Does you find it "hard" to eat your daily calories?

No, I can't say I have that problem and I can't relate to those threads on here at all. I wouldn't be here if I found it hard to eat 1200 calories. LOL.

I know I do! Especially when I do alot of exercise. I find myself well under my goal to the point sometimes I fear I am doing some damage. The thing is I eat. ALOT. Like every 3-4 hrs from wake up to near bedtime. But I eat healthy. Guess I'll drink more shakes and add milk rather than Diet V8 and eat more whole wheat PB & SFJ's. Haha

Just curious what others do to get their daily minimum nutrition in when they are low!

I'm in the same situation. After months of losing weight, it's a huge mindset change to actually hit my calorie number. Much worse when I run (26 to 30 miles per week while training for a marathon). I'm almost always under my calorie count and I'm always under my carb count.

Yes, I eat potatoes and bread and fruit and rice (almost every day) and other low GI, complex carbs but it "ain't easy". It was actually easier to design a low calorie diet (800-1000 net cals/day) and eat it than it is to hit my calorie target now that I'm a runner.

I do this almost every day. I'm confused on the whole factor. I'm eating healthy and about 5-6 times a day. I'm not hungry and I am already making myself eat at least 2 of the 5 times a day. I figured if my body thought it was starving it would tell me, and sometimes it does. I've worried about whether or not I'm doing damage but I'm losing the weight steadily. I guess the main questions is, DO YOU HAVE TO REACH YOUR GOAL?

Why are you eating 6 meals a day?

Is this because of the whole "it boosts your metabolism" myth?

Some people do it because eating every few hours keeps their blood sugar level, so they a) don't want to binge and/or b) they simply feel better eating more often.

And how do YOU know it doesn't keep their metabolism up when they do it? Because some scientist said it isn't true? We are all different and our bodies respond differently to things. So, saying it is a "myth" and isn't true is a disservice to people who have high metabolisms and eat often.

I sometimes wonder if people are overestimating their exercising calories on here and that is where the problem lies for some. Also, if you aren't actually weighing your food, it is very easy to underestimate calories eaten. Portion sizes are usually a lot smaller than what I consume and I have to double a lot of the stuff in the data base.

That is a VERY good point. The average person dramatically OVER estimates the amount of exercise they do and UNDER estimates how much they eat.

Exactly.

I once read a book, Body For Life, that said to eat 5-6 small meals a day to resist "beginning the starvation mode process" and I did and it worked well. Was it that one factor in the diet that did the most good (outside of what your eating)? I doubt it. But since I have read othewise about the "myth". But in the end, I am truly happier eating smaller, more frequent meals. If I wasnt, I would just eat 3 squares and follow the "calories in, calories out" belief. But in the end I do what I feel my body wants without staying with any one "method".

Since switching to a Paleo diet I no longer ever have problems with binges and crazy hunger cravings. The foods I eat fill me up more and for longer.

I have a feeling most people get mad cravings in between meals is because they are eating empty calories.


I don't expect anyone to even listen to me because I'm probably some crazy weirdo on a diet that doesn't let me eat bread......but I'm just trying to get the point across that your body is telling you you're hungry for a reason.....maybe figure out what that reason is.

......but then again I'm just a crazy engineering type of person that always has to know "why"

honestly it baffles me that people on a diet struggle to get their cals in, usually the problem is over eating, not under eating.

Yup, me too. It's like a bizarre way of boasting for some, I think.

Does that make anorexia the ultimate form of bragging?

People struggle with diets in LOTS of different ways. I find it almost impossible to hit 3500ish calories while keeping my fat below 25%. I'm not bragging, I'm doing the same thing as everyone else, trying to find a balance that works for me.

Anorexia would be someone purposefully staying far below calories, not someone who "just can't manage" to eat 1200. And falling below 3500 (which is far above the amount for those trying to lose weight and not maintain) is not quite the same thing as not being able to eat 1200 calories.

