I eat less calories then 1400 will I lose weight?

hit_becky
hit_becky Posts: 1
edited September 27 in Food and Nutrition
I've just started fitness pal again and I'm trying to stick to it. My meals that I eat don't add up to the 1400 its normally between 1000 and 1200 calories. I drink a lot of tea and never add that in my diary so I try and allow for it. However I've been reading that I might have to eat more to lose weight I'm also going to the gym in a morning. I'm a student and I don't tend to buy a lot of food as I don't always eat it. I have 3 meals a day and 3 snacks and if I'm hungry on a night I might have some extra but it always tends to be healthy. I really want to get this right and I don't want to be doing this for weeks and doing it wrong as I'll just give up and gorge. Some advice would really be welcome.

Replies

  • onlyJoanna
    onlyJoanna Posts: 20
    I eat between -300 and 750 on avergae and I've lost weight (and more importantly body mass).

    I wouldn't let it worry you.
  • jrich1
    jrich1 Posts: 2,408 Member
    My concern is if you are working out and only eating 1000-1200 that you might need to eat more. No one will be able to answer this question for you, it really depends on you, but netting under 1200 cals a day usually isnt considered healthy and espeically after a workout you need some nourishment to replenish your body.
  • AshleyLauren589
    AshleyLauren589 Posts: 139 Member
    I eat between -300 and 750 on avergae and I've lost weight (and more importantly body mass).

    I wouldn't let it worry you.

    Is this your net? Or your total food intake?
  • s_waser
    s_waser Posts: 92
    I recently met with a dietician and she told me if you are active 4 to 5 days a week then you should eat 1500 calories a day. I find it hard to get that much in and MFP says that if I want to lose 1 lb a week I should eat 1270 calories a day. I began eating 6 small meals a day and I lost 1 lb. last week. I am not sure if this is a fluke thing or if it is really working. I am 5'4" and weigh 133lb. You can view my food diary if you want to see what I eat. I feel full all the time and sometimes feel like I have to force myself to eat when it is time. This helps with the binge eating that I used to do when I would get discouraged or stressed!!
  • ladyhawk00
    ladyhawk00 Posts: 2,457 Member
    It's hard to say... Your body may or may not be able to handle that cal level. We'd need more info (height, weight, age, activity level, exercise, etc) to offer much advice. What I can say is that unless you are very petite, that is likely not enough fuel for your body. And remember that hunger is NOT a reliable way to determine if you are eating enough, particularly if you've had poor eating habits. Might help to read these threads that discuss healthy goals and why eating too little will hamper your weight loss and may leave you with a slowed metabolism and loss of muscle.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/186814-some-mfp-basics

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/230930-starvation-mode-how-it-works

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/175241-a-personal-view-on-exercise-cals-and-underfeeding

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/231636-the-eating-when-you-re-not-hungry-dilemma

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing
  • ladyhawk00
    ladyhawk00 Posts: 2,457 Member
    I recently met with a dietician and she told me if you are active 4 to 5 days a week then you should eat 1500 calories a day. I find it hard to get that much in and MFP says that if I want to lose 1 lb a week I should eat 1270 calories a day. I began eating 6 small meals a day and I lost 1 lb. last week. I am not sure if this is a fluke thing or if it is really working. I am 5'4" and weigh 133lb. You can view my food diary if you want to see what I eat. I feel full all the time and sometimes feel like I have to force myself to eat when it is time. This helps with the binge eating that I used to do when I would get discouraged or stressed!!

    At 23 lbs to go, 1 lb per week is a bit too aggressive. You should probably be at 1/2 lb per week.
  • Beehiveof8
    Beehiveof8 Posts: 85 Member
    I would try and get 1200 to 1400 calories a day, since you are working out. Your body can go into "starvation" mode, and will actually hinder your weightloss. Your body is designed to burn a lot of calories a day. It is healthy, whether you are attempting to lose weight or not. You just have to make sure the fuel is there for your body to do it's job.

    If you are hungry alot, then that is a sure sign you aren't getting enough nutrients. That isn't an excuse to gorge on whatever you want, but to eat more healthy snacks/meals. Drinking a lot of tea shouldn't be a problem, except for the fact it might fool you into thinking that you don't need anything to eat since your brain is telling you that you are full, even if it is just tea.

    That's my .02!
  • ladyhawk00
    ladyhawk00 Posts: 2,457 Member
    I eat between -300 and 750 on avergae and I've lost weight (and more importantly body mass).

    I wouldn't let it worry you.

    Yeah, likely have lost body mass..... LEAN body mass (ie a lot of muscle, in addition to some fat)
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I recently met with a dietician and she told me if you are active 4 to 5 days a week then you should eat 1500 calories a day. I find it hard to get that much in and MFP says that if I want to lose 1 lb a week I should eat 1270 calories a day. I began eating 6 small meals a day and I lost 1 lb. last week. I am not sure if this is a fluke thing or if it is really working. I am 5'4" and weigh 133lb. You can view my food diary if you want to see what I eat. I feel full all the time and sometimes feel like I have to force myself to eat when it is time. This helps with the binge eating that I used to do when I would get discouraged or stressed!!

    MFP says 1270 on days you don't workout and 1270 plus what you burn on days you do workout. averaged out through the week 1500 per day should be pretty close to 1270 some days and 1270 plus exercise calories other days.
  • jcl1981
    jcl1981 Posts: 60 Member
    eating 300 - 750 calories a day, even net calories is not healthy, its pretty much anorexia, i say this with love and compassion, if this is all you are actually eating you are slowly starving yourself and this will have negative health results.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    eating 300 - 750 calories a day, even net calories is not healthy, its pretty much anorexia, i say this with love and compassion, if this is all you are actually eating you are slowly starving yourself and this will have negative health results.

    Agreed, your net should be at or above 1200 for a woman or 1500 for a man.
  • SunLove8
    SunLove8 Posts: 693 Member
    eating 300 - 750 calories a day, even net calories is not healthy, its pretty much anorexia, i say this with love and compassion, if this is all you are actually eating you are slowly starving yourself and this will have negative health results.

    I agree completely with this. Please research the calorie intake your are eating to see what it is doing to your body. I'm not going to try and fill you full of info, for I think you might believe it better if you did your own research and even talked to your Doctor.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories