Increasing Calorie Intake

Can someone please describe how to go from 900 calories to about 2,000 in one day...I can't quite get myself to start eating that much more...

Well, since you're doing this in one day... you simply have to eat 2000 calories.  If you can't because you're too full, then eat calorie-dense foods like nuts, nut butters, dried fruit, cheese, red meats... and stuff like that.  900 is unhealthy so I'm glad , at least, that you see that you need to increase.

So I shouldn't continually add more every day...just start at 2000

I expect my weight will increase somewhat at first though

I know what you mean. Im increasing my calories from 900 to 1600. Thats so hard for me bc I feel stuffed ALL day.

Ive read that it is ok to gradually increase since your stomach has adapted to little food it needs time to adjust.

Im starting to eat about the same amount of food that I have been in the past just food that contain higher calories. My favorite high calorie foods are natural almonds, craisins, fruit smoothies, home-made peanut butter crackers, and yogurt with granola.

A few tablespoons of peanut butter? Maybe snack on that since my PB has like 200 calories in 1 tablespoon. So if you need 1100 calories more have 5-6 tablespoons throughout the day. Maybe eat some PB and toast as a snack or applesa and PB. I have read that people like PB and cottage cheese but that seems weird to me.

If you are struggling to get your calories in try eating low density, high calorie foods. These're small quantities of food that kick up the calories. Nuts, nut butters, dried fruits, dense fruit like bananas and avocado, healthy cooking oils like olive oil, wholewheat or wholegrain pasta and noodles, full fat dairy products (and cheese in general, really), honey...

A PB and banana sandwich can rack you up 550 calories pronto. One large banana is about 110 calories. Four teaspoons of PB are about 60 calories each. Two slices of wholemeal bread will rack you about 90-100 calories per slice. Banana, plus bread? 310. Plus the four teaspoons of PB? 550. Very nice grilled or with a drizzle of honey added in if you're up for it.

You could try making a smoothie with some milk and/or yoghurt, honey, nuts and a banana, and other fruits of your choosing. Or an ice cream sundae in the same sort of manner. Oatmeal is also a good base for denser foods - you can easily stir in nut butters, nuts, and dried fruit into oatmeal and make it with milk and it's still easy on the stomach.

Stir fry is easily done. Just do it up in oil and throw in some cashews or peanuts or similar to help bring up calorie content. Peanut sauce works in the same manner, but there are all sorts of nut butters, not just peanuts! Macadamia and cashew are delicious. Pasta bakes can be made calorific. You could also make a grilled cheese sandwich or two!

Aim for wholegrains/complex carbohydrate, protein, healthy fats, some dairy or a dairy alternative and a serving of fruit or veg at every main meal as well as snacks between that also contain these essential things. Eat spread out over about five to six meals and snacks as this will help your stomach adjust to the transition and increase.

Why can you not get yourself to eat much more? Do you just feel discomfort or is it something else? And as you predict yes, you will see a slight gain at first but more often than not that will simply be a water weight gain that will flush after a week to two weeks so do not be discouraged. A slight gain, anyway, is a lot healthier than eating under the bare minimum 1500 for a teenage girl and 1800 for a teenage boy. 2000 is the right number to aim for - higher, still, if you have a high activity level. Can I ask your height, age, weight and gender and activity level? Still, it is good to see you are increasing.

DON'T do it in one day!!!  You'll gain like crazy and not in a good way.  I'd reccommend an increase of about 200 cals every week until you hit 1600 - you'll maintain your weigh more then and your body will be able to cope

Thanks guys I do love Peanut butter :). and pinkchubbymonkey: who in their crazy mind told you that mixing PB with cottage cheese was ok? Just kidding no offense to those who do like it...

lalabanana:

I'm 17, female, I weigh 125 lbs, and I'm 5'3

I am very active. 2ish hours of tennis practice every other day , weight training, and 4-5 mile runs the days I have no tennis, with of course 2 days of rest.

I usually don't eat that much mostly because I am not used to eating that much and  some days I can't quite imagine eating anymore because I am so full.

A few years ago i would have to take this medicine that increased my appetite  (and therefore my wieght) which for a while was not a bad thing.And after I got off of the medicine I began having food OCD, lost some weight, etc. Then a few months ago I had an epiphany: I don't eat very much! So...hence my calorie increase.

Thanks for the suggestions!