Trouble meeting minimum calories
CBrook04
Posts: 107
I have my calories set at 1500. I try to stay between a min of 1200 a max of 1500. Some days I find myself having trouble with meeting the minimum 1200 calories ever since I am making sure I get my 8 glasses of water a day. (always sipping throughout the day) because I don't feel hungry. Should I eat even though I don't feel hungry? 
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Replies
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If you're set at 1500 you really should be eating as close to that as possible. Avocados, nuts and nut butters, dried fruit, olive oil, butter, all those things pack a calorie punch in small portion sizes.0
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If you're set at 1500 you really should be eating as close to that as possible. Avocados, nuts and nut butters, dried fruit, olive oil, butter, all those things pack a calorie punch in small portion sizes.
I'm a picky eater so I'm not open to all options. Nuts are a great start though, I'll have to throw them in with my lunch.0 -
If you are a couple hundred calories below that's ok. Don't skip meals though. Eat a light salad, soup broth, fruit, raw veggies. Keep going w/ the water. You need it. Hope this helps.0
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If you're eating a nutritionally balanced diet do not eat just to eat.0
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If you are a couple hundred calories below that's ok. Don't skip meals though. Eat a light salad, soup broth, fruit, raw veggies. Keep going w/ the water. You need it. Hope this helps.
As long as you are getting enough nutrients, it doesn't matter when you eat. Some people here are doing very well on programs that integrate fasting.0 -
1.5 kilos of strawberries0
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I'd take a multi-vitamin to fill in any gaps from the deficit. Also, have a tablespoon or two of PB if you're short calories, it'll give you lots of healthy fats and is very calorie-dense for when you're not hungry, but need the boost.
Good luck!0 -
I appreciate hearing other peoples' advice. Some days I'm only 50 calories below my target, but today I just finished dinner at 860 of 1400. Multivitamins can help, but I'm way below my protein.0
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I'm struggling with this same issue !!
I eat pretty clean and have cut back on bread and carbs ( of that nature ) along with no processed junk food ( shelf life food) and I'm hardly ever meeting my minimum for the day !! I may just go spoon the peanut butter lol!! 0 -
I have been here over 800 days and I still can't grasp how people can't meet their calorie goal! My lowest days in the past 2 + years were probably still over 1,000 and it would have been when I had the flu! There was one day where I had zero calories that I know of because I was in the hospital having brain surgery and was on IV fluids. Definitely went over 24 hours without eating then!
That said, don't force yourself to eat if you are low occasionally! Don't make a habit of being so far under though. I always find that if I have a low-ish day I always end up being over the next. It all evens out. Look at the numbers over the course of the week and it probably evens out pretty well!0 -
Advice from my personal trainer is to DRINK your calories....and I dont mean a chocolate milk shake from Burger King..lol..she recommened making a smoothie with some milk/yogurt....or even a glass of chocolate milk is a decent way to intake some calories but without eating junk....
Something to consider when your low on calories 0 -
Another point to consider is that if you are working out, your target will be higher that your base target of 1500.
Look at what you are eating and eat full versions of things, not low fat / "diet" etc. Eat reasonable portions.
As already suggested, nuts, peanut butter, proteins - things that are calorie dense. Having some carbs is good - eg potato/vegies - (less sodium than bread etc).
Now and then I don't hit my target but I usually do, with the help of things like cake - I am not on a "diet" so eat normal foods but manage them. My target is 1300 at the moment.
Also depends how much you have to lose - if you have a lot of weight to lose it probably doesn't matter so much if you don't hit your target - but if you only have a little to lose then it is more important to stay close to target.0 -
I'm not trying to be snarky, but how did you end up with 70+ pounds to lose if you can't bring yourself to eat 1500 calories? Which I assume is a good deficit to lose with for you.0
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You beat me to it!!I'm not trying to be snarky, but how did you end up with 70+ pounds to lose if you can't bring yourself to eat 1500 calories? Which I assume is a good deficit to lose with for you.0 -
You beat me to it!!I'm not trying to be snarky, but how did you end up with 70+ pounds to lose if you can't bring yourself to eat 1500 calories? Which I assume is a good deficit to lose with for you.
ditto0 -
sweet. another thread where someone can't eat the equivalent of a quarter pounder with cheese, medium fries, and a medium coke over the course on an entire day.
