Hitting daily calories?

Vide0dr0ne82
Vide0dr0ne82 Posts: 5 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I've been on this Rollercoaster called weight loss, forever. It was so much easier when I was younger but seems like it's getting harder now. I'm not able to do any thing but walk. So, my main focus has been my diet. I'm allowed 1600 calories a day (200-300 added from workout). I only take in about 1000 calories per day. Is this okay or will it send my system into a "starvation" mode?

Replies

  • DrifterBear
    DrifterBear Posts: 265 Member
    Get off the roller coaster. You should aim for 1600. Add a some from workout as needed, but you'll never stick with 1000.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    You won't be in starvation mode but it certainly isn't healthy. You're not giving your body the nutrients it needs to function properly. Minimum for a male is 1500.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Not hitting calories once in awhile is no big deal. But under eating day in a day out is a terrible idea. Your body needs fuel. The minimum recommendation for women is 1200, and for men 1,500.

    That minimum recommendation is to help you get all the nutrients your body needs. There are medically supervised (very low calorie) diets, but those are for obese people. Are you working with a registered dietician?

    The rest of us need to lose weight in a moderate fashion so our bodies can support existing lean muscle mass more efficiently. Because too few calories day in and day out, your body WILL use existing lean muscle mass for fuel.

    Starvation mode isn't really a thing.
  • Vide0dr0ne82
    Vide0dr0ne82 Posts: 5 Member

    I get myself in the mindset to diet and it's like my hunger goes away. I will definitely work on upping my calorie intake. I think I need to find some good breakfast ideas. I'm not a breakfast guy but I think that needs to change!
    Thanks guys and if you have any pointers, I'd love to hear them!
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    If you don't like eating breakfast, you don't have to start. Just add in a some more food with your meals and snacks you already eat.
  • T0M_K
    T0M_K Posts: 7,526 Member
    Vide0dr0ne82 wrote: »
    I get myself in the mindset to diet and it's like my hunger goes away. I will definitely work on upping my calorie intake. I think I need to find some good breakfast ideas. I'm not a breakfast guy but I think that needs to change!
    Thanks guys and if you have any pointers, I'd love to hear them!

    you don't need breakfast if you don't want it. easy way to up calorie intake is to add something like peanut butter, or skip the fat free/low fat type dairy/yogurts etc. above all, just do what you think you can sustain forever. this is a lifestyle change, not a gotta get thru this for 3 months kinda thing.
  • sllm1
    sllm1 Posts: 2,130 Member
    I got off of the roller coaster when I started thinking of food as fuel. I strive to hit a protein goal each day to fuel my workouts. I'm eating 1700 calories per day and still losing as a 150 pound female. Please eat and become stronger instead of not giving your body what it needs. Think of it as becoming fit and not just losing weight.
  • T0M_K
    T0M_K Posts: 7,526 Member
    AND....buy a scale and weigh your food for a while so you know for sure what your calorie intake really is. not sure if you knew this or not, but labels can be wrong. "scoops of protein" can be off. weight solids in grams, liquids in ounces. not saying you have to weigh forever, but you need to get your portion education up to speed. most of us are not even close.
  • khhregister
    khhregister Posts: 229 Member
    Tomk652015 wrote: »
    AND....buy a scale and weigh your food for a while so you know for sure what your calorie intake really is. not sure if you knew this or not, but labels can be wrong. "scoops of protein" can be off. weight solids in grams, liquids in ounces. not saying you have to weigh forever, but you need to get your portion education up to speed. most of us are not even close.

    The "scoops of protein" one really rings true for me. I make a protein fluff using 2 scoops of casein powder. If I went by the canister, 2 scoops is 40g of protein, but even though I am using 2 scoops each time the last several times weighed in at 35g (123 calories), 30g (106 calories), 38g (134 calories), 38g (134 calories), and 46g (162 calories). And that's me scooping pretty carefully.

    I've learned I really have to weigh every little thing. There's just too much variability, when I'm aiming for a 500 calorie deficit. These 40 calories here, 20 calories there, for every little ingredient really adds up.

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