Not eating enough...anyone else having the same problem?

Before I joined CC, I tried to lose weight but I went about it the wrong way. I thought that the only way to lose weight was to eat as little as possible. On average I was eating about 700 calories a day. Of course, I did lose the weight, but as soon as I reached my goal and started eating normally again, I put on all the weight I lost and then some. I now know that this was because my body had been in starvation mode and that my metabolism had slowed severely.

However, despite the fact that I know what eating so little does to one's body, I'm still afraid to eat more. On the typical day I burn about 1900 calories, but I still find it difficult to eat even the minimum 1200, let alone my calorie goal of 1400. I've definitely been eating better, with more balanced meals with the proper nutrients, but I can't seem to reach my calorie goal without trying to add more calories by eating junk. I try everyday to eat more, but there's a little part inside of me saying "calories = bad, empty tummy = good."

Is anyone else having the same problem? How do you overcome it?

I've been having the same issue, not being able to top 1000 calories a day when I should be at a minimum of 1500.  The best thing I can suggest is eat something small but calorie-packed, such as a piece of bread with peanut-butter on it.  White bread is around 100 calories per slice, and peanut butter has around 190 calories per 2 tablespoons, so it can be a quick way to add 300-400 calories in a relatively small amount of food.  That's what I've been trying to do, at least.

I know you said "junk," but peanut butter contains monounsaturated fat, which is "good fat" so to speak.  It is a good, heart-healthy way to boost caloric intake.

Yea, I can definitely feel for you.

I'm lucky if I eat 1000 calories a day, and I end up force feeding myself half of them at night.

Not good stuff.

What happens to me more often is that I feel I'm horribly miscalculating... specially after I've had lunch and I'm feeling specially full and satisfied, I feel guilty and like I've eaten "too much", even if after logging it doesn't seem like a lot... that guilty feeling does not leave my head and I end up having less for dinner than I should.

I'm not sure if I'm making mistakes at calculating and somehow I'd rather be 300 below than 300 above, although more often than not I do try to narrow the deficit with fruits and almonds. I'm trying to "fix" this though, by only logging every other day and giving my mind a break!

Still I get a tad obsessive-compulsive... I doubt my counting abilities, I guess.

Today I ate 1430 cals. :)

Part of me still feels like a lot of what I ate was unnecessary, though :/

I just can't get over the mental block.

i completely empathize -- it's all mental, i know this, but i can't help but feel a slight twinge of guilt, you know?

but, it's getting better because i'm seeing that i am indeed able to maintain with my caloric intake :)

p.s. i was the same as you! until i found this website and actually educated myself about calories - i thought the only way to lose weight was by severely limiting the calories i was taking in *i.e. keeping daily intake below 1000 along with exercising vigorously every day* i can't begin to express how much better i feel knowing that i don't need to do this to myself.  :)

this website has been such a huge help.

I haven't really been trying to diet but I'm starting today and actually just joined here today.  I feel like I eat all day, nibbling on something small or having a soda when my stomach protests that it's hungry.  I actually trick it and myself into thinking I've eaten a ton when in fact, it was barely anything.

I was actually really surprised that when I put in everything I ate, it came out to less than 1000cal... and my goal is supposed to be 2050cal... I feel like I should eat more to catch up to the cal total I should have, but I know that's not healthy either. 

It might not seem like it, but fruits and vegetables, especially fresh, which are better for you, are actually cheaper than the junk food you probably eat.  The only problem if convincing yourself of that and finding ones you like.  I suggest mixing them with rice or pasta to help with the cal count.  I've been making myself a lot of rice with fresh cut carrots and jalapenos all cooked together. 

This sounds weird, but go to www.drinkarizona.com and go to their glossary, it will tell you lots of ingredients you'll want to look out for either to have more of or stay away from.  For your motablism problem eat a lot of the vitamin Bs (5, 6, 12) they help boost it.  Also something anyone dieting deals with is stress, look into taking ginseng, because that herb helps reduce stress levels.

I hope any of this helps you.

i hvae the sameee problem.. ugh its like im almost addicted to eating below what i should, and i also cant get over the mental block. and then somedays i overeat a ton, and then go through another period of undereating.. i guess sorta like yoyo dieting, but its driving me crazy :( ..

i absolutely agree, I mentally feel like losing weight and eating less go hand in hand. I have been eating under a 1000 calories on most days , but at the same time I feel full it's not like i'm starving at night , but everyone on CC is saying that that is terrible , is it really all that terrible?

I'm quite amazed that so many of you are eating far, far too little. If you feel like you are having to force your calories in, try investing in healthy, high calorie, low density foods. Nut butters, unsalted nuts and seeds, dark chocolate, dried fruits, wholegrain pasta, healthy oils like olive, oily fish, avocados, et al. Foods that have a lot of calories for a small amount that mean you get enough fuel to your body without having to "cram". If your block is mental, think of it this way: your body is a car, and your food is the gas. Would you rather run on half full, or a full tank?

