dieting as a vegitarian... only 800 calories yesterday?

Apparently I had less than 800 calories yesterday... is that ok? I know it's not ideal to do long term but is it okay in the beginning? How can I get enough calories w/o white rice, pasta and bread (which is what i've been living on since i became a veggie two years ago)? Thoughts?

one day under 1200 isn't going to kill you or throw you into "starvation mode" but do NOT make a habit of it. your body really does need 1200 calories just for its basic needs. anything less and it will start using its own muscle.

I agree you should try to stay at or above 1200 calories a day.  I love carbs but I try to put them in where I can with out over doing it like eating granola bars and protein shakes that way you can easily see where your calories are coming from and it helps to get you from meal to meal by eating some good snacks.

Just one day won't do anything but don't continue this. Starting today- make sure to get at LEAST 1200 calories. Stuff like avacados, peanut butter, nuts, dried fruit, whole grain bread, whole wheat pasta, couscous,etc. will help you get enough calories.

No, it's not ok in the beginning.  If you are deathly ill and can only keep 800 calories in your system, then you can maybe get away with it.  If you accidentally eat 800 one day in 6 months because you are too busy to eat, then you can maybe get away with it.  If you restricted your calories intentionally to 800, that is not good under any circumstances.

One day in several weeks/months may not hurt you, but the attitude that it's ok for a short period can be relatively dangerous, not just for the physiological reasons but also for the mental and emotional ones.

Healthy fats can add some good calories, and a temporary fix to add some needed calories can be juice.  Sub out a couple of glasses of orange juice for your water and you'll be surprised how fast the calories add up.  Not a great habit to get into, but if you are in a crunch it will at least give your body a bit more nutrition.

you need fats to help digest and get the nutrients from veggies, anyway. So, eat and enjoy your veggies, but make sure you have some healthy fats and proteines, too. being a vegetarian isn't eating nothing but vegetables. you MUST have other foods to nourish your body completely.

Add in stuff like nuts, olives, avocados and other higher-calorie veggie food. If I'm on the low end at the end of the day, I often have a banana with soy nut butter on it and some soy milk.

Or put 1-2 tbsp of olive oil on your salads (with balsamic vinegar)...it's delicious, a great source of healthy fats, and 120 calories per tablespoon. :-)

Have you tried soy based products?

Such as soy milk and tofu (tofu is high in energy and really good for you); both are high in protein.

Also, whograin pasta, brown rice, wholegrain bread, lentils, beans, nuts and seads are low/moderate GI and high in energy and protein. 

I have been a veggie for 5 years. I have eaten rice, pasta, and bread for 5 years and have also been at my goal weight for those years! I work on maintaining and you cannot maintain, healthfully or longterm, your weight if you are excluding foods you love that are not inherently bad for you. I love homemade baked goods, soy flour, amaranth flour, oat flour etc...there are so many wonderful products at health food stores, online or even regular grocery stores now that are conducive to being a health conscious vegetarian! You cannot leave out your carbs, your body needs them and functions best when given a balance of carbs, produce and protein and always - a little fat. 

if your trying not too eat too many carbs, try to at least eat healthy carbs... your body NEEDS some carbs!!!!  switch to whole wheat/whole grain products.... i buy mini whole wheat bagels instead of having a regular sesame bagel, for lunch i had whole wheat pasta with veggie "fake meat" crumbles and tomato sauce.... try brown rice instead of white rice.... use wraps and pitas.  whether you eat meat or not you need to be eating some carbs to stay healthy.  it just seems like when you go vegetarian you tend to replace meat with carby food (pizza instead of a burger for instance)... have you tried the "fake" meats?  a lot of veggies don't liek them or don't like processed foods, but if you do, just replace them whereever you'd be having meat.  fill up on fruits and veggies too. hummus and veggies, apples with peanut butter.  i know my typical dinner plate is usually a third protein, a third veggies, and a really big third carbs (i know my math is off)... if your like this try switching places, i've started to double up on the veggies and just cut the carbs in half.  also add beans to things, the protien will fill you up (having chips and salsa? add beans and some veggies to it)... add nuts to your salad instead of croutons.... i know i survived on pizza and pasta the first couple years too but there are a lot of really tasty options out there you just have to open up and try more of them :)