too few calories?

Ive just input everything that I plan on eating today: grapes, banana, chopped chicken salad from subway with dressing, pork chops grilled with cabbage and green beans..........that totals 803 calories and I have 657 left...........this seems like an awful lot of food

Replies

  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    Sounds low to me. How did you determine how many calories were in your dinner? Did you weigh the pork chop or just guess? What about any oils used for cooking?
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Sounds low to me. How did you determine how many calories were in your dinner? Did you weigh the pork chop or just guess? What about any oils used for cooking?

    This.

    If you still end up short on calories, why not add in more at dinner or add dessert or something?
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    The generic calorie count for a pork chop is 505 calories for 219g. I assume 219g is the size of an average pork chop.
  • jasonmh630
    jasonmh630 Posts: 2,850 Member
    Sounds low to me. How did you determine how many calories were in your dinner? Did you weigh the pork chop or just guess? What about any oils used for cooking?

    +1... Alot of times people forget to add any oils and whatnot that's used to cook with. If you took that into consideration, I'd suggest eating a couple of TBSP (weighed TBSP) of PB or some full fat cheese to up the calories a bit.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    joaniej75 wrote: »
    Ive just input everything that I plan on eating today: grapes, banana, chopped chicken salad from subway with dressing, pork chops grilled with cabbage and green beans..........that totals 803 calories and I have 657 left...........this seems like an awful lot of food

    Assuming that all of your calorie information is correct (and I agree with those above who say it seems a little low), let's look at this from a nutritional standpoint. Since you already have it logged, take a look at your nutrition reports and see. Did you get enough protein for the day? Enough fat? (Most of us think MFP sets their goals for these a little low, so try to get close or even over most days). Plenty of fiber (around 20+ grams)? Did you get all of your recommended vitamins, especially things like calcium and iron?

    A day or two way below your calorie levels is fine, but it's hard to get all of the nutrition your body needs on 800 calories a day. Remember that feeling full or not hungry isn't always the best indicator of whether or not you're eating enough. The body's hunger signals can be knocked out of whack by too many things and won't always warn you if you're low on any particular nutrient.

  • MissyLaRae
    MissyLaRae Posts: 7 Member
    joaniej75 wrote: »
    Ive just input everything that I plan on eating today: grapes, banana, chopped chicken salad from subway with dressing, pork chops grilled with cabbage and green beans..........that totals 803 calories and I have 657 left...........this seems like an awful lot of food

    That's because you're only eating small amounts and you've got a lot of veggies in there. 803 calories for a day will put your body into starvation mode and you will begin to gain weight. Realistically you should be eating a minimum of 2500 calories a day.

    Check out 80/10/10 by Dr. Douglas Graham.
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    MissyLaRae wrote: »
    joaniej75 wrote: »
    Ive just input everything that I plan on eating today: grapes, banana, chopped chicken salad from subway with dressing, pork chops grilled with cabbage and green beans..........that totals 803 calories and I have 657 left...........this seems like an awful lot of food

    That's because you're only eating small amounts and you've got a lot of veggies in there. 803 calories for a day will put your body into starvation mode and you will begin to gain weight. Realistically you should be eating a minimum of 2500 calories a day.

    Check out 80/10/10 by Dr. Douglas Graham.

    Yep....just look at all of those overweight starving children in 3rd world countries!!


    <insert eyeroll emoticon here>
  • GiveMeCoffee
    GiveMeCoffee Posts: 3,556 Member
    MissyLaRae wrote: »
    joaniej75 wrote: »
    Ive just input everything that I plan on eating today: grapes, banana, chopped chicken salad from subway with dressing, pork chops grilled with cabbage and green beans..........that totals 803 calories and I have 657 left...........this seems like an awful lot of food

    That's because you're only eating small amounts and you've got a lot of veggies in there. 803 calories for a day will put your body into starvation mode and you will begin to gain weight. Realistically you should be eating a minimum of 2500 calories a day.

    Check out 80/10/10 by Dr. Douglas Graham.

