How to cut down Calories?? HELP!

cocorosalie

So I've been trying to improve my fitness for 5 days now, and my working out is going swimmingly(*heh heh*), but I'm having some issues with diet. I'm on a goal plan of 1480 calories, and I'm eating about 600 every day for breakfast. I have Cheerios Multigrain Medley Crunch and Light Vanilla Almond milk. After that, I only have 370 cal for lunch, 370 for dinner and 370 for snacks. This is after doing Flow Yoga for 25 min!! Idk, 370 per meal seems dreadfully low, and there are hardly ever foods available that meet that requirement.

How am I supposed to work that out?? Help Please!!! Should I just eat more calories, or am I simply eating the wrong things?

mikevandewetering

well it could be that you are starting of with to low amounts of cals. Whats your weight, age and activiaty level? MFP is known for setting cals to low.

Edit: Aim to lose about 1-2lbs a week (so 300-500 grams), if you lose more up your cals a bit. If you lose less then reduce.

DancingMoosie

You could cut your breakfast in half if you want to save some calories for later in the day. I also prefer more protein in the morning. Eggs or egg substitute with thin sliced cheese or avocado and corn tortilla works for me most days before work.

And also what Mike said, 1480 is pretty low. Maybe bump it up to 1600 and see how it goes?

love8383

600 for just breakfast is quite a lot, try to limit each meal to 350 and then use the rest for snacks in between to help stay full, you would probably have to find some lower cal foods.

cocorosalie

I'm 20, 148lbs. and a waitress, so my activity level kinda varies.Thanks for the suggestions guys! I think I might raise my calorie goal a bit. I don't know that I'm down for restricting my calories from breakfast- it's just a bowl of healthy cereal! Plus every time I get in a habit of restricting, I end up feeling like a failure anytime I'm even a few calories over my goal which normally leads to binging o junk food :P

MelodyandBarbells

But you're "restricting" each of the other meals to 370, though?

Breakfast is also one of my smaller meals. I think I'm normally around 400. But honestly I get a lot of my extra calories from exercise.

How does Cheerios and light milk come up to 600 calories though? Seems like quite a bit! Can you try the unflavored milk with vanilla to save some calories?

maidentl

I'd choose a lower calorie cereal and milk. I eat Cheerios Protein and a bowl with 1/2 cup of skim milk is less than 300 calories.

Delquin

I'm stumped about your breakfast. I looked up the cereal and the almond milk. 1 1/2 cups of cereal is 220, and 1 cup of light almond milk is 60. Are you eating anything else?

AllOutof_Bubblegum

How big is that bowl of cereal?? No way one serving is 600 cals.

mikevandewetering

This forum on bodybuidling.com explanes everything about macro's and how to caculate them and your daily calorie needs.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=156380183

this morning i ate a 1000 cal breakfast, just make sure you don't go above your total cals ^^

FisherGT

I don't know. I usually have trouble making it past 1000 as i just dont have much of an appatite. I try to have 3 300 calorie meals a day plus snacks. Often the only way i make it past 1000 is if i eat a big breakfast as dinner makes me gag.

A typical day might go for me

6-9 turkey sausages
1-2 eggs

snack: celery

lunch: cheese sticks, microwaved apples, crackers

snack: jerky

dinner:.... i barely ever eat dinner, but usually a cup of almond milk will do