Can't seem to make my goal

Achrya
Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
edited January 29 in Food and Nutrition
I'm having issues making my calories. My goal is 1825 calories a day which seems like a reasonable goal, until I try to eat veggies. I find that if I eat vegetables I get super full and end up way under my goal. I'm thinking of cutting out veg and just existing on meat, cheese, and grain. Any suggestions?
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Replies

  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    But what about carrot cake? Does it count as veg or grain?
  • mjrkearney
    mjrkearney Posts: 408 Member
    *swat* No cutting out the nutritious stuff for you.

    Pace it out. Measure out one serving of fruits and veggies and try to have them throughout the day. If you're having that big of a problem meeting your calorie goal, mix in some healthy fats like nuts and avocado and the like.

    Or have some chocolate milk. That gets me up there every time.
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    But what about carrot cake? Does it count as veg or grain?

    Are you trying to tell me to eat cake? Because I imagine the carrot content in carrot cake is very low.

    Shame on you.
  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    But what about carrot cake? Does it count as veg or grain?

    Are you trying to tell me to eat cake? Because I imagine the carrot content in carrot cake is very low.

    Shame on you.

    I use a load of carrots in my carrot cake, not to mention pineapple. Just getting clarification on food classifications is all.
  • sympha01
    sympha01 Posts: 942 Member
    I've recently realized I need to up my calories, and it's also a confusing adjustment for me. Different reasons -- not that I feel too full to eat but that if I eat more calories, I'm going to also get more sodium, which I don't want, unless I make other adjustments. So it's not just more food -- that would be too easy! -- but different food. I'm constantly having to "learn how to eat" all over again.

    If you are thinking your problem is filling up on veggies, have you tried spinach? I can eat a whole 9 oz bag of fresh spinach at one sitting and not feel like I ate a lot. (Because gee whiz, that stuff cooks down to NOTHING, doesn't it?) So it's a lot of veggie goodness for very little fill up. If broccoli is your go-to, yeah, it's going to be very filling -- broccoli and cauliflower and brussels sprouts are very fibrous and filling. Greens however, not so much.

    I don't believe you're asking us for an endorsement of giving up veggies, I know you are a very sensible gal! :smile:
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    *swat* No cutting out the nutritious stuff for you.

    Pace it out. Measure out one serving of fruits and veggies and try to have them throughout the day. If you're having that big of a problem meeting your calorie goal, mix in some healthy fats like nuts and avocado and the like.

    Or have some chocolate milk. That gets me up there every time.

    Hmm. I don't have issues with fruit, I eat grapefruit like it's the zombie apocalypse and that's the only food left, if the darn veggies that get me. A serving of broccoli and I just wanna lie down and take a nap. If I space them out I might end up tired all the time, you know? How would i get anything done? They just add so few calories.

    I don't know about more fats. I always hit my fat goal pretty dead on
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    But what about carrot cake? Does it count as veg or grain?

    Because I imagine the carrot content in carrot cake is very low.

    Shame on you.

    Depends.

    If you buy it pre-made, the probably.
    If you make it yourself, well then you can add as many carrots as you want.
  • shutupandlift13
    shutupandlift13 Posts: 727 Member
    Find some other calorie dense snacks like nuts, cheese, nut butter, coconut oil, ice cream. Easy ways to pack in calories after you've hit your macros... or to help you hit your macros.
  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    *swat* No cutting out the nutritious stuff for you.

    Pace it out. Measure out one serving of fruits and veggies and try to have them throughout the day. If you're having that big of a problem meeting your calorie goal, mix in some healthy fats like nuts and avocado and the like.

    Or have some chocolate milk. That gets me up there every time.

    Hmm. I don't have issues with fruit, I eat grapefruit like it's the zombie apocalypse and that's the only food left, if the darn veggies that get me. A serving of broccoli and I just wanna lie down and take a nap. If I space them out I might end up tired all the time, you know? How would i get anything done? They just add so few calories.

    I don't know about more fats. I always hit my fat goal pretty dead on

    Try taking a bite of snickers, or any other candy bar, after every bite of broccoli. Maybe the sugar will give you the energy to keep eating all that broccoli.
  • FitnessBeverlyHills
    FitnessBeverlyHills Posts: 189
    Have you tried adding in a protein shake, smoothie, or adding in a glass from juicing? Also complex carbs are higher in calories. I'm assuming you are trying to gain weight? Are you weight lifting? I definitely don't suggest cutting out the veggies though.

    I love the idea of adding cheese and nuts. A ball of Burrata is almost 500 calories, and believe me you"ll want to eat the entire ball Mmmmm
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    What is your macro breakdown? If you are low on fats, that is an easy way to add in some calorie density.
  • Notapurplebutapurrrrrple
    Notapurplebutapurrrrrple Posts: 14
    Watch your cholesterol if you eat a lot of protein. Some people are predisposed to high levels.
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    Find some other calorie dense snacks like nuts, cheese, nut butter, coconut oil, ice cream. Easy ways to pack in calories after you've hit your macros... or to help you hit your macros.

    Ice cream sounds like a great idea, I'm a fan.

    Try taking a bite of snickers, or any other candy bar, after every bite of broccoli. Maybe the sugar will give you the energy to keep eating all that broccoli.

    Maybe like an energy bar or something? I think Atkins makes a few different kinds of those.
  • CrankMeUp
    CrankMeUp Posts: 2,860 Member
    Have you tried adding in a protein shake, smoothie, or adding in a glass from juicing? Also complex carbs are higher in calories. I'm assuming you are trying to gain weight? Are you weight lifting? I definitely don't suggest cutting out the veggies though.

