Am I eating too much?

Awineburg
Awineburg Posts: 196
edited September 23 in Food and Nutrition
I am noticing that I that I am snacking a lot and I am still under my calorie amount. I am worried that I will be gaining weight instead of losing. For example one night I was able to eat two ice cream sandwich and STILL be under my limit. Should I change my calorie limit? My limit for my weight is around 2000 calories. I usually eat under that around 1800. I also am not exercising yet, and I dont eat that much meat. Am i doing something wrong? :(

Replies

  • ellliemaeee
    ellliemaeee Posts: 44 Member
    I've been wondering this too. I'm under my calorie limit alot but the junk i'm eating seems like it won't be helping me at all.
  • lushy20
    lushy20 Posts: 215 Member
    are you sure you have set your goals right? 2000 calories is the calorie intake allowance for women not trying to lose weight its the daily allowance, im on 1200 calories a day if i exercise i can bump it up and have some more.
  • LizardIsANerd
    LizardIsANerd Posts: 113
    Try to go a little less than that - I am sticking to 1300 calories but I am wanting to go from 216 to 180 over the course of several months. - Your body may need more fuel than mine just to stay alive.
    ALso make sure your portions are being entered correctly.
    And really look at the balance of what you are eating. You need protein when you start exercising.
    If you go by the calories listed and enter everything accurately (I am obsessed with measuring cups!) You will lose, even at 1800 calories or 2000 calories. MFP has put in a calorie deficit that causes weight loss even without working out!! :)
  • HotMomma86
    HotMomma86 Posts: 75
    I think even though you are under your calories, there are other ingredients in those junky foods such as sodium, sugar, carbs and all that and it will cause you to not lose weight. It's not only staying within your calories, but eating healthy food along with it. I would suggest maybe snacking on something healthier like fresh fruit or even frozen fruit.
  • sexygenius
    sexygenius Posts: 1,078 Member
    1600 for me and im really big...i try to be under- not less than 1200
  • katebjones
    katebjones Posts: 32 Member
    Umm.. 2000 calories is a lot!! did you add your wt loss goals.

    i get 1200 thats with my goals to lose 1.5-2 lbs per week.. when i work out i get extra calories. you need to look under the nutrients section and make sure you are getting enough in each catagory. maybe you need to eat more protein. its more calories at times but it will make u fuller longer. and also double check your sodium intake. lots of low cal snacks have a ton of sodium. sodium can cause you to not lose.
  • imperfectlyhere
    imperfectlyhere Posts: 87
    you need to limit junk food even if you are under your calories for the day. I am at 1380 to lose weight and I started at 195 going to 130. I try not to have sweet and if I do just every few days....I would check the calories cause thats alot.
  • Awineburg
    Awineburg Posts: 196
    Your Daily Goal 2,030 calories/ day This is what my goal says. It says my body needs 3000 and some calories for daily living. So there is a 1000 calorie deficit. I do eat lots of fruit and veggies which are low in calories.
  • fitinyoga14
    fitinyoga14 Posts: 448 Member
    You may be doing something wrong, however its hard to be sure without seeing your diary. There are some very basic nutrition guidelines one must follow however.

    - 1600 to 2000 calories is just fine for a younger woman to lose weight on. However, getting healthy is NOT all about the calorie intake. The calories you are consuming need to be healthy ones!!

    - When you start exercising, your body is going to need some extra protein and carbs in order to fuel your work-outs. This is why it is important to track your exercise.

    - Make sure your are getting adequate amounts from each food group every day! If you are not eating much meat, it should be made up for by consuming other sources of protein such as legumes, nuts, seeds, and dairy. Foods such as nuts and beans are nutrient-dense and will take up a larger portion of calories as well!

    - ice cream sandwiches fit into a 'discretionary calorie' food group. This means you are not getting many nutrients for the calories you are consuming. For a woman on a 2000 calorie diet, only about 200 of the 2000 should be discretionary. If you are under your calorie goal, but are only consuming discretionary calories, it will be hard to lose weight.

    I hope this helps!! I am a student studying nutrition and most of the info. I put on here is straight from my textbook. Shoot me a message if you have any questions!
  • VP72
    VP72 Posts: 89
    It depends on your current weight - but I am on 1200 cals a day!
    The idea is you eat less than you normally do, as your usual intake was more than what you need, hence why you put on weight!
    Simple I know & I have a long way to go, this is my 2nd week.

