Am I not eating enough?
kollar100
Posts: 17 Member
Hi everyone!
Goal goal is set at 1200. I workout for about 2 hours a day/4 days a week. I know I'm suppose to be eating more because I'm working out. My problem is, I haven't eaten my 1200 a day since I started this app and it won't update in my news feed because I'm getting a notice that tells me that this isn't healthy. I'm not starving myself but I don't want to over eat either. Advice please
Goal goal is set at 1200. I workout for about 2 hours a day/4 days a week. I know I'm suppose to be eating more because I'm working out. My problem is, I haven't eaten my 1200 a day since I started this app and it won't update in my news feed because I'm getting a notice that tells me that this isn't healthy. I'm not starving myself but I don't want to over eat either. Advice please
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Replies
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Eat more! You will burn out. Eating back some/all of your exercise calories (measure them as accurately as possible!) is the way MFP is set up. Netting 1200 is FAR from over eating.
Are you accurately logging as well? As in weighing your food?
And read these:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1399829/step-by-step-guide-to-losing-weight-with-myfitnesspal
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1235566/so-youre-new-here/p10 -
I say over eating because I'm already full with being under 1200 calories and I stay very active. I log everything that I eat. I don't eat back my workout calories because I want to lose weight, not maintain it. I workout in the morning after I drop the kids off at school but don't log my workout till nighttime because I don't want to eat back those calories. I do weigh everything that I eat and scan all the barcodes. I've lost almost 6 pounds since the kids went back to school but only 2 since I started back with the app. . . Which that weight doesn't really count as weightloss because the body fluctuates so much.
I was home with my kids over the summer and we also took a very long vacation. . . . So eating right was hard to do when u spend 90 hours in the truck in 2 weeks. . . . I did do salads when we sat down but more junk food than anything else. I gained 18 pounds over the summer which has had me a little depressed and mad at myself.
I'm kinda stick and don't know what to do. . . .
(sorry, this kinda turned into a venting session)0 -
Just because you're not hungry doesn't mean your body isn't starving - if you're eating less than 1200 cal it's very difficult to get all the nutrients your body needs.
If you're struggling to meet your goal, try adding more fats (many people cut these too low initially). Just a tablespoon of oil can add an extra 100 cals. Nuts, avocado, peanut butter are good higher calorie options too.0 -
That's not how MFP works
It's designed for you to eat back your exercise calories otherwise you don't full your exercise but recommend you eat 50% of MFP estimates as they are generally far too high
You didn't get overweight being unable to eat over 1200 calories. So adjust your diet
But tbh if you can put on 18lbs in a single summer when you think you're doing ok there's an issue that accurate consistent logging should help
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I weigh 188 and I'm 5-2. . . Workout 4 times a week at the gym for 2 hours each day and do workouts at home on my 'off gym' days. How much should I be taking in a day to lose weight. . . About 1-2 pounds a week? I need to be back at 140.0
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You need to eat your goal, every day. That is, your NET goal. So if you workout for 2 hours and burn 800 calories or whatever it is that you burn, then your new NET goal for the day is to consume 2000 calories.
This is how to fuel your body correctly, and this will also aide you in "correctly" losing weight. Yes, in order to lose weight, you must eat. If you choose to eat less than 1200, and that doesn't even include exercise calories, then you're malnourishing yourself which throws hormone levels off and also can actually slow your weight loss due to your body choosing to keep/store what little food you do give it.
I would make sure your macros are set appropriately, and take cans of tuna to the face if you run out of ideas or time to make food.0 -
The calories you're given by MFP are your deficit. Eating them doesn't mean you're maintaining. As the pp have said, it's designed for you to eat back some of your exercise calories.
I'm wondering about the accuracy of your logging if you say you're eating under 1200, very active, not eating back any calories and feeling full.0 -
I weigh 188 and I'm 5-2. . . Workout 4 times a week at the gym for 2 hours each day and do workouts at home on my 'off gym' days. How much should I be taking in a day to lose weight. . . About 1-2 pounds a week? I need to be back at 140.
Why are your workouts so long?
What are you doing?
Are you taking rest days?
I'd recommend
1) do minimum 2 x 30 minute cardio sessions (hr up) a week for basic cardio vascular health - log 50% calories from machines / MFP
2) 3x a week follow a progressive heavy weights programme like stronglifts 5x5 - log as 1 calorie
3) take at least one rest day
Tighten up your logging and judge it over time (6-8 weeks) before adjusting
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1296011/calorie-counting-101/p1
And for back to basics
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p10 -
I weigh 188 and I'm 5-2. . . Workout 4 times a week at the gym for 2 hours each day and do workouts at home on my 'off gym' days. How much should I be taking in a day to lose weight. . . About 1-2 pounds a week? I need to be back at 140.
