling too. I am glad we are on the same page. My thought is eat when you are hungry. Eat what sounds good as long as it is healthy. Drink when you are thirsty. Sleep when you are sleepy. This will make you healthy. Don't get too hungry, thirsty, or sleepy or it throws off your sensors that regulate your inate ability to regulate these patterns.

This. So much.

Although, one small thing: yes, you should definitely drink when you're thirsty but we ought to remember that thirst is a sign of dehydration. So, in a sense, don't get thirsty!

... At least, that's how I think it is. I can never be too sure about these things...

 

This. So much.

Although, one small thing: yes, you should definitely drink when you're thirsty but we ought to remember that thirst is a sign of dehydration. So, in a sense, don't get thirsty!

... At least, that's how I think it is. I can never be too sure about these things...

Great adjustment to my thoughts!

 

Great adjustment to my thoughts!

You didn't know about that? :huh:

 

You didn't know about that? :huh:

I new about it but the way I worded it didn't reflect that.

 

I new about it but the way I worded it didn't reflect that.

Ah! Mh, well, maybe a bit? Nevertheless, you were not wrong, sweetling! <3

 

I was wondering the same thing myself, since I recently am trying a new diet and Ive never went below 1200. I think it should be ok as long as your getting your vitamin's and minerals. Im making sure im taking a vitamin with a meal each day so the most of it gets absorbed, and also make sure you eat pure healthy food for your diet take time to research which foods have the most nutrition. I think since most people arent educated 1200 calories is as little as they can go and not have to make sure they are getting enough nutrition. You can go lower but its just very hard to get enough nutrients if you don't know what your doing. That is why many doctors will reccomend a 800 calorie diet only if they are monitoring it. Any less then 800 is probably almost impossible to be healthy though (for a normal person). Thats my understanding on it

also it defintely depends on the person and how much they as an individual need.

 

I don't think the 2,000 calorie minimum is set in stone, but I do think you need to maintain enough calories to keep your body running. Dropping below that sends you into malnutrition, which in addition to slowing down weightloss also has some pretty severe health consequences.

I think knowing your BMR and knowing how many calories you burn just by being alive is really important. Most people burn at least 500 calories just being alive, without any excercise at all, and so if your net calories drop below that you are just going to have a harder time functioning.

 

I've lived on 500 calories for a few weeks at a time without ruining my metabolism. But just because I can doesn't mean that everyone can. Besides which, you'll lose weight more healthily and sustainably on 1200+ a day.

And if you have an above average body mass and a decent amount of muscle, you can probably lose weight on 1800 a day... And not risk losing that decent amount of muscle.

 

my metabolism is 1010, i have had it tested, my doctor said the minimum calories i can have a day is 800 calories. she said less is unhealthy and will ruin my metabolism, but that 800 is fine, you just have to be careful in what you choose to eat and also, it depends on what your metabolism is to begin with, but my nutrionist says that most women need much less food than 2000 calories per day. she also said less than 800 calories a day is really bad for you. i have to wonder is all my 'crash' dieting in my twenties has made my metabolism so low now...

 

My question - if the body does have a tendency to go into "starvation mode" (not sure if I even really believe in this) when you eat below the 1200 minimum, why do doctors consistently advise a strict 800 cal diet to morbidly obese patients? 1200 is def. an arbitrary number and I think 800 cal can definitely get you all the nutrition you need if you make the calories count and eat smartly.

 

My question - if the body does have a tendency to go into "starvation mode" (not sure if I even really believe in this) when you eat below the 1200 minimum, why do doctors consistently advise a strict 800 cal diet to morbidly obese patients? 1200 is def. an arbitrary number and I think 800 cal can definitely get you all the nutrition you need if you make the calories count and eat smartly.

I suppose then that they leave that 500 cal "gap" for the unhealthily inclined... such as myself. >_>

 

It's important to remember that you burn calories when you sleep: (0.42 calories x pounds) x hours of sleep, so if you weigh ex. 140 lbs and sleep for 8 hours; you'd burn 470,4 calories. That's half of 800. The number 1200 comes from what your body needs to maintain every -single- function; the brain, the blood, the organs etc. and your body can not function optimally on ~400 calories a day. I doubt it's a myth, and you can survive on less, but for your body to thrive - you need about 1200 a day with a high level of inactivity.

I'm in a wheelchair, paralysed from the shoulders down, and a female, so I can live on 1200 a day and still lose weight - according to my doctor. I however, live on about 500 cals a day and my body cannot do everything it needs, even with me sitting still 90% of the time. I get dizzy a lot, heart palpitations and other issues - so don't underestimate the fine machinery that is the human body

Just be careful <3

 

I think 1200 is for heavier people with high basal metabolic rates. When you're at a low weight with a BMR of 1300 like me, 1200 is way too much.

 

Calories depend on the activities and everyday life really, but most importantly we eat food for it's nutrients, so as long as all nutrients are spot on,

there is no need for hugh caloroe count - more often it gets difficult to get good ammount of all vitamins and minerals when foods are restricted,

therefore having a variety usually means more calories.

 

Ty! Bottom line is we are ALL different. There can't possibly be one set rule for everyone, right?

this so much, how can one rate be perfect for everyone?

 

The problem is today our fruits and veggies don't have the same amount of nutrients that they did over 100 years ago. So thats why they recommend you eat over a 1200 calories to get all the nutrients your body requires. That said I still only eat 500.

 

My first answer is I don't know. Here's what I do know. I was eating between 700 and 800 calories a day and my doctor was not at all happy about it. He even told me that looking over my diet logs it did look like I was probably getting every thing I needed and that I could very likely drop my multivitamin because of this. He then told me that he wanted me to stay right around my BMR which he calculated to be around 1350. When I asked him why it was necessary to stay at at least 1350 when I was getting everything at 700 to 800 calories, his answer was that you still need a certain amount just to maintain yourself aside from the vitamins and minerals. What he meant by that was that you need a certain amount to maintain muscle mass, bone density, etc... For me, I guess that's 1350. For someone smaller and who weighs less that may be much less and it's probably more for someone bigger.

ETA: He did approve me going on that PSMF for 3 weeks and it is less than 1000 calories. For me and what I was doing on it, I was averaging around 950 calories on it. He did not, however, want me to go over three weeks on it. I ended up stopping after two but then picked it up again a week later. I saw him on Thursday and told him that I'm still kind of doing it as in I'm still eating the same foods I was on the fast, but now I'm eating more of them to get up to 1400 calories a day. The fat loss has stopped which is irritating, but I haven't gained anything back so that's good. I'm thinking it may be something that I do for one week out of the month or something.

 

My question - if the body does have a tendency to go into "starvation mode" (not sure if I even really believe in this) when you eat below the 1200 minimum, why do doctors consistently advise a strict 800 cal diet to morbidly obese patients? 1200 is def. an arbitrary number and I think 800 cal can definitely get you all the nutrition you need if you make the calories count and eat smartly.

There is an 800kcal min for men I've seen devised by scientists /nutritionists. Very high nutrient rich foods etc.
I know for a fact, I've heard and read it, that the 2000kcal a day is not relevant anymore and doesn't take into account people's more sedentary lifestyles.

Random thought: I fucking love red bell peppers, so so good