It is also worth remembering that on so few calories you won't be getting all the right nutrition you need. Even if you take a multivitamin, that just won't cut it. There is no magic pill when it comes to nutritional balance.

An adult woman needs 1200 calories per day to survive, a teenage girl or an adult man 1500 per day bare minimum, and a teenage boy 1800 per day minimum and that is when SEDENTARY.  If you are exercising, you need even more than that. Here is a very rough scientific break down provided by a dietician for a  5' 2", 19 year old female weighing approximately 100 pounds, sitting around all day and doing nothing:

-The heart needs 12% of the calories (144 cals)
-The kidney needs 12% of the calories (144 cals)
-The Liver needs 23% of the calories (276 cals)
-The brain needs 23% of the calories (276 cals)
-The skeletal muscle needs 30% of the calories (360 cals)

Reference: http://www.calorie-count.com/forums/post/3178 .html#6

And this is the bare minimum. Unless you are very, very short and small it is very likely you will need even more calories than those minimum guidelines. If you are 21 or older use CC's tools to work out your BMR. If you are under 21, CC's tools are inaccurate and you should use this calculator instead: http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/bodycomp/bmiz2.html as you are still growing. Yes, even in the later years - there's more going on inside of you that you simply can't see.

Eating too low a calorie intake, or having a deficit from your BMR greater than 1000 results in something called "starvation mode", where your body holds every last thing it can get in expectance of a famine. Water, food, calories. Explained:

• Your post is subject to modification or deletion by our moderators. Repetitive, off-topic, disruptive, and frivolous posts will be removed. We will take down any posts that violate either the letter or the spirit of any of these rules.
• Promotion of starvation diets or habits that exhibit signs of an eating disorder ("pro-ana", "pro-mia", etc.) is prohibited.

- Ellie
Volunteer Moderator.

I don't get it. How does ANYONE get full on less than 1000 calories a day? Today I've eaten 1800, I had breakfast, lunch, a snack, and dinner. I had a good work out, and now I'm eating a small post work out snack (120 calorie greek yogurt) I ate healthy foods all day, egg whites, veggies, and whole grain toast, and a soy latte for breakfast, a greek salad with no dressing and tuna on top for lunch, a container of cheerios (dry) and a banana for a snack (that was the only unnecessary big thing I ate and it was only because I knew I was going to total body conditioning at the gym tonight), steamed shrimp and veggies for dinner.

I didn't binge on doritos, I didn't stuff my face with chocolate bars, heck - I didn't even eat anything calorie dense like nuts! I ate healthy, (mostly) clean foods and I didn't stuff my face. If I ate less than 1000 calories I'd be picking at cucumbers all day!

I agree!  1200 does seem like a lot already.  I've only been eating 1200 calories every day for the past few days, for some reason.  I honestly haven't been hungry for anything more.  It's really odd, but I'm just going with it.  If my body isn't hungry, I won't eat.  Generally, I just eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full.  As long as I'm getting my minimum 1200 calories, things should work out this week, in the long run.

Ebondwilk: If you are under 21 and female the minimum is 1500. If you don't feel hungry when you hit 1200 but are under 1500 you should try some of the high calorie, low density, healthy options provided in my last post.

Ieevee: Have you spoken to a doctor yet? A professional? Because you keep posting like this. "I can't believe that I could maintain on 1700!" and yet you are a healthy active teenager. And you label foods as "bad". You scorn yourself for reaching far too low an amount. You seemingly make no effort to change. You need to go speak to someone outside of CC.

Original Post by lalabanana

Ieevee: Have you spoken to a doctor yet? A professional? Because you keep posting like this. "I can't believe that I could maintain on 1700!" and yet you are a healthy active teenager. And you label foods as "bad". You scorn yourself for reaching far too low an amount. You seemingly make no effort to change. You need to go speak to someone outside of CC.

Actually yes, my doctor did say a thing or two about my fast weight loss and Im seeing a nutritionist this friday. Yes, I do have some issues with food, no arguing about that. (And by the way, I am a VERY sedentary teenager. I do nothing for exercise except walk to school and back...) But I dont think it's unhealthy to just wonder about 1700 cals maintenance as I can really see none of my friends eating that much, either... I AM really trying to change for better, and am doing my best

Original Post by lalabanana:

Ebondwilk: If you are under 21 and female the minimum is 1500. If you don't feel hungry when you hit 1200 but are under 1500 you should try some of the high calorie, low density, healthy options provided in my last post.

Oh, okay- I didn't know there was a different minimum for females under 21.  Thanks!