Low Calories Affecting my Concentration?

Hi guys,

I started cc two weeks ago and have been quite strict on myself regarding calorie intake and have essentially cut out carbs aswell (special k for breakfast, soups for lunch, tuna/ chicken salad for dinner).

However...I tried to put it down to my head playing with me, but I really think that this is affecting my concentration, because I can't study for my exams (which begin next week!!).

Is it psychological or a legitimate concern?! And if so, could anyone tell me what are the best foods to eat witout uppingg my calories substantially??

Thanks in advance!

 It's not your perception - your brains run off carbs and without them in your diet you're literally trying to think without brain fuel ;)

 Check out what Mary has to say for some guidelines ;)

whats wrong with you? why you counting calories if you got an exam, go an eat whatever you want , then when your exams are over then start counting calories.

yaza~i hate to be rude and butt in where i don't belong, but maybe you could have possibly got your point across in a friendlier tone?  And not to single you out at all because I see it all the time, but I just read another post where someone was so disappointed by some of the unsupporting conduct that goes on here in cc.   This has been a very helpful website for me, but I agree that it is sad when people seem to be more critical than supportive.

About half of your daily calories should come from carbs, more than a quarter from protein, and then the remainder from fat.

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/nutrient_cal culator.htm

Try eating more vegetables and fruits, as well as some lean meat of tofu/soy.  Stay away from atificial sweetners, and be sure to stay hydrated. 

Get enough sleep at night (at least 8 hours, really!) and try for about half an hour of excercise a day, whether it's just a walk around the neighborhood, some light weight lifting, or a bit of work on a stationary bike.  You could even bring your notes, and study while you pedal!

Be sure to eat a big, healthy breakfast before your exams, regardless of the calories- instead, focus on the nutrients.  It'd be much better to maintain for a while, or even go a couple hundred over, rather than fail a big test.

If your dizziness continues, check in with your doctor.

Good luck!

Thanks for the replies, all (including yaza!)

I'm very tempted just to eat whatever I want, but I've finally got the motivation to achieve weight loss for the firat time ever, and it just happens to coincide with exams, so I'm trying to balance out the two!

Original Post by concombre:

I'm very tempted just to eat whatever I want, but I've finally got the motivation to achieve weight loss for the firat time ever, and it just happens to coincide with exams, so I'm trying to balance out the two!

 Since you are trying to balance the two, remember, "all things in moderation." Just adjust your cals down a bit, and don't worry right now too much about the "what" you are eating if it fits the cal count (within reason; 1500 cals of junk food won't help you, either). When exams are done, add another change, maybe aiming for the 50/25/25 ratio mentioned above.

Good luck on exams and weight loss!

Hey!

I'm also in the middle of my exams, and have lost 10kgs during the last three months. For my finals, I find I want treats, fries and all the "bad stuff".

It works for me to have a decent breakfast (100gr of bread with whatever I want on it, usually one with ham, one with jam) and a cappuccino, also a decent lunch (whatever I feel like, around 700 cals) and for dinner fruit and yoghurt. And as said before, try to sleep enough.

In addition, for the psychological part of the stressing time of the finals, after each final that I've "survived", I allow myself a treat. Be it one helping of fries, be it a chocolate bar.

I think that really keeps my motivation up and I don't binge. Even though I am now losing slower, that's much better than either screwing up the finals or binging the whole time.

enna :)

to be honest i wasnt being rude at all, sorry o.p if it came across that way but im just tired of people in this forum eating so little and many people dont have a clue whats going on. honestly speaking, ive had exams this week and ive been eating whatever i want, otherwise my brain wont function as well as it can, when your exams are over i suggest going on a stricter diet.