struggling to reach my 1200 calories

floreo22

i have been eating healthily and don't feel hungry, but i'm not quite reaching my 1200 calories. i normally wind up eating about 1000 - 1100. i know this isn't productive for weight loss as my body might go into starvation and end up retaining weight, so i wondered if anyone had any advice. here are, i think, the main problems i encounter:

- i am trying to avoid snacking, as this has always been how my weight has climbed before, so i'm trying to break the habit altogether, rather than just switching to other snacks as i think this might just be a slippery slope
- i really struggle with eating breakfast, always have. i never like to eat before about 10/11am, and if i eat a big breakfast then (which would help push the calories up) i think i might put my meal times out for the whole day
- i am a vegetarian, so i don't get the high calories of meat etc and the other big calorie intake for me comes from carbs, but i don't want to be eating a ton of carbs every day either.

please help. i know this sounds ridiculous, coming from a chub-monster, but i feel like i can't get the calories and stay on track! madness.

rudegyal_b

its not hard to add calories, a couple tablespoons of hemp seeds have like 160cals and are good for you, add some oil to your stirfrys, etc

nickscutie

these posts make me angry. Just eat something extra or add 50 calories to every meal. you already know the answer.

Bonny272

I've heard a lot of great things about coconut oil. You could have a little natural peanut butter or almond butter with an apple or banana to get you up where you need to be.

Dclem1206

Snacking on fruit like apples and bananas thought the say is a great way to add calories without adding sodium or cholesterol.

queenpushycat

I have the same problem.. Except I don't have problems with breakfast... I usually eat more in the day than at night... :P

loved11

make sure you are eating!!!! make good choices. I had to add a protein drink or protein bar. breakfast is hard for me cause i work out in the am. I have a protein drink for breakfast now. check some of the nutrition message boards, theres good stuff on them.

hang in there

dedarlin

cutting out snacking all together is a bad idea for your metabolism's sake...ideally you should be eating every 3 hours and splitting your daily calories pretty evenly between 5 to 6 meals. you really should make sure to eat within an hour of waking (or an hour after working out if you work out in the morning) and if you are going to have a larger meal, it should be breakfast. this is a hard habbit to create for some, but will really boost your metabolism. protein shakes (low sugar and fat) are a good way to fill a couple of your 'meals' esp. breakfast if that is a hard one for you. good luck!

floreo22

thanks guys. i think i'm going to set a fruit alarm on my phone and give snacking a try. if i control it like that, maybe it wont slip? or maybe i'll make a fresh fruit smoothie and use that as a snack, without it feeling like i'm eating and then i can avoid my slipper snacking slope?

saraann752003

try looking into some protien powders that you can mix into your food? shakes are a good thing to look into too.. I have days where I forget to eat because I am so busy, so I can understand that some people just don't realize they need to eat. Break your food into smaller meals if you can. celery with PB and rasins can add a hundred calories or so depending on how many you eat... try plannin in advance and see if you can eat at least six 200 calorie mini-meals... if your body is not telling you to eat, than set up a schedule where you have an outside reminder that says... eat another 200 calories now..

JeSuisPrest

these posts make me angry. Just eat something extra or add 50 calories to every meal. you already know the answer.

I was just telling my husband the same thing. I so wish this was my problem!!! LOL

writtenINthestars

Have a handful of nuts like almonds to up your calories and get some healthy fats.

If I'm trying to just reach my calorie goal, this is what I do..especially if I'm not feeling hungry...but I know my body needs the calories.

michelledruss

Nuts and peanut butter, healthy fat like olive oil on your veggies. I like to increase my protein when I don't get to my maintenance level but if you are a vegetartian you can easily get there with some healthy fats. Fats do not cause the body to store fat, carbohydrates do, so I wouldn't add carbs to get your number up if you are trying to get your calories up. I like edamame with olive oil and Parmesan cheese tossed with some pine nuts. The only time I have trouble with :flowerforyou: meeting my calories is when I do huge calorie torching workouts and my calories go from 1200 to 1900 and then I am like oh my what am I going to eat to get up there and still stay healthy.

SergeantSunshine_reused

cutting out snacking all together is a bad idea for your metabolism's sake...ideally you should be eating every 3 hours and splitting your daily calories pretty evenly between 5 to 6 meals. you really should make sure to eat within an hour of waking (or an hour after working out if you work out in the morning) and if you are going to have a larger meal, it should be breakfast. this is a hard habbit to create for some, but will really boost your metabolism. protein shakes (low sugar and fat) are a good way to fill a couple of your 'meals' esp. breakfast if that is a hard one for you. good luck!

