HELP! Not Enough Calories

[New_Me_In_2005]

Hi All,

I have a problem. I just put my foods into fitday for today and they are not that great. Let me first say, I have decided to stop eating red meats and cheese. So I really only eat lettuce, chicken, turkey, fish, mayo, mushrooms, and a few other acceptable vegetables. This is working fine for me, but I am only getting 700 calories, although my percentages are pretty good. Should I worry about the calories right now. I don't want to go into starvation mode or stop loosing because of the low calories.

I eat three meals a day, in the morning a boiled egg (sometimes scrambled eggs w/ mushrooms, at lunch a piece of chicken w/ 2 cups of lettuce and mayo, at dinner meat listed above and 1 cup salad or 1 cup of another acceptable vegetable.

Any ideas on getting in more vegetables?

Thanks.

[New_Me_In_2005]

Re: HELP! Not Enough Calories

I found another thread on the same thing. Thanks.

[FightingTheFight]

Re: HELP! Not Enough Calories

I have decided to stop eating red meats and cheese

Why?



700 calories? How much do you weigh? That sounds a little to low, you might be the type of person that has to be forced to eat.

[New_Me_In_2005]

Re: HELP! Not Enough Calories

I weigh 234 pounds. You are right, I sometimes have to remember to eat. Maybe I should add some red meats back into my diet.

[New_Me_In_2005]

Re: HELP! Not Enough Calories

Oh yeah...

I stopped eating red meats because I have a hard time digesting them, always have. Cheese is because I felt like this was the problem with the slow weight loss and plus many days I had an ounce with each meal.

[Finelly]

Re: HELP! Not Enough Calories

If you don't eat red meat, you need to add cheese and more eggs. 700 calories will put you into starvation mode and not only will you stop losing, you may actually gain a few pounds as your body starts to hang on to as much calories as possible.

[New_Me_In_2005]

Re: HELP! Not Enough Calories

Thanks. I will add cheese to 1 meal a day.

[cruiser gal]

Re: HELP! Not Enough Calories

You definately have to eat more than 700 calories a day. You are starving your body! If you're having chicken, eat a bit more, adding cheese is a good idea, maybe have 2 eggs for bkfst! Fitday.com is great to make sure you're in line with what you eat, 65%fat, 30%protein, 5%carbs.

[Kent]

Re: HELP! Not Enough Calories

I agree you definitely need more calories in a day than 700. If you want to continue eliminate some of the more high fat meats, that is fine, but I would suggest moving on to at least the first rung of OWL where you add additional vegetables into the diet. Another cup of onions or higher calorie vegetable would definitely increase your caloric intake. Full fat salad dressing and eating chicken with the skin on are also good suggestions for increasing your fat intake in the day.

[New_Me_In_2005]

Re: HELP! Not Enough Calories

For dinner, I changed my plans and had a piece of cheese and a couple slices of bacon with my chicken. I plan to go grocery shopping this weekend and instead of skinless chicken breast, I will buy the chicken breast with skin to add more calories. As well, I have 2 boiled eggs this morning.

Thanks everyone.

[spirittalker]

Re: HELP! Not Enough Calories

Also you can ad some avocado in. Heavy cream too. High fat items will up the calories.

[Finelly]

Re: HELP! Not Enough Calories

Can you post a typical daily menu?

[New_Me_In_2005]

Re: HELP! Not Enough Calories

Breakfast - 1 Boiled Egg (8:30)
Snack - 1 Boiled Egg (10:30)
Lunch - 2 C of lettuce, 3 tsp. of Mayo, Skinless Chicken Breast (12:30)
Dinner - 1 C of lettuce, broccoli, spinach, or cabbage and more chicken or turkey or fish (baked or fried in butter)

[Elizellen]

Re: HELP! Not Enough Calories

As Moochiecat often says - if it is iceberg or a similar 'light green' lettuce it is virtually 'chewy water' with little nutrients. Take a look at the other 'salad veggies' on the list and maybe add some of those instead of one cup of the lettuce.

Here it is suggested that raw spinach should be on the 2-3 cup list, not the 1 cup list too, so that might be an alternative to the lettuce too.

Try to have some of these with your breakfast and snack before lunch to spread out your carbs more too.

[New_Me_In_2005]

Re: HELP! Not Enough Calories

Thanks. I have had spinach in the past with my "water" lettuce so I guess I have to go back to that. When I scramble my eggs w/ butter I add mushrooms. Is there a good vegetable to have with a boiled egg?