how many calories is too few?

[rosey87]

I have been using a fitbit flex for 3 months now, and lost about 20 pounds, and I have about 15 more to go. I have added running to my routine 4/5 days a week and on these days I find that I am 700-1000 calories short (net calories). I have my fitness pal set to 1200 calories / day, and all activity at sedentary. Is this too few calories? How do people cope with workout's that are late in the day. I do not feel hunry enough to compnesate the extra calories, and I don't like eating so late at night. Any advice would be great. 

Thanks! 

[K9dancer]

If you are running, you need to eat more.  Your body will compenstate for the lack of food by stopping the weight loss.  It's hard to wrap your head around needing to eat more to lose, but it's true.  If you are having trouble getting in extra food, try more calorie dense foods like putting a few nuts on a salad or having peanut butter on an apple.  

I have been a runner for many years and am also a lifetime member of Weight Watchers.  If I don't eat enough, my weight loss stalls out.  Give it a try.

Good luck.

[Heybales · Accepted solution]

Use your brain - not your stomach.

I'd dare say it's the opposite approach that got most people to needing to lose weight.

And why would you be eating the bare minimum for safety for a sedentary woman, when you aren't?

And to agree with above comment, if you want much if any benefit from the exercise, and why do it otherwise, you need to fuel it to do it well.

So plan your day better, and use the tools correctly.

Why did you buy and are using the Fitbit? Purely for the step/miles goals?

Or to have a better idea of what you burn daily, so you can eat correctly?

Then why aren't you using that info and syncing with MFP?

I know your eating goal will be going up since you are burning more than sedentary that MFP has estimated you at.

Why don't you like eating "so late at night"? What is late?

Perhaps you need to revisit that concern to see if legitimate or not, many have some silly myths about eating late.

[pattercat]

Hi Rosey -

I'm not hungry very often now that I have totally kicked up my exercise, but I know that eating regularly is critical to maitaining your metabolism.  Even if you don't want to do carb cycling, I would strongly suggest listening or reading Chris Powell's Choose to Lose book.  It makes so much sense and explains our bodies.

Here is what I do even if I'm not hungry.  I drink a protein shake made with almond milk - good nutrients for muscles and low carb so it is a long time satisfaction.  Some days I'll add a banana if I think it is going to be a struggle to eat all my calories.  I also keep a bag of raw (unsalted) almonds on hand.  14 almonds is high in protein - good calories and satisfying.  I make sure that I'm eating 5 times a day even if I don't feel like it.  Sometimes that "eating" is drinking a V8 because I struggle to get my veggies in all the time.  

I have a meal replacement shake for work if I don't feel hungry at lunch - shake, drink and I don't feel stuffed.  My weight is coming off slowly and I stall briefly then it kicks in again.  If you have a really low day - compensate the next day by kicking it up above 1200 so your body doesn't overreact by slowing your metabolism.  Once low calorie day won't kill you but if you do it consistently you will stop losing.

At least that is my experience so far.

Good luck!!!!

[tsteele]

Im pretty much the exact same as you. Lost 25lbs. 15 to go. I was eating between 500-1000 a day and I work out a fair bit, normally burning over 4000 cals a day. At first the weight fell off. Not, 2 months later NOTHING. My weight has not moved for 2 months. I've shattered my metabolism for fast results. Ive upped my cals this week and have put on weight. Im going to just eat higher cals for 1 month and hope I dont gain it all back. I still have a pretty big deficit but still gain. Up ur cals. Under 1200 is just to low. I did it and I regret it so much.

[Dominique]

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@tsteele wrote:
I was eating between 500-1000 a day and I work out a fair bit, normally burning over 4000 cals a day.

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A 4000 calorie burn is rather high, especially for a female. A 500-1000 calorie intake is very low, including for a female. I very much doubt a 3000-3500 daily calorie deficit can be sustained by anyone over several weeks/months.