Too full to meet minimum calorie requirements...

catie224
catie224 Posts: 50
edited September 28 in Health and Weight Loss
...what do you do?? On days when I workout, I find it tough to meet requirements (and I already have them at the minimum 1200). Today I was almost 300 calories under and had to force myself to drink a smoothie, even though I was so full and it was late. Help!!

Replies

  • RitaPrior
    RitaPrior Posts: 39 Member
    I just asked myself the same thing. I am sooo fully but I need to hit 1200.
  • forgetregret
    forgetregret Posts: 66 Member
    Um peanut butter or nuts?
  • amy_p
    amy_p Posts: 82
    I usually do smoothies too.. depending on how many calories I need, I may add peanut butter to it.

    I'm in that boat tonight.. I was just at my calories for the day, then I went and burned 400 cals, and had to make it up.

    I don't lose weight unless I try to eat back my exercise calories, so it's defiantly necessary for me.
  • tappytaptap
    tappytaptap Posts: 46
    if im not hungry i dont eat, if you dont always eat back your cals its not a huge issue as long as you try to eat about 1200
  • britachu
    britachu Posts: 157
    Peanut butter or almonds/other nuts, as someone else suggested, are calorie dense foods but still not "junk". Or if you want a little sweet and don't mind the extra sugars, put some nutella in your smoothie or on a slice of toast.
  • McKayMachina
    McKayMachina Posts: 2,670 Member
    Then how did you get fat in the first place?

    Come on, now.

    6 servings of peanut butter = 1200 calories. There. Now you are out of excuses.
  • JulieJacobus
    JulieJacobus Posts: 9 Member
    I have heard that if you really aren't hungry, there is no need to eat. It's not so much how much you eat, but what you eat that is important...i.e....protein is better than simple carbs, even if they are the same calorie content.
  • registers
    registers Posts: 782 Member
    Then how did you get fat in the first place?

    Come on, now.

    6 tbsp. of peanut butter = 1200 calories. There. Now you are out of excuses.

    -thumbs up- good quote. But since moderators say we can't recommend anything against the site, since it's "UNHEALTHY" so KEEP EATING, eat more... drink a shake with peanut butter, bananas add some table sugar... etc... you'll be fine. and THIN
  • jamielise2
    jamielise2 Posts: 432 Member
    It won't hurt to occasionally have your net calories under 1200, just don't make a habit of it. Otherwise your weight loss will slow down. I'm having that problem today...burned 1600 calories exercising. Can't possibly eat all that.
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    Then how did you get fat in the first place?

    Come on, now.

    6 tbsp. of peanut butter = 1200 calories. There. Now you are out of excuses.

    I truly believe as we change our lifestyle, our stomachs change too. If your body is used to only eating small amounts - it won't be hungry like it was when you were eating tons of food.

    People "get fat" for a ton of different reasons - medications, injuries, eating too much or just plain eating the WRONG things. The OP is trying to get healthy and is obviously unsure how to handle the lack of hunger. How about trying to offer advice instead of being snide?

    If you aren't hungry - don't force yourself to eat. But, I would recommend eating more earlier in the day on the days you know you're going to workout. THEN you're getting the calories you need and will still net 1200 calories with exercise.
  • annieemmons
    annieemmons Posts: 16 Member
    I agree with tappytaptap.
    If you're full, don't eat. It's not like the food you ate today was the energy used for that exercise anyway. It takes time to break down the food you ate into calories, you know? You're really more likely burning the calories from yesterday or a few days ago anyhow. It's the whole basis of athletes who carb load the day before an event, and don't each as much the day of the event.

    In fact I think I have caused myself some problems by overeating because I looked at my totals when not hungry in the slightest and said, "Ooh, 200 calories. I can totally eat a brownie!" Sometimes it's better to listen to one's body. As long as you are generally staying at the calorie goal norms, you'll be fine.
  • McKayMachina
    McKayMachina Posts: 2,670 Member
    I don't mean to be unnecessarily snide.

    But we're all adults here. If you can't figure out how to inject your diet with more calorie-dense foods, then I have a comment for you about density. :laugh:

    This gets asked a lot and most of the time it seems like some sort of brag. Like, "Oh, I'm not hungry. I'm so weird. Look at me."

    Not saying OP is doing that. In fact, it doesn't sound like that's what is happening at all. But how difficult is it to search for higher-calorie foods and add them to your day?

    :tongue:
  • plagirl227
    plagirl227 Posts: 134
    ....But, I would recommend eating more earlier in the day on the days you know you're going to workout. THEN you're getting the calories you need and will still net 1200 calories with exercise.

    This... This way also serves 2 purposes. If you eat, you HAVE to do the exercise. ;-)
  • catie224
    catie224 Posts: 50
    I find that blunt and insulting to people with legitimate reasons for weight gain.

    I'm actually not "fat;" I am 5'9'' and around 150lbs, which makes my BMI 22.1, basically as average as possible. I use this site as a means of staying healthy as I recover from multiple sports-related surgeries.

