Anyone else find themselves consistently under the calorie goal?

jamielynette1
jamielynette1 Posts: 3 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I feel like I eat so much all day, logging in everything accordingly, but I always fall short!! Sometimes I feel like I should eat something just to fill it up, but I'm not even hungry. Do you have a go to snack when you're trying to reach your goal? Or do you just not worry about it? Thanks!
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Replies

  • aklaw01
    aklaw01 Posts: 1 Member
    That is a wonderful question. I to have the same issue. Any help would be great. Thanks!
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    No...I have to plan to try to keep to my goal. Being under is just out of the question. Are you weighing all your food on a scale? Sometimes if you're not, you are eating more than you think.

    Add something you like to eat or something that will help you reach your macros to the end of your day.
  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    Sure but I'm sure I underestimate calories like most people so... it works.
  • jamielynette1
    jamielynette1 Posts: 3 Member
    You know I was thinking that. I don't have a food scale, but being a full time employee and single mom I don't necessarily have time to do much with it. A lot of things I eat I just scan the Barcode so it's all there. I log every piece of fruit and tablespoon of creamer, so I know it's not that.
  • oh_happy_day
    oh_happy_day Posts: 1,137 Member
    jamielynette1 wrote: »
    You know I was thinking that. I don't have a food scale, but being a full time employee and single mom I don't necessarily have time to do much with it. A lot of things I eat I just scan the Barcode so it's all there. I log every piece of fruit and tablespoon of creamer, so I know it's not that.

    If you're not weighing your food, then you're very likely eating more than you think. Even using the barcode scanner I still weigh everything! You'd be surprised how much the amount differs from the label.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    oh_happy_day wrote: »
    jamielynette1 wrote: »
    You know I was thinking that. I don't have a food scale, but being a full time employee and single mom I don't necessarily have time to do much with it. A lot of things I eat I just scan the Barcode so it's all there. I log every piece of fruit and tablespoon of creamer, so I know it's not that.

    If you're not weighing your food, then you're very likely eating more than you think. Even using the barcode scanner I still weigh everything! You'd be surprised how much the amount differs from the label.

    +1
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    I don't have that problem at all. I try so hard to not be way over!

    I would definitely not try to fill in those calories since you're not weighing your foods.

    I'm definitely all about weighing foods, even those with a barcode. It doesn't really take any time so don't worry about that.
  • shadowconn
    shadowconn Posts: 141 Member
    I don't worry about being a few hundred calories under my goal. I only worry when it's under 1200. But there's a good chance I miscalculated something so I just let it go for the most part.
  • PinkPixiexox
    PinkPixiexox Posts: 4,142 Member
    There are days when I have around 100 left to spare and I'm not hungry either but I always make sure I use these the best way a can. Depending on the amount left, I'll have something small and chocolatey for a nice little treat OR i'll have a piece of fruit.
  • jamielynette1
    jamielynette1 Posts: 3 Member
    Thanks guys! I'll definitely look into a scale. :)
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I had that problem at first. It didn't last long.
  • jessathemessa
    jessathemessa Posts: 65 Member
    I had that problem at first because I was trying to eat 100% healthy. If you're eating all salads, veggies, etc it can be hard to hit your goals. However, you shouldn't cut everything out of your diet. Make sure you're eating enough protein and fats. I'm sure if you're under you could bring yourself to eat a cookie at the end of a successful day. You can play around with your meals and add some things you miss. Remember, CICO but also a sustainable diet for when you reach your goal weight.
  • rosiebubbles02
    rosiebubbles02 Posts: 10 Member
    A food scale is essential! I know it might seem like it takes time, but when you can see exactly what you're eating, and how off you've been, it's worth it. Even fruit can have a huge weight range which can affect calorie consumption. I know you said you're going to get one, good for you! It's a total game changer.
  • LeslieB042812
    LeslieB042812 Posts: 1,799 Member
    Yes for the food scale! Fruit can be way off (pun intended!). For example, a medium apple shows as 80 calories, but when weighed, most of the medium apples I get tend to weigh in at 110 calories. Those differences can really add up over a day!
  • kristinhull1
    kristinhull1 Posts: 294 Member
    This is how I see it. if im under for the day...By 300 or 100 whatever..Those calories add up over the week...So if you have 300 cals under you goal everyday for 6 days. Thats 1800 calories under your weekly goal..So your cheat day can be 1800 calories over your weekly goal and still wont mess up your diet...Thats how I see it...Its better to be under then over.
  • hartmamp
    hartmamp Posts: 80 Member
    I always wonder why I can't ever have this problem!
  • ald783
    ald783 Posts: 688 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    I had that problem at first. It didn't last long.

