Eating too few calories ..everyday !

Ginger4real
Ginger4real Posts: 162
edited November 10 in Health and Weight Loss
ok ..I just ate supper...so I feel like I won't eat again tonight...It's 5:54 pm here. My calories are at a net = (-) 29 .... It says I have 1399 left to eat ...They can't be seriously expecting me to somehow eat that much more ????? but I know having negative 29 can't be good either...I can't eat anymore than I do ..I have been glad to get over 1000 lately..if you see my diary I ate quite a bit today ...any advice on what I should do.. really do not want to start re adding needless processed carbs or sugar just to up my cals.

I have added mixed nuts , fruits, even ate a 1/4 cup of rice today .. I do try to stay low carb and low sugar ...but I eat healthy ..I don't live on meat and cheese.

Should I cut back on exercise ...I get between 600-800 cals burned on average per day ...I do the 30 day shred and usually 15-30 minutes on my elliptical ...plus other odds and ends....should I not log the 20 minutes of cleaning etc ..Just wondering what people think of adding all those little daily chore type things ...or walking to the bus to get the kids ..I log that as 10 minutes slow pace walking...

I eat til I feel full..I try to eat breakfast, lunch, supper, and a snack or two through my day...I am really just not sure what to do ..or if these numbers matter enough to worry ..I don't want to slow my progress with starvation mode issues.
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Replies

  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    You would get more responses to your post if you open your diary. As far as logging exercise calories....most people way overestimate on calories burned. I would not log routine cleaning (unless you were moving boxes or rearranging furniture for a prolonged period of time, walking to the bus stop ect. Those type of activities should be included in your activity level settings. Also what is your calorie limit for the day? -39 would have to mean you logged a huge amount of exercise calories. I suggest opening up your diary.
  • naastrodamus
    naastrodamus Posts: 14
    Don't eat if you're not hungry... forcing food down isn't good, no matter what people will say below. When your body says "I'm done", listen.
  • Ginger4real
    Ginger4real Posts: 162
    You would get more responses to your post if you open your diary. As far as logging exercise calories....most people way overestimate on calories burned. I would not log routine cleaning (unless you were moving boxes or rearranging furniture for a prolonged period of time, walking to the bus stop ect. Those type of activities should be included in your activity level settings. Also what is your calorie limit for the day? -39 would have to mean you logged a huge amount of exercise calories. I suggest opening up your diary.


    Thought it was.. give me one sec I will
  • Ginger4real
    Ginger4real Posts: 162
    OK it says public ....
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    Sounds like a perfect time for ice cream.

    Get that fat intake up: nuts, olive oil, avocado, peanut butter. A tablespoon of olive oil with a meal is an extra 120 cals that you wouldn't even notice
  • purpleipod
    purpleipod Posts: 1,147 Member
    If you're that severely under your goal for the day I'd be eating something bulkier with more bang for my buck than a salad for lunch.
  • muffintopminx
    muffintopminx Posts: 541 Member
    I don't log daily activities like cleaning, walking, or folding laundry. I only log EXERCISE. Meaning I have to be in workout clothes wearing my HRM, moving my *kitten* nonstop and sweating bullets. Everything else is already accounted for in your BMR.

    I see folks logging things like "driving" and "desk work" (major eye roll) and they are very frustrated and don't understand why they aren't losing weight.
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    yogurt. cottage cheese, cheese, olive oil, peanut butter...all high in calories
  • shirleygirl910
    shirleygirl910 Posts: 503 Member
    I looked at your diary. You eat very well. Try tracking your protein too. If you are exercising and eating this few of calories, you are most likely burning muscle to keep up with your exercise. I lost 129 lbs with only 50-60 g of protein and 900-1000 calories a day. Now I am fighting the hanging skin. For me I've upped my calories to 1500-1700 with 100-130 g or protein a day. I try for low sugar, and some what low carbs. I wasn't hungry either, but I know I was just as unhealthy at 1000 calories and 60 g of protein.
  • Ginger4real
    Ginger4real Posts: 162
    It's the bulk part ..I feel full really quickly ... don't get me wrong I like to eat ...but I can't eat much at one time... I eat on a smaller plate ..not a saucer but not a dinner pate either ..I fill it up though...but I sometimes don't empty it. Both of my kids eat bigger portions than I do . I did have my gallbladder removed about 9 years ago...I notced since them my appetite has taken a major dip.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Don't log your everyday activity that you would be doing no matter what, like cleaning and walking the kids to the bus. Just deliberate working out.

