About Melissa Anderson Expertise I have a Bachelor`s degree in biochemistry, researched metabolism and endocrinology for four years, and am currently attending medical school. Ask me anything and everything relating to Atkins and other low-carb diet plans!
Experience I've been on Atkins since 2001 and I'm still going strong!
Education/Credentials Professionally, I have a Bachelor's degree in biochemistry, researched metabolism and endocrinology for four years, and am currently attending medical school.
Question hello my name is Zack
im a 14 year old boy,
I currently restrict my calorie intake to 1100 - 1200 a day. I choose to do this because i read somewhere that thats the minimum amount of calories needed to keep the human body from entering "starvation mode"
however i am also awhere that i am a teenager, and i do need to grow and develop.
I feel like im eating just as much if not more than everyone else.
Im moderitly active i do 50 star jumps, 25 crunches, 25 push ups and 25 bench presses every day.
twice a week i go swimming and do half an hour of breaststroke.
i also play an hour of gentle badminton once a week.
(i may do other things aswell ie. play squash, cut the grass, trampoline ect.)
I eat healthily today i had this...
BREAKFAST
30g of readybreak made with 150ml milk
36g of raisens
1 cup of coffee
1 glass of water
cals = 285
MID MORNING
1 cup of tea with miniscule amount of milk
cals = 2
LUNCH
2 slices of wholemeal bread (toasted no butter)
1/2 a can of baked beans
100g of carrot
27g of uncooked spinach
some sliced cucumber
1 glass of water
1 cup of coffee
cals = 380
DINNER
2 glasses of water
75g of wholemeal pasta
87g of quorn mince
100g of kidney beans
125g of dolmio extra spicy sauce
cals = 491
TOTAL CALORIE INTAKE - 1158
i eat healthily (i think!)
but i was just wondering if the 1200 calorie diet is suitable for someone like myself? and if it isnt what will happen if i continue with it?
thankyou for your time and i hope you can answer my question
:D
hope to here from you soon!
Answer Zack-
You're making great food choices. But you need to eat more. 1200 calories is the minimum amount for a five foot tall, 100 pound woman who's not growing. If you don't give your body enough calories, you won't grow. It isn't a matter of growing more slowly-if you eat a low calorie diet in your teens, you will never reach your true adult height. Are you OK with being six inches shorter than all the other guys?
Secondly, your diet is pretty low in calcium. Eat what you're eating, add three 8 oz glasses of 2% milk (it's OK to substitute yogurt for one of the glasses of milk) plus one extra snack, and you'll be in good shape.
Good luck!
Melissa
