nutrition
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infestuus
Posts: 11 Member
hi! two days ago i decided i want to eat healthy and be as skinny as my health allows. in order to do so, i have to give up my sugar addiction and start learning what foods are good for me. frankly, i have no idea what to eat. i have one meal per day that equals 250 calories, breakfast that consists of a small portion of raw vegetables and maybe an apple or orange in the afternoon. the bad thing is that’s less than 500 calories per day and i don’t know what other nutritious foods to eat. what’s your favorite dish you cook and how many calories does it have? my goal is to eat exactly 1100cal, but i am evidently failing.
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Replies
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1100 Calories is WAY too little.
is there a reason as to why you want to be so small4 -
First off, you are eating far too little. Your bare minimum goal should be 1200 calories, assuming you are female and sedentary. If you exercise as well and burn significant calories, you should probably aim to eat 1300-1500.
Secondly, eating only fruits and vegetables is probably not sustainable. You want to choose something you can realistically do consistently. Eat food you like, in smaller portions.
In both cases, you are right in that you are failing - you are failing yourself and your body the energy it needs to function.
You can lose weight and get "skinny" eating nothing but McDonald's, as long as you're burning more calories than you consume. That's not what you asked though. So, have peanut butter with your apple. Eat eggs with your veggies. If you're a meat eater, add chicken to your lunch and/or dinner. These are all proteins that will help fuel your body but can still maintain a more realistic calorie deficit than your current extreme. Please eat more.6 -
First off, you are eating far too little. Your bare minimum goal should be 1200 calories, assuming you are female and sedentary. If you exercise as well and burn significant calories, you should probably aim to eat 1300-1500.
Secondly, eating only fruits and vegetables is probably not sustainable. You want to choose something you can realistically do consistently. Eat food you like, in smaller portions.
In both cases, you are right in that you are failing - you are failing yourself and your body the energy it needs to function.
You can lose weight and get "skinny" eating nothing but McDonald's, as long as you're burning more calories than you consume. That's not what you asked though. So, have peanut butter with your apple. Eat eggs with your veggies. If you're a meat eater, add chicken to your lunch and/or dinner. These are all proteins that will help fuel your body but can still maintain a more realistic calorie deficit than your current extreme. Please eat more.
*i hate peanut butter, ew*
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Just eat a varied diet.
Humans need proteins for muscle building and tissue repair, and fats for fat-soluble nutrients and various metabolic processes. Carbohydrates aren't technically necessary, but they're a good source of energy, fibre and vitamins. Humans also need a minimum of 1200 calories a day (for women) or 1500 (for men) in order to run essential processes and ensure adequate intake of those nutrients. 'Nutritious' foods are ones that contribute to these goals. If you are way under your calorie minimum, then cake is nutritious; because it's providing your body with what it needs!
At the moment, you're not eating enough to run your body, and even that is mainly carbohydrates (in the form of vegetables and fruit; and fruit is very sugary, by the way). Have some fish. Cheese. Eggs. Add a handful of nuts or seeds to your breakfast. Dress your veggies with a simple olive oil vinaigrette. And don't give yourself an eating disorder.7 -
Being as skinny as possible should never be your goal.9
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Just eat a varied diet.
Humans need proteins for muscle building and tissue repair, and fats for fat-soluble nutrients and various metabolic processes. Carbohydrates aren't technically necessary, but they're a good source of energy, fibre and vitamins. Humans also need a minimum of 1200 calories a day (for women) or 1500 (for men) in order to run essential processes and ensure adequate intake of those nutrients. 'Nutritious' foods are ones that contribute to these goals. If you are way under your calorie minimum, then cake is nutritious; because it's providing your body with what it needs!
At the moment, you're not eating enough to run your body, and even that is mainly carbohydrates (in the form of vegetables and fruit; and fruit is very sugary, by the way). Have some fish. Cheese. Eggs. Add a handful of nuts or seeds to your breakfast. Dress your veggies with a simple olive oil vinaigrette. And don't give yourself an eating disorder.
thanks!
