Can't seem to consume enough to meet 1200 calories... Help!

MorgueBabe

You could friend me.

I eat pasta and Mexican at least once a week.

Just make it fit in calories.

CanGirl40

Nuts, peanut butter, full fat dairy, oils, avocado, eggs, cheese, food in general. Losing weight doesn't have to be all lettuce and chicken breasts.

Yes to all of the above!!!

stumblinthrulife

so sad...yet again ANOTHER person who just cant get 1200 whole calories down their throat. ~rolls eyes~ so attention seeking

Oh shut up. Resetting your diet is hard for some people. It's about learning which calorie dense foods are healthy. It's natural to start off trying to avoid ALL calorie dense foods, which will inevitably lead to the OP's problem. I experienced exactly the same, and I'm now happily eating 1800 - 2200 healthy calories a day, after more helpful members than you guided me in the right direction. Losing weight with it too, I should add.

Didn't your mother ever teach you that if you've nothing positive to say, say nothing?

jennybean1985

If I read this from someone else, I would want to punch that person in the face and would think the same thing. I really am just clueless on what to eat and am struggling to make "healthy" decisions vs. "stupid" decisions; if I had it my way, I would likely consume 3,000 calories in a day. I'm picky and struggle to want something that is healthy. A salad vs. pasta? I would pick pasta (and way more than recommended) every time.

jzammetti

I almost didn't read this thread because when we all found this site we certainly knew how to eat WAY MORE than 1200 calories. :happy:

But, I did it anyway and here is what I think: eat more calorie dense foods - nuts, ice cream, beef, full fat milk and dressings and everything else there is a low fat version of. You don't have to always eat "the good foods" but eat what you llike in moderation and within your caloric goals - this is where we learn how to eat for the rest of our lives...we need to be practical.

katrinajMiles

Don't just fill up on any calories just because you have to consume 1200 a day.

Maybe look at adding something to your meals that are healthy have good fats, protein and vitamins.

I always try to have 100g of protein with a main meal and 50g for snacks. I have 5 - 6 small meals a day breakfast, Morning tea, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, dinner and sometimes a snack after dinner.

Perhaps add grainy bread with your breakfast, add good fats such as avocado and nuts to your salads. Have a piece of fruit an apple has about 80cal.

Maybe at the start of the day prepare meals so that you know you are going to get the correct amount. Otherwise you'll be wondering why you haven't lost anything but you've been eating hardly anything.

glynda66

Bump

jennybean1985

I have never used myfitnesspal for anything more than counting calories.... how can I make my diary public?

MicroHez

Eat more dairy in general. Add nuts/seeds to your salad (I am a fan of sunflower seeds, mostly cos I was raised in a tree-nut free environment because of family member's food allergy, so the taste and smell of peanut butter/nuts is one of the things that kill my appetite quicker than anything).

This is my estimated day in a nutshell:

Breakfast (7 AM): 1 cup 2% milk and 3/4 cup cereal (200 calories)
Morning snack (9 AM): Water, non-fat yogurt and some kind of baked crisp (LOVED Pepperidge Farms Baked Naturals) (<300 calories)
Lunch (12 PM): Water, Babybel cheese, frozen meal, Cutie fruit (300-500 calories depending on the meal)
Afternoon snack (3 PM): Water and apple (80 calories)
Dinner (5 PM): Lean protein and side (300-500 calories)
Evening snack (8 PM): May or may not have (less than 200 calories)

So that equates to 1180 on the low end of the spectrum (1580 high end) and not including any evening snack (for either).

Also, I stay under on most of my metas other than protein and fiber... So, it's possible to get 1200 in a day through several small meals.

onyxgirl17

Sure you can consume enough to eat 1200 calories. Eat less lettuce, more high calorie foods. Swap the fat free caesar dressing out and get regular dressing.

Your diet looks extremely limited.

jennybean1985

How much chicken did you have? Did you weigh it? 100 calories would be like 2-3 ounces, right? Are you sure that was it? Eat other things other than lettuce and protein. Like someone else said, bread, greek yogurt, more veggies; Mushrooms, carrots, cauliflower, green pepper, garbanzo beans, fat free cottage cheese, one stick of reduced fat string cheese, whole grain english muffin with natural peanut butter. Peanut Butter will really add in the calories.

I guessed, but I read that it's ~the size of a deck of cards. I aimed for 3-4 oz.

