Help!

hollyntuttle95

Hey all!

I used to eat a lot of junk food and fast food and Coke was my go-to drink choice. I have since switched my diet and my cravings and appetite have diminished.

While I know this is a good thing and I'm seeing results, I am struggling to eat 1200 calories a day. I end up eating two servings of Halo top to hit 1000 calories.

Also, I want to work out and I am worried about hurting myself because my caloric intake is already so low. I did go to the gym today hoping that it would increase my appetite and it didn't.

I know I shouldn't complain, but I just want to make sure I am being healthy. I am not starving myself and I'll have a healthy snack when I'm hungry, but I haven't had an appetite since I started eating healthy.

Any thoughts or advice?

diannethegeek

If you're just starting out, your appetite may balance itself out within a couple of weeks. It's not uncommon for new dieters to go through a sort of honeymoon stage where the excitement of just starting out let's them feel more satisfied on too few calories. It tends to go away on its own.

Be sure you're logging as accurately as you can. Unfortunately, we human beings tend to be rubbish at calculating how much we eat. Even professional dietitians are proven to underestimate their calories if they're eyeballing their portion sizes. If you haven't yet, a food scale, a good liquid measuring cup, and a good double-check that the entries you're using are accurate (using the recipe builder, not using anyone else's homemade or generic entries unless you have to, double-checking against labels when you use the barcode scanner, etc) may show that you're not eating as little as you think. It's worth a look.

All that said, 1000 calories over an extended amount of time can lead to issues like nutrition deficiencies, thinning hair, mood swings, etc. Incorporating some more calorie dense foods can help boost those calories without you having to include a whole bunch more food into your day. You might find some ideas for things you can incorporate here: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10142490/a-list-of-calorie-dense-foods/p1

Christine_72

Swap halo top for regular ice cream, add olive oil/dressing to your salads/veggies. Apple or celery dipped in peanut butter. Swap any low fat foods you're eating for the full fat version.

I could go on and on... This has never been a problem I've encountered, i swing the other way..