Ok so I registered to MYPlate. It says I'm suppose to eat 1034 calories a day. What are some things I can eat for breakfast and lunch. Say about 300 calories.
Eggs, toast, fruit, maybe oatmeal and non fat milk. What do you like ? That is the beauty of counting calories you are not limited to only certain foods. Pick what you like just stay within your calorie allowance .
1034 calories seems very low to me. The rule of thumb is most women shouldn't go below 1200 calories. I don't think that rule ALWAYS applies (i.e., if someone is on a doctor-supervised plan or if a woman is "older" and/or very petite), but I think you are risking not getting enough nutrients and possibly harming your body on that low number, especially if you exercise.
I am taller than you, but around your weight and I eat 1500/cals a day. I'm losing slower now than when I started out, but it's been steady. I guess I'm just surprised that website suggested that low of a number for you??
Last edited by NorthernExposure; 01-21-2011 at 02:56 PM.
I agree with Northern, 1034 seems low! I've always read under 1200 was too low (unless supervised/suggested by a doctor). If you eat too few calories, your body may not be getting the proper nutrition, and sticking with such a low number long-term can be difficult. I would look at some more calculators online and see if there is number that might be better. I've found this one to be helpful... http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm
Like Bargoo said, find things you like. Personally for under 300 calories, I LOVE strawberries and cream oatmeal with skim or 1% milk (160-180 calories) and some egg beaters (1/2c = 2 eggs = 60 calories). Fruit, toast, yogurt, bagel thins. I often eat Fiber One honey clusters w/ 1% milk and cut up some banana in it (~320 calories if you use the whole banana). That is sooo yummy and super filling!
I agree what the told you is to low. I would do about 1300-1400 if I were you, never under 1200. A good breakfaast is an egg on a whole wheat english muffin or a small bowl of cearl with a fruit.
I'm adding my voice to everyone else's - too low! I'm actually surprised that MyPlate allows a calorie level to be set that low. I've been a MyPlate user for over a year, and it won't even let me do the "Lose 2 pounds a Week" setting with a "Sedentary" activity level, because it says my calories would be dangerously low. ?????
Anyway, your stats are very similar to my beginning stats, and my initial calorie limit was around 1400 a day. However, I really wish I had started higher, because often as we lose weight we have to lower our calories, and starting at 1400 gave me less wiggle room on my way down. Even now I eat aroun 1250-1300 a day at 129 pounds, and I'm still losing.
As far as meal ideas, there are some great stickies at the top of the calorie counter forum. Tons of really good ideas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
You've got my vote for too low too. Even at your height, factoring your weight in you should definitely be higher unless you are in, maybe, your later years.
I'm not of fan of Daily Plate's caloric suggestions. From what I found it doesn't actually account for any form of activity when it calculates your "needs" but admittedly, I ran quickly back to caloriecount.about.com (which I'm now loving).
I am using daily plate, and we have very similar stats 5'2, about 200 lbs, and they suggest 1300 for me, at a 2 lb a week loss, with the 2nd choice for activity level.