My other issue is that I'm too picky - don't like tomatoes, seafood, mushrooms, cottage cheese, etc. I hated salad until recently, too. This is not going to be an easy process

Confuzzled4ever

I had the same problem.. I was never hungry i wasn't going over 800.. i get 1200-1500 a day now pretty easily. My diary is open. Lots of really healthy ideas in there. I just made a really huge effort to eat more often to increase calories.. It's taken me 2 months, but i'm just now starting to feel hungry.

Also.. if you add chicken or fish to your salad that will help as well.

BarackMeLikeAHurricane

Peanut butter. I'm trying to gain weight so if I don't eat enough I know I can always eat a few spoonfuls and hit my target with out my stomach exploding.

Krysannis

If you like oatmeal, get some regular oatmeal and add 1-2 tbs of peanut butter to it and slice up a banana for on top. Someone already mentioned a smoothie, you can add a ton of stuff to smoothies. If you did a smoothie you could even add stuff that you normally wouldn't eat because most veggies are masked really well by fruits when you blend them all up.

heather86RN

I recommend finding a protien shake that you like. I have the same problem, especially on days that I exercise. Eating all the vegetables does fill you up, but you will start to feel tired and your body will start to breakdown your muscles instead of fat. Find one you like and it won't be a big deal, and you will have more energy to exercise! You can't beat that!

bsmithmia

Open your diary and we can see how you've been tracking. You could easily get to +1200 calories but we need to see what you've been doing over time

MorgueBabe

I totally second the protein shake.

I use one, because I suck at eating protein, and it adds a bunch of calories to my day!

jennybean1985

Just did Not much to go on since I've only been tracking for ~3 days or so.

jennybean1985

What brand? Is it really disgusting? lol.

ndj1979

if you are not hungry..don't eat...if you are hungry eat...just stay i a deficit...

try skipping breakfast and then have a 500 calorie lunch and fill in rest with dinner..(shocking concept I know)

you might want to check out lean gains www.leangains.com

brookehe

I have never used myfitnesspal for anything more than counting calories.... how can I make my diary public?

Top of each page: My Home (then Settings, then Diary Settings) This will allow you to make your diary public.

Also, I suggest focusing your eating attention on foods that are high in protein and fiber. I've been at 1200 for almost six weeks and I mix it up, very little "low fat" or "lite" or "diet" anything. Beans (all kinds), lentils, quinoa all have great protein. As others have mentioned, nuts are a great source of healthy fats and fiber, both whole and in butters. Snacks can be slices of meats (ham, roast beef, turkey, chicken) and a slice/cube/stick of cheese. Veggies with hummus or dressing dips can help. Good luck on your journey (my diary is open).

bsmithmia

Ummm...you've only been tracking for a couple of days. You are on the right path but you definitely need to spice things up with some flavors, fruits, veggies, nuts, different proteins. The easiest way is to look at recipes online of foods you like or look at other people's diary with similar goals as you that are doing well. That will give you ideas to start with.

Laurenmp16

You just go into Settings then Privacy to make diary public

starvinkevin

NUTS

MorgueBabe

What brand? Is it really disgusting? lol.

There are plenty of delicious ones. I have a soy, and whey allergy, so I have to use a Hemp one.

rsmelley

You can add more protein like non salted almonds pecans or walnuts for protein. (abt. 100 cals 1/8 cup). Try them in your salad when you don't have meat or as a snack. You can also add things like whole grain breads such as 100 % whole wheat bread, brown rice or whole grain cereals. Yogurt and cottage cheese. Try adding more veggies or fruit to your salads. Canned packed in water tuna fish (100 cals) or canned sweet sue chicken (120 cals) go great in a salad. Look at your friends diaries and see what they are eating.

alexisu96

For the love of God people just eat a damn sandwich! It's really not that hard. I highly doubt cups of salad dashed with parmasen cheese and a bit of chicken is filling. If that's too hard get the dang peanut butter out

huuxue

Chicken sandwich on whole wheat bread with avocado, quinoa with vegetables, also try full fat dairy

DopeItUp

Put food in mouth, chew and then swallow. Preferably in that order.

vmekash

Don't eat bread, that's stupid. You can add stuff to your breakfast like turkey breast or veggies. I love doing eggs, tomato slices, and avocado. Avocado is a great source of healthy fats. As for your salad add more veggies- cucumber, tomato, avocado, you could even add hard boiled egg to it. I usually eat a tablespoon of peanut butter after a work out and thats about 80 calories but it's also really good for you. Load up your fridge with some fresh veggies and grab a carrot if you're feeling hungry or like you're not eating enough calories. Don't grab carbs. They might add to the calories but they're not calories that you want. Keep your head up, the longer you make healthy choices the easier it becomes.

Uh, eating bread is not stupid. Sheesh.