Having a hard time reaching my calorie goal?

Voca_Star
Voca_Star Posts: 140
in Health and Weight Loss
After following advice from Helloitsdan and finding out my TDEE (which turned out to be about 2600 calories) I've decided to try eating about 2000 a day and exercise 5 days a week (and eat 1500 on the days I don't exercise). But it seems I'm having some issues filling in those calories completely. I can usually get to 1600, maybe 1800 if I really push it.

I've tried eating anywhere from 800 calories to 1700 for weeks at a time (as in, 800 for a few weeks, 1200 for a few weeks, etc etc) and I haven't had any luck so I'm going to try this 2000 calorie thing for a couple weeks, and see how it does and keep an eye on my inches, too.

Is it alright if once in a while I treat myself to a little treat to help reach my calories? I won't go over my calorie limit, and I'll keep it in moderation. I burned a lot of calories today with exercising for an hour, and walking for at LEAST 45 minutes. I plan on playing some WII to burn more calories, too.

Thanks.
«13

Replies

  • Louiyen
    Louiyen Posts: 69
    i wish my calories intake can be that high. So what is your goal exactly besides reaching your caloric maintenance???
  • Voca_Star
    Voca_Star Posts: 140
    My goal is to lose weight.
  • Mechelle1967
    Mechelle1967 Posts: 24 Member
    I have the same problem as well. I am shooting for 1500 per day and am having a hard time reaching this goal. I'm not hungry between meals and try to eat every 3-4 hours. I've come close a couple of times, but I'm usually 200-500 calories short or more. I'm eating healthier and trying to stay away from simple carbs
  • Louiyen
    Louiyen Posts: 69
    To be honest, I don't follow that TDEE thing. My TDEE is around the same as yours. I never heard of anyone taking their TDEE in consideration until i came upon MFP. Try ignoring TDEE and do what you're doing now. Follow your MFP calorie goal and leave it at that.
  • Louiyen
    Louiyen Posts: 69
    Intermittent fasting would be perfect for you! Have you ever heard of that?
    >for mechelle
  • Voca_Star
    Voca_Star Posts: 140
    I've tried following my MFP goal before and it doesn't work. For a month I ate 1500 calories, and exercised 5 days a week and NOTHING happened.
  • Louiyen
    Louiyen Posts: 69
    I've tried following my MFP goal before and it doesn't work. For a month I ate 1500 calories, and exercised 5 days a week and NOTHING happened.

    It won't hurt but you can also try intermittent fasting. It helped me lose 3 lbs in 3 weeks but i have been plateaued for a couple of week now b/c i've been out of town and consuming too much alcohol but i'm back in it again.
  • Voca_Star
    Voca_Star Posts: 140
    Can't fast -- parents. Go figure. I don't know what to do anymore. I've been trying for so long and so hard. *sigh*
    I'm just gonna stick with this 2000 calorie thing for now I guess. >__<
  • danne32339
    danne32339 Posts: 155 Member
    I had gastric sleeve surgery in June and I am really having trouble meeting my calorie goal. There are several days that I get close but then I have some really busy days when I just don't get it all in.
  • Voca_Star
    Voca_Star Posts: 140
    It's hard, isn't it? Still doesn't answer my question *Sigh*
  • mgobluetx12
    mgobluetx12 Posts: 1,326 Member
    How tall are you? 2000 calories seems very high. My TDEE is 3049 and I eat 1400-1600 calories a day and am losing 2lbs per week pretty consistently.
  • BeantownSooner
    BeantownSooner Posts: 254
    OP a couple of questions for you.

    What are your current stats, height, weight, age, gender? I'm male and 210 and we're eating the same amount. I'm losing, you're not.

    Also, one quick thing on the diary is there a reason why you're tracking saturated fat? I would suggest you change that to sodium just so you can see what that looks like as it can often be an issue when trying to lose weight (water retention).

    Lastly, what are you Macro nutrient goals? It seems to bounce around a little and did you customize those when you set things up or did you just keep the MFP default settings?
  • SillyFitMe
    SillyFitMe Posts: 130 Member
    2,000-2,600 calories? That's a lot for most women (even with heavy exercise). Stick with 1,200 a day and your light exercise (walking routine) and it will come off. If you give it more than a month you will start to see results. It takes many months... Hang in there!
  • Voca_Star
    Voca_Star Posts: 140
    I'm 5'3". 140 pounds. I exercise 35 - 60 minutes a day PLUS other things like walking and chores and WII.
  • Voca_Star
    Voca_Star Posts: 140
    I'm 18 years old, female, 5'3" and 140 pounds.

    My macros are the same as MFP had it. I just track saturated fat for something else to track I guess.
  • mgobluetx12
    mgobluetx12 Posts: 1,326 Member
    I see in your diary that you pretty consistently go over on fat, protein and sugar. Fat and sugar are not things you want to be over your limits if you're trying to lose weight!