    This posting was a legitimate question, and definitely not meant to create a debate over the merits of MFP or any of its users.
  • catie224
    catie224 Posts: 50
    I'm not concerned about finding calorie-dense foods--clearly I made a smoothie earlier--just about whether it's smarter to pass up on the remaining calories when you're full, or very important to eat them.
  • registers
    registers Posts: 782 Member
    I'm not concerned about finding calorie-dense foods--clearly I made a smoothie earlier--just about whether it's smarter to pass up on the remaining calories when you're full, or very important to eat them.

    What do you "think" will happen if you eat more, compared to less?
  • catie224
    catie224 Posts: 50
    I'm not concerned about finding calorie-dense foods--clearly I made a smoothie earlier--just about whether it's smarter to pass up on the remaining calories when you're full, or very important to eat them.

    What do you "think" will happen if you eat more, compared to less?

    Well, I either eat the 1200 goal, or am under it. It's not recommended to be under 1200 net cals/day, but I've also know that exercise speeds up your metabolism, which could potential balance out the lower calorie intake. I was hoping to hear from someone who had experienced the same issue, and had a results-based reply.
  • xraychick77
    xraychick77 Posts: 1,775 Member
    dont worry about it..you wont 'starve'
  • registers
    registers Posts: 782 Member
    I'm not concerned about finding calorie-dense foods--clearly I made a smoothie earlier--just about whether it's smarter to pass up on the remaining calories when you're full, or very important to eat them.

    What do you "think" will happen if you eat more, compared to less?

    Well, I either eat the 1200 goal, or am under it. It's not recommended to be under 1200 net cals/day, but I've also know that exercise speeds up your metabolism, which could potential balance out the lower calorie intake. I was hoping to hear from someone who had experienced the same issue, and had a results-based reply.

    Thanks for supporting my point. All jokes a side.You shouldn't force feed yourself, that's how health people gained weight in the first place. If you're not hungry don't eat. The more you over eat, the more you're training yourself to over eat. Not a good thing.

    As you said exercise speeds up your metabolism which is true. You think if you eat 1150 calories in one day, you're metabolism is going to slow down The entire starvation mode theory, is partially true and partially not true. The theory is, "if you reduce your calories to a low level you will lose muscle mass and slow down your metabolism and you'll stop losing weight."

    What if I was eating 3000 calories and exercise, i stopped losing weight, so I reduce my calories to 2500... There will be a point I do lose muscle mass and my metabolism slows down and I stop getting results. This can happen at 5000 calories, or 500 calories, makes no difference. So I'll be in starvation mode eating 3000 calories? yeah right.

    My general message is don't force feed yourself based on a "inaccurate" number.
  • mnldreams
    mnldreams Posts: 21
    how do you change your min requirement? I never meet my calories no matter how hard i try, especially on work out days also. it might help if i can change it to 1200 instead, can someone help?
  • Indyfferent
    Indyfferent Posts: 6
    Just eat.
  • littlemili
    littlemili Posts: 625 Member
    You are trying to lose weight. Why would you force yourself to eat beyond comfort? Take it as a bonus and next time you screw up and go over or can't be bothered to work out it will cancel out and you don't need to feel bad about it. All this stuff about making yourself eat back every calorie is rubbish, there is a reason that on the iPhone app MFP gives a weekly net...because your body wont lose or drop overnight, and you will not go into "starvation mode" (a debated concept anyway) overnight. Just take the extra deficit and be proud of your workout.
  • wildon883r
    wildon883r Posts: 429 Member
    Alot of the questions are asked OVER AND OVER AND OVER as to why folks get peeved sometimes. There is are also alot of whining about this and that on these forums as well. Simple fact is to lose weight is eat less calories then you burn and secondly ANY exercise helps this process. You don't have to be a cardio superstar with a heart rate monitor and a professional nutritionist to do it. If your to full to eat your calorie limit then your too full so don't bother eating them.
  • registers
    registers Posts: 782 Member
    You are trying to lose weight. Why would you force yourself to eat beyond comfort? Take it as a bonus and next time you screw up and go over or can't be bothered to work out it will cancel out and you don't need to feel bad about it. All this stuff about making yourself eat back every calorie is rubbish, there is a reason that on the iPhone app MFP gives a weekly net...because your body wont lose or drop overnight, and you will not go into "starvation mode" (a debated concept anyway) overnight. Just take the extra deficit and be proud of your workout.

    Because a lot of people on this site will say "you'll go in to starvation mode" if you don't eat... They encourage eating on a weight loss site... EVEN when they're full. I was just reading a study how calorie restriction expands life. Aren't we here to help people not hurt them?
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    You are trying to lose weight. Why would you force yourself to eat beyond comfort? Take it as a bonus and next time you screw up and go over or can't be bothered to work out it will cancel out and you don't need to feel bad about it. All this stuff about making yourself eat back every calorie is rubbish, there is a reason that on the iPhone app MFP gives a weekly net...because your body wont lose or drop overnight, and you will not go into "starvation mode" (a debated concept anyway) overnight. Just take the extra deficit and be proud of your workout.