I don't think it is bragging, I just can't imagine this ever being a problem that would require help from a forum

honestly it baffles me that people on a diet struggle to get their cals in, usually the problem is over eating, not under eating.

Yup, me too. It's like a bizarre way of boasting for some, I think.

Does that make anorexia the ultimate form of bragging?

People struggle with diets in LOTS of different ways. I find it almost impossible to hit 3500ish calories while keeping my fat below 25%. I'm not bragging, I'm doing the same thing as everyone else, trying to find a balance that works for me.

Anorexia would be someone purposefully staying far below calories, not someone who "just can't manage" to eat 1200. And falling below 3500 (which is far above the amount for those trying to lose weight and not maintain) is not quite the same thing as not being able to eat 1200 calories.

I don't think it is bragging, I just can't imagine this ever being a problem that would require help from a forum

Anorexia can cause long term changes to the way the body responds to "hunger" In some cases, the anorexic person doesn't even know they are hungry (they stop getting hunger pangs), so there is no trigger for them to eat. It is no longer a conscious decision to not eat... they have to make the conscious decision TO eat.

I'm losing weight and on a big exercise day my calorie target is roughly 3500 in order to net a healthy net total. And the net calories is what matters. So regardless of the number, the point is that some of us have a hard time making our goal (whatever that goal may be), and some have a hard time not going over.

Again, either way we are all struggling to find a healthy balance in our diets.

Sometimes I come in a little under. I save most of my calories to eat later. I have a very light breakfast and then a light lunch, with a decent dinner. Then I like to eat a bunch before I go to bed. Apparently it's not the most ideal eating plan, but it works for me. And then, sometimes, I have 300 calories left but really only feel like eating a serving of rice cakes. Honestly, I just save the calories and eat more for breakfast or lunch the next day. More the next day helps to ensure the metabolism doesn't slow down from lack of food on the day before.

I'm not even going to get into this argument.

You can find studies to prove anything you want. Do whatever makes you happy and whatever works for you

Ha! Ha! Then why did you start it? You made me 'LoL' thanks!

Glad you had a laugh.

However, I never once said anything about it being a myth that it helps stabilize blood sugar levels......therefore reducing cravings. That is definitely true.

Chevy started picking the fight. Not me.


If you really want to read more......google "6 meal myth"


here is an excerpt from ASKMEN.COM
http://www.askmen.com/sports/foodcourt_250/285_metabolism-myths.html

Eating More Frequently Will Speed Up Your Metabolism
Another common myth is that eating more frequent meals will boost your metabolism. If you’ve ever heard someone tell you that you should eat six times a day for a faster metabolism, you’re being given misinformation.

The point to remember here is that each time you eat a meal, your metabolism increases. This increase is impacted by how large the meals higher in carbohydrates and fats).

Assuming total macronutrient composition and calorie intake stays the same over two different diets, one consisting of three meals and one of six, both diets will experience the same metabolic increases. The only difference is the individual eating six meals a day will have smaller increases six times while the other individual will have larger increases three times a day.

Nuts are a very dense source of fats and proteins. I eat nuts every day. Raw unsalted almonds are fantastic.

30 Almonds is about 200 calories, 7g carbs, 18g fat, 8g protein, 4g fiber.

I just had a salad for lunch with avocado, chicken breast, spinach, red onions, hardboiled eggs, and olive oil/balsamic vinegar dressing. It was great..........until I threw some crush pecans on it. Then it was AMAZING.

I'm not even going to get into this argument.

You can find studies to prove anything you want. Do whatever makes you happy and whatever works for you

Then why did you ask her if she believed in the myth in the first place? For your peace of mind?

Wrap some protein and carbs around your workouts and voila, you've got 5 meals already...

I have trouble hitting my daily calories because I'm so worried about "falling off the wagon" I just try to get as close to 1200 as I can while being comfortable and happy with what I've eaten throughout the day. I don't try to eat my calories burned.

And that treat at night? No way! I have a history with binging and ED's and I'm not giving myself the temptation to binge. Not that there's anything unhealthy in the house to binge on!