1370 calories a day is hard!
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mbminx
Posts: 21 Member
I'm scouring the internet for meal ideas under 300 calories. I feel better if I graze throughout the day, but the calorie count makes me feel like I can have meals OR snacks - not both. Heck, even a big mug of coffee with creamer in the morning can knock 100 calories right out of my day. Six triscuits and 2 tablespoons of hummus took another 200. So there's a quarter of my day's "supply" down the drain.
I'm trying to focus on protein and fiber, so that I can feel even a little full. Drinking water, as much as I can stand. More veggies. As much fruit as I want (compared to cookies, it's a good thing). And yet I still come to the end of the day with barely enough calories for dinner.
Can anyone suggest websites or recipies for filling, low-cal meals? Are there any other strategies for feeling well-fed while eating so little? Thank you.
I'm trying to focus on protein and fiber, so that I can feel even a little full. Drinking water, as much as I can stand. More veggies. As much fruit as I want (compared to cookies, it's a good thing). And yet I still come to the end of the day with barely enough calories for dinner.
Can anyone suggest websites or recipies for filling, low-cal meals? Are there any other strategies for feeling well-fed while eating so little? Thank you.
3
Replies
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How much weight are you trying to lose?
What rate of loss did you select?
Do you exercise?
If you do, do you eat back a portion of those calories?
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My base is 1380 but exercise adds another 500 or so making my 1 lb/ WK much more manageable.8
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With such a low goal, you pretty much have to get rid of all 'empty' calories like crackers and creamer, unfortunately.
But exercising definitely helps.
I love skinnytaste.com for recipes.6 -
1370 feels like nothing! lol. That was the initial goal MFP gave me but honestly it wasn't working for me. I raised my goal to 1550 daily and I still lost 3lbs this week. It's good enough for me! I did the math and eating 1550 daily vs 1370 results in losing about 1lb less per MONTH. So instead of losing 2lbs per week, I’ll lose 1.75lbs a week. I can handle that to not feel like i'm starving. I've lost 91lbs so far, so it's working for me.
I don't eat back exercise calories though. So i'd say you can either raise your calorie goal OR eat back some of your exercise calories (maybe this will help motivate you to exercise more too, because then you'd be "earning" more calories!). Most people who eat back their exercise calories eat back about 1/2 of them.9 -
With such a low goal, you pretty much have to get rid of all 'empty' calories like crackers and creamer, unfortunately.
But exercising definitely helps.
I love skinnytaste.com for recipes.
im on 1200 cals and lost 100 pounds and have my creamer in my coffee every day lololololol
i also drink beer, jack, eat sweets, eat out (not often, but on occasion), and dont abide by any arbitrary rules of what i should or should not eat. if i can make it fit, and it will satiate me, then thats what im eating.
op, theres plenty of low calories meals, or even what i do, find ways to make the things you already cook LOWER in calories, or use smaller portions of the higher calorie meal, and larger portion of salad or veg (dont overcoat/cook it in much oil or butter).11 -
My staples are chicken, fish, eggs, brown rice, roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes, veggies. Maybe try eating a lot of small meals instead of three meals a day.1
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I'm looking to lose about 70 pounds or so. 1 pound a week seems like a reasonable goal. 1370 is the target MFP gave me...
I'm not exercising yet. My thought has been, if I give myself some time to get used to the reduced calorie routine, then I wouldn't be exercising on an empty stomach. I really hate exercise as it is, so trying to do something I don't like while I'm hungry and cranky is setting myself up for failure. My office is moving into a new building with a workout room in a few months, and that seemed like a good time to start that. I don't have a ton of money to blow on a gym membership...
But if exercising will let me eat a little more? I may have to head to the mall and start walking.
Although, I have a beef with the way MFP categorizes walking. They say 2 mph is slow. I have a 28" inseam, so for me to "walk" at 3 mph means I have to be running!2 -
I'm scouring the internet for meal ideas under 300 calories.
Can anyone suggest websites or recipies for filling, low-cal meals? Are there any other strategies for feeling well-fed while eating so little? Thank you.
Here's one I found: https://healthyeater.com/what_do_300_calorie_meals_look_like
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I'm looking to lose about 70 pounds or so. 1 pound a week seems like a reasonable goal. 1370 is the target MFP gave me...