give it your best shot OP. i'm sure you can find a way to get to 1500 calories if you really put your all into it.0 -
Maybe you can catch up the following day. Sometimes when I workout I get hungry the following day but not the same day. Look at it as a week at a time instead of a day at a time. That might help.0
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Hey Folks, I've just started this and I'm having a hard time getting past 950 calories although I am allowed 1200. This is why: I'm learning to stay under my fat/sugar/carb ratios and when I stay under those ratios my caloric intake suffers! This is because I'm also learning how to balance my meals, and what the different food values are. For those of you who've been at it for a while or who have the knowledge/ability to successfully meet your caloric intake and stay within your other ratios: please share instead of snark. I would find that most supportive and I'm sure so would others. I only have 19 lbs post pregnancy to loose, but much knowledge to gain. Oh yeah. One more thing: some folks are allergic to nuts, can't eat yeast/ corn or their derivatives: this too makes balancing your diet a bigger challenge. My issue isn't weight loss, it is healthier eating/ balance and that is why I use this app. If you can't post support, why bother posting?0
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You beat me to it!!I'm not trying to be snarky, but how did you end up with 70+ pounds to lose if you can't bring yourself to eat 1500 calories? Which I assume is a good deficit to lose with for you.
ditto
I know what it is. I think it's when they decide to eat all the healthy foods and it's hard to cram that much celery and carrots into oneself if you don't wanna allow yourself a cheeseburger.0 -
Hey Folks, I've just started this and I'm having a hard time getting past 950 calories although I am allowed 1200. This is why: I'm learning to stay under my fat/sugar/carb ratios and when I stay under those ratios my caloric intake suffers! This is because I'm also learning how to balance my meals, and what the different food values are. For those of you who've been at it for a while or who have the knowledge/ability to successfully meet your caloric intake and stay within your other ratios: please share instead of snark. I would find that most supportive and I'm sure so would others. I only have 19 lbs post pregnancy to loose, but much knowledge to gain. Oh yeah. One more thing: some folks are allergic to nuts, can't eat yeast/ corn or their derivatives: this too makes balancing your diet a bigger challenge. My issue isn't weight loss, it is healthier eating/ balance and that is why I use this app. If you can't post support, why bother posting?
Oh now I see, allergic to nuts. Okay, that makes sense. I'm not allergic to nuts. Thanks Gawd. I don't know what I would do without nuts. Seriously.0 -
Hey Folks, I've just started this and I'm having a hard time getting past 950 calories although I am allowed 1200. This is why: I'm learning to stay under my fat/sugar/carb ratios and when I stay under those ratios my caloric intake suffers! This is because I'm also learning how to balance my meals, and what the different food values are. For those of you who've been at it for a while or who have the knowledge/ability to successfully meet your caloric intake and stay within your other ratios: please share instead of snark. I would find that most supportive and I'm sure so would others. I only have 19 lbs post pregnancy to loose, but much knowledge to gain. Oh yeah. One more thing: some folks are allergic to nuts, can't eat yeast/ corn or their derivatives: this too makes balancing your diet a bigger challenge. My issue isn't weight loss, it is healthier eating/ balance and that is why I use this app. If you can't post support, why bother posting?
That bolded bit...why are you concerned with these, and only with staying UNDER them? You should be focusing on a) reaching or exceeding your protein goal, b) reaching (at a minimum) your fat goal, and then eating enough other stuff to get your calorie goal for the day. Don't try to be "under" fat. Dietary fat does not magically turn into body fat (low-fat diets have been debunked). Also, there's no need to restrict or even track your sugar unless you have a medical condition that warrants doing so.
You're probably simply being unnecessarily restrictive about what you think you "can" or "should" eat.
