Do You Force Yourself to Eat if Under Calories

bageroh

I'm not offering you a solution, just a suggestion on something that may decrease how often u are under/over your daily goal. At the end of the day, after I've entered in my final daily food, I actually start filling in the food for the next day.

If I know I'm going to eat yogurt for breakfast tomorrow, I enter it in. I enter in shakes and small snacks that I have prepared in containers for the next day. If you know you're going to exercise tomorrow, enter it in. It's not a rule, just tomorrow's eating plan. You can visually see your remaining calorie needs - this helps!!

It's not a rigid plan. Just adjust the information if things don't go as planned

PS: A spoon of peanut butter is a good suggestion. How about adding honey to your green tea?

barbaramitchell101

Thanks for posting this topic, I am having a similar issue. Except, it's not that I don't get to my MFP goal calories, it's that I'm well below the 1,200 mark. I seem to be struggling to get to 900 most days, I'm just not hungry. I don't drink a lot of caffeine (one cup of coffee in the morning), so I'm not sure what could be causing it.

I have been doing a fair bit of strength training lately, and I have increased the amount of protein I eat slightly, I'm not sure if that is why I'm feeling full?

What about drinking the calories? Does anyone have suggestions for healthy, high calorie beverages? Juice maybe?

I found that when I added more proetin I was better able to keep from being so hungry...when I have cals left, usually I grab a V-8 Original...because I don't really get enough veggies in...I have stomache issues and can't eat raw veggies..also seems I have gluten issues lately...and have had the malabsorption problems as well as gastritis and neurological issues with it....I eat as DENSE in NUTRIETS as I can, which doesn't necessarily mean high cals...and I do eat out a couple times a week, which actually I feel much better when I do...better able to get my nutrients, and no guten...I usually have a lot of soups...which will energize me....
I did have a time where I did not have an appitite and it turned out that I had overactive galbladder....gastritis, and my stomache emptyed slowly because of this...

micls

Many people say you should eat your calorie but I really think if your not hungry don't eat, I don't think women need to be hitting 2000 calories. After going to Thailand and seeing how they eat I'm going to follow thier diet

Are you serious? Thai food is ridiculously high calorie. Everything has sugar and coconut milk in it. And Thai people eat almost constantly. They never stop snacking.

They're simply built differently metabolism wise, but they're certainly not on healthy diets by any means.

SmileyFaceGuy

The "listen to your body" stuff makes little sense. Satiety is mostly determined by the volume of food, which has little, if any, significance in influencing weight loss. If you can't reach your goals, then eat more calorie-dense foods. Along the lines of what somebody else suggested, if you eat nothing but carrots all day, you'll be satiated at the end of the day, but you'll only end up with, like, 300 calories. Don't use your stomach to guide your eating habits.

queenhiphop

just listen to your body; if you're not hungry don't eat / if you're hungry eat

if you find you're ill a lot or feeling very tired but not hungry, go to a doctor

simpleeeeeeeeeees

We listened to our hunger signals and that's why we got fat in the first place. They aren't reliable.

no. that's not true. people don't get fat because they're genuinely hungry (unless they have a disorder). they get fat because they THINK they're hungry. i've learnt to work out if i'm hungry physically, or hungry emotionally.

tomwatso

I am an under at the end of the night. Then, I don't generally eat. I am happy if I am under. My calorie goal is 2050. So, if I exercise, that gives me an extra 200-300 calories to play with.

beachlover317

Once again, relying on hunger signals or "listening to your body" is highly unreliable. You use your gas guage to determine if you need gas in your car - not the way your car "feels". You body needs fuel. Rely on how many calories you have eaten to know when to add fuel. Feed your body right and you should have no problems losing, gaining, or maintaining your weight.

GuybrushThreepw00d

If i'm really under, i'll sink a 270cal protein shake before bed.
However, this situation is pretty rare as i plan most of my food.

kittens876

I'v only just started but I tend to plan my food the day before so I know how much I can eat. I have been under my calories by a little the first day, then by 300 or so the second and third. I do a lot of exercise so that adds to my totals. However, I am making homemade pizza tonight with my little boy and his friend so I'll catch up then. I read an article which was very interesting. It said to average your calories over the week. If you one day eat say 1200 cals, then the next 1650 you jump start your metabolism and this helps you to lose weight, it also means your body never goes into starvation mode!

