So many calories, what do I eat?

Theerod
Theerod Posts: 7
in Food and Nutrition
My girlfriend and I downloaded this app to help us lose weight. We put in all our data and I received 2510 calories a day and she has 1790. We want to keep up with this goal to see how well this will work, but we both have one problem. We do not eat enough calories.

We've had this app for a few days and my goal is 2510 calories. Today, I have put in everything I have eaten for lunch, dinner, and my exercise, and I have a remaining 1468 calories left (I didn't eat breakfast because I don't always have the time because of school, but breakfast would only be around 500 more calories). I feel like I have eaten a lot and I don't know what else to eat to get up to my goal. Is there any kinds of snacks or meals that I can eat in order to reach this goal? What can I do to fix this??
(My girlfriend is in the same situation, her calorie goal is 1790 and she has a remaining 646 for today, and we eat just about the same meals)

Replies

  • AwesomeGuy37
    AwesomeGuy37 Posts: 436 Member
    Did you set weight loss to 2 lb. per week?
    What is your age?
    current weight?
    activity level?
    Height?
  • Theerod
    Theerod Posts: 7
    My weight loss is 1 lb per week, 18 of age, 188 is my current weight, my activity level is active - 6 times a week (at LEAST a mile of running [It's a treadmill program] + some strength), and my height is 5 foot 10 inches.

    EDIT: Oh, and if needed, my weight goal is 170 lbs
  • AwesomeGuy37
    AwesomeGuy37 Posts: 436 Member
    My weight loss is 1 lb per week, 18 of age, 188 is my current weight, my activity level is active - 6 times a week (at LEAST a mile of running [It's a treadmill program] + some strength), and my height is 5 foot 10 inches.

    EDIT: Oh, and if needed, my weight goal is 170 lbs

    Are you logging exercise on top of the 2510 and left with a net of 1042, or are you eating a total of 1042?
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    Go kill a cow and eat it. If you are 1000 calories short of your MFP goal, your deficit is about 1500 .... in other words, you're eating less than 50% of your goal. Either you're not logging accurately, or you're not eating anywhere near enough for an active 18 year old male. Add breakfast ... add healthy snacks ... then look at your macro intake and ensure you're at least coming close to your protein goal to help protect lean mass.
  • smithed812
    smithed812 Posts: 289
    Ice cream!
  • mollymichelle13
    mollymichelle13 Posts: 1 Member
    If you are eating clean it's hard to consume that many calories, Nuts are pretty dense in calories, and fruit because of the sugar can be pretty calorie packed. I do protein shakes to reach my goal if needed, usually if I have done a couple of workouts in one day. Sweet potatoes or regular potatoes can bump up your calories if needed. I avoid sugar, bread/wheat, and dairy in large amounts, so sometimes getting to 1500 calories is a challenge for me.
  • Theerod
    Theerod Posts: 7
    Are you logging exercise on top of the 2510 and left with a net of 1042, or are you eating a total of 1042?

    My goal is 2510 per day. I ate 1215 for the day. My exercise is -173, and that puts my net at 1042.

    Go kill a cow and eat it. If you are 1000 calories short of your MFP goal, your deficit is about 1500 .... in other words, you're eating less than 50% of your goal. Either you're not logging accurately, or you're not eating anywhere near enough for an active 18 year old male. Add breakfast ... add healthy snacks ... then look at your macro intake and ensure you're at least coming close to your protein goal to help protect lean mass.

    I had a ham sandwich for lunch. For something like that, I add it all in separate, like 2 servings of bread, a serving of ham, cheese, ect. right? And I had a protein bar for a snack, and all I do to add that is scan the bar code and put in a serving, right? That's how I've been doing that. I know some home meals require you to make the recipe and divide it up into how much you eat to find the calories, but that's how I've been doing it for something simple like a sandwich. (That's not everything I ate, just a few to show examples) I also haven't been paying much attention to the nutrients because I want to get this all figured out first.
    If you are eating clean it's hard to consume that many calories, Nuts are pretty dense in calories, and fruit because of the sugar can be pretty calorie packed. I do protein shakes to reach my goal if needed, usually if I have done a couple of workouts in one day. Sweet potatoes or regular potatoes can bump up your calories if needed. I avoid sugar, bread/wheat, and dairy in large amounts, so sometimes getting to 1500 calories is a challenge for me.

    Nuts and fruit, I will keep that in my shopping list for next time, thank you so much that helps me a lot. And protein shakes, I will look into that as well. For the potatoes, I would just bake one right? And yeah, I keep away from sugar, bread, and dairy because it's not my favorite kinds of food. I don't know if I would say I am eating clean, because of money issues I have to rely on a lot of canned/packaged food, but I do try to make something healthy when I have the ingredients to make.
  • nikkihk
    nikkihk Posts: 487 Member
    It's easy... butter, cheese, olive oils, nuts... etc. I mean a handful of nuts can run you 500 cals without trying. Nutrient dense cereals, a slice of pie... ;D

    But no joke, this isn't hard.
  • AwesomeGuy37
    AwesomeGuy37 Posts: 436 Member
    Are you logging exercise on top of the 2510 and left with a net of 1042, or are you eating a total of 1042?

    My goal is 2510 per day. I ate 1215 for the day. My exercise is -173, and that puts my net at 1042.

    Either activity level OR log exercise. Not both. 173 isn't very active.. TDEE for someone active 6 days a week with your stats is 2400/day.with a 15% cut..... @1215 you are still deficient. Your BMR is about 1800. Don't eat less than 1800 a day. Also this:
    If you are eating clean it's hard to consume that many calories

    I didn't want to assume anything before asking you some questions. Good luck with your diet goals.
  • Theerod
    Theerod Posts: 7
    Thanks everyone for contributing! I've got lots of new ideas to try from you all and things to fix. I will definitely fix some things that I eat and some settings I might have wrong, but thanks again everyone! This helped me a lot
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    avocadoes and nuts are good, as is dairy, eggs and protein in general
    avoid low cal/diet options .
    and if all else fails have a burrito or ice cream or popeye's chicken :wink:

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