Am I eating enough?

harmony223
harmony223 Posts: 47 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hi everyone. Was wondering if anyone could help me. I am worried I am not eating enough but am scared to consume all the calories that MFP suggests. I workout twice daily. I was doing P90X in the morning and a hour of cardio at night. I have just recently switched to Jillian Michaels in the morning ( all 3 workouts of kickboxing DVD-1hour) and weight training at night. Is it really necessary to consume all these calories? My net was under 100 today after logging my workouts in. I had to force myself to eat a gluten free muffin and a cup of almond milk and I am still way low. I believe I have calculated my macros properly too. I have problems getting carbs in too because I follow the Paleo way of eating. Any feedback would be most appreciated. I will check now to assure my food diary is public.

TIA. :-)

Replies

  • Guamybear
    Guamybear Posts: 1,061 Member
    Your NET should be no less than 1200 cals.. you have to take into consideration all the exercise you are doing..if you don't fuel your body it tends to not be happy.
  • Guamybear
    Guamybear Posts: 1,061 Member
    I just looked at your diary for the last 3 days and it looks like you are eating enough..except for today.. definitely low.
  • harmony223
    harmony223 Posts: 47 Member
    Yes, I read that on another post yesterday. Guess I will have to up my calories. It's just so hard. I already eat 5-6 times a day.
    Thank you!
  • ElyseL1
    ElyseL1 Posts: 504 Member
    are you using an hrm to make sure you are really burning as many calories as you think you are?
  • harmony223
    harmony223 Posts: 47 Member
    Less workouts and new routine with the kickboxing. I'm going to have to probably add good high calorie foods like nuts and avocado....as long as my net is at least 1200 I should see results, correct? Thanks
  • harmony223
    harmony223 Posts: 47 Member
    are you using an hrm to make sure you are really burning as many calories as you think you are?

    No, but I am in the process of getting one. I got this fitbit instead and don't care for it. Can you suggest a particular one? I've been looking around online for a watch one for the last week and a half. Thanks
  • Guamybear
    Guamybear Posts: 1,061 Member
    I just got a bodymedia fit.. It tracks your calories burned all day and links up with MFP for food.

    I have started following the bodymedia site for my caloric burn and intake.. I can watch my deficit on my phone, and it track steps and sleep etc..

    this way you know exactly what you burn.
  • harmony223
    harmony223 Posts: 47 Member
    I just got a bodymedia fit.. It tracks your calories burned all day and links up with MFP for food.

    I have started following the bodymedia site for my caloric burn and intake.. I can watch my deficit on my phone, and it track steps and sleep etc..

    this way you know exactly what you burn.

    Awesome!! I will look online tomorrow and get rid of this pointless Fitbit. Thanks again!
  • vienna_h
    vienna_h Posts: 428 Member
    I think most people over-estimate how many calories they burn, and under-estimate how many calories they eat.

    but I wouldn't worry about it, and I wouldn't force myself to eat.

    as long as you are eating enough to get all the nutrition you need, and aren't ill, it's fine. you'll see results if you eat less than 1200 calories. Less calories means losing weight.

    there's this myth about 'starvation mode', where your metabolism slows down, but that requires eating less than 1000 calories every day for weeks or months on end. A few days is ok.

    you obviously have the energy to work out, so you are not starving! you are healthy.
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    I'll have to say. . .i love my fitbit. It motivate me to move more throughout the day outside of prescribed exercise times. I credit the fitbit for keeping me on track. I also track my sleep with it. But an HRM is better for calculating calories during a cardio session. I have a Polar T4, which I wear on the treadmill and on my fitness trampoline. It is important to eat back at least most of your exercise calories.

    BTW, it doesn't matter how many times a day you eat. It's the total calories that count.
  • Guamybear
    Guamybear Posts: 1,061 Member
    I did test my polar ft7 with my bodymedia and I was very happy to see there was only 1 calorie difference.. I did a turbo fire hiit session when I did this.
  • harmony223
    harmony223 Posts: 47 Member
    I think most people over-estimate how many calories they burn, and under-estimate how many calories they eat.

    but I wouldn't worry about it, and I wouldn't force myself to eat.

    as long as you are eating enough to get all the nutrition you need, and aren't ill, it's fine. you'll see results if you eat less than 1200 calories. Less calories means losing weight.

    there's this myth about 'starvation mode', where your metabolism slows down, but that requires eating less than 1000 calories every day for weeks or months on end. A few days is ok.

    you obviously have the energy to work out, so you are not starving! you are healthy.

    Thanks.....I do feel fine and I have no problems getting through my evening workout. Guess I'll just have to figure out what works for me.
  • harmony223
    harmony223 Posts: 47 Member
    I'll have to say. . .i love my fitbit. It motivate me to move more throughout the day outside of prescribed exercise times. I credit the fitbit for keeping me on track. I also track my sleep with it. But an HRM is better for calculating calories during a cardio session. I have a Polar T4, which I wear on the treadmill and on my fitness trampoline. It is important to eat back at least most of your exercise calories.

    BTW, it doesn't matter how many times a day you eat. It's the total calories that count.

    Fitbit throws me off because their food data base sucks. I'm back and forth from this app to checking my steps. Does the polar go around the arm. I looked into that one when I was looking at the Nike Fuelbands. Thanks.

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