This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our teamof licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

So you want tolose weight.

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You’ve overhauled your diet.

Buffed up your hours at the gym (or started going to the gym).

Cut back or evengave up alcohol.

Woman waking up in bed but is exhausted and sleep deprived

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How can you tell you’re not eating enough and what is enough, anyway?

How many calories do you better eat a day?

Which is to say that maintaining a 1,200-calorie diet in the long-term simply isn’t going to be possible.

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How to determine how many calories is enough to eat a day.

The safe amount of calories to cut per day for weight loss.

But trying to get by on so few calories can also manifest in other not-so-good ways.

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Below, check out all the telltale signs you’re not eating enough and it’s sabotaging your health.

Exhaustion

Fatigue will inevitably set in when you’re consuming too few calories.

“You will feel tired and sluggish, and performing everyday activities will feel more difficult.

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A lack of energy may be especially apparent during workouts,” says Acosta.

“Research shows that continuous diet restriction can lead to prolonged slow metabolism even after ending the diet.

This might explain why many restrictive,yo-yo dietersregain weight quickly.”

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“Without enough protein to feed or maintain the muscles, one can also experience muscle loss.

Loss of muscle disrupts the metabolic rate, making it slower.

Simply stated, less muscle equals a slower metabolism.

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In extreme, prolonged, calorie restrictive diets the body can also kick into ‘starvation mode’.

Your beauty fades

But really, though.

“In some cases, undereating can lead to low blood sugar.

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Your mind is a steady stream of french fries.

You find yourself fantasizing about dinner.

You’ll get sick more often than normal

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Cough, cough, do we hear?

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Cold central over here, ladies and gents.

“Gut dysbiosis is characterized by an imbalance of good gut bugs (probiotics) in the gut.

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Woman craving junk food over salad

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Sick woman sitting on couch wrapped in blanket

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Womach clutching bloated belly

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