Way under eating/calories....

kaputch1980

I just joined yesterday and already I have numerous friends on this site (YAY), but I'm getting discouraged by many of the people who are eating so little.
I am looking through food diaries for ideas and not many people have them open. I've noticed a trend of them severally under eating, one lady eats half her daily allotment or less.
I want to do this right, exercise daily and eat right.
Does anyone have tips or suggestions?
Thank you :happy:

bmskid

Well don't do what they're doing! Haha. Eat what MFP says to eat! I like to eat back some of my exercise calories, but I worry that they overestimate how much I've burned, so I try to only eat back when and if I'm hungry. Don't worry so much about how much others are eating because people have different goals and different things work for different people, but just look to get actual food ideas. Start with MFP's plans and then change them up if you think it is necessary after a few months.

kaputch1980

I am absolutely gonna eat the amounts they tell me to. I am starting off slow with exercising due to back problems, but I am trying not to eat those calories just yet. I would like suggestions on foods to eat, meals plans and recipes though. Was hoping looking through food diaries would help, but not many people have open diaries.
Do you have suggestions on where to look for these things?

Crayvn

do a search on the message board..are tons of recipes

Madelinew22

i delete ppl who are negative influences with eating or mood. i hate logging on and seeing ppl complain about life and issues everyday or multiple times a day. im not saying ppl cant vent and thats fine every once and a while cuz thats life, but when i see it so much it brings my mood down and thats not good,


as for recipes i suggest if u have a smart phone join instagram its amazing

MCO1407

I wouldn't worry too much about it. I've noticed pals drop off after awhile. I really enjoy the pals that are logging in very often and adding comments when they can. Knowing that everyone is working on their own level helps to keep me going. If someone is eating little to no calories how long can that go on. Looking forward to hear your progress and updates.

SomeoneSomeplace

I defriend anyone who is starving themselves. Don't need or want the negative influence. These are the kinds of diets that fail in the end.

AmyRhubarb

Welcome to MFP! My diary is open and I eat plenty! :bigsmile:

I found this topic to be very helpful in setting my goals, and finding the right amount of calories, protein, carbs, fats, etc, and manually changed my settings here at MFP: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

It may seem overwhelming when you've just joined MFP, but I didn't find the thread until I had been here awhile, and I wish I had found it much sooner! So figured I'd pass it along. Give it a read through - great info there.

(P.S. - your diary isn't open either! )

Tempe729

Well don't do what they're doing! Haha. Eat what MFP says to eat! I like to eat back some of my exercise calories, but I worry that they overestimate how much I've burned, so I try to only eat back when and if I'm hungry. Don't worry so much about how much others are eating because people have different goals and different things work for different people, but just look to get actual food ideas. Start with MFP's plans and then change them up if you think it is necessary after a few months.

^ EXACTLY! I hate it when I see food diaries and it's nothing but junk food or they barely consume 1000 calories!

I'd love to help you out! :flowerforyou:

VaingloriousVictoria

While I agree that eating below can be dangerous, some people are being treated by doctors, so it's best not to pass judgment on others. Just focus on your goals, and don't worry about other people.

LilacSnow

I just joined yesterday and already I have numerous friends on this site (YAY), but I'm getting discouraged by many of the people who are eating so little.
I am looking through food diaries for ideas and not many people have them open. I've noticed a trend of them severally under eating, one lady eats half her daily allotment or less.
I want to do this right, exercise daily and eat right.
Does anyone have tips or suggestions?
Thank you :happy:

i'm with you, i deleted pretty much all of my friends because they were consistently eating next to nothing. i'd get all excited seeing a bunch of entries, and then it would all be coffee, sweeteners, and crystal light. very discouraging. and i don't know if people who respond to their entries actually look at them, cause they all say what a good job they did. like.... yay, you ate coffee all day! good for you!

wellisawstars

My diary is private, but I love to eat my full calorie allotment. Here's an idea of the foods I eat regularly:

- Oatmeal. With a banana, it really holds me through the morning.
- Soups. Black bean is my favorite, although I will occasionally go for non-beef chili or gumbo.
- Homemade sandwiches. I use low-calorie wheat bread and pile on veggies, mustard and lean deli meats such as turkey.
- I recently fell in love with freeze-dried fruit. A small package of freeze-dried strawberries from Target is only 25 calories, and it's a nice pick-me-up with low-fat string cheese.

just4nessa

My diary is open to friends, feel free to send a request. I eat plenty, not always the best food, but I rarely skip a meal and I'm making better choices than I did a few months ago. Be forewarned...I don't deprive myself of my wine, but I never go hungry either.

