I am new to all of this (dumb question)

Jamiy
Jamiy Posts: 10 Member
edited October 3 in Health and Weight Loss
I am new to watching and counting what I eat so I have bet this is the one of the dumbest questions a person can ask, but to hell with it. According to my food tracker I still have 400 calories to use and I have eaten my fill for the day, do I have to try to find something to eat to fill the void to maintain healthy weight loss (1 lb- 1/2 a lb a week)? I forgot to say that I am exclusively breastfeeding a 2 month old baby, this seems to complicate things.

Replies

  • TooFatToFit
    TooFatToFit Posts: 285 Member
    You don't want to go too far below your goal intake, especially if you are breastfeeding. Most people recommend you go with something high calorie and healthy but not too filling and easy to eat...nuts and peanut butter are good for this. If I had a nickel for every time I've seen 'eat a tablespoon of peanut butter' on here, I'd be on vacation right now. lol

    And it wasn't a dumb question. :)
  • 99Tinkerbell
    99Tinkerbell Posts: 384
    You don't want to go too far below but if your full then you should be okay. As far as breast feeding can't help never did that one maybe another mom can help you out with that.
  • LolaVaantz
    LolaVaantz Posts: 74 Member
    Not a dumb question at all....

    A big thing to look at is if you did a work out today (and therefore earned extra calories back into your count). You don't have to eat back your workout calories, but i'd try to stick around the recommended calorie count particularly if you are eating for two and always work to get your water in.
  • SabrinaG1986
    SabrinaG1986 Posts: 135 Member
    Are you tracking your breastfeeding? I'd say if you logged it, and you're over your daily goal and only minus the 400 because of the 500 breastfeeding cals then I would say it's okay.
  • skinnyjeanzbound
    skinnyjeanzbound Posts: 3,932 Member
    I know I've seen people's diaries with "breast feeding" added in so they calculate the extra calories they need for that.

    I would say try to come close to your goal but don't stress too much if you have a day here and there when you are under--expecially if you've earned a bunch of extra calories from exercise. Lots of people on here don't eat back all of the exercise calories.

    Just a general tip--use the search function (above the posts on this page)--almost every question you want to ask probably already has been asked (so no, they aren't dumb questions :wink: ). For example, search "breast feeding" to see threads about the topic--you'll get a lot of good info.
  • supertracylynn
    supertracylynn Posts: 1,338 Member
    Everyone is different.

    With that disclaimer... I exclusively breastfed my last for 8.5 months. I lost dang near 20# just by eating healthier. I don't know how much I ate, but i know I cut out fast food and that sort of crap.
  • photo_kyla
    photo_kyla Posts: 322 Member
    Just out of curiosity, what's your total calorie allowance for the day? Eating those 400 calories is really important if you're below 1200 total, but if you've been working out a ton and you calories are 2000+, I wouldn't worry about it at all.
  • supertracylynn
    supertracylynn Posts: 1,338 Member
    A little extra tidbit: you are burning 500-1000 a day just by making milk.

    Remember to drink a Ton of water and keep in mind that fruits and veggies, while really filling, are naturally lower in cals.
  • Jamiy
    Jamiy Posts: 10 Member
    To start with my goal of calories is 1390, but after I add breastfeeding to goes up to 1890 calories, and I work out 4-5 days a week at the gym plus walking around town with my kids almost every day. And I am not doing a diet, I am just trying to cut out the crap and eat healthier. And since I have cut out the soda, all I drink is water and lot of it. Just to make sure I understand this concept, yesterday I earned 619 calories by exercising, I don’t have to make up the calories that I have burned at the gym?
  • Jamiy
    Jamiy Posts: 10 Member
    Thanks for everyone’s post and patience by the way. :)
  • supertracylynn
    supertracylynn Posts: 1,338 Member
    To start with my goal of calories is 1390, but after I add breastfeeding to goes up to 1890 calories, and I work out 4-5 days a week at the gym plus walking around town with my kids almost every day. And I am not doing a diet, I am just trying to cut out the crap and eat healthier. And since I have cut out the soda, all I drink is water and lot of it. Just to make sure I understand this concept, yesterday I earned 619 calories by exercising, I don’t have to make up the calories that I have burned at the gym?

    If you're aiming to maintain, eat half of what you exercised.
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