will you gain weight going under your calorie goal?

sbw2012
sbw2012 Posts: 22
edited November 9 in Health and Weight Loss
my calorie goal is roughly 1440 a day... after completing my diary and exercising sometimes i have up to 800+ calories left over for the day. i am eating healthy my day usually consist of an egg sandwich for breakfast, with 35 calorie bread. at lunch time i usually eat a salad or sandwich.... and for dinner like this evening for example i had grilled chicken tenders green beans and instant potatoes. i usually snack around on cereal bars, yogurt or fruit. i don't drink any pop just water and sometimes fat free milk.
i guess my question is...do i need to add more calories in? or should i just keep doing what i'm doing???
thanks!
sara
«13

Replies

  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    So you're eating a little over 600 cals a day?

    No, you're not "eating healthy" and you should not keep doing what you're doing. If you keep eating this way, you're going to end up in the hospital or worse in the very near future.
  • daffodilsoup
    daffodilsoup Posts: 1,972 Member
    So you're eating a little over 600 cals a day?

    No, you're not "eating healthy" and you should not keep doing what you're doing. If you keep eating this way, you're going to end up in the hospital or worse in the very near future.

    This. Expecting your body to run on less than half of its daily allotment of fuel is like expecting your car to go hundreds of miles on a half-tank of gas.
  • piersonea
    piersonea Posts: 1
    It looks like you are eating healthy, but what you are saying is that you are also exercising which is burning more calories, right? That's what I am finding at times, too. I think if you get at leat 1200 calories in, you shouldn't go into starvation mode. I'm also wondering about this because many times I'm hitting around 1200 calories for intake, but then I burn 150 cals or more in exercising. So, will my body go into starvation mode from the extra cals I'm burning or not.
  • astrasburger
    astrasburger Posts: 28 Member
    I would just work on adding more items to your meals...example add more protein to your egg sandwich (veggies, lean meat, low fat cheese), and make sure you're eating 5 - 6 times a day...As long as you are hitting your goal for calories. what are you doing for your exercise to burn that much calories?

    If i understand your post correctly you are eating your calorie goal, but after subtracting the calories burned from working out then you have in the bank 800 "extra" calories a day?
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    It looks like you are eating healthy

    I think you need to look up the word "healthy"
  • lisapr123
    lisapr123 Posts: 863 Member
    Are you only eating 600ish calories a day or is that from the "earned calories" from exercise? If you're only eating 600--EAT!

    But if you have so many left because they're "earned" that's another story. Personally, I found that I have to eat about half of the "earned" calories to stay on track. When I wasn't eating them, I wasn't losing. Somebody told me to make sure that my "net calories" are at least 1000. That is where I tend to be most of the time.

    Hope that helps! Good luck.
  • walkwithme1
    walkwithme1 Posts: 492 Member
    Sara you really need to eat more and better. Instant potatos are not good for you. And if you aren't eating enough calories, that's not healthy. Do you keep a food diary? I think if you did it might help. If you are trying to lose weight then you really need to do it the healthy way. Add me if you want I would be happy to help. I lost 60 pounds last year by eating right, no diets and lots of exercise.
  • cwalters1540
    cwalters1540 Posts: 39 Member
    Here is an article about the myth of the starvation mode.
    http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=35501

    Plain & simple...if you burn more calories than you consume you will lose weight. Starving yourself to lose weight, though, is not a healthy way to do it.

    You sound like you're eating the right kinds of food just not enough of them. I would increase your calorie intake. I agree with astrasburger that adding food (like cheese or veggies) to what you're already eating is a good way to increase your calories. Try increasing it for a couple of weeks and see how it affects your weight. You can always play around with it if you end up gaining or maintaining weight. Good luck!
  • paigemarie93
    paigemarie93 Posts: 778 Member
    35 calorie bread?....
    Seriously? What brand of bread is this? I need it in my life.
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    35 calorie bread?....
    Seriously? What brand of bread is this? I need it in my life.

    http://www.healthylifebread.com/

    The texture is weird though, I don't like it.
  • paigemarie93
    paigemarie93 Posts: 778 Member
    35 calorie bread?....
    Seriously? What brand of bread is this? I need it in my life.

    http://www.healthylifebread.com/

    The texture is weird though, I don't like it.

