Young Calorie Counters

A week ago, I found 1700 cals a day hard to stick to as I was starrrrving the entire time. A week and a bit has gone by, and now I'm finding it practically impossible to eat enough. Weird I know, I used to be the person who ate everyone else's leftovers.

This is probably a common n00bish comment, and I'm sorry for adding to an influx of "WAAAAAAAA I DUNNO WHAT I'M DOING!" messages, but I really am starting to thinnk I'm going to make myself ill.

I know 1000 cals is the minimum you should eat. But (for example) yesterday I ate as much as I could, and I was still 500 cals under. Today i'm about 600 under. Am I doing damage? Am I ruining my good progress? I've heard of "starvation mode"...it sounds ominous, I don't want that to happen :(

how about yogurt? I put together "munchies" for the day - yogurt mixed with nuts and a nice crunchy cereal or a cup of milk with crackers, or crackers/some sort of carb with cheese - doesn't have to be high fat cheese.

My nutritionist mentioned eating every 3-4 hours. not nec mini meals, but could be snacks between the larger ones. And balancing your meals/snacks to avoid blood sugar lows. Your cat will feel more reassured.  I think mine is, altough she looks taste when i just get home.

How about b-fast? Most of my "healthy" breakfast ideas are low in clories except for oatmeal made with milk (and almonds). If you don't like cow milk, there's soy milk, rice milk, etc. If you don't like oatmeal, well, never mind that idea then.

I find planning the day ahead helps to get close to my calorie intake goal. 

Good Luck!

I relate! When I first started with a 500 calorie deficit, I swore my stomach was in a hoola hooping competition I was so hungry every night.

Now I'm on the flip side. Tonight, for instance, it's 8p and I'm at a 1400 calorie deficit (don't worry, I have eaten over 1200). 1400 is a bad deficit because we all know a calorie deficit should be between 500-1000, right? I've been upping my protein and lowering my carbs to get rid of my hunger pangs. Unfortunately, I think I've overdone it. Maybe that's what's happening to you?

Oooh, maybe! I'll try getting some more protein in....any suggestions? I don't eat a lot of meat (and I'm considering returning to my veggie ways) so protein-rich veggies and pulses would be superdooper :)

Also, a few of you have suggested upping my fiber intake....should I go out and buy supplements, or is it much better to eat fiber-rich foods? Or should I do both? I work in a posh shop though, so I'd rather not overdo it and be trumping everywhere :(

Original Post by kemccl:

how about yogurt? I put together "munchies" for the day - yogurt mixed with nuts and a nice crunchy cereal or a cup of milk with crackers, or crackers/some sort of carb with cheese - doesn't have to be high fat cheese.

My nutritionist mentioned eating every 3-4 hours. not nec mini meals, but could be snacks between the larger ones. And balancing your meals/snacks to avoid blood sugar lows. Your cat will feel more reassured. I think mine is, altough she looks taste when i just get home.

How about b-fast? Most of my "healthy" breakfast ideas are low in clories except for oatmeal made with milk (and almonds). If you don't like cow milk, there's soy milk, rice milk, etc. If you don't like oatmeal, well, never mind that idea then.

I find planning the day ahead helps to get close to my calorie intake goal.

Good Luck!

haaa :D Somebody else with a nervous cat! Love it!

I think... and my mum has always said. That you should make sure you eat 3 meals a day. 3 good meals. Try not to snack but the odd treat wont hurt you.

Its the best advice I was ever given and you don't have the pressure of sticking to a diet to worry about

Hello again...about the protien, everyday I eat a South Beach Living high protien cereal bar..They have 10grms of protien. They help me not feel so hungry. Also my little sister makes her own protien shakes. I make smoothies (just banana-strawberries- fit and trim yogurt oh and ice cubes) and I think she does the same but she puts protien powder in them..Just a suggestion...

kk, I'll try that, although I must admit....I hate smoothies!

I know it's blasphemy, but I cannot drink something that has bits in :(

I'll look into protein powder though, I don't think I need it just yet, but as my excercise routine grows I think I'll need a bit more.

Oh my god....I blend the S**T out of them. I am that way too. I would gag if I had to eat yogurt with chunks....I have tried and it is not possible...My other little sis and me augh about it all the time..Nasty...

Oh no, chunky yoghurt I can do, because you're eating it, but drinking bits? errghhhh no freakin' way! It's not natural! haha

I can't really eat bananas either. It's the texture..all squishy and a bit fluffy like felt...:( Makes me sad.

I've been sticking to nuts and seeds to up my calories.

But then again I have a snacking problem. Meeting my calorie needs has never been a problem. haha : )

Ok I might be part retarded..but I'm pretty sure I read in a few different places that you can't eat less than ur RMR, whatever that is..

So there isn't like 'you have to eat at least 1400' or whatever..

I'm 5'6.5" and 135..pretty small frame..and I have to eat at least 1680 cals a day..

as my boyfriend keeps saying..'dont overdo it..and you have to make sure u r being healthy'

eating 1100 a day isn't healthy, woman!! :p

I know what u mean though..I just started today..and I'm at 1300 and so full..still gonna stuff down those 400 cals! hehe

even though I love this website, the minimum cals suggestion wasn't exactly very healthy, according to various other RMR calculators..

so get ur RMR calculated!

and eat up! and enjoy it! =D