Being under 1200 cals Vs Eating late at night....

Avalon203
Avalon203 Posts: 78
edited September 22 in Food and Nutrition
A few times now, I have completely accidentally eaten under 1200....beacuse my allowance per day is 1350 I think I sometimes get the balance a little wrong, or if im late home from work I sometimes miss my afternoon snack of rice cakes and houmous which is about 100cals. Sometimes, like tonight, I think my dinner is going to be more calories than it is, so when I log my food I see that im going to be under 1200. I eat dinner about 7.30 usually, I know this is late but I finish work at 6, work out and shower so it ends up being quite late. So. My dilemna is, in this stuation is it best to snack at night after my dinner when Im not really hungry, or just be under 1200, and try not to do it again....?

Replies

  • katieannd
    katieannd Posts: 66 Member
    GREAT question! I have found myself in the same position a couple of times!
  • gilliani
    gilliani Posts: 8
    Ooooh I'd love to know the answer to this too!! Its quite often very late by the time I eat after work and realise I have calories left- I'm never sure if I should eat them or not!!?
  • chelekaz
    chelekaz Posts: 847 Member
    I think it would be better to have that light snack later than to be under 1200 calories. Just a hand full of nuts can be just the light push that you need to put you at the 1200 mark, I also love an orange at night. There is something light and refreshing about it that I like before bed (about an hour to so of course, not as I am walking upstairs!).

    Hope this helped a little.
  • peach_pixie
    peach_pixie Posts: 7
    I have this problem too.

    But personally, I think that you should just listen to your body, rather than look at the numbers. I think its as simple as if you're hungry, eat. If you're not, then don't eat. It's better for your metabolism to have a variety of caloric intakes than to keep it constant at all times.
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    i have this problem too...in fact last night at 10pm i was to eat 1210 calories after i worked out...i knew that wasn't going to happen so i had 2 cups of apple juice and handful of cashews...i know it was still really low, but it pushed me up to 777 calories remaining..
  • joliemama
    joliemama Posts: 15
    I was talking to another girl on this site who told me when I asked the same question to never never go under 1200
    as your body starts going into starvation mode. I have been under 1200 for the last couple of days and by the time
    i find out it's too late. However, advice is to have things like a glass of almond mild or handful of nuts but my favourite
    advice is a couple of red wines!!!!!!!!!! Who said that!!!!!!!!!
    cheers
    joliemama
  • Rjperron
    Rjperron Posts: 150
    I think that depends on your results, and whether or not you're hungry. If you feel starving, I'd say go for that extra snack, if not, don't worry about it.
  • MassiveDelta
    MassiveDelta Posts: 3,271 Member
    I have this problem too.

    But personally, I think that you should just listen to your body, rather than look at the numbers. I think its as simple as if you're hungry, eat. If you're not, then don't eat. It's better for your metabolism to have a variety of caloric intakes than to keep it constant at all times.

    Im sometimes under too and many times I eat very late. I'm sure things would be better if I didn't but I do and hey 81 lbs cant be wrong. Definitely listen to your body.
  • MisdemeanorM
    MisdemeanorM Posts: 3,493 Member
    If you are hungry eat. I know I sleep better when my stomach is not growling :) If not, being under sometimes is not a bad thing. It's consistently being under that will be bad for you long term. I doubt you are not never a couple hundred over so it balances out so long as it's somewhat sporadic. Also, unless you are logging everything EXACTLY and based on weight not volume, and weighing EVERYTHING there is no guarantee that you cal count is completely accurate. I always figure about 100 in either direction and use it as a guideline and not the be all end all counter for what I ate that day. I figure, as long as I am on the right track I will make progress, and as long as I am making progress I will stay on that track. It's OK if I don't do it perfectly and it takes a little longer as long as it is overall healthy.
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    I was talking to another girl on this site who told me when I asked the same question to never never go under 1200
    as your body starts going into starvation mode. I have been under 1200 for the last couple of days and by the time
    i find out it's too late. However, advice is to have things like a glass of almond mild or handful of nuts but my favourite
    advice is a couple of red wines!!!!!!!!!! Who said that!!!!!!!!!
    cheers
    joliemama


    hahaha i like that advice...i haven't had a glass of wine since i started this stupid lifestyle change...just vodka and water :sick:
  • LotusF1ower
    LotusF1ower Posts: 1,259 Member
    if you're hungry eat, if you're not, don't. Simple as that

    You will not go into any starvation mode if you are just under 1200 calories - I don't think your body will think "oh dear 50 calories under, let's go into this starvation mode!" - in fact, if you are not hungry, it will not even be aware it is under 1200!
  • joliemama
    joliemama Posts: 15
    HOooooo, I like that one too. Is that fewer calories than red wine if so I can switch. I'm as fickle as can be
    when it comes to a nice long slow one..
    cheers
  • joliemama
    joliemama Posts: 15
    I was talking to another girl on this site who told me when I asked the same question to never never go under 1200
    as your body starts going into starvation mode. I have been under 1200 for the last couple of days and by the time
    i find out it's too late. However, advice is to have things like a glass of almond mild or handful of nuts but my favourite
    advice is a couple of red wines!!!!!!!!!! Who said that!!!!!!!!!
    cheers
    joliemama


    hahaha i like that advice...i haven't had a glass of wine since i started this stupid lifestyle change...just vodka and water :sick:
  • joliemama
    joliemama Posts: 15
    HOooooo, I like that one too. Is that fewer calories than red wine if so I can switch. I'm as fickle as can be
    when it comes to a nice long slow one..
    cheers
  • AshleyVeronica
    AshleyVeronica Posts: 69 Member
    Such a good question! I just got the message saying I ate too little and didn't get to my 1200. I am only 33 calories off though LOL
    I could easily take eat that.
    But should I really??
This discussion has been closed.

Categories