Not eating enough?

jibbs_x
jibbs_x Posts: 1 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello all I think I may be eating too little calories. My app is set for 1200 a day and I have been eating between 1000-1200. This is my third week tracking my food again. I am actually not feeling overly hungry as I am trying to eat protein rich foods. I usually don’t hit the 1200 (around 1100) so I have a deficit there already. I am also riding a stationary bike 6 days a week (3 shorter periods around 30 mins) and doing a 20 minute strength work out 3 times a week (on the short bike days). My bike monitor reads calories burned usually between 400-600 but I know these things usually aren’t accurate. My Apple Watch also monitors my active calories for the day and it’s around 500-600 daily. When I add my exercise calories to this app my remaining calories spike up to 6/700. While I am trying to lose weight (I’m 182.5, 5’1 and lost 2lbs already) I want to make sure I’m not hurting myself in the process or in the long run. I don’t feel any changes in myself yet, though I know it’s early. Should I be eating around 1500? Thanks!

Replies

  • VintageFeline
    VintageFeline Posts: 6,771 Member
    I would definitely eat more, 1200 gross is too little for your activity never mind 1100. Add back in some foods you've possibly been avoiding.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,889 Member
    If you're not losing weight, you're eating too much, not too little. But first figure you if you're losing weight or not. How often do you weigh yourself? How many weeks of reliable data points do you have? Is your weight just fluctuating, or is there actually a downwards trend?

    Any number below maintenance is a deficit. 1000-1200 is very very little food. If you're not overly hungry, you're not eating 1000-1200 calories.

    You should track your food intake correctly, hit your calorie goal, and be patient.
  • FlyingMolly
    FlyingMolly Posts: 490 Member
    That’s not enough calories at your activity level, and yes, it will hurt your body long-term. Are you weighing and measuring your food? When we try to eat too little our brains go into overdrive to lie to us about things like portion sizes. Even if you know it happens and to compensate, your brain will stay one step ahead.

    My advice is to tell MFP you want to lose no more than 1.5lbs/week, then eat as much as it tells you to. Include the calorie adjustment from your watch in that amount! Weigh and measure everything! If your exercise is fairly new your body might retain extra water for a while, but if you’re vigilant about maintaining a reasonable caloric deficit the weight will come off. Aiming for an unreasonable one is just setting yourself up for failure.
  • Lesscookies1
    Lesscookies1 Posts: 250 Member
    So you've lost 2 pounds was that within a week? 2? I think this will help us figure out your question. I highly doubt you're burning 400-600 calories riding on a bike for 30 minutes. I'm 5'2, and I workout frequently as well.
  • lucerorojo
    lucerorojo Posts: 789 Member
    KrazyKrissyy wrote: »
    VintageFeline wrote: »
    KrazyKrissyy wrote: »
    I got to my lowest weight on 1,000-1,200 net calories and wasn't hurt in the process. All health markers are good. My friend actually eats less than me (because of his very busy schedule along with naturally low appetite). He's shredded.

    Please don't. First off, you're talking net not gross (I'm assuming you know the correct difference) and secondly, your friend is undereating and that doesn't need held up as "he's okay, so will you be!".

    Yeah, his physique says otherwise lol. If he was truly undereating, he would look like a concentration camp survivor, not someone energetic and lean with a 6-pack. If you go to many other countries actually, they're food intake isn't even as high as America. It's not undereating. It's our standards. What's considered normal continues to rise over the years. This goes for weight, size, food intake, etc.
    KrazyKrissyy wrote: »
    I got to my lowest weight on 1,000-1,200 net calories and wasn't hurt in the process. All health markers are good. My friend actually eats less than me (because of his very busy schedule along with naturally low appetite). He's shredded.

    I also think this line of defense of a VLCD is not a good idea. Unless you are monitoring your friend's diet, which is less than 1000 net calories, according to YOU, how do you know exactly what he is eating? It's one thing to talk about yourself. Also for all we know you are 4 feet tall so, that is a good amount of calories for you. Without specifics, it means nothing.
  • JustSomeEm
    JustSomeEm Posts: 20,294 MFP Moderator
    Dear Posters,

    I wanted to offer a brief explanation for the locking of this thread.

    The forum guidelines include this item:

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