Not eating enough ??

speedmachine5
speedmachine5 Posts: 3 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi All just looking for a bit of advise please

I started my diet at the start of September and so far I have lost 20lbs with little to no exercise

I'm just worried I'm not eating enough as I'm consuming around 900-100 calories a day

I have a fruit for breakfast and a sandwich or scrambled egg for lunch ( 200 - 300 ish calories ) Then main meal in the evening of around 400-600 calories and a low fat yogurt as a snack and I drink around 4 pints of water during the day

I don't feel hungry , sick etc during the day so do I need to eat more ?
I'm 45 5" 7 and 170lb

Replies

  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,147 Member
    You're a 45 year old male eating 900 calories a day?? What on this earth did you learn during the first 44 years of your life that would make you do something so ridiculous??? You're losing all your lean muscle mass!
  • funchords
    funchords Posts: 413 Member
    I have two concerns...

    When it comes time to start eating normally again, you're going to have to swing 1000 calories more than you're eating now in order to maintain your weight. That's more than twice what you're eating now. So at some point between now and then, I'd add 200 daily calories and a few weeks later, add another 200, and so on. This will slow your weight loss, but it will be an easier transition into maintenance.

    Second is whether you're eating a healthy variety of food on only 900 or 1000 calories. If you're eating the same thing daily, you may not be getting certain vitamins, minerals, or essential fats or essential proteins. If you're eating different kinds of meats, fruits, vegetables, fats, and etc.. then you're probably okay.

    Going under 1200 is not recommended by MFP. But for your situation, these are the only two things I can think of.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    Despite you feeling hungry or not, you need to give your body the required level of nutrients for good health. You are not doing that with 900-1000 calories per day. It's not just the macros that are important. The micros (iron, calcium, vitamins, etc.) are also very important in obtaining and maintaining good health. Do a Google search for nutrients and calories dense foods and add some to your food plan.
  • Unknown
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  • PrizePopple
    PrizePopple Posts: 3,133 Member
    I'm a 33 year old woman who is 1" shorter and started around the same time as you. I've also lost 20 pounds (started at 198, and I'm now 178). I've been eating between 1400-1700 calories a day on average. The most glaring difference between us is that I'm eating normally, and you are not. When you eat at a normal caloric level you'll regain weight. Since I will just continue on eating as I am now I will continue to lose or simply maintain if I eat at that range.

  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    I'm a female, and eat double that amount. Your plan is nuts and you need to eat more.
  • Chezzie84
    Chezzie84 Posts: 873 Member
    I am a 30 yo, 5"5, female and I eat more than that.
    You should seriously think about upping your intake.
  • opalsqueak007
    opalsqueak007 Posts: 433 Member
    HI OP.

    I am a 5'7" 51 year old woman and I don't do exercise either, however I have lost a lot of weight since August eating a lot more calories than you. Just my opinion only, but for your health, I think you need to eat more, and if you crash the weight off, it might be hard to keep it off, which would be a shame, wouldn't it? Good luck.

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  • WildOkapi
    WildOkapi Posts: 81 Member
    I'd highly recommend, at the very least, figuring out your BMR (basal metabolic rate - what your body requires even if you did nothing but lay around all day) to make sure you're staying around it. Ideally, caloric deficits should be taken as a reasonable (5-25%) percentage of your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure - what your body requires to sustain your current weight).

    With your numbers, and no exercise, MFP puts your BMR at 1615 cal and your TDEE at 2020. IIFYM puts your BMR at 1616 and your TDEE at 1940. Scooby's Workshop puts your BMR at 1670 and your TDEE at 2004.
  • speedmachine5
    speedmachine5 Posts: 3 Member
    Ok point taken I need to eat more lol . although in my defense I've never been on a diet before so just thought if I'm not hungry or passing out id be ok ...

    So if I up my calories to my 1340 daily goal from tomorrow will I gain weight or should I increase it slowly ? because I've been eating less than 1000 calories for 2 months ?

    I am eating a healthy variety of food in fact I'm quite surprised how I've changed my diet from eating mostly junk food to lots more fruit and veg and even cooking !

    Thanks for all the advise ill take it on board and hopefully get back on track !
  • funchords
    funchords Posts: 413 Member
    No, you will not gain weight if you increase to 1340. You'd have to increase to 1900 or 2000 to break even and go above that to gain weight. You -might- lose more slowly and you might not. There is a metabolic slowing that is observed in people in long-term sustained undereating (well under 850 calories) -- you won't have that issue.

    Go for 1340.
  • speedmachine5
    speedmachine5 Posts: 3 Member
    Thanks will do ..
This discussion has been closed.

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