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i completely understand wanting to feel better about yourself.
as woman we struggle so hard to fit into society.
i am 5'1 and i have gained 25 pounds this year, i cried and restricted calories and ended up gaining more because of the stress i was putting on my body.
have you talked about how you are feeling with a doctor or nutritionist1 -
hi! two days ago i decided i want to eat healthy and be as skinny as my health allows. in order to do so, i have to give up my sugar addiction and start learning what foods are good for me. frankly, i have no idea what to eat. i have one meal per day that equals 250 calories, breakfast that consists of a small portion of raw vegetables and maybe an apple or orange in the afternoon. the bad thing is that’s less than 500 calories per day and i don’t know what other nutritious foods to eat. what’s your favorite dish you cook and how many calories does it have? my goal is to eat exactly 1100cal, but i am evidently failing.
From the examples listed above, it looks like you are trying to eat "perfectly."
Protein & fat should also be on the menu. Low protein is going to help you lose lean muscle. Losing muscle (while keeping the fat) is not going to be a good look. If you are vegetarian - beans, lentils, and tofu are good protein sources. For non-vegetarian: poultry, lean meat, fish, dairy and eggs.
Fat should be on the menu. This helps with so many bodily functions - vitamin absorption is one. Avocado, olive oil, and nuts are good sources.
250 calories isn't a meal, it's a snack. Aggressive weight loss isn't healthy weight loss.8 -
i completely understand wanting to feel better about yourself.
as woman we struggle so hard to fit into society.
i am 5'1 and i have gained 25 pounds this year, i cried and restricted calories and ended up gaining more because of the stress i was putting on my body.
have you talked about how you are feeling with a doctor or nutritionist
even one kilo is noticeable on short women and i have so many extra kilograms. i eat when i am stressed too, it’s so bad. i don’t have the time or money to talk to a doctor. i am focused on my studies, i’ll just try to get better by myself.3 -
your reply is v helpful! i guess i will have one boiled egg w/ veggies tomorrow morning, salmon w broccoli in the afternoon and a bowl of fruit at 06:00 pm. would that be good nutrition? i used to eat mostly sweets, chocolate croissants etc, and not enough proper food at all.
*i hate peanut butter, ew*
You should look into speaking with a dietitian/nutritionist if "good nutrition" is your goal. There are many factors to what an individual body needs, and a professional can help you determine what is "good" for you based on your body makeup, health history, genetics, cholesterol, etc. What is "good" for me may not be "good" for you, and vice versa.
Salmon and broccoli is great, so is a boiled egg w/ veggies. Already that's more variety than your initial post. 1100 is still too low, though. You need to eat at least 1200 calories to keep your body functioning properly. Track what you eat and if it's too low, add another snack or two to reach that metric. Popcorn, nuts/seeds, cheese and crackers, etc. You will still lose weight at 1200.
Also, you can still eat the chocolate and croissants you crave. But in the right proportions. Have half of one today and the other half tomorrow. Completely depriving yourself of your favorite tastes and flavors is just asking for trouble.
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i completely understand wanting to feel better about yourself.
as woman we struggle so hard to fit into society.
i am 5'1 and i have gained 25 pounds this year, i cried and restricted calories and ended up gaining more because of the stress i was putting on my body.
have you talked about how you are feeling with a doctor or nutritionist
even one kilo is noticeable on short women and i have so much extra kilograms. i eat when i am stressed too, it’s so bad. i don’t have the time or money to talk to a doctor. i am focused on my studies, i’ll just try to get better by myself.