None of this is true (besides the protein shakes part)

Eating every 6 hours does NOT boost your metabolism. Eating breakfast also does NOT boost your metabolism. Breakfast does NOT have to be your largest meal.

Smh

Edit: But i do encourage others to do what works for them. If you love breakfast eat it! If you hate it then dont xD Love eating small meals? do it! Hehe :]

McKayMachina

Cheese. Peanut butter. Avocado. Dark Chocolate.

Beezil

I think one good reason to eat smaller meals more frequently is that it helps (me at least) keep your appetite under control. Other than that... no real reason you should have to eat breakfast. I enjoy it personally, but it definitely took some getting used to. I used to only eat one huge meal a day when I was big, and then snack almost all night.

chicnsweet83

I don't eat breakfast much either. But when I do, especially before working out. I'll just cook up two over easy eggs or have some oatmeal, which is full of fiber and makes you fuller longer. Maybe try a protein/energy bar between meals. I also have a hard time reaching the 1200 calories, sometimes I do, sometimes I don't, then sometimes I over eat. But on busy days where I'm working all day, I don't get time to snack or actually eat. So I end up binging late at night and get all those calories at once. haha...I know that's not good but I don't have any other option

I wish there was something really helpful I could add but good luck!

daydream58

I think this problem is very common when you're just starting out and learning the ropes. In a few weeks you'll already have a good handle on it. Don't worry too much. I know at first you are nervous and don't want to screw it up, but you will be fine. Keep reading, check out other diaries for ideas and post whenever you want. I would never be mad because a newbie felt uncertain about doing everything right! Hang in there!

darlilama

If you don't like "eating" breakfast, have you tried meal replacement shakes or something like that? They are easy to sip on, take with you, etc. I'm not sure if there are any that meet your protein source requirements, but many of them use whey if you're not opposed to that.

_Ben

Add in some more fruit. Apples, bananas, strawberries, are great sources of natural sugars, and very healthy and tasty

DesertSunsetRain

Add peanut butter with an apple or banana. Super quick and easy way to get an extra 180-200 calories.

Rewinds

cutting out snacking all together is a bad idea for your metabolism's sake...ideally you should be eating every 3 hours and splitting your daily calories pretty evenly between 5 to 6 meals. you really should make sure to eat within an hour of waking (or an hour after working out if you work out in the morning) and if you are going to have a larger meal, it should be breakfast. this is a hard habbit to create for some, but will really boost your metabolism. protein shakes (low sugar and fat) are a good way to fill a couple of your 'meals' esp. breakfast if that is a hard one for you. good luck!

None of this is true (besides the protein shakes part)

Eating every 6 hours does NOT boost your metabolism. Eating breakfast also does NOT boost your metabolism. Breakfast does NOT have to be your largest meal.

Smh

Edit: But i do encourage others to do what works for them. If you love breakfast eat it! If you hate it then dont xD Love eating small meals? do it! Hehe :]

It may not boost your metabolism but eating breakfast helps especially if you can make it high in protein. Eating a high protein breakfast quells hunger much longer than having no breakfast, a high carb or fat breakfast. It also means that you can have a good chunk of your calories intake (E.g usually about 350 - 400) with not much trouble. For some people with a busy lifestyle this will stop snacking and when lunch times comes around you might reach over for the lighter alternative because your body is still digesting the protein you had a breakfast and thus you won't have the same cravings. Its means you can push your sugar high's and lows back longer making it easier to exercise and power on ;3

kikkipoo

i have been eating healthily and don't feel hungry, but i'm not quite reaching my 1200 calories. i normally wind up eating about 1000 - 1100. i know this isn't productive for weight loss as my body might go into starvation and end up retaining weight, so i wondered if anyone had any advice. here are, i think, the main problems i encounter:

- i am trying to avoid snacking, as this has always been how my weight has climbed before, so i'm trying to break the habit altogether, rather than just switching to other snacks as i think this might just be a slippery slope
- i really struggle with eating breakfast, always have. i never like to eat before about 10/11am, and if i eat a big breakfast then (which would help push the calories up) i think i might put my meal times out for the whole day
- i am a vegetarian, so i don't get the high calories of meat etc and the other big calorie intake for me comes from carbs, but i don't want to be eating a ton of carbs every day either.

please help. i know this sounds ridiculous, coming from a chub-monster, but i feel like i can't get the calories and stay on track! madness.

