Not eating enough calories?
ksparkby
Posts: 28
My issue seems to be not eating enough calories. MFP App tells me its harder to lose weight if you're under-eating, is this true? I feel like I eat a lot! I eat two eggs in the AM, a bowl of steamed veggies for lunch, and then dinner varies. Do I need to start packing in snacks in my diet?
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You can really **** up your metabolism by starving yourself, which in turn stops weight loss.
Two eggs for breakfeast = 140 calories
Veggies for lunch = 150-200 cal max .... or maybe a lot lower... depends on what your eating.
Dinner (I'm assuming less than 500 based off your eating habits)
so 840 calories total....
That's low.
EAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm dead serious... eat WHATEVER you want as long as it fits into your calories. Want that Kit-Kat you see checking out at Wal-Mart? GET IT! EAT IT!0 -
How long have you been doing this? Are you losing weight? If so, at what pace?0
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If that's all you're eating, it's definitely not enough... Providing your stats and opening your diary would help us to get a better picture here.0
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My issue seems to be not eating enough calories. MFP App tells me its harder to lose weight if you're under-eating, is this true? I feel like I eat a lot! I eat two eggs in the AM, a bowl of steamed veggies for lunch, and then dinner varies. Do I need to start packing in snacks in my diet?
When you lose weight your body can shed water, fat, and muscle mass.
Do you want fat loss....or just weight loss? If it's fat loss...........you need to eat enough to help maintain existing muscle mass while losing weight. A lunch of steamed veggies won't cut it.0 -
This is the one thing I found REALLY hard to get my head around, as I'd unwittingly been eating way too low for a really long time. I've upped my calories and finding that I now lose weight steadily and I have much more energy. Definitely with all the above posters - eat more, log everything in your diary and you'll notice a difference
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By how much are you under-eating and what is your goal? What's your height/weight?
Regardless of your goals, you should not go below 1,200 calories per day as a female. MFP won't even allow you to go any lower than that which is why you are getting the warnings. Remember when you exercise you will need to eat a bit more too.
If your overweight it took you time to get there, there's no need to rush. You will get the best results if you work towards fitness for life vs dropping weight to better fit into a bikini this summer. I'm going to be counting calories for the rest of my life and losing .5 to 1lb per week is super for me.0 -
Same issue with me. Never hit my calorie mark, always under 1,000. But i drink water with 2 Tbls of orange juice to keep blood sugar levels from dropping so it doesn't make me as hungry. I only eat 1-2 times at most- a day.0
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How did you end up in a position to need to lose weight if you are having trouble eating over 900 calories? Same question for the person above me
LOL... I'm wondering the same. I'm amazed at the mentality of starving yourself to lose weight.0 -
Same issue with me. Never hit my calorie mark, always under 1,000. But i drink water with 2 Tbls of orange juice to keep blood sugar levels from dropping so it doesn't make me as hungry. I only eat 1-2 times at most- a day.
Hunger (or lack of) is over rated. Hunger can be triggered by hormones too. Lack of hunger is not the same thing as getting enough nourishment.
Always under 1,000..... unless you are a petite senior citizen, or have medical conditions.....you aren't eating enough to support your existing lean muscle. But at least the scale will look good.0 -
Not starving, just not getting to my 1200 calorie goals. having hypothyroidism doesn't help either. to be honest, I dont exercise like i should, and i sit at a desk 9 hours a day with 20 min to be able to get up and walk. So I was doing well and lost a bunch of weight, kept it off for two years and then stress of losing father, being laid off, and starting a new stressful job also didn't help me be motivated. I only eat when i am hungry now, and not exercising as much-i doubt my body needs more calories.0
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How did you end up in a position to need to lose weight if you are having trouble eating over 900 calories? Same question for the person above me
LOL... I'm wondering the same. I'm amazed at the mentality of starving yourself to lose weight.
+10 -
How did you end up in a position to need to lose weight if you are having trouble eating over 900 calories? Same question for the person above me
LOL... I'm wondering the same. I'm amazed at the mentality of starving yourself to lose weight.
+1
+2
Amazes me also. :noway:0 -
I totally understand where you are coming from OP.. I was that way initially. I did not have an eating disorder, nor any food isses. People who haven't had the problem will just never understand. People are mean and you will likely see more of that in response.
I know when I started paying attention to portion sizes and switched from eating junk to eating healthy, my calorie count plummeted. I felt better, but could never eat enough. Unfortunately for me, it ended with me in the hospital before I recognized it was a problem. I really took the reins and took control. I had to pre log my food everyday. I had to incorporate (and force myself) to make shakes and drink them in the morning. I had to start eating every 2-3 hours, even something small. It took me almost a year to consistently eat around 1600. i still find days where I am eating something at 10p just to get to 1600, but they are not as often as they used to be.