    Maybe you need to recalculate your goals and set up something like 40% carbs, 30% fat and 30% protein so you're not always going over. If you have 300-500 calories left at the end of the day and have usually eaten over on fat and protein, something is wrong.

    You should probably also cut down on the sweets. I saw you ate Twix for breakfast one day. There are so many better choices and losing weight is about exactly that.
  • Voca_Star
    Voca_Star Posts: 140
    I eat 2000 a day. Not 2600. 1200 puts my body in starvation mode. I've tried it numerous times and it does NOT work for me.
  • Voca_Star
    Voca_Star Posts: 140
    I didn't eat it ONLY for breakfast, I had a couple with. A little treat once in a while doesn't hurt.
    I know i exceed on the fat thing a lot, and protein, but it's because of all the peanut butter I eat. I try to get a lot of protein and low carbs so peanut butter helps. I'm working on reducing my sugar, too. *sigh*
  • palmerig88
    palmerig88 Posts: 623 Member
    Everyone keeps trying to tell her not to eat and she is trying to eat! Yeah I think treats are great :) maybe you can just watch your fat and some other macro and see if the treat fits into your overall nutritional goals for the day
  • palmerig88
    palmerig88 Posts: 623 Member
    And twix. Yum :)
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    To be honest, I don't follow that TDEE thing. My TDEE is around the same as yours. I never heard of anyone taking their TDEE in consideration until i came upon MFP. Try ignoring TDEE and do what you're doing now. Follow your MFP calorie goal and leave it at that.

    Most of your top fitness coaches go off TDEE.
  • Voca_Star
    Voca_Star Posts: 140
    I've tried eating itty bitty amounts and it doesn't work for me! Great if it does for others, but it does NOT do for me. I've never lost weight under 1400 calories.
  • simplynaturalfarm
    simplynaturalfarm Posts: 73 Member
    I wish I had a hard time reaching that goal ;) I do not indulge in sugar or flour or most grain products (now and then a soaked baked oatmeal yum). We raise all our own lovely meats and have a huge garden so we eat fruits, veggies, meats, cheese (we have a milk cow), and such. I can get to 2200 rather easily but that includes 4tbsp of coconut oil per day. And we cook in real butter, have cottage cheese, fresh mozza - lots of healthy dairy around.
    My breakfast would be a raw dairy shake with milk, coconut oil, yogurt, blueberries and strawberries. or fresh peaches, cranberries etc. DH sometimes throws in a raw egg I don't usually. THat gets me to 400.
    My lunch is 2 eggs, a big pile of veggies (usually sauteed spinach and or zucchini with garlic or a stir fry) avocado if I'm in a splurge mood, and maybe one slice of our own home cured side pork or homemade healthy sausage. It usually gets me to 600.
    Supper is often a steak or bunless burger (grassfed and delicious) with a couple slices of delicious tomato, a big salad with sweet carrots, lettuce, maybe some cooked beets (if I have extra calories that is), a pickle or two, saurkraut or some homegrown chicken on a salad with a balsamic or coconut vinegar dressing, or zucchini soup or with a Greek salad etc. I go salad if I need to cut back on calories, sauteed veggies and bunless burger with melted cheese, tomato and lettuce if I have extra calories.
    My husband has blood pressure problems and gains weight if he does not eat this way. I have switched because I feel better when I do and because I raise it all and feel confident in it's source and the health.
    I'm a huge eat "healthy fats" kind of gal also and that puts the calories up there but in a good way. :)
    I stick to 2200 but the coconut oil takes 4 tbsp right there.
    What are you eating?
  • Voca_Star
    Voca_Star Posts: 140
    I'm sorry, this may seem like a weird question, but....is that picture on your weight loss ticker a Cloud Strife cosplay?? :O
  • mgobluetx12
    mgobluetx12 Posts: 1,326 Member
    If you want to eat low carb, then go into My Home, Goals and set your goals up differently. I think MFP has everyone set up to eat something like 50% carbs, but you need to change that to much lower, depending on what you want to eat.

    Maybe buy some low sugar, natural peanut butter instead of Skippy.

    Treats are fine, but really not every day if you're already over on fat and sugar.
  • Voca_Star
    Voca_Star Posts: 140
    Look at my diary, lol. I'm trying to eat less sugar and more fruits/vegetables right now though.
  • Voca_Star
    Voca_Star Posts: 140
    I usually don't eat them every day.
    I'll try to fix my carbs, lol. Thanks. *sigh*
  • Louiyen
    Louiyen Posts: 69
    I eat 2000 a day. Not 2600. 1200 puts my body in starvation mode. I've tried it numerous times and it does NOT work for me.

    you're body goes into starvation mode between 48-72 hours.
  • angelalf1979
    angelalf1979 Posts: 244 Member
    Didn't he (helloitsdan) suggest working out only 3 days a week and 10-20% of your calories be "junk"?
  • Voca_Star
    Voca_Star Posts: 140
    Yes, I know. But if I eat that much for a week, I start to GAIN weight and fat. I can't lose weight eating that little.

Categories