(ETA: my current intake is 2300/day. I'd eat more - no problem - if it would still allow me to meet my goals).0 -
I have the same problem. I've tried to at least eat 1000 calories a day, but my stomach has shrunk so much, it just won't hold all the food. I do drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, sometimes even more. I plan my meals, and even when I try to do small meals, my stomach hurts, if I try to eat when I'm not hungry or if I feel just slightly satisfied, and I eat anymore, my stomach hurts. I don't want to hurt, and I was in a dilemma as what to do. I talked with my MFP friends, and their friends, and the most sensible answer that was given to me, I took that advice, and I feel absolutely fantastic!!! That advice was, "Don't stress yourself, trying to get a snack in, just to get your calories up. If you feel good and your body is telling you it's okay, don't be concerned about trying to get over 1000 calories." I use to try and get a snack in there, but I would have to wait at least 3 to 4 hours after dinner, so my stomach wouldn't hurt, and then I didn't want to go to bed after eating something, and it was causing me quite a bit of stress and me not getting to be until 11PM or after. If your body is giving you a signal that it's okay, don't fret about it. Just listen to your body. Everybody's body is different, and what is good for one person may not be good for the next.
Take care and GOD bless you,
- Nancy Jean -0 -
Hey Folks, I've just started this and I'm having a hard time getting past 950 calories although I am allowed 1200. This is why: I'm learning to stay under my fat/sugar/carb ratios and when I stay under those ratios my caloric intake suffers! This is because I'm also learning how to balance my meals, and what the different food values are. For those of you who've been at it for a while or who have the knowledge/ability to successfully meet your caloric intake and stay within your other ratios: please share instead of snark. I would find that most supportive and I'm sure so would others. I only have 19 lbs post pregnancy to loose, but much knowledge to gain. Oh yeah. One more thing: some folks are allergic to nuts, can't eat yeast/ corn or their derivatives: this too makes balancing your diet a bigger challenge. My issue isn't weight loss, it is healthier eating/ balance and that is why I use this app. If you can't post support, why bother posting?
Don't limit fats for starters.
When setting up macros you should be going for a minimum of .35 grams per pound of body weight, or if you're obese you can do it per pound of lean body mass.
I personally feel (although I'm sure many disagree) that it's more important to meet your calorie goal than it is to eat "clean," so I would first satisfy my protein goal and make sure I'm getting a few servings of fruits/veggies, and then I would fill in with discretionary calories. Tonight I had ice cream. I limit discretionary calories to 20% of my goal. So today I had toast and fruit for breakfast, cottage cheese and garlic lime shrimp for lunch, some fresh veggies as a snack, chicken chili with beans for dinner, and ice cream for dessert. 1900 calories on the nose.
Smoothies are also a great way to sneak in calories.
You can't necessarily trust your natural hunger cues, especially if you've been under-eating. Hunger is at least partly hormonal. When I started here I was eating 900 calories per day and was no hungry, but that didn't mean that I didn't need more food.0 -
That advice was, "Don't stress yourself, trying to get a snack in, just to get your calories up. If you feel good and your body is telling you it's okay, don't be concerned about trying to get over 1000 calories."
The problem is that eating very low calorie diets makes it very difficult to get adequate nutrients over the course of the day. Also, your body is not necessarily a reliable indicator of its actual caloric needs. It can learn to suppress hunger signals if it's underfed too often - this is why anorexics can be "not hungry", even when they're clearly starving to death. It's better to determine an appropriate intake for your particular body and energy requirements, and provide your body with the energy it needs.0 -
I have the same problem. I've tried to at least eat 1000 calories a day, but my stomach has shrunk so much, it just won't hold all the food. I do drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, sometimes even more. I plan my meals, and even when I try to do small meals, my stomach hurts, if I try to eat when I'm not hungry or if I feel just slightly satisfied, and I eat anymore, my stomach hurts. I don't want to hurt, and I was in a dilemma as what to do. I talked with my MFP friends, and their friends, and the most sensible answer that was given to me, I took that advice, and I feel absolutely fantastic!!! That advice was, "Don't stress yourself, trying to get a snack in, just to get your calories up. If you feel good and your body is telling you it's okay, don't be concerned about trying to get over 1000 calories." I use to try and get a snack in there, but I would have to wait at least 3 to 4 hours after dinner, so my stomach wouldn't hurt, and then I didn't want to go to bed after eating something, and it was causing me quite a bit of stress and me not getting to be until 11PM or after. If your body is giving you a signal that it's okay, don't fret about it. Just listen to your body. Everybody's body is different, and what is good for one person may not be good for the next.