I'm not exercising yet. My thought has been, if I give myself some time to get used to the reduced calorie routine, then I wouldn't be exercising on an empty stomach. I really hate exercise as it is, so trying to do something I don't like while I'm hungry and cranky is setting myself up for failure. My office is moving into a new building with a workout room in a few months, and that seemed like a good time to start that. I don't have a ton of money to blow on a gym membership...
But if exercising will let me eat a little more? I may have to head to the mall and start walking.
Although, I have a beef with the way MFP categorizes walking. They say 2 mph is slow. I have a 28" inseam, so for me to "walk" at 3 mph means I have to be running!
This makes sense and your target rate of loss is good for the amount you have to lose.
As others have said, focus on finding nutrient dense, satiating foods for a lower calorie target. Maybe look for lower cal alternatives to creamer and use cut veggies instead of crackers. When you're ready, begin adding in exercise. I too started with just walking for 30 min a few times a week, now I average 12-15k steps a day.2 -
I'm not exercising yet. My thought has been, if I give myself some time to get used to the reduced calorie routine, then I wouldn't be exercising on an empty stomach. I really hate exercise as it is, so trying to do something I don't like while I'm hungry and cranky is setting myself up for failure. My office is moving into a new building with a workout room in a few months, and that seemed like a good time to start that. I don't have a ton of money to blow on a gym membership...
But if exercising will let me eat a little more? I may have to head to the mall and start walking.
You don't need to wait til you get a gym membership or your office opens a workout room. Walk up and down the stairs at your house, put on music and dance, do some jumping jacks or sit-ups in your living room. There are many ways to get exercise without leaving your house
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I eat 1200/day, and I still eat whatever I want, just less. You will get used to eating less over time. You don’t eat to be totally full, just not hungry. Feel free to look at my diary to see what I’m talking about. I don’t really eat “healthy,” but this is a lifestyle change for me. I don’t limit my favorite foods. It’s what works best for me.
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I'm looking to lose about 70 pounds or so. 1 pound a week seems like a reasonable goal. 1370 is the target MFP gave me...
I'm not exercising yet. My thought has been, if I give myself some time to get used to the reduced calorie routine, then I wouldn't be exercising on an empty stomach. I really hate exercise as it is, so trying to do something I don't like while I'm hungry and cranky is setting myself up for failure. My office is moving into a new building with a workout room in a few months, and that seemed like a good time to start that. I don't have a ton of money to blow on a gym membership...
But if exercising will let me eat a little more? I may have to head to the mall and start walking.
Although, I have a beef with the way MFP categorizes walking. They say 2 mph is slow. I have a 28" inseam, so for me to "walk" at 3 mph means I have to be running!
I hate running, most exercise classes, and steady cardio (except cycling outside). I do 30 minute Fitness Blender workouts, go on walks with my baby and dog, and hiking in the summer. You don’t have to exercise in the literal sense of the word just do some activity. Maybe find an adult sports league, try new things like hiking or biking or a new sport, or just walking. As for eating you can A) slightly increase your calories and accept a slower rate of weight loss or
find foods that satiate you more or C) do a little of both. Maybe pick two small things you can change one related to increasing activity even if it’s just walking the stairs at work every 2 hours or something and one related to eating like trying a new recipe once a week.
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Try to make choices. If you're a grazer then take things to snack on along with low calories, like carrots, cucumber, paprika and the likes. That frees up calories for other snacks you can't do without. A coffee with 100kcal of addition is quite a lot though. How much creamer or sugar do you use? What about alternatives, like green tea, coffee without?2
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I'm looking to lose about 70 pounds or so. 1 pound a week seems like a reasonable goal. 1370 is the target MFP gave me...
I'm not exercising yet. My thought has been, if I give myself some time to get used to the reduced calorie routine, then I wouldn't be exercising on an empty stomach. I really hate exercise as it is, so trying to do something I don't like while I'm hungry and cranky is setting myself up for failure. My office is moving into a new building with a workout room in a few months, and that seemed like a good time to start that. I don't have a ton of money to blow on a gym membership...
But if exercising will let me eat a little more? I may have to head to the mall and start walking.
Although, I have a beef with the way MFP categorizes walking. They say 2 mph is slow. I have a 28" inseam, so for me to "walk" at 3 mph means I have to be running!
My new motto is you can't have one without the other. I used to have a similar mind set as you, saying eating healthy or eating less is good enough to lose the weight. And it will help!... for about 10-15 pounds and then you will be at a stand still.
