Oy..I can't eat that much!

Hi!  I recently joined this site the other day .. thanks for reading :)

Ive been eating very healthy and very well lately..and when I say eating...I literally mean I have been eating ALL day...(every hour to two hours I'm eating something)..however, trying to eat healthy which is good (right??!) means very little calories..im trying to stick to fresh fruit, healthy proteins (I am allergic to nuts and peanut butter so count those ones out)...yet it is almost 3 and I am only at 578 calories?  I had an egg and banana for breakfast, yogurt for a snack, a smart one for lunch..a cup of cucumbers just now...and I have strawberries in about an hour..

Then I'm going to the gym to work out...and after that I can't possibly eat 1400 calories for dinner (which is what it would need to be to reach my goal of 2000 calories - withOUT working out!)

Any tips?  Thanks!

To put it bluntly, you're just not trying.

Add olive oil to salads, stir frys, etc. Whole grains are very healthy and pack about 210 cals/cup. Beans are good, too.

I mean an egg and a banana for breakfast? That's like under 200 cals

Well, trust me when I say that's an accomplishment for me.  I am NOT hungry in the morning at all and only even ate that because I forced myself.  Before this I usually skipped breakfast because I just don't want to eat when I wake up.  It's what happened in the evenings that used to kill me (demon chips and sitting on the computer), not what I ate in the morning.

There are lots of ways to get healthy calories without feeling stuffed.  If you are really unsure about how to do it read some of the posts in the "weight gain" section.  

Also, it doesn't seem like you are getting much protein from the foods you listed.  Especially if you are working out, you need to make sure you are fueling your body. 

I used to be like that...skipping breakfasts, I'd have a skinny latte at most in the mornings...then I'd have a small lunch and a massive dinner...calories for the day came up to only about 1200-1400kcal...the funny thing was I did not lose any fat. I was getting skinny fat...lol.

So I started reversing it, and made breakfast my biggest meal, dinner my lightest...had to force myself to eat in the mornings (atleast 350kcal and up to 500kcal)...now it's become a habit, and I'm finally seeing results. Go for foods like reduced sugar peanut butter (2 tbsp is about 200kcal, and it's loaded with healthy fat and a good amount of protein), whole grain breads, low-fat cheese slices/eggs and a serving of fruit.  

Thanks..guess I'll have to keep figuring it out..I'm allergic to peanut butter, the stuff will kill me....I know I need more protein (why I had the egg for breakfast), I had a little bit of chicken at lunch and then dinner will have to be more. 

I'll just have to experiment a bit I guess...thanks!

eggs are great...you could try oatmeal too, and a tall glass of low fat milk...those instant oatmeals are especially convenient :)

are you allergic to almonds too? They're really good for you if you're not :)

Yeah unfortunately Im allergic to every kind of nut there is......makes this difficult ;p

cheese! lots of dense calories plus your protein. Plus theres soooo many wonderful cheeses to pick from...

Original Post by arity:

Yeah unfortunately Im allergic to every kind of nut there is......makes this difficult ;p

 Aww shucks...atleast you're not allergic to dairy...I wouldn't mind living without nuts, but I rely on dairy (high protein low-fat/skimmed milk, cheeses, yogurt)  alot to get my protein and calories in, the milk I drink every morning has about 12.5g of protein and 125kcal per serving...nothing's easier than having a tall glass of milk or a small tub of yogurt...I'm too lazy to cook meat on weekdays :p

How about cream cheese and pumpkin butter on a tortilla?  Makes a great quick and non filling snack.

I never get why people who are on this site to lose weight suddenly claim they could not possibly eat x amount. Well, you did before right? Otherwise you wouldn't be here to lose weight in the first place. Avocado, olive oil, hummus and cheese are a few healthy high calorie places to start. There's an official list of high calorie foods on the weight gainers board for more.

you could try drinking some of your calories. like frozen fruit juice, or low fat milk, things like that.

Thanks for all the advice all..

Oh..and to the person that said I did before (eat this many calories). Yes, I absolutely did.  Eating all the wrong kinds of food and whatever I wanted.  I'm trying to eat healthier foods, instead of the crap I was.  It's very easy  to eat the same quantity of food and by substituting the quality of it (ie. burger instead of chicken breast) triple your calories.  VERY easy.  It's an adjustment ..and the foods I am trying to eat now are much lower in calories..therefore I seem to have to eat much more ..

