Too far under calorie intake

shadesofidaho

I am trying to go lower carb. I at at the end of my eating day and only logging 805 calories.

Totals 805 66 24 32 6 873
Your Daily Goal 1,418 89 47 160 25 2,300
Remaining 613 23 23 128 19 1,427
Calories Carbs Fat Protein Fiber Sodium

I had my calorie goal set to 1200. I walked for 40 minutes with the dogs on leash. They keep me moving right along. Did not bother to log house work and what not.

Do I just bump it up with some peanut butter? I do not want to under eat to the point I am starving my body. I do not want any more carbs.

shadesofidaho

Forgot to any thanks for any help.

ana3067

Is there a medical purpose for lowering your carbs? Peanut butter contains carbohydrates.

just eat anything, honestly. Fruit, yogurt, chicken, donuts, chocolate, doesn't matter. Caloric deficit will allow you to lose weight, you don't need to be concerned with meeting a maximum intake for specific macronutrients unless you have a specific reason for eating x amount or y macro (e.g. I eat 145g protein because I am working on maintaining my muscle mass as much as possible)

sun_fish

More protein and fat will get you there, you are very low on both.

simplydelish2

Your protein is really low at 32 and 800 calories is far too low. I'd eat some protein and bump my calories at least 200-300 calories.

concordancia

Wow, how did you eat that little with custard and potatoes and still feel full?!

Yes, eat the Peanut Butter!! Two servings, even.

shadesofidaho

Thanks. Sorry I drifted off to do evening chores. I am trying to lower my carbs because reduced fat and reduced calories do not work for me. Been doing that for years.Still gaining. Maybe a couple scrambled eggs. I am a little bit hungry now but was not at all after eating my dinner. We are kind of low on good groceries for me right now because we have not been grocery shopping in over 2 weeks. Tomorrow is the day and I will make a list of goodies for me.

I have been working a different direction for my hubby that has to maintain his weight. He has had pancreas cancer and all through his chemo and surgery it was eat anything to fatten him up. Well it worked really well on me even though I tried to be some what careful of what I ate. So for now he is as well as he can be as far as we know. Next scan Friday. But he can eat fairly normal now.

I made the custard reduced sugar. And as I understand it low carbs is not no carbs. Might have over done it today. I just needed that potato. sigh. This is all so frustrating. And yes I do have a bit of problem being hypothyroid and on meds for that.

Thanks again. I will go do two more eggs and call it good.

chris

RodaRose

When you decrease carbs, you have to add something else like protein and fats and oils.
Suggestions for oils include butter, olive oil, full fat yogurt and milk, nuts, chia seeds.

shadesofidaho

I did 2 soft boiled eggs with a bit of butter. I skipped the peanut butter. It is just not appealing to me now. Wrote it down so I could get past today on the Foods.

Thanks for the suggestion. I will give it a try tomorrow. Looked out and it is snowing hard. Grocery run might be put off.

bulbadoof

I recommend steak.

Sued0nim

be careful of the MFP set exercise calories - half them

that said - yes eat more, you really want to fuel your body properly and not risk losing more LBM than you need to on a weight-loss journey

TavistockToad

If you're doing low carb then you definitely need more fat and protein... nuts, seeds, nut butters, full fat dairy, more calorific meat like lamb or beef not chicken, salmon, olive oil, avocado

shadesofidaho

Making a list for the grocery store. I think I need to lower the carbs even further. I was reading under 50 is good and under 20 is better. Thank you for the help. Chris

acorsaut89

I know you mentioned you have thyroid issues - which I don't have and I'm not a doctor - but what if you just ate in moderation? If you're going to be exercising on very little carbs I would be careful - your body does have energy and fat stores but eventually they will need to be replaced.

I have lost about 70lbs on a moderation diet - I don't cut anything out but eat moderately and responsibly. I have also sat with a nutritionist who specializes in designing food programs for those with a lot of weight to lose (which is myself) and she doesn't recommend cutting anything unless it makes me sick or upsets my stomach or causes a flare up with IBS (which I have). So what if you didn't cut carbs, but just ate moderate amounts of them?

Also, in looking at your diary you do eat a lot of items with high carb content. There are carbs in things other than just the traditional starchy carbs (potatoes, bread, etc). So I would cut out the campbells soups - which are high in both carbs and sodium if you really want to cut carbs.
Further - how tall are you? I know you said you don't lose weight easily, and I get that so you don't want to eat too many calories but you said a reduced caloric diet does not work for you, however 1,200 calories is a pretty reduced diet for the majority of people.

Yo yo dieting has proven to have negative effects in the long run on your metabolism and holding steady weight loss.

