Calories and working out

mynameisbonniemeyers

So I have a question:
I am trying to stick to my recommended calorie intake, but I am having a hard time even hitting the goal I feel like I’m always 500 below is this good or bad? Also I am working out daily and feel like I’m getting plenty to sustain the heavy cardio I am doing. 🤷🏻‍♀️

MikePTY

What is your goal? How many calories are you eating per day? How many are you burning from exercise?

Nony_Mouse

Further, how are you measuring your food intake?

mynameisbonniemeyers

My goal is 1200 I’m getting about 900-1000 I’m burning about 500. I’m doing more portion control mindful eating with a high protein, and less carbs.

autumnblade75

mynameisbonniemeyers wrote: »

My goal is 1200 I’m getting about 900-1000 I’m burning about 500. I’m doing more portion control mindful eating with a high protein, and less carbs.

Yes, but, are you using a food scale, measuring cups, or just guessing how big that portion of quinoa is? And are you using a Heart Rate Monitor, the chart on the wall at the gym, MyFitnessPal's Exercise Database, or just a big 'ol guess about how many calories you've burned?

riffraff2112

is the 900 cal intake after subtracting physical activity or before? You shouldn't be eating less than 1200, especially if you are working out. What are your fitness goals...are you trying to lose weight, build muscle, maintain?? What were you consuming before you started? Lots of information is needed before you can get specific advice.

mynameisbonniemeyers

Well I am aware that the more info the more accurate the advice. I’m trying to lose weight, but also just live a more healthy life style. I am measuring and weighing my food. I’m not just gonna guess and say that’s what it is.. I was just more so wondering if it was going to cause problems for me if I’m not meeting the calorie mark

Lietchi

mynameisbonniemeyers wrote: »

Well I am aware that the more info the more accurate the advice. I’m trying to lose weight, but also just live a more healthy life style. I am measuring and weighing my food. I’m not just gonna guess and say that’s what it is.. I was just more so wondering if it was going to cause problems for me if I’m not meeting the calorie mark

Unfortunately, yes, this will cause problems. Eating 1000 calories AND exercising on top of that means you are starving your body.
It's hard to give precise numbers not knowing your stats, but even without those stats you are not eating enough, if your logging is correct.

Possible consequences: hair loss, brittle nails, loss of muscle mass (the heart is a muscle too),...

You might feel fine now, but that can change suddenly.

NovusDies

Lietchi wrote: »

mynameisbonniemeyers wrote: »

Well I am aware that the more info the more accurate the advice. I’m trying to lose weight, but also just live a more healthy life style. I am measuring and weighing my food. I’m not just gonna guess and say that’s what it is.. I was just more so wondering if it was going to cause problems for me if I’m not meeting the calorie mark

Unfortunately, yes, this will cause problems. Eating 1000 calories AND exercising on top of that means you are starving your body.
It's hard to give precise numbers not knowing your stats, but even without those stats you are not eating enough, if your logging is correct.

Possible consequences: hair loss, brittle nails, loss of muscle mass (the heart is a muscle too),...

You might feel fine now, but that can change suddenly.

The bolded above is what happens if you can sustain this very low calorie plan of yours. However, chances are you will not be able to sustain it. Either you will become so fatigued that exercise becomes a horrible drag on you and/or you will have a really hard time controlling your hunger in the very near future. This will likely result in a binge-like overfeed.

Your physical health starts with getting enough energy not with nutrients from food. It is healthier to eat fast food and get enough energy than it is to eat loads of vegetables and lean proteins and fill yourself up to the point you can't eat more. Of course ideally you would mix your nutrient dense food with a little treat food to get your calories where they need to be.

Eating more calories is almost never the hardship unless the person who suddenly can't eat more is eating in a new way that is causing the problem.

Redordeadhead

mynameisbonniemeyers wrote: »

I am measuring and weighing my food.

Depending on how much of it you are not weighing (in grams/oz) on a food scale, you may also be eating more than you think, in which case you might not need to worry too much. It is a common issue and there are several threads on here explaining why using a food scale is much more accurate than measuring cups/spoons/"1 piece" etc.

xDaynie

I stuck to 1200cal to lose weight, I was eating about 1200 and doing fine, no issues and I was how you are now. But over time I started to really struggle, I was always tired, my skin and hands became sore, I was always sluggish and terrible memory. I put it to the fact I was unfit and tired from working out because I was new to it. It was only when I joined a different gym and was put on the fancy scales that do a full body breakdown that I was told my body NEEDS 1560cal to MAINTAIN NORMAL FUNCTION, not to lose weight, not to be healthy, but to actually function for the day. It seemed crazy like I was overeating and not going to lose weight after that... But im losing weight, and for the first time in ages I actually feel good, and know the difference between effects from a workout, and my body being underfueled.

If you keep eating 1200cal AND exercising, you are going to slowly ruin yourself and like me, you may be oblivious to it.
This was a huge eye opener for me, and it needs to be for more people.

sijomial

mynameisbonniemeyers wrote: »

So I have a question:
I am trying to stick to my recommended calorie intake

The recommended eating level is your base calories plus your exercise calories so no you are aren't trying to stick to the recommended intake.

mynameisbonniemeyers wrote: »

but also just live a more healthy life style

Ask yourself what's healthy about undereating by a large margin?
Exercise is for health, fitness and hopefully enjoyment and that should be a lifetime habit - building healthy habits is surely aligned with your goal?

cmriverside

Not enough information.

Let's see your FOOD diary. Go to FOOD > Settings, scroll down and click "Public" and save.

If you are tiny, if you are making mistakes, if you aren't *really* burning as much in exercise as you think, if you just started this, if if if if...lots of ifs.

Good luck. If you are under eating it will catch up to you, and not in a good way.

ebygin

Well, reading this thread has made me realize I am "doing it wrong". MFP chart says I should only eat 1200 a day and I was really having trouble with that.... I was too hungry at the end of my day and all I could think of was food! So, I re-assessed my weight, activity and excercise goals and it was out of whack. I added the proper information and now am supposed to eat 1500 calories a day - before any activities or stepping. I think this is more in line with my life style as 1200 a day was not enough for me.
I am glad I read these boards. :-)

heybales

mynameisbonniemeyers wrote: »

My goal is 1200 I’m getting about 900-1000 I’m burning about 500. I’m doing more portion control mindful eating with a high protein, and less carbs.

Actually then your recommended goal is usually NOT 1200, because you've probably noticed that when you log exercise your eating goal goes up.

Back to the great advice above about your method being a bad long term plan.

Read around the forums - no need to start a lifetime of yo-yo dieting and having a terrible relationship with food and your body until 50/60's.
Do it correctly now.