I completely understand. I can relate 100% (feel free to add me)
and as someone who is recovering from and eating disorder I am here to listen. BUT the amount you are eating is very dangerous, and worry-sum. You need to have a good support system!4 -
hi! two days ago i decided i want to eat healthy and be as skinny as my health allows. in order to do so, i have to give up my sugar addiction and start learning what foods are good for me. frankly, i have no idea what to eat. i have one meal per day that equals 250 calories, breakfast that consists of a small portion of raw vegetables and maybe an apple or orange in the afternoon. the bad thing is that’s less than 500 calories per day and i don’t know what other nutritious foods to eat. what’s your favorite dish you cook and how many calories does it have? my goal is to eat exactly 1100cal, but i am evidently failing.
From the examples listed above, it looks like you are trying to eat "perfectly."
Protein & fat should also be on the menu. Low protein is going to help you lose lean muscle. Losing muscle (while keeping the fat) is not going to be a good look. If you are vegetarian - beans, lentils, and tofu are good protein sources. For non-vegetarian: poultry, lean meat, fish, dairy and eggs.
Fat should be on the menu. This helps with so many bodily functions - vitamin absorption is one. Avocado, olive oil, and nuts are good sources.
250 calories isn't a meal, it's a snack. Aggressive weight loss isn't healthy weight loss.
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I had to google conversions because I'm a dumb American, but at 160cm your lowest weight to be healthy per the BMI scale is 48kg - and that's the absolute minimum. You can be healthy still at 61kg. I would suggest picking a point in the 50kg-60kg range as your end weight goal, and not go lower. It will take time to get there, especially if you only have 10kg to lose. Judge your progress in terms of months, not weeks. Build healthy habits and ensure you are providing your body with the adequate food it needs to perform its daily functions plus your activity levels.5 -
I had to google conversions because I'm a dumb American, but at 160cm your lowest weight to be healthy per the BMI scale is 48kg - and that's the absolute minimum. You can be healthy still at 61kg. I would suggest picking a point in the 50kg-60kg range as your end weight goal, and not go lower. It will take time to get there, especially if you only have 10kg to lose. Judge your progress in terms of months, not weeks. Build healthy habits and ensure you are providing your body with the adequate food it needs to perform its daily functions plus your activity levels.
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Meriam Webster definition of skinny
1 : resembling skin : membranous
2a : lacking sufficient flesh : very thin : emaciated
b : lacking usual or desirable bulk, quantity, qualities, or significance
Fit & firm is a healthy look. Strength training (recomposition) will help you lose fat and keep muscle. Women don't get bulky like men do, we don't have the hormones. Skinny (fat) is lowering your weight while keeping the same body fat % , that means the same you (same shape now) only smaller.5 -
I had to google conversions because I'm a dumb American, but at 160cm your lowest weight to be healthy per the BMI scale is 48kg - and that's the absolute minimum. You can be healthy still at 61kg. I would suggest picking a point in the 50kg-60kg range as your end weight goal, and not go lower. It will take time to get there, especially if you only have 10kg to lose. Judge your progress in terms of months, not weeks. Build healthy habits and ensure you are providing your body with the adequate food it needs to perform its daily functions plus your activity levels.
You know what's a healthy habit? Eating enough. Healthy weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint; and someone who undereats may feel fine until they really, really don't, by which time any damage has already been done.
If you want to do this in the healthiest possible way, then eat at least 1200 calories, including plenty of protein (which you can get from animal products, soy, beans and tofu) and fats (oily fish such as salmon is good). And try to get at least some exercise, even if it's only a bit of walking. Exercise is good for your heart and lungs, and can help you feel happier too.
(I am also curious as to how you 'know' that the lowest possible healthy weight for someone of your height is the 'ideal' weight for you, but that's a slightly different conversation)
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Meriam Webster definition of skinny
1 : resembling skin : membranous
2a : lacking sufficient flesh : very thin : emaciated
b : lacking usual or desirable bulk, quantity, qualities, or significance
Fit & firm is a healthy look. Strength training (recomposition) will help you lose fat and keep muscle. Women don't get bulky like men do, we don't have the hormones. Skinny (fat) is lowering your weight while keeping the same body fat % , that means the same you (same shape now) only smaller.
