Am I not eating enough?

RaggedyPond

I am 23 and 168 lbs. I started running every other day for the past 3 weeks. I usually try to run about 5 laps then I alternate by running one and walking one for the rest of my 30 minutes. (10 laps is 1 mile). I am drinking more water and keeping my calorie intake the same but am seeing no results. On normal days where I don't eat out I consume an average of 1,000 calories a day and feel perfectly fine. I have been eating this way all my life. But how am I able to still gain weight with only 1,000 calories? Myfitnesspal recommends 1,550 calories on days I don't work out. THis seems like too much if I am already gaining with only 1,000 calories. Somebody please tell me what I should go by. Shouldn't staying at 1,000 calories and just exercising more work?

ltlhmom

I believe the minimum recommend calorie intake is 1200. Are you gaining muscle? Have you taken your measurements? Because you could be losing inches. You can change your calorie allowance.

lisawest

Check out a few of these posts:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10665-newbies-please-read-me-2nd-edition

And this one has a BUNCH of links to some great information:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/23912-links-in-mfp-you-want-to-read-again-and-again

I know this isn't really an "answer" for you, but the people who've posted these know a LOT more than I do. Plus they explain it a lot better!:laugh:

IMHO I think you may be starvation mode (covered in the first link), but like I said, I don't know a lot about it. Good luck on figuring it out!:flowerforyou:

panther87

YOur body is working more and it needs more fuel. you need to eat your 'excercise' calories. and dont go below 1200. your body is like a fire. it cant keep going if you dont put fuel in it. I hope this helps. i know i am very direct. But i just explain things very direct. Keep working with the exercise and try to increase your calories to 1200 and you will see a difference. it may take 2-3 weeks for the weight loss to show but it will happen.

sequoia13

one problem with not hitting your recommended 1200 calories a day is that starvation mode gets triggered, and when this happens your body actually stores fat. it sounds strange, i know, but eating less does not make you skinnier, unless you just dont eat, which is horrible. if you get the necessary calories in your diet, then your body triggers a message that basically says that excess fat can be burned and not stored... does that make sense? basically, try bumping up your calories to a minimum of 1200, and i believe you will see a difference.