HELP! NET CALORIES IN THE NEGATIVES??!

MFP is quite notorious for setting calorie goals FAR too low, regardless of height and weight. For example, it told me to eat 1200, and my BMR (the bare amount of calories I need to LIVE) is 1280. And I am extremely tiny, only 5 feet. So unless you are smaller than me, or bedridden, it is almost a CERTAINTY that you are eating too little. (This can result in lean muscle loss, chronic fatigue, metabolism damage, and bingeing due to over-restriction.)

Go to

http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

and enter your height/weight/activity level.

Subtract 10-20% from the number it calculates for you, and that is the number of calories you should be eating a day in order to lose weight.

^ This. It doesn't have to be "brown" food -- just more calories. Food is fuel for your body.

As for "brown" calories, I prefer quinoa as an alternative to rice, etc., but if I need more "brown" calories, I would highly recommend brownies and dark lagers as mentioned above .

Okay to put it simply - you haven't reached your calorie goal yet eat more - when the exercise is added you can choose to eat even more because you burned calories with exercise the minus sign means you are under your calorie goal.

As far as food colors pick nice colors like green, red, orange, yellow :bigsmile:

Sorry - try to eat a lot of fresh fruit and veg, lean proteins (boneless skinless chicken breasts, lean beef cuts, etc), complex carbs like multi grain rather than white bread for example. You can eat white bread and white rice just watch your portion sizes but the multi grains and brown rices might be healthier options. White is processed more. Make sure you measure your portions properly and get a scale to weigh your foods. Drink lots of water. Don't think of foods as bad - you can still eat most things just make sure you measure and weigh your portions and keep an eye on your calories. Good luck OP

I need help with what brown meals to eat in the lunchtime/dinner. (brown rice, brown pasta)? I don't want to just eat fruits and veggies, because my body needs a small meal.

It has NOTHING WHATSOVER to do with RACE. PERIOD. It was part of your original question, OP.

Okay to put it simply - you haven't reached your calorie goal yet eta more - when the exercise is added you can choose to eat even more because you burned calories with exercise the minus sign means you are under your calorie goal.

As far as food colors pick nice colors like green, red, orange, yellow :bigsmile:

Sorry - try to eat a lot of fresh fruit and veg, lean proteins (boneless skinless chicken breasts, lean beef cuts, etc), complex carbs like multi grain rather than white bread for example. You can eat white bread and white rice just watch your portion sizes but the multi grains and brown rices might be healthier options. White is processed more. Make sure you measure your portions properly and get a scale to weigh your foods. Drink lots of water. Don't think of foods as bad - you can still eat most things just make sure you measure and weigh your portions and keep an eye on your calories. Good luck OP

Thank you so much for being nice about it! I will do that

Your welcome I wanted to add that make sure you measure your trail mix and figure out the calories if you are making it yourself and don't have the package to refer to - it packs high calories - dried fruits are deceiving and I tend to avoid them

Just a helpful tip, I don't know if this was mentioned, but I like to eat a spoonful of peanut butter at the end of the night if I am low on calories or protein. Don't do this as your only source of protein of course but it helps if you are low one day (just make sure you measure it).

I'd say... don't worry about it, you'll be hungry soon. And then eat when you are hungry...