    Because a lot of people on this site will say "you'll go in to starvation mode" if you don't eat... They encourage eating on a weight loss site... EVEN when they're full. I was just reading a study how calorie restriction expands life. Aren't we here to help people not hurt them?

    This will sound gross but it's a quick and dirty way to fill your calorie requirements if you're really close and you can't really stomach any solid food. Get a bottle of Olive Oil or Flax Seed oil and a shot glass and fill it enough to meet your calorie goals and just shoot it back. Gross yes, but pretty effective and you get a good serving of essential fatty acids.
  • BranMuffin21
    BranMuffin21 Posts: 157 Member
    Chocolate milk helps me! Plus its delicious!
  • mdgracia
    mdgracia Posts: 20
    I have this issue too sometimes, and I don't eat when I am not hungry. That is what got me here in the first place. I just know the next day to get in more protein early in the day and it helps my energy level and helps me to get the calories I do need in at the beginning of the day. I also drink a lot of water which in fact makes me not as hungry. The way I look at it is if I am eating the right things, getting in some exercise and staying within 100-300 calories of 1200 I will do okay.
  • littlemili
    littlemili Posts: 625 Member
    You are trying to lose weight. Why would you force yourself to eat beyond comfort? Take it as a bonus and next time you screw up and go over or can't be bothered to work out it will cancel out and you don't need to feel bad about it. All this stuff about making yourself eat back every calorie is rubbish, there is a reason that on the iPhone app MFP gives a weekly net...because your body wont lose or drop overnight, and you will not go into "starvation mode" (a debated concept anyway) overnight. Just take the extra deficit and be proud of your workout.

    Because a lot of people on this site will say "you'll go in to starvation mode" if you don't eat... They encourage eating on a weight loss site... EVEN when they're full. I was just reading a study how calorie restriction expands life. Aren't we here to help people not hurt them?

    Erm read what I said. I said to equal them out over a week rather than forcing yourself to hit the minimum every day and then ending up being over by the end of the week, because we all screw up on some days for whatever reason. In the end starvation mode is debated and it does not happen overnight which you are suggesting by saying that the OP must eat back all the calories exercised off. If the OP chose never to eat back exercise calories maybe they would get a slower metabolism. Maybe. Not for sure though. I never eat mine back and I am doing just fine. Often I will have days of netting 500 and other days of 1500, it cancels out over a week. It also keeps your metabolism boosted because you keep your body guessing. It is just like zig-zagging calories.
  • moremari
    moremari Posts: 118 Member
    I don't mean to be unnecessarily snide.

    But we're all adults here. If you can't figure out how to inject your diet with more calorie-dense foods, then I have a comment for you about density. :laugh:

    This gets asked a lot and most of the time it seems like some sort of brag. Like, "Oh, I'm not hungry. I'm so weird. Look at me."

    Not saying OP is doing that. In fact, it doesn't sound like that's what is happening at all. But how difficult is it to search for higher-calorie foods and add them to your day?

    :tongue:

    I believe the issue is not higher calories, it's feeling full on lower calories.

    There's a lot of great advice here. Exercising can ramp up your bodies natural appetite hormones as will spreading out your meals. here's a link to a Science Daily article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081211081446.htm. the body is a mysterious machine. Eating back exercise calories is great when you're hungry but if your new eating habits are healthy I agree with some other the other posts that suggest looking at your eating and calories over a week vs. a single day. It can be alarming to have MFP alert you after logging in your food diary for the day that "you're eating too few calories." I actually get a kick out of that (the few times it's happened) b/c I am changing my routine slowly but the most important thing is to listen to your body. Hope the article helps?
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    You are trying to lose weight. Why would you force yourself to eat beyond comfort? Take it as a bonus and next time you screw up and go over or can't be bothered to work out it will cancel out and you don't need to feel bad about it. All this stuff about making yourself eat back every calorie is rubbish, there is a reason that on the iPhone app MFP gives a weekly net...because your body wont lose or drop overnight, and you will not go into "starvation mode" (a debated concept anyway) overnight. Just take the extra deficit and be proud of your workout.

    Because a lot of people on this site will say "you'll go in to starvation mode" if you don't eat... They encourage eating on a weight loss site... EVEN when they're full. I was just reading a study how calorie restriction expands life. Aren't we here to help people not hurt them?

    If you're hungry - eat. If you're not hungry - don't eat.

    Seems pretty simple. However, when people come on here and are constantly saying they aren't losing weight and you look at their diary and they're eating 1000 or 800 calories a day. Well, the first message is ... eat more and see what happens. Most people are surprised to see a WEIGHT LOSS when they begin eating more. The concern I think people have is -- the OP isn't hungry but will they be back in a month wondering why they aren't losing weight?

    As for eating on a weight loss site -- I eat. I eat a lot in a day actually (2200-2500 calories). I've lost almost 60lbs. Apparently, I did something right. So, when I see people eating a very restrictive diet, working out a lot and NOT losing - I tell them to try eating more. You never know. It might work. If you're eating and losing weight - THEN YOU ARE NOT OVER EATING. Clearly I am the example of that.
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