Have I been eating too little?

sixfeettall

MFP gave me a goal of 1540calories a day to lose a pound a week.
My weekly average has been around 1279 and this week I'm 1825 calories under my weekly goal.
I am completely new to this so I know I could be going wrong eating under 1300 a day.
I am yet to weigh myself, I'm going to on Tuesday.
I don't want to cause my body to go into starvation mode so I don't lose any weight.

Am I eating too little and if so how much should I eat? Or do you think that's ok?
I have only been doing this properly for a week so I'm still learning I guess.
Feel free to add me and check out my diary if you think I'm going wrong anywhere!

SerenitySage_x3

I'm not sure about the calorie intake, since I'm new as well (MFP said I can only have 1200 a day -_-), but I'm also in starvation mode. I wasn't finding time to eat throughout the day properly, so I would only eat once or twice a day in large portions - which is not good for you. According to my nutritionist, you need to eat 5-6 times a day (about every 4 hours) and in smaller portions. That should prevent you from going into starvation - that's my understanding - and you should be able to still do that while having however many calories MFP suggested.

dad106

I'm not sure about the calorie intake, since I'm new as well (MFP said I can only have 1200 a day -_-), but I'm also in starvation mode. I wasn't finding time to eat throughout the day properly, so I would only eat once or twice a day in large portions - which is not good for you. According to my nutritionist, you need to eat 5-6 times a day (about every 4 hours) and in smaller portions. That should prevent you from going into starvation - that's my understanding - and you should be able to still do that while having however many calories MFP suggested.

Your nutritionist is a quack.. I sugget you dump him/her. Plenty of people on here only eat one or two large meals a day, and they do just fine.

To OP:
Your diary isn't open, so I can't see exactly what you are eating.

My question is, how tall are you and how much do you have to lose total?

When I was losing and eating about the same per day as you, I ate pretty much as I pleased, but ate only a serving size of said item. I ate eggs, bacon, bread, fruit, turkey/roast beef lunch meat, chocolate, ice cream, etc.

ndj1979

5-6 small meals a day to boost metabolism is a myth.

Meal timing has nothing to do with metabolism.

You can eat one huge meal, two meals, three meals, or twenty four meals spaced out at an hour each..does not matter.

Also, you can't go into starvation mode if you are eating 1200 calories a day. You have to eat NOTHING for 72 hours to experience true starvation mode.

OP - one pound a week weight loss would be 3500 calorie per week deficit..so unless I am reading something wrong at 1849 deficit for the week you are at about .5 pound per week loss.

If you are using MFP settings then you should try to hit about 1540 per day every day and eat back all exercise calories..

Are you doing any kind of work out?

AbsoluteNG

I'm not sure about the calorie intake, since I'm new as well (MFP said I can only have 1200 a day -_-), but I'm also in starvation mode. I wasn't finding time to eat throughout the day properly, so I would only eat once or twice a day in large portions - which is not good for you. According to my nutritionist, you need to eat 5-6 times a day (about every 4 hours) and in smaller portions. That should prevent you from going into starvation - that's my understanding - and you should be able to still do that while having however many calories MFP suggested.

Are you from the states? Is the professional you talked to a licensed Dietitian or a Nutritionist? Huge difference between the two as anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. Licensed Dietitians are state regulated.

sixfeettall

5-6 small meals a day to boost metabolism is a myth.

Meal timing has nothing to do with metabolism.

You can eat one huge meal, two meals, three meals, or twenty four meals spaced out at an hour each..does not matter.

Also, you can't go into starvation mode if you are eating 1200 calories a day. You have to eat NOTHING for 72 hours to experience true starvation mode.

OP - one pound a week weight loss would be 3500 calorie per week deficit..so unless I am reading something wrong at 1849 deficit for the week you are at about .5 pound per week loss.

If you are using MFP settings then you should try to hit about 1540 per day every day and eat back all exercise calories..

Are you doing any kind of work out?