    I love the idea of adding cheese and nuts. A ball of Burrata is almost 500 calories, and believe me you"ll want to eat the entire ball Mmmmm

    Why would you assume she is trying to gain weight?
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    Have you tried adding in a protein shake, smoothie, or adding in a glass from juicing? Also complex carbs are higher in calories. I'm assuming you are trying to gain weight? Are you weight lifting? I definitely don't suggest cutting out the veggies though.

    I love the idea of adding cheese and nuts. A ball of Burrata is almost 500 calories, and believe me you"ll want to eat the entire ball Mmmmm

    No, I'm losing weight, about 13 pounds since April. I do lift weights though, 3 times a week, fairly heavy (for me) Using Stronglifts as my program at the moment.

    What is your macro breakdown? If you are low on fats, that is an easy way to add in some calorie density.

    I'm doing 40/30/30. I try to hit fat and protein, and usually do, and just kinda let carbs end up wherever.
    Watch your cholesterol if you eat a lot of protein. Some people are predisposed to high levels.

    Does protein have a lot of cholesterol?
  • shutupandlift13
    shutupandlift13 Posts: 727 Member
    What is your macro breakdown? If you are low on fats, that is an easy way to add in some calorie density.

    I'm doing 40/30/30. I try to hit fat and protein, and usually do, and just kinda let carbs end up wherever.

    % based macros can be a good start but things like protein and fat are probably better set up based on either BW or LBM.
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    Protein itself does not equal cholesterol. And not all cholesterol is bad. But I digress.

    If you have a lot of carbs left over, definitely go for the ice cream. It is a great end of day snack.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    it puts the butter on it's veggies...
  • shutupandlift13
    shutupandlift13 Posts: 727 Member
    Protein itself does not equal cholesterol. And not all cholesterol is bad. But I digress.

    If you have a lot of carbs left over, definitely go for the ice cream. It is a great end of day snack.

    Yes. Or those dirty, dirty pop tarts :wink:
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    it puts the butter on it's veggies...

    I don't eat butter.
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    Protein itself does not equal cholesterol. And not all cholesterol is bad. But I digress.

    If you have a lot of carbs left over, definitely go for the ice cream. It is a great end of day snack.

    Yes. Or those dirty, dirty pop tarts :wink:

    Oh yes, just wanna spank those naughty poptarts!
  • Zumaria1
    Zumaria1 Posts: 225 Member
    Pumpkin seeds, almonds, etc are high in calories and can help you meet your goal without the full feeling of veggies. Also, like some mentioned, avocado is also great if you like it, peanut butter is also great. Some squares of dark chocolate are also good for you, a treat, and will give you about 200 calories.
  • CrankMeUp
    CrankMeUp Posts: 2,860 Member
    it puts the butter on it's veggies...

    I don't eat butter.

    :angry:
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    What is your macro breakdown? If you are low on fats, that is an easy way to add in some calorie density.

    I'm doing 40/30/30. I try to hit fat and protein, and usually do, and just kinda let carbs end up wherever.

    % based macros can be a good start but things like protein and fat are probably better set up based on either BW or LBM.

    I kind of did that/kinda fudged it a little. I weigh 150 and I'm unsure of lean body mass, so I played with the slider until it got me to 137, which I figure is a good in between point for 1g/BW and 1g/LBM. The same with fat (.35g/BW) and tweaked til I got to 61g. And then carbs are the rest.
  • jdallas69
    jdallas69 Posts: 30 Member
    Keep tryin
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    Protein itself does not equal cholesterol. And not all cholesterol is bad. But I digress.

    If you have a lot of carbs left over, definitely go for the ice cream. It is a great end of day snack.

    Yes. Or those dirty, dirty pop tarts :wink:

    Ice cream I could see, but pop tarts? That just seems like a bad precedent.
  • delicious_cocktail
    delicious_cocktail Posts: 5,797 Member
    I totally know I'm going to get flamed for this, but I think it's good advice, so please just stick with me.

    You're talking about 1825 and having problems hitting your cals when you eat vegg. I'm NOT going to advocate that you cut out the vegg because that stuff has all the micronutrients that your body requires to function properly.

    But the way MFP is set up is that you're supposed to eat back your exercise calories. You're probably finding problems because you've been doing all this weightlifting and other stuff. If you don't do the exercise MFP won't keep raising your calorie goal. No one ever got fat from eating too little am I right LOL?

    So just think about scaling back your exercise, keep eating everything you're currently eating, and then eat a few vegetables. That, plus not exercising, and I think you'll really start seeing results of some kind.
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    Supplements. They make a pill for everything.









    Also this:

    1e5d25f4-0dbd-426e-9019-d360b129083f_zps9caf145c.jpg
  • FitnessBeverlyHills
    FitnessBeverlyHills Posts: 189
    Tons of suggestions here, I would add in any of these that sounds best for you. But if you are trying to lose weight, and your body doesn't feel hungry, there is no need to force feed yourself. Others maybe disagree and say you are absolutely required to hit a certain calorie goal, but when I am trying to lose weight I typically listen to my body and if I'm satisfied I let it be. I figure once the weekend rolls around I'll probably make up for it by enjoying myself when I'm going out to eat.

    The reason I asked if she was trying to gain weight is because when a lot of body builders and clients focused on gaining weight and gaining muscle, they have to eat more and sometimes even force themselves to eat when they are not hungry.
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    it puts the butter on it's veggies...

    I don't eat butter.

    :angry:

    It raises my sodium and when I have too much sodium I don't lose weight for weeks! I don't think you know what you're talking about.
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