Take care and GOD bless you,
- Nancy Jean -
I would disagree with your friends. Every body is not different. You need the nutrition. If you've been a chronic under-eater, and it sounds like you have, your hunger signals may not be reliable.0 -
eat when you are hungry-don't when your not its pretty simple.
add good fats to your diet-that will certainly elevate your cals (olive oil-hummus-avacado-peanut butter-pesto etc)0 -
See... that's my learning curve! I thought I had to stay under those 'maximums' on the fat/sugar/carb etc. categories.! I suppose what I'm trying to do is not be lazy about my meals and eat balanced meals. I am hypoglycemic and eat every 1.5 to 2 hours just to keep the shakes away. I eat lots of variety but I'll eat protein one day, fruit the next etc and this is not optimal, me thinks so I'm trying to learn to balance my meals as the post baby weight comes off.0
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I have been losing weight for almost a year and half now. When I reached my goal, I took a short break (December 2012 - April 2103). I had never taught myself how to eat right and I gained some back. I found I needed a jump start to get going again. I joined MFP in May of this year. When I first started, I couldn't force feed myself any more fruits and vegetables to get up to 1200 no matter how hard I tried. It's a lot of food when you're used to eating calorie loaded food all day. But you do get there and you gradually increase your calories to where you need to be. You can search through the threads to find past advice on this and why it's important to get your calories intake up. So, when I first joined up, as I said, I was having a hard time getting to 1200. I would read other people's threads and they were asking for help. Some people are snarky when they respond. I have to say that after being on here for only a month, when I see a "can't get to 1200" post, I involuntarily think "oh god, here we go again." Trust me, once you figure this out, you will think this too. So how did I turn it around? I read this (by the way, it's long but worth reading -- and I've read it several times!):
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
And I wish you all success with your goals.0 -
See... that's my learning curve! I thought I had to stay under those 'maximums' on the fat/sugar/carb etc. categories.! I suppose what I'm trying to do is not be lazy about my meals and eat balanced meals. I am hypoglycemic and eat every 1.5 to 2 hours just to keep the shakes away. I eat lots of variety but I'll eat protein one day, fruit the next etc and this is not optimal, me thinks so I'm trying to learn to balance my meals as the post baby weight comes off.
Those macro values all add up to your total calories...if you hit every one perfectly it should equal your total calorie goal. That said, the MFP settings for protein are pretty low; don't be afraid to go over on it. Nor the fats, really. If you're hypoglycaemic (as I am), you'd be much better off eating small regular meals that have a decent combo of proteins, fats and carbs, rather than only one macro at a time. I find doing this (I eat about 5 times a day usually) and ensuring I get enough food over the course of the day has been keeping my hypoglycaemia well in check - and I don't track my sugar at all.0 -
I'm not trying to be snarky, but how did you end up with 70+ pounds to lose if you can't bring yourself to eat 1500 calories? Which I assume is a good deficit to lose with for you.
Myself , have about 80 to lose, and have the same issue , I didn't eat like ever and would over eat my dinners , also raising three babies I found myself rocking them and not being as motivated because of post partum depression and other new mommy things so four yrs, one baby after another lead me to where I'm at today , I don't eat fast food and rarely ever have cant stomach the stuff , so to say she shouldn't need to lose weight if she has such a great deficit is ridiculous. There is research out there that Says when one starves their body for so long ( not meeting minimum ) calorie intake the metabolism slows down ...causing people to become overweight and unable to metabolize as a fit or heathy person would. On the other hand it CAN be a simple fix for some by excersice and changing eating habits the persons metabolism can become more active and allow that person to begin losing weight for others the damage is so severe they may need to be put on medication to boost metabolism ....so try to understand where people are coming from before judging their ability to get a calorie goal , ESPECIALLY coming from some one who is obese and RARELY ( maybe two three) a year slammed a double cheese burger down my pie hole and certainly didn't expect to have to sit back and shove pounds of celery to get fit ! These people ask in these forums for straight answers not sarcastic ridicule . I'm new to MFP and so far I've lost 8 pounds in about three weeks NO thanks to Celery or cheese burgers , just eating at least three to four meals a day and doing a workout of some sort a DAY ..... I still have trouble getting to me calorie goal and actually came here to get some sound advice , I hope the judgment can get put aside and US calorie deficient people can get to the bottom of an issue many of US ( as y'all said THEY) are having to deal with !0
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