    2500? Really without knowing any stats you just throw out that number. Also no on the starvation mode. You really need to do some more research.

    OP your estimates seem low as stated above. But if you are that low add something else in, but make sure your nutritional needs are met once you do that, have 2 pork chops, have 1/2 cup of ice cream.

  • xmichaelyx
    xmichaelyx Posts: 883 Member
    MissyLaRae wrote: »
    That's because you're only eating small amounts and you've got a lot of veggies in there. 803 calories for a day will put your body into starvation mode and you will begin to gain weight. Realistically you should be eating a minimum of 2500 calories a day.

    Check out 80/10/10 by Dr. Douglas Graham.
    1. The concept of starvation mode is idiotic, as I_WILL_END_YOU points out.
    2. I'm a 6', 180-pound guy who lifts, and I maintain at 2500 calories.

  • CaitlinW19
    CaitlinW19 Posts: 431 Member
    For one thing, weight your food. Estimates can be way off and it sounds like yours are.

    Secondly, amount of food and the caloric content of food aren't really the same thing. For example...I could probably eat a 100 pounds of celery and not reach my calorie goal for the day...or I could eat 1 Big Mac and eat enough calories for days in that one meal. I'm just guessing as I don't know the exact calories of celery per/lb or a Big Mac but clearly quantity doesn't always equate to calories/nutrition.
  • zamphir66
    zamphir66 Posts: 582 Member
    edited October 2014
    nm

  • katherinemab
    katherinemab Posts: 57 Member
    Sounds low to me. How did you determine how many calories were in your dinner? Did you weigh the pork chop or just guess? What about any oils used for cooking?

    I second this. Can't see your diary as it's locked but I highly recommend weighing all foods and entering EVERYTHING (cooking oils, a bite of this or that) for an accurate calorie count! I keep pre-measured snacks that are high in calories for when I'm just below my goals (avocados, peanut butter).
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  • Michifan
    Michifan Posts: 95 Member
    That's my line. :)

    Everyone has a different set point on their caloric intake. I have maintained 800-1000 calories a day for just under 3 months, lost almost 60 pounds to date - and still walk an hour a day / bike an hour a day on the weekends. No negative mood issues, no cognitive issues. For the record - I'm currently 6'0 and weigh 247.

    Just because I can do less calories than someone else doesn't mean that I'd tell everyone to intake less than 1,000 calories - and frankly those of you that need more calories shouldn't be telling anyone that less calories are good or bad (unless you are the physician / dietician for the particular person and that person has waived any HIPAA medical confidentiality).

    The recommended caloric counts are generic on purpose. Diets less than 800 calories are only recommended for those under the care of a physician - who is likely running blood and heart tests along the way.




    MissyLaRae wrote: »
    joaniej75 wrote: »
    Ive just input everything that I plan on eating today: grapes, banana, chopped chicken salad from subway with dressing, pork chops grilled with cabbage and green beans..........that totals 803 calories and I have 657 left...........this seems like an awful lot of food

    That's because you're only eating small amounts and you've got a lot of veggies in there. 803 calories for a day will put your body into starvation mode and you will begin to gain weight. Realistically you should be eating a minimum of 2500 calories a day.

    Check out 80/10/10 by Dr. Douglas Graham.

    Yep....just look at all of those overweight starving children in 3rd world countries!!


    <insert eyeroll emoticon here>

  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    The generic calorie count for a pork chop is 505 calories for 219g. I assume 219g is the size of an average pork chop.

    um...no...an average size pork chop IS NOT 219g....more like 100g to 130g...I just checked the USDA site...


    I thought that sounded high. I don't eat meat, so I'm clueless on portion sizes. I was just going by the serving size on the google search.
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  • jkwolly
    jkwolly Posts: 3,049 Member
    MissyLaRae wrote: »
    joaniej75 wrote: »
    Ive just input everything that I plan on eating today: grapes, banana, chopped chicken salad from subway with dressing, pork chops grilled with cabbage and green beans..........that totals 803 calories and I have 657 left...........this seems like an awful lot of food

    That's because you're only eating small amounts and you've got a lot of veggies in there. 803 calories for a day will put your body into starvation mode and you will begin to gain weight. Realistically you should be eating a minimum of 2500 calories a day.

