Can't reach maintenance calorie goal

Katieaholloway

So, to cut a long story short, i changed my whole diet about a year ago and took up jogging, over the last year i have lost around 2 stone in a controlled way. The problem i have now is that i am under my bmi and have lost practically all of my muscle and curves and im not very slim, i want to gain muscle and tone up, therefore i have stopped running so often and started weights at the gym (squats etc) im also trying to eat a lot more protein within my diet rather than just fruit and veggies.

My maintenance goal is 1600 calories, i seriously can't seem to reach it and feel as though i have eaten WAY too much when i come anywhere close

Example of what i have eaten today:

Shredded wheat with greek yhogurt and fruit (250 cal)

Ham sandwich (3 slices of bread) on wholemeal with salad and a pear (350 cal)

Pumpin seed snack 9 bar (200cal)

Plum (25cal)

Chicken with onion and tomato sauce with brocolli and beans (300cal)

(this may seem nothing to some people but is a vast amount on what i ate before and i feel like its loads) Im really wanting to gain muscle and worry eating more and more will either make my weight balloon. I do actually feel starving sometimes but don't know whether its just boredom because i eat so much more than any of the people i live with i don't know what is a massive or normal amount because i had taught my body to eat breakfast lunch and dinner that was heavily based on oats, fruits and vegetables/pulses with the odd treat and alcohol once or twice a week.

Any advice on what i can do to add more to my diet or should i just not look at the calorie content and carry on ?!

Seesawboomerang

Do you have a nut allergy? Because if not, that's a really easy way to add a ton of calories.

Katieaholloway

i used to hate nuts but i've started eating almonds everyday!

Either have a portion of almond butter or about 10 almonds

annette_15

You can always just make a protein shake with nut butter or something if u struggle to reach your calories. Easy on the stomach and gets u closer to ur protein goals!

Sarauk2sf

i used to hate nuts but i've started eating almonds everyday!

Either have a portion of almond butter or about 10 almonds

Eat more than 10 nuts and drink some full fat milk. Add oils/butter to your meals. Full fat dressing to your salad. Throw an avocado in your sammich.

FattyFatsoMcTubby

You can always just make a protein shake with nut butter or something if u struggle to reach your calories. Easy on the stomach and gets u closer to ur protein goals!

Annette_15? As in incredible poker player Annette Obrestad? Well done on the weight loss. And the protein shake is what I do as well.

TigerBite

Since when is a plum, (unless it's one of those tiny Italian pruning plums) only 25 calories ... and what wholemeal/grain bread are you having that your total lunch including 3 slices of it came out to 350? Most bread is 100-120 calories per slice ... make sure you log accurately ... Then add more (though, nuts and avocados would be a nice addition, get some healthy essential fats into your diet) ...


ETA: These are either really teeny tiny portions and miniature fruits or like I said you aren't logging accurately ... are you actually weighing this stuff, I don't want you to come back here and say "but they told me to eat more ... MFP doesn't work, I gained weight eating at maintenance" etc.