I get the sense that you want this weight loss to happen ASAP. The weight didn't go on in a week, it won't come off in a week. You need to be patient and accept that progress may not be as fast you want. Exercising for hours and eating a dangerously low amount of calories is not a recipe for consistent, sustainable weight loss.0 -
You will burn out and will have to start over again.0
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You need to eat your goal and eat back some of your workout calories. Maximum 50%.
I don't see anything wrong with doing a 2 hour cardio workout. That's what I do 5 mornings a week. Some people just have a long endurance. I often watch people at the gym who get on each machine for 5 minutes and leave after a total of 30 minutes. That just doesn't work for everyone and I wouldn't call it a work out but a warm up! I don't feel like I have worked out unless I'm doing 2 hours or a distance run outside.
Please remember everyone is built differently no way could I cut to 30mins x 2 per week of cardio.0 -
louise5779 wrote: »You need to eat your goal and eat back some of your workout calories. Maximum 50%.
I don't see anything wrong with doing a 2 hour cardio workout. That's what I do 5 mornings a week. Some people just have a long endurance. I often watch people at the gym who get on each machine for 5 minutes and leave after a total of 30 minutes. That just doesn't work for everyone and I wouldn't call it a work out but a warm up! I don't feel like I have worked out unless I'm doing 2 hours or a distance run outside.
Please remember everyone is built differently no way could I cut to 30mins x 2 per week of cardio.
If your objective is endurance great - There's nothing wrong with it
But if you're doing it because that's what you believe you have to do to " lose weight" or get a healthy level of exercise then your basic knowledge on fitness is not accurate0 -
How are you dtermining your calorues burnt? What are you really doing in those 2 hours? I'm also 5'2" and have 10-15 more to lose. It is taking longer but I want it to be forever this time.0
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You are making this too hard. Eat what MFP recommends plus 1/2 your exercise calories. Track your calories accurately using a digital scales. That's all there is to it.0
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drewlamonte wrote: »
This is how to fuel your body correctly, and this will also aide you in "correctly" losing weight. Yes, in order to lose weight, you must eat. If you choose to eat less than 1200, and that doesn't even include exercise calories, then you're malnourishing yourself which throws hormone levels off and also can actually slow your weight loss due to your body choosing to keep/store what little food you do give it.
This isn't true.0 -
not feeling hungry during the first week or so is typical. You have plenty of stored fuel in your muscles and liver. Once you run out of stored glycogen your body will tell you to eat.0
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If you're really eating less than 1200 calories and working out, then you need to eat more. But we're really bad at knowing how many calories we're actually eating. Even if you use a food scale, your calorie count won't be exact. In any case, if you aren't hungry, that is an indication that you're eating more than you realize. Hunger is the body's natural way of telling you when you need to eat. Don't eat just to reach the goal calories. You'll either start getting hungry at some point, or you aren't really eating less than 1200 calories.0
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I know it sounds like I'm starving myself. . . I'm not. I feel full with what I eat. By what everyone is saying, I need to add calories.
My workouts consist of 30 minutes on the treadmill (sometimes more), the resistance machines and another cardio machine such as a stationary bike or elliptical. I am only able to go to the gym 4 times a week because of mine and my kids schedules. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have leg days and Wednesdays and Fridays I have arm days.
My calories burnt - I go off of the machine that I'm using. I enter my weight and it periodically takes my heart rate and it keeps track of my calories burnt. I do log my weights into myfitnesspal but it doesn't count calories because it's a 'strength' and not cardio.
I also do jumping Jacks, squats, switch kicks, planks, etc on my off days at the gym.
I know this weight won't come off quick. . . I'm sorry if I made it seem that way. I have been struggling with my weight since I had my 2nd child, 5.5 years ago.
I log EVERYTHING that I eat and usually only have water. I stay away from cokes. I base my calorie intake based on what myfitnesspal says when I scan Barcode and the actual label itself.0 -
Are you weighing everything you eat? As in checking that the grams you're eating match what you're logging?
The machines and MFP are very inaccurate at giving a calorie burn. That's why most people suggest only eating back a portion of exercise calories.0 -
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30 minutes on the treadmill at what speed / incline ..steady state or intervals
What kind of machines . The weights one - no calories from those
When you use the bike / elliptical same questions as treadmill
You can half the calories you get from the machines
Scan the barcode, check against the product and also weigh it (just until you get used to portion sizes)
No reason to stay away from coke if you calorie allowance or diet coke if not, it's not a factor in weight loss
Again I would really recommend a structured programme ...and a progressive one ...
