Sport undereating

Sport Fitness
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undercover_laur

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hi, i have recently developed a problem with eating and im averaging an intake of 900cals a day from 3 meals and a snack. i know this is very low, plus im going to the gym 4 times a week and doing mostly cardio(long bike rides,cross trainer or running) and also weight training twice a week.

am i doing myself alot of harm carrying on like this, ive lost some weight already although i am focusing on becoming fitter(not weight loss anymore). i also eat very healthily with stir frys, veggies and wholemeal carbs.

any comments or advice would be good, thanks

L x
 
Most likely, your body needs quite a bit more than that, especially since you are exercising.

With that few calories, you will probably lose weight, but will also be putting your body into "starvation" mode, thus slowing your metabolism. At 900 calories, your body doesn't just think it is starving, it almost is. I don't know your stats, so I don't know what your caloric needs are, however, I can just about promise you it's quite a bit more than 900.

You can do serious, permanent damage to your body by starving it of what it needs to function. It goes beyond gaining and losing weight. Too little fuel can inhibit the proper functioning of lots of things, including your vital organs. Even if what little bit your body does get is high quality, it still has to have a minimum amount, and 900 kcal is not it.
 
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I would slowly cycle upwards to at least 1500 cals (as a general number). Don't start eating that much right away because your body will be like "YAY FOOD!!! and store all of it". But increase it slowly over a period of 2 weeks or so.
If you can, post up a new diet plan and we can critique it. :)
 
I echo the above. A fact that always put things into perspective for me was that coma patients get fed 1200 calories per day. So if you are not in a coma and eating under that...
 
Trainer Lynn said:
I echo the above. A fact that always put things into perspective for me was that coma patients get fed 1200 calories per day. So if you are not in a coma and eating under that...
Click to expand...

and you're over 3feet tall....

but in all seriousness yes 900cals is just no where near enough for any normal person.
 
Trainer Lynn said:
I echo the above. A fact that always put things into perspective for me was that coma patients get fed 1200 calories per day. So if you are not in a coma and eating under that...
Click to expand...
Haha! Good point! :D
 
Even with all the exercise you're doing, you should be eating more than twice the calories you're currently taking in.

I do weights 3 days a week and cardio maybe one or two days, and I try to aim for AT LEAST 2,200 or more calories a day.....but am I getting fat? Nope. All the exercise has raised my metabolism, thus I keep (and even gain) more lean body mass and muscle. :)

Starving yourself will only eat away at what muscle you have...because you need to eat every 2-3 hours. Your body will use what ever carbs you have as energy, and once that runs out? It'll turn to your proteins for energy, hence muscle loss. And since it's impossible for fat to be converted into glucose (for energy), that proves that starving yourself is absolutely ineffective, and only promotes catabolism (muscle loss and breakdown).

So the bottom line? EAT MORE.
 
fat can be converted to glycogen (for energy ) leanbean, its not done so very efficiently thats why carbs are used first.

thanks for all the info. im trying to up the calories although i dont feel tired at all, i actually have more energy than ever(im guessing its from the exercise).
 
no prob. i knew what you kinda meant!

liveNY thats whats confusing me. i feel good, and i have lots of energy, plus my workouts are going well, but i keep reading i need to up the calories. eek!
 
You know what I've noticed though?

Ever since I've been eating healthy and being consistent with my workout regimen, I've gained even more definition on my body...however, hardly any mass! I was stuck with the same skinny body I've always had, and although more defined, there just wasn't enough meat!

After awhile I realized that I needed more calories and healthy fats in my diet in order to really see better results...so I did just that. I used to think I ate a lot (at about 1,800), but slowly upped it to about 2,200. Slowly but surely, I am building more lean muscle mass and can see it through pictures and in the mirror. :)


Good luck amiga.
 
Undercover...the first couple of weeks that you bump up your calories, you will probably gain weight...as does everyone. Don't let that discourage you though. It's simply because your metabolism hasn't corrected itself yet. After a few weeks, you will notice the energy increase and the workout/eating schedule will cause you to lose more fat. There are many people in here that used to do the same thing that you do...limit caloric intake...but they learned to eat correctly, and have noticed major possitive changes in their bodies.

Also, the reason that you have more energy now, is because your body is more active...and to be blunt, it IS more alive. Working out stimulates muscle, expands arteries, and allows more oxygen and nutrients to be delivered to your body's cells and organs. Working out helps your body function the way that it's truly meant to.
 
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