HELP! I can't finish my workouts anymore!

So stop using a BMR for someone that isn't you.

You aren't eating enough. Food is fuel and nutritious food is necessary to propel you through a rigorous workout.

i think i have a problem now. i am literally crying because i have to eat 1500 calories today, and may not be able to work out

Why do you have to do insanity? Isn't there something else you can do that's not so intense?

pre workout powder!

only a week of undereating is enough to decrease my endurance levels?

Yes. A DAY of undereating is enough to decrease your endurance for that particular day.
You acknowledge that your undereating is a problem - That's the root problem you need to tackle before you start on anything else. It's one thing to be disciplined, but the military doesn't starve you for good reasons

Look at it this way -- you do not have that much weight to lose. It may feel like you do, but 20 lbs isn't a lot, especially since you say you're "skinny fat"; you likely have a normal BMI and just want to cut down on flab. I get it.

Try to have a long term approach to this whole thing. You'll be more sane through the process, and your progress will be sustainable because you haven't made drastic changes that will be difficult to keep up down the road. I'm sure it isn't fun being dizzy and scared of eating. So don't be!

Set a lower weight loss goal. Maintain a smaller caloric deficit. Allow yourself to eat more. If you're eating less than your total daily energy expenditure, you'll lose weight - I promise. You've got your whole life to be in better shape, you don't need to accomplish everything in a week.

Plus, if you have energy enough to keep up with workouts and remain active, you'll be healthier down the road. Healthy, active and losing weight slower is better than scared, dizzy, and unable to function while losing weight at whatever rate you are right now.

Be kind to your body. Hear us when we say that there are red flags here -- you NEED to have a healthier outlook on this whole thing.

You were the one who posted that you were eating WAY below BMR so if you just upped your calories last night I think you need to give yourself more time. I don't think it matters what your diary says as far as what you are eating, you were eating too low and your body suffered it needs to recover. So take a deep breath, relax, do what you can for exercise (maybe it might be a good idea to just do some walking for the next few days) and remember this is a marathon not a sprint --you'll get there.

i guess im upset because i used to have TONS of energy-when i wasn't dieting. but there is this thing in my head that is making me follow these weird rules.

i just wish i could do more. i feel like im lazy if i dont complete a workout. and fat if i eat outside my "special number" of calories

This sounds like an eating disorder to me.

Just checking out your food log I noticed your protein values are super low. If you are working out as much as you are, I'd aim for a daily protein number around 100-110. It will help melt the fat, keep the muscle and tone you up.

If this all is still making you cry, I think you need to sit back, relax and take a bubble bath. It isn't the end of the world and I bet a million dollars I'd kill to have the body you have right now.

Tomorrow is another day. Eat a high protein breakfast (around 20-25g), eat a high protein lunch and then workout about an hour later - I think balancing your calories throughout the day will help with your energy level.

im not a pansy lol. im just really militant about self discipline. i have military family so everyone is a drill sargent. i feel like i need to be strict on myself in everything to be the best.

No one ever called you a pansy! You are welcome to look at my diary - I'm at maintenance and don't eat awesomely all the time, but my protein is typically on the high side, which makes me less hungry, less *****y, and have more energy. Most weeks I try to plan my breakfasts so I'm eating eggs and turkey sausage, lunches so I have a salad with protein and greek yogurt and cottage cheese. Dinner, a protein and various veggies. Snacks, something high protein, seeing a pattern.

I have NO clue how someone that need to lose 20 pounds (like you claim) could have gotten to this place with out eating too much. And now you claim you CAN'T eat enough. This isn't rocket science, hun. I know you are afraid of gaining, but at this point you should be more concerned about the muscle mass you are losing by starving your body.

i was chubby as a kid, semi chubby as a teen, and skinny fat now. people think im 105 in clothes. my lower abdomen and hips have all the fat.


i don't want to eat how i was eating before. i was at 130 pounds almost 7 years now, eating what i wanted and not working out. so im guessing i was eating at a maintenance level of 130 pounds. i am trying to eat at a level for 110. not taking into account that i need MORE fuel to burn calories...its all so confusing

Insanity is not the right program for you. A high cardio program isn't going to help you if you are skinny fat. Start lifting weights, and if you don't have access to a gym do body weight excercies (squats, lunges, dips, push ups). Cardio just makes you a smaller version of you, lifting weights changes your shape.

Go to this thread and read it through: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

Use the links there to get to the tools for calculating your body fat %, BMR, healthy goal weight, activity level and TDEE. Go back to the thread and follow the instructions for manually changing your settings here at MFP for you daily calorie goal, and setting your macros (protein/fat/carbs - VERY important) - and then just follow the plan.

Food is fuel, your body is an amazing machine that needs fuel to function properly. Fuel it well, exercise it, let it rest, repeat, and it will do what it's supposed to - shed fat, build in some lean muscle, be strong and healthy.

your furnace cannot heat the house if it doesn't have enough fuel.

Insanity workouts require a lot of energy, and if you're running on empty, you simply cannot finish.
Energy pills are tricksey... they fool your body into thinking it has something it does not, and I can imagine that the crash you'd feel afterwards would be epic.

Try having even a small protein rich snack before you go to workout.
Add more protein to your diet.
Get adequate rest.
And try again.

if you try to fool your body with energy drinks and still refuse to fuel it accordingly, you are going to end up sick...

I've never had a problem finishing. If I were you I would go see a doctor. They will likely run some tests and find out what is going on.

your furnace cannot heat the house if it doesn't have enough fuel.

Insanity workouts require a lot of energy, and if you're running on empty, you simply cannot finish.
Energy pills are tricksey... they fool your body into thinking it has something it does not, and I can imagine that the crash you'd feel afterwards would be epic.

Try having even a small protein rich snack before you go to workout.
Add more protein to your diet.
Get adequate rest.
And try again.

if you try to fool your body with energy drinks and still refuse to fuel it accordingly, you are going to end up sick...

^^^^THIS^^^^^^

You've been the source of some interesting threads lately. Find some place else to troll!