Calorie aiming..... Eat more or eat less?

wendyc5056

After lots of good information on this site, I realized I was way under eating causing me to not lose weight. I've jumped my calories up to the recommended 1200. But, when I'm getting close, is it better to come in under in calorie consumption within a 100 or so or go over within that 100 or so? Yesterday I gave in and had a donut which threw me a little over. Tonight, I ate great and really have no desire to eat anything else but am more than willing to eat another banana to reach the 1200 goal unless being under by 100 or so is ok.

Coming off a way under calorie diet, I just want to make sure I error on the right side when I'm close. What should I be aiming for if I'm going to be close?? Go over a little or under a little?

AllTehBeers

You only have 2 days in your diary so it's hard to make any comments on how you're eating.

You should eat at least 1200 calories. If you exercise at all, you should be eating more.

What are you stats and goals?

clotho

1200 calories is a pretty low calorie goal so I would err on the side of going slightly over. Based on your food diary I would suggest adding some more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Also make sure you're eating your exercise calories back otherwise your still starving your body.

healthyliving_girl

I'll be honest. I was on the EAT MORE, EAT MORE - you crazy 1200 calorie people are insane - bandwagon. Throughout this process, for the most part, I have been eating at least 1600 calories a day, usually more because I often ate my exercise calories back. So, while losing the weight I wanted, I often ate 2000+ calories a day (on days I worked out), netting about 1600 on the lowest days.

And it worked. I lost 25 lbs that way.

Obviously, I altered WHAT I ate as well....but I didn't do that too much in the beginning. But then I got even "cleaner" with my diet, eating no processed foods and increasing my vegetable and fruit intake.

Now I can see how many people can eat 1200 when eating clean. 100 calories of veggies fills me up. A 100 calorie serving of goldfish does not.

So, in my opinion....I still think 1200 is on the low side, unless you are small framed and eat a clean diet. Average sized people eating 1200 while still eating junk food cannot be meeting their nutritional needs...and that will make it harder to achieve weight loss goals.

Just my opinion.