I just need some one to tell me I'm on the right track

Is it more important that I meet my calorie needs or more important that I eat healthy?  If I eat completely healthy (veggies, fruit, lean protein, whole grains), I never get enough calories.  I'm not left hungry or anything like that- but I don't always feel completely satisfied.  My husband is a chef and he does use the healthiest ingredients as possible, such as light alfredo and whole grain pasta- but it's pretty obvious to me that even light alfredo doesn't really serve a nutritional purpose...it's just empty calories.  Empty calories seem to be the only way I'm able to get as many calories as CC prescribes.  I've been working CC for 2 weeks now and have been successful with my weight loss- so I must be doing something right.  But, I want to make sure that this becomes a lifestyle change and not just a diet...I want to continue to lose weight.  I guess I just need some one to tell me I'm on the right track.

We can't tell you whether you're on the right track or not if we don't know what you're eating, as well as your stats. =) But I would say both eating healthy and getting your calories are equally important. You don't have to fill up on junk food.. there are plenty of HEALTHY yet high calorie items available. You can snack on nuts, which are full of "good" fats, dried fruit (try to get the kind without added sugar), and granola. Add cheese to your sandwiches and salads, and/or avocado, and/or pine nuts and sunflower seeds.. the list goes on; I'm sure you can find more if you dig around.

I'm 22, Female, 5ft 7inches, 287lbs.  Since I started CC I've eaten VERY VERY healthy.  I get all my recommended daily values.  I do (around) 50% complex carbs, 20% lean protein, and 30% naturally occuring fats.  An average day might consist of:

Breakfast- 1/2 of a whole grain/whole wheat english muffin, fat free cream cheese, 1/4C of an egg substitute, and some kind of fruit (grapefruit, banana, etc.)

Lunch- 1/2 Whole grain hamburger bun, Morning Star Fams bean Burger, light ranch dressing, large salad

Snack- yogurt and almonds

Dinner- 1/2C whole grain pasta, fish, salsa, fat free sour cream, 1C of stir-fried vegetables in EVOO

Eating this way, I'm hardly EVER at more than 1300 calories.  CC says I need 1750...

Thanks for the feed back!

I also wanted to say that it's important to me that I don't go over on the daily recommended values of sodium and cholestorol- and that I'm not under on fiber.

Why don't you try using more "real" product? You have a lot of fat free items on there. If you're really comfortable eating this amount, then there's no need to substitute for lower calorie items. Also, why an egg substitute? Why not real eggs? They're healthy.

ps.. are you supposed to keep your cholesterol down or keep your FOOD cholesterol down?  Eggs do have cholesterol in them but they do not give you high cholesterol.

That makes sence- I don't eat real eggs because the cholestoral adds up too fast and I use fat free cream cheese and sour cream not only to avoid fat, but also to keep my sodium low.  (My mother and I are both SUPER sensitive to sodium- RDV is 2400, but I keep mine under 2000 and STILL wake up with swollen fingers despite getting more than enough water.)  Could you suggest some more "higher calorie, healthy suggestions?"

Try

This link 

or

this one 

Obviously you're not trying to gain weight, but since you are upping your calories it's the same concept. 

 

 

Original Post by blagoop:

thank you so much for posting this! all the healthy food that i eat are low in calorie as well but i feel completely full for the rest of the day. i have noticed this loss of appetite for the past few days, so i haven't gone too long without eating enough calories. i need to stop it though because it's NOT healthy and pretty soon my metabolism is going to crash. thanks so much for this post because i needed to know this information from other members as well.

 

No prob, Blagoop, we're in this together! :-)

Nuts and peanut butter have tons of calories (relatively speaking) and are healthy.

Given your issues with sodium, cheese and peanut butter are off the list.

I would add some avocados, some whole grains such as brown or wild rice, unsalted nuts, also, eat some of those baby potatoes they don't need salt and butter to taste good but a light dusting of pepper would make them really good, you could also go for roasted squash which again you don't need to cook with butter or salt, beans that you make yourself instead of canned will help you avoid the salt and they taste really good and frozen peas.  You could search your local health food store for peanut or other butters with low sodium, but I wouldn't count on it too much.

Getting enough calories is important to the weight loss goal, but I do find that the quality of the calories does have an impact as well.

 Why not have the whole english muffin, burger bun and a full cup or (gasp) 1.5 cups of whole grain pasta? Is your yogurt snack one of those 4 oz cups? Have a larger one...you need the calcium anyway. The calories will add up quickly. You are right, if you restrict yourself too much you're not going to keep it up long term. These are healthy things so you don't need to watch the quantities so closely. Don't have an attitude that you're dieting so you can't eat a whole serving of something.

You are smart to really think through this stuff. Keep it up and you're going to do great! Good luck!