Eating too little net calories!

justlittlem

I've just discovered i've been eating way too little net calories because I had my goal set to 1200 and I wasn't eating back exercise calories. I only changed my goal to 1200 last week, before it was 1490 but I was eating around the same net calories, maybe a bit more..

I've been hovering around 900-1000 net calories.

The thing is, i'm not hungry.. I just have 3 main meals a day and I add accurately. Because of classes, I don't snack at all, i have breakfast at 8 am, Lunch at 1pm then I get home and do Insanity and have dinner around 5 - 6pm. I don't eat in the evenings and I have good meals I think, except my breakfasts are small.

I live a "Sedentary" lifestyle as i'm a student in University so i'm mainly sitting apart from walking between classes and normal activity. I do Insanity, i'm on the 3rd week,.

What should I do? I don't know whether to change it up and eat more or just continue or what?


I'm currently 174.6 lbs, female at 5"6

In Inches:
Waist 32.0
Waist belowBelly button 38.7
Bum 43.6
Bust 42.0

My goal is: 145 pounds

And i'm currently set to 1 pound and a half to loose/week

AmyRhubarb

Insanity is not sedentary. I think too many people think they are sedentary when they are not. Sedentary is moving from the bed to the sofa and watching tv all day long. Food is fuel - eat too little and push your body too hard and you're giving it a reason to store fat rather than burn it.

To get more calories in without having to eat a lot more food, add more calorie dense foods to your day - nuts and nut butters, avocados, full fat dairy, olive and coconut oils in dressings and for cooking - small amounts pack a good caloric punch and get you fueled without stuffing your face.

JGainingHealth

Eat more than just fruit for breakfast... add it to some yogurt or eat a handful of nuts with it. Or both.

kellyw036

Insanity is not sedentary. I think too many people think they are sedentary when they are not. Sedentary is moving from the bed to the sofa and watching tv all day long. Food is fuel - eat too little and push your body too hard and you're giving it a reason to store fat rather than burn it.

To get more calories in without having to eat a lot more food, add more calorie dense foods to your day - nuts and nut butters, avocados, full fat dairy, olive and coconut oils in dressings and for cooking - small amounts pack a good caloric punch and get you fueled without stuffing your face.

This Always full of good info!

justlittlem

Insanity is not sedentary. I think too many people think they are sedentary when they are not. Sedentary is moving from the bed to the sofa and watching tv all day long. Food is fuel - eat too little and push your body too hard and you're giving it a reason to store fat rather than burn it.

To get more calories in without having to eat a lot more food, add more calorie dense foods to your day - nuts and nut butters, avocados, full fat dairy, olive and coconut oils in dressings and for cooking - small amounts pack a good caloric punch and get you fueled without stuffing your face.

I thought it was sedentary because I just added the amount of time I workout a week and that looked more like what you actually do during the day :S.

Thank you for all the food tips, i'm never really sure what to eat. Should I eat even if i'm not hungry but I need more calories?

doubleduofa

I'd be starving on that amount of calories. I think you should do the TDEE calculator and up your calories. It will be harder to maintain you weight loss if you slow your metabolism by eating such a low amount to lose. You might see a slight gain at first, but you will lose.

Also, I wouldn't count you as sedentary. Working out 6 days per week and walking to class is active. I remember walking to class in college - 10-15 minute walks to/from class. It adds up! I miss having those walks in my day.

TavistockToad

using the sedentary setting is fine, as long as the OP eats back all her exercise calories.

justlittlem

Thank you all so much for the advice so far. It's really helped me

So should I eat back calories even if i'm not hungry?

Camille0502

More protein - less carbs may give you more energy. Also, in order to increase calories, you don't necesarily have to eat more - just eat more calorie dense foods. Instead of fruit only in the morning, have a hard boiled egg or cheese. Use salad dressing with olive oil. Also, I'd cut out the sweets in favor or more nourishing food.

If I were eating what you eat, I'd be starving to death!

psuLemon

The base level caloric needs for insanity is 1800. I have see so many people fail because they don't follow their nutritional guidelines. I would highly recommend you use the below link and do a custom set up on MFP. If you want the success of the program, you need to follow their calorie goals too. Also, adjust your macro's to 40% carbs, 40% protein and 20% fats. That is th BB default.


http://www.teambeachbody.com/eat-smart/nutrition-tools/caloric-needs