Feeling full, but way under my Calorie goal

KassLamb · March 2013

I have several dietary restrictions as I'm undergoing an elimination diet to see if I have any food triggers for my migraines. As a result, foods I used to eat all the time that were Calorie-dense are restricted. No eggs, soy, wheat, cheese, yogurt, nuts, dried fruit/veggies, or aged meats. This pretty much rules out all processed foods except for these expensive cookies I found at the closest thing we have to a health foods store in my area. This leaves me eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, brown rice, quinoa, beans, and lean meats. This makes me feel satisfied without all the unwanted Calories. The problem is, I feel stuffed before I even hit the minimum Calorie requirements.

I realize that there are similar posts that ask what they can eat to use up their Calories. That's not what I'm asking.

What I want to know is if it's really a big deal. I have plenty of energy, regular BM's, and am truly not hungry. I take a multivitamin, calcium supplement, and a magnesium supplement. Is it better to listen to my body, or force feed myself high-Cal foods when I already feel like bursting in order to meet a magic number?

sarahlanderson9 · March 2013

Have you tried supplementing with Magnesium? I use Magnesium Citrate capsules from a company called "encapsulations". They don't use any fillers or allergens. They are the first vitamin I've used that I don't get headaches from and they have almost reduced my daily migraines. If your migraines are at all related to muscle tension this may help you. I got the suggestion to use this supplement from my Neurologist/migraine doctor. Anyway, they are reasonably priced and changed my life so whenever I see someone struggling like I used to I chime in!

Spartan_Maker · March 2013

As a general rule, listen to your body rather than be a slave to some arbitrary number.

To add some context, it would be helpful if you put some real numbers on it. I might have a different view if you're eating 800 calories every day. I trust that isn't the case.

tuckervc · March 2013

I would talk with your doctor. With the elimanation diet you will (hopefully) be able to add some of those foods back into your diet so this shouldn't be a long term thing. Good luck with the migraines.

KassLamb · March 2013

Have you tried supplementing with Magnesium? I use Magnesium Citrate capsules from a company called "encapsulations". They don't use any fillers or allergens. They are the first vitamin I've used that I don't get headaches from and they have almost reduced my daily migraines. If your migraines are at all related to muscle tension this may help you. I got the suggestion to use this supplement from my Neurologist/migraine doctor. Anyway, they are reasonably priced and changed my life so whenever I see someone struggling like I used to I chime in!

Thank you, but yes, I do take magnesium. (In my post). That's why I started taking it. I'm not sure if it's helping or not, but it can't hurt, so I take it anyway.

KassLamb · March 2013

As a general rule, listen to your body rather than be a slave to some arbitrary number.

To add some context, it would be helpful if you put some real numbers on it. I might have a different view if you're eating 800 calories every day. I trust that isn't the case.

I did get 800 Cal once. But that was just once. I'm hitting on average 1000-1200. When I click to complete my entries for the day, it almost always gives me the warning that I'm going to go into "starvation mode." If that's the case, then I feel pretty well-fed for someone who's starving.

KassLamb · March 2013

I would talk with your doctor. With the elimanation diet you will (hopefully) be able to add some of those foods back into your diet so this shouldn't be a long term thing. Good luck with the migraines.

This is true. I'm adding things back in, one at a time, every 3 days. I started Jan 7, and my last day is April 9, and then I can start re-trying foods I may have had reactions to. Severe migraines with nuts and vinegar so far.

I'm kind of afraid of bread, though. I love bread. I fear that on the day I add back in yeast breads, I'll go nuts and buy all the bread in the bakery. lol.

Thank you.

chellebublz · March 2013

I have the same problem and people are always telling me to eat more. But I just don't see the point in eating junk just to hit that magic number. If I'm not hungry I can't force myself to eat..

Sorry I wasn't much help at all since I don't know the answer, I'm not one of the scientific number crunchers but I think quality vs quantity no matter what the road mappers tell me.

KassLamb · March 2013

I have an idea that may be inaccurate or just plain wrong. But I'll put it out there anyway for discussion sake.

I'm definitely overweight and just left the "obese" category. I've always turned to junk foods for comfort. Small volume, high Calorie foods. Perhaps making a sudden jump from those foods to natural foods is the reason for the low Calorie intake. I never thought I ate very much. And I didn't, if we were to look at volume instead of Calories. But these whole, natural foods take up so much more volume and are significantly lower Cal, not to mention high in fiber. Therefore, I feel more full faster and longer, and can't physically put any more food in.

What do y'all think? Plausible?

jamieeas · March 2013

I have felt the same way many times as well. When you're eating nutrient dense, low calorie foods, sometimes it's hard to hit those calories. Add in lean meats full of protein and you're going to feel full. I would suggest listening to your body and if you're hitting your numbers for everything else (vitamins, etc.) then don't worry too much if you don't hit your number. I would try to stay over a 1000 at least though. I found that I could do that easily, but I added in protein shakes and nuts which I saw were on your list of things you're not eating. Good luck.

Feeling full, but way under my Calorie goal

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