Calories at night...so frustrated!!!!!

Ok so if I havn't fit in my calories for the day by say 8-9 at night should I load up? It's already 9 pm and I've only eaten 1800 calories. I also did some light exercise after work. I'm supposed to have 2,000-2,400. Thats a crazy number! I havn't eaten that much on over 3 years. I feel so stuffed and bloated. I'm eating healthy so that means plenty of whole grains, lean protein, fruits and veges....but I can't fit another thing in. It just seems so unnatural to stuff myself like this. Its too much food. I'm at normal weight now for my height 5'7-128-130lbs. The weight creeped  on slowly even though I wasn't eating much. I'm just worried that if I continue to eat this much food I will continue to gain. I'm scarred and depressed and my thighs look so noticeably larger. I hate recovery sometimes!

If you are stuffed then I would just listen to your stomach and don't eat if you don't want to.  There is not that much of a difference between 1800 and 2000 calories anyway. 

When I need extra calories in the evening I eat a caremel corn rice cake with 1 tbls of peanut butter on it.  It seems rather light to me, but gets the calories from the peanut butter.  If I happen to be hungry I add a banana and some chocolate syrup to it.

hi!

so rt now youre still at a low weight for your body+ i think w LIGHT excercise you probably could maintain on 2200-2400.  also, your body may feel better+you may feel better at a higher weight, remember health isnt just a number on the scale-the number means nothing compared to health+life.

id suggest aiming for 2300 for 2 weeks+NOT weighing till 2 weeks consistantly on that.  also, eating "healthy" doesnt only mean choosing low cal foods.  if youre full, choose denser foods such as nuts, nut butters, breads+pasta...cheese...

if you're at 1800 and you want to hit 2000, that should be pretty simple to get an extra 200 calories in. For example 1 cup of 2% milk is already 122 cals according to CC, and since it's liquid, it'll be easier to take than a solid food. You can even mix in 2 teaspoons of olive oil (a healthy fat) to make it an even 200 calories in 1 cup of liquid. Another suggestion that was mentioned is to find calorie dense foods.. peanut butter is a favourite of many on recovery.

I also agree with the person who said eating healthy doesn't only mean choosing low cal foods. I'd like to think that eating healthy means having a nutrionally complete daily diet and avoiding all the junk food and processed food that is always shoved in our faces (mcD's, chips, soda, candy, ect). Well okay you can have some ice cream or cake once in a while  Finding calorie dense foods (like pasta, potatoes, nuts, stuff mentioned in the above replies) that you enjoy will definetly help you alot and will make it much much easier to hit your daily calorie goals.

Another helpful tip is to evenly divide your calories for the day. For example, if you need 2500 calories per day, and you eat 5 meals a day, then each meal should be 500 cals each.  If that's too much per meal, then split it to 6 meals a day, equalling 416 cals each. Naturally, you will need to eat more frequently using this method but it makes it so you don't have to stuff yourself and also keeps you on track for the day. Set an appropriate goal for yourself and aim for it every day for at least 2 weeks, and then try to increase it, even if it's just an extra 100-200 for another 2 weeks, then increase again.... rinse and repeat.

best wishes!

one magical thing...PEANUT BUTTER!  weeeee!  haha.  pb&j, protein shake, etc...

honestly, its not going to feel good.  thats just recovery and our bodies letting us know what we used to do is actually the unnatural thing.  this is what you need, so give yourself a mealplan.  space out your eating with more calorie dense foods.  i see the part where you mention grains, protein, fruits, veggies, but what about fats?  dairy?  i'm going to really try to help you out, because i know exactly what you're going through and how hard it is.  here's a sample mealplan that will hopefully help you out:

breakfast:

2 eggs scrambled in 1 tsp EVOO, 1 cup cereal + 1 cup milk + 1tbsp almonds, 1 cup berries or other fruit

snack:

granola + yogurt + dried fruit

lunch:

salad tossed in 2 tbsp dressing, 4 oz meat, 2 tbsp cheese, 2 tbsp nuts

fruit smoothie (frozen fruit + yogurt + tsp fax oil) or juice

snack:

1-2 slice toast + 2 tbsp PB + 1 banana sliced up

dinner:

1 cup pasta + 1 cup pasta sauce + 4 oz meat, salad, bread

snack:

granola bar or even a nice treat like ice cream

that should pretty easily be in the 2000 range.  in terms of recovery, i found it so much easier for me to just combine foods and add on foods with my meals to add up the calories.  its essential to eat calorie dense foods.  i swear it gets easier.  if you need more support or more meal plan ideas, let me know.  haha.  good luck and stay focused.  it gets easier everyday, so don't feel defeated.  =)