Charlotte_15's Journal, 12 April 2018

Thank you Marsha for commenting. There must be something wrong with me. It could be the fact that I take in very low sodium every day (I am trying to remedy this situation). I never would have known had I not looked at it on this site. We all assume that we get too much. I do 16:8 and actually started it many years ago when it was not popular. I just found out when I was 18 years old that my body was quite comfortable with it and it could help me keep my weight down.  

When I was about 195 I ate 1,000 cal a day except one, "cheat-day." I would eat low glycemic veggies, low sodium, and lean protein meat. and no sugar. this kept the physical hunger at bay, which made the mental battle much easier. There were days that the urge was so overwhelming that I;d go to bed early just to keep from failing. Most cheat just enough to trigger irresistible hunger and then give in, not realizing that half a cookie at lunch had that much power. 

2 buddies went to a doctor and paid a couple thousand dollars to do a VLCD. One guy lasted less then 30 days at 600 calories, went to 900 calories for 20 days and ultimately regained every pound plus found another ten to top it off. This was in a year. The other guy lasted 55 days at 600 calories, another 20-25 at 750 calories and eventually found maintenance north of 2300 calories. He lost 75 pounds over the first six months, had 55 still off as of last fall and when I see him in a couple of weeks I'll ask where he is with his weight loss. Day 55 he went to the doc and complained of lethargy, bowel issues, dizziness, and asked to increase to 750. Not sure when he went to maintenance at 2300 calories but the VLCD definitely took its toll on his metabolism. For me, I couldn't and wouldn't want to maintain 1200 calories or less since I have struggled trying 1500 calories for a day and have been unsuccessful. 1200 calories for men is considered by registered dieticians to be low due to lack of antioxidants, micronutrients, etc. I think 1200 for men would be the edge of VLCD but I'm not sure.  

I could not eat that amount ever, but I kinda see if u are vegetarian 🌱 an eat a lot of vegetables u can eat a lot n end up around 1000 

normally eat 1200- 1500 calories per day, I have ate less than 1000 just a couple of days, because I love to eat, I want to lose the last few pounds and find my maintenance higher than 1500 , I am doing 16/8 and OMAD.  

N I believe it true what terratin says, if u lose weight at 1000 ur maintenance level will only up a few hundred if u try to add much more u can gain all ur weight back n more 

I know, and I don't like that  

I did a super low calorie in my mid-20's and lost about 30 pounds - I ended up at about 125, my lowest weight in my adult life, and LOOKED good, but felt like the proverbial crap.... it was a pretty stupid diet (e.g., Campbell's tomato soup for lunch - and nothing else - I don't remember now what else I ate to get that low, but it was definitely similarly stupid choices). I felt sick and irritable the whole time, and maintained the weight loss for about three months - then the weight all came back and then some! Currently, I feel most comfortable in the 135-145 range (though the doc says it might help my cholesterol levels to get down to a bit below 135, which is about where my BMI should be anyway), and need to eat 1800-2000 calories a day to feel human. :) But I'm pretty active physically (there's a lot of built-in exercise in plant and critter tending). Everyone's metabolism is a little different. I'm 57 years old and still trying to figure out the best way to tend my own body! :) 

It really comes down to What you are eating to reach those 1000-1200 calories. Many vegetables have very low calorie count so you can eat more for your calories vs eating a donut. 

@AliciaMaMeSa - I agree: Nutrient dense (veggies!) vs. merely calorie-dense (donut)... :) 

My dr. recommended I lose weight to *manage* cholesterol levels back when I was in my 40's.. I wasn't heavy to start with (maybe 135-140)... I say *manage* because at that time my cholesterol was only slightly elevated. I got myself down to 125, and he thought another 5 lbs would be good he was waaaay overweight; not setting the best example!!Do as I say, don't do as I do). Well, I felt like crap at 125, and told him so.. there was no way I was going to go lower. Now into my late 60'a I am still at 125 and feeling great. I am bordering pre-diabetes, so am managing on a keto type diet to allay a diabetes diagnosis. The calculations I got on this site are 1800 calories a day, and like you, that is my comfort zone, and that is where I will stay. I try to maintain low carb and eat well and I feel good at 1800 calories making better food choices... I am losing a bit, hopefully not too much more, and my clothes fit better, and I feel great. Everyone is different,  

My doctor is very, VERY overweight as well... strange, especially since doctors see what extra weight does people everyday... 

I eat 600 calories and less 

I'm a BIG guy (and still will be when I reach my goal) and average 900ish cal intake a day right now while going a 16:8 IF approach. I feel good with it, plenty of energy sustained through the whole day. Nothing special to stave off the hungries. Just eating in the 8 hour window as I feel hungry and preparing quantities that will satisfy but not over fill.  

My understanding/opinion/experience is that eating very low calories will make you lose weight at first but will back fire eventually because you will slow your metabolism and gain it back more quickly when you increase calories. I hate to admit it but I fell for the HCG diet years ago (twice!) and ate 500cals a day for 3 weeks...I lost quite a bit in those 3 weeks but as soon as I increased my calories it all came back and then some. I was always hungry, weak and grumpy. That’s no way to live haha! Maybe varying calories (some days low, others higher) would work better to keep your metabolism guessing. Good luck! 

Thank you so much for commenting everyone! When I first saw people eating what seemed to me low calories, I just thought that they did not enter all their food. I could see eventually when people wrote that I was totally wrong. I just know that I would not be able to do it unless I laid down all day not moving and even then I am not sure if I could. I honestly thought it was humanly impossible. There must be something wrong with me! I'm not trying to eat less, I am just trying to understand. On this site my maintenance would be 1700 calories and guaranteed that if I eat this amount for a number of months I will be overweight. As much as CICO seems to work for me I don't believe that it works for everyone.  

My goal is 1200 or less a day. I feel good. I drink 8-10 glasses of water every day and eat between 50-70 g of protein each day. I don't feel hungry or like I'm suffering. If you're dropping from a significantly highly caloric daily intake there will be a period of adjustment so to start you may feel hungry and/or deprived. Plus, I'm 5'4 and losing weight, and being monitored by a dietician.  

Exactly right mamma2624.... low caloric intake can be dangerous and WILL back fire. Only under the guidance of a nutritionist should anyone ever go into such low calories. A great article by John Hussman... http://hussmanfitness.com/html/TFCalories.html Actually, his entire web sight is very very educational. Hussmanfitness.com 

footnotes: 1st guy referenced above is active, older (mid 60's) athlete, MO at about 260 pounds pre VLCD and 5 ft 9; 2nd guy, inactive, not athletic, MO at 285 pre VLCD and 6 ft 2 inches. VLCD=very low calorie diet. 

Jason Fung wrote the Intermittent Fasting book that I use. He makes a huge distinction between eating VLCD and fasting. Fasting doesn't mess up your metabolism like VLCD do. He provides details about this. I fast 16:8 every day and once you get used to it, it's no big deal. Fasting for 36 hours is hard.