Is it bad if under calorie goal?

musicmint

If you are eating healthy and feel full, but still have leftover calories, is it bad to not eat them?

jwdieter

It's fine to not eat when not hungry, unless you're trying to gain weight.

metacognition

No, to a point. Eating less today means that you can eat more on another day when you feel more hunger. Losing weight is like doing accounting. As long as the numbers balance out then you'll succeed.

The only possible problem is if you're active. If you eat too far below your active metabolic rate, your workouts will slide on the following couple days and you will hit "the wall" on cardio, as well as experience some weakness during weight training.

musicmint

Actually felt dizzy during my workout yesterday...but I don't want to eat too much. Maybe I should just eat more quantities of salad??

jwdieter

Actually felt dizzy during my workout yesterday...but I don't want to eat too much. Maybe I should just eat more quantities of salad??

Just be honest with yourself. If you're choosing to not eat your calories because you don't want to eat too much, you're probably doing it wrong. If you're truly not feeling hungry, eating more salad wouldn't be on the table.

If you're feeling weak and dizzy, and you're under 1,200.. you're probably hungry.

TeaBea

If you are regularly under goal YES it's bad. Here's why .....

Losing weight too fast promotes MUSCLE loss .... not just fat loss. Moderate weight loss is healthy weight loss. I exercise (in part) to maintain muscle while dieting ..... eating only 1,200 calories and never "fueling" my workouts (with additional calories) defeats that purpose.

musicmint

Actually felt dizzy during my workout yesterday...but I don't want to eat too much. Maybe I should just eat more quantities of salad??

Just be honest with yourself. If you're choosing to not eat your calories because you don't want to eat too much, you're probably doing it wrong. If you're truly not feeling hungry, eating more salad wouldn't be on the table.

If you're feeling weak and dizzy, and you're under 1,200.. you're probably hungry.

I have already consumed 1,300 today. I am 5 foot 11 inches....I am just really tall so I need to eat more calories.

TeaBea

Actually felt dizzy during my workout yesterday...but I don't want to eat too much. Maybe I should just eat more quantities of salad??

Salad is not the best choice if you are not meeting calorie goals. The vegetables in salad are high in fiber .... these make you "feel full" on very few calories.

Add some calorie DENSE foods to your diet. Nuts, nut butters, seeds, avocado, olive oil ...... these contain healthy fats ..... lots of calories but small portions.

Add some nuts (or cheese) to your salad .... use full fat dressing.... you'll reach your goal in no time.