1400 Cal and Under.

stormyous
stormyous Posts: 150 Member
edited November 12 in Health and Weight Loss
How do you stay under 1400 cal? I want to move from 1400 to 1300 cal so how do you do it??

Replies

  • kikiwilkinson
    kikiwilkinson Posts: 76
    My goal from MFP is 1460.

    I try to have 400 calories for breakfast and lunch combined

    Then I save 1000 for dinner, which I rarely use them all.

    It works for me.
  • HonkyTonks
    HonkyTonks Posts: 1,193 Member
    Why do you want to eat 100 calories less than you are now? Unless you have are very very short and very slim or have a high body fat% then 1400 calories is PLENTY enough to be losing weight on.

    On another note, many people stick to their calorie goals by exercising.
  • Reckabek
    Reckabek Posts: 487 Member
    Im at 1220! I just do it! No secret really! I have been eating back most of my excersise cals the last few weeks tho!
  • ckerrcanchaser
    ckerrcanchaser Posts: 34
    I just keep track of what was the best filling for me but was good in calories (no to much and not to little). Why do you want to lower your calories though? Mine is at 1200 so I'm just curious.
  • Zangpakto
    Zangpakto Posts: 336 Member
    Do it...

    Like Master Yoda once said.

    "Do or do not, there is no try".
  • donna_glasgow
    donna_glasgow Posts: 869 Member
    I easily eat about 1200 or less a day, I am rarely hungry and eat very well I also exercise on top of that (but dont eat back the cals) everything I eat is home cooked from scratch main meals are made up from veg, chicken, fish and fruit, rice, potatos and pasta with lots of added spices and such ... although I am currently trying to slowly up my cals and looking to be eventually at 1400 :) I have problems eating more lol
  • stormyous
    stormyous Posts: 150 Member
    im 5ft 1'
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    I'm at 1410.....and on days I don't exercise, I stay there (I eat higher on days I do train, because my workouts need fuel!). I eat veggies, lean protein, dairy (yogurt and string cheese), fruit, eggs, beans, and a few lower calorie snacks (pretzels, veggie straws, popcorn, etc). I avoid starchy carbs, like potatoes, pasta, and white rice. If I do have a potato, I really watch my portion size. I eat brown rice a few times a week. I try to stay away from bread....mostly just an English muffin a couple of times a week.

    I avoid fast food and restaurants. I take my lunch every day. If I want to eat at a restaurant, it has to be on a day that I'm exercising so I have the extra calories, or it just won't work. I'm not a fan of starving myself half the day so I can have a big dinner....that won't work for me. I eat 3 meals and 2-3 snacks.

    I also plan my meals at least a day in advance. My food diary is usually filled out the night before....and I just make small changes to it as necessary.
  • Bikini_Bound150
    Bikini_Bound150 Posts: 461 Member
    There really is no reason to eat under 1400 if you're exercising.
    Just make sure to drink tons of water, it'll fill you up. Also load up on vegetables because they will make you full and give you lots of energy and vitamins.

    If you're exercising, make sure your "net calories" are about 1400, so eat back most (if not all) of your exercise calories.

    But really, if you're still hungry when you're eating 1400 calories a day (I mean ACTUALLY hungry, not bored or tired or whatever) then you're not eating enough. It's that simple. Just make sure you make the healthiest choices and stay active. It's all about HEALTH, not "skinny".
  • delilah47
    delilah47 Posts: 1,658
    Typical day’s calories for me, today:

    Breakfast:
    Multi-grain thin sandwich round, toasted (100)
    1/3 cup 100% liquid egg whites (41)
    2 oz Isernio’s chicken breakfast sausage, precooked and crumbled (64)
    (make breakfast sandwich with this)
    Daily supplements + Meds (70)

    Lunch:
    Snow Pea/Broccolislaw/Asparagus Stir-Fry (personal recipe 218)
    Carrot Juice 6 oz (56)

    Afternoon Snack:
    Safeway Chocolate Royal Shake (170)
    Quaker Mini Rice Cakes Caramel Apple 13 (110)

    Dinner:
    Chicken Piccata with Rice (my Recipes 287)
    Carrot Juice 8 oz (70)

    Bedtime Snack:
    Dreyer’s Slow Churned Ice Cream Cup Mini (160)

    Total calories 1356

    As you can see there is plenty of room for modification in the snacks to get to 1200-1300 calories. I eat back some of my exercise calories, but the 1540 calories set by MFP are just too many for me. If I eat that much every day, plus exercise calories, I slow-but-sure gain weight. I probably have a uniquely sedentary lifestyle. Anyway, I cut back a little and it seems to be working.

