Not consuming enough calories...

delaney056

I found out I'm consuming only about 1,000 calories a day, when I should be consuming roughly 1800. I eat when I'm hungry, I eat frequently, and I eat healthy. Today I had some mixed greens, sweet peas, and a BLT with lite mayo and reduced sodium turkey bacon for lunch, roasted peanuts for a snack, and a decent sized salad with tomato, cheddar and parmesan cheese, peas, and vinaigrette dressing for dinner. Snacks after dinner were a small baked potato with salsa and some sweet peas.
That doesn't sound like a lot, but I don't feel deprived or hungry. All of that totals to a little over 1,000 calories.
Should I try to consume more calories even if I'm not hungry?

mcarter99

For one day? No, don't worry about it. If you average 1000 over the long haul and are not getting whatever result you want, sure.

Who said you should be averaging 1800? The food pushers around here? They're fattening you up for the oven, Gretel.

delaney056

Haha! no, lol. MFP is telling me I should consume 1800 calories a day.

StaceyJ2008

I always have a ton of calories left. As long as you are full and getting proper nutrition its fine.

triggsta

You might want to consider adding in a breakfast. Get your metabolism started off right in the morning! That will also add in some extra calories for your day.

heybales

I found out I'm consuming only about 1,000 calories a day, when I should be consuming roughly 1800. I eat when I'm hungry, I eat frequently, and I eat healthy. Today I had some mixed greens, sweet peas, and a BLT with lite mayo and reduced sodium turkey bacon for lunch, roasted peanuts for a snack, and a decent sized salad with tomato, cheddar and parmesan cheese, peas, and vinaigrette dressing for dinner. Snacks after dinner were a small baked potato with salsa and some sweet peas.
That doesn't sound like a lot, but I don't feel deprived or hungry. All of that totals to a little over 1,000 calories.
Should I try to consume more calories even if I'm not hungry?

Just remember there is a difference between feeling full, and feeding your body fully.

Especially if you are giving it a lot of activity.

You can get all your daily nutrients in 800 calories - but that would be rare for the body to get enough energy out of that to operate the way it wants without undesired side effects.

Conversely, you could provide plenty of energy at 1800, and leave the body starving for nutrients because you eat junk. 5 Little Debbies can give you almost 2000 calories, but sustained on that, you'll have problems eventually.