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

whierd

After reading this post, I think I may go have a 1200 calorie breakfast.

SadKitty27

I see a ton of people suggesting peanut butter, but personally I love using MAYO (Duke's mayo is awesome b/c it has no sugar in it.) olive oil, coconut oil, sesame oil or heavy whipping cream to bridge the gap calorie wise.

None of it is high in sugar or carbs

jesz124

I do not understand how adding high fat foods works...I am reaching the fat% too easily..but have actually stopped eating all the nuts and nut butters...stop using coconut oil...how can one incorporate so much fat and still not go over the fat limit? I am missing the protein %...but other than eating chicken, meats, eggs and protein drinks, I can not figure out what foods are high in protein but not fat. I can not eat 3 egg whites and 1 yolk. The only way I will get that egg down is with the yolk. Which brings on the fat again! See the cycle here?

Your body needs fat. It provides the essential fatty acids that your body cannot produce itself, which are used to control inflammation, blood clotting, and promote brain development. It also helps lubricates your joints and increases the amount of absorption of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Plus if you need to hit a calorie goal, it provides double the amount of calories per gram than carbs or protein

Thanks for the reply...but what I am saying is that I am overstepping the fat intake daily and not reaching the calories. What foods can I eat that have calories, yet not so much fat? I have no problem finding healthly foods with fat. I understand that fats have 9 cal...that is the problem. If I am under in Protein and carbs. I just do not know how to get those without fat or sugars being involved. I would have no problem filling up my remaining 350 cal tonight with nuts and the like...but I have already hit 50% fat today and still have those calories left. It is already 7 pm and I will not be eating anything else today.

Fat is not your enemy. Excess calories make you fat, not excess fat. It doesn't matter where you get your calories from, if you eat above maintenance (which you have no chance at 1200) you will gain, regardless if they are made up from fats, carbs, proteins, dust, clouds whatev's.

exile40

1 word

Nuts (non salted )

jesz124

After reading this post, I think I may go have a 1200 calorie breakfast.

Agreed. Just reading this thread makes me want to go and eat. :sad:

bubbinsnik

Eat more. Have a little of what you fancy. Double the size of your salad. You are making good choices, just choose to have more as well.
As long as you are hitting or just below calories and macros each day then you're on the right track.

michelle7673

No reason in the world to give up eating Mexican food. One thing we do a LOT at my house is "chicken bowls", which we usually make from shredded-up rotisserie chicken, though sometimes we broil boneless skinless breasts to do it.
We used to crunch up baked corn chips as a base, but now I use about a cup and a half of sliced bell peppers and onions. Add some black beans or kidney beans, then the chicken. Pour in some canned enchilada sauce (which is very low in calories), and microwave for a couple of minutes. Then pull it out, put some low fat cheddar on top, and nuke another minute. Add salsa, guacamole or light sour cream, as you like and as your macros/calories may indicate. You can vary the other proportions of ingredients to do the same. That's one of the reasons it makes a good dinner, because it's adjustable. If I have a lot of carbs left, I will sometimes do a cup of brown rice.

And everyone, I think there's a reason we see these posts. My guess is that starting on a new plan and worrying that it won't work makes people scared to eat too much, and it does take a while to prepare, and to eat, 1200 calories of healthier food. I know that it also takes 15 (20?) minutes to start registering that you're full, so eating less calorie-dense things would affect that too.

I don't think the answer is to advocate highly caloric foods to OP, but to give examples of some more substantial food for meals that is sustainable. Because I think all of the other dynamics I mentioned do eventually wear off.

Katieloula

Wow some people have been really needlessly mean here! The OP asked for help not to be patronised - this is what I mean about all the hostility on here lately. These types of replies are discouraging members from posting in the first place! Get some perspective - if you haven't got anything nice to say...

Advice can be candid without sounding condescending.

Also, not everyone likes Peanut Butter. You couldn't pay me to eat the disgusting stuff.

Graelwyn75

6-7 oz of greek yoghurt, 1 oz of oats, 1 oz milled flax, mashed banana, some agave nectar, stevia or honey and some berries. Leave in the fridge for a while to thicken = a relatively healthy 500 or so calorie dessert. Sorted.