Can I survive on 800 calories a day?

Yes you can, but not for long. As demonstrated above, even the small group of people who are allowed by doctors to be on such a restrictive diet only follow it for a short period of up to 12 weeks ( 33 ). They are also strictly monitored to combat any side effects that may arise. If you choose to try this diet on your own, chances are you’ll not even get to the 12-week mark without either failing or being hospitalized. If you still insist on trying this eating plan, we suggest doing it as part of the 5:2 intermittent fasting diet. Eat normally for 5 days a week and for 2 days (non-consecutive days), limit your calorie intake to just 800 kcal. This is much safer than trying to survive on 800 kcal 7 days a week.

Is it OK to eat an 800-calorie meal?

It depends on your overall calorie needs and how you divide them up between meals and snacks. For example, if your calorie needs are 2,500 per day and you typically eat 3 meals with no snacks in between, then each meal will be around 800 calories, give or take. However, if your daily calorie needs are 1,800 and you eat 3 meals plus 2 snacks, a single meal of 800 calories doesn’t leave a lot to divide between your remaining meals and snacks. It’s fine to have an 800-calorie meal occasionally if this sounds like you, but you’ll need to adjust the rest of your day if you don’t want to go over your total calorie goal. You also won’t be very hungry for several hours after a meal that is probably larger than you’re used to.

How long can you stay on an 800-calorie diet?

It’s hard to say. While research suggests that people under medical supervision can stay on this eating plan for up to 12 weeks, there are no statistics on how long the average person could last on this meal. To be on the safe side, we suggest not trying this diet at all. If you want to lose weight, as a woman, a 1,500-calorie meal plan is a good place to start, but that could vary depending on your calorie needs and activity level. As a man, a 2,000-calorie meal plan may be better for you, again depending on your needs and activity level.

What happens if you eat 800 calories a day for a month?

The scale will go down not entirely due to fat loss, but also because of muscle loss and dehydration. You may also be a lot weaker than before as your body will not have the energy it needs to sustain itself. Your immune system may also be much weaker, which means you may get sick more often. You may also be feeling constantly nauseated and constipated, if you’re not battling diarrhea. Because you’re basically starving yourself, you’ll also be at a higher risk of organ damage.

Is the 800-calorie diet worth it for weight loss?

No, it isn’t. Not only does it require medical supervision for it to work safely, it has multiple side effects that could be life-threatening if left unchecked. We would not advise anyone to try an 800-calorie diet. Instead, we suggest cutting 500 to 750 calories from your daily calorie intake via food and drinks. A super easy way to do this is to choose simple but healthy low-calorie breakfasts. If you prefer heavier meals in the morning, try lighter lunches or dinners. Look up low-calorie lunch recipes to help you meal prep healthy but filling low-calorie meals for afternoon and evening meals. You should also make sure to do some cardio and weight training for 30 minutes a day. The results from this may be slower, but they won’t be life-threatening and you can be sure that they’re sustainable in the long term.