Need help with calorie intake

Makoce
Makoce Posts: 938 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Currently I'm trying to stay on track with 1,200 calories a day for the past 5 days.
(Im between 5'3 - 5'4. About 175lbs, and 20 years old )
Mostly fruits, tuna, and other stuff. Not necessarily the healthiest other stuff, but decent. ( I hate vegetables ).
I slip up a lot, but I still stay on my budget.
I just bought Jillian Michaels 30 day shred today. Thinking of starting it tonight, but probably tomorrow since I heard cardio makes you hungry, and i only have about 150 calories left for today.

Should I be upping my calorie intake for this program, or keeping it the same since it isn't necessarily all healthy food.

Replies

  • ellerbabe331
    ellerbabe331 Posts: 1 Member
    Stick with the same amount of calories if you want to really boost your weight loss.
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    Figure out how much you will burn with the program and eat that much more - MFP will do the math for you. To change what you are eating, make one goal at a time. I suggest you make your first goal to add veggies!

    Have fun with the new workout!
  • Conorfitz92
    Conorfitz92 Posts: 107
    1200 calories is very low, no wonder you feel hungry! Find out your TDEE and work from there.
  • Makoce
    Makoce Posts: 938 Member
    Stick with the same amount of calories if you want to really boost your weight loss.

    I thought that would help. But Im not use to eating this little amount of calories. I was use to binge eating.
    Im hungry/out of energy with this lack of calorie intake. So Im wondering if the workout is going to make it worse.
    Went to the gym yesterday and felt exhausted, couldnt finish my workout.
    1200 calories is very low, no wonder you feel hungry! Find out your TDEE and work from there.

    Did a site, it came out to about 2,500 - 2,700 depending on how many times a week I do it.
    That seems like a lot. Hm.
  • Conorfitz92
    Conorfitz92 Posts: 107
    Trust me 1200 is very low and it'll damage your metabolism over time. Take 500 cals off the TDEE, eat that for a while, watching the scales and record your weight, adjust from there.
  • Makoce
    Makoce Posts: 938 Member
    Trust me 1200 is very low and it'll damage your metabolism over time. Take 500 cals off the TDEE, eat that for a while, watching the scales and record your weight, adjust from there.

    So, like 2,000 calories?
    I get so confused over all this stuff.
    A lot of apps I have tell me 1,200, some tell me 1,400.
    I dont know what to believe, haha.
  • Ashiieepuff
    Ashiieepuff Posts: 90
    Well the more you exercise the more you're supposed to eat. So if you burn 500 calories, you should be eating 1700 calories. But without exercising, try raising it anywhere from 1350 to 1590 calories. You will still lose weight, especially if it gives you the strength to finish your workouts. That's what I, and many others here did. 1200 calories is very low and it sucks!
  • Makoce
    Makoce Posts: 938 Member
    I always thought the point of exercising was to burn calories and not eat them back.
    I have a lot to learn, hah!
  • Conorfitz92
    Conorfitz92 Posts: 107
    Trust me 1200 is very low and it'll damage your metabolism over time. Take 500 cals off the TDEE, eat that for a while, watching the scales and record your weight, adjust from there.

    So, like 2,000 calories?
    I get so confused over all this stuff.
    A lot of apps I have tell me 1,200, some tell me 1,400.
    I dont know what to believe, haha.

    All of them are just estimates, a starting point! The real results come from monitoring your own weight. If you eat 2000 cals for the week, you then step on the scales a see you dropped a pound, then you know you're doing it properly. If you notice you stop losing weight, take 200/300 cals off and repeat.
  • gbbhey
    gbbhey Posts: 188
    Trust me 1200 is very low and it'll damage your metabolism over time. Take 500 cals off the TDEE, eat that for a while, watching the scales and record your weight, adjust from there.

    So, like 2,000 calories?
    I get so confused over all this stuff.
    A lot of apps I have tell me 1,200, some tell me 1,400.
    I dont know what to believe, haha.

    All of them are just estimates, a starting point! The real results come from monitoring your own weight. If you eat 2000 cals for the week, you then step on the scales a see you dropped a pound, then you know you're doing it properly. If you notice you stop losing weight, take 200/300 cals off and repeat.

    This. And that. And this. If jumping from 1200 to 2000 is too much, shoot for 1800. Then as the exercise grows, so will your appetite.
  • deniseblossoms
    deniseblossoms Posts: 373 Member
    http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/

    You could use a calculator like this one above. Just plug in your numbers, if you use your current weight in both boxes it will give you your estimated TDEE. Try starting with a 20% cut from that number.
  • Makoce
    Makoce Posts: 938 Member
    Thanks guys! You're helpful!!

    I just feel so rushed, because Im flying to CA to see my boyfriend. I havent seen him in a year, and Ive gained so much weight since then. So I only have 5 months to get rid of most of it. I decided to start this stuff a little too late, it feels like.
  • alaskanaomi
    alaskanaomi Posts: 36
    I have a hard time eating my vegetables, too. I started juicing and you'd be AMAZED at how many vegetables you can get in one glass of juice, and it doesn't taste half bad.
  • abpal63
    abpal63 Posts: 1 Member
    If you do not eat veggies you will probably struggle with you weight all the time. Try eating your veggies raw if you can and maybe you will aquire a taste for them
  • Makoce
    Makoce Posts: 938 Member
    I dont eat them just because I dont like the taste. But maybe I could look into juicing certain things and just chugging it down.

    I eat fruits like crazy though, will that help?


    Also for the calorie discussion, does having a very slow metabolism play a part?
  • Ashiieepuff
    Ashiieepuff Posts: 90
    If you eat too few calories your body will assume you're staving and slow the metabolism down which you do not want. Exercise and feed your body right, without over indulging and the weight will take care of itself. I lost 40 pounds by eating 1500, and only recently changed it to 1200 because I hit a pause and wanted to kick start it for the last five pounds.
  • Makoce
    Makoce Posts: 938 Member
    Ive been finding it hard to make it to 1,200 calories on healthy foods. Mostly because they're low calorie.
    Im a very picky eater. What are some higher calorie healthy foods if Im going to go up to 1,500 or so?
  • unicornhug
    unicornhug Posts: 68 Member
    nuts :) almonds, cashews etc. and avocados... avocados are really high in calories but have only good nutrients and healthy fatty acids
  • unicornhug
    unicornhug Posts: 68 Member
    chicken, fish...
  • Energizer06
    Energizer06 Posts: 311 Member
    Its not impossible to do a 1200 calorie plan. I'm male 5'9 181 lbs on a 1340 calorie plan leaning for 155lbs goal at 2lbs loss per week. I eat approx 1800-1900 carlories but I have high intensity workouts burning 400-600 calories. If you have no energy cutomize your goals and set up a 40% carb 30% protein and 30% fat. That should give you a nice boost in energy. If you eating tuna and many other Proteins with little carbs then you must be exhausted. This will help you through your workouts....best if you can eat a higher carb meal or snack 60 min prior to your workout...but not a must. Whatever you do...don't go below your NET 1200 calories. Everyone is right...The more calories your burn the more you get to eat (healthly). If you can afford $60 for a fit bit zip...I recommend it. You can link it to your MFP account and fitbit .com will track what you burn while adjusting your exercise and food on MFP. Good luck and we are all rooting for you!!:smile:
  • Makoce
    Makoce Posts: 938 Member
    Well instead of 1,200 calories I went up to 1,330 for today. I'm in bed and my stomach is gurgling and burning! Thinking I'm still hungry? Might need to bring up my calories, you guys are right...

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