Nique85

i'm still learning about the calories earned back from exercise, so I adjusted them and made them lower. However, I do eat plenty so you can add me if you would like!

CarolinaMoon76

Delete them - seriously. Thats what I have been doing. My diary is open to friends and I eat lots - and I lose weight and exercise alot.

scopper1

I am new to the site. I have been entering virtually every bite for the past week and most days it tells me I am under calories. But I am finding that I am not hungry or dizzy and really trying to eat sensibly. I also have a blood sugar issue I am trying to get under control but I am having a hard time finding out what I should be eating and how much of it. I don't starve myself, actually far from it, but I am just not meeting the calories MFP suggests. Perhaps I need to change my settings?

kaputch1980

Welcome to MFP! My diary is open and I eat plenty! :bigsmile:

I found this topic to be very helpful in setting my goals, and finding the right amount of calories, protein, carbs, fats, etc, and manually changed my settings here at MFP: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

It may seem overwhelming when you've just joined MFP, but I didn't find the thread until I had been here awhile, and I wish I had found it much sooner! So figured I'd pass it along. Give it a read through - great info there.

(P.S. - your diary isn't open either! )

Thank you Amy, I will have to checkout this link and see what I can do. Day 2 and doing great so far! :-)
I also changed my food diary, I thought I had changed it Monday night...but it didn't, but it's done now. Thanks again :-)

JustANumber85

mines open and i like to eat my cals!

kaputch1980

i'm with you, i deleted pretty much all of my friends because they were consistently eating next to nothing. i'd get all excited seeing a bunch of entries, and then it would all be coffee, sweeteners, and crystal light. very discouraging. and i don't know if people who respond to their entries actually look at them, cause they all say what a good job they did. like.... yay, you ate coffee all day! good for you!

I might be crazy, but I don't feel that's healthy and I don't do fat free, low fat or diet anything. It's just horrible for you! I agree with you, I notice all these people saying "good job", and "way to go"...but their food diaries have next to nothing in them. How can you have a support system, but the support doesn't really look to help you? Thank you for friending me, I will be a true supporter!

kaputch1980

My diary is private, but I love to eat my full calorie allotment. Here's an idea of the foods I eat regularly:

- Oatmeal. With a banana, it really holds me through the morning.
- Soups. Black bean is my favorite, although I will occasionally go for non-beef chili or gumbo.
- Homemade sandwiches. I use low-calorie wheat bread and pile on veggies, mustard and lean deli meats such as turkey.
- I recently fell in love with freeze-dried fruit. A small package of freeze-dried strawberries from Target is only 25 calories, and it's a nice pick-me-up with low-fat string cheese.

Thank you for the food tips, I love all these things and will try to eat more of them. I eat a banana everyday, and getting into the cold months Oatmeal is a staple.
Black beans...LOVE!

Madholm

You need to keep in mind that a lot of people don't log everything or simply don't go back to yesterdays log to finish it.

kaputch1980

I am new to the site. I have been entering virtually every bite for the past week and most days it tells me I am under calories. But I am finding that I am not hungry or dizzy and really trying to eat sensibly. I also have a blood sugar issue I am trying to get under control but I am having a hard time finding out what I should be eating and how much of it. I don't starve myself, actually far from it, but I am just not meeting the calories MFP suggests. Perhaps I need to change my settings?

