I have trouble eating 1200 calories sometimes?

weightlossnoob

So I have created a meal plan that if I follow through results in 1200-1500 calories a day. My goal is 1970 for 1 1/2 weight loss each week.

Last week I lost 6 pounds! However, some said that it was because I was eating too low and I was "starving myself."

Not once last week did I feel "starving." In fact, I felt satisfied all of the time.

Today I had a low day, no matter how much I ate, because my dinner was just made out of low ingredient foods. Besides the chicken and tiny bit of cheese, the broccoli, mushrooms, and artichokes have like no calories. I had 1100 calories worth today.

Is this really bad?

Note: On days I go to gym (today was a catch up and rest day), I tend to eat 1500ish calories. I just can't imagine eating a 600 calorie breakfast to get to 1970.

Note 2!: Also, on weekends, I always go over because the nature of the way my weekends go (lots of family events, etc.) Does it balance out??

Thanks!

kjoy_

i personally think you're eating way too low for a male, and that it will eventually stall after a few weeks of the low eating. however, i'm not a nutritionist and if you're not hungry and are convinced it's going to work for you then more power to you! good luck

edit: i say this because i am a petite 5'2 girl that eats more than you do on a regular basis and loses

weightlossnoob

I agree with you 100%! But it's just like I don't know how I can eat more calories because I eat the correct portions and the meals are generally well rounded?!

MercenaryNoetic26

It could average out... and yes, I'm also 5'2" and eat way more than you. But I don't know what your day to day activity is to judge.

kjoy_

try adding healthy higher calorie foods such as protein shakes, almond butter, natural peanut butter, raw nuts and avocado to your daily diet. i think you'll discover that you've been missing energy that you didn't even know you were missing!

weightlossnoob

feel free to check out my diary, it should be open. Ignore weekends!

misssiri

You are 22 yo male and you can't eat 1200? I have a hard time staying under 2300 and I am 37 yo female 5'6" 135 lbs.

First, ditch the low fat crap and eat more cheese than a "tiny" bit. Eat some peanut butter, almonds, avocado, eggs (with the yolk). What did you cut out? Add some of that back in. You can eat real food. Don't eat "diet" foods. It's not necessary. It's important to keep your calories at a decent level. How are you going to fuel workouts otherwise?

Eat2Win

an extra punch of good calories could be Almond Butter.
How about making a smoothie:
if you put in a banana that's around 110 cals
an apple is around 80 I think
add almond butter you have over 100 there too and
the more fruits you add the more you'll increase and it's easy
to consume in a drink. Just be imaginative.

cook6609

I feel the same way sometimes. While I'm at 1200 calories, and I'm doing perfectly fine with it. My meals are the same way: lean meats and a lot of veggies. I always feel full when I go to bed at night. I did figure out that if I eat breakfast before 8am, I tend to eat more during the day than if I wait till after 8am to eat breakfast.... I don't see the point in forcing yourself to eat. I never feel like I'm starving. Plus, my hubby makes sure that I eat plenty of food. I food, so I could never starve myself. If you don't feel hungry don't eat. When you feel hungry, eat. That's how I look at it.

jonnythan

I agree with you 100%! But it's just like I don't know how I can eat more calories because I eat the correct portions and the meals are generally well rounded?!

1200 is way, way, way too low. Seriously dude.

Eat more. Eat whatever you ate to make you overweight in the first place. Pizza, ice cream, burgers, whatever. Doesn't matter. Hit your calorie goal.

And you're not even tracking protein? Protein is the most important macro.

1) Get 1g protein per lb of lean body mass.
2) Lift weights.
3) Eat a modest but not huge calorie deficit

The rest is basically irrelevant. But you need to do those things.

amandacook06

Wow... I never thought anyone would have trouble eating 1200 calories! Anyways, after reviewing your diary I would like to suggest eating a piece of toast with jam or butter along side your cereal in the morning. Also, why not add a small sandwich at lunch (looks like all your eating for lunch is fruit...). Hope this helps!

