Struggling to eat enough

tamo83

I'm having such a hard time eating 1200 calories a day. I'm only finishing my days at 7-800 calories. I feel great, satisfied. I just want to make sure I'm not hurting myself. I'm eating wheat and sugar free. Also I'm breastfeeding (supply is great). Breakfast is usually eggs hard boiled or scrambled spinach tomatoes or oatmeal with milk an a banana. Lunch is chicken and salad. Snacks is fruit. Dinner is meat veg and rice. I drink water and green tea. What could I do to help this along?

iwillthinkof

Include some nuts if you like them. High in calories and nutritious.

tiptoethruthetulips

Okay, that is definitely not enough and moreso because you are breastfeeding. You need to be meeting the recommending minimum serves for the various food groups: proteins, fats, dairy, carbs, fruit and veg and on that amount of calories you wouldn't be.

You can boost calories by using high calorie foods such as nuts, seeds, avocados, cheese, butter, non-diet products, olive oil, etc.

If you are not weighing or measuring your food it may be that you are eating more than you think.

Faye_Anderson

800 calories is definitely not enough for a breastfeeding mother. You need more than double that. Are you sure you are surviving off that amount? Do you weigh and log absolutely everything you eat and drink? if that's true you definitely need to eat more

4legsRbetterthan2

include more calorie dense foods in your day (nuts, peanut butter, avacado, eat full fat dairy, when you cook use some oil, eat some bacon with breakfast)

I may be wrong, but I am a little suspicious you are eating more than you think and may need to check on your logging. I say this because I have a hard time thinking you would have great supply if you are really eating that low. Like I said, I could be wrong too.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1234699/logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide/p1

brianpperkins

If you are accurately tracking your intake, you are eating far too little. The best case would be if you're logging is woefully inaccurate and you somehow come close to the nutritional minimums for a woman.

Azurite27

Are you sure you're only eating 700-800 calories? Are you weighing/measuring your meat and rice before or after cooking? (Before is more accurate, weighing is more accurate than measuring)

If you're sure of your accuracy, try adding nuts and/or full fat dairy, cook with olive oil. Maybe always have a glass of whole milk with breakfast. That would be an extra 150 calories right there if you use a full cup.

Rampant328

Everyone is accurate here. 500 calories is considered to be hypocaloric and you're extremely close to that. Besides the nutritional value of your milk, or lack thereof, when you are eating less than 70% of your recommended caloric intake, your body goes into starvation mode. The liver cascades chemicals into your blood stream that makes your body hang onto it's fat supply (it's easier for it to store fat as it take fewer calories than it does to build and maintain muscle) and will start to metabolize muscle tissue for energy. In the short term this can leave you tired and weak and in the long term worse.

healthygreek

If you are really weighing all your solids an measuring all your caloric liquids and are coming up with 700-800 calories a day, without question, add at least 900 calories more!!!!
What you are doing is dangerous for both you and your infant!!!!

Need2Exerc1se

How much fat are you eating? Do you put dressing on the salad, cook with butter or oil? Ever add nuts or avocado?

tamo83

Thank you for the responses. No I don't weigh everything so it's probably true that I'm eating more than I think. I measure what i eat. I don't cook with oils, or use dressings. I will definitely be making some changes with all of your helpful tips. I've only started this since march 23rd and beforehand I would only eat dinner maybe a snack mid-day so I feel like I'm doing much better. Just trying to get the hang of things. But my 4 month old nursling is doing great and she is definitely getting plenty of milk.

Need2Exerc1se

What a beautiful child.

Don't go too low on fat. Fat is an essential nutrient for proper body function and absorption of fat soluble vitamins.

tamo83

Thank you!

Okay, thanks so much for your help. I appreciate it very much!!

NekoneMeowMixx

You probably don't feel that hungry because your body is practically putting itself in starvation mode. I went from 1200 calories to 1400 and I felt SO much better. Now I'm bumping it up to 1,700 which is right around maintenance for me. I'm weight lifting and looking to drop body fat. If I were breastfeeding, I would be eating at *LEAST* at maintenance, which is what your body needs just to get through your daily activities. Definitely take care that you're measuring your calories accurately, and try to eat more nutrient/calorie dense foods... Best of luck!

DawnieB1977

I don't see how all the food you describe can only be 800 calories. I hope it's not! The meals you describe should add up to at least 1200. Porridge, milk, banana is around 300. Ditto chicken and salad. A couple of pieces of fruit is 150-200, and meat, rice and veg at least 350, depending on portion size. I suggest you make sure you're logging accurately.

If you want to add more, things like peanut butter, cheese, hummus, nuts etc are good.

Liftng4Lis

I agree, you're probably eating more than you think. I would get a food scale.