I have been eating 600-800 calories a day...

tataylllor

My goal calories is 1,360 and some days i do reach around the 1000s.. I usually feel full from just 800 sometimes less and i have been eating healthy and working out!! I am not purposely eating this amount and i realize this is wrong. I have reached my goal weight and i want to stay here. I hear that if i keep eating this amount of calories I will start to gain weight back. Whenever I over eat or eat some foods I feel super guilty or that I will gain weight right away. Now, I want to ease into eating more calories worth but I have read some things that say if you eat the right amount right away you will suddenly gain a lot of weight. How can I start to slowly eat the right amount without gaining weight or feeling super full? I am so scared to gain weight back. Help is greatly appreciated!

tworthen79

If you eat that number of calories, your body could go into starvation mode. Which will effect blood cell production and heart contractions and digestive action slow down. I would rethink your meals plans. Still eat the same amount in portions, but things high calorie. And try staying at least in the 1200's. Good luck!!

megsmom2

If you start eating at your real maintainence level now, you probably will gain a bit of weight. Your metabolism is in tatters, eating at maintainence for a time will help repair the damage. That's ok...you know what to do to take the weight off again, just don't do it the way you've done this! Eat better, eat at healthy levels. Your body deserves to be treated better.

tataylllor

should i slowly work up to my goal??? also how can i tell im in starvation mode?? i am wondering if I should eat something just to boost my calories now..?? (its 10:37 pm though is it maybe too late to eat)??

tataylllor

If you start eating at your real maintainence level now, you probably will gain a bit of weight. Your metabolism is in tatters, eating at maintainence for a time will help repair the damage. That's ok...you know what to do to take the weight off again, just don't do it the way you've done this! Eat better, eat at healthy levels. Your body deserves to be treated better.

should i slowly work up to my goal??? also how can i tell im in starvation mode?? i am wondering if I should eat something just to boost my calories now..?? (its 10:37 pm though is it maybe too late to eat)??

hamminit

its never too late to eat

megsmom2

its never too late to eat

What she said

carrolllj79

I would be very interested to see what your 600 - 800 calories consist of? That seems to be a very dangerous area.....

LosingWeightStinks

I have the same problem, I started on this site on the 25th of July and now I feel stuffed after eating 5-700 calories. I am still losing weight though. Kinda worried that I am not eating enough.

Debbie_Ferr

It takes an additional 3,500 calories to gain a pound of body mass. (aka NOT water retention). So don't sweat the small stuff, you'll be just fine if you eat some more.

btw~ some people freak out when they gain 5 pounds after a nite out on the town. It HIGHLY unlikely they actually consumed an additional 17,500 calories ( ie 5 x 3,500 calories ). They've simply consumed alot of sodium, and are retaining water. Their weight will most likely just drop down in the next few days.

tworthen79

I think for me when I was eating to low of calories, I was tired all the time and felt crappy. But as soon as I got on track, I felt better. I eat between 1200-1250 calories a day. And I've lost 28 lbs. So if you say you feel full after eating but the calories don't add to your calorie allowance, maybe eat oatmeal for breakfast, with some fresh fruit. Lunch have a grilled turkey burger with a salad and for dinner maybe some baked chicken, asparagus and a whole wheat roll. That what I did, chose items that were same in proportions, but higher in calories. But everyone is different.

LosingWeightStinks

Mine consists of a Michelinas frozen meal around 275-350 cals for lunch, green grapes and green peas. For dinner A large salad with few slices of turkey and a roma tomato w/ dressing (low cal). Snacks are peaches, grapes and other fruits.

I_Will_End_You

Yes, up them gradually. Add 100-200 every week or so.

carrolllj79

Do you not have time for breakfast? ... that alone could get you where you need to be.

jayrudq

Add some healthy oils...coconut or olive oil. Very calorie dense, but GOOD FOR you. Maybe you want to consider increasing your calorie intake every other day. Not quite as scary as jumping in with both feet. Regardless, you must eat more eventually. Be wise about it and don't let fear and worry take over.

xilka

Add a tablespoon of olive oil to everything you can,
and an extra tablespoon of peanut butter for breakfast.

tilmoph

should i slowly work up to my goal??? also how can i tell im in starvation mode?? i am wondering if I should eat something just to boost my calories now..?? (its 10:37 pm though is it maybe too late to eat)??

You said you've been hovering around 6-800, with occasional bouts of the low 1000s, so yeah, add like 100-150 or so per week.

Significant metabolic slowdown can be broadly checked by figuring out your maintenance (let's call it m)then averaging out your daily intake (f for food) for as long as you have data for. If m-f is positive, you're theoretically at a deficit (d). Now, however many days you had data for f, let's call it t, multiply by your deficit, then divide by 3500 (amount of total deficit required to lose 1 lb) so (td)/3500= expected weight loss. Now compare to actual weight lost over t. about 10% variation from this is expected given differing metabolisms. 15% wouldn't be horrible, since metabolisms slow down to some extent during a diet. If you've lost I'd say half of what you should have (ex. your expected lose was 30, and you've lost 15 or less), you might have messed something up. Of course, 50% is just a guess, others might have a different take on the threshold, but it seems significant enough to me to not be explainable by simple variance in individual metabolic rates.

so again; m-f=d, then (dt)/3500= expected loss. If actual loss is <= 50% of expected loss, you may have done some damage to your metabolism. Oh well, humans are adaptable, eat at maintenance for a bit and it should sort itself out.

