how come ppl keep saying going bellow 1000 calories isn't enough to survive?

Question

I've been reading about dieting and thinking about this. Alot of people seem to think that you can't go bellow 1000 calories and live. Thats what fat is for, if you dont eat enough then as long as you have some fat it'll get burned for energy.

For a real life example, take Christian Bale. He lost 60lb from his normal weight of 185lb over 6 months by eating only 300 calories a day! He didn't have any expensive medical supervision either. Did he die? No, after that 6 months he buffed up for his role as Batman.

I think all you well meaning people who suggest that 2lb a week is the maximum weight loss are just too weak willed to lower your calories. I guess thats understandable, if your a fat american you probably panic if you miss your daily big mac.

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Answer 1

Because the average human needs 2400 calories to maintain average body functions.

Fat is for burning in starvation situations. When you burn only fat, you go into Ketosis, which can lead to lethal lactic acid build up in the body.

One of the reasons why Atkins is not a good idea.

Answer 2

Actors, Models and Paris Hilton types do all sorts of STUPID things to lose weight all the time. They also have doctors, nutritionist and lawyers around them making sure they don't die and if they do the path to settlement is always clear. YOU CAN NOT LIVE ON 300 Calories a day. I don't care what Mr. Pretty Boy Batman told you. 2lbs a week is considered the safe rate to lose weight but I've had clients who were dedicated and loss weight a higher rate 4 to 7lbs a week. Everyone is different so when you hear 2lbs a week remember it is a norm not the norm for everyone.

And as far as living on 300 calories a day. If you want to live on salad and one Chicken breast without skin a day. Go right ahead. Just remember when you start getting fat and getting sick no matter what the scale says your losing weight and your life.

p.s. Christian Bale is British right? He may have been talking about 300 grams not calories. 300 grams would be roughly 1500 calories so you'd still be wrong sorry.

Answer 3

It's enough to survive, but your body goes into starvation mode below 1200 calories. Your metabolism slows down, your body starts to eat it's own tissues for energy and you wind up with serious health risks. But you won't die from it. You'll just get very sick.

And nobody in their right mind would say that what Christian Bale did for the Machinist was healthy. He was actually warned against this by his doctor as it was simply too dangerous and he could have seriously affected his health. I have to admire his dedication for the role however because I wouldn't have been able to do what he did.

2 pounds a week is the average and right around the safe amount that you can lose without suffering damage. You can lose more than that, but you risk health complications.

I suggest you read up more on the subject and speak to some dieticians about this. They can give you the facts that you're glossing over.

Answer 4

When was the last time you stopped eating when you hit 300 calories? Try it once and see how you feel?

Yolpait Light Yogurt (fat free)= 100 calories per serving
White rice (1 cup cooked) = 169 calories
Tofu (1/2 cup)= 183 calories
Peanut butter (1 tablespoon) = 94 calories
Skim milk (1 cup)= 84 calories
Iceberg lettuce (1 oz) = 4 calories
Hidden Valley Ranch Fat Free dressing (2 TBS)= 30 calories
Broccoli (1 cup) = 31 calories
Whole wheat bread (1 slice)= 69 calories

How would you like to spend your 300 calories per day?

Answer 5

There is truth to it where you don't want to go below your BMR. BMR (basal metabolic rate) is the number of calories expended each day on your body's autonomic functions like breathing, circulation, heart beat, brain functions, digestion, etc.. Going below this number will cause your body to slow it's metabolism in response along with causing the body to start storing energy as fat in preparation for extended famine (starvation mode). This is why anorexics tend to actually have a higher bodyfat percentage than average because starvation causes the body to waste muscle but retain bodyfat. This is also why people gain fat at a much greater rate when they do start eating again.

So, by starving yourself the scale weight you're losing is due to water and muscle weight rather than bodyfat. The only way for bodyfat to be released for energy is when the body thinks it's getting what it needs from the diet. A balance must be struck somewhere between your BMR and RMR (resting metabolic rate) for fat loss to occur. BMR is individual.

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

Edit:

2 pounds a week is human physiology, not something arbitrarily made up by weak-willed americans. What that's referring to is healthy weight - 2 pounds of bodyfat per week is about the maximum a person can lose when all conditions are ideal. Any more than that is simply water and/or muscle weight.

Answer 6

well if you eat less than 1200 cal a day your body is starving and you will loose weight in an unhealthy way, you will loose muscle, and guess what is muscle, your heart! This is very dangerous. If you want to loose weight exercises, and eat healthy but don't starve yourself, yes for movies he many have done that it was a risky thing to do and he could very well have died and it lucky that he didn't.. And if you stick to this way of eating the minute you actually start eating you will get fat! No joke, because your body think is it starving and saves everything it gets. Iv been there.... good luck young girl, risk your life for beauty that's wonderful! Oh and also your brain will not function normally, you will have memory loss and you will not be able to preform normal functions, you will most likely stop menstruating, and may not ever be able to have children. There are a lot of factors to consider. Be real!

Answer 7

I suppose you know this to be true because you live with Mr. Bale? I wasn't aware he was an expert on nutrition. And of course all Hollywood types are in perfect health despite their goofy diets and bad habits....... makeup and camera angles cover a lot of flaws.

Besides, 6 months = 26 weeks. 2 pounds a week for 26 weeks is 52 pounds. Not too far from 60, if that was in fact the actual number.

Just because an actor says he did something doesn't mean its true, and doesn't mean that's the right way to do it. Get a clue. Actors are good at acting, not biology, nutrition, or medicine.

Answer 8

The problem is that when you lose that much weight that fast you are mostly losing muscle. Afterward, if you start eating normal, you will gain the weight back as fat and in the end you will be even fatter than you were before losing all that weight. Also, the example you give is not healthy. Losing weight and getting down to 125 for an adult male is way too thin. He may have survived but it is not healthy. I hope he made about 10 million for that role.

Answer 9

well, 2000 calories is the suggested amount of calories needed a day. emphasis on the suggested. you really dont need many calories at all to live, water is really your priority. not calories from food. of course you need some, but you definitely don't have to have 2,000 calories to survive. i think you have a wonderful point that you don't need 2000 calories to live, but average Americans get over 3,000 calorie a day. i think your right about the big mac example and if everyone would cut their calories down, America would be much much slimmer. 54% of America is obese, and that should be showing us something!

Answer 10

If he ate 300 calories a day for a movie role, you can bet he was being monitored very closely by a lot of expensive doctors.

wrong by the way. You body tries to conserve fat. So while you are starving yourself, your body will eat lean tissue FIRST, then fat.