Struggling to reach calories
bgbd
Posts: 7 Member
Hi everyone. I’ve been on this journey for just under 2 weeks and am doing a 23:1 fast, eating only between 5 and 6 pm. For a few days I was having a protein shake between 2 and 3 but cut those out. My problem is I’m struggling to hit even 1200 calories, and typically hit about 800 daily. Today I managed to get to 500. The weight is coming off quickly, but I know this isn’t sustainable long term. I’m drinking tons of water, have zero hunger pains, and am waiting on an appointment with a nutritionist. In the meantime, any tips or tricks to help boost my calories during this 1hr window while also not going over my allotted 15g of carbs per day (according to MFP?) Thanks!
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Replies
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here is a post with ideas on calorie dense foods/meals. but if the 1 hour eating window is not working for you why not make it bigger? and/or increase your carbs a bit? at least to start then decrease as your get your footing.
why have you made this so difficult right away?
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10142490/a-list-of-calorie-dense-foods/p16 -
MFP's default carb goal is 50% of your daily calories or about 150 grams for a 1200-calorie diet. Was 15 grams a typo? Even keto doesn't usually go that low and it will make it hard to hit your calories with carbs at only 15g.4
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diannethegeek wrote: »MFP's default carb goal is 50% of your daily calories or about 150 grams for a 1200-calorie diet. Was 15 grams a typo? Even keto doesn't usually go that low and it will make it hard to hit your calories with carbs at only 15g.
I went and double checked and it shows 15g for carbs. I’m not hungry, and the carb count doesn’t seem to be too low for me, but the amount of calories I’m taking in does. I keep getting a warning about my calorie intake when I close out my diary for the day.
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If you can't eat a healthy number of calories in your window, then you need to extend your window. Perhaps start with a more moderate form of IF and then shrink your window slowly if you think it's necessary.
The mfp default would not be 15g of carbs that's crazy low. You might want to go back into setup and reset your macros, perhaps when you were setting up your food diary for one meal you accidentally changed your macros.7 -
I don’t remember changing them, but I also know that I was messing around in the app late one night and I may have and just don’t remember it.
Are there things that I can eat that are high in calories but no carbs? That would solve my problem I would think?If you can't eat a healthy number of calories in your window, then you need to extend your window. Perhaps start with a more moderate form of IF and then shrink your window slowly if you think it's necessary.
The mfp default would not be 15g of carbs that's crazy low. You might want to go back into setup and reset your macros, perhaps when you were setting up your food diary for one meal you accidentally changed your macros.
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Just eat carbs if you want.
What are your goals?
Why are you doing one meal and super low carb?6 -
Thank you for the list. I’m going to print it out so I can have it to add to my list of things to eat. I really appreciate it.here is a post with ideas on calorie dense foods/meals. but if the 1 hour eating window is not working for you why not make it bigger? and/or increase your carbs a bit? at least to start then decrease as your get your footing.
why have you made this so difficult right away?
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10142490/a-list-of-calorie-dense-foods/p1
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I don’t remember changing them, but I also know that I was messing around in the app late one night and I may have and just don’t remember it.
Are there things that I can eat that are high in calories but no carbs? That would solve my problem I would think?If you can't eat a healthy number of calories in your window, then you need to extend your window. Perhaps start with a more moderate form of IF and then shrink your window slowly if you think it's necessary.
The mfp default would not be 15g of carbs that's crazy low. You might want to go back into setup and reset your macros, perhaps when you were setting up your food diary for one meal you accidentally changed your macros.
?? If you were not the one who set it to 15 grams of carbs, why do you still want to eat that low carb it seems?4 -
I don’t remember changing them, but I also know that I was messing around in the app late one night and I may have and just don’t remember it.
Are there things that I can eat that are high in calories but no carbs? That would solve my problem I would think?If you can't eat a healthy number of calories in your window, then you need to extend your window. Perhaps start with a more moderate form of IF and then shrink your window slowly if you think it's necessary.
The mfp default would not be 15g of carbs that's crazy low. You might want to go back into setup and reset your macros, perhaps when you were setting up your food diary for one meal you accidentally changed your macros.
Meat, some types of dairy (cheese, heavy cream, butter, etc), oils and other types of fat. Those are going to make up the bulk of your diet if you want to stay at 15g carbs. Look for keto friendly and carnivore recipes. You'll probably want to be sure you consume some offal or organ meats to get your vitamins without veggies.1 -
15 grams of carbs x 4 calories per gram = 60 calories and 60 calories is 5% of 1200. OP did you set your carb percentage to 5%? Why so low? Is your intention a ketogenic diet and fasting?
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diannethegeek wrote: »I don’t remember changing them, but I also know that I was messing around in the app late one night and I may have and just don’t remember it.
Are there things that I can eat that are high in calories but no carbs? That would solve my problem I would think?If you can't eat a healthy number of calories in your window, then you need to extend your window. Perhaps start with a more moderate form of IF and then shrink your window slowly if you think it's necessary.
