Is 1000 calories to few? I need healthy ideas!

ashleeei

Hello! I was hoping for some healthy suggestions for food/snacks so I can not be so bored with my diet and be more likely to succeed. I find myself not eating as many calories on some day as I should be and its usually because I want to stay under my carb count and can’t decide what to eat!!!
Currently my diet mostly consists of:
Breakfast:
-Protein Shakes
-Eggs with turkey bacon or turkey sausage and some spinach/bellpeppers/onions

Lunch:
-Spinach salad with bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, a little feta, chicken breast, (dressing: olive oil/balsamic/salt/pepper)

Dinners:
Chicken Breast, Turkey Burgers, or some type of meat with broccoli or asparagus

Snacks:
-Lots of Berries (Blackberries, Strawberries, and Raspberries)
-Lite Cheddar Cheese stix as a snack 1x a day
-Almonds
-Hardboiled egg whites

Things I hate:
-Raw Veggies (with the exception of: cucumbers and cherry tomatoes)  - I know I need more of these and I can’t find a way!!!

Things I avoid:
Obvious fatty foods
Oatmeal (I feel like it has way to many carbs to help me see results)
Too many almonds (because there high in monounsaturated fats – which MFP suggest I eat NONE!?)
CARBS CARBS CARBS (I realize I have to eat good carbs and not bad)


Any ideas of things I am not eating that I should be? I am somewhat new at this and need ideas to shake this last 20 lbs…I don’t feel hungry AT ALL after I consume 1000-1200 clean calories!!! Is 1000 to little with exercising 30-45 mins of cardio daily?

Walter__

As is, your diet is unsustainable. Why? Because your diet is so restricted that you will quickly grow bored of it and go right back to your old eating habits.

Also, you're not eating enough. What are you going to do when your weight loss stalls? At 1000 calories, you have almost nothing left to cut from. You won't be able to safely reduce your calories any further. You will hate your diet even more, then comes a rebound. All the weight you've lost is going to come back, and then some.

And why are you working out every single day? Do you think that's sustainable? In other words, like your diet, do you think you will be able to do that years from now? No. And you probably won't be able to do it even a few months from now before you burn out and get sick of it.


I tell you this because I've been through this. So many other have as well. Don't burn yourself out physically and mentally with a strict diet and overexercising.

I suggest you find your maintenance calories (the number of calories your body burns per day), then subtract 10-20% from that in order to be in a calorie deficit to lose weight.

Once you know the calories you need to eat for weight loss, set your macronutrient goals based on your fitness goals. You can eat whatever foods you want to reach these macronutrients.

There is no need to work out every single day. Your body needs rest, especially on only 1000 calories a day. You can lose weight on a more conservative deficit, and even exercising just 3x a day.

Finally, fats are essential to your wellbeing. You shouldn't be avoiding healthy fats like almonds. They (fats) regulate hormones and other bodily functions.

ashleeei

Thank you Walter! That is exactly what I am afraid of…Growing bored like I have time and time again.. I have been at this now for maybe a year but the last 6 months a lot more seriously and since taking it seriously have lost over 30 lbs… This time is different the others and I have stayed motivated the whole time but like you said have stalled at times.. which is why I am here…

I definitely cannot follow that strict diet 7 days a week, its just the baseline of what I shoot and do eat extras I come across at times, that just the majority of my every day eating…it’s usually most on point Monday-Friday when I am so busy!! I have basically lost my craving for bad foods on most days… it’s the weekends when I am sitting and relaxing its creeps up on me most… That is why I am looking for more suggestions of what to add to what I am already eating.. I pack a breakfast, lunch and 2 snacks daily then with dinner am sometimes barely reaching my calorie goal of 1400 and more if I exercise…

Regarding working out, I don’t work out every single day (I wish I could say I did) and the days I do its 35 mins on the elliptical or a 45-60 minute hike around our hilly neighborhood so nothing super strenuous… (We were previously hiking 4-5 miles over 1000 ft elevation 4 days a week but I really messed up my back running down the hill and have been giving my body a break the last few months…) There is no reason I shouldn’t be able to take a nice walk daily in the neighborhood and so I try and make myself do it as much as possible. In the near future we will be trying for a baby and I want to make sure that my body is as healthy as possible before I add in the extra calories and allow myself to eat more healthy carbs…and walking daily is a habit I am trying to make for when a baby is on the way and after… Does that still sound like I am over-doing it? Honestly?

I do notice on some days I eat more or am tempted to cheat I still lose and sometimes more then I had that whole week so I know eating more IS WHAT I NEED….I just need suggestions on what other clean foods to add in. I put the foods down I avoid and why I avoid them in hopes that people would tell me they are ok or that I am smart for not eating them.. So the fats in almonds are healthy? Just curious, why does MFP suggest I eat none of those? That is why I started eating less almonds, I still eat a handful or so daily..Just don’t over-indulge.

