REALLY Struggling to Hit Daily Calories

This always baffles me. You were eating more than 1200 calories a day in order to gain the weight so why the struggle now? Up the portion sizes, add a tablespoon of peanut butter or some grated cheese.

Nine servings of fruit and veggies in the full rainbow of colours, three servings of reduced fat dairy, lean protein at each meal and snack including oily fish regularly, healthy fats little and often (nuts, seeds, avocado, olives, cocoa), plenty of mineral/ fibre rich foods (nuts, seeds, beans, lentils) ... which of these are you not having or not having enough of? Which macros do you feel you are low on? Remember MFP protein, fibre and fats are minimums not necessarily optimal.

I know when I changed from processed, high calorie junk to health, homemade and fresh foods I felt full before getting near my calorie goal too. I'd say don't worry too much because you will adapt to it, but whole grains and legumes are now the basis for my meals.

I often have trouble eating the amount of calories as well...I'm really not a "hungry" person. I don't eat large quantities, just processed and fast food. Sounds like you. So when I eat healthy, I have trouble getting enough calories. I've started adding in whole almonds, avocado, a little peanut butter here or there.

Diary products, like some milk with breakfast in the morning.....more lean protien (like at lunch), veggies with your dinner, greek yogurt as a snack, cottage cheese and some fruit as a snack, hummus with veggies as a snack......

So many ways....

I wish I had this problem! I'd throw in more at breakfast definitely. Choose skim milk or almond milk for nutrition and add some banana to your oatmeal. Tablespoon of peanut or almond butter on an apple or whole wheat bread for a snack. Yogurt low fat is good as well. A protein shake, hummus. Green veggies with a little cheese and nuts for dinner would add some good calories. Additional lean protein in your meals -- just a bit more than what you are eating would help.

nuts! I usually buy planters prepackaged ones and they have somewhere between 200-300 calories eat 2 packages.

Sautee the chicken in olive oil and throw some avocado slices on it! Your fats are low, no worries there. Also, eat a cup of rice, not a half cup since your carbs are so low. Are you actually measuring food accurately or just guessing? A 4 oz chicken breast and half a cup of rice is going to look like very little food on your plate.

For snacks, especially on exercise days, I have yogurt, bananas, PB&J, clif bars, or drink a glass of milk.

I find that Pure Protein bats are a good high calorie item. About 200 calories each, with 18 protein.

I looked at just today - eat more in the morning - pig out! 1 thing of oatmeal is not enough... and try not to eat that instant crap... I normally go for a lot of fruit, greek yogurt, one of my fav is special K cereal with bananas or strawberries, boiled eggs... etc... have at least 400 calories in the morning - I try to.

Add a salad to lunch AND dinner... put in some avocado's and nuts and you will see that these healthy choices will increase your calories Rice/potatoes and meat is going to hurt youin the end... you need veggies too!

I never have this problem (hitting daily calories) and I eat way more than 1200

Your diary looks really good, lots of healthy choices. You could add nut butters, or avocado, or a little olive oil to certain things. Also, just slightly larger portion sizes--Add another hardboiled egg, an extra string cheese at breakfast for some additional protein, another packet of the oatmeal, a cup or so of mixed veggies or another serving of fruit, and you'd be able to net 1200 a little more easily. Without adding "junk."

Good luck!

Edited to add: I love instant oatmeal but save the packets for emergency lunches when I have no food in the house, or as an evening snack--in the AM I make 1/2 cup of plain "quick oats" (cooks in microwave in 1-2 minutes) and add a half scoop of protein powder, maybe some fruit and nuts=about 300 calories, so right there you'd get a bit of boost in the AM AND some extra protein, which is great for muscle repair as you are working out

Just looked at your diary. try making you oatmeal with milk and adding fresh fruit to it like banana or blueberries. I would have natural peanut butter with my apple. make some guacamole to go with your chicken and rice. yum!

Agree with everyone saying add more flavor to your meals. They're pretty boring right now, and sauces, guacamole, peanut butter, etc. will add up for the calories.

Follow this general rule: if you have calories left over and your macros are on track, EAT ICE CREAM. Every night.

As a few others have mentioned - full fat dairy, instead of skim and/or lowfat.

Also, simply eat more of what you're already eating.