Not eating enough?

JLion851
JLion851 Posts: 10
in Health and Weight Loss
When I completed my day, it said I wasn't eating enough calories? O.o Personally, I feel like I am because I don't feel hungry. Should I eat more because it says that?

Replies

  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    What's your TDEE? How many calories are you eating?

    A lot of people would tell you to net at least your BMR. Do you know your BMR?

    You can try calculators like these to estimate it.
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    Hunger is not always the most reliable indicator of whether or not you're eating enough. Unfortunately, the hormones that control our hunger signals can be suppressed by too many factors, including exercise and undereating for a prolonged period of time. You have to look at the big picture, including things like mood, focus, energy levels, healthy skin and nails. There are just too many things that can happen in the background, like muscle loss or loss of bone density, that aren't signaled by hunger.
  • JLion851
    JLion851 Posts: 10
    What's your TDEE? How many calories are you eating?

    A lot of people would tell you to net at least your BMR. Do you know your BMR?

    You can try calculators like these to estimate it.
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

    I don't know what my BMR is and I don't know what a TDEE is. But I did eat 1,040 calories today. .-.
  • JLion851
    JLion851 Posts: 10
    Hunger is not always the most reliable indicator of whether or not you're eating enough. Unfortunately, the hormones that control our hunger signals can be suppressed by too many factors, including exercise and undereating for a prolonged period of time. You have to look at the big picture, including things like mood, focus, energy levels, healthy skin and nails. There are just too many things that can happen in the background, like muscle loss or loss of bone density, that aren't signaled by hunger.

    Ah okay.. thank you. ^_^
  • peleroja
    peleroja Posts: 3,979 Member
    Did you weigh on a food scale (for solids) and measure (liquids) absolutely everything you ate, including cooking oil, beverages, and condiments?

    If not, you are probably underestimating how many calories you really ate.
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    1. If that profile picture is a recent picture of you, you don't need to lose ANY weight, let alone the 43 lb listed on your profile.
    2. Eating below 1200 calories is dangerous and if you eat less than 1200, MFP will give you a warning saying you're not eating enough for that very reason.
    3. If you don't know your BMR or TDEE, use the links the other person gave you and find out!
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

    These calculators can help you find an estimate for you BMR and TDEE. Like I said, a lot of people would tell you to net at least your BMR. Is the 1040 net or total calories? That's not a lot to eat for most people. And after a while, you'll have less energy to work out and stay healthy. You'll lose bone, hair, muscle... etc.
  • fushigi1988
    fushigi1988 Posts: 519 Member
    1000 calories is way too low, please use the calculators people have linked and calculate what you need.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    What's your TDEE? How many calories are you eating?

    A lot of people would tell you to net at least your BMR. Do you know your BMR?

    You can try calculators like these to estimate it.
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

    I don't know what my BMR is and I don't know what a TDEE is. But I did eat 1,040 calories today. .-.

    TDEE stands for Total Daily Energy Expenditure. It's the number of calories your body uses in a day and it's also the number of calories you would eat to maintain your current weight. Anything above this would cause you to gain and anything below it should allow you to lose weight. It's usually a good place to start when determining your calorie goals.

    The links that WBB55 left you should give you an estimate of your TDEE.
  • JLion851
    JLion851 Posts: 10
    Did you weigh on a food scale (for solids) and measure (liquids) absolutely everything you ate, including cooking oil, beverages, and condiments?

    If not, you are probably underestimating how many calories you really ate.

    I measured my breakfast in a measuring cup. and my lunch soup in a measuring cup. the other stuff was already packaged. I only drink water and herbal teas, which are 0 calories. i don't use condiments or cooking oils.
  • JLion851
    JLion851 Posts: 10
    1. If that profile picture is a recent picture of you, you don't need to lose ANY weight, let alone the 43 lb listed on your profile.
    2. Eating below 1200 calories is dangerous and if you eat less than 1200, MFP will give you a warning saying you're not eating enough for that very reason.
    3. If you don't know your BMR or TDEE, use the links the other person gave you and find out!

