Calories

Hi everyone. im starting insanity and i just did their way of seeing how many calories i should eat.
it came out to 1963.98. My current calorie goal is 800.
See the difference?
And YES i know 800 "isnt enough" but i have a hard time eating that. im just not hungry.

So sense i have a hard time finding enough food to get to 800 calories, how am i going to eat 1963.98 during insanity?
What should i do?
a split the difference kinda thing? bringing it to around 1163.98
Try to eat the full 1963.98?
Or stick to 800, but not worry about going over?
im just so lost
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Replies

  • NinjadURbacon
    NinjadURbacon Posts: 395 Member
    you need to eat more period. add more meals, more snacks. Do protein shakes after insanity to add more calories.
  • FrankiesSaysRelax
    FrankiesSaysRelax Posts: 403 Member
    Pretty sure you already know you shouldn't be sticking to 800 calories. I would eat the full 1963. I've done insanity (and p90x and nrolfw and all the other trendy workouts), and you really do need the calories. You might lose on 800 but it's not sustainable and you will gain it back.. I guarantee it. I can make a protein shake be 600+ calories. If you aren't hungry try drinking a shake instead.
  • ritchiedrama
    ritchiedrama Posts: 1,304 Member
    yep, you need to eat more - it isnt a case of "if you can survive on 800 you'll be fine"

    eat more, or you're heading the right way for a terrible eating disorder.

    you CAN eat more, just havve to get used to it.
  • Mslmesq
    Mslmesq Posts: 1,000 Member
    You stated in a previous post you are recovering from an ed. Now you state you want to eat too few calories for anyone to adequately get nutrition and do a crazy insane exercise regimine.

    I think you already know, or should know, the answers you are going to get. You are setting yourself up to be attacked.

    My two cents: Please don't do this to yourself. You deserve a healthy lifestyle.
  • CaliforniaBarbie
    CaliforniaBarbie Posts: 346 Member
    Its not that i cant find food that is higher in calories to eat, i cant eat a 550 calorie cheeseburger. its more that i eat breakfast, snack, lunch, snake, dinner, and sometimes dessert, but all my meals are on the healthier end, and low in calories, and i dont know what else TO eat that's healthy.

    and im not trying to eat below 800 on purpose thats just how it ends up working out most days
  • FrankiesSaysRelax
    FrankiesSaysRelax Posts: 403 Member
    Its not that i cant find food that is higher in calories to eat, i cant eat a 550 calorie cheeseburger. its more that i eat breakfast, snack, lunch, snake, dinner, and sometimes dessert, but all my meals are on the healthier end, and low in calories, and i dont know what else TO eat that's healthy.

    and im not trying to eat below 800 on purpose thats just how it ends up working out most days

    How on earth can you eat 3 full meals, dessert and 2 snacks and be under 800 calories? Healthier foods to eat that have some decent calories in them- eggs, avocado, nuts, fruit, protein bars, peanut butter. Try making food in coconut oil/olive oil or butter for extra calories too.
  • CaliforniaBarbie
    CaliforniaBarbie Posts: 346 Member
    You stated in a previous post you are recovering from an ed. Now you state you want to eat too few calories for anyone to adequately get nutrition and do a crazy insane exercise regimine.

    I think you already know, or should know, the answers you are going to get. You are setting yourself up to be attacked.

    My two cents: Please don't do this to yourself. You deserve a healthy lifestyle.

    i am recovering. and im not TRYING to eat too few calories, its not like i work at it, thats just how it ends up happening most days, if i go over i dont flip out, i can just never seem to get that many calories.
    and if people want to attack me for trying to get some advice on not only how many calories i may need to eat while on insanity and also if anyone could be super helpful by through some food ideas my way that would be nice to, then they can attack me. i feel that show small minded people, if you dont have something nice to say dont say it, i dont need to hear your negative comments
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Perhaps you could look at macros instead of calories. Try to get 120g+ of protein, 40g+ of fats, and say 230g+ of carbs. Get about 1760 calories using those as baseline. Shrugs.
  • CaliforniaBarbie
    CaliforniaBarbie Posts: 346 Member
    Its not that i cant find food that is higher in calories to eat, i cant eat a 550 calorie cheeseburger. its more that i eat breakfast, snack, lunch, snake, dinner, and sometimes dessert, but all my meals are on the healthier end, and low in calories, and i dont know what else TO eat that's healthy.

    and im not trying to eat below 800 on purpose thats just how it ends up working out most days

    How on earth can you eat 3 full meals, dessert and 2 snacks and be under 800 calories? Healthier foods to eat that have some decent calories in them- eggs, avocado, nuts, fruit, protein bars, peanut butter, olive oil/coconut oil.