Why are you spending 2 hours...do you enjoy it?0 -
30 minutes on the treadmill at what speed / incline ..steady state or intervals
What kind of machines . The weights one - no calories from those
When you use the bike / elliptical same questions as treadmill
You can half the calories you get from the machines
Scan the barcode, check against the product and also weigh it (just until you get used to portion sizes)
No reason to stay away from coke if you calorie allowance or diet coke if not, it's not a factor in weight loss
Again I would really recommend a structured programme ...and a progressive one ...
Why are you spending 2 hours...do you enjoy it?
My speed and incline change because I I try to beat my previous days speed and distance. I don't use the dead weights, I use the resistance machines (that's what one of the gym staff called them)
I do weigh my food. I stay away from cokes because they are empty calories and if I drink one then I drink more.
I like the gym. . . With all cardio and strength, I try to beat my last record. I'm wanting to lose weight but also tone up. I try to do am hour of cardio every day, 30 minutes at the beginning and end of my workout.0 -
At any point in this thread are you going to listen to the feedback given or are you just going to deflect continuously?
Quite simply you are failing to fuel your body properly for the amount of activity you're doing... aka, starving it. Your understandings of nutrition and fitness are skewed.0 -
louise5779 wrote: »You need to eat your goal and eat back some of your workout calories. Maximum 50%.
I don't see anything wrong with doing a 2 hour cardio workout. That's what I do 5 mornings a week. Some people just have a long endurance. I often watch people at the gym who get on each machine for 5 minutes and leave after a total of 30 minutes. That just doesn't work for everyone and I wouldn't call it a work out but a warm up! I don't feel like I have worked out unless I'm doing 2 hours or a distance run outside.
Please remember everyone is built differently no way could I cut to 30mins x 2 per week of cardio.
It does, dependent upon what your goals are.... If a person is just trying to lose some weight and maybe increase their cardiovascular health a little bit, there's nothing wrong with a 30 min workout and adjusting your calories as such.
My daily run tends to be 5.25 miles per day 4x per week, which at the height of my endurance was just over 30 minutes, is that not a sufficient cardio workout?
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I gained 18 pounds over the summer because we were on vacation and we indulged on things that we don't get where we live. . . . . I didn't even use myfitnesspal this summer, I just started when my kids went back to school and I got back to the gym. . . . . .
So how many calories should I be consuming a day? I know there is a problem with what I'm doing. . . That's why I asked for advise.0 -
I gained 18 pounds over the summer because we were on vacation and we indulged on things that we don't get where we live. . . . . I didn't even use myfitnesspal this summer, I just started when my kids went back to school and I got back to the gym. . . . . .
So how many calories should I be consuming a day? I know there is a problem with what I'm doing. . . That's why I asked for advise.
MFP is telling you how many calories to eat. Eat that many calories. When you exercise, eat those calories back. At least 2/3 of them.0 -
Ok so don't take this the wrong way, and I'll be honest I didn't read every single reply buuuuuuut your profile states you have 47lbs to lose - which is a decent amount. So, how did you get to be 47ish lbs overweight if you feel full eating under 1,200 calories/day?
Aside from that, if you're going to be super active eventually eating so little will burn you out. Your body just won't have the energy to keep going, you could be prone to injury, your basic body functions could stop working as well . . . there's lots that will happen. To me, this sounds like you're trying to do a quick fix. Slow and steady is the best way to lose because it is usually setting you up for long term success when you make slow and gradual progress.
I work out 5-6 days/week - I am 5'10 and 260lbs and I am losing on about 2,200 calories/day. The bigger you are, the more calories you need just to survive - IE your TDEE if you are 5'10 and 260 lbs is probably going to be higher than if you are 5'2 and 125 lbs. *assuming you're doing normal, every day living things and both people have relatively similar day to day activities - desk jobs, for example.
I'm not sure if you're looking for the "Oh no, eat more you're starving yourself" validation or what here, but the long and short of it is that if you're going to be super active you have to eat to sustain that.0 -
OP, enter into MFP to lose 1 lb/week. Eat that many calories plus about 1/2 of your exercise calories. Watch your weight decrease by about 1 lb/week (each week will be different).
You need to fuel your body for both its metabolic activity (organs keeping you alive, for example) and the exercise.0 -
I weigh 188 and I'm 5-2. . . Workout 4 times a week at the gym for 2 hours each day and do workouts at home on my 'off gym' days. How much should I be taking in a day to lose weight. . . About 1-2 pounds a week? I need to be back at 140.
Is 140 a healthy weight for you, or just what you feel you should be at? I feel like you're very focused on the scale and not so much on being healthy. If you're really only concerned about a number and not doing it for health/fitness/longevity of life reasons I feel like your success will not be as great or as long-term as it could be.0
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