Not Enough Calories!

MzTrapp

My new motto is eat to live not live to eat. Well my issue is I have a 2100 calorie intake but lately I only take in like maybe 1000 calories because I am eating when I am hungry and that has been maybe twice a day and sometimes I just snack on little things daily. I drink so much water and it feels like I just ate so I am not hungry. What do I do because I heard that is not good for me but I don't want to eat when I am not hungry just to take in more calories. What do I do? Is this good or bad?

szczepj

I eat when I'm hungry and that's it. Unless I'm feeling off...like dizzy, tired etc. People go on and on about 1200 net min but what I do works for me. I think everyone is different and you need to find a balance for you!

Monica_has_a_goal

Pile it on hun! .. I had that same problem at first .. making a 1200 cal diet was difficult.. but thats because I was in starvation mode.. and I would exercise until I felt my Head would fry off my neck... huffing and puffing red faced and dripping with sweat.. UGH!
NOW...I eat plenty, drink loads of water, and exercise 5 days instead of 7 days a week.

Try eating more protein and fruits and veggies. Eat egg whites.. Eat Peanut butter, Avocados, Nuts.. those things will add the calories..

arotella

In my opinion... You should definitely try to take in more calories. Your body will store fat when you aren't eating enough. 1000 is too low... especially if your goal is 2100. Try eating healthy, higher calorie foods like nuts and peanut butter. Instead of eating 2 meals a day, eat three smaller meals with snacks in between... that should get your metabolism moving and should make you want to eat more. Hope this helps!

Avalonis

I eat when I'm hungry and that's it. Unless I'm feeling off...like dizzy, tired etc. People go on and on about 1200 net min but what I do works for me. I think everyone is different and you need to find a balance for you!

Hunger is not a valid indicator of when you actually need to eat. You are changing your body composition. You've been listening to your body tell you it wanted to eat cheeseburgers and deep fried foods for years, until you retrain your body to crave healthier choices, you need to force the proper amount of HEALTHY foods down.

There is a TON of threads on this. I think you'll find most people that have the most experience with this will agree. Specifically, nutritionists, doctors, and dieticians.

Moonbeamlissie

I think your fine. I also do not give into that, 1200 calories or your gonna starve stuff. Sometimes I eat way under sometimes I go way over. Its all good!

melaniecheeks

Starvation mode is only a big problem when you get near your goal - if you have a lot to lose then a big calorie deficit isnt such a big deal. But you need to make sure your getting enough nutrients, enough vitamins, fibre, protein ect, which can be difficult on a very low cal diet. I cant see your diary so cant comment on the quality of your intake - but if it's that low, it needs to be good stuff!

PositiveGoals

You want to try to eat at least 85% of your recommended calories to avoid starvation mode, which will just put more weight on you. I'm supposed to eat 2300 calories. I reduced it to 2000 in MFP manually. I still average between 1200-1500. I cannot get in the calories because when I was eating 3000-4000 calories per day I was eating chips, candy bars, big macs. All those empty calories are not filling. You are hungry again an hour lataer and eat more foods. Now all of these healty foods are satisfying and filling that its hard to eat as much. Protein keeps you full for hours and fiber gives you an immediate full feeling. Most healthy foods are protein and/or fiber. LOL.

ejmcam

Starvation mode does not mean you feel like you are starving. starvation mode is your bodies reaction to not consistently getting enough. You may not feel hungry even though your body is in starvation mode, but what its doing is causing your body to lose things such as lean muscle. I agree that always eating back exercise calories is different for everyone, I dont always eat mine back, and it as never been an issue for me as far as weight loss goes, but I do try to keep my calories to atleast 1200. I dont want to lose the lean muscle I have worked so hard to build. Try eating healthy foods are are calorie rich, such as nut butters, nuts avocado's etc...in addition to your regular diet. It will helps you reach atleast 1200 calories without making you feel like you are disgustingly full and over eating.

helly_zgb

I eat when I'm hungry and that's it. Unless I'm feeling off...like dizzy, tired etc. People go on and on about 1200 net min but what I do works for me. I think everyone is different and you need to find a balance for you!

I agree with this