Boogage

I had the same problem for a while and just ended up feeling really ill. It got so bad that I was sweating buckets every time I tried to work out and had to stop every 5 minutes for a breather. I also kept thinking I might blackout as I was so light headed. I lost quite a lot of weight but I felt poorly and weak all the time.

It took a while to get my calorie intake up again but it was worth it as I feel so much better now and my workouts are more productive.

You need lots of good food and protein to build muscle to keep your metabolism working fast and burning fat even when you don't work out.

weightlossnoob

Thanks for all of your help!!

I do lift weights a lot, however, I don't log them in because I lose track too easily.

I also always get nervous because I am always over sugar from fruits.. like 50-100 grams over, so should I worry about sugars at all?

I thought cheese was not good!

weightlossnoob

Wow... I never thought anyone would have trouble eating 1200 calories! Anyways, after reviewing your diary I would like to suggest eating a piece of toast with jam or butter along side your cereal in the morning. Also, why not add a small sandwich at lunch (looks like all your eating for lunch is fruit...). Hope this helps!

Yea, today was a weird day. I normally eat food other than fruit for lunch. Today, I had a rushed day between school and then I had an incident at home, so today is not the best day to go by.

Boogage

Lots of sugar and carbs in fruit. You need a varied diet that includes them but veggies are better

da_bears10089

as others have said, peanut butter, avocado etc... i like cottage cheese as well. A good way to add in more calories, would be getting full fat yogurt, or milk. No need for fat free everything.

KML617

Looking at your diary I'm not sure what kind of meal plan you're on... looks like you're putting together your own meals? I thought maybe you had meals delivered like diettogo.com or something. Like others, I am not a nutritionist. But I also feel that you are eating too few calories, especially for a 22 year old growing male. The biggest suggestion I would make is eat more protein and whole grains in your breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day (cliche I know, but true)... You need more fuel to start your day. Eat Oatmeal, or eggs or peanut butter on toast, protein bars or shakes... Personally I love oatmeal with peanut butter mixed in! Yum!

You gotta do what feels right to you... but I agree with others that the way your eating now may be dropping the pounds quickly... but it will most likely stall out eventually.

Good Luck!

KatyCrum6969

Man, your goal is 1970!?
The things that I could do with those calories!
That's half a pizza, AND a chicken sandwich.
I'm so jealous of you boys. Lol.
Edit to say that I know I didn't answer any of your questions, but duuuuuuuuuude.

labellecanuck

Just because you don't feel hungry doesn't mean your body isn't starving.

KML617

Thanks for all of your help!!

I do lift weights a lot, however, I don't log them in because I lose track too easily.

I also always get nervous because I am always over sugar from fruits.. like 50-100 grams over, so should I worry about sugars at all?

I thought cheese was not good!

If your sugars are coming from natural fruits, veggies and dairy... its not really a big deal if you're going over. But you do need a more balanced diet with fat and protein too... TRACK PROTEIN! I couldn't believe you weren't tracking that one!

weightlossnoob

If your sugars are coming from natural fruits, veggies and dairy... its not really a big deal if you're going over. But you do need a more balanced diet with fat and protein too... TRACK PROTEIN! I couldn't believe you weren't tracking that one!

I have no clue what it is tracking on the website! All I know is that on the apps, I see all of the nutrients!

trogalicious

find food that's more calorie dense.
get a handful of almonds, or some peanut butter, etc. Instead of the .88 of a cup of milk for your cereal, just have a solid cup.

if you don't want to eat more food, replace the "low fat / diet" versions with the honest-to-god-legit-versions.

It really, seriously is as simple as:
1. look at MFP food goal.
2. look at food label.
3. count.
4. eat until you're closer to your goal.

I'm not trying to even be a smart-*kitten*, it's seriously that easy. And yes, like most others have already stated, you're undereating for what you're trying to do.

