I just started using Fitday this week, and I've noticed something a bit disturbing. Tuesday I had about 1600 calories, which (I think) is okay, but yesterday I had only 1057, and the day before that I only had 857! Before using Fitday, I assumed I was taking in about 2000 calories per day. I don't recall anything in DANDR that talked about minimum caloric intake. (And I think I've got that book pretty much memorized. )I'm wondering if maybe a lot of days like this has caused me to stall.

Here are my questions:

1. Will this limited number of calories daily cause a stall?

2. How do I know about how many calories I should take in? Or is it not even a big deal?

3. I'm going to start working out this weekend (finally got the videos and equipment I ordered); should I try to eat more?

4. What are some good ways to get extra (healthy) calories into my diet?

Just giving this message a friendly bump! I had very similar questions!

For weight loss, you should have 10 to 12 times your weight in calories. For example, I weight 170 so I am for 1700 calories. Yesterday I only ate 1300 and didn't lose weight, although most days I do. Perhaps that's it. I'm living in Spain where olive oil is splashed on most dishes, so that's usually how I get a good amount of calories. 1 tablesoon is more than 100 calories, and olive oil is good for the heart. Just a suggestion. Also, I enjoy goat cheese which is also very caloric.

I also try to eat 10 to 12x's my body weight. If you are losing and are not hungry staggering your calories and them being as low as they are might work for you. Just one thing to think about though, if you keep your calories to low your body will get used to you eating that amount of calories. Then when you want to eat at a normal range of calories you will gain. Not to mention it could really mess with your metabolism. The ideal way to lose weight on any WOE is to figure out the MOST you can eat while still losing and the most you can eat to maintain.

Hope this helps.

Wee

Thanks. I really was not trying to keep my calories low at all. It just sort of happened ... my appetite is just not that high. I will shoot for 1700 or so and try to add a few high-cal, high-fat snacks into my day. (For those of us who have done the low-fat thing before, doesn't that sound a bit strange still? )

Freckfluf ~ YES!!!(For those of us who have done the low-fat thing before, doesn't that sound a bit strange still?) YES!!! However, until I started using fitday.com and registering my calories, I did not realize that I was actually comsuming more than I had thought. Fitday.com is an excellent way to make sure every calorie, carb, protein, and fat is counted!!

Some excellent ways to bring up your fat: avacado's, full fat dressings and cheeses, cook with plenty of olive oil, olives and nuts are a few ideas

Dr. A. did say "don't eat if you're not hungry"!

But I second what everyone else is saying by adding a little more butter and healthy oils.

I have been sick for the last 3 days (tummy and other problems - most likely caused by lactose). I forced my self to eat chicken broth the 1st day, only 300 calories for the day. I couldn't eat anything else and even hope to keep it down.

On day two I could only face nice cool Romaine lettuce, and today, I had two eggs and bacon for breakfast, and I finaly feel hungry enough to eat at all.

Will the almost two whole days at about 200 - 300 calories I am risking doing damage to my weight loss? I haven't stalled yet and am loosing about 1 lb every two days, except for the first day of being violently ill (I lost 2 - 3 lbs - of water?).

I drank large quantities of water during these last three days, and besides that feel okay.

Sccuffy

A couple days of low calories won't effect you to badly. Constantly eating too little can cause health issues.

While it's really hard to eat when sick, you need the strength to get better. Why not make your own LC soup? Boil a chicken and remove the bones. Then add celery, and other low GI veggies (maybe turnips or zuccchini) and just eat off that for a while until you can stomach more.