Under 1,200 calories...help? O.o

girlislosingit
girlislosingit Posts: 6
edited September 21 in Food and Nutrition
Okay so I eat EXTREMELY healthy everyday. I get lots of protein and vegetables and my needed carbs and such but my calorie intake when I put it here is ALWAYS under 1,200. I don't do it on purpose. I eat when I'm hungry and everything but it never gets to 1,200 calories. I also workout and everything. Do you guys think my body will go into starvation mode? D:

Replies

  • cbirdso
    cbirdso Posts: 465 Member
    Think back to the days when your eating led to being overweight. What did you eat then?
  • girlislosingit
    girlislosingit Posts: 6
    um I ate lots of sweets and crackers and everything. I ate big portion sizes too. By the way, I'm 5'2" and weigh 125 lbs. I want to go down to 110. Just in case if you were wondering hehe
  • MysticMaiden22
    MysticMaiden22 Posts: 324 Member
    Eat calorie-dense foods that are also healthy:

    brown rice
    beans
    nuts and seeds (peanuts, cashews, almonds...all have great monounsaturated fats and protein!)
    multi-grain breads (however Ezekiel bread is a great alternative)
  • balance9
    balance9 Posts: 160
    It's hard to eat EXTREMELY healthy on *JUST* 1200 calories a day, but it's possible. Less than 1200? I don't see how that's possible. And yes...your body will go into self-preservation (starvation) mode. The science on that is clear. One of those evolutionary safeguards that has kept us at the top of the food chain for so long! I'll take a look at your food diary if you like, but if you need help trying to eat 1200, let me know and I'll give you some ideas. I wish I could eat them FOR you:drinker:
  • girlislosingit
    girlislosingit Posts: 6
    yeah you may look at my food diary. do you need me to grant you access? I'm not sure how to do this since I'm new on this site
  • balance9
    balance9 Posts: 160
    Go to >>My Home>>Settings>>Diary Settings and you can make it public (anyone can look) or friends only. If you choose friends only, add me as a friend and message me and I'll take a look.
  • smuehlbauer
    smuehlbauer Posts: 1,041 Member
    Nuts and avocado are good higher fat foods.
    My food diary is open and I consider myself a pretty healthy eater.
    Steph
  • girlislosingit
    girlislosingit Posts: 6
    I eat all of these, it still doesn't really work because I don't get very hungry in between meals. My usual day consists of breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner. Every meal (except snacks) contain lots of protein rich foods such as tilapia(grilled), ground turkey, egg(boiled), chicken (grilled). I also have begetables along and beans sometimes. Rice I don't eat too regularly since it makes you get a gut hehe but yeah. I eat everything organic and whole wheat and everything. I eat almonds everyday too. Ah I don't know what to do
  • smuehlbauer
    smuehlbauer Posts: 1,041 Member
    Think back to the days when your eating led to being overweight. What did you eat then?

    Why would you suggest this?
    Being over weight is not eating healthy...
  • girlislosingit
    girlislosingit Posts: 6
    alright it's public. I've filled in my food for today because I planned it yesterday hehe. I like to plan things ahead of time
  • smuehlbauer
    smuehlbauer Posts: 1,041 Member
    what are you doing with the ground turkey?
    Are you eating it plain?
    Your fish, how are you cooking that? Are you using oil at all?
    Lemon?

    Condements? Are you using them?
    I'm thinking that there are more calories here than what you are logging. But that's just my guess.
    Steph
  • girlislosingit
    girlislosingit Posts: 6
    hmm true, I'm not using oil but I will today on my tilapia. I grill everything except the ground turkey. I make it picadillo but I don't use oil on it, when I do it's VERY little. I use onions sometimes or sometimes I put in little pieces of potatoes. I do use condiments like basil. I put lime on my tilapia and chicken all the time.
  • balance9
    balance9 Posts: 160
    Try adding oatmeal to your breakfast, or some other grain; and/or yogurt and fruit. Brown rice, quinoa, or another grain with lunch (mix it in with the turkey?). Add fruits...how about a fruit smoothie with some frozen berries and a protein (either yogurt or whey protein powder). You could add low-fat cheese sticks, nuts/seeds trail mix to your list of snacks.
  • Michellerw1
    Michellerw1 Posts: 367
    You need to add some veggies in there! That will of course kick up your calories even if it is only a little. And make sure EVERY ingredient that you are eating in your meals is logged. A squeeze of lime might not seem like much but it all adds up. There is a recipe calculator on here that is helpful as well.
  • cbirdso
    cbirdso Posts: 465 Member
    Think back to the days when your eating led to being overweight. What did you eat then?

    Why would you suggest this?
    Being over weight is not eating healthy...

    Guess I wasn't clear. I thought the question was "What do I need to eat to up my calories?' Adding back one or two your favorite foods would be a way to keep from eating too little going forward.
  • dgroulx
    dgroulx Posts: 159 Member
    That's not a problem. For a 5'2" frame you don't need to eat 1,200 calories per day. Those are round numbers. If you are smaller than average you don't need to eat that. My doctor and another nutritionist said that I only needed 800 calories per day. I'm also 5'2" and I'm eating about 900 a day right now.

    Before changing my diet, I was eating about 1,800 calories per day. This kept my weight around 240. Do what is right for you. Don't look at numbers made for the masses.
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    One thing I could see you doing is full fat instead of light. so drink 2% milk instead and eat full fat turkey breast, add some butter to your broccoli, or some mayo to your sandwiches. If you have salad add some non light dressing, or sprinkle some pine nuts on top. Use oil to cook your fish. I agree with a previous poster that a nice fruit smoothie sometime throughout the day would be nice.
  • LotusF1ower
    LotusF1ower Posts: 1,259 Member
    Okay so I eat EXTREMELY healthy everyday. I get lots of protein and vegetables and my needed carbs and such but my calorie intake when I put it here is ALWAYS under 1,200. I don't do it on purpose. I eat when I'm hungry and everything but it never gets to 1,200 calories. I also workout and everything. Do you guys think my body will go into starvation mode? D:

    Sling in a couple of pieces of fruit per day if it bothers you that much and unless you have around 5% body fat, in my opinion, no, you won't go into starvation mode, just keep your eye on your weight loss and fat % though.

    Your diet does look very healthy, good on you for that!

    Do yourself a favour though, don't try to top up your daily calorie intake with crappy foods, that would be a damn shame when you are planning your foods so meticulously.

    As I said, fruit might be a good option, oranges, strawberries, apples, pears etc.

    Hats off to you!
  • buggaboo73
    buggaboo73 Posts: 169
    Think back to the days when your eating led to being overweight. What did you eat then?

    Why would you suggest this?
    Being over weight is not eating healthy...

    Guess I wasn't clear. I thought the question was "What do I need to eat to up my calories?' Adding back one or two your favorite foods would be a way to keep from eating too little going forward.

    I thought it was clear. :wink:
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