Too few calories?

posypink

Hi guys,

I haven't been doing this that long, and I am not perfect by any means, I've been tracking my calories and some days I still go massively over - family occassions etc, but that is every now and again, but generally I find struggle to hit 1200 calories....

Can I ask, is it bad to not eat the 1200 calories, even if you are full?

It may sound like a daft question, I am losing weight slowly and healthily, so I am happy (33lb down, 11lb to go) but thought I would ask for opinions! :-)

Thanks,

Allie

jacksonpt

For any length of time, yes it is as you'll start to see unhealthy side effects.

Short term, it's fine.

TedStout

For any length of time, yes it is as you'll start to see unhealthy side effects.

Short term, it's fine.

Hit the nail on the head! You have to plan long term on stabalizing your diet, i.e.increasing your cals. I am kind of in the same boat. I eat when hungry but watch the cals. Slowly trying to increase them now to get to a stable amount.

BranMuffin947

I try to stick to 1200 a day, but sometimes it just doesn't work

Sometimes I go over & sometimes I don't make it ha but I don't beleive it's a problem because eventually it all balances out.

I think about it like this: Your body doesn't count calories at the end of the day, it's just like a constantly moving cycle so that in the end if your eating enough you'll feel good & if you eat too little - your body WILL tell you

It may actually be better to look at the week's totals instead of day-to-day

BellamyS

It is a fine balance and whereas I agree that you shouldn't consistently eat less than 1200 calories a day, I think you should also listen to what your body tells you.

If you haven't eaten your 1200 calories and you feel full or aren't hungry (and I don't mean you felt hungry and ignored it to the point that you no longer feel hungry any more) then that should be fine.

Also, if you are logging exercise and that is coming off your calorie total, if you don't eat ALL of your "gained" calories and you don't feel hungry then I think that should be okay :happy:

posypink

Thanks guys, maybe I should monitor it week by week as I said some days I go over, but I am usually around 1100/1000 calories for the day.

I feel better than I have ever felt since doing this, my skin is much clearer from the 2 litres of water I am drinking each day and I just feel "cleaner" and full of energy now.

I'll try and make sure I hit 1200 as I don't want to cause any long term damage and this is for life after all, not jus a fad diet...

Thank you for your support :flowerforyou: xx

posypink

It is a fine balance and whereas I agree that you shouldn't consistently eat less than 1200 calories a day, I think you should also listen to what your body tells you.

If you haven't eaten your 1200 calories and you feel full or aren't hungry (and I don't mean you felt hungry and ignored it to the point that you no longer feel hungry any more) then that should be fine.

Also, if you are logging exercise and that is coming off your calorie total, if you don't eat ALL of your "gained" calories and you don't feel hungry then I think that should be okay :happy:

Thanks Shirley! Yes I try to leave the "burnt" calories alone and that way they will stay off! I don't feel hungry or anything, and trust me I am a grump when hungry haha! And it's only little less each day than 1200... I just don't want to mess up my metabolism etc, but this isn't a diet, it's a "lifestyle choice" and I don't plan on eating how I used to/stopping the exercise! :-) xx :bigsmile:

BellamyS

Thats brilliant sweet pea! You keep going at it :-)

And I know EXACTLY what you mean by being a grump - Im exactly the same LOL

ChocoMello

If you struggle with eating more and beeing full you probably eat too kuch veg and fruit and to little fats and carbs?
Try adding good oil to everything like veg pasta rice meat and fisch, try fat fisch and maybe not the leanest meat.
Try eating nuts and full fat things its much better for you.
Your body needs good fats and you will get more calories in without feeling fuller.

TavistockToad

in the last week most days you net around 7-800 calories. personally i dont think this is a healthy way to go about losing weight, even if its short term.

learn healthy portion sizes and eating the amount your body needs to function properly, not just eating as liitle as possible so you lose weight.

look at your protein count especially as you want to lose fat not muscle.

wswilliams67

1200 is fine for a short period, but you really need to do your numbers. Also 1200 is fine if you have significant weight to shed, but again, do not make this your permanent intake level.

MFP is a tool. Even it barks at you when you eat less than 1200/day.

If you are exercising at a moderate level 1200 is not nearly enough food to sustain you long term.