Worried my Cals are too low...still

lucyhemming31
lucyhemming31 Posts: 36
in Health and Weight Loss
I have tried all the different calculators and this that and the other and they all come up with different things and I dont know which to run with though most seem to point to 1400 cals approx per day to loose weight.

I had been aiming for 1300 cals (MFP originally put me at 1200), I eat as much protein as possible, I do weights 3 x per week and 30 mins cardio 3 x per week.

The problem I am having is I never seem to make even 1200 cals per day. I have never been one for consuming large quantities of food, my weight gain was more down to eating the wrong type of food. I now eat fresh foods, I don't eat breads, hardly eat rice. My dairy comes from fat free greek yoghurt, cottage cheese and the odd cup of coffee. I eat loads of veg, fruit, fish, lentils and new potatoes every now and again. I have boiled eggs every morning too.

I am eating more now (quantity wise) then I did before, yes I am loosing weight and my strength is slowly increasing at the gym, I am never hungry but my worry is that I am not eating enough. I dont want to undernourish myself and I know I need to increase my calories for when I start my stronglifts programme in 4 weeks time. I try to incorporate more snacks on the exercise days and have one meal per week that I dont worry about too much (usually at saturday).

I am only 5'4 and spend 8 hours per day behind a desk so I am wandering if this is why I seem to need so few calories?? I have noticed recently I am more tired than usual..eek!

My diary should be open to view, if anyone fancied having a look and sharing any thoughts or advice I would be grateful.

Replies

  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Are you losing weight? ---> Yes ---> Are your energy levels good? ---> Yes ---> Keep doing what you're doing
    Are you losing weight? ---> Yes ---> Are your energy levels good? ---> No ---> Eat a little more
    Are you losing weight? ---> No ---> Are your energy levels good? ---> Yes ---> Eat a little less
    Are you losing weight? ---> No ---> Are your energy levels good? ---> No ---> Something else is going on, figure out what and start over.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    I have tried all the different calculators and this that and the other and they all come up with different things and I dont know which to run with though most seem to point to 1400 cals approx per day to loose weight.

    I had been aiming for 1300 cals (MFP originally put me at 1200), I eat as much protein as possible, I do weights 3 x per week and 30 mins cardio 3 x per week.

    The problem I am having is I never seem to make even 1200 cals per day. I have never been one for consuming large quantities of food, my weight gain was more down to eating the wrong type of food. I now eat fresh foods, I don't eat breads, hardly eat rice. My dairy comes from fat free greek yoghurt, cottage cheese and the odd cup of coffee. I eat loads of veg, fruit, fish, lentils and new potatoes every now and again. I have boiled eggs every morning too.

    I am eating more now (quantity wise) then I did before, yes I am loosing weight and my strength is slowly increasing at the gym, I am never hungry but my worry is that I am not eating enough. I dont want to undernourish myself and I know I need to increase my calories for when I start my stronglifts programme in 4 weeks time. I try to incorporate more snacks on the exercise days and have one meal per week that I dont worry about too much (usually at saturday).

    I am only 5'4 and spend 8 hours per day behind a desk so I am wandering if this is why I seem to need so few calories?? I have noticed recently I am more tired than usual..eek!

    My diary should be open to view, if anyone fancied having a look and sharing any thoughts or advice I would be grateful.

    If you've been tired since you're started losing weight, then you probably aren't eating enough.

    And I'm going to go ahead and say that eating the wrong types of food probably had nothing to do with your weight gain. Unless you're eating more calories than your body needs, you really won't gain weight. Why aren't you eating bread or rice? To lose weight? Because carbohydrates aren't the enemy. Eat a couple pieces of whole grain bread (many of them have fiber and protein) and you'll meet your calorie goal more easily.
  • lucyhemming31
    lucyhemming31 Posts: 36
    Ok..so I need to eat more. I was thinking of adding a pint of skimmed milk into each day - bump the cals and protein without ramming up the fat!!
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Your logging is extremely spotty. Your number 1 priority is to be consistent. Log everything.
  • lucyhemming31
    lucyhemming31 Posts: 36
    Yea my logging is a bit (a lot) pants :blushing: I really need to keep on top of it. I spend all day munching away and feel like I've eaten loads and then enter all my foods to find I am still under my goal calories :noway:

    I am bringing brown rice back into my diet but avoid bread as it gives me terrible bloating - it has always disagreed with me :ohwell:

    I used to go way over my calories on not a lot of food as I would eat things like Jacket potato with full fat cheese and LOTS of butter. healthy meals like bean chilli I would load with cheese and have garlic bread on the side. My salad of choice would have been caesar, again with lots of cheese!! I could happily sit and eat my way through a whole pack of dolcellate cheese and a french stick!!! :blushing:

    I looked at a packet of mixed nuts and fruits that I used to have for a snack and it contained just under 600 cals :frown: So now I seem to be eating more and still not hitting 1200 cals.

    The good thing is I used to get bad sugar level drops and would go all shaky and weak...that hasn't happened since I started to eat more fresh foods :smile: I also take multi vit supplement each day with added iron as I dont eat meat.

    I don't want this to turn into a crash diet but I just can't seem to hit my macros and I find it hard to get myself to eat if I'm not hungry :frown:

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