Calories...

rns97

I just started this app last Sunday and have been logging down what I eat plus exercise. I noticed that I have only been eating on average around 1,000 calories a day. Some days I went under and of course on some I went over. I have to be honest, even if I were to eat that number of calories in a day, my meals look reasonable and I get full quick, and I also eat snacks. I eat mostly plant based by the way. Is 1,000 calories a day too little?

MissusMoon

It is not recommended you eat that few calories regularly to ensure you are getting adequate amounts of nutrition. The lowest MFP will set for you is 1200 for this very reason. That amount is only for people that don't have that much to lose.

Are you weighing all your food? If you're not hungry on 1000, you might not be logging accurately.

malibu927

Yes. You should be aiming for 1200 a day, if not your goal if higher. But depending on how you're measuring your intake, you could easily be eating more.

3dogsrunning

Yes, 1000 is too little.

However...
Many, many, many people log a low calorie number, but are, in fact, eating much more than that. I'd take a close look at how you are logging. Are you weighing your food? Are you logging everything? The oil you cook with? The drinks you have? The little snacks here an there?

WendyLaubach

How tall are you? The program here is set up for a minimum of 1200, and won't even let you close out your day if you're under 1000. On the other hand, MFP is trying to do something that's safe for crowds and crowds of people, and not taking into account the difference in calorie requirements between a 6'4" active guy and a 4'8" sedentary woman. A doctor or dietician can help you decide whether 1000 is too little for you, if you don't fit into MFP's "average person" world.

kgirlhart

I agree with the others. 1000 is probably too little, but it might be ok. If you are not weighing all your food then it is likely that you are eating more than you think. If you are very short and not significantly overweight then you will have a lower maintenance than someone taller and heavier so it might be ok. You really should aim for 1200 per day to make sure you are getting all the nutrients that you need. That can be accomplished by adding in some healthy fats to your diet. If you drink skim milk or eat fat free yogurt try having the full fat version or add some avocado to your salad, things like that will add some calories without adding a lot of volume.

DylsGrandma

I agree as well. I would not go below 1200 a day. If you go too low your metabolism will slow down.

SezxyStef

Yes 1000 is too low if you are truly eating 1000...chances are you are eating more than you think tho..

I say this because when I came here 3 years ago I thought for sure I was logging 1400...I wasn't it was closer to 1800...because I was not good as looking at my food and knowing how much was really there. So I bought a food scale and started weighing my food....real eye opener. But that's how I know I was eating about 1800 not 1400.

NorthCascades

3dogsrunning wrote: »

Many, many, many people log a low calorie number, but are, in fact, eating much more than that. I'd take a close look at how you are logging. Are you weighing your food? Are you logging everything? The oil you cook with? The drinks you have? The little snacks here an there?

My girlfriend pointed out to me that I was logging the bagel but not the cream cheese.

"Did you eat it?" she'd ask.
"Yes."
"Then log it."