I'm not sure I can do it.

According to Calorie Count, I need to eat 1900 calories a day. I just don't think I can do that. On weekends, when I "splurge", I only eat ~1200-1300. On weekdays, I'm probably only eating around 1000 calories, sometimes less if I'm not hungry for dinner.

Are these unhealthy eating habits? Any advice on how to reach the 1900 calorie goal, without feeling that I'm overeating? I'm just really surprised that it's suggesting I eat more than I'm already eating.

Uuum in short, YES this is extremely unhealthy. How old are you? Are you exercising? 1500 is the minimum for sedentary teens.

If you're splurging on 1200-1300 cals I cannot imagine what you could possible be eating.

Simple to eat more cals without stuffing yourself...

Breakfast: make oatmeal with milk and stir in a tbsp or two of pb and have a fried egg and a glass of juice or milk with it

Or have a lowfat yogurt topped with 1 oz nuts and drzzled with honey served with a slice of toast

Lunch Choose whole grain hearty bread with lean protein, low fat cheese, and moderate amount of veggies served with a banana and ww crackers

Dinner Have a serving of pasta with a tsp of olive oil and parmesan cheese or beans topped with cheese or rice . Have that with 3-4 oz lean protein and a small salad with olive oil based dressing

Snacks Nuts, trail mix, dried fruit, granola, string cheese, low fat yogurt, 1/2 pb and j sandwich with a fruit, dark chocolate and graham crackers

Dessert Low fat ice cream or berries and cream or a pastry

You can choose items that are still healthy but energy dense. If you're getting the recommended servings og grains (5-6) then that alone is at least 600 calories, plus 2 tbsp pb that's another 200, plus a tbsp olive oil that's another 120 to bring you to a minimum fo 1000. Add in your dairy (cheese, yogurt, ice cream, milk) and you have at least 1500 calories before veggies and fruit and protein.

Its not that difficult if you're willing to add stuff in.

Hope this helps!

Original Post by cosmouse:

I'm just really surprised that it's suggesting I eat more than I'm already eating.

 

If you're here because you're curently classed as overweight you've been eating a lot more than 1900 cals a day, trust me.   But you may not have realised that if your food choices up to now have been poor. e.g. a lot of processed foods, sugary drinks, takeaways.  Poor quality food is often very high in calories but very low in satisfaction.... big reason why a lot of people are overwegiht.  If you eat irregularly that can add to the problem

If you're paying attention to your food choices, then 1900 cals can be a positive feast.   Vegetables are low calorie but nicely filling, for example.  As said above, there are easy ways to add extra calories to a meal in a healthy way... extra portions, more energy dense foods like nuts & oils, a few more snacks.

1200-1300 cals would be an unhealthy crash-diet for a teen and that brings a lot of downsides.... malnutrition being the biggest.   So go for the 1900, be healthy & lose weight at the same time.

If you are maintaining your weight currently then I think that there are no worries, its just a little  odd?

During recovery from anorexia, I gained weight on 1800- 1900 calories a day, and to maintain I eat around 1400 – 1500, its just how my body works (but calorie count does tell me to eat 1500 - 1600 so i guess its not that odd ). I suppose you are the best judge on how your body works and how food will effect it – of course if in doubt check guidelines on calorie count, but if they clash with what you have been doing your whole life, and you never have had reason to doubt it before then its not diabolical. I would try and stick to the higher end of the spectrum which you stated though “1300” – you could slowly increase and see what happens?

You may have clicked the "very active" section when in actual fact you are "sedentary"? Or as Gi-Jane said possibly miss calculating!