Jen800

I always eat what I portion for myself, because I get full much too quickly and would end up hungry in 10 mins if I didn't eat it. I also Force myself to eat when I'm not hungry if it's the end of my day and I'm short on calories by a fair amount.

TyFit08

The "listen to your body" stuff makes little sense. Satiety is mostly determined by the volume of food, which has little, if any, significance in influencing weight loss. If you can't reach your goals, then eat more calorie-dense foods. Along the lines of what somebody else suggested, if you eat nothing but carrots all day, you'll be satiated at the end of the day, but you'll only end up with, like, 300 calories. Don't use your stomach to guide your eating habits.

I disagree, satiety is not just about volume but also about how gratified you feel. When you eat food that tastes good, that you enjoy, it creates a feeling. Foods of equal calories don't necessarily create that feeling. That is the challenge of dieting and why people have such a hard time sticking to eating healthy. Even though healthier meals can be filling, do you feel as satiated as you did when you ate comfort foods, probably not. Unless you love carrots, I can't see anyone feeling satiety from eating only carrots.

To ignore your stomach when determining eating habits is to set yourself up for problems. Ever felt full, but decided one more bite and then spent the night with Pepto Bismo. The same goes for continuing out with your day in spite of hunger pangs and then passing out or feeling lightheaded.

DorkothyParker

No. It evens out in the end.

QueenJaneRoughly

If I'm hungry, I eat. If I'm not hungry, I don't eat.

shelled

Thanks for this thread (so I didn't have to start a new one). I've been under my recommended daily intake of 1390 for the past few days, but it's mostly so because I don't feel hungry at all. I did try to drink some calories to up it (whole milk Starbucks woohoo!) so I can get out of this vicious cycle of being in starvation mode.

JakeBrownVB

Never force yourself to eat, its honestly a really ridiculous thing that has come into existance by the multitudes of people who hear about starvation mode, think they understand it, and then go spread their version of starvation mode across forums.

Best of luck and dont let me catch you eating spoonfuls of peantut better just to make up calories

ipw133

Most days, I am under my daily goal. I will eat only as much as I need not to get the 'body in starvation mode' . the amount allocated is fine, and the amount of exercise I do counteracts the figures. I look at making my daily calories figure, without taking into account the exercise. therefore - I only eat 1650 calories a day, and the exercise helps me lose weight. works for me.

FlaxMilk

No, never. I know I'll go over some other day.

marise1113

No. I found that some days I am just not hungry. I try to listen to what my body is telling me.

Francl27

Depends. I'll make sure I'm at least over my BMR. And if I feel like having a treat, and I have the calories/macros for it, I'll have a 100 calories ice cream or chocolate bar or something to put me closer to goal. Plus it stops me from binging later.

HotrodsGirl0107

I eat what i am supposed to for my body to continue at the activity level I am at. I lift 3x a week, I do yoga on Friday and hike on the weekend. I also work two physical jobs 6 days a week. I also have done research into how calorie restriction affects hunger signals. If I were to listen to my body I could eat 500 calories and not feel hungry. I am not dumb enough to think 500 calories a day would support my activity level and fuel my body. I have realised that common sense is lacking in these forums. I mean I have seen people starve themselves on 600 calories a day because they are scared to eat anything unclean. Really? So starving yourself is healthier than eating something "bad". I just don't get some of you. If you want to be active at least give your body the fuel it needs to function properly.

shelled

Never force yourself to eat, its honestly a really ridiculous thing that has come into existance by the multitudes of people who hear about starvation mode, think they understand it, and then go spread their version of starvation mode across forums.

