To little calories?

mortikarobinette
mortikarobinette Posts: 20 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
So I don't actually mean to do this. But I work 12 hour night shifts. I'm a nurse so I can plan all day but I don't get my whole 1,870 calories a day in. Usually it's more like 1,500. Will that be a problem?

Replies

  • jayemes
    jayemes Posts: 865 Member
    What's your goal? Are you trying to lose, gain or maintain?
  • amyepdx
    amyepdx Posts: 750 Member
    What did you eat before cutting calories? Eat that, just less.
  • mortikarobinette
    mortikarobinette Posts: 20 Member
    I'm trying to lose 40 pounds.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    mortikarobinette wrote: »
    So I don't actually mean to do this. But I work 12 hour night shifts. I'm a nurse so I can plan all day but I don't get my whole 1,870 calories a day in. Usually it's more like 1,500. Will that be a problem?

    if it makes you binge because you're really hungry then maybe, or look at your weekly goal and just eat more the next day(s)
  • frogmommy
    frogmommy Posts: 151 Member
    Are you in maintenance or trying to gain? Are you losing weight at a rate greater than 1-2 pounds per week consistently? Are you hungry? If the answer is yes to those questions, then try some calorie dense foods like an avocado, etc. sometime during your day.
  • mortikarobinette
    mortikarobinette Posts: 20 Member
    I don't really want to eat the same things I'm used to eating. My diet before consisted of a lot of chips, chocolate, and fast food.
  • jayemes
    jayemes Posts: 865 Member
    Eating 1500 instead of 1800 isn't going to hurt you - just make sure you're properly fueling your body. If you're eating too little, it may feel ok in the beginning, but you'll hit a wall a few weeks in and possibly lose motivation and fall off the wagon. When I'm at work I tend to eat less, but I eat more when I'm home so depending on my schedule, it usually evens out at the end of the week. Try it for a few weeks and see how you feel. If you're consistently less on work days, maybe eat a bit more on days off. After a month see if you're losing weight. If so, continue. If not, check that you're logging accurately and adjust calories as needed!
  • mortikarobinette
    mortikarobinette Posts: 20 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    mortikarobinette wrote: »
    So I don't actually mean to do this. But I work 12 hour night shifts. I'm a nurse so I can plan all day but I don't get my whole 1,870 calories a day in. Usually it's more like 1,500. Will that be a problem?

    if it makes you binge because you're really hungry then maybe, or look at your weekly goal and just eat more the next day(s)

    I don't binge when I get off work. I'm usually to tired to. I do snack a bit at work but it's stuff like Apple slices or cantaloupe that I can just graze on between patients real quick. I'm just worried eating to few calories will make my metabolism drop.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    mortikarobinette wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    mortikarobinette wrote: »
    So I don't actually mean to do this. But I work 12 hour night shifts. I'm a nurse so I can plan all day but I don't get my whole 1,870 calories a day in. Usually it's more like 1,500. Will that be a problem?

    if it makes you binge because you're really hungry then maybe, or look at your weekly goal and just eat more the next day(s)

    I don't binge when I get off work. I'm usually to tired to. I do snack a bit at work but it's stuff like Apple slices or cantaloupe that I can just graze on between patients real quick. I'm just worried eating to few calories will make my metabolism drop.

    add more calorific snacks.

    its actually quite hard to damage your metabolism, so as long as your weekly goal is ok, you'll be fine.
  • jayemes
    jayemes Posts: 865 Member
    mortikarobinette wrote: »
    I'm just worried eating to few calories will make my metabolism drop.
    Your metabolism won't be effected from 1500 calories a day as opposed to 1800
  • Go_Deskercise
    Go_Deskercise Posts: 1,630 Member
    But... if you like chips, chocolate, and fast food, don't cut them out completely.

    There are no bad foods, just bad portion sizes.
    If you want to change your diet, that is perfectly fine, but do it gradually over time.
    Small baby steps to make a change.
    Slow and steady wins the race.

    As long as you are in a calorie deficit, you will lose weight no matter what you eat so don't be too hard on yourself!
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    Nothing bad is going to happen short term. If you weigh regularly check your scale to make sure you are not losing too fast. If you need to slow it down add some almonds or similar to your snacking habits which will definitely help bridge the calorie gap.
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