Food, why must I dislike you so?

Well, I've been making use of the site for a while now and it's really opened my eyes to how regularly I'm undereating, which explains why I don't tend to gain weight.  However, I really struggle to eat my 2200 kcal per day, some days barely managing to get past 1000, but normally feeling full at about 1900.  However, since I've been doggedly sticking to this increasing intake I have found my overal health, energy levels and sleep have improved so I guess I need time to adjust and soon, the exercise regime begins, which should help me eat those extra few calories.

The other problem I face is my diet.  I'm high in carbohydrates and low in protein, but my partner has the opposite problem of putting weight on too easily.  The diet we have suits him quite well in maintaining a healthy weight, but I'm struggling on it and don't know what I should do.  It's hardly practical for us to cook two separate meals so should I supplement my own with maybe an egg or something as a side?  I'm a bit lost on this one.

The site has definitely motivated me though, I like having my little logging task and seeing the positive progress I'm making.  Now if only I could get myself in the mindset where I like eating food.

If you need protein eat 4oz of chicken for dinner. that will give you alot of protein in one meal. If you need more have egg whites for breakfest with some oatmeal.

What makes you dislike eating? Is it the taste of the food or do you have some underlying psychological issues? Eating is a rather primitive pleasure that is meant to be enjoyed, not dreaded, by humans. 

Here is a list of foods I made for myself because I wanted to get good protein into my diet:

1/4th cup of almonds      &n bsp;        ;       &n bsp;    160 cals.     6 g. of protein

Barilla + pasta 1 cup cooked        &nb sp;    130 cals.     6 g.

red beans 1 cup cooked        &nb sp;              120 cals      14 g.

black beans 1 cup cooked      &nb sp;            200 cals.      14 g.

lean beef 4 oz.                      &nb sp;               &nb sp; 180 cals       28 g.

8 oz. cabbage                        &nb sp;               &nb sp; 50 cals      2.5 g.

fat free ched. cheese 1 oz              &nb sp;      45 cals     9 g.

chicken  1 cup diced                      &nb sp;       265 cals    40 g.

1 tb. real bacon bits        ;       &n bsp;                 30       & nbsp;      &nbs p;  3 g.

4 egg whites                                      &nb sp;      64 cals     14 g.

1 cup whole wheat flour                  &nb sp;      400 cals    16 g.

1 cup mushroom pieces                  &nb sp;     15 cals.    15 g.

wild salmon fillet 4 oz.                      &nb sp;      100 cals     19 g.

1 oz sunflower seeds                        &nb sp;       160            5.4 g.

1 cup diced turkey      &nb sp;               &nb sp;               &nb sp;  240 cals.    42 g.

1/4th cup walnuts      &n bsp;        ;       &n bsp;        ;       &n bsp;   180               4.5 g.

hmm...this is an utterly foreign concept to me, not liking food, because I'm an emotional eater. Whether I'm happy, sad, bored, stressed, etc, food gives me warm fuzzies. But I'm working on getting my fuzzies elsewhere.

Good job at making a conscious effort to up the calories even though it's hard for you, I'm glad that you're seeing the payoff it gives (more energy, etc).

As for the meal situation, most evenings I make steamed stir fry veggies, salmon for me and a different kind of meat for my hub (he hates fish), other veggies, and sometimes a small amount of carbs (rice or pasta). That way we can build our own meal according to our dietary needs and tastes.

You don't have to cook two separate meals, just portion up the plates a little differently. 

Example... the dish is grilled chicken, new potatoes, steamed broccoli and green beans

• Your plate.... 1/3 filled with chicken, 1/3 with new potatoes, 1/3 with vegetables
• His plate.... 1/4 filled with chicken, 1/4 with new potatoes, 1/2 with vegetables.

Another idea is to add a handful of walnuts or a serving of some type other type of nuts into your mix of food.  Maybe as an evening snack or with your morning breakfast.

Original Post by vincent_louis:

What makes you dislike eating? Is it the taste of the food or do you have some underlying psychological issues? Eating is a rather primitive pleasure that is meant to be enjoyed, not dreaded, by humans. 

 Without going into boring details, quite some time ago I was annorexic and ever since, my relationship with food is an uncomfortable one.  I'm sure it's a psychological issue since I associate food and eating in social situations with thoughts of negative self images.  It's part of the reason this site is so useful to me, it means I can keep on top of this and prevent it from becoming any more of a problem than it is.

Original Post by gi-jane:

You don't have to cook two separate meals, just portion up the plates a little differently. 

Example... the dish is grilled chicken, new potatoes, steamed broccoli and green beans

• Your plate.... 1/3 filled with chicken, 1/3 with new potatoes, 1/3 with vegetables
• His plate.... 1/4 filled with chicken, 1/4 with new potatoes, 1/2 with vegetables.

 

 What an elegant solution to the problem!  Thank you.