On 450 calories today and need some help getting through this evening!

[ThisIsClare]

I'm on 1,000 calories a day now. Dropped from 1,200 after losing weight at that and then plateauing. However on a Monday I only taken in 450 calories to make up for the extra calories I usually eat at the weekend. It's not impossible - I make a soup with some protein in it, blend it, and drink it throughout the day.

Luckily I don't have any tempting food in the house (lots of chocolate but I'm more of a savoury person and am also good at resisting temptation). However I'm due to do a food shop after work this evening and I will need some help and motivation not to throw myself on the yogurts and fruit when I get back home.

Can anyone share their tips to avoid temptation when you're hungry? I will be going to be early and watching TV to chill before hand. But any tips to avoid stepping into the kitchen and undoing the hard work from today? Thank you!

I did this and seen but weight loss in a week. 8lb I lost and the week after I got very poorly, couldn't get out of bed /lethargic / stopped the gym because I had zero energy I felt ill!! Please re think this it's not healthy at all!!

I am a size 8 - 10. I'm 5.3 and weigh 8.8. I don't exercise. I used too but loathe it. I do not lose weight at 1,200/day. I eat fish, meat, vegetables and fruit. And eggs every day. I don't feel ill, the opposite actually. I know 450/day is very low and only do that on a Monday to try and balance the extra calories taken in at the weekend. That's all. Everyone is different. This works for me.

Sorry not to get involved in the whole good/bad discussion, OP. I just came on here to say: miso soup packets.

@Nandocushion never tried those. I'll have a look. Thank you :-)

As for exercising: can someone please explain to me (because I honestly don't get it), why eating, say, 1,500 calories a day, and burning 500 through exercise, is better than eating 1,000 calories a day and not exercise? Doesn't the body still only have the same 1,000 calories to work with?

You seem to be bang in the healthy weight region

Why are you trying to lose weight?

Are you Keto or just low carb?

Either way you need to eat more. If you have a dinner tonight of say Chicken Breast, Broccoli and Cheese you're looking at about 450 calories extra your body will thank you for. You won't wake up hungry-or a dress size bigger tomorrow.

I'm assuming you are keto as a ban on some fruits and yogs?

Because when you exercise you build muscle and you build cardiovascular capacity.

@ThisIsClare

I am a size 8 - 10. I'm 5.3 and weigh 8.8. I don't exercise. I used too but loathe it. I do not lose weight at 1,200/day. I eat fish, meat, vegetables and fruit. And eggs every day. I don't feel ill, the opposite actually. I know 450/day is very low and only do that on a Monday to try and balance the extra calories taken in at the weekend. That's all. Everyone is different. This works for me.

You are the same height as me, I'm a little heavier (just under 9 stone) but also size 8 - 10.

I'm going to be direct & say that not exercising is really terrible. Find something & do it.

Not exercising will set you up for a much higher risk of serious illness in later life. You will lose muscle tone & risk low bone density.

You can be thin. But unhealthy. And you will be without exercise.

Why do you want to lose weight anyway? Your weight is fine.

That's a really unhealthy pattern which will not do good things for your metabolism or blood sugar.

@ThisIsClare

As for exercising: can someone please explain to me (because I honestly don't get it), why eating, say, 1,500 calories a day, and burning 500 through exercise, is better than eating 1,000 calories a day and not exercise? Doesn't the body still only have the same 1,000 calories to work with?

Because exercising isn't just for the weight loss benefits, there's many many benefits to exercise. Simply crash dieting is not healthy. If continued for long term your metabolism will suffer. 450 calories is far too low for an adult and even a child who are recommended around 1600 calories.

Size 8-10? Stop starving yourself.
Contact GP if you have issues around body image or food in general.
450 cal a day is daft b

You are a healthy weight. Exercise is vital for heart health and bone strength, especially as we age. Eat some fruit & veg and get moving.

A fast a couple of times per week is fine but trying to compensate for having a mad weekend of 1200 per day does sound disordered.

That's less than you need for brain function, it's not healthy to eat 450 calories. 1000 is ok but 450 is dangerously low even if you overate at the weekend

And exercise isn't just for losing weight it's actually good for you especially resistance training as you get older to keep mobility and healthy joints

How much more are you planning to lose?

@murbblurb

This is a very disturbed eating pattern. Please get help.

Absolutely agree. Please @ThisIsClare you need to talk to someone about your diet.

Going below 1200 calories a day without medical supervision for a prolonged period is. It advisable. If you need to lose weight because of health issues please speak to your Dr/nurse and donor safely and slowly.

If you are restricting calories for other reasons, you need to address this....again, please seek professional help.

As for exercising: can someone please explain to me (because I honestly don't get it), why eating, say, 1,500 calories a day, and burning 500 through exercise, is better than eating 1,000 calories a day and not exercise? Doesn't the body still only have the same 1,000 calories to work with?

Because there's more to a healthy body than just how many calories you eat.

I'm on 1200 calories a day atm trying to shift a few lbs, if I'm hungrier on a day I try to make up the calories for some extra food by walking around my living room in the evening whilst watching TV, sounds a bit crazy but I did 5km last night in about an hour and apparently (you have to take with a pinch of salt!) burned 200 calories. I don't normally "eat" my exercise calories but I do it on days where I've eaten a bit more than planned. Walking is a great way of burning some extra calories if you're not a big exercise person, you could be a normal person and do it outside . I'm a healthy BMI but this method is still helping me shift 1.5-2lb a week (I just want to be a bit lighter within my healthy BMI!)

Please speak to your GP . This is very very unhealthy

@ThisIsClare

As for exercising: can someone please explain to me (because I honestly don't get it), why eating, say, 1,500 calories a day, and burning 500 through exercise, is better than eating 1,000 calories a day and not exercise? Doesn't the body still only have the same 1,000 calories to work with?

Nutrients that your body needs to function for one

One reason behind exercise (aside from all of the obvious benefits) is building muscle mass which in turn helps you look leaner and eat more calories. For example I have lost over 20kg over the past couple of years and now weigh around 53-54kg. I have consistently weight trained throughout this time in the gym and now at home. I have been able to increase my calories from 1200 a day to 1900 a day and still maintain my weight. I am also a size 6-8.

You do sound a perfectly healthy weight - there's no need to put yourself through this. As others have said, help maintain your weight with more exercise (though not for the sake of weight, focus on how good you feel afterwards) and eat normally.

Don't exercise on less than 1200 calories though.