What I mean in my title is that people do this 3000 calorie diet where they do 3000 calories a day. And people mention how it's hard, but I'm confused, I mean, I'm not bragging, but I'm confused. I mean, since I'm trying to lose weight (5'8 and 210 lbs), and obsessively worry about calorie/fat intake because I'm trying to meet my recruiters weight requirements, but what I'm asking is, how is this so hard for people to eat less than 3000 calories when I'm only taking in a few hundred a day? I mean, I sleep right, eating right, and exercise through out the day, is it just one of those self control issues that makes it hard?

Anywho, I'm not sure why I'm posting this, maybe insight from other's would just help me understand what I'm missing here.

what exactly are you eating to only get a few hundred calories a day?

Trees

And what are they eating that getting under 3000 a day is difficult?

3000 calories is bloody loads. Thats one and a half times what I eat in a day...and thats when I'm not dieting.

3000 calorie diet? Are you sure its under 3000. The average daily intake for a normal advlt should be around 2000. The only time people should be hitting anywhere near 3000 in terms of dieting is if they are trying to build muscle.

I've never heard of any 3000 calorie diet. Possibly because the only people who would have trouble staying under that are people who should be looking for something stronger than the fad diet of the month.

As a sidenote, a "few hundred" a day is way too little, especially in conjunction with frequent exercise.

I'm trying to eat more because I need to put on muscle, and it's not easy. I'm simply not hungry: I have trouble eating 2,000 calories a day, let alone 3,000.

What's these people who actually know how many calories they ingest by day ? :mellow: I don't. I eat when I'm hungry. When my jeans are tighter, I eat less. *shrug*

As to your question, I don't know : it's probably people who are used to more. Can't cut everything at once, you gotta pace it I guess for the loss to actually stick. And sure, I imagine that's not easy. Pretty much like stopping to smoke : I suspect the hunger is something you can't help thinking about.

Eh, it's a pretty monotonous cycle. Cereal (usually Raisin Bran or shredded wheat), salad/vegetables at lunch with exact serving portions of ranch, and soup or something else light for dinner. I won't lie, I miss eating the delicious things like hotpockets, but I'm pretty determined to lose weight, so between exercise and checking what I eat, I think Im doing good.

Edit: I checked the boxes and etc, and it's roughly in the 500-600 range per day

@ Z-Man- I know, I went from eating when I was hungry, which was like, 5-6 times a day, down to three carefully planned meals a day, maybe a snack if Im hungry.

@Rhekarid- It isnt like I go out to the gym nightly, its running/walking twice a day and various aerobic exercises, Im not working on muscle building exercise as it is weight loss exercises. So its more in a medium/decent range of work out. I mean, I dont feel sick or tired, and I actually feel better than ever.

Agreed. OP, at your weight and height you'd do better to consume at least 1300-1500 calories a day, coupled with enough exercise to burn at least 500 calories a day and you'll trim the fat off at a healthy rate, something along the lines of two to three pounds a week. You don't want to starve your body, if you do then the first thing that'll go is the muscle and the fat will remain.

But really, I couldn't give you an exact routine or the best eating tips, for that you should pay a visit to a nutritionist. Everyone's body is different, and you need to know your own personal requirments before going head over heals into working out and weight loss.

If you're eating a few hundred calories a day to lose weight you're doing it wrong. Learn more about nutrition.

I eat around 3000 calories when bulking, but I'm eating 2,000 calories right now on my cut. 2,000 is too little for me, but I'm managing.

I'm far from an expert on the subject, but dieting isn't really a good way to lose weight in any case. Not if you want to stay at the right weight, and remain healthy. The thing about a diet is, you're already accepting that you're going to not be on the diet at some point. Lifestyle is what needs to change.

I also wouldn't eat less than 1000 calories or so, or more than 2000 or so per day, unless you're very inactive, or very active (I remember reading that some guys pulling sleds in the arctic needed to eat like 10,000 calories a day(!) or something). 3000 is certainly too much for most normal people, in any case.

Is calories really all that matters when gaining/losing weight?

I intake around 500 calories a day just from drinks. I've never counted calories on my food though.

Nope, calories, fat, carbs, protein, the amount you exercise, the amount of water you drink, etc. there are a lot of things that go into loosing weight/ gaining muscle the healthy way.

I see these commercials on TV where all they talk about is calories. Like this commercial for yogurt where they're advertising 80 calories vs 100 calories for the other brand. 20 calories sounds like nothing in the long run...

True, however more calories consumed over your maintenance = gain weight.
And less calories consumed under your maintenance = lose weight.

Now the way you portion your protein, fats and carbs will determine things such as how much energy you'll have, cravings for food et cetera. I'm sure you know this, but I'm posting it for those who don't know.

This is what I thought. I only take in around 1,500 a day, give or take. I couldn't imagine doing 3000 calories a day, let along thinking it was a hard goal to meet.

Only 600 kcal a day? 0_o
Thank god you know what you do and work out .
Without that you would feel weak very quickly (I accidentally did this once)

Just don't do this for the rest of your life pls, else I'd be worried about you!
Good luck for your diet, I wish you the best! :goodjob:

I don't think you understand how weight loss works if you're only eating a few hundred calories a day and you expect to lose weight in a healthy way. The average diet of an advlt man is 2000 calories a day. 1200-1400 on average is the number you should shoot for to lose weight while exercising daily.
Also, 3000 calories is a lot of food.

3,000 calories really isn't a lot of food. It's just an extra meal, which used to be a second plate of pasta for me.

I don't diet, I eat what I feel like eating, yet I still never consume nearly that many calories in a day. I'm also confused about how it is considered difficult.

I've just seen this. It's not fats that make you fatter, bar saturated fats, it's carbohydrates. Healthy fats from almonds and nuts are good for you, they take away the cravings, and they don't make you "fatter". It's the carbs which you should worry about.

You'd have to eat a [censored]load of yoghurt for that to make a difference.

I'm no expert by any means, but I don't believe in crash diets like the one the OP is on. As is already said, people on such diets tend to go back to their old habits as soon as they've reached their goal, and within a few months they're as fat again as they ever were. You have to change your lifestyle. That you're already regularly exercising is very good, though I'd throw in some muscle building exercises as well. In the end it is not the number on the scales that matters but that you're pleased with the way you look.

How long are you dieting already OP? Because I have difficulty imagining anyone surviving on a few hundred calories a day without serious consequences for your health.

I've never seen someone get fat from pasta.