Best of luck and dont let me catch you eating spoonfuls of peantut better just to make up calories

I'm pretty sure something is screwed over in my body because (a) that's what my personal trainers all say, (b) my BMR is a pathetic 1220 instead of a 1500ish for a 30 year old 77kg 1.68m woman. But no, you won't catch me eating spoonfuls of peanut butter because I'd much rather drink my calories in whole milk Starbucks. *giggles*

AbsoluteNG

There's a member on here who forcefully shoved food down his throat that had his stomach ruptured. He didn't listen to his body even though he was full and puking. Listen to your body first, not what people tell you on the forums. He's a nice guy though, always trying to help people.

shelled

There's a member on here who forcefully shoved food down his throat that had his stomach ruptured. He didn't listen to his body even though he was full and puking. Listen to your body first, not what people tell you on the forums. He's a nice guy though, always trying to help people.

That's really sad to hear. I hope he's much better now.

I'm definitely not force-feeding myself, I'm usually not hungry but not full either. (Am doing the many small meals a day thing.) I know how most people tend to feel slightly hungry after a workout, but that hasn't been happening to me. It takes about an hour or two after my workout before I start feeling any need to eat.

skinnytayy

Eating when I'm not hungry is what got me to where I am now so no I don't. I do my best to hit my goals and lately I've had no problem doing that but I won't force myself to eat.

I did have issues with being WAY under like netting 300 calories a day, low. I looked for higher calorie snacks and that helped tremendously. If you're persistently low, try to find higher calorie foods. Things like nuts, avocados, etc. are high calorie. Also you can use things like olive oil, coconut oil, etc. when cooking - those calories count! Lastly, don't use fat-free/low-fat crap. I've always ate full fat dairy and I'm a firm believer in it. I believe the fats in it are good and the low-fat/fat-free crap is just that .. crap. Its gross and chances are its loaded with all kinds of sugar and other stuff to make it taste better. If its only occasionally that you're under, I really wouldn't stress it much. Day to day calorie count doesn't really matter .. Its what you average over a period of time that does.

Noenvynofear

I see no point to eating when you're not hungry, listen to what your body's telling you. Obviously if you are way under every day you might start to feel the effects, but mfp doesn't know everything

vstraughan

I'll eat my daily allowance (1200) without fail. When it comes to my exercise calories (500-1150) , then my not-vast-experience tells me that as long as I eat around half of them then I can keep powered up for the next day and still lose.

Dangerous to eat less than your daily allowance but then it's pretty damn hard to do.

JDBLY11

I eat what i am supposed to for my body to continue at the activity level I am at. I lift 3x a week, I do yoga on Friday and hike on the weekend. I also work two physical jobs 6 days a week. I also have done research into how calorie restriction affects hunger signals. If I were to listen to my body I could eat 500 calories and not feel hungry. I am not dumb enough to think 500 calories a day would support my activity level and fuel my body. I have realised that common sense is lacking in these forums. I mean I have seen people starve themselves on 600 calories a day because they are scared to eat anything unclean. Really? So starving yourself is healthier than eating something "bad". I just don't get some of you. If you want to be active at least give your body the fuel it needs to function properly.

I agree. No one should be netting below 1200 calories on a regular basis like some people have said they do. It is really unhealthy.

FitMrsR

Let me preface this by saying I didn't read all of the responses so if this has already been mentioned, I'm sorry but exercise suppresses me appetite. And the more exercise I do, the less hungry I feel. I would eat something to at least get you above 1200 calories. I know we all have busy days and forget to eat but if you are funding that you're regularly under your goal plan your days ahead and eat small meals often. It could also be your body is trying to adjust to your new exercise and calorie level and isn't sending the same signals you'd get when you were hungry before. I can't trust my body to tell me when I'm hungry because I'm never hungry. I'd end up eating 500 calories for the day and feel fine so I know I can't trust what my body tells me. I need more than that being active and growing a baby

caramellattekiss

I'd say it depends how under you are, and how often. If it's not by much, no, don't force it. But if you're nearly always under by a significant amount, maybe you need to look at what you're eating, rather than how much.
Are you using low fat/low cal versions of things? Things like nuts or avocadoes are a good way to get a high calorie, but still healthy hit of you're low on calories.

If you're not hungry, what about drinking your calories? Make a nice healthy smoothie, or just treat yourself to a cuppa?

onwarddownward

I try to eat readable every meal. I have more days when I'm right on, rather than under.