Eating too many calories

kristinahargraves

I have found that I can exercise all day long, but have a tremendously hard time limiting my calories. Any ideas on how to work out for atleast 60 mins a day but only eat 1600-1800ish calories? I drink 14-20 cups of water a day. Thanks:)

serindipte

First thing that jumps out is the lack of vegetables. You can add a lot of bulk and fiber for very few calories with the veggies.

Two hamburger patties and a hot dog in one meal? Pick one, add some veggies, enjoy.

Try making a switch towards leaner proteins. Boneless, skinless chicken breast, pork loin, turkey breast, even the leaner cuts of beef would all be better options than hot dogs and pepperoni.

Portions.. 1 1/2 cups of ice cream is three portions. Stick with one and eat a third the calories.

Tuscan Ranch dressing, 4 tbsp for 280 calories.. Find a lighter dressing that you enjoy. By this, I don't necessarily mean "free" from anything and you may end up with a whole different flavor. I've found that the Roasted Red Pepper Italian is delicious and it's only 25 calories for 2 tbsp.

ravenmiss

Less premade processed foods like pizza and more home made foods, fruit and veg to fill you up for less calories. Also try and track every day as there's days missing.

Also what exercise are you doing to have nearly 1500 calorie burns a day?!!

kristinahargraves

Thanks guys for the suggestions! I zumba and I walk:) The missing days are from when I was sick I didn't track.

RllyGudTweetr

I have found that I can exercise all day long, but have a tremendously hard time limiting my calories. Any ideas on how to work out for atleast 60 mins a day but only eat 1600-1800ish calories? I drink 14-20 cups of water a day. Thanks:)

Depending on your settings, exercising that long could well indicate a need for more calories than that; MFP expects you to eat back exercise calories, and it's particularly important on Sedentary or Lightly Active settings.

Is there a particular reason you feel the need to drink that much water?

ravenmiss

Same, wish my burns were like that! My HRM gives me around 600-700 burned for a 70 min class!!

Feel free to friend me btw, I eat 1700 a day so you may be able to get some ideas food wise

kristinahargraves

I never feel like im drinking to much water I just always have a bottle around me. Is it to much water?

dunnodunno

Do you use a HRM or are you using mfp for your calorie burns? You could vastly be overestimating your burns.

sadiebea25

Hi! I just looked at a couple days, but could you switch to diet coke and use stevia in your tea instead of sugar? And I bet you're counting too many calories burned for zumba and walking, MFP is notorious for over-estimating calorie burns. I burn about 400-500 for an hour of zumba, and 200 for a 40 minute 2.5 mile walk, according to my HRM. But good logging, and good luck!

You can friend me too, I eat about 1500-1700 cals a day

ravenmiss

I'm kinda surprised by the burns too, is why I asked. I know MFP will say I've burned like 1150 when it's more like 650-700, massive difference that adds up if you workout a lot!

kristinahargraves

mfp for my burns I usually just go with whatever they say I burned. Usually when I exercise its for time not calories burned. I figure as long as its 30 to 60 minutes a day Im getting in good exercise. Usually I go longer than that. Exercise doesn't really bother me I'm a sahm having access to the fridge is what gets me. I just started tracking calories almost 3 wks ago. It was a shocker to see how much I was eating!

Aaron_K123

I have found that I can exercise all day long, but have a tremendously hard time limiting my calories. Any ideas on how to work out for atleast 60 mins a day but only eat 1600-1800ish calories? I drink 14-20 cups of water a day. Thanks:)

Protein for satiation, veggies for fiber. Not saying you have to eat only lean protein and veggies but the more lean protein and veggies the eat the fuller you will feel on less calories.

I'm a 6' tall man who was doing intense exercise 6 days a week and when I first started by trying to eat "clean" where I only ate lean meat and vegetables I struggled to eat enough to get 1500 calories, it was just way way to filling.

