Help please!!

jill___
jill___ Posts: 188 Member
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
MFP recommends that I eat 1300 calories a day.

I can't do it. I do an hour of cardio everyday and burn about 700+ calories -- but I rarely eat over 900. I know this isn't good for me, but I don't know what to do.

I go over my protein and fiber recommendations everyday... is this why I'm too full to get more than 900 calories!? I'm not hungry or intentionally starving myself. I eat when I'm hungry. I stop when I'm full.

Replies

  • sewedo1
    sewedo1 Posts: 200 Member
    Looks like you're losing weight and if you're healthy then continue listening to your body. If you stop losing or are feeling run-down, then you may need to make some changes.
  • TLCEsq
    TLCEsq Posts: 413 Member
    You definitely need to eat more, but I knw you know that. You should try eating more quality calories and calorie dense foods, like nuts, avocado, two percent or full fat dairy, etc.
  • love32
    love32 Posts: 1
    Sometimes we have to sacrifice the foods that we enjoy and love for healthier foods. Loosing weight and maintaining the lost, is a life changing decision and not one that is temporal. Please post your today's menu of what you have eating and maybe members can better assist you.


    ~Tina~
  • jill___
    jill___ Posts: 188 Member
    I made my food diary public. I think I might just stick to my 700-900 calories a day though. I don't think I should force myself to eat just to meet a recommended amount of calories. My body feels good, I have the energy to work 12 hours a day -- 6am-6pm AND squeeze in an hour of cardio everyday. I know that everyone says that your body needs 1200+ calories, but I feel like I'm doing just fine, and regularly losing weight. I think I need to stop stressing about calories, and just do what works and feels right.
  • TLCEsq
    TLCEsq Posts: 413 Member
    Obviously you're going to do whatever you think is best, but just some words of caution... while the weight might be coming off now, chances are a large part of it (at least more than you want) is muscle, not just fat. While it's inevitable that you will lose some muscle if you have a lot of weight to lose, too little calories plus too much cardio (and no weight training) leads to muscle loss. I also suggest you read this article: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/why-big-caloric-deficits-and-lots-of-activity-can-hurt-fat-loss.html

    I'm not trying to be pushy, but just giving you advice based on my past experience.
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    Sometimes we have to sacrifice the foods that we enjoy and love for healthier foods.

    Do we? Hell no! The more you sacrifice, the more likely you are to crave it, fall off, and binge, and regain weight. Have the things you love, just in moderation. Account for the calories, and it's all good. I know many people here who still have their bacon, ice cream, etc, and look and feel great!
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    One problem with being so low on calories is that, no matter where your calories are, weight loss is going to stall eventually. When you're that low, you can't realistically drop calories any further to lose more weight. Low calorie diets such as yours require refeeds and diet breaks to keep things moving, and it doesn't sound like you're mentally ready to handle eating more as a solution when the time comes.
  • kantone999
    kantone999 Posts: 174
    Is your fiber what's naturally contained in whole foods? Or a fiber supplement? If it's a supplement, try switching to foods that contain that amount of fiber and some of your protein--beans are a good choice (add a pinch of ginger while cooking to de-gas) and see if you can get your calorie count to 11- or 1200. I wouldn't necessarily add high calorie foods--just high fiber foods.
  • Justjoshin
    Justjoshin Posts: 999 Member
    I'm confused. You say you can't eat more than 900 calories, but in the last week, all but 2 days you've eaten almost 1200
  • koosdel
    koosdel Posts: 3,317 Member
    What was the question? This just doesn't compute.
  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    Eat more at breakfast. Use full fat and carb products (which are generally less processed than the low-fat/carb versions)...

    I mean really, I'm sure before you started MFP you were eating more calories (that's how a lot of us got here) ... so you'll find a balance eventually.
  • MrsCon40
    MrsCon40 Posts: 2,351 Member
    Quit using diet, low-fat or reduced-fat products. They will taste better and bring you closer to your goals.

    You may feel fine now, but by the time you feel that you need more food you will have already slowed your metabolism.
  • fakeplastictree
    fakeplastictree Posts: 836 Member
    Eat more at breakfast. Use full fat and carb products (which are generally less processed than the low-fat/carb versions)...

    I mean really, I'm sure before you started MFP you were eating more calories (that's how a lot of us got here) ... so you'll find a balance eventually.

    exactly.
  • mrmanmeat
    mrmanmeat Posts: 1,968 Member
    MFP recommends that I eat 1300 calories a day.

