not enough calories on my calorie counter

Sandylovesm
Sandylovesm Posts: 242 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hello everyone,

I really have the impression that my meals are ok, but my calorie counter tells me every single day that I eat too few calories. I don't have this feeling, especially because I'm not hungry. Is it a problem? The website said I put my body onto starvation but I don't feel like it. Do I have to eat almoste exactly the suggested number of calories, or can I do like I feel it if i'm ok? On the other hand, though trying to do my best for the protein, carb and fat, I always eat too much protein. I've tried to change my food but it's still the case. Is it a real problem as far as balance diet is concerned? Do you avoid high protein products to prevent you from eating too much protein? i do consume these products with moderation so I'm quite puzzled^^

Thanks for your help!

Replies

  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    A few things...

    1) Your diary is hidden, so no one can offer any really meaningful advice.
    2) It's generally fine to go over on protein. Many of us are at 3-4x MFP's standard protein recommendation.
    3) If the site is telling you that you are eating too low, I suspect you are under 1200 cals daily, which 9 times out of 10 IS too low.
    4) Hunger isn't always a good gauge for if/when/how much you should be eating.
    5) Why are you on MFP? It's made suggestions and now you are asking if you really need to follow them. If you need and want the help, do what it tells you. If not, you're just spinning your wheels.
  • Sandylovesm
    Sandylovesm Posts: 242 Member
    I thought MFP calculated things as a computer will do, which means things around statistics for ex, and asked if it should be taken per say or if there's some flexibility possible or not. I did not mean that MFP gave me bad advice and that I wonder if I should follow them. It really helps me on the contrary. It's just I have a lot of questions in my head. To be honest, it's the first true time that I'm trying to understand how weight loss works, how food works, how nutrition works, and even how the website works! That's why my diary is hidden, I had no idea about it, I'm sorry. I don't have hours to go on the website everyday (if I had more time maybe it could prevent me from asking questions already asked, or study the structure of the website haha), so I'm sorry I just try to do my best, to understand things and it's not always easy because English is not my mother tongue as well (maybe you noticed, sorry for the mistakes)

    Thank you very much for your answer, I'll try to change something else in my meals to reach 1200 cal, and when I'll have more time, I'll try to find what I could do about my settings to receive proper help if I need.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    You don't necessarily have to eat MORE food to reach your goal, but eat more calorie dense foods - nuts and nut butters, avocados, full fat dairy, no "diet" foods, use olive and coconut oils for salads and in cooking - all of these foods pack a lot of calories into small portions, so your body gets the fuel without having to stuff your face. :smile:

    Still I have to ask - how is it that you are on a weight loss site when you aren't hungry enough to eat 1200 cals? Do you have much weight to lose? :tongue:
  • serenapitala
    serenapitala Posts: 441 Member
    I would recommend calculating your BMR and TDEE. A Google search for those will give you sites that explain it. If you look them up you'll find tons of sites where you can calculate them too. If you want more of an explanation, let me know. Try not to eat under your BMR. If you do it will mess with your metabolism. Hope that helps!
  • Sandylovesm
    Sandylovesm Posts: 242 Member
    You don't necessarily have to eat MORE food to reach your goal, but eat more calorie dense foods - nuts and nut butters, avocados, full fat dairy, no "diet" foods, use olive and coconut oils for salads and in cooking - all of these foods pack a lot of calories into small portions, so your body gets the fuel without having to stuff your face. :smile:

    Still I have to ask - how is it that you are on a weight loss site when you aren't hungry enough to eat 1200 cals? Do you have much weight to lose? :tongue:

    Thank you very much for your reply, I begin to understand how it works! Oh yes I have a lot of weight to lose (I am 25kg more than what I'm supposed to be), but for 1 year I was used to eat smaller portions (normal portions I guess, because I overeated). And then, 6 months ago until now, I took all the 10 kg I lost in a year back cause I was back to very bad attitude towards food. And here I am, trying to lose weight for real and for very long term with support, help about nutrition, and advice not to hurt my body. So finally, I'm overweight just because I got back eating too much (huge amount of food), too fat, really really fat. But as I returned to healthier food now, I eat less of course, and I think I'm not starving because my body remembers that one day, and for a year, I did not eat much. Maybe I 'm saying very silly things, I don't know. If what I say is completely stupid, I'm very sorry, i'm just trying to explain =)

    The fact is, I'm not very hungry but my body does remember the way I ate for the last 6 months as well, and I always want to eat something. I know I 'd love the taste of that food or that drink, and then I want to eat between the meals several times a day...

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