    Are you measuring your food correctly? For example the amounts of meat in last night's dinner was not very much.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    1. you're overlogging exercise.
    2. add some calorie dense foods, particularly fats, like nut butters and olive oil throughout the day

    This combination will get you closer.
  • Ginger4real
    Ginger4real Posts: 162
    I think I am ..last nights dinner was 3 drumsticks (if Im thinking of the right meal ..ceasar salad) broken up in a huge bowl split between 4 people .. I will stop adding the cleaning and stuff and see how that works..people told me to log everything so I did..hopefully that will make my numbers seem more sensible ..
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    A lot of your exercise would come under your daily activity. I mean, you logged 1 minute of walking upstairs?

    Just eat higher calorie food for lunch, or dinner. Its really not hard to eat more calories...
  • alyssaanagram
    alyssaanagram Posts: 73
    Definitely add in those calorie dense foods and make sure you eat AT LEAST 1200 calories - your body will go into starvation mode and cause you to gain more weight!

    Peanut butter, avocado, and nuts are great ways to do this and help keep you trim :)
  • marquesajen
    marquesajen Posts: 641
    If you're burning that much then try eating more earlier in the day. Good luck!
  • Quickster34
    Quickster34 Posts: 209 Member
    Briefly looking through your diary i barely see protein sources? one: you should add that to your tracker , and two: try adding small sources of protein to each meal for a balanced diet, it should put you at your calories no problem and also most likely improve your progress since your muscles need protein
  • Elzecat
    Elzecat Posts: 2,916 Member
    I don't log daily activities like cleaning, walking, or folding laundry. I only log EXERCISE. Meaning I have to be in workout clothes wearing my HRM, moving my *kitten* nonstop and sweating bullets. Everything else is already accounted for in your BMR.

    I see folks logging things like "driving" and "desk work" (major eye roll) and they are very frustrated and don't understand why they aren't losing weight.

    I normally don't tell other people what they should or should not log as exercise, but in this case, since from your numbers it doesn't look like you're morbidly obese and you are able to participate in more vigorous exercise (walking, elliptical, circuit training) don't log the cleaning or the walking upstairs. And eat more earlier in the day, then you will have less "left over" :)

    Good luck!
  • Ginger4real
    Ginger4real Posts: 162
    If you're burning that much then try eating more earlier in the day. Good luck!

    I tried that ..I had a 500 + cal breakfast ...but then I was full all day hence the small supper ...:explode: frustrates me that eating too little makes me fat lol ... But eating too much when I lived on pasta and chips/fries made me fat too ...SMH ..I'll get the hang of it eventually I guess
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    I think I am ..last nights dinner was 3 drumsticks (if Im thinking of the right meal ..ceasar salad) broken up in a huge bowl split between 4 people .. I will stop adding the cleaning and stuff and see how that works..people told me to log everything so I did..hopefully that will make my numbers seem more sensible ..

    It looks like you logged half of one drumstick.

    And then tonight's dinner, 1.5 ounces of chicken, and 2 ounces of spare rib.... that is a very tiny amount of meat. An average serving of meat is 4 ounces, about the size of a deck of cards.
  • Ginger4real
    Ginger4real Posts: 162
    I don't log daily activities like cleaning, walking, or folding laundry. I only log EXERCISE. Meaning I have to be in workout clothes wearing my HRM, moving my *kitten* nonstop and sweating bullets. Everything else is already accounted for in your BMR.

    I see folks logging things like "driving" and "desk work" (major eye roll) and they are very frustrated and don't understand why they aren't losing weight.

    I normally don't tell other people what they should or should not log as exercise, but in this case, since from your numbers it doesn't look like you're morbidly obese and you are able to participate in more vigorous exercise (walking, elliptical, circuit training) don't log the cleaning or the walking upstairs. And eat more earlier in the day, then you will have less "left over" :)

    Good luck!


