Calorie Rant

Alphawolf02

So, this is just a little rant and feel free to add your own rants below. I have been using MFP for over a year now and doing great. Up until a few weeks ago I never had any problem getting too close to my calorie limit, but now, I usually end up with less than 100 calories at the end of the day. But, in my opinion, I am actually eating healthier than I was before! I have increased my fruit intake and probably have 4-5 servings of fruit a day or more. I have fruit with breakfast, lunch, and snacks throughout the day. My usual daily meals are as follows:
Breakfast - cereal (total, chex, Cheerios), low-fat organic milk, banana, fresh fruit smoothie made with low-fat yogurt (occasionally)
Lunch - sandwich (100 cal bread, turkey, lettuce, spinach) or salad (I use low cal dressing and only a little), apple, banana, raisins, goldfish
Dinner - under 500 calories
Snacks - fruit (lately grapes or pineapple and I eat a lot of it!), 90 cal granola bars, and usually a small bowl of light ice cream for dessert sometimes with a banana or strawberries

So, I don't think I am eating horribly at all. But, I usually have zero leeway with my calories throughout the day. I try and fill out my diary in the morning so I know exactly what I will be eating and how many calories I will have left at the end of the day. I tend to get the munchies during the day so I usually snack on the left over raisins/goldfish that I didn't finish for lunch.

Does anyone else have this issue? Do you think that you are eating really healthy and happy that you have decided to incorporate a lot more fruit into your diet but are now on the verge of going over your calories? Because I do! Ugh, okay, rant over. Going to make my healthy salad for lunch today.

kellehbeans

You eat goldfish?! Am I grabbing the wrong end of the stick, or do you actually mean the swimming kind?

I don't tend to worry if I am -50/+50 of my calorie goal. As long as my weekly deficit looks good, I'm doing fine.

m4ttcheek

What's the problem your having?

GeekAmour

Try more veggies instead of so much fruit - dried fruit in particular like raisins or sultanas are really high in sugar & are calorie dense; cherry tomatoes or baby cucumbers make good snacks, celery/carrot sticks etc. You can definately over do the fruit, a couple of serves a day should be sufficient.

drvvork

I don't tend to worry if I am -50/+50 of my calorie goal. As long as my weekly deficit looks good, I'm doing fine.

same here

PeauxPeaux

I am sure he means the little cheese-y gold colored crackers shaped like fish LOL.


HERE IS MY RANT!!!! GRRRRR: Our fridge died. The new fridge was on back order because of the way the kitchen is configured. We only found ONE fridge at Sears and Home Depot that woudl actualyl fit, and it was on backorder.

NO fridge for 9 days.

Okay know, first world problems, right? But...

I have completely plateau-ed. It is VERY hard to maintain great healthy eating with no fridge. I am sure I have consumed 12 pounds of sodium, and we are eating more take out and eating out more...SO far I have nto gained (which is a miracle) but I am SO frustrated to be on PAUSE until I get a fridge again!

kellehbeans

I am sure he means the little cheese-y gold colored crackers shaped like fish LOL.

I've never heard of them! They sound yummy. :laugh:

torymichaels

::snort:: Do y'all not have children? How can you not know what goldfish crackers are?!

Heh. Wish I didn't, but the chocolate ones are pretty good (not that I've had any in at least a year, but mmm, chocolate!).

hazeldawn79

If can keep to -100/+100 calories i'm happy haven't lost loads watching my calories but it's slowly coming off.

kellehbeans

::snort:: Do y'all not have children? How can you not know what goldfish crackers are?!

Heh. Wish I didn't, but the chocolate ones are pretty good (not that I've had any in at least a year, but mmm, chocolate!).

I'm from the UK, that could explain it. :laugh:

Donna_Houghton

As I interpret it, your calorie goal is exactly that... A goal. So this means that the closer to zero you are, the better.

It's tempting to think that the less you eat, the faster you lose weight. But it's not necessarily true and as you say yourself, you feel you are eating healthier now so why not stick with what you are doing?

I think your healthy lifestyle changes qualify as a success! Well done :flowerforyou:

tami101

I think you're supposed to get as close to your goal as possible. That's why it is a goal. At least that's how I understood it.

