Is Eating your Calories Hard?

lwyz_smln

Does anyone else find it difficult to eat all of your calories?

Not only am I set up through my personal trainer with 1550 caloric goal daily, but I also have specific goals:

Protein (78g), Carbs(233g), Total Fat(34g), Cholesterol(300mg), Sodium(2400mg), Fiber(18g), Sat. Fat(20g), & Calcium(1000mg)

Staying within my levels and still eating all of my calories is becoming a huge challenge for me. It probably doesn't help that I have an extremely sensitive stomach and taste buds which limit my choices (i.e. no spices, peppers, onion, garlic, condiments,etc).

I'm just curious if anyone else is having this problem and if so, how do you combat it?

audjrey

Oh for sure - I most definitely have difficulty eating 'exactly'. That's why I don't lol! I just do the best I can to be within the most acceptable ranges and often feel better when I'm lower than what's being asked of me, though I truly don't know why. Just a psychological game I play with myself I suppose.

mizzesjohnson

Yes... I find myself trying to cram in calories at the end of the day... which I know is probably not the best practice. Any suggestions?

spammyanna

I am having a very hard time eating all my calories. I have been just eating until I feel full, and leave it at that. Somedays, I am well under my calorie goal, but can't seem to make myself eat anything.

melsinct

Ha! I never have a problem hitting my calorie mark, which is probably why I need MFP to begin with Generally I fall in where I should regarding protein and carbs. Some days I may be over, some days under, but it balances out.

MisdemeanorM

unfortunately, no. I don't have this problem! :laugh: :laugh: I have opposite problems

It might help you to remember that fibre & protein are minimums so if you need additional calories, something like some tuna with lemon juice is an easy way to add in some cals w/out screwing up the "max" micronutrients like sodium, carbs, etc.

PS, don't feel like you have to meet your calorie goal EVERY day. I am sure there will be over days as well. It averages out - just don't consistently be under for too long (more than 3-4 days)

Missevanston

yeah, it is hard. But, I think that is part of the journey. Try new things. Try old things a new way. Find good ideas by looking at others' diaries. I have gotten lots of 'tips' that way. I say eat what you like, in moderation. If you feel like you have gone too far, work a little harder at the gym or do your video twice. Lots of people have a hard time with eating calories, especially when you are confined to so much per protein, fat, etc. Figure out what will work within the budget and try to do something different each day. I know that is easy to say. We all get in our ruts, and tend to gravitate to the same things each day. Once you find something that works, see if you can find something comparable for the next meal.

Best of luck!

BrandNewMia

I plan my food at least 1 day in advance. So when I sit down to do my menu for the next day, I can easily add or subtract food based on the numbers. I usually start with whatever I'm craving (like today I was craving some tuna, and guacamole, so I'll placed the tuna at lunch and the guac as a snack tomorrow) and then I plan my whole day around it. When I start there, I see what values are left and know that I need to get some healthy carbs, eat really low sodium the rest of the day, eat less fat, etc...

Also - can you eat fresh fruits and veggies? Fresh fruits are an excellent source of calories, 1 cup of grapes has over 100, so does a banana or a medium apple! They are so good for you, big in fiber, and add those calories you need Or things like avocados, raw nuts, cheeses, peanut butter - these are the things I eat when I need to add high calories to my diary, but you gotta watch the fat and sodium with those items.

Do the best you can, but don't stress! Eat a variety ever day, and you will get everything you need.

Jenn070608

I rarely eat all my calories and almost never eat the calories I burn off during exercise. I am losing weight steadily and feel full. It seems the more I exercise, the less I want to eat. As long I feel satisfied, I do not worry about it.

kayadahn

I am always way under, especially when I add in exercise. I know I'm not eating enough, but between stress and family and work, I just can't get any more food in. Once I started logging food and seeing how bad everything I was eating actually is, I started watching and logging everything, even the gum I chew to stave off hunger. I don't have an answer at all, but wanted to share that there are others in the same boat and I'll definitely be watching this thread to see if others have ideas.

Nigel99

Oh, yeah...on days that I burn a lot of calories with exercise, I will definitely have a tough time making them up by eating (but still staying under my goals like sodium/fat/carbs/cholesterol). I have been getting better at it, as I try to anticipate that I'll need to eat more during the day due to the usual amount of calories I burn with exercise if I'm exercising later in the day. On days that I work, it can be tougher, because I'm just not able to eat much outside of my lunch break.

Though I'm doing better with it now, I'm wondering what I'll be doing to maintain once I reach my goal. If I have to eat an additional 400-500 calories on a particular workout day now, what happens when I remove the MFP deficit and have to add another 500 on top of that? While still eating healthy, of course. Sure, I could eat a tub of ice cream and nachos and hit the goal, but that isn't exactly the plan.

lwyz_smln

Thanks everyone!!!

Picky_nikki

I struggle too to eat back my exercise calories. Especially if I have a harder workout! I am eating very healthy with a lot of legumes, and veggies that keep my full without putting my calories over the top. I am usually just under my 1200 calories for the day every day... and do not at this point find I am any hungrier with the exercise. That being said... when I trained for a half marathon a couple of years a go, I found I ate WAY more... I just am not doing that kind of distance/exertion now! Plus I feel MFP overestimates burns all the time!!

NitaCB

Yip I'm with you on that one..I'm starting to train for a full marathon and now that I'm amping up my running I really struggle to reach my calorie goals because I feel like I'm eating enough (even though I may be hungry). Yes I do get terribly hungry but especially if I do a big run in the morning I feel like I'm playing catch-up for the rest of the day and I don't usually win. I'm usually 200-300 under my goal and now that I'm really trying to reach it I find I've even put on a bit. As you say, sure I could bump it up with brownies or something naughty but it kinda defeats the purpose doesn't it?!