Trechechus

I was really hoping the body of your thread was going to say, "For breakfast."

tataylllor

I think I forgot to add that while I do eat this amount of calories, i dont feel worn out or tired!! Most times i feel very energized during workouts, etc!! Either way I am still aware I should have more calories... I did eat something now so I am at 900 and something!!

tataylllor

Do you not have time for breakfast? ... that alone could get you where you need to be.

I do eat breakfast every day!! Its usually 100 - 200+ calories... Cereal is usually what I have!! With skim milk and sometimes fruit!

LosingWeightStinks

I think they were directing the breakfast thing at me. I am on disability and have serious trouble sleeping, I just don't get out of bed until 11-12pm. I struggle with chronic pain and I am finally trying to drop some weight as my MD's have asked that I do.

Fitfully_me

Do you not have time for breakfast? ... that alone could get you where you need to be.

I do eat breakfast every day!! Its usually 100 - 200+ calories... Cereal is usually what I have!! With skim milk and sometimes fruit!

Are you sure your calorie counts are accurate?

XxCaz89xX

TBH I wouldn't worry too much about the figures and the actual amount of calories you are eating... you know your body at the end of the day and how you feel! As long as you feel full/satisfied, aren't fatigued or feeling sluggish, aren't gaining or losing on 1000 calories than why change it? Everyones bodies are different and you just may have a naturally slower metabolism than that of somebody whos maintenance calories are higher... if you are concerned by the low numbers though then just try and throw in some extra lean protein to each meal like some eggs for breakfast and some lean meat for lunch and dinner.

tataylllor

Do you not have time for breakfast? ... that alone could get you where you need to be.

I do eat breakfast every day!! Its usually 100 - 200+ calories... Cereal is usually what I have!! With skim milk and sometimes fruit!

Are you sure your calorie counts are accurate?

I usually try my best to measure what I eat!!! Today my breakfast was in the 500 range because I ate a lot of cereal with bananas and added some raisins... Is cereal a good breakfast food though? I was wondering that as well...!! I am scared I will gain weight because i did this...

TwoThirdsSkinny

there is no such thing as starvation mode, you will not gain weight by eating too few calories, dont worry about it

TavistockToad

Do you not have time for breakfast? ... that alone could get you where you need to be.

I do eat breakfast every day!! Its usually 100 - 200+ calories... Cereal is usually what I have!! With skim milk and sometimes fruit!

swap skim milk for full fat... instant extra calories without more actual food

Vanessav30

600-800 calories is too few. It's true, your body will go into starvation mode and harbor any and mostly all the calories you take in. When I started my new lifestyle in 2007, I started by eating small meals throughout the day which helped my metabolism get a boost, which is what I really needed because I was use to eating two huge meals a day.
i also started exercising daily. The first year, I lost 100 lbs exactly. To date I have lost 210 lbs.

One mistake I have continuously made is eating more carbs than I should so every few months, I re-evaluate my intake. I eat hard boiled egg white, chicken, never beef, lamb or pork. I eat as much fruit and vegetables as I can. I never count calories because I feel like I'm not eating enough, I stick to suggested serving sizes on packages. I also try not to eat processed foods, even though it's quite difficult.

Tip: Stay away from frozen meals (healthy choice...) they pack lots of sodium!!

Email me if you have questions:)
Vanessa Villalpando

tataylllor

I must also add I am very afraid of gaining weight. I work out everyday and if I dont get a chance to work out that day, I become super angry with myself.. Also I usually feel gulity everytime I eat anything and I do check the scale a lot ( even though my scales at home are broken/dont work properly and only when I was at my doctors office and my aunts house, I was finally able to tell my actual weight. If I ever eat something that is sorta like a treat ( ex. cake or a burger) I get mad at myself, etc. which is why I dont ever treat myself unless I am going somewhere (like a party or out with friends) and thats all they have to eat.

ilmb87

I must also add I am very afraid of gaining weight. I work out everyday and if I dont get a chance to work out that day, I become super angry with myself.. Also I usually feel gulity everytime I eat anything and I do check the scale a lot ( even though my scales at home are broken/dont work properly and only when I was at my doctors office and my aunts house, I was finally able to tell my actual weight. If I ever eat something that is sorta like a treat ( ex. cake or a burger) I get mad at myself, etc. which is why I dont ever treat myself unless I am going somewhere (like a party or out with friends) and thats all they have to eat.

That last part is what scares me. That is not a healthy relationship to have with food.

Trust me, I get the fear of bumping up calories. I just moved from 1800 to 2000 this week. Didn't gain a thing--actually lost weight!

Serah87

Not to be mean....but good luck trying to keep the weight off, your body is going to hold on to everything you eat, when you start eating more. I suggest maybe seek some counseling. Good luck. :flowerforyou:

askeates

Do you not have time for breakfast? ... that alone could get you where you need to be.

I do eat breakfast every day!! Its usually 100 - 200+ calories... Cereal is usually what I have!! With skim milk and sometimes fruit!

Are you sure your calorie counts are accurate?

^^This is exactly what I was just wondering... I think that maybe you are eating more calories then you realize. Do measure and weigh everything you eat?