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I had to google conversions because I'm a dumb American, but at 160cm your lowest weight to be healthy per the BMI scale is 48kg - and that's the absolute minimum. You can be healthy still at 61kg. I would suggest picking a point in the 50kg-60kg range as your end weight goal, and not go lower. It will take time to get there, especially if you only have 10kg to lose. Judge your progress in terms of months, not weeks. Build healthy habits and ensure you are providing your body with the adequate food it needs to perform its daily functions plus your activity levels.
You know what's a healthy habit? Eating enough. Healthy weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint; and someone who undereats may feel fine until they really, really don't, by which time any damage has already been done.
If you want to do this in the healthiest possible way, then eat at least 1200 calories, including plenty of protein (which you can get from animal products, soy, beans and tofu) and fats (oily fish such as salmon is good). And try to get at least some exercise, even if it's only a bit of walking. Exercise is good for your heart and lungs, and can help you feel happier too.
(I am also curious as to how you 'know' that the lowest possible healthy weight for someone of your height is the 'ideal' weight for you, but that's a slightly different conversation)
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It sounds to me like you are under tremendous stress currently and this is something you can control. A registered Dietitian can be very helpful. If you can't afford one the default macros (protein, fat and carb) that are set is MFP are a good place to start. Most of it is common sense. Lean meat and fish, lots of veggies, fruit occasionally, some healthy fat and the balance in carbs. You don't have to eliminate everything you love but you do have to eat it in moderation so that it doesn't crowd out the healthy foods with empty calories.
Going too low with your calories can create health issues. After about 3 or 4 months on super low calorie people tend to lose some of their hair demonstrating that they are under-fueling their body. You can lose muscle which burns more calories when you are resting. Also don't forget that your heart is a muscle. I would advise no less than 1300 calories a day minimum made up of protein, fat and some carbs. This is balanced eating and will help you to maintain muscle.
From your profile picture I would guess you aren't obese. To me you look healthy but it is a head shot so I can't see your body. Even if you want to be a bit leaner, at your weight it will be a very slow process. Take your time so that you learn new ways of eating that you can live with. Get some daily exercise even if it's just a walk in the park. That's a great stress reliever as well. Good luck.7 -
cheryldumais wrote: »It sounds to me like you are under tremendous stress currently and this is something you can control. A registered Dietitian can be very helpful. If you can't afford one the default macros (protein, fat and carb) that are set is MFP are a good place to start. Most of it is common sense. Lean meat and fish, lots of veggies, fruit occasionally, some healthy fat and the balance in carbs. You don't have to eliminate everything you love but you do have to eat it in moderation so that it doesn't crowd out the healthy foods with empty calories.
Going too low with your calories can create health issues. After about 3 or 4 months on super low calorie people tend to lose some of their hair demonstrating that they are under-fueling their body. You can lose muscle which burns more calories when you are resting. Also don't forget that your heart is a muscle. I would advise no less than 1300 calories a day minimum made up of protein, fat and some carbs. This is balanced eating and will help you to maintain muscle.
From your profile picture I would guess you aren't obese. To me you look healthy but it is a head shot so I can't see your body. Even if you want to be a bit leaner, at your weight it will be a very slow process. Take your time so that you learn new ways of eating that you can live with. Get some daily exercise even if it's just a walk in the park. That's a great stress reliever as well. Good luck.
thank you so much for info!
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cheryldumais wrote: »It sounds to me like you are under tremendous stress currently and this is something you can control. A registered Dietitian can be very helpful. If you can't afford one the default macros (protein, fat and carb) that are set is MFP are a good place to start. Most of it is common sense. Lean meat and fish, lots of veggies, fruit occasionally, some healthy fat and the balance in carbs. You don't have to eliminate everything you love but you do have to eat it in moderation so that it doesn't crowd out the healthy foods with empty calories.