I am 1850 under my weekly goal, not including the 3500 deficit MFP have given me. So in total, my weekly deficit is around 5350. I walk a couple of miles a day, sometimes more and sometimes less but that's about it.

sixfeettall

I'm not sure about the calorie intake, since I'm new as well (MFP said I can only have 1200 a day -_-), but I'm also in starvation mode. I wasn't finding time to eat throughout the day properly, so I would only eat once or twice a day in large portions - which is not good for you. According to my nutritionist, you need to eat 5-6 times a day (about every 4 hours) and in smaller portions. That should prevent you from going into starvation - that's my understanding - and you should be able to still do that while having however many calories MFP suggested.

Your nutritionist is a quack.. I sugget you dump him/her. Plenty of people on here only eat one or two large meals a day, and they do just fine.

To OP:
Your diary isn't open, so I can't see exactly what you are eating.

My question is, how tall are you and how much do you have to lose total?

When I was losing and eating about the same per day as you, I ate pretty much as I pleased, but ate only a serving size of said item. I ate eggs, bacon, bread, fruit, turkey/roast beef lunch meat, chocolate, ice cream, etc.

I am 6'0-6'1 and I'd like to lose around 10 pounds to begin with. Feel free to add me if you'd like to check out my diary, it's nothing special to be honest!

dad106

I'm not sure about the calorie intake, since I'm new as well (MFP said I can only have 1200 a day -_-), but I'm also in starvation mode. I wasn't finding time to eat throughout the day properly, so I would only eat once or twice a day in large portions - which is not good for you. According to my nutritionist, you need to eat 5-6 times a day (about every 4 hours) and in smaller portions. That should prevent you from going into starvation - that's my understanding - and you should be able to still do that while having however many calories MFP suggested.

Your nutritionist is a quack.. I sugget you dump him/her. Plenty of people on here only eat one or two large meals a day, and they do just fine.

To OP:
Your diary isn't open, so I can't see exactly what you are eating.

My question is, how tall are you and how much do you have to lose total?

When I was losing and eating about the same per day as you, I ate pretty much as I pleased, but ate only a serving size of said item. I ate eggs, bacon, bread, fruit, turkey/roast beef lunch meat, chocolate, ice cream, etc.

I am 6'0-6'1 and I'd like to lose around 10 pounds to begin with. Feel free to add me if you'd like to check out my diary, it's nothing special to be honest!

So for 10 pounds, you may even be able to go down to half a pound a week and be ok.

I'm around your height(I'm 5'9), so 1540 isn't too far out of reach.

Just eat more calorie dense foods, and make sure you eat back your exercise calories.

I saw you said that you walk, but think about adding some resistance training in there.. that will add the biggest punch. Even if you don't lose much weight at first.

SerenitySage_x3

I'm not sure about the calorie intake, since I'm new as well (MFP said I can only have 1200 a day -_-), but I'm also in starvation mode. I wasn't finding time to eat throughout the day properly, so I would only eat once or twice a day in large portions - which is not good for you. According to my nutritionist, you need to eat 5-6 times a day (about every 4 hours) and in smaller portions. That should prevent you from going into starvation - that's my understanding - and you should be able to still do that while having however many calories MFP suggested.

Are you from the states? Is the professional you talked to a licensed Dietitian or a Nutritionist? Huge difference between the two as anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. Licensed Dietitians are state regulated.

Yes, I'm from Illinois. And they are a nutritionist that is provided for free through U of I. I don't know too much about the person. I originally went to learn about vegetarianism mainly, and slightly about weight loss, but she was more concerned with my lack of eating. I also have had my gastroenterologist tell me 5-6 meals a day because I have several intestinal problems, such as gastroparesis. So, I don't know. As I previously stated, I'm very new to this. I only saw the person on Thursday. I just realized I needed to make some healthy lifestyle changes, and am doing the best I can and am trying to become educated as I go.

RadioactivePirate

That's kinda on the low side. It may be low enough to stall you out, it may not be. However, it is not a great long term plan. It gets harder the longer you do it to maintain a low deficit. Everybody starts out all gung-ho eating healthy and maintaining low calories, but it's a lot more difficult to stay with a plan like that for the long term. The more gradual your weight loss is, the easier it will be to stay with it, and the more likely you will be successful.

If you don't have much to lose, you should aim for a 1750-3500 calorie per week deficit from your TDEE. (setting your goal to lose 0.5 to 1 lb per week and eating ALL the calories MFP gives you, including your exercise calories) If you have more to lose you can aim a bit higher than that. Personally even at my highest weight I only set my goals to lose a pound a week, because it's just easier that way.