    i never have time for a "full" breakfast, so thats normally a yogurt, followed by some nuts like almonds for a snack, or maybe some kind of bar. lunch is a small salad, and i work through "lunch time" so i normally have my lunch during a "snack time" and dinner is normally just grilled fish or something. and dessert is rare. and i workout a lot, and have a physical job so most of my calories end up getting burned off, and thats my MFP always says im under my calorie goal. i may eat over 800 but burn off more then i can eat back by the end of the night
  • Adrianachiarato
    Adrianachiarato Posts: 362 Member
    Eat nuts. They are very high in calories but still healthy.
  • CaliforniaBarbie
    CaliforniaBarbie Posts: 346 Member
    Perhaps you could look at macros instead of calories. Try to get 120g+ of protein, 40g+ of fats, and say 230g+ of carbs. Get about 1760 calories using those as baseline. Shrugs.

    thank you. now this was actually helpful.
    i think macros would be easier to try for rather than calories.
    thank you
  • coffee_rocks
    coffee_rocks Posts: 275 Member
    If you lack time, how about a peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat bread, or a pita, for breakfast on the run? Almost 400 calories and portable food. Add something to that salad - grilled chicken, boiled eggs, sliced nuts, or even a healthy fat like olive oil. For dinner, I'd toss in a quick veggie with that fish. Something easy to grill but full of good fats and nutrients.

    You probably won't go from 800 to 1,900 in a day, but work at adding a few changes each week, and you'll hit the goals you set!
  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
    Trying to add in a positive comment...insanity is a very high intensity workout it takes commitment with that being said I really think you should try to increase your calories a few weeks using the suggestions a few members gave you before doing the program...your going to need the energy to do insanity..it would make no sense for you to try the program on 800 calories a day..just not healthy you would be way to far in the negative. I think once you have the calories where they should be you would probably do great and have way more success.
  • NinjadURbacon
    NinjadURbacon Posts: 395 Member
    you can prepare meals ahead of time. Or get meal replacement bars to help too.
  • CaliforniaBarbie
    CaliforniaBarbie Posts: 346 Member
    If you lack time, how about a peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat bread, or a pita, for breakfast on the run? Almost 400 calories and portable food. Add something to that salad - grilled chicken, boiled eggs, sliced nuts, or even a healthy fat like olive oil. For dinner, I'd toss in a quick veggie with that fish. Something easy to grill but full of good fats and nutrients.

    You probably won't go from 800 to 1,900 in a day, but work at adding a few changes each week, and you'll hit the goals you set!

    thank you. i will definitely try that peanut butter sandwich tomorrow, sounds like a great easy, and quick plan.
    and thank you for your other suggestion. very helpful
  • You should do your best to eat the recommended amount or there is a very good chance that you won't see the results you are looking for. Insanity is an intense workout and you need those calories to keep going.
  • jaxxie
    jaxxie Posts: 576 Member
    Huge props for working on recovery and asking for help. Listen to the advice you get and focus on forward. You can totally do this.
  • i never have time for a "full" breakfast, so thats normally a yogurt, followed by some nuts like almonds for a snack, or maybe some kind of bar. lunch is a small salad, and i work through "lunch time" so i normally have my lunch during a "snack time" and dinner is normally just grilled fish or something. and dessert is rare. and i workout a lot, and have a physical job so most of my calories end up getting burned off, and thats my MFP always says im under my calorie goal. i may eat over 800 but burn off more then i can eat back by the end of the night

    You really should try to follow the Insanity nutrition guide then. The meals are very quick to make and are great for someone who eats through their lunch time (coming from someone who does the same thing). Even if you can't eat the recommended 5 meals a day (which IS the healthiest way to eat), just make the meals you do eat 500 calorie ones and you would at least be better off than you are now :)
  • fivethreeone
    fivethreeone Posts: 8,196 Member
    Evolution will take care of this.

    ETA Insanity will burn at least half that much for you. You can't live on 400 calories. Do what you need to do to not kill yourself.
  • TyTy76
    TyTy76 Posts: 1,761 Member
    Generally when people put "not enough" when asking for help, they really don't want help.

    Good luck OP
  • born2drum
    born2drum Posts: 731 Member
    If ou eat 800 calories a day and do Insanity, plan a funeral or a well thought-out trip to the ER. No joke!

    Good luck.

