Need to eat more but not hungry?

iheartmy1dog · July 2013

This probably sounds like a stupid question but how do I get more calories in when I'm not hungry? Sometimes I've tried eating more when I'm full but I just feel sick then... But with my exercise, the app has me at about a 2000cal deficit everyday... Please give me some tips!

lewandt · July 2013

huh? How are you at a 2000 deficit? How many calories a day do you eat and how many calories do you burn from exercise?

ladynocturne · July 2013

That's quite a lot of exercise to give you such a high deficit on top, are you 100% sure MFP isn't exaggerating the caloric burn?

If you are sure about the caloric burn, it's very important to eat your calories so that you aren't in a huge deficit every day. This can cause a lot of lean muscle mass to be lost, which I'm sure isn't what you want the scale to reflect.

Plan earlier in the day to get your calories in, start with breakfast, don't wait until after you exercise. Add an extra slice of cheese to something, cook with more olive oil, eat some nut butter.

Try drinking your calories, you won't feel as full. Protein drinks with fruits like bananas, yogurt, full fat milk ect. Fresh juices instead of just water.

iheartmy1dog · July 2013

Normally I was getting about 1200cal a day... I do 90mins on the elliptical everyday(sometimes I change it up w/ 90mins of running), and then I usually do kayaking or SUP for 2hrs. I exercise everyday.. No days off. Maybe mfp is exaggerating about how many cal I need?

VioletNightshade · July 2013

That's me today... I've only had 940 Calories and I worked today, which means a good 4+ hours of walking on a slow day, far more on a busy day.

I need about 350 more calories at the least (I stopped telling my calorie counter about work because it adds anywhere between 600-800 calories to my day, so I'm simply neglecting to tell it), and I'm just simply not hungry. If I can't manage to muster an appetite in the next hour, I'll have a protein shake, a few crackers and a piece of cheese before bed, which will place me squarely at 1290.

To answer your question more precisely: to get my extra calories in when I'm not hungry, I either drink my calories or eat something small, but relatively calorie dense just to catch up.

iheartmy1dog · July 2013

And I usually walk my dog for an hour a day but I don't enter that in as exercise. One of my probs is I get full really fast. I really really need to eat more.. I'm just not sure what to do

iheartmy1dog · July 2013

Just in the last two days I've started drinking a protein shake and eating a protein bar but w/ that I'm still -2000

seliinac · July 2013

Do you snack? If you get full fast, maybe eating a little bit throughout the day (i.e. "grazing") may help add up the calories.

bbbgamer · July 2013

don't eat if you are not hungry...

ladynocturne · July 2013

When you look for walking/running, there are a ton of different settings such as uphill, pace ect.

There are zero settings for logging elliptical, no resistance, no pace. So it's hard to say whether it's right, some times I absolutely kill it on the elliptical, some times I'm laggardly, but there aren't any settings in MFP for it.

Maybe try closer to 80% of calories burned for things like the elliptical trainer? And once again, try to drink your calories if you get full easy. A glass of juice with every meal can go a long way.

Also.. chocolate. XD

lewandt · July 2013

Shoot for higher calorie foods like nuts and if you really are not hungry i would not worry about it. See how it goes for a couple of weeks if you are losing and at what rate and change it up from there.

iheartmy1dog · July 2013

I usually stay full for a long time but I'll try adding more snacks in.

I don't want to cut back on exercise so I definitely need to find a way to eat more.

I can't just not eat when I'm not hungry, it's taking a toll on my health

iheartmy1dog · July 2013

Usually I just drink water so I'll try adding drinks with calories. If I drink other things, do I still need to drink 8cups of water a day? That's a lot of fluid! Lol

ladynocturne · July 2013

Nah, all liquid counts, even those in foods like fruits and veggies. As long as your pee is mostly clear or light yellow, you're hydrated enough.

I know I pee all the time, its kinda annoying.

iheartmy1dog · July 2013

I'll try adding things like nuts.