    Thank you , I was pretty much a couch potato when I started so I was adding the stairs and stuff in to a circuit training style activity....I couldn't do a minute on my elliptical on the fist level with out my legs feeling like logs and me getting out of breath a bit ..I couldn't do a real push up and could barely do the modified version...I couldnt get through the jumping jacks and skipping on lvl one of the 30 day shred ...(I was shocked at myself ) Now I am doing lvl 2 no problem ....all the cardio kicks and skipping etc....can do regular push ups..walk out push ups (not many :blushing: )...plank jacks.. and pretty much run for 30 mins on my elliptical ....

    I am pretty sure I burn 500-600 cals a day legitimately...so I will def drop the cleaning etc ..
  • Ginger4real
    Ginger4real Posts: 162
    Briefly looking through your diary i barely see protein sources? one: you should add that to your tracker , and two: try adding small sources of protein to each meal for a balanced diet, it should put you at your calories no problem and also most likely improve your progress since your muscles need protein

    What do you mean ...protein sources.. Alternatives?.. I was thinking eggs , meats, fish, nuts, and green veggies/beans lentils etc were enough.
  • Ginger4real
    Ginger4real Posts: 162
    I think I am ..last nights dinner was 3 drumsticks (if Im thinking of the right meal ..ceasar salad) broken up in a huge bowl split between 4 people .. I will stop adding the cleaning and stuff and see how that works..people told me to log everything so I did..hopefully that will make my numbers seem more sensible ..

    It looks like you logged half of one drumstick.

    And then tonight's dinner, 1.5 ounces of chicken, and 2 ounces of spare rib.... that is a very tiny amount of meat. An average serving of meat is 4 ounces, about the size of a deck of cards.

    Yea ..that is about right..I had a little chicken I took a chunk off one drumstick and chopped it finely..then sprinkled it over my salad last night...and what I logged tonight is pretty much what I ate ...I didn't weigh it though..Tonight I had a small skinless thigh...and a few small riblet sized ribs (5) ..
  • Ginger4real
    Ginger4real Posts: 162
    One other quick ? Does taking a multi vitamin help? I do take a one a day type thing when I remember and some B and D
  • TNoire
    TNoire Posts: 642 Member
    They say females 1200 a day min
    males 1800

    if your getting at least 1200 don't worry about it i never eat back my exercise calories
    I am at -2300 something today lol
    Tho i still have lunch/dinner to eat
    hubby works nights im a housewife so i stay on his sleep hours =)
  • tameko2
    tameko2 Posts: 31,634 Member
    are you sure about some of your measurements on the food? Like 1.5 ounces of chicken is hardly anything. Ditto for the quantity of rice. Have you actually weighed/measured your food ever?

    It is certainly bad to net that low but if that is really accurate then just change some of the 'diet' foods you use to regular food - like use regular salad dressing instead of a calorie wise one, cook your eggs in oil or butter, etc etc.
  • jenniferkasper
    jenniferkasper Posts: 3
    i think you should stop logging in everyday activities like cleaning and walking to the bus stop. my guess is your actual exercise calories and food calories would probably balance each other out fairly evenly. the other activities you log should really be counted toward whatever activity level you chose for yourself.
  • cmeade20
    cmeade20 Posts: 1,238 Member
    If you're that severely under your goal for the day I'd be eating something bulkier with more bang for my buck than a salad for lunch.


    ^^^this


    Also try having a protein shake every day. I have a recipe for one thats about 400 calories
  • itontae
    itontae Posts: 138 Member
    How long has it taken you to lose 17 pounds?
  • jlr_12
    jlr_12 Posts: 170 Member
    They say females 1200 a day min
    males 1800

    if your getting at least 1200 don't worry about it i never eat back my exercise calories
    I am at -2300 something today lol
    Tho i still have lunch/dinner to eat
    hubby works nights im a housewife so i stay on his sleep hours =)

    It is suggested that you eat 1200 calories NET. That means that AFTER exercise there is still 1200 calories showing in GREEN. Having a negative amount of calories on a regular basis is very dangerous. That means that your body is not getting ANY fuel at all...all your body had to eat that day was itself (which you might think sounds good, but it's not. Your body is eating your muscles...the things that help you exercise and help you lose MORE weight the more you have). If you continue on this path you will burn out...possibly even start losing your hair...your metabolism will slow down making it harder for you to lose weight. Please eat more :) You gotta eat to lose!
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