Anyone else have trouble eating at least 1200?
AmykinsCatfood
Posts: 599 Member
I have a big problem in the summer with forcing myself to eat at least 1200 calories, when my goal is 1520. Most days I don't make it to 1200.. usually end up around 1100 or a little less. Even when I exercise which is becoming much more frequent, I struggle to eat 1200 plus at least some of my exercise calories. I ate a little over 1300 today and it was almost like torture forcing myself to eat that much. And to be clear I don't have an eating disorder or anything like that (I love food way too much..) I just tend to eat less in the summer and don't get very hungry. I also have a feeling that not eating enough is what is causing my rollercoaster weight loss. Up a lb one week and down 4 the next. It's been this way for about 2 months now. It happens without fail. I've started only weighing every 2 weeks because I got tired of seeing that gain in between. Still losing approximately 2lbs a week, but it would be nice if it could be a little more steady and not fluctuate as much.
Is there anything I can do or eat to help me get up to my calorie goal without adding a lot of sodium, carbs, fat and sugars? Don't care about going over on fiber or protein, but I have a hard time with my sugars and fats. I know I could always eat a hamburger or something to bump me up to my goal, but I'm trying to get away from processed and fatty foods. Also, I know my food diary is set to friends only.. I'm not looking for people to comment on what I'm eating, just offer suggestions for getting to my calorie goal.
Is there anything I can do or eat to help me get up to my calorie goal without adding a lot of sodium, carbs, fat and sugars? Don't care about going over on fiber or protein, but I have a hard time with my sugars and fats. I know I could always eat a hamburger or something to bump me up to my goal, but I'm trying to get away from processed and fatty foods. Also, I know my food diary is set to friends only.. I'm not looking for people to comment on what I'm eating, just offer suggestions for getting to my calorie goal.
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what are you eating that only takes up 1100 calories for your whole day?
i just changed my goal to 1850 to account for exercise e. in other words, TDEE - 20%. i loooove food--sometimes it's hard to stay under my calorie limit. i'm just wondering how it could be so difficult to reach 1200...i ask sincerely, not sarcastically.0 -
Protein powder (I mix mine in soy milk) is one way to bump your calorie intake without feeling too full. I mostly use it after workouts since I don't want to feel too full while I'm coming off a burn (personal preference). Nuts are another calorie dense but good for you food. Yes, they're relatively high in fat, but it's a healthy fat and you need some to make sure that you are able to absorb all the necessary nutrients. As long as you have room in your macors, nuts are a great option. As for struggling to eat 1200...that's not a problem I have. I love to eat. On Insanity days, I'm usually eating about 2000 calories (and I still get peckish occasionally) and am still under my goals. If the issue is summer, it may be due to the fact that your schedule fluctuates a lot more so you don't have the social cues to eat. I had that problem to a lesser extent when I was in college. There were days when I would forget to eat entirely because I got busy doing things and lost track of time. You could try being a little more structured in your eating schedule. That might help you get hungry enough.0
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Bump. I have the same problem. I exercise a lot in the summer (more than winter), but I'm much less hungry!! The heat makes me REALLY not hungry.
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exact same problem here. Most days I follow a vegetarian diet with the exception of seafood, so I really struggle with hitting that mark some days. I had to force myself to eat extra today.0
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You're not getting the answers you seek because most of us don't understand the question and it's asked over and over again. I would suggest searching similar topic and reading the responses there. Most of us are not here because we have trouble getting to 1200 calories a day. Good luck.0
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what are you eating that only takes up 1100 calories for your whole day?
i just changed my goal to 1850 to account for exercise e. in other words, TDEE - 20%. i loooove food--sometimes it's hard to stay under my calorie limit. i'm just wondering how it could be so difficult to reach 1200...i ask sincerely, not sarcastically.
