Dont know how to get my calories in

AngieM76
AngieM76 Posts: 622 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I have been doing this for 2 days. Neither day have I been able to even net 1200 calories and I am supposed to have 1540. Today even if I subtract the exercise calories back out, I have 480 more calories I should eat. I'm not hungry, its 8:30 at night so I dont know how I will eat 480 more calories.

Replies

  • lovebeinGIGI
    lovebeinGIGI Posts: 72 Member
    Try planning your meals a day ahead of time to make sure you get the calories in. Then stick to that food for that day. That way, you can see ahead of time what you need to eat and where you can add calories earlier in the day. I'm one who does a big meal for lunch because I do not like eating in the evenings. So I try to make sure I get a good part of my calories early in my day and leave enough in the evening for my bar/shake. I had a friend who would add pudding at the end of her day as her treat if she didn't get all her calories in. But again, maybe planning your meal a day ahead is a way to help you see the calories better and then it will become more of a habit. Hope that helps!! :)
  • Zortch
    Zortch Posts: 6
    could try having healthy but high calorie foods like peanut butter? on crackers or toast?
  • liquidjem
    liquidjem Posts: 138 Member
    Good Question, I wonder about that too...I have been eating way under and getting in more exercise...I too am not really hungry. I always get the little message that says my body will think it is starving, so then I get worried I will gain my pounds back...Hmm.
  • Limeinthecoconut
    Limeinthecoconut Posts: 234 Member
    2 wholemeal pieces of toast with 1 tsp unsalted butter and 1 tbsp light peanut butter. Glass of skim milk.
    Easy 400 calories and will put you right to sleep.
  • RedHotRunner
    RedHotRunner Posts: 850 Member
    I would have a glass of milk. I looked at your diary and didn't see too many sources of calcium. It will add calories, protein and calcium and like someone else mentioned, help you sleep.
  • barbiex3
    barbiex3 Posts: 1,036 Member
    i have 800 left. I just kind of end up eating stuff because I stay up til like 2 most nights. But maybe try snacking on some rice cakes (by quaker), hard boliled eggs (70 cals), wheat thins(140 cals), milk?, cottage cheese. Sometimes for a treat i'll have a skinny cow ice cream bar (only 100 calories). Maybe make a shake or smoothie with yogurt and fruit. I find sometimes it's easier to drink calories. Maybe try a soup. or special K bars (90 calories). Bananas have a lot! ha idk. If you wanna go reward yourself, go eat a candy bar =] haha that'll easily eat up 250 calories AT LEAST!
  • AngieM76
    AngieM76 Posts: 622 Member
    Those are good ideas. I am out of milk, bread and peanut butter so its back to the store I go. I didnt think about those things.
  • barbiex3
    barbiex3 Posts: 1,036 Member
    also, you DON'T have to NET 1200 calories! I burned 1,200 the other day, & I definatly did NOT net 1200! It's just you should never eat less than 1,200 in a day as a general rule. If you don't eat your exercise calories back that is totally okay because you shouldn't eat them all anyways because if you burned 500 calories working out for an hour, and you would have burned 50 sitting on the couch for that same hour, then you REALLY should only eat 450 not 500. =]
  • AngieM76
    AngieM76 Posts: 622 Member
    But you are saying I should definitely make sure I am eating at least the 1200 calories a day, right? And I dont need to worry about eating back in the exercise calories.? Am I understanding that?
  • janeosu
    janeosu Posts: 140 Member
    I don't always get all of my exercise calories in, but I have been working on getting more in. I eat mostly whole foods, but I do add in protein shakes and sometimes a protein bar which help a lot. Almonds pack a good punch too. Something else that has helped is to enter my exercis early in the day even though I won't do it until the evening so that I can see how many calories I can have (and it also gives me a good push to do the work later). I will say that when I plateau, if I pay attention to increase my calories to make sure I get the majority of my exercise calories back in. .. the weight starts coming off again :)

    You're doing great!!
  • barbiex3
    barbiex3 Posts: 1,036 Member
    YES! you got it perfect there =] eating under 1200 puts body i starvation mode. & exercise calories are just "extra" you don't have to eat any of them! but it's a good idea to eat some good protein post workout which will add some cals =] goood luck
  • Opusarlo
    Opusarlo Posts: 53
    please don't let this program scare you into eating. When it tells you "your body will think it is starving" it is referencing your body's natural tendancy to slow down metabolism in time of little food. On the contrary, if you are exercising then you are calling the shots and your body does not have the opportunity to do that. What I am saying is as long as you are exercising your body will not go into starvation mode. Make sure you maintain carbs at 60% so you do not slip into gluconeogenesis and you will be fine.
  • kacarter1017
    kacarter1017 Posts: 651 Member
    YES! you got it perfect there =] eating under 1200 puts body i starvation mode. & exercise calories are just "extra" you don't have to eat any of them! but it's a good idea to eat some good protein post workout which will add some cals =] goood luck

    This is not true for everyone. If I don't eat the vast majority of my exercise calories back, I don't lose and have actually gained. I know others don't experience this, but from what I gather, many of us on here do have to.
  • Limeinthecoconut
    Limeinthecoconut Posts: 234 Member
    I'm sorry but you do not just "slip into" gluconeogenesis. Unless you already have diabetes issues.
  • mommyJto3
    mommyJto3 Posts: 139 Member
    you should definitely be coming close to what MFP is telling you, the number before you put your exercise in.

    I looked at your meal diary, and i have a couple suggestions (i hope you dont take offense that i looked!)

    eat more for breakfast. breakfast should be your biggest meal of the day. put some PB on your english muffin, add some OJ to the meal, or a whole banana.

    eat healthy snacks.trade the chips for fruits, or veggies. carrots and ranch or an apple with PB or even a rice cake with PB. even a handful of almonds too.

    eat 2 tortilla turkey roll-ups for dinner - or if it was me i would swap the turkey roll-ups for lunch and eat the michelina's for dinner.

    if you want you can add me as a friend and i could help support you :)
  • AngieM76
    AngieM76 Posts: 622 Member
    Thank you for the words of advice.
  • Opusarlo
    Opusarlo Posts: 53
    I'm sorry but you do not just "slip into" gluconeogenesis. Unless you already have diabetes issues.

    It is people like you spreading falsehoods that confuse individuals who only want to better their life. Go get a degree in bio chemistry with a minor in chemistry and then talk about what you know and what you do not know. People read these forums and apply the info they contain to their life. If someone reads what you posted and reacts as if it is fact they run a risk to their own health. Be supportive by knowing your **** and not spewing garbage all over.

    Genesis - beginning or creation
    Gluco - clucose
    Neo - new

    Gluconeogenesis - CREATION of NEW GLUCOSE by a living organism

    It (gluconeogenesis) is a pathway that is activated anytime the human body is too low on glucose such as in situations of extreme exertion/exercise and/or starvation. Since the brain runs on only glucose the body needs to produce it from something so it begins to break down proteins present in lean muscle tissue simply because that costs less energy than the breakdown of stored glycogen. When that lean muscle tissue is broken down your body's overall daily need for calories drops and as a result weight loss becomes that much more strenuous. Gluconesgenesis is very real in non-diabetics as well as type II diabtetics - don't kid yourself. If an individual were to restrict intake and maintain a rigorous level of exercise they would certainly slip into gluconeogenesis. Even plants go through gluconeogenesis from time to time.
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