The mfp default would not be 15g of carbs that's crazy low. You might want to go back into setup and reset your macros, perhaps when you were setting up your food diary for one meal you accidentally changed your macros.
Meat, some types of dairy (cheese, heavy cream, butter, etc), oils and other types of fat. Those are going to make up the bulk of your diet if you want to stay at 15g carbs. Look for keto friendly and carnivore recipes. You'll probably want to be sure you consume some offal or organ meats to get your vitamins without veggies.
I should add eggs and fish to the list above. But I really want to stress how very low 15g of carbs is. There are very few diets that go that low and most people work up to that level of low carb. Even keto usually allows more like 50 grams of NET carbs. 15g is almost nothing when it comes to carbs. I wouldn't want to see someone drop to that level of carbs without planning and research first.1 -
Because I’m not really sure if I did change it, and if I didn’t and I change the carb count to higher then I won’t lose weight.
(It makes sense to me, hopefully it makes sense to you as well)diannethegeek wrote: »I don’t remember changing them, but I also know that I was messing around in the app late one night and I may have and just don’t remember it.
Are there things that I can eat that are high in calories but no carbs? That would solve my problem I would think?If you can't eat a healthy number of calories in your window, then you need to extend your window. Perhaps start with a more moderate form of IF and then shrink your window slowly if you think it's necessary.
The mfp default would not be 15g of carbs that's crazy low. You might want to go back into setup and reset your macros, perhaps when you were setting up your food diary for one meal you accidentally changed your macros.
Meat, some types of dairy (cheese, heavy cream, butter, etc), oils and other types of fat. Those are going to make up the bulk of your diet if you want to stay at 15g carbs. Look for keto friendly and carnivore recipes. You'll probably want to be sure you consume some offal or organ meats to get your vitamins without veggies.
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I appreciate all of the replies and suggestions. I think my best course of action is talk to my doctor on Monday and the nutritionist as soon as I can get an appointment with her and have someone smarter than me figure out my macros. Because god knows I need the help.0
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Calories determine weight loss, not carbs.
Several of us in this thread have already lost weight using mfp. We know how it works. 15g of carbs is lower than most people doing keto would go.
You are eating an aggressively unhealthy amount of calories and have chosen an unnecessarily restrictive eating window and carb level. You are making this far more difficult than it needs to be and risking your health.
All you need to lose weight is a calorie deficit. How you get there is up to you. Choosing the easiest and healthiest way for you is the smartest choice.15 -
ya to put your mind at ease OP i lost 110 pounds eating very high carb. Carbs arent the issue. Add some yummy carbs its fuel. CALORIES are all you need to worry about (besides getting in protein but thats not important here, just helps satiety and your muscles-Getting more protein thn your body needs doesnt help you.)
I lost eating aound 70% carb. I cant imagine eating 15g carbs that seems so sad to me, And explains in my mind why you cant hit your calories. Its so severely limiting in food choices, Unnecessarily, I would bet youll crash and fail trying to upkeep it. Again unnecessarily. Up your carbs eat foods you enjoy within your calorie range. Your overcomplicating.7 -
Because I’m not really sure if I did change it, and if I didn’t and I change the carb count to higher then I won’t lose weight.
(It makes sense to me, hopefully it makes sense to you as well)diannethegeek wrote: »I don’t remember changing them, but I also know that I was messing around in the app late one night and I may have and just don’t remember it.
Are there things that I can eat that are high in calories but no carbs? That would solve my problem I would think?If you can't eat a healthy number of calories in your window, then you need to extend your window. Perhaps start with a more moderate form of IF and then shrink your window slowly if you think it's necessary.
The mfp default would not be 15g of carbs that's crazy low. You might want to go back into setup and reset your macros, perhaps when you were setting up your food diary for one meal you accidentally changed your macros.
Meat, some types of dairy (cheese, heavy cream, butter, etc), oils and other types of fat. Those are going to make up the bulk of your diet if you want to stay at 15g carbs. Look for keto friendly and carnivore recipes. You'll probably want to be sure you consume some offal or organ meats to get your vitamins without veggies.
I'm writing to confirm that 15 grams is not the MFP default. Also, carbs don't make you gain weight - too many calories make you gain weight.
When I was in Costa Rico for 6 weeks, I ate tropical fruit all day long, plus rice and beans at least twice a day, so very high carbs, and dropped a size without even trying, because my total calories was less than what I normally ate at home.
Sounds like a referral from your doctor to a dietitian is a good plan. While you are waiting for that, do consider at least two meals a day so you are not malnourishing yourself in the meantime.3 -
People aren't meant to eat for only an hour a day at starvation calorie levels. If you feel the need to do intermittent fasting, at least expand your window to eat during an 8 hour period and get in 1200 calories each day by having more than one meal each day. Going to see a dietitian is a good idea.5
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