Just some food for thought

tulips_and_tea

If low carb works for you, then stick with it, but yes, definitely add in some healthy fats and more protein. It takes a little while to figure out what foods will work for you, so just give it time and adjust as necessary. Good luck and I hope your husband's test next Friday is good news!

sun_fish

shadesofidaho wrote: »

Making a list for the grocery store. I think I need to lower the carbs even further. I was reading under 50 is good and under 20 is better. Thank you for the help. Chris

Rather than lower carbs that low, what about taking a look at your tracking accuracy? You mention in your original post that reduced calories don't work, however, it is very common to underestimate calories and overestimate exercise. You may want to weigh and measure everything for about 2-4 weeks, then reassess.

TheVirgoddess

You lowered your carbs because calorie counting wasn't working.

How did you count your calories? Did you weigh/measure/log all your food? If not, I would try that before cutting carbs. I have a metabolic disorder, so I *need* to watch my carbs, and my personal goal is 50 carbs a meal (150 a day).

Next, 800 calories isn't enough, by a long shot. I think you already know that, though.

jgnatca

If budget is an issue, consider dried beans, chickpeas, and lentils. I love edamame too, a little more expensive, in the freezer aisle. Eggs are a wonderful package of goodness.

999tigger

sun_fish wrote: »

shadesofidaho wrote: »

Making a list for the grocery store. I think I need to lower the carbs even further. I was reading under 50 is good and under 20 is better. Thank you for the help. Chris

Rather than lower carbs that low, what about taking a look at your tracking accuracy? You mention in your original post that reduced calories don't work, however, it is very common to underestimate calories and overestimate exercise. You may want to weigh and measure everything for about 2-4 weeks, then reassess.

+1 to this and virgins post below. Check your calorie counting and get it as accurate as reasonable to elimintae the possibility that its nothing to do with your macros and everything to do with eating at a deficit or not.

Then +1 to anas post. Try it but dont worry. Deficit comes first imo.

shadesofidaho

YES I always weigh measure my foods. I have been dieting for 55 years or more. Honestly. Only one time in my life I was super thin and doctor said it was because my thyroid was ,in his words, shorting out. Then it quit me. If I eat more than 1200 calories EVER I gain weight. I know all about calories fat exercise. I wear w pedometer. I also measured with the car the mileage I am walking. I have two exuberant 40 pound border collies pulling me along too. I have spoken to the nitritionist. We are good buddies because of the care and food tracking I had to do for my hubbie. Oh and I did not really count in the exercise. I just added it for my one knowledge that I did it that day.

My normal not dieting food intake is 1000 to some times 1300 calories a day. If you go way back on my days here you can see I was trying lower fat and eating everything. It did not work. I lost about 12 pounds and gained half of it right back not changing a thing. The weight loss was water weight because the doc put me on diuretics because of edema.

The only think that worked for me was lower carbs. YES I did do soup the other day because we came home late from getting my husbands tooth pulled and I needed to get food into both of us in a hurry. AND I did not ever start the lower carb until Sunday. Yes I went over yesterday I had nothing else in the house as far as veggies to eat beside the potto last night. I HAVE to eat and I could hardly face another egg.

Grocery shopping planned on Friday was put off because of hubbies tooth pulling and we are too far from the store to just drop in. Today we are heading down the mountain to get groceries and the car serviced. money is not that much of an issue I just had unexpected delays to get groceries. And I had not decided to go low carb until last Sunday. Or maybe it was Monday. I am trying to remember everything and take care of everything and I do not try to remember anything that is not important.

OK I am down the road. Hubby is getting the car.

Thanks again Chris

esjones12

Did your doctor or nutritionist tell you to try lowering your carbs? If not - I would talk to them and follow their advice over those on the internet. It sounds like you have some health issues along with a ton of stress. If you are not not in medical need to lose a few pounds immediately, you may want to focus on your hubby getting healthy while just maintaining instead of focusing on losing. In my experience, a stressed body can refuse to lose weight. Though I do know some people who shred pounds when stressed.

Just my opinion. Best of luck to you and your hubby.

TheVirgoddess

When is the last time you had your fasting blood sugar tested?

ElizabethNJ

Remember not all carbohydrates are created equal. It's easy to label all of them bad, but biologically you need sufficient healthy carbohydrate intake. Just stay away from simple or refined carbohydrates like white bread, refined sugars, etc. Try and include (in moderation of course) complex carbohydrates like whole grains (not whole wheat), like oats, quinoa, peas, legumes, and high fiber veggie like spinach or green beans, are healthy sources of carbs.

shadesofidaho

PHEW back home away from the shopping insanity. Logged 1 1/2 mile walking while waiting for the car. I walked around and around the big car lot. Then grocery store. Have not checked since we have been home.

The doctor said I am obese. I NEED to loose weight. I want to loose weight. He wants me on statins and bla bla bla NOT going to do it. I need to loose ab out 60 or more pounds.60 is the goal for now.

Neither doctor or nutritionist said to go low carb. Both say reduce calorie and fat intake. I can not reduce calorie any lower then what I have been eating for years which is 1000 to 1300 calories, YES weighing my foods, a day. Reducing calorie intake less that that is not healthy. Years ago when thyroid quit me I logged weighed every bite in my mouth. 500 calories a day for over a month and gained weight. This is why I am trying the low carb again. It worked for me before.