    YEP. I remember those early days when I was like, this is so fun, I'm uber motivated, eating nothing is easy! Now I'd eat 49,000 calories a day if that was an option.
  • sarahhippo2014
    sarahhippo2014 Posts: 5 Member
    Can anyone tell me if you have to log veg and Salad most diets I've been on before list them as free foods so I'm a bit confused , any help/views greatly appreciated
  • SingRunTing
    SingRunTing Posts: 2,604 Member
    sarahhippo2014 wrote: »
    Can anyone tell me if you have to log veg and Salad most diets I've been on before list them as free foods so I'm a bit confused , any help/views greatly appreciated

    Your body counts all calories that go into your mouth, so why wouldn't you?
  • sarahhippo2014
    sarahhippo2014 Posts: 5 Member
    Yes guess so I'm just thinking of all other diets where you don't - thanks
  • dubird
    dubird Posts: 1,849 Member
    sarahhippo2014 wrote: »
    Can anyone tell me if you have to log veg and Salad most diets I've been on before list them as free foods so I'm a bit confused , any help/views greatly appreciated

    They might not have a lot of calories, but they still have some so they need to be logged. Do that for a week and see what your totals are for them.

    One of the sites I saw had a lady that wasn't weighing fruit since Weight Watchers counted it as 'free' foods. When so actually started weighing and logging, that was 300-400 calories a day she wasn't counting. That adds up!
  • sarahhippo2014
    sarahhippo2014 Posts: 5 Member
    Yes guess so I'm just thinking of all other diets where you don't - thanks
  • dubird
    dubird Posts: 1,849 Member
    sarahhippo2014 wrote: »
    Yes guess so I'm just thinking of all other diets where you don't - thanks

    That's because they're diet plans, designed to make you drop weight fast but will do nothing to help keep it off once you stop that diet plan (as well as not always being a healthy option). By logging everything and adjusting your eating habits, you'll set yourself up to keep the weight off long term.
  • sarahhippo2014
    sarahhippo2014 Posts: 5 Member
    Thanks dubird I am just starting again so I might do as you suggest, I wasn't thinking about fruit as I know have to include that as can have 50+ cals per piece but wasn't sure about lettuce etc
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    sarahhippo2014 wrote: »
    Can anyone tell me if you have to log veg and Salad most diets I've been on before list them as free foods so I'm a bit confused , any help/views greatly appreciated

    Weight Watcher factors veggies in so you don't have to but MFP does not so you should.

  • jkal1979
    jkal1979 Posts: 1,896 Member
    sarahhippo2014 wrote: »
    Yes guess so I'm just thinking of all other diets where you don't - thanks

    Those other programs also give you a smaller calorie goal to make up for the "free" fruit and veggies, and they do limit the amount that you can have. A lot of people make the mistake in thinking that free means unlimited amount.
  • ellarishee
    ellarishee Posts: 25 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    No...I have to plan to try to keep to my goal. Being under is just out of the question.

    Yep.
  • trishroutley
    trishroutley Posts: 5 Member
    I weigh everything and am consistently coming under every day.
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    jamielynette1 wrote: »
    I feel like I eat so much all day, logging in everything accordingly, but I always fall short!! Sometimes I feel like I should eat something just to fill it up, but I'm not even hungry. Do you have a go to snack when you're trying to reach your goal? Or do you just not worry about it? Thanks!

    If you're not falling short, you're over your limit, which is what we're all trying not to do. :smile:

    I've been under every single day for 144 days, and have lost 17 kg.

    What's very important is not to be too far under. The person who eats the most and stays under wins.

    My biggest lesson is learning to eat back most of my exercise calories!
  • suziecue20
    suziecue20 Posts: 567 Member
    I try to be about 50/100 under, just in case I haven't logged accurately.

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