Struggling to meet my 1200 calorie goal :(
Replies
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Whenever I see people struggling to meet their calorie goal and they are dieting.
Why were you ever bigger in the first place?
it doesnt make sense.
Thats like saying I can run a mile but I cant run 10 feet
I'm battling to meet my calorie goal at the moment. Now before, ah, that was easy.... French Fries, Doughnuts, Beer..... Lots of Beer :drinker: , Ooooo and Bread and Pasta, and loads of oil on my salad, and large amounts of salt.
I've now cut out anything fried, exchanged the Doughnuts for just the nuts part, only drink beer.... lots of beer on the weekends, only have starches such as wholegrain rye, oats, sweet potato, rice occassionally, pasta occassionally, limit oil and have cut out salt.
What's left?0 -
No, ti would not. There is no reason in the world to say this. It's completely meaningless, nonsensical, and baseless.
I think you could fit the McDonald's into your diet to hit your daily caloric goal, and still be fine.
I think where people say it is "unhealthy" to do so is the fact that the body can not use those processed foods to the best of its ability.
What would be the better option for me over the long haul?
Eating a Big Mac, Fries and Coke for lunch?
Or getting similar amount of calories from whole foods? (veggies, swt potato, chkn breast/fish/steak)
I can be on a 2,000 calorie diet.
But if I consumed all day every day, 2000 calories from doughnuts, candy, and other junk......
Will I lose weight? Probably if I am in a caloric deficit.
Will I be healthy over the long run? Most likely not. I have starved my body of vitamins and nutrients that it needs to repair muscles, and other cells within the body.
I like!0 -
Why can't you have A & W if you have more calories to eat? You don't have to get a root beer float, chili cheese fries, onion rings, and a double cheeseburger. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Check the calories you have remaining. Check the A & W website for their nutrition information. Have a single cheese burger. Split an order of fries.
I guess you can if it fits into your daily calories and MACROS.
And also if it goes toward your goals.
I for one like to stay lean and defined. So I don't drink soda.
Every once-in-a-while I may have a little bit of Sprite.....maybe once or twice a month.
For me I want to make sure that with what I am eating I am getting the good vitamins and nutrients that I know I want, and my body needs. soda, unfortunately does not contain these qualities.
Thus they are termed "empty calories"
There are tons of "lean and defined" people on here who eat what you would consider "junk".0 -
There are tons of "lean and defined" people on here who eat what you would consider "junk".
Fine with me brother.
Does that negate the point I made regarding good whole foods and junk foods over the long haul??
Which is better for you over the long run?0 -
There is no such thing as "healthy" food. Food is food. There are more calorie dense foods, such as cheese cake. But, cheesecake is not bad food. Get the good food/bad food demon out of your head.
I'd go ahead and say foods full of unnatural trans fats are bad foods.0 -
There is no such thing as "healthy" food. Food is food. There are more calorie dense foods, such as cheese cake. But, cheesecake is not bad food. Get the good food/bad food demon out of your head.
Seriously, this. Food doesn't have behavior so it isn't good or bad. I have behavior and I make choices as to what I eat. Some choices might be more beneficial than others. It makes me crazy when people say food is good or bad.0 -
There are tons of "lean and defined" people on here who eat what you would consider "junk".
Fine with me brother.
Does that negate the point I made regarding good whole foods and junk foods over the long haul??
Which is better for you over the long run?
And as I said, you are presenting a false dichotomy. Once your body has received its necessary nutrients and enzymes, it is perfectly fine to eat nearly whatever you want within your dietary goals with no detrimental health or fitness issues.0 -
I had this same issue! Sometimes, I still do. Do what you feel -- if you are hungry, then eat! If not, don't worry about it. I know my methods aren't what most people would agree with -- but eating a bunch of junk just to meet your goal isn't good either.
a few things that I did to help? eat a larger breakfast, bring good-for-you foods to snack on during the day (since you don't enjoy nuts, try apples, cheese, jerky...) don't work out unless you meet your goal for the day - make working out a treat if you eat enough
those are a few things that helped me to increase without even thinking about it 0 -
And as I said, you are presenting a false dichotomy. Once your body has received its necessary nutrients and enzymes, it is perfectly fine to eat nearly whatever you want within your dietary goals with no detrimental health or fitness issues.
???
I think you are offering the false dichotomy, no?
Because when you setup your daily goal and macros, you are defining what your body needs to progress, correct?
So if you have met those needs, then you should have no room for additional calories? correct?
And that is all that soda is, is just empty calories.
But I will not argue with you on this.....if you want to do sodas go ahead.
And if you get the results you want, then more power to you.