    Oh, I think I'll just stick to malted bread haha.
  • Eleisabelle
    Eleisabelle Posts: 365
    The answer to your question is yes--going that far under your calorie goal, you will end up gaining weight, because at a certain point your body will think it's starving and will start holding on to fat and consuming your muscle instead.

    As my good Italian grandmother used to say, eateateat!
  • wftiger
    wftiger Posts: 1,283 Member
    No you won't gain. Can you do it forever? Doubtful.

    Sara Lee 45 & Delightful is 45 cals a slice and tastes like real whole wheat bread. That is better than some of the others.
  • microwoman999
    microwoman999 Posts: 545 Member
    As long as you are eating 1200 calories a day you are fine. I would eat 1200 calories a day and not eat back exercise calories and I did fine. I would switch between 1200 and 1400 every two weeks and I am still alive and fine. I also burned as much as 1000 to 1200 calories a day and did not eat back exercise calories and I did not die or go to a hospital and I am completely fine!
  • sbw2012
    sbw2012 Posts: 22
    Sara you really need to eat more and better. Instant potatos are not good for you. And if you aren't eating enough calories, that's not healthy. Do you keep a food diary? I think if you did it might help. If you are trying to lose weight then you really need to do it the healthy way. Add me if you want I would be happy to help. I lost 60 pounds last year by eating right, no diets and lots of exercise.
    yeah those potatoes were a little rough. :x i'm eating over 1,000 calories a day sometimes even 1,200... but when i workout, (bicycling, elliptical, walking, basketball, etc) my diary always says i have like 700-800 calories left a day.
  • sbw2012
    sbw2012 Posts: 22
    So you're eating a little over 600 cals a day?

    No, you're not "eating healthy" and you should not keep doing what you're doing. If you keep eating this way, you're going to end up in the hospital or worse in the very near future.
    no i eat more than 600 a day, i eat 1000-1300 calories a day i've even went over...but when i workout and put that in my food diary it says i have like 700-800 left. not all the time does this happen, but i guess i made my question really complicated... i guess i'm just wondering is it bad to burn a lot and have that much left over??
  • sbw2012
    sbw2012 Posts: 22
    Are you only eating 600ish calories a day or is that from the "earned calories" from exercise? If you're only eating 600--EAT!

    But if you have so many left because they're "earned" that's another story. Personally, I found that I have to eat about half of the "earned" calories to stay on track. When I wasn't eating them, I wasn't losing. Somebody told me to make sure that my "net calories" are at least 1000. That is where I tend to be most of the time.

    Hope that helps! Good luck.
    I'm eating more than 600, trust me i love my food!
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    As long as you are eating 1200 calories a day you are fine. I would eat 1200 calories a day and not eat back exercise calories and I did fine. I would switch between 1200 and 1400 every two weeks and I am still alive and fine. I also burned as much as 1000 to 1200 calories a day and did not eat back exercise calories and I did not die or go to a hospital and I am completely fine!

    I don't mean to be rude, because you and I are in the same boat, but it's not the same boat that the OP is in.

    She has a LOT less weight to lose than we do, and eating a long way under your calorie limit when you don't have the same ah... surplus? is a completely different story.
  • snookumss
    snookumss Posts: 1,451 Member
    It looks like you are eating healthy, but what you are saying is that you are also exercising which is burning more calories, right? That's what I am finding at times, too. I think if you get at leat 1200 calories in, you shouldn't go into starvation mode. I'm also wondering about this because many times I'm hitting around 1200 calories for intake, but then I burn 150 cals or more in exercising. So, will my body go into starvation mode from the extra cals I'm burning or not.