AbsoluteNG

I'm not sure about the calorie intake, since I'm new as well (MFP said I can only have 1200 a day -_-), but I'm also in starvation mode. I wasn't finding time to eat throughout the day properly, so I would only eat once or twice a day in large portions - which is not good for you. According to my nutritionist, you need to eat 5-6 times a day (about every 4 hours) and in smaller portions. That should prevent you from going into starvation - that's my understanding - and you should be able to still do that while having however many calories MFP suggested.

Are you from the states? Is the professional you talked to a licensed Dietitian or a Nutritionist? Huge difference between the two as anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. Licensed Dietitians are state regulated.

Yes, I'm from Illinois. And they are a nutritionist that is provided for free through U of I. I don't know too much about the person. I originally went to learn about vegetarianism mainly, and slightly about weight loss, but she was more concerned with my lack of eating. I also have had my gastroenterologist tell me 5-6 meals a day because I have several intestinal problems, such as gastroparesis. So, I don't know. As I previously stated, I'm very new to this. I only saw the person on Thursday. I just realized I needed to make some healthy lifestyle changes, and am doing the best I can and am trying to become educated as I go.

Okay, I see. So you are suffering from a medical problem and they feel that 5 small meals a day would do you better since your stomach can't handle big meals.


Edit: In a normal healthy individual, having 1 big meal is just as good as having 5 small meals.

SerenitySage_x3

I'm not sure about the calorie intake, since I'm new as well (MFP said I can only have 1200 a day -_-), but I'm also in starvation mode. I wasn't finding time to eat throughout the day properly, so I would only eat once or twice a day in large portions - which is not good for you. According to my nutritionist, you need to eat 5-6 times a day (about every 4 hours) and in smaller portions. That should prevent you from going into starvation - that's my understanding - and you should be able to still do that while having however many calories MFP suggested.

Are you from the states? Is the professional you talked to a licensed Dietitian or a Nutritionist? Huge difference between the two as anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. Licensed Dietitians are state regulated.

Yes, I'm from Illinois. And they are a nutritionist that is provided for free through U of I. I don't know too much about the person. I originally went to learn about vegetarianism mainly, and slightly about weight loss, but she was more concerned with my lack of eating. I also have had my gastroenterologist tell me 5-6 meals a day because I have several intestinal problems, such as gastroparesis. So, I don't know. As I previously stated, I'm very new to this. I only saw the person on Thursday. I just realized I needed to make some healthy lifestyle changes, and am doing the best I can and am trying to become educated as I go.

Okay, I see. So you are suffering from a medical problem and they feel that 5 small meals a day would do you better since your stomach can't handle big meals.

Essentially, yes. The Gastro doc basically told me that my body does not digest food at a normal rate, but slower. I used to eat big meals all the time, and only once or twice a day, but he said it wasn't a good for my body. Though, the nutritionist didn't know about my condition yet recommended it anyways, not sure what her basis for it was. *shrug*. I feel like a lost puppy, I just have no idea what I'm doing. -_- I've been reading forums for days and I still feel pretty clueless.

AbsoluteNG

Essentially, yes. The Gastro doc basically told me that my body does not digest food at a normal rate, but slower. I used to eat big meals all the time, and only once or twice a day, but he said it wasn't a good for my body. Though, the nutritionist didn't know about my condition yet recommended it anyways, not sure what her basis for it was. *shrug*. I feel like a lost puppy, I just have no idea what I'm doing. -_- I've been reading forums for days and I still feel pretty clueless.

Maybe your nutritionist hasn't been keeping up with the research as there are a lot of people who do fine on having 1 or 2 meals a day? But it really does not matter for you. You have a medical problem and so smaller meals are better for you.

SerenitySage_x3

Maybe your nutritionist hasn't been keeping up with the research as there are a lot of people who do fine on having 1 or 2 meals a day? But it really does not matter for you. You have a medical problem and so smaller meals are better for you.

Probably not. Most of the doctors at the health center here are quacks, with the exception of my primary care doctor who took me forever to find. Thanks for your input.