Having trouble eating.

mamabear1114
mamabear1114 Posts: 140 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
MFP allots me 1,800 calories for the day. After exercising, of course, it allows for a little more. Anywhere from 2000-2200 calories. I am finding, though, that I am having trouble eating all of my calories for the day! I am usually 500 calories under. Is this a bad thing? I am not starving myself! I eat all day! Lol, any ideas?

Replies

  • victorprocure
    victorprocure Posts: 17 Member
    Depends what your goals are?
    Your current height and weight?
    Age?
    Gender?
    Current base activity level (excluding workouts/deliberate cardio)
  • mamabear1114
    mamabear1114 Posts: 140 Member
    victorprocure wrote: »
    Depends what your goals are?
    Your current height and weight?
    Age?
    Gender?
    Current base activity level (excluding workouts/deliberate cardio)
    I am female, 20 y/o, 5'8 and 190 pounds. I am trying to lose 20 pounds! I do exercise and whatnot, but besides that, I am basically sedentary. I work part time as a waitress, but I don't chalk much up to that. What do you think?
  • avskk
    avskk Posts: 1,787 Member
    Sounds like you're mostly not eating your exercise calories back, which is fine. Make sure you're logging accurately (using a food scale, all that good stuff) and you may find that you're not even undereating all that much.

    If you find you're becoming fatigued, losing muscle strength, developing brittle nails or losing hair... then make a concerted effort to eat back more of your exercise calories.
  • mbcieslak87
    mbcieslak87 Posts: 206 Member
    I would not worry about it, at all. My guess is that you're new to this and you'll be glad to have those extra calories some days and not need them other days, as I think most of us have found over time. You're gonna have daily/weekly/even monthly fluctuations. I know I personally am starving days I lift, and could care less about food on days I do cardio... but it all catches up with me eventually. In general, eating 1500-1700 calories (if you're only burning 200-400 a day) is totally fine in the short, or even medium term. I can do that for a few days and then I get massively hungry... If you're really low on cals, I am happy to suggest plenty of yummy ones! (I'm dreaming of pizza and beer as I type)

    PS - I know everyone says this - but make sure you're weighing your food on a digital scale in grams and not just guesstimating... it's a game changer for a lot of people.
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    madeline_land wrote: »
    victorprocure wrote: »
    Depends what your goals are?
    Your current height and weight?
    Age?
    Gender?
    Current base activity level (excluding workouts/deliberate cardio)
    I am female, 20 y/o, 5'8 and 190 pounds. I am trying to lose 20 pounds! I do exercise and whatnot, but besides that, I am basically sedentary. I work part time as a waitress, but I don't chalk much up to that. What do you think?

    You became 190 lbs by eating 2000+ calories. You did it once, you can do it again.

    If you are really struggling, I would add calorie dense foods into your diet such as nuts/seeds, nut butters, olive oil, avocado, etc.

  • mamabear1114
    mamabear1114 Posts: 140 Member
    FatFreeFrolicking wrote: »
    madeline_land wrote: »
    victorprocure wrote: »
    Depends what your goals are?
    Your current height and weight?
    Age?
    Gender?
    Current base activity level (excluding workouts/deliberate cardio)
    I am female, 20 y/o, 5'8 and 190 pounds. I am trying to lose 20 pounds! I do exercise and whatnot, but besides that, I am basically sedentary. I work part time as a waitress, but I don't chalk much up to that. What do you think?

    You became 190 lbs by eating 2000+ calories. You did it once, you can do it again.

    If you are really struggling, I would add calorie dense foods into your diet such as nuts/seeds, nut butters, olive oil, avocado, etc.

    Yeah sure, 2000 calories was easier to come by, eating fast food and crap like I was lol. I think eating wholesome foods keeps me fuller, and thus I do not feel like I need to eat as much. I think I will try eating nuts though, they have tons of calories and good fats! Thx.
  • mamabear1114
    mamabear1114 Posts: 140 Member
    avskk wrote: »
    Sounds like you're mostly not eating your exercise calories back, which is fine. Make sure you're logging accurately (using a food scale, all that good stuff) and you may find that you're not even undereating all that much.

    If you find you're becoming fatigued, losing muscle strength, developing brittle nails or losing hair... then make a concerted effort to eat back more of your exercise calories.
    Thank you!!! :) I will try!
  • mamabear1114
    mamabear1114 Posts: 140 Member
    mbcieslak87 wrote: »
    I would not worry about it, at all. My guess is that you're new to this and you'll be glad to have those extra calories some days and not need them other days, as I think most of us have found over time. You're gonna have daily/weekly/even monthly fluctuations. I know I personally am starving days I lift, and could care less about food on days I do cardio... but it all catches up with me eventually. In general, eating 1500-1700 calories (if you're only burning 200-400 a day) is totally fine in the short, or even medium term. I can do that for a few days and then I get massively hungry... If you're really low on cals, I am happy to suggest plenty of yummy ones! (I'm dreaming of pizza and beer as I type)

    PS - I know everyone says this - but make sure you're weighing your food on a digital scale in grams and not just guesstimating... it's a game changer for a lot of people.
    I guess I will have to invest in a food scale! Everyone says that! :D
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