I can't seem to eat all of my calories...

kelisuj3593
kelisuj3593 Posts: 8 Member
edited November 24 in Getting Started
I have been using my fitness pal and It's mad at me everyday because I'm not eating enough calories. I don't want any more food. I have been actively working on my eating habits for almost 2 weeks, and I know it seems early, but the scale isn't changing like I think it should. I exercise every day and have been for 4 months. I'm just super discouraged because I can't seem to move that needle on the scale.
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Replies

  • dangerousdumpling
    dangerousdumpling Posts: 1,109 Member
    So just to be clear you've been working out for four months but trying to lose weight for two weeks. Is that right?
    If that is the case you just need to give it more time. It's not a plateau if you've only been at it for two weeks. Weight all of your food. Guessing at calorie counts and measuring by volume isn't accurate. We can help more if you give us more info. Current weight/calorie goal/goal weight/activity level.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Tighten up your logging. Buy a food scale. Make sure you’re eating 1200 net calories regularly.
  • kelisuj3593
    kelisuj3593 Posts: 8 Member
    No I don't use a food scale, but can you explain what you mean by "my logging is off"?
  • francisolorunfunmi
    francisolorunfunmi Posts: 99 Member
    kelisuj3593 wrote: »
    No I don't use a food scale, but can you explain what you mean by "my logging is off"?

    She means you may be understating your calories. Alot of foods you scan actually have the serving size for half the packet etc
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    kelisuj3593 wrote: »
    No I don't use a food scale, but can you explain what you mean by "my logging is off"?

    That you're eating more than you think you are, most likely, if you aren't weighing solids, measuring liquids, and choosing accurate database entries
  • perkymommy
    perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
    kelisuj3593 wrote: »
    I have been using my fitness pal and It's mad at me everyday because I'm not eating enough calories. I don't want any more food. I have been actively working on my eating habits for almost 2 weeks, and I know it seems early, but the scale isn't changing like I think it should. I exercise every day and have been for 4 months. I'm just super discouraged because I can't seem to move that needle on the scale.

    Are you weighing/measuring your food? If not then I would do that. Don't guess. Are you including all oils, butters and spreads you include in meals? If you drink tea or coffee be sure to include whatever you put in those.

    I feel you on the needle not moving. I am having the hardest time this go-round with losing a pound and just keeping that off. I don't know what I'm doing wrong as I'm doing all the same things I did in years past when I've lost weight and gotten to goal.
  • perkymommy
    perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
    kelisuj3593 wrote: »
    No I don't use a food scale, but can you explain what you mean by "my logging is off"?

    If you haven't been using a food scale then you are likely overeating each day. I would start logging what you eat after weighing/measuring.
  • kelisuj3593
    kelisuj3593 Posts: 8 Member
    I'm new here so i'm not sure how to reply back to certain people. I completely see what you're saying about weighing/measuring my food. I will work on that. I'm keeping my diet very simple and only eating homemade, or fresh foods. I haven't put any recipes together so what I am eating is very simplistic. Chicken/salad/(and I do measure my dressing)/fish/fresh veggies/eggs. i have to do that in the beginning because I am a candy/crap food lover. So this eating healthy is probably a big shock to my system. I'm not a big "meal" eater so I'm used to having snacks. I have been typically eating egg whites or smoothie for breakfast/chicken and salad for lunch and then some type of fish/chicken and fresh veggie (steamed) for dinner. I will get a scale. But what happens if i'm still eating below the 1200 calories?
  • dangerousdumpling
    dangerousdumpling Posts: 1,109 Member
    Planning your meals ahead of time will help you get to your calorie goal. Also, at the end of the day a spoon and a jar of peanut butter works. Or Nutella. Or a couple of pieces of chocolate.
    You should also consider eating some of your exercise calories. Maybe 50%?
  • dangerousdumpling
    dangerousdumpling Posts: 1,109 Member
    You can reply to specific posts by clicking Quote at the bottom of a post.
  • FaithSevio
    FaithSevio Posts: 31 Member
    They say to eat at least your BMR each day. I know if I don't eat enough several things happen: I am hangry, tired, my body doesn't recover easily from working out, I have no energy, and all I think about is my next meal. My brain is foggy and by 3 PM I am almost falling asleep at my desk. Food is Fuel!!
  • chelliz88
    chelliz88 Posts: 62 Member
    When I started MFP again on New Years, I realized that eyeballing does NOT work for me. I always thought that I was doing okay...until I was portioning. Then the weight started falling off.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    kelisuj3593 wrote: »
    No I don't use a food scale, but can you explain what you mean by "my logging is off"?

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10640205/the-basics-of-accurate-logging
  • kelisuj3593
    kelisuj3593 Posts: 8 Member
    Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »
    Get the scale first. Get back to us if you still have issues.
    Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »
    Get the scale first. Get back to us if you still have issues.