I'm calling my dr tomorrow too so maybe she can offer some tips. I think my calorie deficit has caused some hair loss, cold hands all the time, hypertension, and easy bruising

so I definitely need to eat more whether I'm hungry or not..

iheartmy1dog · July 2013

That's a relief! If it didn't count I think I'd never be able to leave the bathroom w/ all those liquids lol

ladynocturne · July 2013

Yeah sometimes when we get use to eating less, our hunger hormones don't always work as well. Hair loss is a symptom of not getting enough calories for sure. Cold could be from iron. Some of my friends who have been to the doctor for bruising were told it was from vitamin C deficiency. Fat can help regulate high blood pressure as well, so make sure you're eating enough good fats like nuts, beans, avocado and olive/grape seed/coconut oil.

This website is pretty awesome, you can search for any type of food high or low in any kind of vitamin.
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2626/2

lenkearney · July 2013

peanut or almond butter on bananas or crackers adds protein and fats and calories. I know this only too well!

little more butter on toast, switch to whole milk, opt for fattier meats (assuming you eat meat) - ribeyes or filets.

like desserts?

Gigsluvscw · July 2013

I mean no disrespect and I'm no expert, but maybe ask your doctor about your excessive exercise. And no rest days? You need to give your body a chance to rest and repair itself. Leisurely walking your dog is one thing, but everything you're adding to it on top of it? Everyday? If you don't exercise as much, you won't need as many extra calories.

iheartmy1dog · July 2013

Awesome suggestions! Thanks so much everyone, I'll try them all!

And I'll definitely check out that website too... I need all the help I can get! Lol

iheartmy1dog · July 2013

I know I obsess over my exercise... It's kinda taken over my life, but I just can't stop. I'm hoping to fix the problem w/ finding ways of eating more

Graelwyn75 · July 2013

I suggest you deal with the excessive exercise rather than the eating more, as it will take it's toll, regardless of whether you eat more. Overtraining can actually lead to issues with cortisol, the stress hormone, which in turn can cause issues with the body holding onto fat. You are doing yourself no favours.

Gigsluvscw · July 2013

Then you're just leading yourself into another unhealthy lifestyle. Please at least mention it to your doctor. He or she needs to know all the variables (and that's a big one) so they can help you.

Gigsluvscw · July 2013

^^THIS^^

iheartmy1dog · July 2013

The kayaking, SUP, and walking my dog I do for fun... The other 90mins on the elliptical is more of an obsession, but I'm slowly working on it... Couple days I only did 85-88mins.

Gigsluvscw · July 2013

Then stick to the fun stuff. And trying to justify the elliptical by shaving 2 minutes off (88 instead of 90) just intensifies that it's becoming a problem. Again... Mention it to your doctor.

CooperSprings · July 2013

Eat fast food, pizza, etc.
Seems like you burn it off enough.

herblackwings39 · July 2013

While being unsure of your normal daily eating here are a few suggestions that may or may not apply...

If you're using "diet" foods, low fat or non-fat, sugar-free and you don't have a medical reason for it try switching to normal things. Add full fat spreads to sandwiches or dressing to salads. Toss nuts and seeds into snacks. Have full fat cheeses. Eat higher calorie meals instead of filling up on low calorie veggies.

conniemaxwell5 · July 2013

If you open your diary people can take a look at what you're currently eating and give you some ideas. Without looking at it, I would suggest eating full fat dairy products, peanut butter, avocados, nuts, etc. Calorie dense foods with healthy fats.

chrisdavey · July 2013

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/why-big-caloric-deficits-and-lots-of-activity-can-hurt-fat-loss.html

iheartmy1dog · July 2013

Thanks so much!! I've been sticking to diet foods so much it just feels automatically programmed into me now, I'll have to make it a point to switch to some normal things.

I'm not sure what I did to you but I'm not a "troll". Not that I have to explain myself but I downloaded the mfp app a year ago(never decided to check out the forums until now tho) and have been using it pretty much every single day... Throughout the past yr I have lost 150lbs. I don't know how many "friends" is normal to have but I don't know anyone else who uses this app... One friend is my brother and the other is a random friend request I got yesterday. I never said I didn't know liquid from fruits were considered water(although I honestly didn't realize), I said I wasn't sure if other liquids besides water counted as fluids or did I still have to drink 8cups a day.

Thanks everyone for the help, I'll try all the helpful tips! And already woke up early and made my dr appt for later today so I'll see what she says too.

Need to eat more but not hungry?

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