Help with diet re calories

MattO229 · November 2018

Hi everyone, I'm enjoying a healthier lifestyle and am losing the pounds but I'm actually finding it hard to meet my calories per day, for example, I'm often 900 under. I'm worried if this is a problem, I'm not hungry very often anymore but when I eat I'm ravenous . Not sure what to do. I have a wife who is dieting too so she needs way less calories than me

TavistockToad · November 2018

Eat some of the things you have cut out since you started your 'diet'.

And, peanut butter.

jgnatca · November 2018

Being ravenous once in a while is a sign you aren’t getting enough all around.

Add full fat dressing to your salads.

Try drinking whole milk with your meals.

Lounmoun · November 2018

900 calories below your goal is a lot.
You could try prelogging your food for the whole day to make sure you are getting enough calories. Then you won't get to the end of the day and feel like you suddenly have to eat another meal.
I would also say to eat more of what you used to eat. If you see you are really low fat or low carb in your food log you might increase foods that would help you reach those goals.
Increase your portion sizes or eat more calorie dense foods.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10142490/a-list-of-calorie-dense-foods/p1
Using full fat dairy. Add some condiments or salad dressing. Eat whole eggs. Add cheese. Eat some bread, pasta or rice. Have some avocado, banana or a potato. Eat less lean meats. Have some nuts or seeds.

Dilvish · November 2018

I tried the 900 calorie bit and found that all I lost was water weight because your body goes into starvation mode. Best thing to do is find a decent calculator that, based on your Body Mass Index (BMI), calculates approximately how many calories you need to gain, maintain or lose weight.

The general rule of thumb for Men is no less than 1200 calories per day. This way you can avoid "starvation mode".

The other problem you face is eating too few calories can cause all kinds of other health issues and in terms of losing weight you will find over time that 900 calories simply isn't sustainable.

If you want to keep the weight from returning, you have to design a plan that works long term. Science has proven that roughly 95% of people who lose weight quickly (usually on some fad diet or low cal diet) will regain the weight within a year.

Slow and steady is the best way to lose and maintain weight.

TavistockToad · November 2018

Dilvish wrote: »

I tried the 900 calorie bit and found that all I lost was water weight because your body goes into starvation mode. Best thing to do is find a decent calculator that, based on your Body Mass Index (BMI), calculates approximately how many calories you need to gain, maintain or lose weight.

The general rule of thumb for Men is no less than 1200 calories per day. This way you can avoid "starvation mode".

The other problem you face is eating too few calories can cause all kinds of other health issues and in terms of losing weight you will find over time that 900 calories simply isn't sustainable.

If you want to keep the weight from returning, you have to design a plan that works long term. Science has proven that roughly 95% of people who lose weight quickly (usually on some fad diet or low cal diet) will regain the weight within a year.

Slow and steady is the best way to lose and maintain weight.

Starvation mode isn't a thing.

The latest healthy amount for a male 1500 cals.

cmriverside · November 2018

MattO229 wrote: »

Hi everyone, I'm enjoying a healthier lifestyle and am losing the pounds but I'm actually finding it hard to meet my calories per day, for example, I'm often 900 under. I'm worried if this is a problem, I'm not hungry very often anymore but when I eat I'm ravenous . Not sure what to do. I have a wife who is dieting too so she needs way less calories than me

900 under...Under what?

Are you using a Fitbit or are you entering your exercise into the Exercise tab on Myfitnesspal?

Some of the exercise calories are inflated, some of the fitbit settings cause double counting - it could be just bad data.

Also, how are you calculating your calories eaten?

Lastly, how often does this happen?

Please open your FOOD diary so we can help you troubleshoot, here: https://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings

^^scroll down click "Public" and save.

TeaBea · November 2018

OP - 1500 calories is the floor for adult males. Look to incorporate calorie dense foods back into your diet.

Just learning portion control for "diet" foods isn't a healthy long-term approach. You need to plan for maintenance too.

MattO229 · November 2018

My limit currently is 1900.. I'll make a couple of changes to my diet and will see how that goes. I cut out bread so that probably makes a difference... It's just hard because before all I ate was crap so now I'm eating healthy foods I am not really that hungry but I know I'll suffer if I don't meet my target

lulehlu · November 2018

Are you sure you’re only eating 1,000 calories a day? That’s not a lot of food.

danner1983 · November 2018

I had the same happen to me a few years ago, you get to a point where you are eating minimal and like you said at times become ravenous. I preferred the feeling of an empty tummy as opposed to a full one. Needless to say, I became anorexic without realising. Try to nip it in the bud and get the the calories in, it does your body no good long term.

MattO229 · November 2018

@Lulehu that's including having 2-300 calories taken off for exercise. Still not much food however. I'll try and have larger portions from now, I was having the same as my wife, who needs 600 less a day than me. I'm losing weight at a steady progress so hopefully I've nipped it so I won't lose too much too quickly as my goal is health not a quick get skinny diet.

Help with diet re calories

Replies

Categories