There is this common misconception that calories are evil. Women, especially Filipinas, have it in their heads that all calories are created equal. They're not. Actually, it isn't wise to cut an entire food group out of your diet (carbs) just because you think pasta makes you fat. (It doesn't, by the way.) Calories keep us alive and we need to make sure we are getting 1,200 a day, because there aren't any upsides to going lower than that. It doesn't even guarantee long-term, sustainable weight loss!
These are some signs that you're NOT eating enough:
1. You feel lethargic all day.
We get our fuel and our energy from the food we eat. When we aren't getting enough calories, naturally, our energy level is low. Since the calories you take in mostly support your organs, not having enough to burn makes normal tasks feel like they require more work.
2. You're not losing any weight.
When you don't eat enough calories, your body goes into starvation mode. Next comes survival mode. Your body tries to hold on to as many calories as it can so instead of burning them, your weight becomes stagnant. Think about all those wasted workouts, just because you didn't eat enough?
3. You have a hard time pooping!
If you're not eating enough, you probably don't have the necessary amount of fiber to poop normally. Additionally, if you're ignoring your body's cry for food, you're also probably ignoring its cry for water. These can feel the same, which is why sometimes we eat when we're really just thirsty. Without enough water in our system, the fiber isn't properly digested. This leads to constipation.
4. You become HANGRY.
This one is TOO real. Because people have psychological attachments to food, not eating enough or feeling deprived can lead to negative feelings. Irritability is a common symptom of not eating enough calories. So when you start snapping at everyone you know, that's when you need to be careful.
5. You indulge...in a bad way.
We're not saying you should completely eradicate chocolate from your life. In fact, indulging is something we need to stay sane. But when we deprive ourselves of food, especially food we love, we have a tendency to spiral out of control.
This story originally appeared on Cosmo.ph.
*Minor edits have been made by FemaleNetwork.com editors.