Going too low with your calories can create health issues. After about 3 or 4 months on super low calorie people tend to lose some of their hair demonstrating that they are under-fueling their body. You can lose muscle which burns more calories when you are resting. Also don't forget that your heart is a muscle. I would advise no less than 1300 calories a day minimum made up of protein, fat and some carbs. This is balanced eating and will help you to maintain muscle.
From your profile picture I would guess you aren't obese. To me you look healthy but it is a head shot so I can't see your body. Even if you want to be a bit leaner, at your weight it will be a very slow process. Take your time so that you learn new ways of eating that you can live with. Get some daily exercise even if it's just a walk in the park. That's a great stress reliever as well. Good luck.
thank you so much for info!
my hair used to be to my waist, it is now to my shoulders. please take care of yourself, i am proud that all these amazing people have helped you7 -
I had to google conversions because I'm a dumb American, but at 160cm your lowest weight to be healthy per the BMI scale is 48kg - and that's the absolute minimum. You can be healthy still at 61kg. I would suggest picking a point in the 50kg-60kg range as your end weight goal, and not go lower. It will take time to get there, especially if you only have 10kg to lose. Judge your progress in terms of months, not weeks. Build healthy habits and ensure you are providing your body with the adequate food it needs to perform its daily functions plus your activity levels.
You know what's a healthy habit? Eating enough. Healthy weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint; and someone who undereats may feel fine until they really, really don't, by which time any damage has already been done.
If you want to do this in the healthiest possible way, then eat at least 1200 calories, including plenty of protein (which you can get from animal products, soy, beans and tofu) and fats (oily fish such as salmon is good). And try to get at least some exercise, even if it's only a bit of walking. Exercise is good for your heart and lungs, and can help you feel happier too.
(I am also curious as to how you 'know' that the lowest possible healthy weight for someone of your height is the 'ideal' weight for you, but that's a slightly different conversation)
Body mass index may well say that a short woman over 60 kg is fat, but it is a LONG way from there to deciding that you have to weigh 48 kg.
What’s wrong with, say, 55 kg? Why are you so certain that that isn’t the weight at which you’ll be most healthy?3 -
You say that you want to be healthy, but you're also saying that skinny is "impeccable." For a lot of folks on this site, those two don't necessarily match. Being healthy requires a lifetime commitment. Read the stickies at the top of each forum. They're full of information to get you off on the right footing. Under eating will get you skinny, but it's a far cry from healthy.6
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Being healthy is a better goal than looking healthy, especially when you define looking healthy being as skinny as possible.7 -
Meriam Webster definition of skinny
1 : resembling skin : membranous
2a : lacking sufficient flesh : very thin : emaciated
b : lacking usual or desirable bulk, quantity, qualities, or significance
Fit & firm is a healthy look. Strength training (recomposition) will help you lose fat and keep muscle. Women don't get bulky like men do, we don't have the hormones. Skinny (fat) is lowering your weight while keeping the same body fat % , that means the same you (same shape now) only smaller.
I don't know you or your sister. I think you're entitled to your own preferred aesthetic, even if I wouldn't choose it for myself . . . but I'd strongly encourage that it be a healthy one.
You appear fairly young (from my vantage point of age 64), so I assume your sister is fairly young, too. People at extremes of body weight - low or high - are at higher health risk. If your sister is indeed fairly young, and super thin, there is no guarantee that that super-thinness will serve her health well as she ages. As they age, super thin people are at higher risk of certain health problems (osteoporosis is a well-known one, but it isn't the only one). (I'm not saying there are guarantees of earlier illness/disability from extreme thinness. It's just a risk, that's all. Whether to risk your health, and how much, is a personal decision.)
If you have a very delicate frame - very narrow hips, narrow shoulders, long/narrow arms/legs from a skeletal standpoint, small breasts, little muscle - it's possible that the lower end of the healthy BMI range is a healthy weight for you. For most people, it represents a point of slightly higher health risk (and I say that as someone who prefers to be on the lighter end of the BMI scale myself, though not absolutely at the bottom of the healthy range).
