Too many calories left ?

azbates
azbates Posts: 5 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Just a quick question, today I've been busy, days flown by and haven't ate enough according to my app. I missed breakfast as I wasn't hungry, had a 200 calorie dinner, and approx 380 calories for tea. My daily target is 1600 so I'm way below, I'm not hungry but should I eat to avoid my body going into starvation mode ?

Thanks In adance

Replies

  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    eat them tomorrow...or yesterday
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    If it's just one day, it's no big deal. If it's happening more frequently, then just plan better (as it's easier to get calories in through the day than panicking late at night) and aim for more calorie dense foods (cheese, nuts, nut butters, full fat dairy, olive oil etc) that allow you to rack up the calories without feeling uncomfortably stuffed.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Just a quick question, today I've been busy, days flown by and haven't ate enough according to my app. I missed breakfast as I wasn't hungry, had a 200 calorie dinner, and approx 380 calories for tea. My daily target is 1600 so I'm way below, I'm not hungry but should I eat to avoid my body going into starvation mode ?

    Thanks In adance

    You are a 31 year old man...why are you only eating 1600 calories a day??????????????? seriously...that's what I eat to lose a lb a week...are you nuts????

    As for your food intake 200 cal lunch??? K I did the same(1 cup of meat ball and sausage rigatoni soup) but am starved now and had to have some food and will again before dinner...

    Go have a beer, eat some ice cream and up your daily goal to at least 1800...

    Oh and btw there is no such thing as starvation mode...you body wont magically hang onto fat because you aren't eating enough.
  • idontcarroll
    idontcarroll Posts: 216 Member
    Something is wrong here. I'm a female, 5'4 about 135 lbs and eat 1600 or more a day.
  • jess135177
    jess135177 Posts: 186 Member
    Really? Peanut butter, ice cream and wine. Problem solved!
  • RllyGudTweetr
    RllyGudTweetr Posts: 2,019 Member
    Pizza and beer sounds like it's about due, OP. Enjoy.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Really? Peanut butter, ice cream and wine. Problem solved!
    ^ This
    Pizza and beer sounds like it's about due, OP. Enjoy.
    ^ and this
  • OnAllFours
    OnAllFours Posts: 170 Member
    200cal dinner and 380 cal tea? What was in the tea? Or was it a Long Island Tea?
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    200cal dinner and 380 cal tea? What was in the tea? Or was it a Long Island Tea?

    hehe Tea=dinner in uk
  • sympha01
    sympha01 Posts: 942 Member
    200cal dinner and 380 cal tea? What was in the tea? Or was it a Long Island Tea?

    One assumes he is British or maybe Australian and is referring to a light snacky meal.
  • RllyGudTweetr
    RllyGudTweetr Posts: 2,019 Member
    200cal dinner and 380 cal tea? What was in the tea? Or was it a Long Island Tea?

    One assumes he is British or maybe Australian and is referring to a light snacky meal.
    Indeed. I read it as tea with milk or cream and biscuits (shortbread cookies or similar).
  • poutyjess
    poutyjess Posts: 2
    Hey there. Yes, actually there is such a thing as "starvation mode", however it would take a consistent lifestyle adjustment for your body to reach this. What actually happens is that your metabolism will slow, and you will have a harder time losing weight at the same caloric intake you have been. IF you are not reaching enough calories as I was, on a consistent basis and you also have sleep deprivation, your body produces more of the hormone cortisol to help you through this period. You start to feel LESS hungry-which is not a good thing as your body has natural cues to remind you to FUEL it properly and efficiently. The additional production of cortisol then starts a chain reaction causing your body to not properly metabolize by slowing down the mitochondria of your cells.
    If you're not getting enough calories, you need to look for healthy fats and caloric dense foods such as nuts, cheese (small amount-don't go eating a whole block of sharp cheddar here) and foods that are high in protein. Even if you don't "feel" like eating, you will still need to fuel your body so that it can get back into a normal routine of breaking down food, fueling muscles and tissues and therefore increasing your metabolism. Good luck! I'm studying to be a nurse and a personal trainer, so I am just sharing what I have learned. 1600 calories is NOT enough for you as a male. This is what you should be eating for "cutting" but not if you are also planning on any sort of physical activity. Your body will now start to break down your muscle fibers for fuel before reaching into your fat stores. Seriously, you should see a nutritionist or at least a trainer to help you with your diet.
  • dragonflydi
    dragonflydi Posts: 665 Member
    If weight loss is the goal, I'm kind of surprised at the food suggestions here. Ice cream, pizza, alcohol ... there are much healthier ways to get the calories you need without all the garbage you don't need. Avocado, raw almonds, peanut butter, fish, hard boiled eggs, etc.
  • azbates
    azbates Posts: 5 Member
    For dinner I had 2 x thins which are small bread/pitta bread things and with ham and for tea I had a weight watches lasagne and steamed veg. The app tells me to aim for 1600 calories !
  • suziepoo1984
    suziepoo1984 Posts: 915 Member
    I have mixed feelings about this. I am both jealous and sad! Jealous because i never feel like i cant finish up my calories(i have to control myself a lot to be under my goal LOL) and sad because thats how little you have been eating.
    I am 5'5, 143 pounds and i eat 1600+ exercise calories (on good days). Please bump up your calories slowly and steadily, else you will start seeing the negative effects soon.
    Have some eggs, bacon, pancakes? for breakfast
    some kind of meat and a salad for lunch
    protein laden snacks in between
    and dinner similar to lunch!

