Can we eat too little?

So, I'm wrapping up one week of literally doing everything right.  Every day this wee****pt my calories under 1500, exercised for at least 30 minutes, drank at least 64 oz of water, and took all of my vitamins.  My reward - I lost 5 lbs!  My question though is this -- each day I feel like I'm eating less and less with today being the lowest at 970.  Can we go too low with our calories like they preach at WW (no offense intended toward WW followers)?  Or, does our modified plumbing allow us to get by on signficantly less while losing weight? Thanks, Susan in VT RNY 5/21/03 333/165/215/145

I don't have an answer, but I've wondered the same.  These last few weeks, I've really been "feeling" my hunger and eating accordingly...the reason being, I felt the "feedings" every few hours turned out to be more like glorified grazing because I just wasn't hungry.  This most recent NUT says 6x a day, but I'm thinking that might not be so appropriate for someone almost 5yrs out. As a result, here lately I'm doing good to hit 1000 cals a day.  Granted, I haven't been active so I think my hunger is in line with that and probably will change once I get back at it.  Even so, I've dropped 9lbs in two weeks...I'm taking all my vites, I'm getting at least 60g of protein a day AND I'm eating carbs (primarily beans and nuts).  I plan to continue eating when hungry up to the 6x a day my NUT recommends once I increase activity, but until then, it ain't broke, so I ain't tryin' to fix it!

Hey... I truly believe that with my surgery my body has adjusted.  I get 800 somtimes 900 and other days 1300 calories and the week that is more on the lower side Im feeling just fine.  Its like now that my body is back to square one... a lower weight etc, it tells me what it needs and when it needs more.   Hugs and congrats on the five pounds!

Hi Susan!  I  know for me b/c of my hectic workout schedule, I can drop too low and go into starvation mode. I've done that a few times mostly due to just not paying attention enough. If I drop below 1200cal its not good for me. I can eat 2000cal daily and maintain easily, but that's partly b/c I workout alot. So, I try to find that delicate balance b/c going into starvation mode scares me~mostly b/c I feel that's how I ended up MO~too many crash diets where I went into s.m. and then ended up gaining back the weight plus more.

Just like a non-op, it's possible to eat too little.  It can be a challenge to find the right calorie range to lose slowly or maintain, but it is doable.  Also, if you consistently eat too little, your body will slow down your metabolism to conserve energy for the proverbial "rainy day."  So the trick is figuring out your "sweet spot" and sticking to it.   Like one of the prior posters, I work out a lot, so my daily calorie average is 2000-2400 per day.  I'm 28 months post op, started at 396, currently at 184, and still losing 3-5 pounds per month.  I eat 7-9 times per day, slightly larger amounts at traditional mealtimes, and 150-250 calorie "snacks" in between meals.  Mind you, I'm eating healthy stuff, not grazing on processed carbs or high-fat foods.  But by keeping my metabolism stoked with regularly-spaced "feedings," I can eat quite a bit and continue to lose.   In terms of how to find your "sweet spot," I find mine by (1) keeping a daily food journal, (2) recording and tracking my daily weigh, and (3) analyzing how my weight changes based on my food intake.  It's a slow process because it takes our body a while to respond to small changes, but it's been working for me, and I think it will be super helpful when I'm ready to maintain...  Good luck on your continuing journey -  Kellie

I'm like some of the others - I work out and eat a lot. I eat every 2-3 hours (try to stick to high protein and fiber foods) and end up with 1500 to 2000 calories a day. If I drop below that, I start to gain weight (and I have some low sugar problems too). I really like the idea of eating all through the day and hope I'm able to keep maintaining that way. Congratulations on your weight loss.

I got put in the hospital after five months of an 800 cal per day diet.  You can go too low while burning more weight; the faster you burn the fat, the more weight you'll lose, but rapid weight loss is very hard on your body.  Good luck.