    The picture I am using now is old (2 years ago). I am 40 pounds heavier from what I was in that picture. I am using it as inspiration for where I want to be again. :3
  • JLion851
    JLion851 Posts: 10
    What's your TDEE? How many calories are you eating?

    A lot of people would tell you to net at least your BMR. Do you know your BMR?

    You can try calculators like these to estimate it.
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

    I don't know what my BMR is and I don't know what a TDEE is. But I did eat 1,040 calories today. .-.

    TDEE stands for Total Daily Energy Expenditure. It's the number of calories your body uses in a day and it's also the number of calories you would eat to maintain your current weight. Anything above this would cause you to gain and anything below it should allow you to lose weight. It's usually a good place to start when determining your calorie goals.

    The links that WBB55 left you should give you an estimate of your TDEE.

    Okay. I will check out the links and whatnot. ^_^ thanks.
  • JLion851
    JLion851 Posts: 10
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

    These calculators can help you find an estimate for you BMR and TDEE. Like I said, a lot of people would tell you to net at least your BMR. Is the 1040 net or total calories? That's not a lot to eat for most people. And after a while, you'll have less energy to work out and stay healthy. You'll lose bone, hair, muscle... etc.

    Its my total calories. >.< Its that bad? O.o I don't have much food in general in my house.
  • mschicagocubs
    mschicagocubs Posts: 774 Member
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

    These calculators can help you find an estimate for you BMR and TDEE. Like I said, a lot of people would tell you to net at least your BMR. Is the 1040 net or total calories? That's not a lot to eat for most people. And after a while, you'll have less energy to work out and stay healthy. You'll lose bone, hair, muscle... etc.

    Its my total calories. >.< Its that bad? O.o I don't have much food in general in my house.

    It's not terrible. Just try to NET 1200. If you exercise a lot, eat some of the calories back. Just grab an egg or 2 tblspoons of PB. Should do the trick.
  • JLion851
    JLion851 Posts: 10
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

    These calculators can help you find an estimate for you BMR and TDEE. Like I said, a lot of people would tell you to net at least your BMR. Is the 1040 net or total calories? That's not a lot to eat for most people. And after a while, you'll have less energy to work out and stay healthy. You'll lose bone, hair, muscle... etc.

    Its my total calories. >.< Its that bad? O.o I don't have much food in general in my house.

    It's not terrible. Just try to NET 1200. If you exercise a lot, eat some of the calories back. Just grab an egg or 2 tblspoons of PB. Should do the trick.

    Okay. ^_^ I'll try that.
  • heathercondon79
    heathercondon79 Posts: 5
    I was using the amount given to me by this app but those calculators both tell me to be eating 300 more calories a day. Who is right?
  • 1princesswarrior
    1princesswarrior Posts: 1,242 Member
    Read http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    and http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

    They are probably the two best links to get you going and explain the importance of eating to fuel your body correctly and weighing your solid food while measuring your liquids.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    I was using the amount given to me by this app but those calculators both tell me to be eating 300 more calories a day. Who is right?

    The answer is that it depends.

    MFP expects you to log your exercise here and eat back the extra calories you burn. The TDEE method on the other sites include your exercise from the beginning and give you a higher starting goal, but you don't get extra calories when you workout. Usually, adding your exercise calories to your MFP goal is enough to bring the two methods to about the same number.

    Additionally, MFP allows users to select a weight loss goal of up to 2 pounds per week, whether or not that's a good goal for their size. The TDEE method used by the other sites does not. It takes a percentage (about 20%) from your TDEE, which often gives you a slower rate of loss. Setting your MFP goal to the more realistic goal of 1 pound per week will also help bring the two goals to the same number.

    When the two are set up with equal parameters they're usually about the same. MFP just gets there in a different way.
  • JLion851
    JLion851 Posts: 10
    Read http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    and http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

    They are probably the two best links to get you going and explain the importance of eating to fuel your body correctly and weighing your solid food while measuring your liquids.

    How about if I don't have anything to weigh my food with? I don't have much money to buy anything... Would just using a measuring cup work with food? Thats what I been using.

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