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jessduyanovich
jessduyanovich Posts: 8 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Can you still lose weight if you aren’t hitting your calorie intake goal for the day? I can’t seem to eat enough to hit it.

Replies

  • Iwantahealthierme30
    Iwantahealthierme30 Posts: 293 Member
    Yes, but it's not safe if your goal is 1200 and you're not hitting it.
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  • jessduyanovich
    jessduyanovich Posts: 8 Member
    I’m sorry, I’m new to this and I’m not sure what details are suppose to be given to get the proper answers. I just started yesterday. My goal is 1880 calories I only ate 1172 for the day and I burned 284 in exercise. So I was short about 700 or so.
  • lucerorojo
    lucerorojo Posts: 789 Member
    jessduyanovich wrote: »
    I’m sorry, I’m new to this and I’m not sure what details are suppose to be given to get the proper answers. I just started yesterday. My goal is 1880 calories I only ate 1172 for the day and I burned 284 in exercise. So I was short about 700 or so.

    Not good, if your calorie analysis is accurate. You need to eat at least 1200 calories as a woman, just for nutrition purposes. EAT MORE. You can still lose weight and you will if you eat under the calorie goal but it will jeopardize your health. If it's just one day that's not a big deal but if consistently undereating 1200 calories that is not positive for your health.

    Were you hungry? What were you eating? How much weight are you planning to lose? What are your stats?
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,260 Member
    In general, it is helpful to give your weight, height, activity level, and calorie goal, as well as how many calories you are actually eating (not netting.)

    A day here or there that low is not a big deal but it shouldn't be a regular thing. If it is, you're either restricting calories too much or eating okay but logging inaccurately, both of which are fairly common.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,898 Member
    My guess is you'll be really hungry today and you can make up for it. Try planning a little better on days you will be exercising, and eat a bigger meal sometime during the day...or have a Snickers. Snickers is the perfect snack. :)
  • jessduyanovich
    jessduyanovich Posts: 8 Member
    cmriverside wrote: »
    My guess is you'll be really hungry today and you can make up for it. Try planning a little better on days you will be exercising, and eat a bigger meal sometime during the day...or have a Snickers. Snickers is the perfect snack. :)

    Snickers! Ha! I’m surprisingly not that hungry, but I am making myself eat! I will work on a bigger lunch I think.
  • jessduyanovich
    jessduyanovich Posts: 8 Member
    moosmum1972 wrote: »
    And I know some hate the phrase but you did at one time eat more than enough to put weight on, so you know you can if you want hit any calorie goal. No one "cant" hit the minimum mfp sets them unless they are severely restricting what foods they eat

    I guess I phrased that wrong... I’m not hungry enough to hit the calorie goal. I just had a baby and was on bed rest for a majority of it unable to exercise too. So that’s when I gained my weight. Even then I didn’t eat a lot. But most likely, the pregnancy cravings is what cause the weight gain in addition to not exercising.

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  • jessduyanovich
    jessduyanovich Posts: 8 Member
    Thanks everyone! I am forcing myself to eat more snacks throughout the day to reach my calorie goal. One last question? My goal is 1880, say I eat 1880 calories.... but then I exercise and burn 300 calories... how does that work? Bc then I’m no longer at my 1880 calorie intake for the day. I’m so confused!
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  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,838 Member
    Are you breastfeeding? If so make sure you eat enough to account for that as well.
  • jessduyanovich
    jessduyanovich Posts: 8 Member
    moosmum1972 wrote: »
    jessduyanovich wrote: »
    Thanks everyone! I am forcing myself to eat more snacks throughout the day to reach my calorie goal. One last question? My goal is 1880, say I eat 1880 calories.... but then I exercise and burn 300 calories... how does that work? Bc then I’m no longer at my 1880 calorie intake for the day. I’m so confused!

    Many eat half of them back if they aren't already in their settings. I think though unless you are hungry and not going under 1200 net (food minus excersise) then that's up to you.

    So basically, as long as I’m at 1200-1880 calories after exercise I’m on the right track?
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  • MichelleSilverleaf
    MichelleSilverleaf Posts: 2,025 Member
    jessduyanovich wrote: »
    moosmum1972 wrote: »
    jessduyanovich wrote: »
    Thanks everyone! I am forcing myself to eat more snacks throughout the day to reach my calorie goal. One last question? My goal is 1880, say I eat 1880 calories.... but then I exercise and burn 300 calories... how does that work? Bc then I’m no longer at my 1880 calorie intake for the day. I’m so confused!

