800 cal a day too little?

Question

ok, so here is my question. ..
i eat (usually) 800 calories a day. some days i go over to maybe 1100 calories (like twice a week).
i am 5 feet 2 inches tall. female, came down from 187 to 135 lbs. since last june...
no one knows this. not even my husband. ...
i eat all day long. 3 meals and 2 snacks. just limit my calorie intake.
i exercises too. it's starting to get intense. i do yoga, kick boxing, running, and go to the gym.
i don't want to increase my calories because it has giving me results.
but when ever i am asked what i am eating ... i always tell them that i am on an 1800 cal a day to avoid questions.
sometimes i feel dizzy, i'm glad that no one has noticed. i just stand still and smile it out. i'm cold too.
but my doc told me i was in great shape. i get compliments from everyone.
i'm smart... but somehow i worry that there might be a problem. sometimes it's hard to see the forest from the trees. do i have a problem? help.

Answer 1

I did the same thing. Background: About 4 years ago I had my "ah ha" moment that I eneded to get back to the gym. I exercised and lost 18 pounds in a year. Met a personal trainer who took of 60 pounds in 4 months and I never felt better. All he had me do was record what I was eating in a journal and count calories. I became very strict and was eating 800-900 calories per day. I functioned like that for another year, keeping the weight off but at a plateau and I couldn't figure out why. In the mean time, my trainer left (mind you he never really monitored my food diary, just my weight loss and measurements) and I got a new trainer who told me to cut my calories by 200 without asking me how many I was taking in. After 2 weeks and 15 pounds lost at 600 calories, I was sick, disoriented and bloated AND I was stuck at the same weight AGAIN PLATEAUED with no way I could reduce my calories further. Another trainer I work out with at the gym pulled me aside and asked the right questions and determined I was not getting enough nutrients. I had wrecked my metabolism. He put me on a plan to increase my calories by about 200 evey 2 weeks with the right balance of protein, carbs and fats and I have lost another 20 pounds eating 1600 calories per day...I'm still loosing.

If your dizzy, you need to eat. I know it's hard and I felt really awful at first but with all the working out I do, I had to give my body fuel to function. At 800 calories I was not giving it enough to even lay on the couch andjust breath. In my head I knew this but it was so difficult to change when people were complimenting me on my weight loss.

Additionally, as part of this, I had my resting metabolism (RMR), VO2 max and body fat % (BODPOD) done so I could see what my body does in a day and find out how I could increase my metabolism. It was the one accurate eye opener I needed to show me I was ravaging my body by not eating and over exercising.

As a female, were programmed to think les food ='s skinny and for most, the math & science don't work that way for very long.

Get some help, seek out a trainer at the gym and ask for some nutritional guideance. If you have some extra money check the internet for a place that does fitness assessments, specifically the BODPOD. It will be an eye opener. She was able to point out, just from my results and NO INFO from me that my bodyfat was where it was because I wasn't eating enough...I was amazed at the science behind it. Now I am not so much concerned witht he scale as the BODPOD results. I have set a goal to be 17% bodyfat instead of a certain weight. It's helped me focus on eating right since body fat is all about diet and cardio and not a whole lot of calorie counting.

I hope my ramblings help some. Get SOMEONE to help you before your body becomes sick.

Answer 2

Yes. Even 1100 calories is too low. As I don't know your age, I can't work out your BMR. Your BMR is how many calories you body uses, per day, simply in the basic functions that keep you alive. Mine, for example is 1500. So, even if I lie in bed all day, I still need 1500 calories a day. Add exercise into the equation and just to maintain I'll need over 1500 calories, closer to 2000.

It sounds as if you are becoming obsessed with your weight, dieting and exercise. You need to talk to your husband and your doctor - they will help you. If you can't bring yourself to say it, print this question off and hand it to your doctor or sign it and leave somewhere your husband will find it. It'll be hard having to discuss it, but the only reason they'll want to talk it through is because they are worried about you and want to help you.

By asking this question, you have realized that what you are doing isn't healthy, so please, go and talk to them.

Answer 3

Yes you have a problem. Eating 800 cals a day is too little and you're setting yourself up for a potential eating disorder.

The dizzyness and coldness should have been your first indication that something was wrong.

Talk to your doctor immediately because you could be doing some serious harm to yourself.

Answer 4

800 calories/day is UNHEALTHY, esp. if you are exercising like you say. 2000 cals/day is minimum if you want to get proper nutrition. You prob feel dizzy due to low blood sugar. You need to consult a Dr and a nutritionist to get the best info on diet and exercise. Plz do so ASAP!

Answer 5

U should be eating at least 1200-1500 calories

Answer 6

you need at least 1000 calories a day. just add 200 more