Since then I just added more calorically rich foods and I'm fine now. Not saying you should eat only lean meat and veggies but if your trouble is feeling hungry and not hitting your calorie goal add protein and vegetables.

kristinahargraves

I gave up diet soda years ago and was soooo addicted to it. I try not to drink soda but it happens. These last few days I had like one a day and just need to cut it out. I like regular sugar but thinking of trying honey in my tea.

serindipte

I'm a sahm having access to the fridge is what gets me. I just started tracking calories almost 3 wks ago. It was a shocker to see how much I was eating!

I totally understand that access to the fridge! I'm a sahm and have a home daycare so there's also the temptation to eat or at least nibble at the meals I prepare for the kids.

I usually eat 1400 - 1560 calories per day if you want to take a look for ideas.

Regarding the diet sodas, I had given them up for a long while. I didn't notice any difference in how I felt other than that I was drinking "real" soda and those calories were landing right on my hips.. I started back on the diet sodas, 5/10 calorie drink mixes like Crystal Light, or water.

If you are using MFP's estimates for your exercise, only eat back 1/2 to 3/4 of those calories. MFP is horrible at overestimating the burns.

kristinahargraves

Ive been thinking of adding eggs to my diet more often for protein. All great suggestions thanks!

Aaron_K123

Ive been thinking of adding eggs to my diet more often for protein. All great suggestions thanks!

For lean protein good sources would be chicken breast, turkey breast or tuna. Lean protein being foods that are very high in protein but low in fat.

For example a 12 oz (3/4 of a pound) can of chunk light tuna in water has about 65g of protein and almost zero fat so only 300 calories. I dare you to eat a 12 oz can of tuna and not feel completely stuffed for hours.

A 4oz chicken breast is almost entirely protein and comes in at about 130 calories. Eat 3 chicken breasts and I'm sure you will feel full for quite some time but will have only eaten a modest 390 calories.

Lean proteins fill you up. People who try to eat only lean proteins and veggies have the opposite problem as you, they struggle to eat enough calories because the food is just too filling.

chrisdavey

I gave up diet soda years ago and was soooo addicted to it. I try not to drink soda but it happens. These last few days I had like one a day and just need to cut it out. I like regular sugar but thinking of trying honey in my tea.

honey, sugar, same same.

It looks to me as though you have a very large allotment of cals towards condiments and high fat foods. Fat is definitely required in your diet but in a balanced diet it should be around 25% of cals or so. (around .3-.5g per lb of BW alternatively)

As fat is by far the most calorie dense of the macronutrients, I'd be looking to lower that and that will sort out a large chunk of your over eating.

kristinahargraves

I googled a zumba fitness calculator and put in the 80 mins I did today at high intensity and my weight 249 lbs and it came up with the same calories burned as MFP. What do you guys use to determine your calories burned?

Aaron_K123

I googled a zumba fitness calculator and put in the 80 mins I did today at high intensity and my weight 249 lbs and it came up with the same calories burned as MFP. What do you guys use to determine your calories burned?

I go off a heart rate monitor and the concept that no matter how hard your heart is pounding out of your chest its almost impossible to burn more than 10 calories a minute.

kristinahargraves

Ive been thinking of adding eggs to my diet more often for protein. All great suggestions thanks!

For lean protein good sources would be chicken breast, turkey breast or tuna. Lean protein being foods that are very high in protein but low in fat.

For example a 12 oz (3/4 of a pound) can of chunk light tuna in water has about 65g of protein and almost zero fat so only 300 calories. I dare you to eat a 12 oz can of tuna and not feel completely stuffed for hours.

A 4oz chicken breast is almost entirely protein and comes in at about 130 calories. Eat 3 chicken breasts and I'm sure you will feel full for quite some time but will have only eaten a modest 390 calories.

Lean proteins fill you up. People who try to eat only lean proteins and veggies have the opposite problem as you, they struggle to eat enough calories because the food is just too filling.

I will have to take you up on that dare and let you know how it goes.

ravenmiss

I googled a zumba fitness calculator and put in the 80 mins I did today at high intensity and my weight 249 lbs and it came up with the same calories burned as MFP. What do you guys use to determine your calories burned?

