not eating enough? confused....

sharesb

Today was my first day tracking my eating and it was a typical day for me. Once I inputted everything I got this message:

Based on your total calories consumed for today, you are eating too few calories. Not only is it difficult to receive adequate nutrition at these calorie levels, but you could also be putting your body into starvation mode. Starvation mode lowers your metabolism and makes weight loss more difficult. We suggest increasing your calorie consumption to 1,200 calories per day minimum.

I think I am eating healthy and I am definitely not starving myself so I am a bit perplexed. Are they telling me to eat more? :embarassed: I ate 967 calories but it says that with my exercise included I should have ate another 633 calories? I am so confused!!

sprinkies

you ate 967 calories... out of 1200. then you exercised 300? yes, you need to eat more. you need to eat 1200 with exercise.

jimmydeanbakker

Your body won't release the pounds until you feed it the right amount of calories. The human body is designed to survive, even when you decide to starve it.

biggerpix

I have this problem too. I hate it. I can't eat that much. I just don't have time to eat all day to make sure I'm at the 1200 plus the extra I've earned. I eat well and drink a lot of water and don't have room for anything else. The counter doesn't understand that there's just no more room in there for more food.

rodegghero

Try adding in some healthy fats like nut,flax and avocado to your meals you don't need a lot to get the calores you need but not feel to full.

sharesb

I wish i had found this food tracker sooner! I really thought i was doing a good job with my eating. Like you biggerpix, I drink a lot of water (10-14 glasses a day because it is the only thing I drink...I don't drink coffee, tea, juice, milk (lactose intolerant) or soda pop....) so perhaps that is why I always feel satisfied and not hungry....hmmmm, might have to pick up some almonds tomorrow! Thank you everyone for your quick responses

biggerpix

Try adding in some healthy fats like nut,flax and avocado to your meals you don't need a lot to get the calores you need but not feel to full.

I love nuts. They do add the pounds to me though. Flax???? I've seen that in pill form. I may pick up some avacdos and learn to cook those. Almods are awesome. I am just so scared to add calories since I've tried taking in all the calories and those I've earned. With the amount of calories I burn at the gym, I'd have to eat all day to add what it sounds like i need. I eat those grain and wheat snacks like Special K bars and Quaker Oats bars, which is a nice, non filling treat. Thanks, I'll check into the "healthy fats".

biggerpix

I wish i had found this food tracker sooner! I really thought i was doing a good job with my eating. Like you biggerpix, I drink a lot of water (10-14 glasses a day because it is the only thing I drink...I don't drink coffee, tea, juice, milk (lactose intolerant) or soda pop....) so perhaps that is why I always feel satisfied and not hungry....hmmmm, might have to pick up some almonds tomorrow! Thank you everyone for your quick responses

I cut out pop and tea and coffee too. I miss them. I use those water flavors in my water to keep me drinking as much as I can. I figured by eating brocolli and beans and spinach and fish instead of meats with a lot of fat was healthier than how I was eating. We tend to fool ourselves and think by cutting calories will do the trick since that math looks really good on paper. I lost a ton of weight in the beginning just by not eating the way I was eating. it's time to change the routine now though.

kristie874

Read the links in my signature. They're very informative and helpful!

WildcatMom82

Try adding in some healthy fats like nut,flax and avocado to your meals you don't need a lot to get the calores you need but not feel to full.

I love nuts. They do add the pounds to me though. Flax???? I've seen that in pill form. I may pick up some avacdos and learn to cook those. Almods are awesome. I am just so scared to add calories since I've tried taking in all the calories and those I've earned. With the amount of calories I burn at the gym, I'd have to eat all day to add what it sounds like i need. I eat those grain and wheat snacks like Special K bars and Quaker Oats bars, which is a nice, non filling treat. Thanks, I'll check into the "healthy fats".

Believe me, I do eat all day! I keep my net at 1540, plus I get 300 extra calories for nursing, plus whatever I burn working out.....I end up eating around 2250 calories a day. But I never ever feel hungry and I'm losing weight for the first time since having my daughter. I was not eating near enough before and I sat at the exact same weight for MONTHS. Flax seed meal is awesome, I put it in my oatmeal in the morning. 2 tbsp are an extra 60 calories and make it taste so much better (I hate plain oatmeal!) Try looking for higher calorie, healthier granola/protein bars like Luna and Lara bars, Cliff or Kashi granola bars....they have more calories (which it seems you need) and better for you ingredients.

biggerpix

I will look into higher calorie stuff. I love nutra grain bars. The number of carbs in them scares me though. My brain is still telling me to keep my numbers low.
I made it up to over 1200 calories today. here's hoping I don't gain a couple pounds tomorrow morning. It's hard to fight the logic in my head.

biggerpix

I will look into higher calorie stuff. I love nutra grain bars. The number of carbs in them scares me though. My brain is still telling me to keep my numbers low.
I made it up to over 1200 calories today. here's hoping I don't gain a couple pounds tomorrow morning. It's hard to fight the logic in my head.

bigdaddy1789

nuts, eggs, cheese, whole wheat bread, granola, and bananas.

biggerpix

Well I tried it...meeting the 1200 calorie goal. I know I burned most of it off, but I made it yesterday. I am up a pound today. See what I mean? It's hard to fight the logic of taking in as few calories as possible. I know that's an anorexic way to think...I do know that. but my brain is telling me to just stop eating since eating the amount i'm supposed to is having the opposite effect on me.
I should start a thread on here "Starvation Mode Annonymus".

harleyquinn1504

If Im low on calories at the end of the day, I may drink a chocolate milk. And its good for you.

http://eatthis.womenshealthmag.com/content/chocolate-milk-diet?article=4&page=1

biggerpix

OK...I'll try to meet my calorie goals. That just seems like too much eating. I've been working on getting up to 1200 calories a day and gained 3 pounds because of it. If I gain 1 more pound by doing this, I am going right back into starvation mode and staying there.