I am not complaining about not loosing weight it has only been a few days lowered carb not low carb because I did not have the things I needed in the house to just go low carb except eggs and some meat. Now I will try to go as low carb as I can. or stay under the magic number of 50 as I keep reading. I know Atkins said 20. not sure I can maintain that. My problem was last night I was done eating and was only at 805 calories for the day. It is not hard for mt to eat less than 1000 calories.

Fasting blood glucose was 78 in August. Next test is Friday. Then doctor appointment the following Wednesday. The thyroid test will also be done then and since I have been off of the thyroid for so many years , due to lack of insurance, it was a guess at the amount I needed for this first prescription. I missed the 6 week appointment due to hubby being ill when that appointment was to happen. So this is a 4 month span of time.

SO I bought some veggies I can eat instead of potatoes. I bought eggs meat a little bit of fruit and some real cream for my coffee to give me the one thing special I need to make it through the day. I can make the reduced custard with cream and water instead of milk. If I make it again.

Thank you all again for all the information.

jgnatca

I think you are doing things the smartest ways you know how in your crazy schedule. I hope your hubby starts getting better soon. If you were in Canada I would advise you to push your doctor to see a specialist, but I am unsure how insurance works in the US. Weight loss is never going to be easy for you.

EatPaleoStyle

shadesofidaho wrote: »

I am trying to go lower carb. I at at the end of my eating day and only logging 805 calories.

Totals 805 66 24 32 6 873
Your Daily Goal 1,418 89 47 160 25 2,300
Remaining 613 23 23 128 19 1,427
Calories Carbs Fat Protein Fiber Sodium

I had my calorie goal set to 1200. I walked for 40 minutes with the dogs on leash. They keep me moving right along. Did not bother to log house work and what not.

Do I just bump it up with some peanut butter? I do not want to under eat to the point I am starving my body. I do not want any more carbs.

Just eat more healthy fats, there are no more secrets. But healthy fats of course.

Kalikel

One day at 800 won't harm you. You'll probably be hungrier tomorrow.

I know the issues of losing weight without any help from the thyroid, lol. It's difficult! I eat less than most people and must exercise, even so, or I just won't lose. Still, it comes off slowly!

Gotta play the hand we are dealt.

If you want to eat more, do it. If you don't, don't. It's one day.

TN239

It sounds like you really need to find a way to get on the appropriate levels of the appropriate thyroid medication. If your thyroid isn't working properly, it's going to be nearly impossible to lose weight. Once you get on the appropriate dose, you will be completely amazed at how much progress you make. For people with hypothyroidism, the medication is life-changing.

What you are trying to do, losing weight without your thyroid (or medication to replace the hormones it should be making) - is like trying to paddle a canoe with your hands, pushing against the current dragging you further away from your goals. No matter how hard you paddle with your hands (diet and exercise) you won't make much progress. But once you get that canoe paddle (appropriate dose of thyroid medication), your hard work will turn into great results. The answer is not to find new ways of hand paddling (low carbs? low fat?), no, the answer is to get the right dose of thyroid medication so that you can make the progress that you deserve to be making.

If you can't afford the thyroid medication:
1) Find out if you qualify for free health insurance through Medicaid, Medicare, Tricare, etc.
2) Find out if there is a free clinic in your county that could help you. Many counties set up free health clinics, and although there are long waiting lines, the doctors can help get you the medication you need. But this depends on your state and county.
3) Ask your doctor if she has free samples of the thyroid medication you need.
4) Ask your doctor if there is a generic version of the medication that would be more affordable.
5) Write a letter to the thyroid medication company explaining how your husband is a pancreatic cancer survivor and how you want to be healthy for him, and yourself.

Make sure to stay on top of your doctor appointments, not just your husband's. With your husband's cancer battle, I'm sure it would be easy to put your health on the back burner but you need to be healthy for him (and yourself of course.) Once you get your thyroid medication situation straightened out, on the correct doses - you will start making lots of great progress.

shadesofidaho

Reading this article is very interesting and I think it will help me. hope it is ok to share links here. http://authoritynutrition.com/how-to-lose-weight-as-fast-as-possible/

sun_fish

shadesofidaho wrote: »

Reading this article is very interesting and I think it will help me. hope it is ok to share links here. http://authoritynutrition.com/how-to-lose-weight-as-fast-as-possible/

I realize your original post was for ideas on how to get more calories in without more carbs. However, many people have given you great advice on ways to figure out why you must eat so low to lose or maintain. The post right above your last one (from TN239) was very detailed and helpful. I don't think this article you linked is going to give you any more success beyond what you've already tried. I agree with others that have suggested getting your medical issues under control rather than looking for a new diet to try.

jgnatca

Thyroid is relatively cheap medication. I realize you have to get up to the appropriate dose in stages.