I wonder the same thing ^^ what type of food do you eat? I struggle staying under my calories goal (1595 cals)0 -
yeah ive tried that ...but man too rough for me...so i did mine little more cals for now... but i try to get below my level, when i can..0
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My trouble is sticking to 1200 calories, I can consume way more than that if I am not tracking.0
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add in calorie dense items like avocadoes, nuts, eggs.
plus it's summer time girl, take your *kitten* to some bbq's and eat some ribs, chicken, brisket, burgers :laugh:
when all else fails there's also help by hopping into the ice-cream mobile :laugh:
i currently have no appetite because of an illness and i've been using open faced ice cream sandwich on a cookie as an easy way to get 400 calories. i'm sure my white blood cells cant make use of those ice cream and cookie calories :laugh:0 -
no problems.
1421cals 112P/138C/50F 36g fibre, 2040 potassium in 3min 21secs.
peri peri fish & spinach soft tacos & smores pop tarts with pb crave cookie dough pb
vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja9HjB1nETg 0 -
no problems.
1421cals 112P/138C/50F 36g fibre, 2040 potassium in 3min 21secs.
peri peri fish & spinach soft tacos & smores pop tarts with pb crave cookie dough pb
vid:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja9HjB1nETg
Awesome speed!0 -
I know the feeling of trying to stay under that. Though today was not one of the recent days....
But what I have done is cut out eating more than one serving of something when out with friends. And I upped my intake of fruit and vegetables. I eat a bowl of melons and banana every day for lunch. And I split my meals into four time a day. Allowing snacks of course. But usually start small with breakfast and brunch. Then it varies day to day on the lunch and evenings since I work so much.
I got back to regular exercise after a fall at work that took out my knee and wrist for over four weeks. But I have seen a lose of over 5 pounds in about two weeks from my diet change. I don't just eat something that says low fat or low cal. I really take into consideration what exactly I am eat. (most of the time) XD0 -
probably should have another crack at a PB sometime. The MEGA thick PB slowed me down a lot.0
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WOW!!!! Im amazed!!! my problem is staying at 1200 cals!! I usually end up going over, how does anyone have problems with trying to get to 1200, i just dont understand it! no matter what the weather is, i wanna eat! and always hungry lol! i have lost 200 plus lbs.. so i just try to maintain but its freakin hard!0
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I have the same problem with trying to reach 1200 calories! I eat a healthy amount of food but I just can't seem to get up to it! I think mines mainly to do with stress at the moment and how I can't stomach heavy foods so I just eat light things.0
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I had the same problem for a while til I realized that you cant be low everything. and maintain a good calorie level. You will likely have to eat more fat to get your calorie level where it should be. I find its hard to get enough protein without getting more fat too.0
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Not eating enough sets you up for disaster.0
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I did when i first started i ddint understand food but if you cant make it 100ml of milk is 100 cals or some greek yoghurt and jam ect you need to experiment a but xx0
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I'm only 5' tall and have a sedentary job, so my calorie target was set at 1200. I go to Curves three times a week and that adds quite a few calories, though I heard that Curves overestimates how many calories you burn during one of their Smart-tab workouts so I don't want to get too close to my calorie goal...but I'm not exactly slacking when I go there, I'm sweating buckets every time.
And now I have a FitBit so I go for walks every day to get past the 10,000 steps goal, and that adds more calories to my target, so I find myself at a loss at the end of the day when my FitBit syncs with my computer and I suddenly have a load of calories going spare. I haven't had it for long, but I should be able to work out on average what will be added and eat some of those for lunch, but I find myself quite full on what I'm already eating - it's only when I'm getting right up to dinner time that I find myself feeling really hungry.
I know that having too large a calorie deficit is not a good idea, so I'm trying to fix this. Trial and error I suppose!
Getting a drink of skimmed milk or something sounds like a good idea to pad things out - a BBC documentary I watched (the one that gave me the final kick into getting started with a diet back in March) showed tests that seemed to indicate that calcium binds with fat to make it into something your body is less capable of processing [http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/humanbody/truthaboutfood/slim/calcium.shtml], so I'll be giving that one a try!0 -
When I'm under my calorie goal, I hit the jar of PB or eat nuts. Don't fear fat.i have lost 200 plus lbs.. so i just try to maintain but its freakin hard!
Well done!!
