Unique Problem?

unlocke
unlocke Posts: 149
in Health and Weight Loss
I am having a hard time getting in 1200 calories. I eat relatively clean foods and try my best to balance protein, carbs and fat. I eat every 3 to 3 1/2 hours. But I'm still way under my calories, especially after I add in my exercise calories. Is this a unique problem, or am I just weird? :ohwell: Any ideas? Check out my diary and tell me what I can change.

Replies

  • tammyc226
    tammyc226 Posts: 158 Member
    Your diary is locked....
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    Are you getting portion control right? It's surprising how little something can look if you don't measure correctly:smile:
  • unlocke
    unlocke Posts: 149
    Sorry.....now it's unlocked.
    (And yes, everything is measured.)
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    My MFP calorie allowance a day is 1200 and I must admit I struggle to eat them all..but I do most of the time upto maybe having 75/100 cals left over
  • unlocke
    unlocke Posts: 149
    I just wanna be careful what I add....nothing high sugar or sodium. I need healthy calorie ideas.
  • ValerieMartini2Olives
    ValerieMartini2Olives Posts: 3,024 Member
    If you need some extra calories, eat a spoonful of peanut butter. There's 150-200 quality calories right there.
  • tammyc226
    tammyc226 Posts: 158 Member
    Maybe add more of what your eating as a start point, eg instead of 1/2 a cup of rice what about a full cup? Also maybe double the veggies to 2 cups instead of 1, more fruit, more milk, cheese. Olive oil, avocado, yogurt, eggs (incl yolk not just the whites) are all healthy ideas
    Cheers
  • TaylorsGranddad
    TaylorsGranddad Posts: 453 Member
    If you're not hungry don't worry about it, it's only a guide not a rule, I sometimes only eat 4/500 a day and sometimes I even go into negative calories if I've done a long run. Just eat what you want and as long as you're not starving yourself then thats ok. Listen to your body, it'll tell you when you're not eating enough.
  • wgn4166
    wgn4166 Posts: 771 Member
    If you need some extra calories, eat a spoonful of peanut butter. There's 150-200 quality calories right there.
    This is what I do :)
  • Squible
    Squible Posts: 359 Member
    Is your almond weight correct? 0.1oz = 23 almonds.

    I hav 30grams/ 1 ounce of cashews which I'd say is about 23 cashews and that is 188 cals just for those.

    Apart from that I'd say increase portion size or add in bananas or avocados as they are high cal foods.

    Oh and myab more nuts or different varitey of them
  • jengroomes
    jengroomes Posts: 22
    Your not alone... I have the same issue. Due to severe food allergies, I eat clean as well and exercise in some form everyday which always leaves me with anywhere from 500-700 cals left. I'm typically never hungry and when I am... I eat. Phaze is right, it's only a guide... just make sure you're drinking lots of water and that you're not going hungry. :happy:

    Have a fantastic rest of your week! :happy:

    Aloha! :flowerforyou:
    Jen~
  • unlocke
    unlocke Posts: 149
    Thanks all. These are great ideas.
    As for the almonds....I got that off of here, so it could be incorrect. I'll double check my container.
    Thanks again!!
    p.s.........I love this site! :drinker:
  • ZugTheMegasaurus
    ZugTheMegasaurus Posts: 801 Member
    I had the same problem when I started; I've never been a big eater, so I have a hard time forcing myself to eat loads of food I don't want. What I found works for me is to add more ingredients to what I'm already eating. For example, I used to make tostadas with chicken breast, homemade salsa, and lettuce. Now, I also include avocado, beans, cheese, and sour cream. It's not really any more food in terms of volume so I don't have difficulty eating it, but it's much higher in calories (and frankly, tastes delicious).
  • MeMyCatsandI
    MeMyCatsandI Posts: 704 Member
    Don't assume that everything in the database is correct. One example
    23 almonds does NOT equal 0.1 ounce and certainly is not 16 calories! You'll need to choose a correct entry in the food database. The correct answer is closer to 160-170 depending on the brand.
  • Superbritt2drescu
    Superbritt2drescu Posts: 273 Member
    Yep, I have the same problem. And the more I work out/lift the less hungry I am. Its a horrible circle. I try to pack in good but calorie filled things. Banana's are one of my favs. :)
  • unlocke
    unlocke Posts: 149
    Don't assume that everything in the database is correct. One example
    23 almonds does NOT equal 0.1 ounce and certainly is not 16 calories! You'll need to choose a correct entry in the food database. The correct answer is closer to 160-170 depending on the brand.


    Definitely wasn't paying attention when I posted that one!! :embarassed:
  • Mistyblu08
    Mistyblu08 Posts: 580 Member
    I just wanna be careful what I add....nothing high sugar or sodium. I need healthy calorie ideas.

    almonds are a good add or walnuts- healthy fats :) mix them in with some low fat yogurt with ground flax is good too :)
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I think nuts and nut butters are the easiest way to add a couple hundred calories without any effort.
  • lmarshel
    lmarshel Posts: 674 Member
    Don't assume that everything in the database is correct. One example
    23 almonds does NOT equal 0.1 ounce and certainly is not 16 calories! You'll need to choose a correct entry in the food database. The correct answer is closer to 160-170 depending on the brand.

    ^^ This is great advice. I would add to stay away from anything in the database marked "generic". There are lots and lots of resources available online to cross-check that the calorie counts you are entering are correct. Read your food labels and confirm what's in the database matches the info on your label. Also, if you don't have one, get a food scale and use it. That's the most accurate method available, and food scales are pretty cheap. Remember that everything should be weighed or measured raw, pre-cooked. This is especially true for meats and vegetables. They both cook down a LOT and can completely skew your measurements.

    Once you know you're logging what you're actually eating, if you need to add more calories just eat more! You don't necessarily need to add new and different foods if you feel comfortable with what you're eating now. Just eat more of it...another serving of cereal for breakfast, more fruit as a snack, a double-helping of those almonds. ;) It will become easier and easier with practice.

    Best of luck to you! :flowerforyou:

Categories