    Many eat half of them back if they aren't already in their settings. I think though unless you are hungry and not going under 1200 net (food minus excersise) then that's up to you.

    So basically, as long as I’m at 1200-1880 calories after exercise I’m on the right track?

    Pretty much. The way MFP works is it calculates your calorie needs based on the stats you put in and then subtracts a number of calories based on how much you want to lose. So the number you get from the site (1880 in your case) is your ideal goal to hit with a deficit already built in, if you meet that number every day you WILL lose weight. When you exercise, you want to eat back some of those calories because now you're adding to your deficit. 1200 is the absolute minimum for women to still be able to hit nutritional goals. If you're having a hard time meeting your daily calories, try to find some meals and snacks that are more calorie dense. Like for example a typical breakfast of mine is a serving of greek yogurt, half a bagel, a serving of peanut butter and fruit which usually rounds out to about 400 calories, usually depending on the fruit and how much yogurt I eat. I'll swap out hummus with veggies for a sour cream-based dip and veggies if I need more calories. Things like that.
  • Nikion901
    Nikion901 Posts: 2,467 Member
    edited December 2017
    Don't worry about it ... you'd have to eat less than 800 calories for 6 weeks and/or be at a very low body fat% for it to be dangerous to your health. If you are trying to lose weight, you are probably not in danger of 'starvation mode'. .... an occasional short day is often done by people who do fasting on a couple of days a week.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,260 Member
    When did you have your baby?

    If you are still recovering from childbirth you should not be eating so little. Likewise, if you are breastfeeding your child you should be netting at least 1800 calories.
  • jessduyanovich
    jessduyanovich Posts: 8 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    When did you have your baby?

    If you are still recovering from childbirth you should not be eating so little. Likewise, if you are breastfeeding your child you should be netting at least 1800 calories.

    6 months ago via c section. Not brand new, but with a 3 year old as well, it took me some time to get a routine down and recover at that. I’m unfortunately not breastfeeding due to mastitis. Thank you for your input!

  • jessduyanovich
    jessduyanovich Posts: 8 Member
    MichelleSilverleaf wrote: »
    jessduyanovich wrote: »
    moosmum1972 wrote: »
    jessduyanovich wrote: »
    Thanks everyone! I am forcing myself to eat more snacks throughout the day to reach my calorie goal. One last question? My goal is 1880, say I eat 1880 calories.... but then I exercise and burn 300 calories... how does that work? Bc then I’m no longer at my 1880 calorie intake for the day. I’m so confused!

    Many eat half of them back if they aren't already in their settings. I think though unless you are hungry and not going under 1200 net (food minus excersise) then that's up to you.

    So basically, as long as I’m at 1200-1880 calories after exercise I’m on the right track?

    Pretty much. The way MFP works is it calculates your calorie needs based on the stats you put in and then subtracts a number of calories based on how much you want to lose. So the number you get from the site (1880 in your case) is your ideal goal to hit with a deficit already built in, if you meet that number every day you WILL lose weight. When you exercise, you want to eat back some of those calories because now you're adding to your deficit. 1200 is the absolute minimum for women to still be able to hit nutritional goals. If you're having a hard time meeting your daily calories, try to find some meals and snacks that are more calorie dense. Like for example a typical breakfast of mine is a serving of greek yogurt, half a bagel, a serving of peanut butter and fruit which usually rounds out to about 400 calories, usually depending on the fruit and how much yogurt I eat. I'll swap out hummus with veggies for a sour cream-based dip and veggies if I need more calories. Things like that.


    Thank you! This is very helpful!!
  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,849 Member
    The most likely problem with eating too little is that you soon start feeling hungry and deprived and it makes it a lot more difficult to stay focused on eating well. By eating an appropriate amount to fuel your activity, you are less likely to get really hungry and start binge eating.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    Nikion901 wrote: »
    Don't worry about it ... you'd have to eat less than 800 calories for 6 weeks and/or be at a very low body fat% for it to be dangerous to your health. If you are trying to lose weight, you are probably not in danger of 'starvation mode'. .... an occasional short day is often done by people who do fasting on a couple of days a week.

    1. This is untrue. A person could certainly do some damage eating 800 cals for 6 weeks, like passing out at the least.
    2. Why on earth would you say this to a woman who recently had a baby???

    OP I agree with most of the advice you've already gotten - try not to fall too short too often. Good luck :)
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