For me and my views on things.....I think food plays an important role in over all health.
And I think that sugar, simple kinds of sugars from junk food, play a role in weakening your immune system.
That is my opinion.0 -
And as I said, you are presenting a false dichotomy. Once your body has received its necessary nutrients and enzymes, it is perfectly fine to eat nearly whatever you want within your dietary goals with no detrimental health or fitness issues.
???
I think you are offering the false dichotomy, no?
Because when you setup your daily goal and macros, you are defining what your body needs to progress, correct?
So if you have met those needs, then you should have no room for additional calories? correct?
And that is all that soda is, is just empty calories.
But I will not argue with you on this.....if you want to do sodas go ahead.
And if you get the results you want, then more power to you.
For me and my views on things.....I think food plays an important role in over all health.
And I think that sugar, simple kinds of sugars from junk food, play a role in weakening your immune system.
That is my opinion.
I think you are confused about what a dichotomy is.
When you set up your diary, you are choosing your calorie and macro goals. Micronutrients do not affect your calorie goals. So you can easily hit your micros and still have plenty of calories that need to be consumed (proteins, carbs, fats, alcohols).
Furthermore, soda has carbs, so while being nearly devoid of micros, it can still help you hit your macros.0 -
Ok mate.
If it works for you and others, then carry on.0 -
Im in the same boat just started today and my goal was the same until I did the online calculator which only changed it to 1245 daily. My goal is to loose 20lbs and today I was way under my calories by like 400ish! Just goes to show how much damage we can do to our bodies with out realizing it! I truly dont' understand much of this because one calculator (BMR) will say 1512 and the other said 1245! So until I love the 20lbs I'll stick with the 1245...then take it from there. I just ate a tbs of peanut butter and still haven't reach my goal! done eating for today! tomorrow is another day to make it better...good luck tomorrow
MFP's method has you eat back your calories; TDEE -20% methods generally include the exercise calories in the calculation. So if you were doing 300 calories worth of exercise, you'd be at roughly the same number (if your BMR calculator was eventually working toward TDEE). Also, I think I read that lots of people set MFP at 2.0 lbs a week and many TDEE calculators are set to 1.0 pound a week.
I prefer the TDEE method because most methods of measuring calorie burn during exercise are inaccurate, so your "eat back" is typically an educated guesstimate. I keep mine to 1500, no eat back. I'm also 5 2, 139 and 43 years old.0 -
good if you need to increase your calories go back to the mcdonalds burgerWhenever I see people struggling to meet their calorie goal and they are dieting.
Why were you ever bigger in the first place?
it doesnt make sense.
Thats like saying I can run a mile but I cant run 10 feet
I agree. For some reason they get this thought stuck in their head that they have to eat nothing but salads and quinoa to be "healthy".
Right because there is no possible way that reducing the amount you were eating (simply because it was in front of you) , down to the amount you should be eating, could cut your calories that much. Like never having a doggy bag at a restaurant to having over half your plate to take home can't possible be the reason why. Instead of eating 3 chicken breasts, because they were there, not because you were hungry, only eating one and a nice salad could possibly cut your calories that much. Replacing McDonald with homemade hamburgers couldn't possibly cut your calories that much.
Seriously...
That would be the opposite of healthy.
If you haven't gone through it, and have nothing helpful to say then you shouldn't comment. Just because you have no problem eating however many calories you are aiming too, does not mean it's easy for everyone. A friend of mine decide to "try this healthy eating thing" as she put it. She stopped eating all the junk foods.. and didn't change anything else. she was eating 800 calories a day. Because she ate healthy and then topped it off with ice cream and candy etc.. all day long. She had to learn how to snack healthy. Giving real advice on what to eat is helpful. Saying "Well how did you get fat" or "eat more" is not.
ETA: i agree with the breakfast comment above. I cant' really eat breakfast in the morning it makes me feel bad, but I can drink a smoothie and that helped me tremendously in getting my calories up.
I think you are Confuzzled about nutrition.
Why? Because I've been where the OP is? Struggling through the eating too little issue? Overcoming it one step at a time? I didn't say eating 800 calories is good. I simply said I can understand how you get there and why it's hard to overcome. Just because your journey and struggles are different does not make anyone else's dumb, stupid or easy to overcome. If you hadn't struggled or hadn't had stuff to learn and overcome i doubt you'd be on here.0 -
good if you need to increase your calories go back to the mcdonalds burgerWhenever I see people struggling to meet their calorie goal and they are dieting.
Why were you ever bigger in the first place?
it doesnt make sense.
Thats like saying I can run a mile but I cant run 10 feet
I agree. For some reason they get this thought stuck in their head that they have to eat nothing but salads and quinoa to be "healthy".
