the whole "1000" calories a day argument...

i know it's been stressed by many people that going under 1200 calories isn't healthy for a teenage girl. i am 5 feet tall, 17, & i stopped playing soccer a year ago but i try to go to the gym 3-5 times a week, which i just recently started again after not working out for a few months, or caring about what i ate. i've gained about 10 lbs in the past few months.

so i'm trying to lose weight quickly. i want to get down to 105, & i am at 113 right now.

since i am so small... i'm okay eating about 1000 calories a day. i basically eat two 6 inch subway sandwiches a day (the ones with 6 grams of fat or less) since we own a subway. then i eat fruit, special k cereal, or drink protein shakes. that's my diet. in a week i lost about 2 lbs (when i went from 115-113). i haven't weighed myself recently though.

what are your guys' thoughts???

Eating Subway twice a day every day isn't healthy.

In addition, you need more than 1,000 calories a day because of your activity level. I also don't see the point in losing 8 lbs, and the way you're going about it almost guarantees you'll gain it back when you start eating normally again.

 

well you are consuming too much sodium with that diet, not enough vegetables and even at the size you are when you work out you should definatly be eating more. just do whats healthy and eat a minimum of 1200 cals a day - or at the very least eat that on days you work out. you can read all the other threads they all say the same thing and you know how to work out how many calories you need to consume with your activity level/age/sex etc wouldnt you rather lose weight, keep it off and be healthy then simply lose a few pounds quickly then most likely gain them back again?

i'm at that point where i know i'm not fat- & i know i'm not skinny- but i can stand to lose a few pounds & get in better shape. if i think i can, why not?

i have never been a vegetable person :[[ the only veggies i like are corn & carrots. i know i should put more in my sandwiches... but i dont... heh.

& yea, i went on this extreme diet once (nothing but protein shakes every day for 28 days, only one solid meal a week. i did have healty fats though that came from supplements). it was called the Velocity Diet, & before someone wants to criticize it, read the article about it
http://www.t-nation.com/readArticle.do?id=546 491

anyway point is, it was a very extreme diet.. & worked for the most part (to the point where people noticed) but i gained it all back once it was over.. there was a special off period to transition into normal eating again but i couldn't do it :[[[

well doctors recommend losing 1 lb a week, is 2 lbs ok?

1000 a day is okay for some people to kick start a healthy lifestyle.
id suggest switching special k for some whole grained cereal.  cheerios has fewer calories.  maybe have some veggies along with the fruit, you can get a lot more veggies in your diet per calorie, because of fruit's sugar.  make sure you get good protein, and enough of it.  i dont know much about protein shakes, but a lean chicken breast on a salad sounds more appetizing and healthy.

that's what i was thinking.
i don't plan on doing 1000 forever- just until i reach my goal.
& i don't plan on keeping the special k cereal- it's just we have fat free milk that i usually eat the cereal with- & i don't want to waste it (:

thanks for the advice.

I'm shorter than you (4'11"), and if I exercise and move around a bit, I can lose on 1600 calories. Granted, it isn't a fast weight loss. I'm losing half a pound a week - sounds like nothing, but that's 25 lbs in a year, which is a lot for us short people.

yea- since i don't have much to lose, & it's just to get in a little more shape- i know my goal weight might take awhile. especially those last few pounds :[[

It's a bad idea no matter how you look at it.  You can't get adequate nutrition on less than 1200 calories.

I think what you experienced was an normal growth spurt for a girl your age. Ask any parent how many times they need to buy new clothes for their teens be cause the old ones are outgrown. 

Use the Expenditure/burn tool to determine how many calories you need to maintain your weight.  Eat less than that and you'll lose, eat more and you'll gain.  No need for restriction. 

I know you are looking for affirmation of your decision, but I remind you that the calorie count mission, stated in the posting guidelines, is to promote healthy and sustainable weight managment.  Calorie count can't support your desire to under eat.

 

Please be careful about restricting your calories at age 17.  You are not done developing and your body needs adequate nutrition to get the job done right.  I highly encourage you to focus on eating plenty of healthy foods and get lots of exercise, as those will be much better habits to carry throughout your adult life than the yo-yo dieting/regaining cycle.  Best of luck.

