As you know, in order to lose weight you must be burning more calories then you’re consuming. However, there are a lot of people out there that consume TOO little and can’t seem to lose weight! And the truth is that this isn’t the only problem. Little do they know they are actually damaging their metabolism, organs, muscle, and depriving essentially nutrients from their body.
As a standard guideline, the minimum amount of calories that should be consumed on a daily basis 1,200 calories per day for women and 1,500 calories per day for men. These minimums are based on recommendations from the National Institutes of Health. They are their to ensure that the majority of people trying to lose weight do so safely and get enough essential micro and macro nutrients from food to prevent malnutrition.
So what happens when you under eat?
After several days of under eating, the body goes into “fight or flight” or to energy-conservation mode. In other words, this means that your metabolism slows down tremendously. As carbohydrate and glycogen stores deplete, protein and fat become the dominant sources of fuel. And after 2 more days with low amounts of food, your body runs out of glycogen to power and then targets muscle and vital organs as it’s next source of fuel. This essentially means that in order for your body to function is uses stored energy from your body to function! Not from stored food! Now you probably understand why you’ve been more tired after eating a low caloric diet right?
2 Additional Reasons Why Eating Too Little Is a Bad Idea
- Slower metabolism which can cause damage to muscle/organs. With too few calories on board to power you through your daily activities, your body learns to adapt by significantly slowing down your metabolism. Loss of valuable muscles and organs. The problem is that in long run your body can’t distinguish between muscle and organs so it breaks down both types of tissues
- Nutrient deficiencies. Eating very few calories will also decrease the amount of micronutrient levels. Meaning, you won’t a sufficient level of vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes.
Moreover, it’s important to understand that every body is different, so you must experiment with different methods to see what works best for you. Under eating is neither a practical nor a sustainable solution for long-term results and rewards.