    I can't do it. I do an hour of cardio everyday and burn about 700+ calories -- but I rarely eat over 900. I know this isn't good for me, but I don't know what to do.

    I go over my protein and fiber recommendations everyday... is this why I'm too full to get more than 900 calories!? I'm not hungry or intentionally starving myself. I eat when I'm hungry. I stop when I'm full.

    You need to eat more, it's not that hard at all.
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    Maybe add a little more healthy carbs ( sweet potatoes, brown rice, quinoa, beans, low carb whole wheat bread)
  • jill___
    jill___ Posts: 188 Member
    Is your fiber what's naturally contained in whole foods? Or a fiber supplement? If it's a supplement, try switching to foods that contain that amount of fiber and some of your protein--beans are a good choice (add a pinch of ginger while cooking to de-gas) and see if you can get your calorie count to 11- or 1200. I wouldn't necessarily add high calorie foods--just high fiber foods.

    I don't take any fiber supplements - I take a multivitamin, but it has no fiber. All the fiber is from the foods I eat.
  • jill___
    jill___ Posts: 188 Member
    I'm confused. You say you can't eat more than 900 calories, but in the last week, all but 2 days you've eaten almost 1200

    But if you notice, I didn't eat MORE food, I just ate a lot of junk food!!
  • Shelby814
    Shelby814 Posts: 273 Member
    I think you're doing fine. Protein & fiber are going to increase your metabolism so those are good areas to go over on. If you're full, you're full. I find that the more I exercise, the hungrier I am. So on those days I eat some of my exercise calories back. It is rare that I ever eat them all back. Why fix what ain't broke? LOL
  • jill___
    jill___ Posts: 188 Member
    Eat more at breakfast. Use full fat and carb products (which are generally less processed than the low-fat/carb versions)...

    I mean really, I'm sure before you started MFP you were eating more calories (that's how a lot of us got here) ... so you'll find a balance eventually.

    I've never eaten a large amount of food though. I ate high fat/high calorie foods. I feel like I'm eating the same amount of food I've always eaten, just different choices. So I guess my problem is just balancing getting more calories, while still making healthy choices.
  • mark03264
    mark03264 Posts: 334 Member
    I generally have my meals and exercise for the day planned in the morning or the night before. This way I know approximately what my exercise calorie burn will be and I plan my meals through the day to "pre-eat" enough calories so that I can just eat a sensible supper and maybe a snack.

    Going over on your protein and fiber is a good thing. The protein goal that MFP gives people tends to be quite low. Most people are better off shooting for about 1 gram of protein for each pound of lean body weight.
  • kevin3344
    kevin3344 Posts: 702 Member
    I think you're doing fine. Protein & fiber are going to increase your metabolism so those are good areas to go over on. If you're full, you're full. I find that the more I exercise, the hungrier I am. So on those days I eat some of my exercise calories back. It is rare that I ever eat them all back. Why fix what ain't broke? LOL

    Exactly. Why create a problem if there isn't one? You're doing great; if you're not eating enough, that's not a bad thing as long as you're still losing. Keep doing what you're doing.
  • CMAB
    CMAB Posts: 21
    One problem with being so low on calories is that, no matter where your calories are, weight loss is going to stall eventually. When you're that low, you can't realistically drop calories any further to lose more weight. Low calorie diets such as yours require refeeds and diet breaks to keep things moving, and it doesn't sound like you're mentally ready to handle eating more as a solution when the time comes.

    can you please explain the concept of refeeds?
  • mark03264
    mark03264 Posts: 334 Member
    If you set up MFP right to start with then the daily calorie goal that MFP gives you already has a calorie deficit built in to lose weight. That said, you should eat close to the calorie goal MFP gives you each day including eating back most of your exercise calories. If you are too far under your daily calorie goal you are very likely to cause your body to hang onto the fat it has by either slowing down or even stopping fat loss. It may not happen right away but eventually you will most likely plateau. If you have a lot of weight to lose you can probably get away with it longer but as you have less to lose your body will plateau easier. May sound counter-intuitive but that's just the way it is.
  • Rayman79
    Rayman79 Posts: 2,009 Member
    No big drama here. Your last couple of days seem fine. The only thing I would suggest is try to work a few more vegetables into your diet, and to have a little more fat. Work a handfull of almonds into your daily routine or maybe some avocado.

    As an example, if you were to add a big salad to your day with some sliced avocado and a little bit of dressing, you would bump your calories up, be healthier, and get more good fats in your diet :D
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