calorie question

hasiangirl

So i eat 3 regular sized meals and 2-3 snacks a day but I am under in my calorie intake by about 400-600 calories a day....I usually have either a protien shake in the morning with water or oatmeal... then about 2-3hours later i eat an apple....another 3 hours later I have lunch usually either a salad with no dressing and shaved turkey or a turkey burger with a little bit of avocado and broccoli....then I usually have another apple or a banana.....then a few hours later at dinner time I have 3-4 oz of meat and a steamed veggie....i dont see what is so bad about that but whenever i log what ive had during the day on my food log it always comes up 400-600 cals short....is that really unhealthy?

Isaacsmama

You may just be missing some healthy fats. You dont really need to eat a lot more food. The avocado is great! Add in some olive oil; and all dressings, especially homemade ones, are not evil. Try adding some fish, like salmon or tuna, into your dinners. Healthy fats are needed by your body for all kinds of things. Dont forget dairy either. Up to 3 glasses of skim milk can really help with your health and weight loss. * Also, sometimes at the end of the day, when Ive reached my goals for carbs, fats, and proteins, but my calories are still low or Im hungry, I may go over a bit on my protein. PB is great, as well as low or no fat cottage cheese. Not only does the protein keep you fuller longer so you dont wake up starving, its also better than going at a carton of icecream to get those extra cals. Never forget the power of PB. Try it on you apples and bananas! Yum!

hasiangirl

You may just be missing so healthy fats. You dont really need to eat a lot more food. The avocado is great! Add in some olive oil; and all dressings, especially homemade ones, are not evil. Try adding some fish, like salmon or tuna, into your dinners. Healthy fats are needed by your body for all kinds of things. Dont forget dairy either. Up to 3 glasses of skim milk can really help with your health and weught loss.

i drink lactaid because milk upsets my stomach and i usually have 1-2 types of fish a week....and I am an olive oil fanatic but ive reduced it to about half a tablespoon to cook up chicken in a pan

WillyG

You might want to add some whole grains to get a little more fibre and some healthy fat. It can be as easy as some no flour squirrly bread with a Tbsp of lower fat peanut butter; or a multigrain pita with some humous; or some flax seeds in your salad with a little extra virgin olive oil and some balsamic vinegar.

hasiangirl

You might want to add some whole grains to get a little more fibre and some healthy fat. It can be as easy as some no flour squirrly bread with a Tbsp of lower fat peanut butter; or a multigrain pita with some humous; or some flax seeds in your salad with a little extra virgin olive oil and some balsamic vinegar.

I think thats my prob...i've cut out a lot of carbs esp breads pastas and snacks (aside from tonight).... but arent they useless if ure eating leafy green veggies and plenty of fruit?

Isaacsmama

Well, its simple. Either eat more or dont. If youre happy with your changes and your losing or maintaining weight in a way youre ok with, dont worry about those calories. But if your not doing so well, and you think those calories matter, break down and find one, moderatly healthy, higher in calorie food that you can indulge in. 400 -600 calories is a lot for a snack. And by no means should you go on a chocolate binge at midnight. But, you work hard for those calories, Im sure, and its not the worst thing to have a little something on the naughty side once in a while. Personally, I always try to leave about 200 calories left over, in case Ive nibbled here or there. But I do like to splurge with a heartier breakfast once in a while. Sometimes Ill have a skinny cow icecream sandwich, which arent terribly bad (only 140, heck... you could eat 2!). I just try to avoid totally empty calories, especially late at night. Find something you enjoy and can live with, something that will meet your calories and, as a bonus, help stave off deprivation.

Isaacsmama

You might want to add some whole grains to get a little more fibre and some healthy fat. It can be as easy as some no flour squirrly bread with a Tbsp of lower fat peanut butter; or a multigrain pita with some humous; or some flax seeds in your salad with a little extra virgin olive oil and some balsamic vinegar.

I think thats my prob...i've cut out a lot of carbs esp breads pastas and snacks (aside from tonight).... but arent they useless if ure eating leafy green veggies and plenty of fruit?

Are CARBS useless? Absolutely not. No matter what else you are eating, your body needs carbs, and will use them first and (mostly) more efficiently. You need those carbs, just not empty, over processed ones. High fiber, whole grains, natural sweets like fruit. You really do need them.