My heart rate monitor, zumba calculators and MFP way WAY overestimate them. I even knock some off my HRM to be honest.

I try and aim for and often get at least 100g protein a day, more on days when I lift.

kristinahargraves

I have to admit its hard to post a question like this for everyone to see my diary makes me feel embarrassed for what ive been eating. Thinking that I was trying to be healthier and really not doing it right. But it opened my eyes and you guys are right and your knowledge is appreciated!

ravenmiss

I have to admit its hard to post a question like this for everyone to see my diary makes me feel embarrassed for what ive been eating. Thinking that I was trying to be healthier and really not doing it right. But it opened my eyes and you guys are right and your knowledge is appreciated!

No need to be embarrassed! Learning is part of the journey

serindipte

I have to admit its hard to post a question like this for everyone to see my diary makes me feel embarrassed for what ive been eating. Thinking that I was trying to be healthier and really not doing it right. But it opened my eyes and you guys are right and your knowledge is appreciated!

Oh honey! No need to be embarrassed! The majority of us are here because we ate well above what you've been eating and didn't get up off the couch for a walk around the block, much less an hour+ of Zumba. (I know this is not the case for everyone and not all are here to lose weight in the first place, hence the 'majority')

You're on the right track by seeking better ideas for ways to eat. If it was something we just "knew", then we wouldn't need MFP to begin with.

CarolinkaCjj

I have to admit its hard to post a question like this for everyone to see my diary makes me feel embarrassed for what ive been eating. Thinking that I was trying to be healthier and really not doing it right. But it opened my eyes and you guys are right and your knowledge is appreciated!

Don't be embarrassed - you are honestly logging your food and keeping good track. Try to make some of the changes people have suggested. Keep up the good fight.

ravenmiss

Oh honey! No need to be embarrassed! The majority of us are here because we ate well above what you've been eating and didn't get up off the couch for a walk around the block, much less an hour+ of Zumba. (I know this is not the case for everyone and not all are here to lose weight in the first place, hence the 'majority')

You're on the right track by seeking better ideas for ways to eat. If it was something we just "knew", then we wouldn't need MFP to begin with.

Ah so true for me lol! I started exercising only a couple of months ago after not doing a damn thing for nearly 15 years! Been a bit lazy this past week but am getting back into it this weekend

chrisdavey

I have to admit its hard to post a question like this for everyone to see my diary makes me feel embarrassed for what ive been eating. Thinking that I was trying to be healthier and really not doing it right. But it opened my eyes and you guys are right and your knowledge is appreciated!

No need to be embarrassed at all!

I think the majority of people here who are here to lose weight would have very similar eating habits.

kristinahargraves

Thanks guys! I did join to lose weight and gain knowledge:) I will try and incorporate some of the ideas you guys gave me!

Aaron_K123

Thanks guys! I did join to lose weight and gain knowledge:) I will try and incorporate some of the ideas you guys gave me!

Not saying you have to go crazy with the protein but cutting a little of the carbs and adding some more protein can make a big difference on how satiated or full you feel from the same amount of calories.

In my experience and the experience of pretty much everyone I've talked to protein is just more satiating per calorie and I find that many people who struggle to eat low enough calorically have a lot of either fat or carbs in their diet.

blg5

I wear a heart rate monitor for my workouts. If I work out in a zone of about 135-165 beats per minute I burn about 10 calories per minute so a 1hr. burn would be about 600 calories for me and I'm a big girl. If I were you I'd get my calories burned from another source than MFP. Theirs is not just over its way over. I have learned a trick to making my lunch last longer. Eat a Granny Smith Apple at the end. Something about that work's for me and even if I'm not in the mood for an apple I take a bite and can not stop eating it. I keep a bag of those things on my counter.

kristinahargraves

Your right about the protein and I'm going to up the lean protein. If it makes me feel full I'm gonna give it a try!