stalled due to lack of calories
 

Hi there,

I have been stalled for quite a while now. I have been tracking my food on fitday, and for some reason it is really hard to get up to even 1200 calories a day. Do you really think that eating 1200 calories actually stall people. I have been running 3 miles everyother day for the last 2 weeks and feel I should have at least shed some inches. This is typically what I eat. eggs. bacon, 3-4 small strawberries, atkins shake (snack), ceaser salad and a few slices of chicken breast on top, 1 oz cheese and wasa cracker, turkey burger and steamed broccoli. Now all that food still doesn't meet what I should be eating according to some of the posts I have read. I am afraid to eat more as a fear of really not being able to lose. Old thinking habits I believe. :rolleyes:

Any advice would be hugely welcomed :daze:

Kat :roll: :wave:

Based on what I have seen on the boards, your calorie intake should be between 1450 to 2064. I have heard both philosophies on the board. And, I don't really know which one is correct, if there is a correct answer. Some say you should 10x to 12x your current weight and others say to eat 10x to 12x your ideal weight. So, that is what I figured the above range on. The 1450 is the lowest at your ideal weight (IW X 10) and the 2064 is the highest for your current weight (CW X 12)

With all that activity you might need a few extra calories. Running also helps build muscle in the legs, so that might be why you are not losing on the scale. Building muscle hangs onto water as well. You might just need some patience. When I started to up my weights in the gym-my body weight went up for a week or two before it started to come back down.

I am of the camp to eat 10-12x your ideal weight, but frankly I don't pay all that much attention to calories-except to make sure I get enough. The last week I have been hungrier and have eaten much more than usual. I have eaten toward the end of my range of calories all week (12x my goal weight) It hasn't made my weight go up, so that little experiment has made me feel better.

i understand
 

i understand the old thinking habits. i didn't know about fitday and just checked into it yesterday after reading about it over and over again here. i was shocked to find out i am not eating enough calories! it doesn't seem possible eating all this meat and fat ...everything we were told to never eat much of. and the reverse realization that previously how many carbs i use to consume. i am losing and just doing exercise tapes and weights. you are running, i am sure you can up your calorie count. give it a try and see if the scale moves.
-catherine

Increasing calories
 

There are several things you could do to add calories and fat. It doesn't look like you are getting enough fat either.

Eat more beef and pork - a beef burger instead of turkey, ham or beef on the salad, etc. I know when I eat chicken I have trouble keeping fat and calories up.

Put cheese on your burger. How about celery and cream cheese for a snack? Or have a piece of Karen's cheesecake. Put butter on the broccoli.

Think of all the things that are high in calories and fat and add those - cheese, butter, cream cheese, etc.

Hope this helps.
Barb

I add nuts too, to get in some calories without eating a lot. I have a digital scale that I find CRITICAL to doing this right, and I weigh out a handful, (under 1.5 ounces) and it gives me (pecans) 200+ cal.