LissaK1981

I have to add in calories for my hubby so on his food I use almond butter, regular fat cheese, real butter, whole milk. Males typically need more cals, especially if you are going to try building muscle. Also some great supplement stuff like shelled hemp seeds, ground flax, I love chia seeds, different nuts. You can also drink some calories, Avocado banana smoothies are great. Also another I love is coconut almond butter smoothies. Little things like that can add up quick. If ya want any recipes message me.

jonnythan

Thanks for all of your help!!

I do lift weights a lot, however, I don't log them in because I lose track too easily.

I also always get nervous because I am always over sugar from fruits.. like 50-100 grams over, so should I worry about sugars at all?

I thought cheese was not good!

Ignore sugar, especially from fruit.

Calories are a billion times more important. When it comes down to it, calories are the ONLY thing that's important for weight loss. Protein and weight lifting are the only things that matter for muscle retention/building. Fat is important for hormones and satiety. Carbs are irrelevant. Literally, the bottom of the totem pole.

Eat protein. Eat fat. Ignore carbs. Hit your calorie goals.

Eat cheese! Eat pizza, eat ice cream, eat whatever you want. Just hit your freakin macros!

blu_meanie_ca

You do need more protein. It is essential for concentration and learning (you don't want to waste that education... I almost failed my last sememester of college due to a low protein diet). But, you can not run your body, lift weights, do other exercises, go to school, and be a dude under the age of 60, and over the height of Tom Cruise on 1200 calories and 1 piece of chicken a day.
Eat beef. Protein, fat, calories. Make your own burgers (Walmart sells presses for 5 bucks), skip the mayo and half your bun. I'm trying to remember what a 2 ounce patty of lean ground is... something like 300 calories and 20g of protein.
Tuna is good (with full fat mayo). If you want to skip the bread chop up an apple and some celery, and make an actual salad with it.
Anyways, eat more meat. Calories, protein, and lean body mass retention (you don't look the herion chic type).

jonnythan

Also: look at my diary. It's open.

Today, I've had ice cream and Dunkin Donuts. Yesterday I had McDonald's, Subway, ice cream, chili, and more Dunkies. Day before that, more ice cream, and I smothered my chicken with Swiss cheese.

Losing weight doesn't mean you have to eat like a rabbit.

trogalicious

Losing weight doesn't mean you have to eat like a rabbit.

preach it.

ebaymommy

Seriously? My 52lb 8-year-old son can polish off 500-600 (healthy!) calories for breakfast. I'm sure you could manage it. This morning he had a chocolate protein pancake (made with 1 mashed banana, 1 egg, oat flour, chocolate protein powder, unsweetened cocoa powder, chia seeds and ground flaxseed and cooked in coconut oil, then when it was done topped with peanut butter and sliced strawberries), a glass of milk and an English muffin topped with butter and homemade raspberry jam. It was over 600 calories today.

Graelwyn75

What on earth is the point in lifting lots of weights while you are burning away muscle by not eating enough ? Seriously, do some research, read around the forums, find out your TDEE and eat 15% below it at most, do your weights, do some cardio, and eat. Most women here are eating more than you are. Plenty of healthy ways to get calories too. Peanut butter, nuts, seeds, eggs, avocado, oatmeal, full fat dairy, coconut oil added to cooking, protein shakes if that is your thing, pizza is not as unhealthy as one might think if in moderation, and neither is ice cream. Make it your quest to actually formulate a plan, and to plan your foods out to hit the correct goal. Focus on bodyfat rather than the scale, and on hitting weight lifting targets, and believe me, you will not get near to your potential there if you do not eat enough.

ninerbuff

Lol, what cracks me up about these threads is that "somehow" eating 1200 calories is impossible, but they got here eating WAY over that before.:laugh:

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Trechechus

Yes, you are eating too few calories. Try adding in more calorie dense foods here and there, Avocado, granola bars, nuts, cheese, etc.