In addition, consuming as few as 800 calories daily may not give you the energy you need for daily living and regular physical activity, especially if you eat the same foods every day. Talk to your doctor or dietitian to make sure you get the nutrients you need while on a very low-calorie diet.
Major studies have shown that following an 800 calorie a day diet is much more effective than going “slow and steady”. A rapid weight loss plan, with typical weight loss of more than 10kg sustained over 12 months, is shown to achieve a high rate of type 2 diabetes remission.
In a 800 calorie diet you will eventually lose muscle mass, bone density, skin elasticity and quite possibly some of your hair. Dropping your calorie count down to 800 calories a day may seem like a brilliant weight loss plan — but like anything that seems too good to be true, it is.
Dr Mosley also cites 12 weeks as the maximum period for the rapid weight loss stage of the Fast 800 and that, thereafter, a low-carb Mediterranean diet is followed.
"A very low-calorie diet is a medically supervised plan eliciting rapid weight loss in those with a high BMI. Because patients eat 800 calories or less per day, it should only be done under a doctor's supervision and paired with specialty foods to prevent nutrient deficiencies."
You will lose up to 10 pounds (4.5 kgs) if you consume 800 calories and exercise regularly. Make sure your doctor or nutritionist is aware of your diet pattern.
However, calorie intake should not fall below 1,200 a day in women or 1,500 a day in men, except under the supervision of a health professional. Eating too few calories can endanger your health by depriving you of needed nutrients.
For those who need fewer calories, a 1,200 calorie diet is usually safe and potentially effective. The number of calories a person needs each day depends on several factors , including their age, sex, activity level, and body size.
It's one of the most popular weight loss plans out there - but what is the Fast 800 Diet? According to founder Dr Michael Mosley, those who closely follow the Fast 800 plan could see themselves lose up to 11lb in two weeks by monitoring their daily calorie intake.
Such low calorie intake, will bring down the metabolic rate drastically. The body will react to low calorie consumption. It will start burning calories slowly and try to reserve it for later. No wonder you are not losing weight.
Please note, 800 calories a day (The Very Fast 800) is too low for those who are doing intense or endurance exercise. If you are doing intense/endurance exercise, you will require more energy than most.
For weight maintenance, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025 suggest a range of 1,600–2,400 calories for women and 2,200–3,000 for men — so you could consider anything below these numbers a low-calorie diet.
However, other studies show that while consuming 1,000 calories a day may result in significant weight loss, most people cannot sustain it and often experience significant weight regain . The reasons include regaining lost muscle mass and increased appetite. Also worth noting is that the human body can adapt.
Diets that dip below 1,200 calories per day are extremely difficult to adhere to for any length of time, because essentially -- you're starving your body. You may lose weight quickly on a 1,000-calorie diet, but the lost weight is mostly water and lean mass -- not fat.
Because you're not taking in enough calories, your body slows down your metabolism in an effort to conserve energy. You might feel sluggish and cold and have gastrointestinal abnormalities, such as constipation.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Even if your 800 calorie diet was not low in carbs, you could also not be consuming enough protein. A lack of enough protein in your diet could lead to swelling, fatty liver, skin degeneration, the increase and severity of infections, and muscle wasting (3).
So, if you start on the fast-track 800 calories a day plan, I advise you eat those calories over a 12-hour window (say between 8am and 8pm) and then go 12 hours without food. Stick to the plan and you could lose up to a stone in three weeks.
Ideally, a person may be able to lose a lot of weight even about 7-10 kilos in a month however, the techniques may not be ideal and advised for immediate or even long-term goals. Aim to lose about 1.5-2.5 kgs in a month.
So, if you're eating 1,200 calories and not losing weight, it could be that your body is really struggling to function on so little fuel and your metabolism is not functioning well enough to respond to a deficit in the way you'd like.
Undereating may cause weight gain for some people, but even if it doesn't, it's important not to eat so little that it adversely affects your health. From constipation to immune dysfunction, not eating enough can lead to a host of health issues.
An ideal daily intake of calories varies depending on age, metabolism and levels of physical activity, among other things. Generally, the recommended daily calorie intake is 2,000 calories a day for women and 2,500 for men.