Pandorian

You can't hit your calorie goal of 1200 for one day and gain a pound because of it. A pound of fat is 3500 calories so getting only 350 calories over your usual 900 (10% of the pound of fat) isn't going to make you gain a pound the next day. It could be water it could be food sticking in your system longer it could be scale variation.

Give yourself a reasonable amount of time of healthy eating to realistically expect to see changes, I didn't get to my current weight overnight, it's not going to be gone overnight either.

miracle322

You could be retaining water. Have you been eating something new?

biggerpix

You could be retaining water. Have you been eating something new?

I do switch things up with meals. I drink a lot of water. I use the same scale every time. It might be water retention. It's frustrating!!!! i was doing so well and just stopped.

biggerpix

You could be retaining water. Have you been eating something new?

Have I been eating something new that might affect the flatline? I don't think so. I keep things the same but different. I change the veggies once in a while.

biggerpix

you ate 967 calories... out of 1200. then you exercised 300? yes, you need to eat more. you need to eat 1200 with exercise.

so...If I eat 1200 calories and burn off 500...? Is that ok. I did that last night and no change. I just can't eat that much. I've been trying to pack on the calories today and am having a horrible time.

hotmooglelove

sharesb, please keep in mind your BMR, or Basic Metabolic Rate. This rate measures how many calories your body needs just to keep itself alive (calories burned breathing, pumping blood etc.)

To eat less per day than this number is NOT healthy (think massive heart failure). As dieters we need to figure out our BMR, then figure out how much we typically need every day in order to maintain our weight, then finally find a nice number in between the two.

A woman of your age would have to be 4'5" and weigh 40 lbs in order to have a BMR of 900 calories. I highly recommend setting up a safe weight-loss goal (half lb a week) and try to stick to the myfitnesspal recommended calories as closely as possible

hotmooglelove

Biggerpix, your extra weight can be any number of things, food still in the digestive system, water gain, etc.

As a taller male, my weight has varied by up to 5 lbs a day.

To actually gain 1 lb in fat a day would require you to eat an additional 3000kcal on top of your daily "maintain" cals + the cals burned exercising. That would be like 5000kcals or something of that nature!

So don't worry about it

biggerpix

Biggerpix, your extra weight can be any number of things, food still in the digestive system, water gain, etc.

As a taller male, my weight has varied by up to 5 lbs a day.

To actually gain 1 lb in fat a day would require you to eat an additional 3000kcal on top of your daily "maintain" cals + the cals burned exercising. That would be like 5000kcals or something of that nature!

So don't worry about it

I worry about everything. One little varience outside the norm and I tend to freek. I know that sounds bad, but I don't like change. I am trying to get up to 1200 calories excluding calories and will do that today after I make something for dinner...but I went to the gym and burned off 700 of that tonight. there is no way I can eat 1100 more calories tonight still.
I found some protien bars at the store tonight that have over 300 calories each. I'll have one of those for a "snack" during the day when I need to build up my calories. I am just NOT HUNGRY anymore. I'm about 5'2" and have 15 more pounds to go. I was so close till this episode and i was so disappointed that I spazed wondering why I kept going to wrong direction on the scale.
Thanks....I'll try to relax and just keep plugging along.

hbunting86

Hi
I know what you mean! I've never been an overly big eater myself and I really genuinely just don't think to eat between meals. Snacking is something I've not been able to get my head around, even though I know it's good for your metabolism etc etc. Ever since being a kid I've just had my meals and never consciously thought about it. Example: I'd never randomly go and get a chocolate bar... not because I don't like or want one or wouldn't eat one, it just never occurs to me!
At the moment I'm staying in New Zealand with family and today my cousin commented on how little she thinks I eat. I think I eat fine for me - I'm not underweight by a long shot! I'm currently trying to educate myself to stick to eating smaller meals throughout the day, although having stomach problems makes this difficult - maybe subconsciously this is the reason why?!
Anyway, don't stress too much about calories etc you sound like you exercise loads, so just chill a bit! Add a splash of cream to what you're cooking or a sprinkle of cheese here and there - or grab a banana before you go exercising!

runningneo122

I know this is hard to conceive for new people but these posts will clear it up for you. I run every AM and do ISO 3 times a week. Total cals burned every week: 11,000. I eat all or most of my exer cals and drop 2 pounds per week like clockwork. The 700 cals a day post will explain why you put on a pound or two when you jumped your cals up. The strategy of eating what you burn works for nearly everybody..... just don't expect to see results in a couple days. READ these posts, you won't regret it.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/777-why-is-starvation-mode-so-bad

goldenbutterfly

Try adding in some healthy fats like nut,flax and avocado to your meals you don't need a lot to get the calores you need but not feel to full.

I love nuts. They do add the pounds to me though. Flax???? I've seen that in pill form. I may pick up some avacdos and learn to cook those. Almods are awesome. I am just so scared to add calories since I've tried taking in all the calories and those I've earned. With the amount of calories I burn at the gym, I'd have to eat all day to add what it sounds like i need. I eat those grain and wheat snacks like Special K bars and Quaker Oats bars, which is a nice, non filling treat. Thanks, I'll check into the "healthy fats".

ive never heard of cooking avacardoes before, im not sure you can ... but i know you can get avacardo oil

morganadk2_deleted

Read the links in my signature. They're very informative and helpful!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/777-why-is-starvation-mode-so-bad




i agree , please read them it may well help you understand a little better and not get stressed

Good luck on your journey

kwardklinck

You need to eat at least 1200 calories a day. Your metabolism will slow down if you don't.