Right because there is no possible way that reducing the amount you were eating (simply because it was in front of you) , down to the amount you should be eating, could cut your calories that much. Like never having a doggy bag at a restaurant to having over half your plate to take home can't possible be the reason why. Instead of eating 3 chicken breasts, because they were there, not because you were hungry, only eating one and a nice salad could possibly cut your calories that much. Replacing McDonald with homemade hamburgers couldn't possibly cut your calories that much.
Seriously...
That would be the opposite of healthy.
If you haven't gone through it, and have nothing helpful to say then you shouldn't comment. Just because you have no problem eating however many calories you are aiming too, does not mean it's easy for everyone. A friend of mine decide to "try this healthy eating thing" as she put it. She stopped eating all the junk foods.. and didn't change anything else. she was eating 800 calories a day. Because she ate healthy and then topped it off with ice cream and candy etc.. all day long. She had to learn how to snack healthy. Giving real advice on what to eat is helpful. Saying "Well how did you get fat" or "eat more" is not.
ETA: i agree with the breakfast comment above. I cant' really eat breakfast in the morning it makes me feel bad, but I can drink a smoothie and that helped me tremendously in getting my calories up.
I think you are Confuzzled about nutrition.
Why? Because I've been where the OP is? Struggling through the eating too little issue? Overcoming it one step at a time? I didn't say eating 800 calories is good. I simply said I can understand how you get there and why it's hard to overcome. Just because your journey and struggles are different does not make anyone else's dumb, stupid or easy to overcome. If you hadn't struggled or hadn't had stuff to learn and overcome i doubt you'd be on here.
Overcoming undereating because of an ED I can understand. But struggling to meet your caloric goal because you have the notion in your head that "junk food" will hinder your weight loss shows that you do not understand nutrition very well.0 -
good if you need to increase your calories go back to the mcdonalds burgerWhenever I see people struggling to meet their calorie goal and they are dieting.
Why were you ever bigger in the first place?
it doesnt make sense.
Thats like saying I can run a mile but I cant run 10 feet
I agree. For some reason they get this thought stuck in their head that they have to eat nothing but salads and quinoa to be "healthy".
Right because there is no possible way that reducing the amount you were eating (simply because it was in front of you) , down to the amount you should be eating, could cut your calories that much. Like never having a doggy bag at a restaurant to having over half your plate to take home can't possible be the reason why. Instead of eating 3 chicken breasts, because they were there, not because you were hungry, only eating one and a nice salad could possibly cut your calories that much. Replacing McDonald with homemade hamburgers couldn't possibly cut your calories that much.
Seriously...
That would be the opposite of healthy.
If you haven't gone through it, and have nothing helpful to say then you shouldn't comment. Just because you have no problem eating however many calories you are aiming too, does not mean it's easy for everyone. A friend of mine decide to "try this healthy eating thing" as she put it. She stopped eating all the junk foods.. and didn't change anything else. she was eating 800 calories a day. Because she ate healthy and then topped it off with ice cream and candy etc.. all day long. She had to learn how to snack healthy. Giving real advice on what to eat is helpful. Saying "Well how did you get fat" or "eat more" is not.
ETA: i agree with the breakfast comment above. I cant' really eat breakfast in the morning it makes me feel bad, but I can drink a smoothie and that helped me tremendously in getting my calories up.
I think you are Confuzzled about nutrition.
Why? Because I've been where the OP is? Struggling through the eating too little issue? Overcoming it one step at a time? I didn't say eating 800 calories is good. I simply said I can understand how you get there and why it's hard to overcome. Just because your journey and struggles are different does not make anyone else's dumb, stupid or easy to overcome. If you hadn't struggled or hadn't had stuff to learn and overcome i doubt you'd be on here.
No, because you don't understand nutrients.0 -
Let me say one more thing.
Yes, ultimately if you want to lose weight, it will come down to calories in vs calories out. So yes you can build your
entire diet around fast food, and still lose weight. But I don't think that is healthy.
I make the assumption (yes I know about assuming) that when people register on this site, 90% of them::
1) Want to lose weight
2) Get/Be healthy
3) Eat the right foods
4) Learn what does and does not work and also why that is.
So when people post questions about weight loss, I assume those other 3 points as well about the person.
Now I am married to a Filipino, and as a result, I know a lot of Filipinos.
Some of them are stick thin, no weight issues....so you would assume healthy.
But in reality, their blood work is a mess.
They have high Blood Pressure, high cholesterol, some have had strokes, heart by-passes, stints and heart-attacks....
