Quote:
Originally Posted by Jynxmekrazy
My mom has told me that also. But to be honest, I'm not hungry sometimes. I drink lots of water and I only eat twice a day. Sometimes, I have to force myself to eat just to take my medication for my stupid BP. I know it may seem bad but I can't eat more than that. I tried to eat like a regular person is suppose to (3 times a day) but I get full so fast. My problem is that I don't MOVE like I'm suppose to. That's why I gained all this weight in the beginning 
I'll try to add a few more calories though..you are right 
There are a couple of issues involved. Be careful that you're not compromising your health!
Meal Frequency: Research has shown that consistently eating too infrequently sends you into periods of "fasting." During fasting, your blood sugar drops, and instead of burning glucose and fat, it will switch into burning your body's protein - its muscles. Then, when you do eat, your blood sugar will rise (dramatically higher than the low it had gotten to). That jump can trigger your body to switch into fat storage mode more readily, thinking it needs to save up for the next "fast."
Eating smaller meals more often keeps your motor running, so to speak. And usually results in higher energy levels than only a couple of meals per day.
Calories: Your body likely burns between 1600 (fairly sedentary) to 2200 (active person) calories per day, BEFORE factoring in any deliberate exercise you do. Eating less calories makes the body need to burn SOMETHING to make up for those calories. There's a limit to how much fat it will burn, depending on oxygen availability, hormones, and biochemistry.
(Calories per day example: I had my resting metabolic rate tested. If I were to lay in bed all day, I would burn only 1300 calories. As a student, before exercising, the estimation total calories per day is 1700. I have been dieting for years, so my metabolism has grown to be more efficient (meaning I burn fewer calories per day
than I used to).)
An example of the biochemistry: on tread mills, there are often Heart Rate monitors that show whether you're in the lower "weight loss range" or a higher "cardio range." In the weight loss range, you are burning predominantly fat since you have enough oxygen to meet demands; in the cardio range, you exceed O2 supply, burn through glucose storage and start undergoing anaerobic respiration (lactic acid production), and then start burning your body protein (muscle). (Basically, you burn less fat this way.) You do rebuild this muscle later, IF you have enough calories and fat for energy. If you don't eat enough, you're limited in how much you can rebuild your muscles, and you can actually gradually become weaker this way.
Also, remember lean muscle mass burns more calories than other body tissues - one more reason why you don't want to reduce how much muscle you have!
The NIH has suggested 1200 minimal daily caloric intake for women, except for under the guidance of a doctor, and careful nutrient management.
Interesting trivia: one of the first muscles that the body starts to break down, and therefore will eventually become significantly weaker when you are in an extended fasting state (weeks-months) is your diaphragm, reducing your ability to breathe deeply.
(No worries, except for extended fasting, your diaphragm is still fine!)