From loads of research I did from studies, I have seen it proven you need to exercise if you want to lose weight effectively. It increases your heart strength, raises your metabolism, and burns off unneeded fat. I work out for about 30 minutes three times a week, take a shower, then go to college/work. If you can work it out in your schedule, its a blessing. And you feel better and sleep better. (About the boring feeling of it, I would suggest, if you can, getting a work out buddy to support you and make you feel good. also, bring your phone and watch funny videos or listen to your favorite music. )
About meals, I typically eat a good 2-3 400-500 calorie meals. Make sure its high in fiber and low on calorie-dense foods such as meat, eggs, etc. It takes practice but you can find some good healthy, foods that fill you up good. (Oatmeal, sweet potatoes, potatoes, rice, bread, etc can fill you up nice without the unhealthy fats. Avacadoes and other healthy fats are awesome.)
Lastly, NEVER and that means never, exercise on an empty stomach. I've done it once, emphasis on once, and passed out. You need to have something on your stomach. (Typically I eat a banana). Also, drink as much water as possible, I drink a 16 ml bottle every workout. You'll see your heart rate decreases and you feel better if you do.12 -
I'm scouring the internet for meal ideas under 300 calories. I feel better if I graze throughout the day, but the calorie count makes me feel like I can have meals OR snacks - not both. Heck, even a big mug of coffee with creamer in the morning can knock 100 calories right out of my day. Six triscuits and 2 tablespoons of hummus took another 200. So there's a quarter of my day's "supply" down the drain.
I'm trying to focus on protein and fiber, so that I can feel even a little full. Drinking water, as much as I can stand. More veggies. As much fruit as I want (compared to cookies, it's a good thing). And yet I still come to the end of the day with barely enough calories for dinner.
Can anyone suggest websites or recipies for filling, low-cal meals? Are there any other strategies for feeling well-fed while eating so little? Thank you.
What I would suggest is prelogging your food for the whole day so you can make better choices that help you hit your protein goal and your calorie goal. Decide if a food or drink is worth the calories if it doesn't help satisfy you or meet your goals much.
Change what you eat slightly. Have your hummus with carrots instead of triscuits and you can eat a lot more for example.
You might snack on things like cottage cheese, yogurt, hard boiled eggs, pickles, celery with peanut butter or cheese, vegetables, tuna, nuts, fruit.6 -
Watch this vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUGj0XyoKk4 If I gave myself so little calories then my diet wouldn't work long term, it's like setting yourself up to fail because if you go over your calories it can make you feel like you've failed when you're actually doing really well. 2 -
I started out at about 1400 calories but as I lost weight my calories have adjusted to 1200 (the minimum MFP will recommend). Limiting myself to 1200 calories was a struggle, especially over Christmas, but since losing more weight the gap between 1200 and my BMR is smaller so I feel less hungry - although I am no longer set to lose 2 lbs a week, more like 1.8 lbs.1
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Sounds like you want your cake and eat it.
When you were gaining weight, it happened because you were eating more calories than you were expending. You were eating too much.
If you want to lose weight you have to bite the bullet and eat less than you need.
That means you're going to be hungry.
You did the crime, now you have to do the time.
Once your sentence is up you'll be able to eat "normally" and it'll all be fine, until then, suck it up, use it, remember what you're going through so you don't have to repeat it.13 -
purpleannex wrote: »Sounds like you want your cake and eat it.
When you were gaining weight, it happened because you were eating more calories than you were expending. You were eating too much.
If you want to lose weight you have to bite the bullet and eat less than you need.
That means you're going to be hungry.
You did the crime, now you have to do the time.
Once your sentence is up you'll be able to eat "normally" and it'll all be fine, until then, suck it up, use it, remember what you're going through so you don't have to repeat it.
Many people find ways to eat at a deficit without feeling hungry or deprived. And having a short term approach - eating at a deficit then returning to eating "normally" often leads to regaining the weight and a pattern of yo yo dieting.
Weight loss doesn't have to feel like punishment. It didn't for me. I learned how to prioritize foods that filled me up, I tried new foods, I cook more, I exercise more - and I never felt deprived while losing weight and now in maintenance I eat virtually the same way only with a few hundred extra calories. In fact, because I'm more active now than when I was overweight, I eat more total calories in maintenance than before I lost the weight.
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Review your food logs and start emphasizing food that leaves you more satiated for less calories.
Weather permitting walk TO the mall. "Exercise", in the format that many people think of it, is NOT necessary in order to increase your activity level.
Just try this for a challenge. Every hour you're awake walk at least 250 steps (for most people this can be done in about 3 minutes or less)...4
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