Anonycatgirl

Do you have a medical issue with carbs? If you don't--no diabetes, etc.--there's no reason to fear them. Carbs don't make people. Excess calories do, and you're having trouble eating enough calories. If you like oatmeal, eat it.
As for almonds, "Almonds are high in monounsaturated fats, the same type of health-promoting fats as are found in olive oil, which have been associated with reduced risk of heart disease." (source: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=20). Monounsaturated fats are heart-healthy and most source say they should be the majority of your fat consumption. More on this from the American Heart Association, which isn't always right, but I'm more inclined to believe than I am something that makes NO SENSE and is probably an oversight in an otherwise excellent program.
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/FatsAndOils/Fats101/Monounsaturated-Fats_UCM_301460_Article.jsp

JoRocka

Okay- things that are obviously fat are delicious. And will help you meet your calorie goals.

This low fat fad that has swept our nation is the worst thing to happen to this country.

Fat's do NOT make you fat.
they are delicious.

And oh- besides being delicious they are essential for your body to function properly- do NOT skip fat.
Carbs are also important- you do not need to avoid those either.

Eat more- and eat more variety- if you hate it- don't eat it- if you like it and you can fit it in to your macro goals AND calorie goals- then you're good to go.
As far as the whole "I can only eat 1000 or so before being full"
1.) I'm calling BS 1000 calories is hardly any food at all- I am eating 1500-1600 with no workouts and I'm CONSTANTLY starving. But in the interest of answer your questions I give you part two

2.) eats foods that have a higher calorie content and are completely unfilling- a bag of potato chips is 250 something calories and does about diddle for making you feel full.

Eat chips
drink a soda
have some ice cream- I like mine with oreo's smashed into it.

easy peasy.
lemon
squeezy.

s_pekz

Hello! I was hoping for some healthy suggestions for food/snacks so I can not be so bored with my diet and be more likely to succeed. I find myself not eating as many calories on some day as I should be and its usually because I want to stay under my carb count and can’t decide what to eat!!!
Currently my diet mostly consists of:
Breakfast:
-Protein Shakes
-Eggs with turkey bacon or turkey sausage and some spinach/bellpeppers/onions

Lunch:
-Spinach salad with bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, a little feta, chicken breast, (dressing: olive oil/balsamic/salt/pepper)

Dinners:
Chicken Breast, Turkey Burgers, or some type of meat with broccoli or asparagus

Snacks:
-Lots of Berries (Blackberries, Strawberries, and Raspberries)
-Lite Cheddar Cheese stix as a snack 1x a day
-Almonds
-Hardboiled egg whites

Things I hate:
-Raw Veggies (with the exception of: cucumbers and cherry tomatoes)  - I know I need more of these and I can’t find a way!!!

Things I avoid:
Obvious fatty foods
Oatmeal (I feel like it has way to many carbs to help me see results)
Too many almonds (because there high in monounsaturated fats – which MFP suggest I eat NONE!?)
CARBS CARBS CARBS (I realize I have to eat good carbs and not bad)


Any ideas of things I am not eating that I should be? I am somewhat new at this and need ideas to shake this last 20 lbs…I don’t feel hungry AT ALL after I consume 1000-1200 clean calories!!! Is 1000 to little with exercising 30-45 mins of cardio daily?

So you want to eat more calories. Easy. Eat more. It sounds harsh but say you take that lunch and change it to just Feta instead of a little feta. Or change the breakfast meat to beer or pork instead of turkey. And I agree that you need more fat in your diet! Skipping it one of the worst things you can do. Also carbs give you energy. Eat the whole egg instead of just the egg white. That kind of thing. Even going off what you eat now it should be simple to mix some extra calories in there. Even just adding more olive oil to your salad will help.
Have a spoon of peanut butter in the morning - instant calories, fat, sugar etc perfect start to the day

Im also a big fan of chocolate milk. its the perfect mix of everything you need post workout.

This thread should help you out:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

rosebette

How overweight are you that you have to eat so few calories? You are saying you are trying to eat very few calories and get healthy before you try to get pregnant, which makes no sense unless you are extremely overweight. Unless you're morbidly obese, 1000 is too low. In fact, it you eat that little every day and get too thin your periods will stop; then, you won't be able to get pregnant.

editorgrrl

I am somewhat new at this and need ideas to shake this last 20 lbs…I don’t feel hungry AT ALL after I consume 1000-1200 clean calories!!! Is 1000 to little with exercising 30-45 mins of cardio daily?

Set your goal to .5 lb. per week, and be patient. Learn to log everything you eat & drink accurately & honestly. Logging works, but it ain't easy.

Please, read the Sexypants post: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-Sexypants

ashleeei

Was called morbidly obese by the docs although I didn’t feel it. Was 190ish at 5’2. Until recently had been a HUGE junk food person who loved fast food. Lost 30 lbs approx at 157 now but wanted to get to 140 before we started “trying”. Most days are over 1000 but usually just at 1300 and I wanted to be at least 1400… There are definite days I eat more but that is why I am here looking for suggestions to add more… So sticking to my macros I will try and do… Thanks for the Peanut Butter idea!! On weekends I am probably over 2000 and I try to eat as clean as possible on wknds too. I eat the healthiest on weekdays and that when needed help coming up with more ideas to make the weekdays reach more calories also…I don’t want to be tempted to cheat and filling myself with lots of protein helps that. I almost always reach or come close to my protein, fat, and carbs (usually go over and trying to control – veggies and fruits had more carbs then I thought – although they are good carbs), just usually not my calories!! I am trying to think of better options to get me closer to 1500 knowing that I will have to add even more when pregnant and don’t want to worry about getting enough calories then like I am now…

Thanks everyone!!