So they are all on BP and Cholesterol medications.....
reason being, they don't eat a lot.....but what they do eat is wreaking havoc on them.
Fried foods, fried pork, fried lumpia, patis, oyster sauce, etc....
So I just think if you are gonna make the determination that you want to lose weight, then in the process of doing so, you should
eat right. Because you don't want to get 12 months down the road, and dropped 100 pounds, and then go to the doctors, and your
blood work is a mess.
Not to mention if your genetically predisposed to these things.
I am the poster boy for healthy living....everything a doctor would tell you to do to lower BP, I do.
I went last month for a physical.....my BP is 133/72. My doctors reply was that "Well if you were not doing what you are doing,
then you would probably be on medication right now."
So needless to say, I am pretty pissed over that......
So by all means, if you wish to continue to eat fast food and junk food and still fall below your caloric needs in order to lose
weight, then go ahead. God bless you for it. But be sure you take the time to get your annual physical, so you can keep track of your blood....and
what is going on inside the body.
And whierd, I am not trying to argue with you or dissect words.....I am just giving people who read this, the best
advice I can give, same as you. This post is for others to read, and not directed at you.0 -
@ MityMax96 - So true!
My family are pre-disposed to high cholestrol. When I weighed 77.5Kgs, I had mine checked and it was 8.2. My sister, who at the time weighed 20Kgs LESS than me had hers checked at the same time and hers came in at 8.3... a tad higher than mine and that is with her being a lot thinner than me.
I eventually got it down to 6.5 only with correct eating and exercise (at that time I lost 12Kgs in 18 months). As it is a genetic or rather heriditary pre-disposition, I could not get it down to the reqired level so I was put onto statins.
Once on the statins I completely let my eating and exercising plan fly out the window and went for a check-up about a month ago. My level, after being on statins for a year was only down 1 point (now 5.5). The first thing the Doctor asked was if I was sticking to my eating and exercise regime. I admitted that I had not and had picked up 8Kg of the 12 I had lost.
Needless to say, that is why I am here. It is my health that I am concerned about and my history tells an all too familiar story with relaying on meds alone to fix problems. It is ALL about what we choose to shovel into our mouths.0 -
You don't get high cholesterol or high blood pressure from eating a McDonald's burger instead of a homemade burger.
A large portion of cholesterol levels is genetic. Another large portion is exercise. Another large portion is body composition. Whether your ground beef comes in a McD's wrapper or "Organic grass fed" wrapper is not a portion of it.
Nutrients matter. Labels don't.0 -
I do not understand why some people are so against having a discussion. Talking about this stuff and "dissecting words" is how ideas are shared, validated, and discarded. It is a healthy thing to do and it helps us realize when we are correct, wrong, or somewhat misguided. Do not be afraid of the process bro, this is how we learn, it isn't personal.0
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You don't get high cholesterol or high blood pressure from eating a McDonald's burger instead of a homemade burger.
A large portion of cholesterol levels is genetic. Another large portion is exercise. Another large portion is body composition. Whether your ground beef comes in a McD's wrapper or "Organic grass fed" wrapper is not a portion of it.
Nutrients matter. Labels don't.
I actually don't eat that many burgers......
Once in a while.
Edit:
I grilled out some burgers last night for the kiddos....
They were the Walmart GV brand.
Looked at the nutrition label on it, 220 cal, 200 of it was fat.0 -
I do not understand why some people are so against having a discussion. Talking about this stuff and "dissecting words" is how ideas are shared, validated, and discarded. It is a healthy thing to do and it helps us realize when we are correct, wrong, or somewhat misguided. Do not be afraid of the process bro, this is how we learn, it isn't personal.
Fair enough and I agree with you on those points.
I just don't like to get in pissing matches with people......
And then what results is a circular argument....
So if you are fine with the diet you are eating and it consists of fast foods......then more power to you.0 -
I looked at your diary for a week and it seems pretty okay to me. You were a little low a few days and over a day or two as well... Things that can add some extra healthy calories are things like olive oil, avocados, nuts and legumes, greek yogurt...
Try cooking your eggs in a little olive oil in the morning, add avocado to your salad or sandwich. Have a snack of raw almonds or walnuts throughout the day. Add peanut butter to your oatmeal or to toast. That should fill the calorie gap your missing. I have even heard of people adding a table spoon of coconut oil to their coffee in the morning to add extra nutrients (coconut oil is very good for you) & on the days you workout, you need to eat back your exercise calories. Have a little snack after your workout.
Hope this helps!
*Edit. I looked back a bit further and did see some 800-900 calorie days and that probably isn't good. Take little snacks like yogurt, nuts, granola and stuff with you when you go out so you always have a little something to eat.0 -
I do coconut oil / MCT oil in my coffee.