Don't settle for less then 1200, until 1200 is easy. Then work up to your real goal.0 -
How did you end up in a position to need to lose weight if you are having trouble eating over 900 calories? Same question for the person above me
Yeah... I'm wondering this too. Nobody got fat eating 900 calories...0 -
Not starving, just not getting to my 1200 calorie goals. having hypothyroidism doesn't help either. to be honest, I dont exercise like i should, and i sit at a desk 9 hours a day with 20 min to be able to get up and walk. So I was doing well and lost a bunch of weight, kept it off for two years and then stress of losing father, being laid off, and starting a new stressful job also didn't help me be motivated. I only eat when i am hungry now, and not exercising as much-i doubt my body needs more calories.
you do need a bare minimum to just function and sit at your desk to survive- for most people it's over 1200. that's for an average size lean woman.
EAT- if you are hungry or not. EAT.
If you can drink milk- I highly suggest buying it and putting away at least 1/4 gallon a day. If not more.
I add double stuff oreo's to my ice cream at the end of the day to round out my day so I'm at least netting 1200- my goal is 1500 net- so I have to often drink milk AND eat my ice cream.
Go for high calorie less filling food- cookies- cakes- milk- candy bars- cadberry eggs-froo fro starbucks coffee's are a great option! whatever floats your boat- get your chicken and veggies in but you need something high calorie in your day to bump that number up
Hunger is not an adequate way to figure out if you should be eating or not.
I'm hungry constantly- I live in a state of hunger- even when I was bulking- I was hungry- even when I was full I was hungry. I LOVE eating.
it's a practically useless method of regulating yourself.0 -
I feel like I eat a lot! I eat two eggs in the AM
when did 2 eggs become 'a lot'?! really!?0 -
I feel like I eat a lot! I eat two eggs in the AM
when did 2 eggs become 'a lot'?! really!?
For real. I'd call that about half of a snack.0 -
I've read that once you feel hungry you are too late in eating. You should be eating before you feel hungry. From what I've read if you feel true hunger then you are already heading towards starvation.Hunger is not an adequate way to figure out if you should be eating or not.0 -
I with most of the posters here, you didn't get overweight in the first place by not eating enough. If this was always a problem for you then you'd be underweight and not very healthy. If you are really eating so healthy in a day that you are not hitting your calorie goal, try spoiling yourself a little. Yes, you're allowed to have chocolate and ice cream. I'm especially a fan of the Popsicle "Fire Cracker" ice cream pops because they are 40 calories each.
Starvation diets don't work and will only end badly. You'll go back to your old habits and maybe worse than before.0 -
I feel like I eat a lot! I eat two eggs in the AM
when did 2 eggs become 'a lot'?! really!?
heh- 2. lol
well spank my *kitten* and call me sally
this was dinner... for me. 5 large farm eggs.
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correct. I dont wait until I'm starving, otherwise i will eat anything and everything. I just listen to what my body tells me. If i start thinking about what sounds good, i know i'm hungry. so i eat. and i eat slow and watch portions. I think my whole issue comes from not exercising a ton. If it did, i'm almost certain i'd be eating 1200 calories. It's just i dont move a lot while at work and when i get home i'm too exhausted-except i do walk when i can. I just think when you dont move a lot, you may not necessarily hit your calorie goal everyday.0
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How did you end up in a position to need to lose weight if you are having trouble eating over 900 calories? Same question for the person above me
LOL... I'm wondering the same. I'm amazed at the mentality of starving yourself to lose weight.
+1
I'm in the same position and posted for help elsewhere.
It's incredibly short sighted to think that a person must be starving themselves if they can't meet their calorie goals, and that the reason they are overweight is because they shoved their faces full every day.
My weight gain was a direct side effect of three things: Severe Depression. Moderate to Severe Anxiety. Severe Sleep Deprivation. For six years. I never fully recovered my body or weight (or my mind) after having my kids because of the above things.
Now I'm under medical care for both of the above and I'm losing weight. I have very little appetite but I'm trying very, very hard to meet my calories. Some of the medication impacts my appetite and some of it is mental - in that I'm FINALLY focusing on myself and making my health a priority. I've changed the WAY I eat, and I stay fuller, longer.
So the assumptions? Unnecessary if you're genuinely trying to help someone.