Springfield_Rocks

So, this is just a little rant and feel free to add your own rants below. I have been using MFP for over a year now and doing great. Up until a few weeks ago I never had any problem getting too close to my calorie limit, but now, I usually end up with less than 100 calories at the end of the day. But, in my opinion, I am actually eating healthier than I was before! I have increased my fruit intake and probably have 4-5 servings of fruit a day or more. I have fruit with breakfast, lunch, and snacks throughout the day. My usual daily meals are as follows:
Breakfast - cereal (total, chex, Cheerios), low-fat organic milk, banana, fresh fruit smoothie made with low-fat yogurt (occasionally)
Lunch - sandwich (100 cal bread, turkey, lettuce, spinach) or salad (I use low cal dressing and only a little), apple, banana, raisins, goldfish
Dinner - under 500 calories
Snacks - fruit (lately grapes or pineapple and I eat a lot of it!), 90 cal granola bars, and usually a small bowl of light ice cream for dessert sometimes with a banana or strawberries

So, I don't think I am eating horribly at all. But, I usually have zero leeway with my calories throughout the day. I try and fill out my diary in the morning so I know exactly what I will be eating and how many calories I will have left at the end of the day. I tend to get the munchies during the day so I usually snack on the left over raisins/goldfish that I didn't finish for lunch.

Does anyone else have this issue? Do you think that you are eating really healthy and happy that you have decided to incorporate a lot more fruit into your diet but are now on the verge of going over your calories? Because I do! Ugh, okay, rant over. Going to make my healthy salad for lunch today.

if you find that you keep coming up short on cals, then try eating some almonds or other nut. even better, try adding in some extra protien, like a hard boild egg, chicken, tofu.

sounds like you are doing great! keep up the good work.

GeekAmour

So, this is just a little rant and feel free to add your own rants below. I have been using MFP for over a year now and doing great. Up until a few weeks ago I never had any problem getting too close to my calorie limit, but now, I usually end up with less than 100 calories at the end of the day. But, in my opinion, I am actually eating healthier than I was before! I have increased my fruit intake and probably have 4-5 servings of fruit a day or more. I have fruit with breakfast, lunch, and snacks throughout the day. My usual daily meals are as follows:
Breakfast - cereal (total, chex, Cheerios), low-fat organic milk, banana, fresh fruit smoothie made with low-fat yogurt (occasionally)
Lunch - sandwich (100 cal bread, turkey, lettuce, spinach) or salad (I use low cal dressing and only a little), apple, banana, raisins, goldfish
Dinner - under 500 calories
Snacks - fruit (lately grapes or pineapple and I eat a lot of it!), 90 cal granola bars, and usually a small bowl of light ice cream for dessert sometimes with a banana or strawberries

So, I don't think I am eating horribly at all. But, I usually have zero leeway with my calories throughout the day. I try and fill out my diary in the morning so I know exactly what I will be eating and how many calories I will have left at the end of the day. I tend to get the munchies during the day so I usually snack on the left over raisins/goldfish that I didn't finish for lunch.

Does anyone else have this issue? Do you think that you are eating really healthy and happy that you have decided to incorporate a lot more fruit into your diet but are now on the verge of going over your calories? Because I do! Ugh, okay, rant over. Going to make my healthy salad for lunch today.

if you find that you keep coming up short on cals, then try eating some almonds or other nut. even better, try adding in some extra protien, like a hard boild egg, chicken, tofu.

sounds like you are doing great! keep up the good work.

I don't think the OP wants to up their calories, but was concerned they might go over.

Sunnyjb

RANT! I keep buying stuff I don't want in my house because my daughter's have puppy eyes

TedStout

Really see no issue here. If you are around that calorie goal, theoretically you will lose weight. If there is one thing I have learned on here...everyone is different. They lose weight differently. They have different goals and different viewpoints. Mine...eat. Eat what you want, just watch the portions. As long as you continue to work towards your goal, you will be fine.

TedStout

RANT! I keep buying stuff I don't want in my house because my daughter's have puppy eyes

Laugh! And then you are forced to eat it just because, right? I think many can relate. If there is a potato chip in the house, I will find it and eventually I WILL eat it!

tuckerrj

Are you exercising? Are you eating some, or all of your exercise calories back? When I feel like I've not eaten enough and I'm nearly out of calories for the day, I go for a walk, or spend some time on my elliptical. That way I can "add" to my allowable food calories for the day.

Remember, MFP has already built in the appropriate deficit for you to lose weight. So not having many calories left over at the end of the day, is okay.

3LittleMonkeys

I am not following you here. Are you not losing weight and still need to?

AbnormalYak

What is your calorie goal? MFP is notorious for sometimes giving people a calorie goal of less than 1200cals, which isn't healthy or advisable. If your daily calorie goal is less than that, don't worry about not hitting it. Just try to stick to 1200 for a few weeks and see if you are losing weight on that. If you are, it's all good.

One other thing, do you do any exercise and if so do you eat your "earned" calories? I'd advise doing that.

