Can't seem to keep calories low

Shazr2

I'm set to 1350 cals a day and by time it comes to after my lunch I've only got about 500 left to do me for rest of the day, not anywhere near enough for dinner and something before bed. I eat loads of fruit and calories in that just mount up and up...

SwissHausfrau

do you have friends with open diaries so you can get some daily food plan ideas ?? try just eating the fruit as a snack when you are hungry.....

afatpersonwholikesfood

How much do you have to lose? At 1,350 calories, how much do you have it set to lose per week? If it's at 2 pounds, go with 1 pound. You'll be happier. Plus, you can exercise to earn more. Plan your days ahead of time. Just go ahead and subtract the calories that you feel you need to be satisfied with the evening, and figure out meals that will fit into the calories that are left. Produce adds bulk without tons of calories. Obviously, veggies are going to be a bit less than fruits, but things like apples and berries are pretty good for the calories.

abitofbliss

What are you planning for dinner/snacks? I could definitely handle a 500 cal dinner/snack. Maybe adjust your menu?

JenHuedy

If fruit is your biggest issue, try substituting some of your higher calorie fruits with lower calorie ones. Berries tend to be lower calorie and they are easy to portion - no cutting required! Or switch out oranges for something smaller like tangerines or mandarines. Try smaller sized fruits like plums or kiwi if you still want whole fruits in smaller portions. Skip those huge apples and oranges they sell by the pound and look for the 3 pound bags of fruit - they are generally smaller. Or cut up your fruit and make a big fruit salad that you can portion out to a calorie amount that is more reasonable.

Also try swapping at least one serving of fruit for veg like cucumbers, carrots or celery. The crunch can be very satisfying.

Shazr2

afatpersonwholikesfood wrote: »

How much do you have to lose? At 1,350 calories, how much do you have it set to lose per week? If it's at 2 pounds, go with 1 pound. You'll be happier. Plus, you can exercise to earn more. Plan your days ahead of time. Just go ahead and subtract the calories that you feel you need to be satisfied with the evening, and figure out meals that will fit into the calories that are left. Produce adds bulk without tons of calories. Obviously, veggies are going to be a bit less than fruits, but things like apples and berries are pretty good for the calories.

I've got about 12lb to lose. I'm set at 0.5lb per week. Great idea about subtracting what I need for evening dinner/snacks.

Shazr2

JenHuedy wrote: »

If fruit is your biggest issue, try substituting some of your higher calorie fruits with lower calorie ones. Berries tend to be lower calorie and they are easy to portion - no cutting required! Or switch out oranges for something smaller like tangerines or mandarines. Try smaller sized fruits like plums or kiwi if you still want whole fruits in smaller portions. Skip those huge apples and oranges they sell by the pound and look for the 3 pound bags of fruit - they are generally smaller. Or cut up your fruit and make a big fruit salad that you can portion out to a calorie amount that is more reasonable.

Also try swapping at least one serving of fruit for veg like cucumbers, carrots or celery. The crunch can be very satisfying.

Great ideas thanks

Sued0nim

That's low

Try something like

250 cal breakfast
100g egg white
28g spinach
40g mushroom
25g honey roast ham
1 slice farmhouse toast
Black coffee

Midday snack: 1 pot 0% Greek yogurt (170g) - 100 cal

Lunch - 350 cal
100g basmati rice
500g vegetable stew
10g mature shredded cheddar cheese
Diet soda

Or mixed salad leaves
Chicken cacciatore (2 thighs) with extra veg

That's 700 cals, decent protein so should be satiating ...leaving you 650 for dinner and evening snacks

(Or try moving more to earn more calories)

NB exchange any of the above foods for foods you love that you have adjusted calories to suit
NNB batch cook at weekends
NNNB (yeah I know you can't do that) I eat lots of higher calorie meals, portioned carefully, over a bag of mixed salad leaves, my favourite is watercress, spinach and arugula .. Eg slow cooked pork and chorizo and bean, chicken and new potatoes in creamy sauce ...around 300-350g wouldn't fill me on its own..but in a huge plate of salad leaves is very filling

Shazr2

abitofbliss wrote: »

What are you planning for dinner/snacks? I could definitely handle a 500 cal dinner/snack. Maybe adjust your menu?

Yeah will definitely need to adjust what I'm eating

Sued0nim

Shazr2 wrote: »

abitofbliss wrote: »

What are you planning for dinner/snacks? I could definitely handle a 500 cal dinner/snack. Maybe adjust your menu?

Yeah will definitely need to adjust what I'm eating

*Light dawns*

Shazr2

Sued0nim wrote: »

That's low

Try something like

250 cal breakfast
100g egg white
28g spinach
40g mushroom
25g honey roast ham
1 slice farmhouse toast
Black coffee

Midday snack: 1 pot 0% Greek yogurt (170g) - 100 cal

Lunch - 350 cal
100g basmati rice
500g vegetable stew
10g mature shredded cheddar cheese
Diet soda

Or mixed salad leaves
Chicken cacciatore (2 thighs) with extra veg

That's 700 cals, decent protein so should be satiating ...leaving you 650 for dinner and evening snacks

(Or try moving more to earn more calories)

NB exchange any of the above foods for foods you love that you have adjusted calories to suit
NNB batch cook at weekends
NNNB (yeah I know you can't do that) I eat lots of higher calorie meals, portioned carefully, over a bag of mixed salad leaves, my favourite is watercress, spinach and arugula .. Eg slow cooked pork and chorizo and bean, chicken and new potatoes in creamy sauce ...around 300-350g wouldn't fill me on its own..but in a huge plate of salad leaves is very filling

Thank you very much, loads to think about now

KassiesJourney

Eat more veggies!

kendahlj

Start an exercise program. It will give you additional calories and you'll feel great.