    Thank you!
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    kelisuj3593 wrote: »
    I'm new here so i'm not sure how to reply back to certain people. I completely see what you're saying about weighing/measuring my food. I will work on that. I'm keeping my diet very simple and only eating homemade, or fresh foods. I haven't put any recipes together so what I am eating is very simplistic. Chicken/salad/(and I do measure my dressing)/fish/fresh veggies/eggs. i have to do that in the beginning because I am a candy/crap food lover. So this eating healthy is probably a big shock to my system. I'm not a big "meal" eater so I'm used to having snacks. I have been typically eating egg whites or smoothie for breakfast/chicken and salad for lunch and then some type of fish/chicken and fresh veggie (steamed) for dinner. I will get a scale. But what happens if i'm still eating below the 1200 calories?

    If you get the food scale and start logging accurately and find that you're still under, the foods you're describing here are all meant to be lower in calorie. You can swap some of them out for higher calorie options without having to eat a ton of extra food. A little olive oil on some roasted veggies. A bit of sauce for your chicken or fish. Whole eggs instead of egg whites for breakfast, less lean choices of meat, chia seeds in your smoothie, sunflower seeds on your salad, a side of rice with dinner, or a handful of nuts for a snack etc. Instead of just going for the lowest calorie food possible, remember that there are a lot of healthful foods that are higher in calories that you can add to stay in that healthy calorie range.
  • try2again
    try2again Posts: 3,562 Member
    edited February 2018
    kelisuj3593 wrote: »
    I'm new here so i'm not sure how to reply back to certain people. I completely see what you're saying about weighing/measuring my food. I will work on that. I'm keeping my diet very simple and only eating homemade, or fresh foods. I haven't put any recipes together so what I am eating is very simplistic. Chicken/salad/(and I do measure my dressing)/fish/fresh veggies/eggs. i have to do that in the beginning because I am a candy/crap food lover. So this eating healthy is probably a big shock to my system. I'm not a big "meal" eater so I'm used to having snacks. I have been typically eating egg whites or smoothie for breakfast/chicken and salad for lunch and then some type of fish/chicken and fresh veggie (steamed) for dinner. I will get a scale. But what happens if i'm still eating below the 1200 calories?

    I put this together to help new ones like yourself. It's very basic, but has some pointers you may be able to use:

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10640205/the-basics-of-accurate-logging

    Edit: Sorry for the repeat... it was posted while I was typing.
  • MarkusDarwath
    MarkusDarwath Posts: 393 Member
    First, insert standard questions... how are you measuring your food; are you using a food scale; recording everything, etc? Also what is your height and weight, body fat percentage if you know it, what type of exercise are you doing and how intensely? There will be quite a bit of skepticism that one can actually eat under 1200 calories per day and not be losing weight. If that is actually the case and you are logging carefully, accurately and completely, you might consider getting your thyroid checked if there is still no change in another 3 or 4 weeks.

    Aside from that, what sort of foods are you eating? More specifically, how are your macros (carbs, fat, protein) coming out in proportion to each other? For some people, high carbohydrate diets encourage water retention, which can mask weight loss. Or, high protein is very filling for many people and they end up having trouble eating to their calorie goals.
  • Jthanmyfitnesspal
    Jthanmyfitnesspal Posts: 3,522 Member
    You get so much better at all of it over time: weighing, measuring, and eyeballing, when necessary (e.g., at restaurants). Practice makes perfect.

    My kit includes a scale, some tupperware bowls for weighing, and a set of cup and spoon measures just for me. I clean after every use so they are always available.

    When I am cutting, I weigh most high-calorie-density foods (cheese, nuts, nut butters, meats, some carbs). I measure most oils in a tablespoon. I use a cup measure for certain carbs (cooked rice, pasta, potato). I eyeball or ignore low-calorie foods (salad greens).

    Now that I am on maintenance and have been doing if for more than a year non-stop, I can eyeball almost everything and not gain weight.

    I say all this to advise you to work hard for a month or two to get your habits established. If you get control of what you are eating, you will control your weight.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,097 Member
    kelisuj3593 wrote: »
    I'm new here so i'm not sure how to reply back to certain people.

    Click on the quote button below a post if you want to reply specifically that post.
  • skinnyjingbb
    skinnyjingbb Posts: 127 Member
    I always set calorie Goal in MPL 200 lower than my actual goal. l When I started dieting 3 month ago, I set my goal at 1000 manually in MPL, I would sometimes log slightly under 1000 cal and get the warning, just ignore it, because I am eating around 1200 cal. Eyeballing can work if you are consistent in how you do it. I do this because I don't always cook myself. Although food scale is very useful.
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