Not enough calories

How many are you eating???

I really struggle eating my exercise calories. I work out a lot and it often adds 1k or more giving me 3k+ a day to find. I simply can't find 3 "healthy" meals a day with 1,000 calories for each meal...unless it was all junk and I'm not going down that route again.

Most of my main meals are between 400 to 600 and that is as close as I can get...

It depends on how many calories you are eating to begin with. You should generally try to get at least 1200 calories a day. I have some days where I eat a little less than that and MFP will give me that message. If you are working out and eating enough calories, that's a slightly different story - although many on here will advocate eating your exercise calories (I am one of them).

If you want to add calories to your diet, try eggs (or at least egg whites), yogurt, or even protein shakes. I've found a few that are good and they are usually about 200 calories each. Good luck!

Your body needs 1200 calories to function and that’s net calories so If you only eat 1000 and work out burning 300 your body is only getting 700 calories which will most likely put you into starvation mode after doing this for a prolonged period of time which will stop you will stop loosing weight.

** That being said, if you are petite, I know several individuals who do go under 1200 regularly and I’m not going to be a dictator and MAKE you eat 1200 but it’s a good idea to try to avoid starvation mode. Only you know your body but its highly recommended. To get out of starvation mode can be a bit** since you have to start upping your calories and will gain a couple lbs initially before your body gets out of that mind-set and you can resume weight loss.

A 5' 2", 19 year old female weighing approximately 100 pounds, sitting around all day and doing nothing:
-The heart needs 12% of the calories (144 cals)
-The kidney needs 12% of the calories (144 cals)
-The Liver needs 23% of the calories (276 cals)
-The brain needs 23% of the calories (276 cals)
-The skeletal muscle needs 30% of the calories (360 cals)

= 1200


Try to add nuts, oil, avocados, full-fat milk and yogurt to up your calories in a healthy way.

This has really been a struggle for me lately as well and I haven't even really been exercising! Many days I find that I am "full" and comfortable eating only 900-1100 calories. I understand that eating above starvation level is of importance but sometimes when I see at 8pm that I still have 400 calories or so it actually becomes tempting to binge eat.

It's strange because I feel like I am ALWAYS eating and that I eat so much but everyone around me says otherwise.

If you feel you are not getting enough calories then try planning and packing your food the night before. I spend about 15-30 minutes at night making and packing my choices for the next day to make sure I am on track while at my desk at work. It's easier for me to hit my personal goals and not splurge due to office temptations (darn cake!!!) or "starve" because there is nothing to eat.