I'd be looking at my next goal to maintain lower levels of bodyfat namely by some kind of fitness or sporty challenge whether it's to do a marathon (if running's your thing) or taking up a new sport.0 -
I have a big problem in the summer with forcing myself to eat at least 1200 calories, when my goal is 1520. Most days I don't make it to 1200.. usually end up around 1100 or a little less. Even when I exercise which is becoming much more frequent, I struggle to eat 1200 plus at least some of my exercise calories. I ate a little over 1300 today and it was almost like torture forcing myself to eat that much. And to be clear I don't have an eating disorder or anything like that (I love food way too much..) I just tend to eat less in the summer and don't get very hungry. I also have a feeling that not eating enough is what is causing my rollercoaster weight loss. Up a lb one week and down 4 the next. It's been this way for about 2 months now. It happens without fail. I've started only weighing every 2 weeks because I got tired of seeing that gain in between. Still losing approximately 2lbs a week, but it would be nice if it could be a little more steady and not fluctuate as much.
Is there anything I can do or eat to help me get up to my calorie goal without adding a lot of sodium, carbs, fat and sugars? Don't care about going over on fiber or protein, but I have a hard time with my sugars and fats. I know I could always eat a hamburger or something to bump me up to my goal, but I'm trying to get away from processed and fatty foods. Also, I know my food diary is set to friends only.. I'm not looking for people to comment on what I'm eating, just offer suggestions for getting to my calorie goal.
I'm sure I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking but how did you get overweight (your ticker says you want to lose 130 pounds) by not eating more calories? If you are struggling to eat 1200 calories after you probably have done it in the past, then I would say you may have developed an eating disorder. Not a doctor, but just stating my opinion...1200 is easy peasy. Most of us here have a hard time sticking under 2000.0 -
I have a big problem in the summer with forcing myself to eat at least 1200 calories, when my goal is 1520. Most days I don't make it to 1200.. usually end up around 1100 or a little less. Even when I exercise which is becoming much more frequent, I struggle to eat 1200 plus at least some of my exercise calories. I ate a little over 1300 today and it was almost like torture forcing myself to eat that much. And to be clear I don't have an eating disorder or anything like that (I love food way too much..) I just tend to eat less in the summer and don't get very hungry. I also have a feeling that not eating enough is what is causing my rollercoaster weight loss. Up a lb one week and down 4 the next. It's been this way for about 2 months now. It happens without fail. I've started only weighing every 2 weeks because I got tired of seeing that gain in between. Still losing approximately 2lbs a week, but it would be nice if it could be a little more steady and not fluctuate as much.
Is there anything I can do or eat to help me get up to my calorie goal without adding a lot of sodium, carbs, fat and sugars? Don't care about going over on fiber or protein, but I have a hard time with my sugars and fats. I know I could always eat a hamburger or something to bump me up to my goal, but I'm trying to get away from processed and fatty foods. Also, I know my food diary is set to friends only.. I'm not looking for people to comment on what I'm eating, just offer suggestions for getting to my calorie goal.
I'm sure I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking but how did you get overweight (your ticker says you want to lose 130 pounds) by not eating more calories? If you are struggling to eat 1200 calories after you probably have done it in the past, then I would say you may have developed an eating disorder. Not a doctor, but just stating my opinion...1200 is easy peasy. Most of us here have a hard time sticking under 2000.
I have always been this way, but after highschool once I was out on my own I would eat fast food for nearly every meal. In the morning I would grab a fast food muffin or egg sandwich and then not eat anything until around 5pm, and then get a big mac meal and some cookies or something. So, little food, but food loaded with calories and fats. I'm eating healthy foods now, and trying my hardest to stay within all of my macros, but I still have the issue of not really feeling like eating. I do NOT have an eating disorder, thank you very much. If I am hungry I eat, if I'm not hungry I don't eat. Most of the time I am simply not hungry. I sit in a classroom most of the day so I don't move around a lot until later when I go for my walk or bike ride. I'm sorry if I confused people on what I was asking, but please do not go assuming that everyone who doesn't eat 1200 calories has an eating disorder.0 -
I wish i had this problem LOL are you eating mostly at night? Or maybe your a secret eater? Its just your over weight if you truly had trouble eating 1200 you would be stick thin. Heres a suggestion, stock up on low calorie foods like veggies, fruit, chicken, ect. Then try to snack most of the day on those foods if you still havent hit that 1200 calorie mark get a nutrition drink and some fat free milk
thats at least 350 calories 0 -
No, I'm not a big night eater.. a small snack and cup of tea usually, but that's all. My big meal is usually lunch. I honestly think it's the heat. I have no problem getting to my goal when it's cooler, just in the summer I don't feel a lot like eating. I don't know why I never consider drinking milk.. I just never do. I will have at least one glass a day from now on.0
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I also adjusted my macros to be at least 30% proteins and fats, and only 40% carbs. I barely ever hit even half of my carbs allowance so I took away some from there and put it to proteins and fats. Now I won't feel guilty eating more fats.0
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How are you people eating 1,200 calories not getting hungry or tired? And why is it such a struggle to eat a mere 1,200 calories? Sorry, this is such a mystery to me. I easily put away 1,200 calories before I even have my last meal of the day.