    Good Luck
  • Awineburg
    Awineburg Posts: 196
    I made my diary public if anyone wants to look and offer some suggestions :)
  • lotty1987
    lotty1987 Posts: 176 Member
    Hiya
    I started dieting on 1st jan 2011 - since then i have lost 5lb all in all - 1lb in first weigh in when starting MFP and 4lb before ( i also know iv lost some since then approx 3lb but not putting it on until weigh in day) My target calories is 1500 - however i try to stay between 1200 - 1500 and this seems to be getting the right results ! I have not been too harsh on myself either just cut down on portion size stopped snacking as much and finally realised I dont need that desert after every meal. When I have had really bad calories ( e.g. takeaway) i cut it in half n eat only that ( i tend to throw the other in the bin before i start eating ) or like monday this week i only had a burger from mcdonalds not the whole meal
  • innerfashionista
    innerfashionista Posts: 451 Member
    It really does depend on how your body reacts to food and making sure there's enough of a deficit to lose weight. Mine says 1750, but if I ate that much, not only would I be full and sluggish, I'd put on weight. Take into account how you spend most of your day. Do you work a desk job? A student?

    The "automated' numbers aren't exact. I looked over your diary and I do see a lot of smart decisions. Good for you! I do have a question though. Are you eating just to meet the calories? The reason I ask is when I first started I felt like I HAD to eat the EXACT number of calories they said, but it was way too much for me. I didn't lose any weight and was discouraged. It took me awhile to see exactly where the line was in how many calories I could eat and lose or eat and stay the same.
  • Awineburg
    Awineburg Posts: 196
    It really does depend on how your body reacts to food and making sure there's enough of a deficit to lose weight. Mine says 1750, but if I ate that much, not only would I be full and sluggish, I'd put on weight. Take into account how you spend most of your day. Do you work a desk job? A student?

    The "automated' numbers aren't exact. I looked over your diary and I do see a lot of smart decisions. Good for you! I do have a question though. Are you eating just to meet the calories? The reason I ask is when I first started I felt like I HAD to eat the EXACT number of calories they said, but it was way too much for me. I didn't lose any weight and was discouraged. It took me awhile to see exactly where the line was in how many calories I could eat and lose or eat and stay the same.

    I do work a desk job, so I sit ALL day long starring at my lovely computer screen!
    I do not think I am eating to meet the number of calories I need, I definitely think I am eating the junk because I know that I can and still be under my limit. I think I am an over eater! I am thinking I should drink a tons more water! I am not thirsty but I should still drink. Eeeek!
  • kmahly
    kmahly Posts: 39 Member
    How many calories a person needs to eat to lose weight depends on your weight, your activity level, and your body fat percentage. Whereas one female might swear by 1200 calories, another might lose on 2000. I eat 1800-2000 and that is appropriate for my stats... if I were to just assume 1200 was okay for myself, I would quickly be in starvation mode and not doing myself any favors.

    If you can share your weight, body fat percentage, and give us an idea on activity level, there are equations you can use to figure out how much you should be eating.

    Or if you'd rather do it yourself, you can start here:

    http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=121703921
  • kmahly
    kmahly Posts: 39 Member
    Oh, and wanted to add a bit more...

    In the end, it's calories in vs calories out. Whether you eat Twinkies all day, or broccoli all day... it doesn't matter- at least not in terms of weight. (If you want to start looking at the health of your organs, skin, muscle, blood work etc... then of course, your food choices are going to make a difference and you should try for healthy foods).

    Additionally, remember that unless you are measuring things with measuring cups and a scale, everything you enter is an estimate. I might THINK that chicken breast looks like a "deck of cards" 3-4oz, but unless I put it on my kitchen scale I won't know for sure...

    With that said, however, I don't think measuring food is necessarily mandated- I know some people DO measure everything... but that's way more anal than I like to be...

    IMO, a better method than measuring (one that helps keep your sanity) is to try a few weeks at a calorie level, being consistent, and see what happens on the scale. If you stay the same or your weight goes up, try lowering calories by 100-200 and go again for a week or two and then re-measure.

    Remember, eating healthy and watching your portions is a new life-long habit- so there's no rush and it won't hurt you to tweak things and then wait a few weeks to see what happens on the scale! :)
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