Is it normal to have a hard time consuming enough calories

Jerrinladner

I’ve been using this app for a few months now and consuming 2700 calories a day. I’m gaining clean mass pretty well. My question is does anyone have a hard time meeting their daily intake requirements? I feel stuffed all the time. I weigh and measure everything I eat so I’m not over doing it but I often I feel miserable. Does this pass will I ever get used to it or is this my life now ?

sardelsa

It can be hard at first, did you just jump up to that calorie amount? It can help to increase your calories gradually, 150-200 per week or every few days to get adjusted to the new intake. Also, playing around with your macro ratios and food types can help. So not overdoing the protein, increase calorie dense foods like fats, decrease higher fibre and high volume foods so you don't feel as stuffed. And once you hit your macros some ice cream or other treats at the end of the day can help you get there.

Tic78

As well as the excellent advice above you can also drink calories by blending yourself a shake

cqbkaju

I was on a lot of experimental asthma meds as a kid and it messed up my hunger signals.
Combine that with the fact that we were too poor to afford food some weeks and you can imagine what sort of havok it caused.
To this day I get stomach cramps that take me a bit to realize "I'm hungry."

After years of trying to sort out a sleep disorder (due to the same meds) the doc put me on something to at least help me sleep a bit "deeper." I will not take any sort of narcotics or addictive stuff.
Had the side-effect of increasing my appetite a bit, I think.

Hang in there. Add a little at a time & drink your calories - even if they aren't "clean" eating.
Getting enough calories is more important than getting your macros perfect, most of the time.
Presuming you get sufficient protein.

That is my take on it anyway.

Myfitnessgoal27

I have a bit of a hard time as well. Any suggestions on specific foods that help get you the most calories?

Jerrinladner

Sardelsa no I did not just just jump into it. I gradually ramped up. The problem is I’m trying to eat to clean all the time. I never eat out nor do I eat fast food. Which I believe would help at this point. My macros average

Carbs 375-400
Protein 189-200
Fats 45-65

Calories range from 2600-3000

quiksylver296

Jerrinladner wrote: »

Sardelsa no I did not just just jump into it. I gradually ramped up. The problem is I’m trying to eat to clean all the time. I never eat out nor do I eat fast food. Which I believe would help at this point. My macros average

Carbs 375-400
Protein 189-200
Fats 45-65

Calories range from 2600-3000

There's your problem.

Have some ice cream.

deannalfisher

What do you define as eating clean?

I mean I avg 2400-2800 cal a day but I could care less if the food is clean or not - since you ask 10ppl what they mean by that and you’ll get 10 different answers

Jerrinladner

I’m new on here how do you reply to one person

Tic78

Jerrinladner wrote: »

I’m new on here how do you reply to one person

Press quote 👍

jdog022

As someone said, Have some ice cream
As long as your getting sufficient micros and hitting your macro mins there is no reason to not hit up some donuts, ice cream, cookies. The surplus amount drives fat gain and not so much what your eating. The "bulk" is the time to enjoy these things. They're much harder to fit in on an eventual cut. Enjoy it now

Jerrinladner

Making an ice cream and syntha 6 shake as we speak

P.S. I tried to tap quote to respond and it’s not working thanks for the response

MichaelK1007

During my bulk I had similar issues of getting enough calories in. At one point I needed 3500+ so I would set my alarm and eat at 4:00am. As I increased calories slowly I would add an additional meal so that I was eating 7x a day starting around 4:00am. Ended the day with a caesin protein shake. Meals can get a little boring with such a high calorie requirement while limiting fats to sub 60g, or at least it was for me. Lots of chicken and brown rice for me.

Jerrinladner

mkgoodson1007 wrote: »

During my bulk I had similar issues of getting enough calories in. At one point I needed 3500+ so I would set my alarm and eat at 4:00am. As I increased calories slowly I would add an additional meal so that I was eating 7x a day starting around 4:00am. Ended the day with a caesin protein shake. Meals can get a little boring with such a high calorie requirement while limiting fats to sub 60g, or at least it was for me. Lots of chicken and brown rice for me.

That’s what I meant by eating clean in an early post. I hated to do it but I the last 2 days I’ve had home made ice cream shakes which have added around 1400 calories putting me around 3800 per day. But it’s a lot of fat which I’m trying to avoid. The meals are extremely boring like I hate food at least this has givin me something to look forward to. Again just worried about putting on excess fat.

MichaelK1007

For me it’s a slow and steady process. Every fall/winter I bulk and spring/summer cut. As this will be my 3rd time around I can see progress over the years. What made the biggest difference is my baseline improved every year going into the bulk and going into the cut. Progress for me is slow and my net gains may only be 2lbs and a slight reduction in BF but it’s still progress. I am afraid I haven’t found a way to eat great tasting food while gaining muscle and losing BF. I am always open to suggestions, lol.

wheatbaby84

All of this info is good for me! Thanks all!

jdog022

Jerrinladner wrote: »

mkgoodson1007 wrote: »

During my bulk I had similar issues of getting enough calories in. At one point I needed 3500+ so I would set my alarm and eat at 4:00am. As I increased calories slowly I would add an additional meal so that I was eating 7x a day starting around 4:00am. Ended the day with a caesin protein shake. Meals can get a little boring with such a high calorie requirement while limiting fats to sub 60g, or at least it was for me. Lots of chicken and brown rice for me.

That’s what I meant by eating clean in an early post. I hated to do it but I the last 2 days I’ve had home made ice cream shakes which have added around 1400 calories putting me around 3800 per day. But it’s a lot of fat which I’m trying to avoid. The meals are extremely boring like I hate food at least this has givin me something to look forward to. Again just worried about putting on excess fat.

If you keep your surplus in check and your training is appropriate you will not put on excess fat just because you turned to some “dirty” foods to fill in the rest of your calories I’ve done two bulks and I was a former overweight person so I totally get the nervousness but both bulks I enjoyed some good food and didn’t put on excessive fat.

And before the eat clean all the time zealots come in I’m not saying eat 3000 calories a day in twinkies. I like the 80/20 rule personally.

Sexy_Bri

For me, yes. Sometimes eating feels like a job. But intaking high calorie liquid Ms help because I get the Cala and still have room to feel hungry or at least not stuffed enough to fit more food in me

Keto_Vampire

Yes, occasionally will not feel like eating much (excessive dizziness, nausea, ****-ing headaches/migraines, heat, exhaustion, etc.) food volume-wise; will generally just go with "liquid-y" foods, high fat foods, and throw in some protein bars or whey just to hit protein goal.

Other days when having a ravenous/healthy appetite, it's back to high volume, low density foods (lean chicken, zero fat greek yogurt, green vegetables, etc.)