I like it. 0 -
Have you considered eating a cookie? Or a muffin?
I had a chocolate chip muffin, warmed in the over, with 30g of ice cream last night. Bam, 270 calories of delicious melty creamy goodness.0 -
I grilled out some burgers last night for the kiddos....
They were the Walmart GV brand.
Looked at the nutrition label on it, 220 cal, 200 of it was fat.
A hamburger patty with about 22 grams of fat and 4 grams of protein?
Yeah. Not so much.0 -
I grilled out some burgers last night for the kiddos....
They were the Walmart GV brand.
Looked at the nutrition label on it, 220 cal, 200 of it was fat.
A hamburger patty with about 22 grams of fat and 4 grams of protein?
Yeah. Not so much.
He really is proving your point so well, Jon.0 -
You don't get high cholesterol or high blood pressure from eating a McDonald's burger instead of a homemade burger.
A large portion of cholesterol levels is genetic. Another large portion is exercise. Another large portion is body composition. Whether your ground beef comes in a McD's wrapper or "Organic grass fed" wrapper is not a portion of it.
Nutrients matter. Labels don't.
I actually don't eat that many burgers......
Once in a while.
Edit:
I grilled out some burgers last night for the kiddos....
They were the Walmart GV brand.
Looked at the nutrition label on it, 220 cal, 200 of it was fat.
That is nutritionally impossible.0 -
That is nutritionally impossible.
Ok, you were right.
It was 290/200
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Value-80-20-100-Pure-Individually-Quick-Frozen-Beef-Patties-48-oz/103159600 -
good if you need to increase your calories go back to the mcdonalds burgerWhenever I see people struggling to meet their calorie goal and they are dieting.
Why were you ever bigger in the first place?
it doesnt make sense.
Thats like saying I can run a mile but I cant run 10 feet
I agree. For some reason they get this thought stuck in their head that they have to eat nothing but salads and quinoa to be "healthy".
Right because there is no possible way that reducing the amount you were eating (simply because it was in front of you) , down to the amount you should be eating, could cut your calories that much. Like never having a doggy bag at a restaurant to having over half your plate to take home can't possible be the reason why. Instead of eating 3 chicken breasts, because they were there, not because you were hungry, only eating one and a nice salad could possibly cut your calories that much. Replacing McDonald with homemade hamburgers couldn't possibly cut your calories that much.
Seriously...
That would be the opposite of healthy.
If you haven't gone through it, and have nothing helpful to say then you shouldn't comment. Just because you have no problem eating however many calories you are aiming too, does not mean it's easy for everyone. A friend of mine decide to "try this healthy eating thing" as she put it. She stopped eating all the junk foods.. and didn't change anything else. she was eating 800 calories a day. Because she ate healthy and then topped it off with ice cream and candy etc.. all day long. She had to learn how to snack healthy. Giving real advice on what to eat is helpful. Saying "Well how did you get fat" or "eat more" is not.
ETA: i agree with the breakfast comment above. I cant' really eat breakfast in the morning it makes me feel bad, but I can drink a smoothie and that helped me tremendously in getting my calories up.
I think you are Confuzzled about nutrition.
Why? Because I've been where the OP is? Struggling through the eating too little issue? Overcoming it one step at a time? I didn't say eating 800 calories is good. I simply said I can understand how you get there and why it's hard to overcome. Just because your journey and struggles are different does not make anyone else's dumb, stupid or easy to overcome. If you hadn't struggled or hadn't had stuff to learn and overcome i doubt you'd be on here.
Obviously we know that it isnt hard to eat in excess if you already ate in excess previously.
What struggle?
I have never struggled meeting my daily caloric requirements because its a joke.
I could eat more if I wanted to0 -
I eat 1200 calories and do well on that amount. I avoid sweet snacks and don't eat anything ( well, almost ) that is made with refined flour, because these things will take up a lot of calories without any nutritional benefits.
While weight loss is not dependent on the quality of the food you eat, but depends solely on a calorie deficit, eating more healthful food nourishes you better and therefore maybe keep you from being hungry all the time. Just glancing at your food diary, I would probably avoid the smores, hot dog buns and hot dogs, kaiser rolls and many of the other processed items you eat. I would replace them with good protein, complex carbs and more vegetables. I realize that many people want their treats, but I suggest that if daily treats occupy more calories than the average meals and with getting more refined sugar and carbs, one really keeps the hunger for more treats/sweets alive, which in return makes a 1200 calorie diet much more difficult to sustain, but is entirely your choice.0
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