NutellaAddict

Why don't we start from the bottom like your stats, height, weight, age, goal weight and all that.

cwolfman13

Ummmm....you're supposed to eat up to your calorie GOAL. It has a built in deficit to lose weight already, you don't have to shoot under it...it's not maintenance. It's a goal...a goal is something to be achieved...why are you trying to be an underachiever by eating under your goal and making your deficit bigger?

ladyraven68

So, this is just a little rant and feel free to add your own rants below. I have been using MFP for over a year now and doing great. Up until a few weeks ago I never had any problem getting too close to my calorie limit, but now, I usually end up with less than 100 calories at the end of the day. But, in my opinion, I am actually eating healthier than I was before! I have increased my fruit intake and probably have 4-5 servings of fruit a day or more. I have fruit with breakfast, lunch, and snacks throughout the day. My usual daily meals are as follows:
Breakfast - cereal (total, chex, Cheerios), low-fat organic milk, banana, fresh fruit smoothie made with low-fat yogurt (occasionally)
Lunch - sandwich (100 cal bread, turkey, lettuce, spinach) or salad (I use low cal dressing and only a little), apple, banana, raisins, goldfish
Dinner - under 500 calories
Snacks - fruit (lately grapes or pineapple and I eat a lot of it!), 90 cal granola bars, and usually a small bowl of light ice cream for dessert sometimes with a banana or strawberries

So, I don't think I am eating horribly at all. But, I usually have zero leeway with my calories throughout the day. I try and fill out my diary in the morning so I know exactly what I will be eating and how many calories I will have left at the end of the day. I tend to get the munchies during the day so I usually snack on the left over raisins/goldfish that I didn't finish for lunch.

Does anyone else have this issue? Do you think that you are eating really healthy and happy that you have decided to incorporate a lot more fruit into your diet but are now on the verge of going over your calories? Because I do! Ugh, okay, rant over. Going to make my healthy salad for lunch today.

I don't understand what your question is.

Your calorie goal is a target , not a limit.

If you are getting close to zero calories remaining, that is excellent.
(providing it's the right calorie goal to start with)

CarmenSRT

OP, according to your profile page you are a whopping two pounds from goal. At that point it is definitely time to start eating at the calorie level needed to maintain that goal weight. It probably won't give you gobs of extra calories, but that is the calorie level you need to learn to live with. :drinker:

dsjohndrow

I would say granola bars and Goldfish are wasted calories. Add more veggies. Something simple like celery with lemon juice you can eat a lot of. I also like carrots and hummus.

Truthfully salads get boring. Why not take a Sunday afternoon every other week and bake or grill some chicken breast, put it in a tub with 2 cups of your favorite steamed veggies and you have a better lunch. Bread on the amount of calories you are eating is really not filling. If you like fruit, get some Greek yogurt and put in whatever you like best. My favorite is a banana with a some frozen berries, a few walnuts and and some cried cranberries.

Sunnyjb

RANT! I keep buying stuff I don't want in my house because my daughter's have puppy eyes

Laugh! And then you are forced to eat it just because, right? I think many can relate. If there is a potato chip in the house, I will find it and eventually I WILL eat it!

lol, no, I don't eat it... I can't ... it's gluten filled demon food

Sunnyjb

New rant.... people who think they know more than EVERYONE on this forum.

dgbrash2

So far, I've been on MFP for about 10 weeks, and set my goal to 1 pound loss per week (approx 1600-1700 cals per day). Most days I get 'close' to my target calories, but usually go a little over. So far, that seems to not be an issue, as I have lost 11 pounds in 10 weeks. I watch the total calorie intake and portion size. I honestly think the one thing that has helped me the most is to drink plenty of water. I've noticed that when I hydrate better, I don't get as hungry during the day. On occasion, if I feel hungry late in the day, I'll eat something extra, and it doesn't seem to hurt the weight loss. And usually it's a no-no like a small piece of chocolate, or small scoop of ice cream, even! I don't gorge, just eat enough to squelch the hunger. For me, it works.

jen_zz

RANT! I keep buying stuff I don't want in my house because my daughter's have puppy eyes

Laugh! And then you are forced to eat it just because, right? I think many can relate. If there is a potato chip in the house, I will find it and eventually I WILL eat it!

Me!

Sunnyjb

So far, I've been on MFP for about 10 weeks, and set my goal to 1 pound loss per week (approx 1600-1700 cals per day). Most days I get 'close' to my target calories, but usually go a little over. So far, that seems to not be an issue, as I have lost 11 pounds in 10 weeks. I watch the total calorie intake and portion size. I honestly think the one thing that has helped me the most is to drink plenty of water. I've noticed that when I hydrate better, I don't get as hungry during the day. On occasion, if I feel hungry late in the day, I'll eat something extra, and it doesn't seem to hurt the weight loss. And usually it's a no-no like a small piece of chocolate, or small scoop of ice cream, even! I don't gorge, just eat enough to squelch the hunger. For me, it works.

You should drink 1 oz of water per pound of body weight

melindasuefritz

What's the problem your having?