As others have suggested, try adding more calorie dense healthy foods such as nuts, olive oil, avocado, fatty fish (if you like fish), etc. I bumped up my calories by simply adding a handful of walnuts and ground flaxseed to my morning oatmeal, sprinkling a couple tablespoons of wheatgerm in my yogurt, and adding half an avocado to my sandwich or just eating it with my toast.
A couple tablespoons of almond butter on toast and a glass of skim milk is 300-400 calories and won't make you feel like you're about to bust a gut. It's so easy to add more calories without adding a lot of extra food that I just don't understand why this is a problem on MFP day after day.
Maybe the problem is that the OP is a picky eater and has a limited diet? I have no clue but best of luck to you, OP.0 -
And to be clear I don't have an eating disorder or anything like that (I love food way too much..) I just tend to eat less in the summer and don't get very hungry.
I just want to point out that you CAN have an eating disorder and LOVE food, the majority of people who have suffered with ED's do in fact, love food, it's all psychological, nothing to do with food, most of the time, sorry psych major here, I hate generalizations of ED's, especially since I've been there.
But, I can relate to not eating enough, when I am on my Adderall I never want to eat, I get so busy and forget most of time, which can be very bad, and screwed me over in more ways than one freshman year of college.
If you have to set reminders on your phone, have snack bags of almonds or nuts with you and snack on those throughout the day! Don't like plain almonds? Try yogurt covered ones or dark chocolate covered ones. I also love to eat avocados, I only eat about a half of one though in one sitting because of the cal and fat content, but eat the whole thing on whatever you like (toast, bread, bagel etc) and there is 200 or so calories just from the avocado.0 -
its a routine/habit u need to get used to. eating every 2-3 hrs is good for the body- keeps the metabolism moving. try adding 1-2 simple portable snacks to your day, that wont fill u up but will keep your body fueled between meals... maybe a piece of fruit and a protein bar. the two of those will add a healthy 250-300 cals to your day, putting u in a healthier calorie range and your body will function better.
when i was younger i "didnt have time for breakfast" in middle school, since i didnt want to get up even earlier to eat something. my grandfather stayed with us for a few weeks one time, saw i didnt eat bfast, and insisted on making me bfast every morning. even those few weeks helped start the habit, and now i cant go more than an hour after waking up without eating something...or im a grumpy, starving *kitten*.
MFP is all about learning and incorporating new healthy habits. 0 -
its a routine/habit u need to get used to. eating every 2-3 hrs is good for the body- keeps the metabolism moving. try adding 1-2 simple portable snacks to your day, that wont fill u up but will keep your body fueled between meals... maybe a piece of fruit and a protein bar. the two of those will add a healthy 250-300 cals to your day, putting u in a healthier calorie range and your body will function better.
when i was younger i "didnt have time for breakfast" in middle school, since i didnt want to get up even earlier to eat something. my grandfather stayed with us for a few weeks one time, saw i didnt eat bfast, and insisted on making me bfast every morning. even those few weeks helped start the habit, and now i cant go more than an hour after waking up without eating something...or im a grumpy, starving *kitten*.
MFP is all about learning and incorporating new healthy habits.
While I agree that for someone who is not eating enough, eating more regularly may be a good idea, meal frequency within the day does not impact your metabolism and there is nothing wrong with not eating breakfast if your eating habits tend that way.0
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