Eating the "wrong" things but staying at 1200

nicolacx

Wow guys this was really helpful thank you :-)

I am eating veg with the dinner and the microwave meals are the M & S fuller for longer range - it helps that the portion size is already weighed out for me so I don't cheat!

So far I havent felt hungry but if i have then I've eaten and made sure I've done some exercise to burn it off. man 80 cals on the treadmill takes me ages but then i tend to appreciate food more!

I tend to hold weight around my stomach area so trying to do cardio

uptomoonandback

I tend to be the person that says a calorie is a calorie, but I also know I use that as an excuse, because I eat terribly, but still end up under my calorie goal and have lost weight. A lot of the comments I'm seeing in here makes me wonder if I'm not creating nutiriton problems for myself. I am 27 and 5'4'' and weigh about 118. For the last 7 days I ate (I do know some of my food consisted of calories alone, didn't have the breakdown with it):

total goal left
total fat: 414 328 -86
cholesterol: 697 2100 1403
sodium: 17291 17500 209
potassium: 2544 24500 21956
carbs: 1206 1351 145
protein: 284 366 82

Am I doing completely terrible things to myself?

erickirb

I tend to be the person that says a calorie is a calorie, but I also know I use that as an excuse, because I eat terribly, but still end up under my calorie goal and have lost weight. A lot of the comments I'm seeing in here makes me wonder if I'm not creating nutiriton problems for myself. I am 27 and 5'4'' and weigh about 118. For the last 7 days I ate (I do know some of my food consisted of calories alone, didn't have the breakdown with it):

total goal left
total fat: 414 328 -86
cholesterol: 697 2100 1403
sodium: 17291 17500 209
potassium: 2544 24500 21956
carbs: 1206 1351 145
protein: 284 366 82

Am I doing completely terrible things to myself?

The amount of protein is much, much too low, only 41ish grams/day. I would aim for at least double that amount as a minimum. And ask yourself are you getting all the vitamins and minerals you need?

tigersword

Personally, I do not believe the "a calorie is a calorie" hype. Yes, a calorie is a set amount of energy, but calories from carbs react differently from calories form fat react differently from calories from protein. And the way they are combined in a meal makes a difference, as does the % intake from each category of calorie. Of course, eating at 1200 means you should lose weight, no matter what the macros are, but how you feel will vary greatly. I'm Paleo myself, so I really believe that whole foods should be the majority, if not the entirety, of a healthy lifestyle. Processed foods have chemicals that really affect how the body operates. If you build the majority of your diet from lean meats and vegetables, with healthy amounts of fruit and good healthy fats (avocados, nut butter, etc.) you will feel so much better and will be less hungry than living off of microwave meals and such.

Obviously, I don't expect everyone to go Paleo if the lifestyle isn't for them. But I do think everyone should try more of a "whole foods approach." It's amazing how different you feel Whatever you choose, I wish you luck on your journey!!!

How exactly does the macro combination make a difference? You can feel free to believe or not believe anything you like, since

diannethegeek

Wow guys this was really helpful thank you :-)

I am eating veg with the dinner and the microwave meals are the M & S fuller for longer range - it helps that the portion size is already weighed out for me so I don't cheat!

So far I havent felt hungry but if i have then I've eaten and made sure I've done some exercise to burn it off. man 80 cals on the treadmill takes me ages but then i tend to appreciate food more!

I tend to hold weight around my stomach area so trying to do cardio

I would suggest that a progressive strength training routine will do more good for your stomach area than cardio ever will.

Don't be afraid of heavy things!

uptomoonandback

@erickirb: Really double, the goal is 52 a day and I have a hard time reaching that, don't know how I'd make it all the way to 80. That's no bueno.

WhoHa42

@erickirb: Really double, the goal is 52 a day and I have a hard time reaching that, don't know how I'd make it all the way to 80. That's no bueno.

depends on your body weight but if you;re training it should be around 0.8g/lb of body weight

Siansonea

The Mars and Twinkies are both highly unhealthy, please add in some Fruit Rollups, Gummi Bears or kool-aid for vitamin C.

Now that's good advice. :drinker:

clambert1273

The Mars and Twinkies are both highly unhealthy, please add in some Fruit Rollups, Gummi Bears or kool-aid for vitamin C.

Now that's good advice. :drinker:

forgot the ice cream - calcium :bigsmile:

LeanneGoingThin

First of all, you should be eating more (since you're a guy AND you're exercising).

Secondly, you're going to lack essential vitamins if you keep this up, but you will lose weight regardless.

laursoar

I don't eat perfectly by any means as long as it fits in my daily calories. I quickly have realized though that making healthier choices tends to fill me up longer and allow me to eat more around the clock. I'm a lot less inclined to spend 210 calories on a measly candy bar when I realize I could eat homemade pumpkin french toast for about the same amount. Even so, sometimes I want the candy bar and make that decision. Ultimately, a balance is the most sustainable way to live. It's just a personal choice how much you're going to do this overall.

nicolacx

Thanks guys - i am also doing body pump and body pump as well as aerobic exercise in the hope that i will tone as well.

Im not seriously having 2 mars bars for lunch i just wondered if i should be paying more attention to the brekdown of my meals rather than just the calories.

Ive lost 4lbs in 2 weeks so seems to be working on track have lost 10 more pounds in times for Christmas which is my stone goal :-)