calorie goal, under or over? help please

iamluce

i've been on a diet and using MFP for about a month and a half now and so far i have always been under my calorie goal
but i only just found out that's not good?
i don't really work out (for the time being) but i walk for at least an hour every day, and i always eat between 700-900 calories?
i eat 5 times a day and i am normally not hungry during the day
should i make sure i eat around 1200 every day?
is it really counterproductive for the weight-loss?
thank you

paintlisapurple

I think that I remember reading that 1200 cals/day should be a minimum for women. (Opened a new browser to retrieve this information: http://www.diet.com/g/mayo-clinic-plan-endorsed-by-clinic) Apparently anything lower than this and we deprive our bodies of nutrients needed for survival. Our bodies combat this by storing what is eaten instead of allowing us to shed the unwanted (and already) stored fat.
I can't get into too much of the scientific method, but I'll tell you from personal experience that when I began eating around 1200 a day...I have been losing steadily! (It was always sooooo difficult to lose anything and I too was eating very little calories a day. My hubby thought I was nuts, but I tried doing things a bit differently by eating more and keeping track. I sometimes find it difficult to fit the cals in actually, but I'm seeing nice results and will continue doing things this way.

HorseWithNoName27

Yes, eat at least 1200 a day minimum. Anything lower than this and our bodies are more prone to hold onto fat stores...and you don't want your weight loss to be lean muscle! :P If you are finding it hard to each this much per day, I would recommend adding something small but calorie dense, like a serving of almonds/walnuts/cashews, a protein shake/bar, some dairy, etc. However, everybody is different, so you gotta find what works for you!

gardengal1970

I too have the same problem....I have been REALLY watching what I eat(even a few weeks before starting to use MFP). When I eat healthy I can not seem to eat 1200 calories a day!....(Maybe it is because of the "fullness that I feell with drinking sooo much water!?) Today after tracking my food and exercise...I am SERIOUSLY in the negative!....Like I did not eat anything at all today!....Guess I do need to eat something dense in calories as well!....I am not a breakfast eater,but have been forcing myself to eat at least a yogart...maybe I need to mix some multi grain cereal in it!....Maybe that will help!....Its hard to eat when you are not hungry and keeping a close eye on what DOES go in your mouth!.....Mindless eating I could eat a ton!....being consious of what I eat is SOOO Different!.....Any suggestions of how to "add" calories while still eating healthy?

mstifb

I am having the same problem! Of course I could find plenty of junk food to meet my calorie requirement but I'm such a picky eater trying to find what I should eat that isn't too expensive is hard.

Heather_Rider

I think that I remember reading that 1200 cals/day should be a minimum for women. (Opened a new browser to retrieve this information: http://www.diet.com/g/mayo-clinic-plan-endorsed-by-clinic) Apparently anything lower than this and we deprive our bodies of nutrients needed for survival. Our bodies combat this by storing what is eaten instead of allowing us to shed the unwanted (and already) stored fat.
I can't get into too much of the scientific method, but I'll tell you from personal experience that when I began eating around 1200 a day...I have been losing steadily! (It was always sooooo difficult to lose anything and I too was eating very little calories a day. My hubby thought I was nuts, but I tried doing things a bit differently by eating more and keeping track. I sometimes find it difficult to fit the cals in actually, but I'm seeing nice results and will continue doing things this way.

^^ this. absolutly!! I have a hard time getting to 1200 also, but i try to use protein shakes when im not hungry.. and i end the day with one, to help repair and stregnthen muscles while i sleep.. and to get any extra calories in. Im never to my goal, but im usually within 200 calories. It is VITAL to eat 1200 GOOD calories to be healthy. Dont just stuff yourself with candy bars at the end of the day to get your calories in...

Pebble321

1200 is not a magic number - but it is a generally recommended number to ensure that people don't put themselves on a foolishly low calorie diet.

Try eating at least what MFP has recommended for you, plus what you burn from exercise. You might be pleasantly surprised to find that you end up healthy, full of energy and still losing weight!

Heather_Rider

I too have the same problem....I have been REALLY watching what I eat(even a few weeks before starting to use MFP). When I eat healthy I can not seem to eat 1200 calories a day!....(Maybe it is because of the "fullness that I feell with drinking sooo much water!?) Today after tracking my food and exercise...I am SERIOUSLY in the negative!....Like I did not eat anything at all today!....Guess I do need to eat something dense in calories as well!....I am not a breakfast eater,but have been forcing myself to eat at least a yogart...maybe I need to mix some multi grain cereal in it!....Maybe that will help!....Its hard to eat when you are not hungry and keeping a close eye on what DOES go in your mouth!.....Mindless eating I could eat a ton!....being consious of what I eat is SOOO Different!.....Any suggestions of how to "add" calories while still eating healthy?

I cannot stress a good quality protein shake enough! Its few calories (90 for the mix and about 95 for the fruit i put into it for what i use) but i also DO NOT eat breakfast.. i will puke if i have to eat first thing.. the shakes give me the amazing nutrients and energy to start my day, and keep my metabolism going.. shakes may not work for people who get hungry.. but for those who dont.. they are GREAT! they work for me!

masumaj

i am having the same problem...however i would say i am a little more active then u describe yourself...i just posted a topic asking people to view my food diary and now i feel like crap.....but i think i should eat more calories.....how i will fit that in i dont know

teinepalagi

I completely do not have this problem. I work out almost every day for an hour and I eat between 1800-2000 calories a day and I am still losing. And I'm 5"2" and 134 pounds right now. Just trying to get off the last 10.

I would say to go for denser foods (nuts, avocado, even a little peanut butter now and then). You'll be able to met your calorie requirements without feeling too stuffed.

Ninjaporter

I use Hemp Hearts and add them to some yogurt. They are packed with vitamins, minerals and are higher protein while fairly low carb. I personally try to eat things that are natural and unprocessed which eliminates protein shakes from my menu (just not tasty or sustainable for me, if others like them that's cool, personal choice). I am not sure if the low calorie eaters are watching their nutrient intakes as well as calories. I found it almost impossible to get enough iron in my diet at 1200 cal/day which really contributed to feeling tired and sluggish and I was advised by my physician to increase my iron intake to avoid supplements (which are hard on the stomach). Watching nutrients helps me make better food choices instead of just eating a set number of calories. I'm so curious I will start another thread and see If people have must eat foods.

ricardo2navarro

find out your maintenance calories and just try to not be under 500 calories from maintenance. Start with about a 100 calories under maintenance and work your way to 500 under maintenance, but you really should not go under 500, you may start to feel tired and some people could have health problems if they go under 500.

marycmeadows

That's very unhealthy. VERY UNHEALTHY. We're talking ED territory here.

You should definitely up your calories. If you don't want to necessarily eat MORE, then eat more calorie dense foods. You can easily add a few hundred calories to your day by adding nuts, avocado, peanut butter (Natural - like smuckers natural - NOT reduced fat or any of that other crap!)....

women should not eat less than 1200 a day - period. that is for normal bodily functions. You may feel fine, but something is going to suffer here, something isn't working to it's full potential, and you're probably not losing what you want to because you're not fueling your body properly.

It should be a lifestyle change. That's permanent. Diet's are temporary and that's why they DO NOT WORK. Period.

paintlisapurple

Well with everything that I've eaten the past few days I feel like an absolute pig! No wonder I never had any luck losing weight in the past....I'd only eat about half of what I do now thinking that I was doing myself good. I don't know that I could stomach much more than I am doing now though. I really feel as if I'm oinking out every day.:embarassed: