Not eating enough?

kshaw09

Hello Everyone,
I just have a quick question I have been on MFP for almost a month now, my last weeks weight in was only .2lbs and this week I am up 2lbs. It is not TOM so I'm thinking maybe I;m not eating enough? I have 1200 calories and I usually eat between 1000-1100, plus I work out with my Kinect and on average burn 200 calories, i usally have a small snack afterwards but not enough to make up the calories I burned. I also don't know who accurate the the kintect is as far as telling calories burned. I put my weight in and it takes all your measurement.
So am I not eating enough, or am I not burning as much calories as my Kintect says I am, and I;m eating to much?
Sorry not such a quick question. Any feedback is greatly aprpeciated.

FemininGuns

Hey girl! Could you make your diary public so we can have a peak?

If you would like 100% accuracy on cals burned - I would recommend a HR monitor. I would also try to hit the 1200 (unless you've always eaten less than this - everyone is different). You need to keep in mind that you may be building muscle which will take a while to level out losing the fat while building muscle - this is the patience part.

Are you drinking LOTS of water? Any other comments I would have would be by viewing your diary. If you don't want to make it public, you can friend me and I can take a look.

meggonkgonk

Yea you need to eat more. On your home page there is a number in that SUMMARY box labelled "NET" That number should be at LEAST 1200 (though I personally find I lose more consistently when it's closer to my BMR number- but minimum 1200). Message or friend me if you want a longer explination- but I don't want to get into the debate over starvation mode on the boards. Eat more, you will likely see things move along better.

jaycee76

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficit

This should help - I increased mine to 1430 after reading and lost 2lb

WhiteStar2351

Definitely not eating any where near enough. Without knowing your height/weight/body fat I would say at an estimate you would need at least 1500+ kilocalories a day. The kilocalorie counter on the kinect is completely off and is not reliable for a reading.

At the moment you're essentially starving your body and so it will retain and hold on to everything it can. Try to eat 5 small 300 kilocalorie meals spaced out around 3-3.5 hours across the day, it will keep your metabolism stimulated, your body fed, and you'll see the weight start to come off.

I know MFP says you need only 1200 kilocalories a day, but if you've gone from having 2,000+ kilocalories a day to 1,200 then your body will definitely NOT thank you for it. Work with small 200-250kcal decrements per week.

I.e.
Week 1: 2000 kilocalories
Week 2: If you DON'T lose weight, drop 250kilocalories - if you do lose weight, stay the same
Week 3: As with Week 2

If you drop too many calories too quickly - 1) Your body will hold on to fat and instead burn muscle for energy (which lowers your metabolism, leaves you requiring less calories and stops weight loss) and 2) When your body HAS adapted to your new lower calorie intake (which it will) - you can't drop any more calories because you're already too low!

Good luck! )

Ben2118

Definitely not eating any where near enough. Without knowing your height/weight/body fat I would say at an estimate you would need at least 1500+ kilocalories a day. The kilocalorie counter on the kinect is completely off and is not reliable for a reading.

At the moment you're essentially starving your body and so it will retain and hold on to everything it can. Try to eat 5 small 300 kilocalorie meals spaced out around 3-3.5 hours across the day, it will keep your metabolism stimulated, your body fed, and you'll see the weight start to come off.

I know MFP says you need only 1200 kilocalories a day, but if you've gone from having 2,000+ kilocalories a day to 1,200 then your body will definitely NOT thank you for it. Work with small 200-250kcal decrements per week.

I.e.
Week 1: 2000 kilocalories
Week 2: If you DON'T lose weight, drop 250kilocalories - if you do lose weight, stay the same
Week 3: As with Week 2

If you drop too many calories too quickly - 1) Your body will hold on to fat and instead burn muscle for energy (which lowers your metabolism, leaves you requiring less calories and stops weight loss) and 2) When your body HAS adapted to your new lower calorie intake (which it will) - you can't drop any more calories because you're already too low!

Good luck! )

What he said!, your body doesn't like change and will fight to keep it that way, so what whitestar said will probably be your best approach. Small meals 5 to 6 times a day and eat back 100% of exercise calories.

Good Luck,

Ben.

daisabelle

I was barely getting 1000 a day and burning off 500 with exercise, I've been advised to get all of your 1200 plus half of your exercise calories so at the minute i'm averaging between 1200-1400. Next weigh in is Wednesday so I'll keep you updated! Just keep your water intake up and sodium low aswell (I know everyone says it but it's true!)