    I see that a few people here feel less and less hungry the lesser they eat and their hunger comes back when they start eating more! So give it a try...good luck:flowerforyou:
  • azbates
    azbates Posts: 5 Member
    And just to clarify I have my app set to lose 2lbs per week, starting weight 14st7 aiming to drop 2 stone, I'm a carpenter so burn a few calories at work and hit the gym 3 times a week, playing squash, some weights and swimming. Dont ever particularly feel hungry except after going to the gym and then I'll have a banana.
  • amyk225
    amyk225 Posts: 154
    1600 is too low anyways, eat eat eat
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    For dinner I had 2 x thins which are small bread/pitta bread things and with ham and for tea I had a weight watches lasagne and steamed veg. The app tells me to aim for 1600 calories !
    Ok, so stop eating reduced calorie meals, and that will help for a start.
    And just to clarify I have my app set to lose 2lbs per week, starting weight 14st7 aiming to drop 2 stone, I'm a carpenter so burn a few calories at work and hit the gym 3 times a week, playing squash, some weights and swimming. Dont ever particularly feel hungry except after going to the gym and then I'll have a banana.

    If you're only looking to lose 2 stone, 2 lbs a week is quite an aggressive goal. It's not uncommon to experience reduced appetite when calories get too low. If you can manage to eat more, you should find your appetite returns and then it won't be such a struggle.

    ETA: and I really hope you didn't set your activity level as "sedentary" and that you're eating back at least some of your exercise calories.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    200cal dinner and 380 cal tea? What was in the tea? Or was it a Long Island Tea?

    One assumes he is British or maybe Australian and is referring to a light snacky meal.
    My tea (evening meal) is rarely light or snacky. It's just what other people call dinner, but in the evening.
  • BeccaBollons
    BeccaBollons Posts: 652 Member
    200cal dinner and 380 cal tea? What was in the tea? Or was it a Long Island Tea?

    One assumes he is British or maybe Australian and is referring to a light snacky meal.
    My tea (evening meal) is rarely light or snacky. It's just what other people call dinner, but in the evening.

    Yep same here. Where I'm from if you dine out you call it 'going out for tea'. And to invite guests for an evening meal is to 'ask them to tea'. Just dialect.
  • dlionsmane
    dlionsmane Posts: 674 Member
    And just to clarify I have my app set to lose 2lbs per week, starting weight 14st7 aiming to drop 2 stone, I'm a carpenter so burn a few calories at work and hit the gym 3 times a week, playing squash, some weights and swimming. Dont ever particularly feel hungry except after going to the gym and then I'll have a banana.

    2 pounds a week should be reserved for folks who need to lose 100+ pounds Reduce that to 1 pound per week and eat man. You need to fuel your life and your workouts!
  • navyrigger46
    navyrigger46 Posts: 1,301 Member
    OP, you should be eating more than 1600 a day. I'm dropping 1.5 per week on 2300. As for how to get your cals up, beer and pizza as mentioned, a PB&J with a handful of "crisps" Chips in the USofA. Ice cream, cheese cake. Pick a high calorie food and eat some.

    Rigger
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Hey there. Yes, actually there is such a thing as "starvation mode", however it would take a consistent lifestyle adjustment for your body to reach this. What actually happens is that your metabolism will slow, and you will have a harder time losing weight at the same caloric intake you have been. IF you are not reaching enough calories as I was, on a consistent basis and you also have sleep deprivation, your body produces more of the hormone cortisol to help you through this period. You start to feel LESS hungry-which is not a good thing as your body has natural cues to remind you to FUEL it properly and efficiently. The additional production of cortisol then starts a chain reaction causing your body to not properly metabolize by slowing down the mitochondria of your cells.
    If you're not getting enough calories, you need to look for healthy fats and caloric dense foods such as nuts, cheese (small amount-don't go eating a whole block of sharp cheddar here) and foods that are high in protein. Even if you don't "feel" like eating, you will still need to fuel your body so that it can get back into a normal routine of breaking down food, fueling muscles and tissues and therefore increasing your metabolism. Good luck! I'm studying to be a nurse and a personal trainer, so I am just sharing what I have learned. 1600 calories is NOT enough for you as a male. This is what you should be eating for "cutting" but not if you are also planning on any sort of physical activity. Your body will now start to break down your muscle fibers for fuel before reaching into your fat stores. Seriously, you should see a nutritionist or at least a trainer to help you with your diet.

    actually this is called adaptive thermogenesis

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20935667

    Starvation mode when mentioned by those who are new here or for other reasons (usually due to lack of knowledge) usually indicates that they fear their body will hold onto or create fat and they wont lose weight.

    To actually starve..you need to go a long period of time with very little food/nutrition and a couple of days even weeks...even a month of eating 600-1000 calories is not going to make you starve.

    Even studying to become a nurse and *cough* personal trainer does not mean you are learning enough about nutrition or how the body works. You would have to specialize in diet and nutrition for you to get that sort of education (or read a lot of peer reviewed studies in your spare time or listen to the smart people on MFP)

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