Is it okay to be on a 500 calorie diet? I've been on one for over 6 months now.?

Question

I also work out everyday and burn off 200 calories on the treadmill. But recently I've been feeling really exhausted. I had palpitations one time and completely blacked out another. I've given up the treadmill over the last week or so, but I still don't eat more than that. I'm terrified of putting on weight now. I've read that the calories you expend should always be greater than what the intake is. But if your intake is 800-1000 calories a day, how do you burn off that many? I've also heard that models only eat 500 calories a day and that's how they stay so slim. Any advice / suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

If you feel sick and dizzy every day, is that the price you really want to pay to not gain any weight? It doesn't make sense, because what sort of life are you going to have if you feel exhausted and faint all the time? 200 calories on the treadmill really isn't a lot of exercise. Once you stop that, what muscle do you think you will have left? You'll weigh less, sure, because you're losing all that heavy muscle.

Most nutritionists say that 1200 calories is the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM anyone can have in a day and stay healthy. Most people need considerably more. 500 calories a day puts you into starvation mode. Right now, your body is hoarding every scrap of energy that it gets and storing it away because it thinks that you are in the middle of a famine. You're tired because your body is trying to conserve what little energy you're giving it.

Wouldn't it be better to eat 1800 calories and feel great, burn it off by running or biking or swimming (and feel great while running, or what ever you chose to do) and lose weight that way? No more blacking out. No more feeling hungry. Running 8 miles burns off about 800 calories (not that I'm suggesting you run 8 miles if all you do now is work out lightly on a treadmill. I run frequently and have a problem going much further than 5 without really feeling it in my shins), biking for an hour and a half (much lower impact, but once again you shouldn't try and exercise that much if all you do now is 200 cals on the treadmill).

The point is, take your weight in pounds (to convert from kilograms, multiply by 2.2), and add a zero to it. That is roughly how many calories you burn a day by existing. Not standing and walking around, typing at your desk, stretching, etc. That is how many you burn by BREATHING and maintaining all functions.

It's very unhealthy to be on a 500 calorie diet and be terrified about gaining weight. What you weigh, how you look, and how much you eat should never control your life. It almost sounds like it is running your life at this point, which can indicate an eating disorder. This is probably something you want to talk to an expert about.

Answer 2

Firstly, no one diet works for everyone. What is right for your body type is not necessarily suitable for someone else.
You are not eating enough calorific content if you are only actually have 300 calories to use inside your body each day. Either eat more, or ease off on the treadmill and workouts.

Your body will burn off a lot of calories internally every day. Eat a healthy breakfast and lunch, for you, and have a smaller evening meal. If you are going out for the evening, then reverse the lunch and dinner but on the whole, you should be having a smaller meal in the evening.

You do need at least 1000 calories each day for your body to be able to function. Every cell in your body burn up calories.

One thing you do need to remember, you need to have, in that 1000 calorie diet, 30mg of fat every day. This is because ordinarily your body cannot digest protein. It needs fat to help it break down the proteins into something it can use. If you do not have the fat in your diet, your body will start to break down muscle.and then all your hard work in the gym will be wasted.

You use up, on average, around 300 calories just in digestion, each day. so right now, your body is not able to regenerate itself properly.

Answer 3

With a 500 calorie diet you are putting your body into starvation mode. That can make you feel very sick, dizzy and worse. You definitly need more calories. And, you don't need to burn off all of the colries you eat at the gym. Calories are energy for your body to use throughout the day. I would recommend talking to your doctor or nutritionist, because at the rate you are going you are going to hurt yourself.

Answer 4

you can be on a 1000 cal diet and still look good and feel good you are exhausted because you dont eat enough, trust me you can eat alot and burn it all and still have all your energy take care of your self if youstay on a 500 cal a day you will have a breakdown go to a dr and have him or her put you on a diet to suit your goal good luck and stay healthy :)

Answer 5

Never, every person needs at least 2000 calories a day, why do you think doctors recommend all the servings of different food groups?? DUH! Models aren't healthy, and all of the drugs they take contribute to their weight loss, also purging thier food does it. You need to eat more!!

Answer 6

500 calories is hardly enough to keep a sparrow alive, you better start eating, or you will drop dead.