If you aren’t eating enough to lose weight, your body will definitely give you tell tale signs.Losing weight should never mean that you save money. As surprising as it sounds, you need to eat also to lose weight. Restricting calories will backfire and make you ill instead and cutting calories according to the experts may actually make you gain weight instead.
Food increases metabolism and when you don’t eat, the body uses the stored food for metabolism. When you restrict calories your body enters a starvation mode and breaks down your muscles instead which is extremely dangerous. This is when your metabolism slows and losing weight becomes difficult.
Calorie needs differ from individual to individual and between men and women. Most women need 1200 to 1500 calories a day as per the US institute of health. Going below that will cause problems and where your body finds difficulty in performing regular functions. Now take a look at the signs you’re not eating enough to lose weight
Thinking about food constantly
When you can’t get through the day and work without thinking about food constantly, then you have a problem. You aren’t eating enough healthy snacks between meals can help increase your calories. Keep a jar of muesli on your table. Raisins and dates make naturally sweet sugar free but high calorie options. This helps you take your mind off food. To reduce hunger and avoid overeating include a protein rich and fiber rich food in your diet such as Paneer (cottage cheese) or nuts and fruit.
Cutting out meals and all your snacks
Skipping breakfast and not eating until lunch isn’t weight loss, its disaster. This will cause you to break your healthy diet and overeat as you’ll always feel deprived off food. Instead of your three meal habit, have three meals and two small snacks daily which includes healthy sources of calories fresh veggies lean meat and healthy fats and grains
Irregular cycles
When your calorie intake is reduced it can cause an irregular cycle or even stop it permanently as the body doesn’t have enough fat to produce the hormones that tiger menstrual cycle.
Horrible headaches.
Our brains need glucose to function. Glucose in the blood is derived from carbs that you consume. If you limit your carbs too much of your brain is starved of energy and that’s what will make you dizzy or lightheaded. This also causes unexplained headaches and a decrease in blood sugar. Adding more calories or carbs to your body and diet will stop your head from pounding.
Just the thought of exercise makes you want to nap
When the thought of exercise makes you feel lazy, it means you are lacking energy which is demotivating and increases fatigue.
Always irritated
If you’re keeping yourself hungry all the time right up to dinner then that surely will make you angry which is also what happens when you restrict your body of calories. Research says self control is also linked to irritability. Remember you’re reducing calories to lose weight and not to give yourself mood swings. So you’re most probably not eating enough to lose weight.
Meals don’t satisfy you
Just having a tiny salad for dinner will always keep you unsatisfied and craving for more. You can eat more and still not increase weight just fill your plate with lean meat, healthy grains, healthy fats you won’t be craving anything after that. Fish too is a good option in your diet. so now you know if you’re not eating enough to lose weight