    Edit: PS I wonder why people automatically think someone is doing something wrong if they don't follow MFP's instructions 100%. Each and every one of us is different/unique. That would make it impossible for the databases to know exactly what will work for 100% of us. Mostly, unless someone SPECIFICALLY asks about calories they eat vs. calories in their BMR, MYOB.
  • nullmom
    nullmom Posts: 10
    It is so much easier than you think!!! Trust me I started out at 211.6 last summer and as of this morning I weighed 159.8. I do simple things to eat what I love but not take in as many calories. Special K is an amazing help! I cant live without their cracker chips (27 chips for 110 cal) soooo good I also eat their 90 cal chocolate drizzle bars. Also weight watchers has string cheese for 50 cal. I was craving fajitas last week so at walmart I was looking at the flour tortillas. I found some made by la tortilla factory that are huge for 100 cal 13 g fiber and 9 grams of protein per wrap. (I also used these to make my own homemade thin crust pizza. Ieat out alot but before I leave the house I look up nutritional info for where I am going. It helps me stay on track plus I know how high in calories everything else is when I walkin the door so I am not tempted. It takes time to research but their is a healthier low cal option for almost everything you love to eat. How great are the skinny cow mint truffle ice cream bars for 100 cal?!?! I am a stay at home mom and if I can do this anyone can. I have tried to loose weight since I had my first child 12 yrs ago. 6 years ago after the birth of my 3rd daughter I stepped on the scale and it said 240. I almost had a heart attack. I hadnt even noticed and avoided looking in mirrors. I got down to 142 3 years ago and apparently I eat when I am stressed and upset. That is how I got back to 211. My mom passed sddenly in a car accident at 47. But I found out what triggered my binging. I will not go a single meal or snack without getting on my iphone mfp app to log it. And please dont forget to take a cheat day every now and again. Im not saying consume 3000 cal that day but have a pizza with your kids or nachos at a baseball game. If you deprive yourself yo will end up hurting yourself in the long run. Eat what you love just watch portion sizes and you will be fine!!:smile:
  • jillyt85
    jillyt85 Posts: 161 Member
    There really is no reason to eat under 1400 if you're exercising.
    Just make sure to drink tons of water, it'll fill you up. Also load up on vegetables because they will make you full and give you lots of energy and vitamins.

    If you're exercising, make sure your "net calories" are about 1400, so eat back most (if not all) of your exercise calories.

    But really, if you're still hungry when you're eating 1400 calories a day (I mean ACTUALLY hungry, not bored or tired or whatever) then you're not eating enough. It's that simple. Just make sure you make the healthiest choices and stay active. It's all about HEALTH, not "skinny".

    I am 5'7", do cardio 3 days a week, strength training 3 days a week, and eat 1300-1400 calories a day and I do not eat back my exercise calories. I asked my doctor (who specializes in functional medicine and helps people lose weight in a healthy way) if I was eating enough and she said I'm fine. I'm am not hungry at the end of the day, and I've lost 82lbs this past year doing it this way. I'm not losing muscle mass either. Everyone is different. I've tried eating back exercise calories and it makes me gain.

    As for the OP, I just try to eat filling foods. Lots of protein, vegetables, some fruit. I feel like I eat a ton everyday and I'm always satisfied.
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    im 5ft 1'

    That doesn't tell the whole story - what's your BMR and TDEE?

