Having Trouble Eating My Goal Calories

zta1989

I've been at this for a week and am finding myself eating more food in a day than I did before I started. I've deduced that a lot of my weight gain may have been from being in starvation mode for several years because I wasn't eating things that were bad for me. I used to skip meals or just eat a granola bar to stave off hunger. I consumed way more carbs that I should have.

My dilemma is that I'm getting close to my calorie goal for the day, but the exercise calories raise that goal so that my body has enough fuel for what I'm doing to it. However, I am eating a lot of what I've heard called "volume foods" and I am really satisfied and don't want to eat any more. I feel that if I force it - even a Greek yogurt or some peanut butter, I'll just feel miserably full. I don't want to make a habit of eating things that are high-calorie for the sake of getting those calories in since I'm supposed to be making permanent changes to my habits, but I don't want to set myself up for failure.

Anyone else having this same issue?

MissieB76

I am having the same issue. I realized in the past I must not have been eating near as much and this whole exercise goal thing has me stumped...I have to struggle to get all my calories in. So, I've been cutting my meals way down to a portion that i feel satisfied and eat several small meals through out the day, granted they are "safe" calories

Charice

I had the exact same issue when I started out. I just wasn't hungry, I had eaten good things and I just didn't want more. I too was afraid that if I ate high calorie food it would defeat the purpose. For me, it was a short term problem. I did start eating a few things that added calories, but in a healthy way. I started adding an avocado to a salad, a handful of nuts as a snack, a glass of milk with dinner. It didn't take long before I was eating the right number of calories and my body adjusted and I started getting my appetite back. Now I stay within calories, but I don't have any problem finding good things to fill up on and eat what I need to. I hope that helps...just remember, you have to fuel your body so it will lose the weight.

Good Luck!!

zta1989

Are you guys eating your exercise calories, too? If so, do you eat them all or just some of them?

skinnyjeanzbound

Don't eat junk just to meet your calorie goal, but do try to come close with good, healthy foods. Don't sweat it if you don't eat them all back every day, but try to at least get in 1200 net calories (or thereabouts). I know some people also use those extra calories to splurge on a glass of wine or a beer, or some other treat that they couldn't otherwise afford to eat. i find doing that occasionally works for me b/c I don't feel deprived or like I'm on a "diet." Like you said this is a lifestyle change so I just try to plan wisely when I know I will want a drink w/ friends or a starbucks frap.

NoAdditives

I had that problem when I first started. I had to eat 2-3 times what I was used to and it was difficult. I just tried to add a little more food to each meal and I started eating snacks. I added a little more each day and after a week I was meeting my goal.

Some people like to add healthy calorie dense foods to help make up the difference, but I never did that. Once my body was used to getting the nutrition it needed there was no way I could be satisfied with less volume. But, if you're the opposite you should consider adding nuts, avocado, peanut butter and other sources of good fats to your meals.

Charice

Are you guys eating your exercise calories, too? If so, do you eat them all or just some of them?

For me it depends on the day. I try to eat some of them back, but I usually don't eat them all...adding 400-800 more calories is a little much for me. At the suggestion of my dietitian I raised my net goal to 1600 cals and I try to eat at least that much without figuring in the exercise cals...so I am often under 1600 net, although I am very careful to not go under 1200 net. Other days I might need a little extra and then I will eat my exercise cals...it all depends on how hungry I am and how I feel. Probably doesn't help you much but that is how I do it.