OP - try to get some fun snacks to have on hand at all times. I have cucumbers, cheese, tomatoes, carrots, hard boiled eggs, watermelon, apples, grapes, strawberries, pirate's booty (yum) and Special K protein bars (double yum). I take time every Sunday to chop/peel/cook things I like to munch on. Even if I'm not super hungry, I try to grab a handful of something to keep by my side.
I also use Whey Protein Powder for a shake (I use chocolate flavored powder, iced coffee and kale - so yum).
Good luck. You're not alone.0 -
Hunger definitely isn't the best way to decide when and when not to eat. I eat all the time when I am NOT hungry and that's how I got fat!
Just eat some of what you used to eat that caused you to gain weight, just less of it.
Add some protein in to your lunch. I'd be passing out at just veggies for lunch. You can either add snacks (if you don't have a massive appretite) or eat more substantial meals. I love to eat all day long so try and save plenty of calories for snacks.0 -
correct. I dont wait until I'm starving, otherwise i will eat anything and everything. I just listen to what my body tells me. If i start thinking about what sounds good, i know i'm hungry. so i eat. and i eat slow and watch portions. I think my whole issue comes from not exercising a ton. If it did, i'm almost certain i'd be eating 1200 calories. It's just i dont move a lot while at work and when i get home i'm too exhausted-except i do walk when i can. I just think when you dont move a lot, you may not necessarily hit your calorie goal everyday.
Sorry- not sorry, but you are wrong.
You absolutely must hit your "I didn't work out today but I still need to eat" calorie goal.
even on my off days I eat 1700 calories- and I"m LOSING weight.
When I'm gaining- I still must eat my bare minimum BULKING calorie goal.
Dem's the rules.0 -
Eh, I don't know about that. That sounds like a recipe for disaster for someone who doesn't know the difference between hunger and appetite.
I've read that once you feel hungry you are too late in eating. You should be eating before you feel hungry. From what I've read if you feel true hunger then you are already heading towards starvation.Hunger is not an adequate way to figure out if you should be eating or not.0 -
How did you end up in a position to need to lose weight if you are having trouble eating over 900 calories? Same question for the person above me
LOL... I'm wondering the same. I'm amazed at the mentality of starving yourself to lose weight.
+1
I'm in the same position and posted for help elsewhere.
It's incredibly short sighted to think that a person must be starving themselves if they can't meet their calorie goals, and that the reason they are overweight is because they shoved their faces full every day.
My weight gain was a direct side effect of three things: Severe Depression. Moderate to Severe Anxiety. Severe Sleep Deprivation. For six years. I never fully recovered my body or weight (or my mind) after having my kids because of the above things.
Now I'm under medical care for both of the above and I'm losing weight. I have very little appetite but I'm trying very, very hard to meet my calories. Some of the medication impacts my appetite and some of it is mental - in that I'm FINALLY focusing on myself and making my health a priority. I've changed the WAY I eat, and I stay fuller, longer.
So the assumptions? Unnecessary if you're genuinely trying to help someone.
OP - try to get some fun snacks to have on hand at all times. I have cucumbers, cheese, tomatoes, carrots, hard boiled eggs, watermelon, apples, grapes, strawberries, pirate's booty (yum) and Special K protein bars (double yum). I take time every Sunday to chop/peel/cook things I like to munch on. Even if I'm not super hungry, I try to grab a handful of something to keep by my side.
I also use Whey Protein Powder for a shake (I use chocolate flavored powder, iced coffee and kale - so yum).
Good luck. You're not alone.
It's extremely idiotic to come on MFP forums asking for advice from random people when one has / or might have medical issues.
If someone can't meet at least 1000 calories, they are purposely starving themselves.... period. There's no way in HELL you can not meet 1k calories without purposely NOT trying. And I don't believe that ****, "I'm just not hungry". If you wake up at 8am and go to bed at 11 pm.... there's more than ample room to fit in 1k calories.0 -
I feel like I eat a lot! I eat two eggs in the AM
when did 2 eggs become 'a lot'?! really!?
For real. I'd call that about half of a snack.
Here, here! Between my husband, my two 6 year old boys and myself we eat over a dozen eggs in the morning for breakfast! I buy eggs by the 6 dozen weekly! I get so tired of all these I can't eat enough calories posts. Seriously my average meals are 500-600 calories each.:noway:0 -
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It sounds like you need more balance. Every meal should consist of a lean protein, quality carbs and healthy fat. Add some chicken or salmon and an olive oil vinegrette to your lunch vegetables. Add a fruit to your breakfast. Sounds like you're already eating what I call mini meals, so if that's all you're eating in a sitting consider eating more often. I eat 5-6 mini meals per day.0
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