Maybe you can check this site out too, it was left above: I found this topic to be very helpful in setting my goals, and finding the right amount of calories, protein, carbs, fats, etc, and manually changed my settings here at MFP: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

It's no always easy and with health problems there can be more challenges. We can friend eachother and I will help in whatever way I can. As a diabetic it is important for you to eat a balance of protein, carbs and fats; you're on the right road. I am not diabetic, but I have a few family members who are. I myself have back issues, 4 surgeries in the past 4 years; but I'm gonna do this one step at a time and Never Give Up!

mrsricta

Whatever you do, do NOT undereat your calories! Obviously you want to make those calories count with whole grains, veggies, fruits, fiber and protein etc. but if you undereat you will slow your metabolism way down because your body goes into "starvation" mode and does everything it can to hold on to every bite you eat. You will lose weight much more slowly if you don't eat the right amount of calories!

heybales

I am new to the site. I have been entering virtually every bite for the past week and most days it tells me I am under calories. But I am finding that I am not hungry or dizzy and really trying to eat sensibly. I also have a blood sugar issue I am trying to get under control but I am having a hard time finding out what I should be eating and how much of it. I don't starve myself, actually far from it, but I am just not meeting the calories MFP suggests. Perhaps I need to change my settings?

You feeling full and your body being fully fed for your level of activity or 2 totally separate things.

You can shrink your stomach by eating like a bird, and then screw up your hormones such you aren't hungry.

But your body will eventually show you by the results seen that you've been under-eating. Usually by the fact you'll lose decent amount of muscle mass, your metabolism will slow from that fact, and it will become suppressed even more, and the deficit you used to have to lose weight will no longer be there.

Depending on your yo-yo dieting and jumping into exercise frequency and intensity, that may come in 6 wks to 3 months. And like many, could plateau for 6 months to 1 yr. Take that time together and the possibly fast initial weight loss turns out not to be so fast anymore, and a balanced approach from the beginning would have been a whole lot less stressful mentally, emotionally, and physically.

How long does it take for the physical side effects to show up that you are constantly low on a specific vitamin or mineral?
Does the body inform you daily somehow you are low in general?
Nope - not until the side effects show up, visit Dr, get blood workup, hope your system isn't messed up for too long, ect.

Lowered desire to eat usually means your metabolism has already slowed down and you screwed up your hormones - because doubtless you didn't get to the point you needed to lose weight by eating that much in the first place.

NocturnalGirl

Focus on yourself, you know they aren't doing it right so don't let them influence you. The purpose of your calorie goal is to reach it, not to go under it.

Someone above linked you a road map, definitely take a look for guidance.

kathyms13

my diarys open ........ but please dont add me. i eat plenty for me, i dont need people telling me what i should or shouldnt do. i eat healthy foods and i have more energy than ive had for years. So, before you all get on your soap box and give me grief dont bother, i dont tell you wot to eat.

frenchfacey

my diarys open ........ but please dont add me. i eat plenty for me, i dont need people telling me what i should or shouldnt do. i eat healthy foods and i have more energy than ive had for years. So, before you all get on your soap box and give me grief dont bother, i dont tell you wot to eat.

Good for you. I think this is all a unique situation for everyone. Good on you for sticking up for yourself now too. Intimidation wears many faces.

kathyms13

my diarys open ........ but please dont add me. i eat plenty for me, i dont need people telling me what i should or shouldnt do. i eat healthy foods and i have more energy than ive had for years. So, before you all get on your soap box and give me grief dont bother, i dont tell you wot to eat.

Good for you. I think this is all a unique situation for everyone. Good on you for sticking up for yourself now too. Intimidation wears many faces.

thank you x

kaputch1980

my diarys open ........ but please dont add me. i eat plenty for me, i dont need people telling me what i should or shouldnt do. i eat healthy foods and i have more energy than ive had for years. So, before you all get on your soap box and give me grief dont bother, i dont tell you wot to eat.

No judgement, just trying to understand. Being new to the site and seeing everyone's version of food and eating is interesting to me. I am an Anthropology major and foodie by nature, I try to understand and see where everyone is coming from not to judge but to understand. I have a love affair with food and it has always been my problem.
Too bad though we have much in common from reading your page, good luck in the future.

BCSMama

I keep my diary open so anyone interested can have a look. I am entering maintenance now, so am working on upping my calories slowly and I feel like most of what I eat is healthy. I exercise a 4-5 days a week too. Feel free to add me if you like.

I don't have a problem with people eating very few calories, but what I don't understand is why some people have their calorie allotment set so much above what they consistently eat. I'm not bashing, but honestly curious. If one intends to eat only say 800 calories each day and consistently does so, why would they set their calorie goal to 1200 or more?

Moosycakes

I think sometimes some people do need less food. I know that personally I have a lot more energy when I eat less, and I never really feel hungry. It just suits me, I've never been able to eat as much as other people