Right now, you're eating too little, which is to say you're risking your health on that basis alone. Your nutrition is lacking in fats and protein for sure, plus possibly some micronutrients. That's a health risk, too. You've decided you don't want to exercise. That's another health risk. Give it a bit of a think, OK?
On the eating front, It's not that there are objective "good foods" we can tell you to eat, or "bad foods" you should never eat. What's important is that you get adequate nutrition overall, from your eating as a whole. (Part of it can even be the chocolate muffins or eclairs, within reason: They're calorie dense and not nutrition dense, but they do have some nutritional content, and are fine in moderation.)
Adequate nutrition starts with adequate calories: Have MFP calculate a goal for you. If you have 10 kg in total to lose, 0.25kg per week would be a sensible loss rate. Eat that much, not less.
Beyond that, the next goal is adequate macronutrients. Macronutrients are fats, protein, and carbohydrates. Fats, protein and fiber (a type of carbohydrate) are the important ones to get a certain minimum of. If you use MFP to track your food, the default macronutrient goals it gives you are a good start. You don't have to hit them exactly, close is good enough, especially if you're over/under on different ones on different days.
So, eat, log, then review your MFP diary. Low on some macronutrient? Find a food(s) you ate that had quite a few calories, not much of that macronutrient, but more of some macro that you had extra of by the end of the day. Eat less of that, and find some other food you like that has more of the macro you're short on. Eat more of that food that helps you meet your goal. Keep fine-tuning and reviewing. In a fairly short time, you'll have the healthy diet you say you want, using foods you personally enjoy.
If you like the idea of that "log and gradually improve" strategy, see this thread for more details, including the micronutrient part:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10636388/free-customized-personal-weight-loss-eating-plan-not-spam-or-mlm/p1
We can't tell you what to eat, but you can learn what to eat. It's very manageable.
Best wishes!
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According to the BMI chart, at 1.6 meters, 55 kg would be just barely lower than the middle of the healthy range.
According to a random tdee chart, an average 22-year old female 1.6 meters tall weighing 55 kg should eat about 1981 calories to maintain their weight if they are as active as an average 22 year old. If you have very little weight to lose, you don’t need to eat many calories lower than that to lose in a healthy manner.
I never saw in your posts how much you weigh now.
It would be healthy to aim for a balance of protein, fat and carbohydrates at every meal.
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I remember being at my lowest weight, eating 500 calories a day and walking 4 miles a day. I was able to maintain that for about a month before feeling the side affects such as dizziness, heart palpitations, severe hunger, and loss of hair. I wanted to do too much too fast. I could see my hip bones, my rib bones, I was ecstatic! I felt great! Or so I thought.
People were talking about me behind my back, wondering if I was okay, had health issues such as cancer or anorexia.
Now, I eat healthy, track calories and exercise with MFP and take in around 1200 calories a day. This a.m. I had a bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon and chopped apples(one of my fav breakfasts)and now having 1/2 no fat plain yogurt to give my protein a boost. Plus a cup of coffee.
At each meal I eat between 300-400 calories plus have little snacks, depending on calories left for the day.
Think of healthy foods you like and try to incorporate those into meals. I stay very basic in my food selections such as green salads with chopped tomato and chunks of chicken, covered with low fat dressing, some fruit. My indulgence is Italian bread with peanut butter.
YOU need to figure out what you like and add the healthy foods to your 'can eat' list.
You'll get there, just don't go extreme and lose steam, like I did. That'll get you someplace fast and back again because it's not someplace you can stay for long. Good luck!!2 -
Work on getting more protein. Greek yogurt, nuts, cheese, chicken, pork, red meat, eggs are all good sources of protein. This will also help you meet your calorie goal and help maintain your muscle mass. Do not go too low on your fats, as that is what can cause hair loss, bad skin and hormone difficulties. Carbs are personal preference. Some people work better with a low carb diet. Personally, my diet is high in carbs because that's what works for me.2
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