Same issues here...I was ending my days somewhere in the 850 range the first 2 weeks. I knew I wanted to add a little more here and there but wanted them to be pure wholesome calories, not a tblspn of seeds which would have made my fat percentage probably double at that low of a daily caloric intake. I bought protein supplements. Unjury.com sells an unflavored protein power that I sprinkle into everything. It's pure whey protein, no carbs or fat. 80 calories per scoop and 20 grams of protein. I'll add half a scoop to my morning coffee. Mix half with my greek yogurt. Scramble some in with my egg whites, put some in with some sugar free pudding, even some with my crystal light. Now I'm getting all the essential protein I need for muscle building while getting the 12-1300 calories a day I need to function and maintain my workouts. I also love GNC whey protein powder. I have tried it in both strawberry and chocolate and it is really yummy and low in sugar/carbs.

AmythistRae

first to the one that gets angry...then don't read these posts.....

I am not sure where this miraculous number came from that nothing under 1200 calories a day was okay and you would go into starvation because unless you are actually starving yourself you will not go into starvation....

If you do not want to snack because it doesn't work for you don't....I know I eat a mostly raw diet and it can be tuff to get all the calories however seeing as I am down 18 pounds in two weeks from raw and only 1000 to 1100 a day calories I think you will be fine...

if you want to eat more try a smoothie, maybe a green one to get more nutrients and to boost up your calories....

also if your calories are low but liquids are high you should be fine...good luck....it is true vegetables make it hard to get more calories....

AmythistRae

first to the one that gets angry...then don't read these posts.....

I am not sure where this miraculous number came from that nothing under 1200 calories a day was okay and you would go into starvation because unless you are actually starving yourself you will not go into starvation....

If you do not want to snack because it doesn't work for you don't....I know I eat a mostly raw diet and it can be tuff to get all the calories however seeing as I am down 18 pounds in two weeks from raw and only 1000 to 1100 a day calories I think you will be fine...

if you want to eat more try a smoothie, maybe a green one to get more nutrients and to boost up your calories....

also if your calories are low but liquids are high you should be fine...good luck....it is true vegetables make it hard to get more calories....

littlemili

Now I don't mean to sound rude. BUT...

You are here to lose weight. You didn't get to that position by eating under 1200 calories per day. You are obviously more than capable of eating significantly more than that for an extended period of time.

Google "calorie dense foods". Eat them. Or eat more of what you already are eating.

Also just suck it up and eat some breakfast because for one thing it will help your metabolism which will increase your appetite naturally, and remember you are eating with a purpose in mind, and food is fuel. If you want to achieve your weight loss and fitness goals then just eat like a machine even if it makes you uncomfortable. Eating 1200 calories is easy. Eating breakfast is easy. Don't like the idea of solid food in the morning? Fine, use meal replacement shakes.

This is a non-issue. If you WANT to eat 1200, you will.

sarahkatara

I am not sure where this miraculous number came from that nothing under 1200 calories a day was okay and you would go into starvation because unless you are actually starving yourself you will not go into starvation....

You can be in starvation mode without starving yourself. it is a bodily reaction having to do with many factors including how many calories you eat, burn, and what nutrients you are getting.not getting, etc. People need to do a little research. (it's easty- you type something into Google and it gives you millions of results in 2 seconds or less!) Starvation mode does not always mean that you are intentionally depriving yourself.
Straighten your facts before giving advice. these boards aren't intended for medical advice or anything of course, but unfortunately, many people think that MFPers have the answers. Try webmd.com for yourown information. if you have time to write a response you have time to learn something new and give GOOD advice.

floreo22

just wanted to thank everyone who's been helpful. i've added a lot more fruit in today, and it seems to be slowly making the difference. also, i'm going to try some fruit smoothies, i think, and see if that is an easy way to boost my calories. i had a low calorie breakfast, but at least it is a start. also, i'm resigned to the fact that i won't eat my exercise calories, but will instead save these for a treat meal or couple of drinks with friends once a week.

littlemili

Edited bc the OP removed her insults towards me...

floreo22

i wasn't trying to be insulting. i apologise if you are upset. i removed it because i decided it would be better for everyone's morale if i didn't respond to your comments. i was only trying to suggest that you weren't being helpful. again, i am sorry if you were upset.

littlemili

was only trying to suggest that you weren't being helpful. again, i am sorry if you were upset.

Read what I wrote:

Google "calorie dense foods".

Don't like the idea of solid food in the morning? Fine, use meal replacement shakes.

I WAS being helpful, you just chose to ignore that.