Any ideas on how to increase my calorie intake on Low Carb?

Stephie_J

Hi, I seem to have trouble hitting my recommended daily calories (1200) while following Low Carb, any ideas on low carb foods that are higher in calories? I'm not feeling hungry every day by eating fewer calories, so I don't necessarily need bigger meals?

These are my nutrition figures so far:

Day 1 - 17g carbs | 981 Net cals
Day 2 - 18g carbs | 703 Net cals
Day 3 - 15g carbs | 894 Net cals
Day 4 - 22g carbs | 795 Net cals
Day 5 - 19g carbs | 672 Net cals

ShrinkingNinja

You can cook with olive oil. It is a good fat for your diet and will add 120 calories a tbsp...

Like I fried 3 eggs in olive oil this morning... So I count it in my food diary.

Captain_Tightpants

Nuts, nuts, and more nuts.

Sidesteal

any ideas on low carb foods that are higher in calories?

Full fat dairy, avocados, nuts, nut butters, bacon....

erickirb

Hi, I seem to have trouble hitting my recommended daily calories (1200) while following Low Carb, any ideas on low carb foods that are higher in calories? I'm not feeling hungry every day by eating fewer calories, so I don't necessarily need bigger meals?

These are my nutrition figures so far:

Day 1 - 17g carbs | 981 Net cals
Day 2 - 18g carbs | 703 Net cals
Day 3 - 15g carbs | 894 Net cals
Day 4 - 22g carbs | 795 Net cals
Day 5 - 19g carbs | 672 Net cals

Why are you eating so low on carbs? add olive oil to soups and sauces. have avocado on salads and sandwiches, or as a snack. Nuts and seeds are great as well.

2011_4mygirls

Atkins protein shakes ---160 calories, 15 grams of protein and 2 net carbs and they are yummy!

Acg67

oils, butter, duck fat, fatty cuts of meat, fatty fish

ScubyUK

Smoked Salmon, 0 carbs, low fats, 20g protein and 120 calories in 100g.

cPT_Helice

Nuts and nut butters, healthy oils, dairy.....etc. It's really not hard.

chrikoko12202007

boneless skinless chicken. 8 oz of great values brand has 220cals, 0 carbs, 5g fat, 40protein, 380mg sodium.

groomchick

Nuts, Atkins Bars& shakes, Beef jerky Carbmaster yogurt...

glenr79

don't eat low carb, 50% of your diet is supposed to be from carbs, it is where your body gets energy, also where you get all of your vitamins and nutrients. eat healthy carbs, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, 100% whole wheat... and what people don't know is for your body to take protein into the muscle you need carbs to do that, so please don't do a low carb diet, will be for your health and will only aid in temporary weight loss, not permanent weight loss

carrie_eggo

Is there a reason you are doing low carb?

scubagirl319

Check out lowcarbdiets.about.com

Panman75

any ideas on low carb foods that are higher in calories?

Full fat dairy, avocados, nuts, nut butters, bacon....

You need to stay away from nuts in the beginning stages of low carb diets. My wife has the same problem hitting the caloric intake like you. Avocados is great if you feel the need to raise the calories and the fat with a good dose of fiber. Also Flaxmeal is great source to use as well. Most likely you need to increase your protein intake as well and that will boost your caloric intake. I personally stick with whole butter, but I eat plenty for me.....

MB_Positif

don't eat low carb, 50% of your diet is supposed to be from carbs, it is where your body gets energy, also where you get all of your vitamins and nutrients. eat healthy carbs, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, 100% whole wheat... and what people don't know is for your body to take protein into the muscle you need carbs to do that, so please don't do a low carb diet, will be for your health and will only aid in temporary weight loss, not permanent weight loss

^^^This! Just eat good healthy food and move more. It's that simple! I know it sounds crazy, but I am serious!

eyecandyloveme

meat has plenty of calories and protein and no carbs

cPT_Helice

Just looked at your diary (don't know who else has) and never mind the type of diet right now, you are placing your health at risk. Its not a matter of whether or not you include carbs, you simply have to eat more. You are placing your body into starvation mode with what you're doing. I'm not sure of the purpose........plain and simple......EAT!