Our thoughts are that 1000 calories is not enough. I know what the velocity diet is. It's for weight lifters to rapidly cut their fat to show off their muscles. It's not for 17 year old girls trying to drop 3 vanity pounds.

the velocity diet is not just for weight lifters. it's for anyone in shape, who wants to get into even better shape, in a short amount of time.

3 lbs? more like 10.

anyway, i thank you all for the concern & advice. but i have restricted myself to only 1200-1300 calories before- & i excercised 3 times a week (20 minutes of running) & i didn't lose any weight?

as for excercising a lot, as much as i would like to, when i go back to school next week i'll be tutoring twice a week for 4 hrs total, working 3 days a week for 12 hrs, going to school, having homework & tests, having voice lessons an hr a week, & only going to the gym 3 days a week for an hour. i am also seeking to get more active in church, & i am also president of a club as well as active in 2 other clubs.

any ideas on how i can fit more activity?

Are you going to listen to anything other than "OH sure honey, 1000 is fine"

who said i didn't listen? just because i didn't say "THANKS GUYS. i will sure do something about it!"??

i can't exactly say that. but i can say i have tried eating more than 1200 calories before, & not losing weight. & excercising 3-4 times a week like i just stated.

excuse me, eating about 1200-1300 cals.

ilisa,

can you give a sample menu of what you eat on a daily basis? i am the same height, and would love to know what 1600 cals look like for others!!!

thanks!

seems it's not what you want to hear, but dropping below 1,200 just is not recommended unless you check with your doctor.  If they say ok, then go for it.  You don't need our permission.

you're right, it isn't what i want to hear.

but when are you ever going to hear everything you want to say in life?

i'm not narrow minded. i see from other people's views. & i can see why you all say what you're saying. that's why i thanked you all for your advice & your concern.

but you're also right with permission. all this forum can really do is give advice, but the ultimate decision is up to the person. if they have to learn the hard way, so be it. that's life, which can make it tricky.

Corn and carrots aren't actually vegitables.  Corn is a grain, like wheat or bread.  Carrots are roots, like potatoes and other starches.  Both are still sort of good for you, so eat them because you like them and they are natural!  YAY!

2 subway subs a day is horrid in nutrients alone, not to mention processed bread products.  It isn't a matter of putting more vegies in your sandwhiches, it's about getting vegies and fruits and fish and nuts and etc that aren't stocked in a subway shop.  There is a whole world of foods out there that are fresh and natural and good and healthy for you.  Try them.  Many of them in many different ways and combinations and find ones that you like.  You keep eating like you are and by the time you die, no one will have to embalm you.  You'll be nicely preserved allready.

thanks for the advice.

but i don't plan to eat 2 subs a day forever. once i get to my goal weight, i'll have it a few times a week. i'll tell you though, a sub sandwich is definitely better than my school food though.

i will definitely vary up my food once my weight improves & keep your thoughts in mind.

gokitty -  I know exacly how you feel.  I've also tried eating MORE just like everyone else suggests but It's been 2 months and I have not lost a single #.  I posted a thread about it a few days ago and got a bunch of mixed responses.  Lots of people just said eat more, more variety, more calories, etc.  However some told me to eat less and actually gave me some evidence proving that certain people, mostly shorties like us, may not need that many calories.  So I've started restricting to less than 1200 per day.  I am weary about it since so many people warn against it, but I have honestly tried everything else so I am going to give it a shot.  I'm only going to do it for two weeks, sort of an experiment to see if this is what works for me. 

Do what you want, and what works for you body is my advice.  Just please dont make yourself sick, if youre starving or weak thats a sign that you need MORE than 1000 calories a day.  I've been ok so far, a little more hungry than usual, but I still get through my work outs, and in general I have been feeling energetic and good. 

Like everyone else though, I'm gonna tell you to quit the subway junk and eat something good for you.  If you cut that many calories and continue to eat crap you are completely starving yourself of essential nutrients, and trust me you are causing permanent damage.  Every time you gain a few lbs, its going to get harder and harder to lose them.  So think of it as a trade off, you may have to force some of those yucky fresh veggies down, but they have so little calories that you get to be skinny in return!