So Confused!
 

I've been reading the threads, and from what I got if you are undereating your alotted calories you won't lose? Am I right? I'm supposed to be alloted about 1400 Calories a day, and I never make it...it just seems like alot of food, and I'm always searching for more foods to eat so I make to that mark! I don't eat alot to begin with yet I gain wieght, so this is really messing me up! Any suggestions???

this is the way I understand it, and so if we are both wrong I hope some one will tell us. I understand if your body needs 1400 to stay the same you need to go below that, so let's say 900 is what you want. and that would be a pound a week, but if you go to low, your body won't let you lose, I don't want to say shut down but maybe that is what I need to say.

Like I said above, tell us if we are wrong. Thanks

Well, so far, I need about 1400 calories to lose weight, 1700 to stay the same, which makes no sense to me because there is no way I'm eating that much now, and anything less then 1400 I stay the same and don't lose....but I always feel sick trying to eat 1400 calories. Maybe it's just me! ARGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

If you are having trouble eating 1400 calories, are you eating too much low-calorie food so you get too much volume?

Maybe try eating some foods that are higher in calories during the day so you don't eat as much volume and don't feel as full?

Eating a banana will fill you up as much as eating a cup of strawberries, but the banana has more calories -- so you'll have to eat less food overall for the day.

Adding healthy fats (which are necessary) is a good way to get in beneficial calories too. Cook with olive/canola oil, add slices of avocado to a sandwich, eat natural peanut butter on whole grain toast, snack on a serving of trail mix. It's high calorie, super good for you stuff.

Amanda -- If SusanB were here, she'd say to add protein! lean protein in chicken, or maybe fish (which can also contain some healthy fats), or in cottage cheese!

Hey girls- I would try to eat the 1400 for a while and see what happens, and then if nothing happens, try to eat a little more, maybe 1500-1600. I lost weight after I increased my calories.

1400 calories a day is not a lot of food...if you have a small appetite, and feel like you are eating a large quantity, I recommend eating a few small things that are healthy, but have a higher calorie volume-like a small serving of almonds or other nuts. They will add protein, fiber, healthy fats, and other nutrients-while being around 150 calories for a small handful. (Check your labels for exact counts obviously...)

While a lot of our diet SHOULD be low calories items-such as fruit, veggies, etc. you do need to have a few "denser" things in there such as nuts and meat.

Also, if you are having trouble losing at 1400 calories-then I really recommend taking a look at your activity level, and seeing where your exercise is at. Someone who doesn't exercise at all may stagnate at 1400 calories after a while, but someone who exercises regularly will not only be more fit, firm, and healthy-but they will also lose more weight at the same calorie level because they are burning more calories through activity.

As far the first couple of posts are concerned-if you stay the same at 1400 calories, the answer is NOT to go to something drastic like 900 a day. 900 calories a day is at a very dangerously low level. You cannot get your basic nutritional needs in at this level. If you find that you are not losing at a certain calorie level and it is above 1200-you only reduce your calorie level by a small amount-such as from 1400 to 1300 a day. NOT a 500 calorie a day drop.
If you are having trouble losing though, and are eating at 1200 calories a day-then I do not suggest that the calorie level be dropped. (1200 is LOW.) What I suggest is MORE ACTIVITY instead.