I can't eat 2,000 calories for dinner...

missashley884

the more you workout, the more you need to eat. maybe dont workout as much

LorinaLynn

If it only happens once in a while and you're not hungry, it's ok to have a big deficit. If it's happening more often than not, plan ahead so you don't end up with a big pile of calories at the end of the day. A little more at breakfast and lunch and a few 100-200 calorie snacks in between, and you're golden.

mlb929

Everyone says that...... heavier people burn more calories in less time than thin people.

Who is everyone and where are you getting your information. This could be a major part of your problem.

There's a ton of information on that here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basal_metabolic_rate
including the scientific studies the information comes from. This is pretty much accepted as fact in the physiology field that the bigger you are, the more calories you burn at rest and during exercise. Honestly, we don't need to turn to physiology to know this, however, it's physics 101. The larger the mass, the more energy it takes to move it. Think about it this way: which car burns more fuel, a tiny 2 seat model, or a huge pickup truck?

We aren't talking BMR. I was referring to calorie burn for exercise. Muscle burns more than fat too. I doubt someone heavy same age same heart rate same duration of exercise is going to burn more calories. It's not accepted fact that someone heavy is burning more calories when talking about eating exercise calories back. Too many heavier people think because e they exercise a bit they burn and need to eat back all calories her post is not making any sense if you review her exercise journal.

jadedone

OK, just had a quick browse through your diary. Couple of suggestions

For breakfast, try and aim for 500-600 calories. I would go for a big bowl of oatmeal (not instant) with toppings of choice. Banana and Maple syrup is my favourite but you can pretty much add in anything you like. Try to avoid the Bacon and fried foods as much as possible. Wholegrain - low salt low sugar is the way to go here.

Have a mid morning snack between breakfast and lunch, Nuts and fruit is always a good choice or peanut butter on a wholewheat bagel. Aim for 200-300 calories or even more depending how much you need

For Lunch, again aim for 500-600 calories,

Mid afternoon snack - again 200-300 calories, Milkshake or some greek yoghurt with fruits. I like hummous with carrot sticks. Salad with eggs/avocado/prawn/cheese etc etc etc

Dinner - Mine usually come in around 800ish. Eat pretty much what you like here. Any calories left over have a nice dessert or a glass of wine or some chocolate. Treat yourself. You've earned it with all the work you've done :drinker:

Great advice!

My favorite dessert is greek yogurt with some fruit. You could add a few tablespoons of nuts or granola to up the calories.

jadedone

OK, just had a quick browse through your diary. Couple of suggestions

Try to avoid the Bacon and fried foods as much as possible. Wholegrain - low salt low sugar is the way to go here.

It's low sodium turkey bacon, and I microwave it. Very lean and no fried food here!

My bacon of choice is wellshire farms reduced fat low sodium pork bacon. 2 slices = 60 calories! And it is real bacon (and nitrate free!)

HartJames

I get butterball everyday turkey bacon that is 30 cal for 2!

jsidel126

I run 5 times a week and log it. This automatically increases my calories for the day. I have never eaten all my calories
any day and am losing weight.

You can just not log your exercise and your calorie count will not increase nor vary from day to day due to variations in your
exercises. If you keep under the daily calorie target you will not be eating your exercise calories. Why exercise if you are
going to replace the calories just expended during exercise? If you are trying to lose weight and the daily target calories are
enough to keep you satisfieded, seems like the best position to be in.

jadedone

I don't see how your base goal can be set to 1,900 and you're still expected to lose weight...? If you set your activity level to active then I don't think you're expected to eat back your exercise calories if it's that particular exercise that makes you qualify as "active".
Just my $0.02

I don't know the OPs weight or how much she wants to lose but I'm guessing she is heavier. I started at 1800 and lost weight quickly. I'm currently losing weight on 1673 calories. You don't need to starve to lose weight.

