Never hitting high calories

Good Day,
So I have a little question in regards to eating/calorie counting. I gave myself the bare minimum goal of 1200 cals, (though theoritically I should be eating close to 1500 cals I would say).
I'm having a slight problem of hitting that goal. I usually hover around 1000 cals. It's so low because I cut out wheat products/pasta/rice/bread ect, sugar. Pretty much as clean as you get (except for my occasional pita bread/hummus treat). I eat my snacks, (vegies). I'm just not hungry because I'm always eating! For awhile I ended up just eating something after dinner cause I hadn't hit my cal goal. I quit doing it because if I'm not hungry, I'm not gonna force myself to eat just to hit some magic number.

I've fully committed 30 days ago (on my 30th day) and I've lost almost 17 lbs so far with clean eating and a variety of exercising (daily). I'm not tired, dizzy ect which you would think from not getting a caloric intake that I should. I eat a lot... I just eat a lot of low cal/low carb things (like a ton of vegetables) I will NOT add bread/pasta/rice products for awhile because since I cut them out I honestly feel like a million bucks. I know that's a large percentage of upping calories but I'm not willing to add them back when it was the first thing to go and I felt amazing immediately after I cut it out.

I am aware of starvation mode, thoughts on slowing my metabolism ect due to low cal intake however should this become a problem later down the line how can it be rectified? I'm NOT hungry because I honestly feel like I'm eating all day. I graze which is typical of my eating habits but I'm grazing on peppers/carrots/veggies. My belly is never empty!!

Any thoughts? Any ideas? Should I just ride it out until I plateau? I think I've levelled out now, last week was a 2lb loss which is what I'm more comfortable with than the big numbers I pulled in the first week and third week.

Thanks!

Replies

  • mghollis
    mghollis Posts: 29 Member
    following because while my question is not exactly the same, it's very similar. I've had about 3 days where I hit 1300 calories out of my 1800 budget, and I'm still unsure what to do. I don't want to eat if I'm not hungry.
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    You've not lost weight because of 'clean eating' you've lost it because you're eating at a calorie deficit. Long term wise eating low calories will leave you deficient in macro nutrients and could effect long term health. Hunger is a very poor indicator just because you don't feel hungry does not mean you do not need to eat. Also on that low calories you will not sustain any muscle. You will lose muscle mass at a pretty significant rate. I would urge you to up your calories to a healthier level if you can't do this eating clean (whatever that definition means to you) maybe you need to think for your long term health and wellbeing eating 'clean' is not actually healthy for you and you should try eating more food no matter if you deem it clean or not
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    Assuming that your calorie count is accurate and you aren't underestimating your calories (most people do, even professionals), the standard advice would be to include more calorie dense foods into your diet. That's tough on a "clean" diet, though. Usually I'd suggest nuts, nut butter, full fat dairy, cheese, Greek yogurt, ice cream, olive oil, coconut oil, butter, full calorie salad dressings and sauces, protein shakes or smoothies, fruit juices, etc. But I don't know how many of those your version of clean eating allows.
  • chloematilds
    chloematilds Posts: 111 Member
    unless you are.diabetic or.celiac, no need.to cut out rice and.grains. these are.calorie.dense food that are.a good.source.of.energy. I.think your better off.reintroducing.some grains if and carb dense food.if you are.not.diabetic

    you need to have a balanced diet. how about seeing a dietician insteaf.of reading what internet gurus say?