how many calories is it ok to be under?

annaica
annaica Posts: 1
in Health and Weight Loss
for the life of me i just can't eat as many calories as this site recommends for me. so how many calories is it ok to be under and still lose and be healthy?

Replies

  • leahartmann
    leahartmann Posts: 415
    Hm.... To be honest, staying under is not healthy in any way. About 100-200 would´t kill you, but please try to eat them all!
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    It depends on your net. (Total calorie intake - exercise cals burned). It is recommended that this is always above 1200.

    So if your goal is 1300 and you are under by 300 then you're undereating. But if your goal is 2000 and you're under by 300 it won't matter because you're still at 1700 (provided you haven't exercised a ton as well!)
  • jennkain97
    jennkain97 Posts: 290 Member
    I would need a lot more information before answering this. How many calories is MFP recommending? How much weight are you set to lose each week? If you're set @ 1/2lb or 1lb, then you could still safely go under by 500-750/day (this would put you @ 2lb/week). If you're set @ 2lb/week already, or are smaller & MFP has you set @ 1200, then you really need to get as close as possible -- definitely within 100 calories or so.
  • Eleanorjanethinner
    Eleanorjanethinner Posts: 563 Member
    Your diary is closed so we can't see what you're eating to make specific suggestions but it's really easy to add calories! (My problem is taking them away).

    *Eat something for breakfast (even if it's just a smoothie or a piece of fruit or a yoghurt).
    * Have a small snack every few hours and have slightly smaller lunch and dinner so you don't feel stuffed then starving - aim for 3/4 full.
    *Use full fat milk, butter, cheese. dressings etc.
    *Avocado.
    *Red meat.
    *A glass of wine or beer.
    *Dessert! Chocolate! Donuts! Pizza! Goodness.... sorry about that, got a bit excited... :smile:

    Anyhow, good luck on your journey!
  • kazhowe
    kazhowe Posts: 340 Member
    You should make a real concerted effort to eat at least your BMR calories ... these are the calories that your body needs as a minimum to just make your body function as if you were asleep - without all the daily activities added. You can google a bmr calculator to see what your individual bmr is. You need to ask yourself why you are finding it difficult to eat all your calories .. is it because we have been programmed to believe that to lose weight we have to eat little ... or if it is because you can't eat as much as you should, then try to make different choices - higher calorie choices... maybe add some nuts to your day - they are a real good way of adding protein and other healthy nutrients without being too filling. I found that when I put my daily calorie level up to my BMR then I started losing weight much easier.... and in a healthy way too. I wish you every success.
  • trophywife24
    trophywife24 Posts: 1,472 Member
    It just depends on how long you do it for, I guess. I've been under my calories for a while now.. .for no other reason than just not being that hungry, at all.. and have not really lost anything. You really do have to eat and don't have to eat a lot to add in calories. Nuts, fruit, eggs, etc. Now if I could just take my own advice :)
  • mcarter99
    mcarter99 Posts: 1,666 Member
    In the opinion of most authorities, make sure eat over 1200 (not 'net', not BMR).
  • Feisty_Red
    Feisty_Red Posts: 982 Member
    http://fitnesswithnatalie.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/most-dreaded-word-in-weight-loss.html

    this is a great article to explain why we need calories..and yes..low calories may work for awhile..but it will end up slowing everything down. I am STILL trying to grasp this..after being at a stall for over 3 months! I have lost 60 with 1200 a day with a 600 burn..and it has come to a dead stop!! Try to eat close to your BMR..Im trying..daily..I agree with whoever said that we have been programmed to eat so little! And it is harming our goals!!

    http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/
  • Feisty_Red
    Feisty_Red Posts: 982 Member
    Oh and PS..if you are struggling with adding more calories...have you tried whey protein powder shakes? That has really saved me..I cant eat as much as my BMR...but I can drink a nice cool shake! just a thought.. with 2 scoops and some yogurt. with ice.....you can put down about 450...and extra protein is always a plus! Good luck!!
  • ALMCMF
    ALMCMF Posts: 2
    I know for guy Body Builders it 500 under your Baseline intake, if 2500 cals is my : mantance intake then on a Cut drop 500...If bulking push 500 more to 3000 cals. Catch Campbell Fitness on YouTube very helpful.. Iron+Ink=£ife .:bigsmile:
  • 15to50
    15to50 Posts: 1 Member
    You're not going to go in to "starvation mode". You'll lose weight. The bigger the deficit the more weight lost
  • kaervaak
    kaervaak Posts: 274 Member
    The maximum amount of fat that you can burn per day without sacrificing lean body mass depends on how much fat you have on you.

    There's a bit of discrepancy between the numbers and if you're very active this may not be valid at all, but in general, you can burn 22 Kcal of fat/day/lb of fat on you. So if you have 50lbs of fat, you can run an 1100 Kcal/day deficit and everything that you lose will be fat. If you have 100lbs of fat, you can run 2200 Kcal/day deficit, etc.
  • nataliexxxx
    nataliexxxx Posts: 262
    It depends how many calories you are recommended
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Generally you want to eat above your BMR. But if you're having trouble hitting your target, you can probably plan a bit better in order to hit it. A little olive oil here, a little peanut butter there, and you'll probably make your numbers.

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