    I'm under 5ft and losing at 1600+ calories
  • XtyAnn17
    XtyAnn17 Posts: 632 Member
    who cares why she wants to eat 1300 instead of 1400 why is everyone so OVERLY critical!!! its ridiculous!!! its not like shes eating 900 calories. Answer the question she asked, instead of putting in your unwanted 2 cents.

    to answer your question. Plan plan plan. I always track what i eat for the entire day before it happens so i know to stay within my limits. and when i get hungry, if i get hungry, i drink lots of water.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    I'm at 1410.....and on days I don't exercise, I stay there (I eat higher on days I do train, because my workouts need fuel!). I eat veggies, lean protein, dairy (yogurt and string cheese), fruit, eggs, beans, and a few lower calorie snacks (pretzels, veggie straws, popcorn, etc). I avoid starchy carbs, like potatoes, pasta, and white rice. If I do have a potato, I really watch my portion size. I eat brown rice a few times a week. I try to stay away from bread....mostly just an English muffin a couple of times a week.

    I avoid fast food and restaurants. I take my lunch every day. If I want to eat at a restaurant, it has to be on a day that I'm exercising so I have the extra calories, or it just won't work. I'm not a fan of starving myself half the day so I can have a big dinner....that won't work for me. I eat 3 meals and 2-3 snacks.

    I also plan my meals at least a day in advance. My food diary is usually filled out the night before....and I just make small changes to it as necessary.

    many people would benefit from following your lead. Congrats on being an excellent example!
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    Planning my day in advance helps me stay under my goal.
  • rcramer7
    rcramer7 Posts: 138 Member
    who cares why she wants to eat 1300 instead of 1400 why is everyone so OVERLY critical!!! its ridiculous!!! its not like shes eating 900 calories. Answer the question she asked, instead of putting in your unwanted 2 cents.

    to answer your question. Plan plan plan. I always track what i eat for the entire day before it happens so i know to stay within my limits. and when i get hungry, if i get hungry, i drink lots of water.

    Like George Thorogood said "now you actin funny too"
  • mckant
    mckant Posts: 217 Member
    I am a grazer. I tend to eat more in the afternoon and evening so I plan for that throughout the day.
  • inside_lap
    inside_lap Posts: 728 Member
    MFP only gives me 1200 calories to play with (that's with it set at less then half a pound weight loss a week). What I find helpful is preplanning and plenty of workouts to help gain calories for food. Maybe consider eating only a little less and only working out a little more. Plenty of fresh fruits handy for the those munchie moments is also helpful.
  • TamsinEllis
    TamsinEllis Posts: 293
    I'm now eating 1500 (or at least trying to) but I can (and did for a long time) eat 1200 (and often under because of lack of hunger), obviously I realise how stupid I was being eating under (hence drastic re-think and boosting up to 1500), but I found it easy to stick at 1200 eating meals where I made them all from scratch (minus fish cakes and chicken kievs, I eat a lot of those and don't make them from scratch), for breakfast I generally have a fruit salad (maybe 150cals), or some eggs with veggies (200 cals) (so scrambled eggs and mixed veg: I go for peppers, chillis etc, omlettes with veg, no cheese etc), lunches I'd have meat, chicken satays, kievs, fishcakes, tuna, try and get in around 200-300cals meat, plus another 100cals veg/fruit. And then dinner (by this point I'd have around 500cals left) once again 200-300cals meat, sometimes use 100cals on potato, plus 100cals veg (all this is rough but close enough). I'd rarely drink coffee or anything that cost me calories, unless I was working out, in which case those calories I could have bread with my lunch/breakfast, a few coffees etc.

    Edit: Forgot to say if I don't hit my calories and I'm hungry/I work out and burn a lot of cals I do have a protein shake for just over 100cals (made with water, with milk would be closer to 200 I would think, never tried).
  • SmashleeWpg
    SmashleeWpg Posts: 567 Member
    Regardless of what you decide to set as your calorie goal for the day, if you stick to mainly lean proteins, veggies, fruits (especially lower sugar), healthy grains (think quinoa, oatmeal, couscous, wheat germ whole wheat bread or pasta), lower fat dairy (cheeses and milks), Greek yogurt, eggs and egg whites, and healthy fats, you have a LOT of room to play around and eat a lot of great food!

    For instance, today for breakfast I made a protein pancake with egg whites, oatmeal, protein powder, some Greek yogurt, a bit of apple & cinnamon and a blob of peanut butter. I came in under 400 calories, and OVER 50 grams of protein! It kept me full for a long time. It's all about being organized, and like others have said, planning and preplanning. It's been said before, but it warrants repeating:

    failing to plan = planning to fail.

    good luck! :)
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