I hear ya. I am not a morning person either. All I want is a cup of coffee when I wake up, and a cup for me is only about 20 calories since the plain creamer is all I use.

Maybe you could eat less often, and do bigger meals? maybe a bigger lunch, including a protein, your starch, and vegetables, a snack following that (probably close to your gym time) then a good sized dinner?

If you throw in some avocado or other calorie-dense items, you could find that you're able to eat smaller amounts of food while still adding more calories.

Original Post by arity:

Thanks for all the advice all..

Oh..and to the person that said I did before (eat this many calories). Yes, I absolutely did.  Eating all the wrong kinds of food and whatever I wanted.  I'm trying to eat healthier foods, instead of the crap I was.  It's very easy  to eat the same quantity of food and by substituting the quality of it (ie. burger instead of chicken breast) triple your calories.  VERY easy.  It's an adjustment ..and the foods I am trying to eat now are much lower in calories..therefore I seem to have to eat much more ..

Low calorie doesn't equal healthy. High calorie doesn't mean unhealthy. I realise you are probably here to lose weight, but remember that including healthy fats in your diet helps to increase your sense of satiety, and keep you fuller for longer.

Original Post by merylwhite1:

Original Post by arity:

Thanks for all the advice all..

Oh..and to the person that said I did before (eat this many calories). Yes, I absolutely did.  Eating all the wrong kinds of food and whatever I wanted.  I'm trying to eat healthier foods, instead of the crap I was.  It's very easy  to eat the same quantity of food and by substituting the quality of it (ie. burger instead of chicken breast) triple your calories.  VERY easy.  It's an adjustment ..and the foods I am trying to eat now are much lower in calories..therefore I seem to have to eat much more ..

Low calorie doesn't equal healthy. High calorie doesn't mean unhealthy. I realise you are probably here to lose weight, but remember that including healthy fats in your diet helps to increase your sense of satiety, and keep you fuller for longer.

i completely agree, it's about individuals NOT WANTING TO EAT MORE!! at 4'11 and newly recovered from an ED, i find that 2000 calories a day is so so so easy to get to. granted sometimes i feel bloated but it's really not that hard for it to add up and i would say that i eat damned healthy. so, for weight loss, you are consuming less calories over all which can compensate for the increased amount of "healthy food" you would have to eat to get to the same number of calories someone was getting prior to trying to lose so that's B.S. because it's not equal in terms of calories or energy density. 

eating 2 tbsp of pumpkin butter, or 2 tbsp cream cheese on a slice of whole grain toast, topped with a sliced banana or apple and drizzled with organic honey is by no means unhealthy and it's a good 400 calorie snack. so there is NO EXCUSE. pair that with a cup of milk or yogurt and you're at 500 calories. 

take 2 slices whole grain bread, 1 oz cheese, 2 oz deli meat, and some veggies for a sandwich, easily 400 calories. pair that with a couple tbsp oil based dressing and a side salad or grilled veggies, very nice meal for another 600 calories total.

have 1/2 cup granola for 200 calories with 1/2 cup low fat milk for 70 calories [2%] and a fruit for 75 calories and you've got another 350 calories almost

for dinner have 1 serving pasta [2 oz dry] for 200 calories, 1/2 cup pasta sauce for 70 calories, 3 oz chicken/beef/or other meat for about 150 calories, and some grilled veggies for about 50 calories and you've got 470 calories

have a small serving of low fat ice cream for dessert for 150 calories 

total= 2070....oh my gosh, it can't be!! nope, it is and it is balanced and well rounded, not too filling, and i know because my own meals look similar and i'm 4'11 and petite. so, it is possible. try to open your mind and not make excuses for undereating, this can be extremely unhealthy and you will really regret it later, i promise. it's not worth the decrease in metabolism to see instant results. trust me!! good luck and i hope you at least put forth an HONEST effort to eat more, for your own sake!!

Sigh.  Did you see where my original post asked for tips? 

Thanks to all who gave them, I will definitely take them into account. 