Quiing

Easy, eat more fat! Olive oil, coconut oil, SmartBalance buttery spread, avocados, almonds, peanuts, chicken thighs, etc

Acg67

don't eat low carb, 50% of your diet is supposed to be from carbs, it is where your body gets energy, also where you get all of your vitamins and nutrients. eat healthy carbs, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, 100% whole wheat... and what people don't know is for your body to take protein into the muscle you need carbs to do that, so please don't do a low carb diet, will be for your health and will only aid in temporary weight loss, not permanent weight loss

While i agree that you should probably eat a balanced diet, CHO is a non essential macro nutrient and you can do fine eating low carb. A blanket statement like 50% of your diet should come from CHO is silly as %'s and ratios should not be used, but instead shoot for a minimum amount of proteins and fats per day for your bodyweight and then spread out the rest of your cals as you please

Grokette

don't eat low carb, 50% of your diet is supposed to be from carbs, it is where your body gets energy, also where you get all of your vitamins and nutrients. eat healthy carbs, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, 100% whole wheat... and what people don't know is for your body to take protein into the muscle you need carbs to do that, so please don't do a low carb diet, will be for your health and will only aid in temporary weight loss, not permanent weight loss

We don't need carbs for energy. We can also efficiently get energy from FAT.

There is nothing unhealthy about a low carb plan and the last thing we truly need is grains. Wheat Belly is a good book to read!! A real eye opener.

Grokette

Hi, I seem to have trouble hitting my recommended daily calories (1200) while following Low Carb, any ideas on low carb foods that are higher in calories? I'm not feeling hungry every day by eating fewer calories, so I don't necessarily need bigger meals?

These are my nutrition figures so far:

Day 1 - 17g carbs | 981 Net cals
Day 2 - 18g carbs | 703 Net cals
Day 3 - 15g carbs | 894 Net cals
Day 4 - 22g carbs | 795 Net cals
Day 5 - 19g carbs | 672 Net cals

There is no reason to count calories if you are low carbing and eating all natural, whole foods.

The key is to eat nutrient dense foods, it has nothing to do with the amount. Remember QUALITY over QUANTITY - always.

durhamity

I understand where you are coming from! I just re started my low carb diet yesterday and tend to eat around 1,000 cals while following my plan, so if I exercise I net about what your stats look like. I like the nuts idea.

CashierCantin

cheese
mayo
olive oil
eggs
burgers
black olives
salad dressing
sausages/pepperoni

Not sure why you're so low on cals....I never had a problem eating 1500 or more a day. Remember....this plan is not like you're used to. YOU CAN EAT!! Just watch the carbs.....don't worry too much about the calories UNLESS you seem to be stuck on the scale, THEN check them out. Until then...enjoy yourself.....low carb is very healthy, even though we've been brow beated to believe its not!!!

DizzieLittleLifter

ohh my dear, I took a peek at your food diary. While I get that you are sticking to low carb ( I'm not going to argue with you on that choice; it's your choice) you might want to try tracking more than one nutrient. How about eggs for breakfast with avocado? Try adding in a few higher calorie snacks like a handful of almonds, and cooking in batches will help you to eat a full meal rather than the snack sized meals. Search the forums; there are SO many recipes on here for low carb meals. Good luck!

philOHIO

eating like this will set you up for failure, unless you are anorexic.

NiciS72

I agree with many of the folks that said add avocado, meats, nuts, etc. I looked at your diary and you are only tracking carbs. I would suggest that you add more macros in to track and go with more protein. I never have a problem keeping low carb if I eat lots of protein. I shoot for 90-120 grams per day. If you do 30 grams of lean protein for each major meal you should have plenty of calories added to get to 1200.

Sidesteal

You need to stay away from nuts in the beginning stages of low carb diets.

Why, and according to who?

Gemmageldmacher

I'm having a tough time with this as well. MFP is constantly "yelling" at me for eating too few calories! Unfortunately (and I'm doing Atkins induction, which you may not be doing), those items that other posters mentioned, like nuts, dairy, etc, are not allowed! I'm just hoping that my body is doing what it's supposed to be doing, even if the calories are a little low. I'm certainly seeing results! Try checking out the Atkins website for some helpful discussions and tips.

carolann_22

If you're exercising, you can eat nuts and not stall out your weightloss. I eat two packs of Blue Diamond almonds (160 cals each) a day and my weight loss has been fine. I also have a hard time eating more because I'm NOT hungry, but I recently upped my calories to close to 2000 a day (I'm a big girl, and I've been exercising at least 60 minutes a day) and I've been losing faster since I upped the calories. I add olive oil to lots of things, just for the fat. I second the avocados, too.

Panman75

You need to stay away from nuts in the beginning stages of low carb diets.

Why, and according to who?

Nuts and seeds are high is carbs. When on a low carb plan during early stage you can only intake 20-25 grams of net carbs. Because of the lack of nutrients from low carb diet, you need to intake minimum of 15 net carbs from foundation veggies. This is to help replace the loss of nutrients. The small servings of nuts will eat up your carb allowence stalling your weight loss and body going through ketosis. Nuts and seeds are encouraged in later stages of low carb plans