    Heck like someone mentioned. You can eat two peanut butter and jelly sammy's packed with peanute butter and be well over 1000calories. It's easy. You're probably not hungry because you have a slowed metabolism and lack muscles. Shoot, who knows. But I do know 800 calories is NOTHING
  • GingerLolita
    GingerLolita Posts: 738 Member
    I always like to combine foods to make meals and snacks more satisfying. For example, if breakfast is a yogurt, add fruit. Instead of almonds as a snack, enjoy an apple with almond butter or trail mix including various nuts, dried fruits, and maybe dark chocolate chips. Make sure your salad for lunch includes plenty of protein, from chicken, fish, nuts, hard-boiled egg, etc. For dinner, have your fish with vegetables and brown rice. I've also been following the Flat-Belly Diet recently, derived from the Mediterranean diet, so I try to incorporate a source of healthy fats into every meal. And don't be afraid to drink your calories, particularly if you're busy working and exercising. There are plenty of healthy smoothies to be made from fruits, juices, milks, yogurts, and nut butters!
  • CaliforniaBarbie
    CaliforniaBarbie Posts: 346 Member
    FOR EVERYONE BEING HELPFUL--- thank you, i will take your suggestions to heart, and start applying them to tonight dinner.


    FOR EVERYONE WHOSE BEING UNHELPFUL--- go ahead and start planning my funeral. :)
  • GODfidence
    GODfidence Posts: 249 Member
    If you didn't "know" how to eat more then you wouldn't need to lose weight in the first place.
    Eat more and treat your body right.
    It's better to be losing weight slower and healthier than to expect
    Everything to fall off at once and torture your body and develop an e.d.
    Please be smart.
    800 calories is stupid...you're not stupid! So eat smart,and be healthy...please.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    You need to forget about exercising and just work on upping your calories or you will do more harm to yourself!! You need to eat more dense food, that are high in calories, but healthy, like peanut butter, nuts, avocado, glass of milk, add oils to your meals, etc. etc..

    Good luck. :flowerforyou:
  • Mslmesq
    Mslmesq Posts: 1,000 Member
    You stated in a previous post you are recovering from an ed. Now you state you want to eat too few calories for anyone to adequately get nutrition and do a crazy insane exercise regimine.

    I think you already know, or should know, the answers you are going to get. You are setting yourself up to be attacked.

    My two cents: Please don't do this to yourself. You deserve a healthy lifestyle.

    i am recovering. and im not TRYING to eat too few calories, its not like i work at it, thats just how it ends up happening most days, if i go over i dont flip out, i can just never seem to get that many calories.
    and if people want to attack me for trying to get some advice on not only how many calories i may need to eat while on insanity and also if anyone could be super helpful by through some food ideas my way that would be nice to, then they can attack me. i feel that show small minded people, if you dont have something nice to say dont say it, i dont need to hear your negative comments

    I actually wasn't trying to attack you, so I appologize if it came across that way. I was trying to warn you that others might because of your post and I see it happen here a lot. You did however put in your original post that '800 was your calorie goal', not that you had a higher goal but were having trouble meeting it. I just honestly don't think 800 as a calorie goal is ever healthy for anyone. But I mean you no negative thoughts, so again, I'm sorry.

    Best wishes.
  • snazzyjazzy21
    snazzyjazzy21 Posts: 1,298 Member
    It will take time to adjust to eating more. Try calorie dense foods (nuts, avacado, cheese, oils) to quickly up your intake. Also, if you find 1900 too daunting right off, try upping your calories 150-200 per week until you meet your goal. I wouldn't recommend doing exercise before you've reached that though! Best of luck!
  • EmilyTwist1
    EmilyTwist1 Posts: 206 Member
    An easy way to get more calories in is to eat more fat. Fat has more calories per gram than carbs and protein. Eating full fat foods, rather than low fat can be a good way to get more calories in.
  • Melmade
    Melmade Posts: 349 Member
    I think 800 calories would be good if you're 3 feet tall.
  • CaliforniaBarbie
    CaliforniaBarbie Posts: 346 Member
    You stated in a previous post you are recovering from an ed. Now you state you want to eat too few calories for anyone to adequately get nutrition and do a crazy insane exercise regimine.

    I think you already know, or should know, the answers you are going to get. You are setting yourself up to be attacked.

    My two cents: Please don't do this to yourself. You deserve a healthy lifestyle.

    i am recovering. and im not TRYING to eat too few calories, its not like i work at it, thats just how it ends up happening most days, if i go over i dont flip out, i can just never seem to get that many calories.
    and if people want to attack me for trying to get some advice on not only how many calories i may need to eat while on insanity and also if anyone could be super helpful by through some food ideas my way that would be nice to, then they can attack me. i feel that show small minded people, if you dont have something nice to say dont say it, i dont need to hear your negative comments

    I actually wasn't trying to attack you, so I appologize if it came across that way. I was trying to warn you that others might because of your post and I see it happen here a lot. You did however put in your original post that '800 was your calorie goal', not that you had a higher goal but were having trouble meeting it. I just honestly don't think 800 as a calorie goal is ever healthy for anyone. But I mean you no negative thoughts, so again, I'm sorry.

    Best wishes.

    im also sorry, i understand you were not attacking me. and when i said " if you dont have something nice to say dont say it, i dont need to hear your negative comments" i actually wasnt directing that at you, but it did come off that way. im sorry