Sued0nim

^^^ batch cooked veg stew (Mediterranean style) on Tuesday ..500g is huge amount and about 190 cals hence rice and cheese

ponycyndi

Exercise gives me a little more wiggle room in my calorie goals, and the endorphins actually make me less hungry. Even a light walk or yoga can make an extra 100 cals.

Shazr2

I do loads of walking so get some calories back with doing that. I really need to just rethink everything I'm eating and plan it all better

dfranch

I plan my meals around Dinner. The catch, I need to plan what is for dinner the next day. If I know Dinner is 800 cals, that dictates how much I can eat the rest of the day. If there is something left over ... dessert.

RebeccaNaegle

i eat around 1200 a day. I plan my day first thing in the morning or even a day or two before. I not only count calories but I eat a certain number of proteins carbs and fats. sometimes I skip breakfast (other than coffee) so I can have bigger snacks/meals throughout the day. I usually have breakfast/ lunch/ afternoon snack/ dinner/ evening snack. Feel free to add me for ideas etc.

rhiannongrindley

I'm on 1340 calories a day - welcome to add me and I can let you know some of the meals I've had to keep me under my target.

kgirlhart

I am transitioning to maintenance and I just added 100 calories to my day so my goal is now 1430, but before I was at 1330 and I usually would spend about 350 for breakfast and 350 for lunch and that would leave me about 630 for dinner/after dinner snack. I usually get about 200-400 adjustment from my fitbit so that adds to my evening allotment of calories. I think it is just a matter of adjusting your meals so that you can eat your calories when you want. I like to save a majority of my calories for evening.

Ready2Rock206

No advice because I am lucky if I have any calories left for dinner! I am at 1380 and it is such a struggle. I just need to get over the desire to not be hungry.

Sued0nim

Why are you all on such low calories?

Height? Current weight? Activity?

kgirlhart

@Sued0nim I'm set to lose .5 per week. I am 138 pounds, 5' 4.75" and 48 years old. I have a sedentary job. My maintenance according to mfp is 1580 so a 250 deficit gives me 1330. I am trying to transition to maintenance so this week I added 100 calories to my goal. I do eat back most of my fitbit adjustment so I usually eat around 1600 per day and I'm still losing slowly. I'm 3 pounds from goal so I am starting to add in more calories. I hope to end up with a maintenance around 1800-2000. I don't think it is necessary for most people to go down to the minimum calorie limit, but some people need to.

Sued0nim

kgirlhart wrote: »

@Sued0nim I'm set to lose .5 per week. I am 138 pounds, 5' 4.75" and 48 years old. I have a sedentary job. My maintenance according to mfp is 1580 so a 250 deficit gives me 1330. I am trying to transition to maintenance so this week I added 100 calories to my goal. I do eat back most of my fitbit adjustment so I usually eat around 1600 per day and I'm still losing slowly. I'm 3 pounds from goal so I am starting to add in more calories. I hope to end up with a maintenance around 1800-2000. I don't think it is necessary for most people to go down to the minimum calorie limit, but some people need to.

1600 is a decent calorie amount for weight loss IMHO

charestcr

I am at about the same calorie allotment and I really enjoy eating, so I work my butt off in my workouts and eat back most, if not all of my exercise calories. So far, that is working for me. Also, I tend to eat a lot of the same things- especially during the week- so it is easier to know how many calories each meal and snack usually takes and plan around that. So I would recommend finding 1-3 go-to breakfasts, lunches and snacks that are the calories that will allow you to have what you want for supper.

ouryve

I'm on 1370 calories per day. I take about 350 of those for breakfast, which is the only time I really eat fruit which gives me 1000 between lunch and dinner. I find that plenty for two meals without even try to go low fat. I walk a fair bit, too, so often get another 200 to play with if I want wine it.

Zipp237

Take a look at that 700 or more calories you're eating before lunch and figure out what you can cut.

Eat lower calorie foods. Try more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, that kind of thing. Stay full, stay healthy, lose weight and eat a LOT of food.

mom22dogs

I am at about the same calorie goal, and I don't eat fruit because it uses too many calories for the amount of food I get. I fill up on protein and vegetables. Maybe cut back to one or 2 small pieces of fruit a day.

Psychgrrl

I'm set to 1350, but generally eat back a decent amount of my exercise calories (300-800 a day). My diary's open to friends--send me a request if you want and you can go poking around.

CoachJen71

If I didn't walk like crazy I would be eating about 1400 cals/day. I eat about 1000-1400 cals during the day as frequent tiny meals and snacks, and whatever I earn from exercise I use for evening snacks and my weekend bank. You can look at my diary if you like.

Lounmoun

Are you hungry earlier in the day or later in the day? Eat a smaller dinner or change and eat a smaller breakfast or lunch.
I get hungrier later in the day. I prelog my day and eat more in the evening. 500 calories for the evening isn't terrible though. Eat more vegetables in the evening.

Stuff I eat:
Breakfast- Greek yogurt, granola bars, cereal with milk, sandwich, dinner leftovers, fruit, cottage cheese (about 200-300 calories)
Lunch- sandwich, salad, or dinner leftovers (about 300-500 calories)
Dinner- something different every night of the month. (about 500-600 calories) I have soup once a week usually.
Snacks- things like fruit, chips, popcorn, pretzels, chocolate, cookies, granola bar, carrots, celery, broccoli, trail mix, deviled eggs, pickles, cottage cheese (about 100-300 calories)