Should you make yourself eat, to get up to your calorie limit?
 

Are we supposed to make ourselves eat up to our calorie limit? For example, if Im on an 1800 calorie diet, and I have only eaten 1100, should I find something to add up the rest of the 700 calories? Cant eating too few calories make you go into starvation mode, which will not let you lose pounds?

It depends a lot on what you've eaten and how your eating habits are regularly. Once in awhile eating a lot less might be a nice jump start/cleansing kind of thing if you are eating right, but going down too low in calories on a regular basis will hinder your weight loss in the long run.

If you are trying to break a plateau, a day or two might do that for you. You also have to find out what calorie amount works for you, maybe someone counting calories will respond to this thread...I don't know if I would lose at 1800 per day, which is why I do low carb instead...good luck~

If you have a hard time getting up to your calories, try some high-cal good foods, like nuts. Add an extra 2oz to your meat to give it a little boost. Small things that won't make you go too overboard and full!

If you are supposed to meet a calorie target, it's OK to be 100 or 150 calories below it or above it, as long as it averages out to your target every week. 700 calories under is too low. :yes:

Jay

700 hundred sounds way off! ... I think a couple hundred here or there won't matter as long as you balance it out from day to day.

I definitely don't think you're eating enough calories. I saw over on the accountability thread your menu for today, not nearly enough calories (unless you're having an ice cream sundae for your afternoon snack :lol:) I don't see how you're even full. And if you're exercising, you def. need more cals. With your height and weight I would guess that your BMR is about 2000 cals, with no exercise. So you definitely need to hit your 1800 target.

Thanks everybody. I love it here...........so much support and information that I need.

Hey Mug, DITTO, thats what I have to contribute. I agree with most of what has already been posted.

I stop losing when my calories are too low. I am suppose to be at 1600-1800. and when I do around 1500 I am fine. BUT if I get below 1300 I stop losing right away.

Almonds are a great lift for me in the afternoon. gives me some healthy fat and protien, crunchy, and a small snack. Also avacados are a great high cal booster if you like them, healthy fat if you have the room for more fat in addition to calories.

You need fuel, without your body will not burn off the pounds!

Hang in there sweetie, you can get through this, and this is just the first of several plateaus! You will get past them.

I had this problem and was told to eat full fat things instead of "diet" or "fat-free." They also said to eat more fruits. I also glanced at your menu and I don't see how you are full either. :p

Congratulations on how much you've lost already!

I sometimes have to work really hard to eat my whole calorie budget but if it goes more than a day, then I do make myself eat up. It's tempting to under-eat but as the weight comes off and gets harder to lose, there's nowhere to go calorie wise if you've gone too low too soon.

If it's one or two days the odd time... it won't hurt you. When I had the flu it was 3 or 4 days of like 900 calories and I came out just fine. I wouldn't let it become a habit though. If you are finding yourself at the end of the day with 700 extra calories maybe you should start planning your day in advance? Plan for 1800 and go from there.

I think on some days if you're truly just not hungry it's no big deal - I like to try to listen to my body. However if you're trying to talk yourself into not eating because you're happy to have eaten so few calories today then I'd try to get closer to your calorie goal.

i agree with what the girls just said its cool but dont do it for so long otherwise your body will get used to low cal and even store fat more than usual messing your metabolism up.
Good luck

You've gotten some good advice here!! I feel that what you need to shoot for is a weekly average. Under on some days, over on others. It's all fine as long as your weekly average is close to 1800.

BTW - you're doing awesome!!