Am I eating enough?

  • I am 223/174/135 at 5'4" and I try to eat 1400 calories a day. My BMR is 1600 and my daily exercise is intense and my heart rate monitor says I burt 800-1000 calories a day. I am absolutely STUCK at 174. I tried up-ing my protein and I eat a high fiber diet here's a sample of my day:

    Lowfat yogurt- 80 cal
    Oatmeal 120 cal
    Almonds 100 cal

    Snack Banana approx 80 cal


    Lunch- Salad with chx 300 cal
    2 random 100 cal packs

    Dinner- Healthy choice meal or leftover nutrisystem meal 220 cal
    vege (broccoli)- 60 cal
    100 cal pack

    Late snack- glass of wine (rarely) or 100 cals of almonds
  • First off, I'd stop eating the 100 cal packs and replace them with fruits or veggies, or other healthy snacks. Second, if you're burning so many calories, your body needs more. I think 1600 - 1800 (or even more) for intense workouts every day would do you good. I'd try that and see what happens. If nothing, I'd increase your calorie intake for a few weeks, and see what happens. And why not get rid of the healthy choice meals? Eat 8oz of chicken with a baked potato/brown rice and some veggies. Or the chicken and pasta. It will be a lot cheaper in the long run, too.
  • I agree. You're not eating enough to support your activity level. BMR is the absolute minimum your body burns to stay alive--it doesn't count breathing, resting, sitting. And it also doesn't count any exercise or other activities you do in a day.

    Jay