    Check out 80/10/10 by Dr. Douglas Graham.

    Yep....just look at all of those overweight starving children in 3rd world countries!!


    <insert eyeroll emoticon here>
    Lolz.

    For real, let's just throw out 2500 calories without any personal info! Real smart.

    I'd gain at 2500, but since you said I can I am sooooo going to eat that much now. Peanut butter here I come! <3

  • dgroulx
    dgroulx Posts: 159 Member
    I've had several doctors that recommended that I eat 800 calories a day. I've lost a lot of weight by doing this. Nowadays, I eat mostly proteins and fats. Carbs have no value, and the carbs that I eat come from vegetables only. There is no starvation mode. If there was, there would be obese children starving in Africa. Don't forget all those fat prisoners liberated from concentration camps after World War 2. If you are not hungry, don't eat.
  • jkwolly
    jkwolly Posts: 3,049 Member
    dgroulx wrote: »
    I've had several doctors that recommended that I eat 800 calories a day. I've lost a lot of weight by doing this. Nowadays, I eat mostly proteins and fats. Carbs have no value, and the carbs that I eat come from vegetables only. If you are not hungry, don't eat.
    This is just such bad advice I don't even know where to start.
  • HerbertNenenger
    HerbertNenenger Posts: 453 Member
    dgroulx wrote: »
    I've had several doctors that recommended that I eat 800 calories a day. I've lost a lot of weight by doing this. Nowadays, I eat mostly proteins and fats. Carbs have no value, and the carbs that I eat come from vegetables only. There is no starvation mode. If there was, there would be obese children starving in Africa. Don't forget all those fat prisoners liberated from concentration camps after World War 2. If you are not hungry, don't eat.


    carbs.......have no value? mmmmmmmmm NO !

  • I_love_frogs
    I_love_frogs Posts: 340 Member
    Food Scale.

    Get it.

    Use it.

    Love it :)

    It makes a huge difference when you are counting calories....I remember way back when thinking that the spoonful of peanut butter I was snacking on HAD to be a serving, because it was for me. Weighing and measuring it out... geez it was like 2 servings worth :( Same for the salads and so on. I figured it HAD to be close to the 2.5 cups (85g) listed on the bag as a serving. Turns out MY idea of a serving wasn't even close.

    Scales are cheap....start measuring your food and everything, and stop eyeballing it. That will help you immensely in the long run.
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  • joaniej75
    joaniej75 Posts: 136 Member
    ok thanks everyone...I changed up my menu last night and had a baked potato instead of cabbage and green beans--I also put ranch and a little butter on it..and I measured everything. The pork chop had no oils as it was baked. Thanks for all the input
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    MissyLaRae wrote: »
    803 calories for a day will put your body into starvation mode and you will begin to gain weight.

    Wow! You figured out how to break the laws of thermodynamics! You deserve a Nobel Prize...

    Or wait maybe this idea is bullpoop and needs to be put to rest.

  • Lorleee
    Lorleee Posts: 369 Member
    It looks like there's a meal missing. Just fruit for breakfast? You could be enjoying eggs and toast, too, and have still have calories to spare. :) You could add soup to your salad.
  • nope take into account that subway dressing are calorie ladden like 200 calories if they put it on + oil on food you'd probs be on 1200 calories
  • michaelachallis
    michaelachallis Posts: 137 Member
    If you have all the food planned and don't want to eat more (which i would suggest doing) just add butter to your beans, or an avocado to your salad etc etc. Calorie dense foods will take your intake up easily.
  • joaniej75
    joaniej75 Posts: 136 Member
    Lorlee I am not a breakfast person. Fruit is all I can tolerate. Chicacherry I did not get the subway dressing. I took my salad home and measured out my own dressing. I managed to get my calories up by adding a potato and some other stuff. Thanks