I'm new to this and not used to it, so I could have done without the sarcasm, I was looking for help and tips. not to be ridiculed, told Im BS'ing, or being dishonest.  I'm *trying* to be honest with this, that was why I posted looking for help and ideas on how to increase my calorie count.  I never would have thought of pumpkin butter etc on my own (to be honest never even heard of it).

I'm sorry I bothered anyone...Ill just go back to muddlng through on my own (taking into account the helpful tips I have received).

Original Post by arity:

Sigh.  Did you see where my original post asked for tips? 

Thanks to all who gave them, I will definitely take them into account. 

I'm new to this and not used to it, so I could have done without the sarcasm, I was looking for help and tips. not to be ridiculed, told Im BS'ing, or being dishonest.  I'm *trying* to be honest with this, that was why I posted looking for help and ideas on how to increase my calorie count.  I never would have thought of pumpkin butter etc on my own (to be honest never even heard of it).

I'm sorry I bothered anyone...Ill just go back to muddlng through on my own (taking into account the helpful tips I have received).

 

 

posts aren't meant to deter you..i provided a sample meal plan to show you it can be done, it's just when people make excuses that make it seem like they're asking questions in vain with no intention of taking the advice into account that it can be quite annoying. if that wasn't your goal then i apologize for the snippityness of my post...i do hope that it helped though!! sorry again and if you need tips or more ideas please let me know, i am here to help and support if that's what you HONESTLY want!! :)

If you can't stomach a 'real' breakfast (I know my stomach rebels at the mere concept of eggs in the morning), why not try a liquid breakfast?  A smoothie made from milk, ice and fresh fruit could give you a nice 200 cal breakfast that'll be easy on your stomach.  For added fibre/protein, you could blend in a couple of tablespoons of oats.  (It sounds weird, but it's actually good.)  Or, for a protein-only boost, add a scoop of protein powder.  Add a small handful of dried fruit and you're up to 300 cals for breakfast.  If even that sounds too much, even a glass of milk or glass of orange juice (the real stuff - not orange drink) would help.

I'm not sure what a "Smart One" is, but a nice sandwich on whole grain bread could easily be made to run almost 400 calories.  200 for the bread.  100 for the filling (turkey or ham or roast beef or cheese; for a vegetarian version, roasted red peppers and guacamole is my favourite new sandwich; hummus also makes a lovely vegetarian sandwich).  100 for veggies and some sort of spread to make it yummy (mustard would be the lowest cal option; guacamole or a tiny bit of mayo work too).  A salad can have its calories boosted by using some olive oil and vinegar for salad dressing.  Other calorie boosts to a salad include a little diced avocado or an ounce of grated cheese (or nuts, but we've already established that that's not an option for you).

Or, if you prefer lighter meals, then you'll need to increase the calories of your snacks.  Dip the cucumber in 2 tbsp. of hummus to add an extra 60 cals, for example.  It looks like you're avoiding grains.  Don't.  Whole grains are full of good nutrients and will help with the "I can't possibly eat another vegetable!" problem.

Original Post by arity:

Sigh.  Did you see where my original post asked for tips? 

Thanks to all who gave them, I will definitely take them into account. 

I'm new to this and not used to it, so I could have done without the sarcasm, I was looking for help and tips. not to be ridiculed, told Im BS'ing, or being dishonest.  I'm *trying* to be honest with this, that was why I posted looking for help and ideas on how to increase my calorie count.  I never would have thought of pumpkin butter etc on my own (to be honest never even heard of it).

I'm sorry I bothered anyone...Ill just go back to muddlng through on my own (taking into account the helpful tips I have received).

 

 

 Pay them no mind and focus instead on the people who are trying to help you. You don't have to do this alone. There are plenty of people here who are offended on your behalf by the rudeness.

I often find that there are days that I have trouble hitting my calorie goal, and my goal is much lower than 2000. What helps me is to plan out in the morning what I'm going to eat the whole day, then adjust as the day goes. And then, wherever I am, I keep myself surrounded by healthy food because if I see it, I'll probably eat it.

Actually, what you wrote in your post is similar to how my day looks before dinner. I also have a banana and a hard boiled egg for breakfast usually. But I make my own lunch (usually comes to 500) instead of your Smart Ones, and I would add something more substantive to the cucumbers like greek yogurt or cottage cheese. And maybe add another snack. You could probably add some drinks to your meal plan that will boost your calories too.