    1200 NET btw


    OP'r SAYS " i'm eating over 1,000 calories a day sometimes even 1,200"

    You gotta eat more than that Honey. You shouldn't be consistently under that. If I ate light, thats still too light for me!!!
  • SarahMorganP
    SarahMorganP Posts: 921 Member
    You need to eat more. If you are set at 1200 calories than eat at least 1200 calories. If you exercise and burn 400 calories eat at least 1/2 of them back. So that day you would have eaten 1400 calories. Always eat at least 1200 calories and then eat some of your exercise calories as well.
  • slk1954
    slk1954 Posts: 8
    Sara, in order to keep your metabolism revved up, you need to eat all or most all of your daily calories. If you should be taking in 1200 calories, then eat 1200 or as close as you can get. Your nutrition is key though. Make sure the calories you are eating are good in nutrition. Fruits, vegetables, fish. Check your intake of protein and fiber and even some fats. If you don't eat all your calories, your body will go into starvation mode and start storing fat, which will hamper your weight loss efforts and may even cause you to gain weight. Get on a good exercise regime, eat all your calories with some good nutrition sense and keep that metabolism revved up. Good luck, okay?
  • Changing__Christina
    Changing__Christina Posts: 245 Member
    I think eating healthy is a relative term. I eat pretty healthy....lots of fruit and veggies, protein, and not alot of carb. My calories aren't always on point because I eat so much low calorie food. I workout alot and this puts me in the hole. I just think that if you change your diet and you exercise, you will see results. If you aren't seeing results...you are either gaining muscle or not doing something correctly. Good Luck!
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    You need to NET (after exercise) 1200 calories. The good news is that it's not hard to do. Just eat whole eggs instead of whites; regular whole wheat bread instead of the 35 calorie stuff, etc. Your body needs fuel, and if you're close to your goal weight as someone else posted, not netting enough calories can cause your body to burn muscle instead of fat. People with more to lose can have a larger deficit, but if you're already slimmer then it's much better for your health to eat at a lower deficit. Remember it's not just about losing weight, it's about maintaining your health.

    The reason people say you can gain doing this is that your body will get used to eating so little and then if you splurge or binge you'll gain weight faster. Technically if you ALWAYS stay that low you won't gain weight, but that doesn't make it healthy to do so.
  • purpleipod
    purpleipod Posts: 1,147 Member
    Are you sure you aren't over estimating your calories burned?
  • lgraham92
    lgraham92 Posts: 7 Member
    Starvation mode is a myth.

    Etheopia, Africa.

    Stop spreading that garbage
  • KimberlyAllen54
    KimberlyAllen54 Posts: 2
    I think that as long as you are eating your calories, then you are doing a great job. I do agree that you may need to eat a little more healthy like a real baked sweet potato instead of instant white potatoes. I think of my "earned calories" as a bonus, if I use them, good if I don't - that is even better. Look at Weight Watchers, they have bonus points for excercise and you could use them to have more food but you didn't have to use them if you did not want to. - They would also let you bank excercise points for a "special meal" at the end of the week or a eating out night. Hope that helps.
  • KarenBorter
    KarenBorter Posts: 1,157 Member
    eventually yes. and banking doesn't always work.

    Starvation mode (for the 2nd poster in this thread) isn't a myth.
  • noexcuses84
    noexcuses84 Posts: 100 Member
    all i do is try to eat anywhere from 1200-1400 cals a day. ur body won't go into starvation mode like this and any extra cals leftover is a little bonus! it's working for me and i can honestly say i'm eating more food now than i did before!
  • crysgwinn
    crysgwinn Posts: 4 Member
    35 calorie bread has a wierd texture; but tastes better if toasted.
  • Crashley04
    Crashley04 Posts: 20
    35 Cal bread

    I just found this tonight at walmart. The white is pretty impressive. (My husband hates wheat bread)

    http://www.nicklesbakery.com/products/productCategory.php?category=Light 35

    Usually I buy

    http://www.auntmillies.com/Products/ProductView.aspx?prod=1357&cat=Breads

    and I don't think it's too bad.
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