You can eat that much when your metabolism is using it instead of storing it. A slow and sluggish metabolism stores fat even when you eat 1000 calories but a fast and efficient metabolism doesn't store energy as fat even when you eat 2500 calories. Its all about balance and stage of life and teens are at the stage where they need the most for growth, development and daily activity and when you eat less then your body needs you cause more harm and fat storage then good and weight loss.
Coach Tanya
SUPERSTARLALA 10/12/08 4:55 P
I just can't eat that much
EVERDREAM1 10/12/08 8:25 A
Actually, sports, even if you were an adult, you could still eat about 2000 calories and maintain, so long as you exercised. A teenagers metabolism is higher than an adults, so could eat more. Our basual metabolic rate is higher, so we need more. Not many adults can even get away with 1200, because it's simply so low.
SPORTSRMYLIFE 10/12/08 4:05 A
i totally agree! its way too much. i got the same calorie range as you did. i am flipping out! i mean for my age and size i should only eat 1200 calories not 1800!
COACH_TANYA 10/8/08 2:49 P
It will slow your metabolism. Exercise recommendations include trying to get at least 10 minutes of cardio every day or 30 minutes several times a week plus strength training a couple times a week.
Coach Tanya
NESSABESSA3842 10/8/08 9:28 A
would it be totally bad if i didn't reach 1800 everyday but got up to between 1650-1770 a day??? or is that still harming my body??
and also for a teen what is the reccomended amount of exercise for a normal teen??
*COSMOCHICK93* 10/8/08 6:50 A
well thx!! Tht was loads of help!! Rele appriciate it! :)
COACH_TANYA 10/6/08 10:56 A
Remember that your body is suppose to change and develop from a childs body into a woman's body during your teen years. If you look at the 10 year old body of a girl and then look at the body of a 25 year old woman you will see a big difference in body shape and size. That is the transition that teens go through. You will see changes in arms, legs, core - related to muscle definition as well as the curves of the waist, hips and thighs. This is NORMAL and part of development. I think some body images issues come from wanting to keep a girls body shape and size instead of embracing the change to a womans body. If you have a 15 year old under developed body from stunted growth and development from undereating when you are 25, you would not feel happy, sexy, and desirable at that point in your life. So remember that you are "working through" the growth and development stage of your life and that means change in size, shape and the number on the scale and that IS normal and you have to eat to support that growth and development.
Sparkpeople is geared to adults that have completed growth and development and that is why it is for people over 18 (although complete development doesn't happen for many until their mid 20's) and has a different calorie and nutrient recommendation.
Coach Tanya
SOLVEIG17 10/5/08 11:30 P
I actually was a member of sparkpeople before I joined sparkteens and I recall being able to eat a minimum of 1200 calories a day. But of course, I also said that I was over eighteen and sparkpeople allows you to set up your nutrition & Fitness Tracker so that you can lose 2 lbs a week vs. just 1. So that's why you can eat less. I think that sparkteens is different because we need more energy (calories) because we're still growing, and apparently it's unhealthy for us to lose more than a lb a week. If you're older, it might be safe to start gradually cutting down on the calories, but as you probably know, if you go below 1200 a day your body goes into starvation mode, and you'll gain weight if you start eating more. I hope that kind of helped.
DANCINQUEEN09 10/4/08 1:23 P
Here's an article that may answer your question. It has to do with the whole starvation mode.
I'm a prime example of why eating that much works. For 5-6 months, I exercised intensely but only ate 1200 calories (I didn't track my food then, so I had no idea it was so low). Doing this, I only lost a few pounds and it was really discouraging. Then, when I started eating more (at least 1800), the weight started coming off much more quickly!
*COSMOCHICK93* 10/3/08 11:04 P
dont y'all think tht 1,800-2,000 calories a day is a bit to much to lose weight?? i, honestly think i cant eat tht much! n if u agree with their theory plz explain.