Yup me too. I actually upped my calories and continued losing at the same pace. I am at 1700 now.....

wwef9112

Not sure how smart this is; but if you go to GNC you can get some whey protein. It has a decent amount of calories, and it's good for you. It's just protein. I'd do it before you do exercise, and after. That way you don't have to eat 2k calories all at once. I have a buddy that does that.

b0t23

only 800 calories between breakfast and lunch is too few.

You really should be balancing it out so that you eat more in those important meals.

you can also snack on things like peanut butter or something if you need to.

I did not look at your food diary but I think eating a bit more, especially when you know you will exercise a lot that day, could help

itsjustdawn

I wouldnt bother with those elvis bars, coz after looking up recipe they look mega high in cals.

That was why they were suggested...

howeclectic

I don't see how your base goal can be set to 1,900 and you're still expected to lose weight...? If you set your activity level to active then I don't think you're expected to eat back your exercise calories if it's that particular exercise that makes you qualify as "active".
Just my $0.02

I don't know the OPs weight or how much she wants to lose but I'm guessing she is heavier. I started at 1800 and lost weight quickly. I'm currently losing weight on 1673 calories. You don't need to starve to lose weight.

Yeah, I understand that, I was just wondering if that means she's required to eat her exercise calories back as well... 2,800 seems like an awful lot to eat whilst "dieting" is all I'm thinking.

yeah.. hard to say. If its working, I'd just continue what youre doing. I must add though... I bike about 150 - 200 miles a week averaging about 20 mph and my weight remains pretty stable eating 2500-3000 calories (measured with a scale). Have to add what others might have mentioned... either you log your exercise and set your activity level to none, or set your activity level accurately and dont log your exercise- otherwise your double counting. I only say this as the numbers just dont seem right... Even your body is saying "I dont really need this much".

cordianet

We aren't talking BMR. I was referring to calorie burn for exercise. Muscle burns more than fat too. I doubt someone heavy same age same heart rate same duration of exercise is going to burn more calories. It's not accepted fact that someone heavy is burning more calories when talking about eating exercise calories back. Too many heavier people think because e they exercise a bit they burn and need to eat back all calories her post is not making any sense if you review her exercise journal.

okay, how about this one?
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/sm00109
Do you really think that only BMR is effected by size and exercise calories burned aren't? Certainly muscle is more metabolically active that fat, but that's meaningless for the discussion at hand. How metabolically active your body is based on muscle vs. fat is a factor in BMR, NOT exercise. Exercise calories expended are a function of mass. Here's another way for you to think about this: How much energy do you burn moving a ten pound weight, vs. a one-hundred pound weight? Is it exactly the same, or does the weight you move effect the energy needed to move the weight?

cordianet

yeah.. hard to say. If its working, I'd just continue what youre doing. I must add though... I bike about 150 - 200 miles a week averaging about 20 mph and my weight remains pretty stable eating 2500-3000 calories (measured with a scale). Have to add what others might have mentioned... either you log your exercise and set your activity level to none, or set your activity level accurately and dont log your exercise- otherwise your double counting. I only say this as the numbers just dont seem right... Even your body is saying "I dont really need this much".

I'm with this poster. Be careful you're not "double dipping". I think some folks are doing this and don't even know it.

MoveTheMountain

Thanks, and my daily goal is 1950 but like I said, my workouts have been crazy so that ups my calorie goal. Peanut butter seems to be the way everyone says to get some calories. Those Elvis bars the second poster mentioned sound really yummy but the recipe I looked up had sooo much sugar! So I'm not sure yet, but I know I won't make the goal for today. I guess I'm just looking for some general advice since I have this problem every day.

I'm 6 feet tall and weigh 220, and as a 'moderately active' person, my calorie goal to maintain comes in around 2750. I do P90-X every day, and burn between 600 and 850 calories (net, calculated with a HRM). I'm trying to lose 2lb a week, so that brings my goal down to 1750, and then I add back in my workout calories - at most, I'd be up around 2500... I really do think you're daily calorie target is off.