Too few calories

[lucy123]

A friend of mine looked at my diet sheet for this week and declared I was eating far too few calories (approx 1200 per day) and said I wouldn't lose weight on too few as my body would go into starvation mode and hang on to weight instead.

I am currently on Victoza and If I get my weight down by about 5 stone then I think I am right in thinking that there is a possibility (not guaranteed) that my bs will be better controlled.

I am thinking of the 800 calorie diets that I know a few on here have tried and both lost weight and helped their diabetes. Albeit it's only a short term diet.

So which is right? I feel fine on my plan at the moment and blood sugars are good.

This nutrition area is a minefield of info and just trying to make sure I really understand it.

I hope it makes sense what ism asking.

 

[AndBreathe]

To be honest, Lucy, the weight loss thing is just so personal. Some will go to starvation mode and some won't. There's no rule really (annoyingly!).

Personally, I lost weight eating loads of calories, but having cut my carbs back, and these days I eat quite a staggering amount for someone as skinny as I am. I'm 160cm tall, but just about manage to keep my weight up to 47kg.

I would say if you are happy doing as you are; and your bloods are good, you feel well and you're trimming up, then no reason to change unless your weight loss stalls and remains stalled over several weeks. The 800 calorie diets aren't for everyone, and even if they had been "en vogue" when I was getting my diabetes house in order, I can't be certain I'd have gone that route.

Good luck with it all.

 

[trophywench]

Far as I am concerned personally - 1500 cals which was meant to be a 'maintenance diet' for women in the old days when Adam was a lad and I was a young woman - isn't - it's a very gradual weight increase diet!

To lose weight I need less, with an absolute minimum to remain as functional as I need to be - is 1000. So 1200 should be fine - and if your body's happy on it - why on earth change it!

 

[Mark Parrott]

It is different from person to person, but to me your calorie intake sounds fine. Pretty certain i'm having no more than that & i'm a bloke. Still losing weight.🙂

 

[Ljc]

Hi , IMO so long as your losing weight gradually ie a couple of pounds a week then those calories are fine.
I found when I went into starvation mode when I stupidly went on a crash diet once (never again) that increasing calorie intake for a while sorted it then I lowered it to around 1200

 

[GregP]

I'm averaging about 1700 calories a day at the moment and losing on average 1.5kilos a week. On days where I am under this I've felt hungry

 

[KookyCat]

It depends on how much your body needs Lucy which is entirely about your physical make up, activity levels and your metabolism. I lose weight at anything below 1700 calories, and it drops off like melting ice below 1500 but that's because despite being female, I'm 6ft tall, have a lot of muscle because of another condition and fly round like a demented bee 99% of the time, and have a ridiculous metabolism (also the other condition). The level you'll loose weight at will depend on your body and how your metabolism copes, I'd probably faint from 800 calories a day but I need more fuel to keep Timmy body ticking over 🙄

I would however be very cautious of very low calorie diets without medical supervision, just to be sure that you're not putting yourself at risk. It takes quite a bit of effort to get all the nutrients in on very low calorie diets and if you're taking medication that helps metabolise carbohydrate or can't be adjusted based on carb intake you need to consider adjustments to prevent problems occurring.

 

[AndBreathe]

In my view, not all calories are equal.

For myself, I choose to eat a reduced carb diet. It keeps my numbers great and it suits my lifestyle, by-and-large. If I stick to this lifestyle, I lose on less than 2200 calories. (Yes, I do mean to have a 2 at the beginning.) I lose fast at that, and really to maintain, I run between 2200 and 2500 calories a day. I'm fairly active in my day to day living, but I don't use a gym or go running or anything. We sail, but once you're under way there can be long periods of inactivity when passage making.

If I up the carbs, my numbers still stay OK, but who knows if that might change over time. But, the interesting thing is if I have a much more carb rich diet and consume my 2200-2500 I will gain weight. Hence, my conclusion not all calories are equal.

Unfortunately, the who weight maintenance is a voyage of personal discovery.