under eating my calories :(

i have been doing this calorie counting thing on and off and i always find myself not eating all my calories and its driving me nuts because i dont know what to do :( anyone have any suggestions on what i should do?

Replies

  • I'm guessing you want an answer that is something other than, 'Eat them,' but I'm not really sure what you need help with other than that.
  • What is your calorie limit, and are you trying to gain or lose?

    as far as I know, as long as you are over 1200, you should be good. But that's just what I've heard.
  • tomcornhole
    tomcornhole Posts: 1,084 Member
    Same problem here. I made it simple: 2 tbsp of peanut butter cause it's tasty. 190 calories of creamy, clean food goodness. I also do shots of olive oil for more fat (and regularness), but that is a bit extreme (but a whopping 230 cal for 2 tablespoons). A Quest protein bar once a day helps as well.
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    Add calories dense foods such as peanut butter, other nuts, dairy, cheese, avocado, cookies, cake....lol (cake and cookies in moderation , of course!) :happy:
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    What's your calorie goal?

    Maybe start making a smoothie with some protein powder in it. Or just the smoothie itself. I also agree with the peanut butter. Sometimes I like to treat myself to a cappuccino to fill calories or hot coco before bed.
  • kirlia
    kirlia Posts: 81 Member
    3 delicious & healthy high-cal faves:
    -Avocado sprinkled with nutritional yeast
    -Banana with almond butter
    -Nuts roasted with a bit of olive oil and spices
  • aikasm
    aikasm Posts: 63
    eat when you're hungry, if you're not hungry don't eat. if you do this and still don't meet your calorie goal don't sweat it, just make sure you aren't lying to yourself about whether or not you're hungry
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Often when I see this topic and I check the posters diary, there are a lot of things like low fat dairy, very lean meats, fat free salad dressing, "diet" foods, etc. People have this idea that being on a diet means avoiding foods that have higher calories and eating only salads. Lots of calorie dense foods have lots of nutrients - eggs, avocado, seeds nuts and nut butters, olive oil. Adding these types of things to your diet increase calories without adding a ton of extra food to eat. Switch out low fat/low cal diet products as well and you will find it easier.
  • tomcornhole
    tomcornhole Posts: 1,084 Member
    eat when you're hungry, if you're not hungry don't eat. if you do this and still don't meet your calorie goal don't sweat it, just make sure you aren't lying to yourself about whether or not you're hungry

    If I followed that advice I would never lose weight. I want to eat 1,600 cal / day. My TDEE is 2,700 cal / day. I target 2,000 cal / day. I did the "eat when your hungry thing" and gained weight. Something went whacko. Now that I am targeting 2,000 cal / day, I am losing l.5 lbs / week.
  • Melwith9
    Melwith9 Posts: 17
    I posted about this not to long ago as well.. I switched to using the TDEE calculations for calories and I was supposed to be getting a LOT more calories then I was.. and I struggled with being full at 1200 and not wanting a lot more food.. I got so many great ideas that upped my calories and it wasn't like I had to add a ton of food.

    I add avocado to salads or smoothies
    a handful of nuts
    a banana with pb (this is now my fav after workout snack)
    and I started using butter to cook my veggies in instead of the spray oil..
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    eat when you're hungry, if you're not hungry don't eat. if you do this and still don't meet your calorie goal don't sweat it, just make sure you aren't lying to yourself about whether or not you're hungry

    Except that restricting calories can affect appetite and there are negative effects to eating too little long term. Hunger is not always a reliable signal. Many people who over eat feel hunger constantly. Often people who suffer from anorexia do not feel hunger and are literally starving.
    I'm not saying stuff yourself but make an effort to be near goal on a regular basis.
  • CharRicho
    CharRicho Posts: 389 Member
    When I need more calories I usually go for some nuts, peanut butter, or yoghurt.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    Often when I see this topic and I check the posters diary, there are a lot of things like low fat dairy, very lean meats, fat free salad dressing, "diet" foods, etc. People have this idea that being on a diet means avoiding foods that have higher calories and eating only salads. Lots of calorie dense foods have lots of nutrients - eggs, avocado, seeds nuts and nut butters, olive oil. Adding these types of things to your diet increase calories without adding a ton of extra food to eat. Switch out low fat/low cal diet products as well and you will find it easier.

    I did something like that for about 5 days and then switched some back to normal. I didn't post here, I just realized the low fat stuff wasn't gonna cut it.
  • Stary714
    Stary714 Posts: 110 Member
    I'm jealous :P Try finding a healthy snack you like and just try to fit that snack in your day whenever you can. Also, it's not a bad thing as long as your consuming more then 1200 a day