How can I get more calories?

GothyFaery
GothyFaery Posts: 762 Member
in Goal: Maintaining Weight
I'm switching to maintenance and I just can't figure out how to get more calories. I'm very picky and most of the go to's (peanut butter, avocados, chia seeds, etc.) are a no go for me. I can normally get most of my calories in on the weekend, it's the weekdays I'm struggling with. Yesterday alone I had a 900 calorie deficit (normally it's lower than that, like 300-700). Can anyone offer any suggestions?
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Replies

  • bravid98
    bravid98 Posts: 80 Member
    If you like fruit that's an easy, higher calorie food to add in. I eat 1 or 2 bananas per day and usually an apple as well. Today I added in 290 calories from the 2 bananas and apple I ate.

    Looking at your diary though you seem like you could use more protein on the days you're under your calorie goal. Maybe somethings like tuna, greek yogurt or some nuts would help with that.
  • lindsaymarcin
    lindsaymarcin Posts: 81 Member
    what about milk or fruit juice?
  • GothyFaery
    GothyFaery Posts: 762 Member
    I just switched back to real milk from almond milk but that's still not a huge increase. I do try to incorporate fruit in my day, maybe I will try to add a little more. I've tried my whole life to like yogurt but I just can't stand the texture. I wish I could eat it because it would be a great way to boost my protein. I've been trying to work on that too.
  • __freckles__
    __freckles__ Posts: 1,238 Member
    I just switched back to real milk from almond milk but that's still not a huge increase. I do try to incorporate fruit in my day, maybe I will try to add a little more. I've tried my whole life to like yogurt but I just can't stand the texture. I wish I could eat it because it would be a great way to boost my protein. I've been trying to work on that too.

    Put a scoop of protein powder in your milk and ta-da! More calories and more protein! Also do you like ice cream? :wink:
  • sfbaumgarten
    sfbaumgarten Posts: 912 Member
    I just switched back to real milk from almond milk but that's still not a huge increase. I do try to incorporate fruit in my day, maybe I will try to add a little more. I've tried my whole life to like yogurt but I just can't stand the texture. I wish I could eat it because it would be a great way to boost my protein. I've been trying to work on that too.

    Put a scoop of protein powder in your milk and ta-da! More calories and more protein! Also do you like ice cream? :wink:

    And add chocolate! Just for good measure...
  • coconutfox
    coconutfox Posts: 23 Member
    Oil on EVERYTHING. Ok, maybe not everything...but I use it for flavour and it's an expensive flavour in calorie terms!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    saute or roast veggies and whatnot in olive oil. cook with butter and other oils. full fat salad dressings with salad. whole fat dairy products..milk, cheese, etc. eat nuts. dark chocolate for desert...or ice cream. beer/wine, etc.
  • ChrisM8971
    ChrisM8971 Posts: 1,067 Member
    A couple of glasses of wine works wonders :drinker:

    Apart from that then walnuts, olive oil, cheese a good old slice of bread and butter........
  • __freckles__
    __freckles__ Posts: 1,238 Member
    I just switched back to real milk from almond milk but that's still not a huge increase. I do try to incorporate fruit in my day, maybe I will try to add a little more. I've tried my whole life to like yogurt but I just can't stand the texture. I wish I could eat it because it would be a great way to boost my protein. I've been trying to work on that too.

    Put a scoop of protein powder in your milk and ta-da! More calories and more protein! Also do you like ice cream? :wink:

    And add chocolate! Just for good measure...

    QFT. I usually drizzle some nutella and peanut butter on my ice cream. True story.
  • Morgaath
    Morgaath Posts: 679 Member
    The other day you had strawberries for breakfast ...something like 50cals.
    Drink 2 cups of whole milk with it and you are now at 250 cals.
    Put the strawberries, milk and a scoop of protein mix in a blender, and now you are at 400 cals total.
    Maybe add in some Greek yogurt.
    Have a Balance bar as an afternoon snack, and there is another 200 cals.
    Eat a slice of deep dish pizza.
    Have a scoop of ice cream.
    Drink a Guinness beer (210 cals)
    Drink a big Margarita while eating some Mexican food, including the chips.
    Have a slice of pie.
    Stop eating anything that says "diet" or "low cal"
    Remember what it was like to eat.

    This is why you are supposed to keep dropping your deficit as you get closer to target. It teaches you how to eat for maintenance.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    hmm

    ice cream
    chocolate
    Peanut butter
    cheese popcorn
    snickers bar
    beer
    pizza

    French fries with gravy
    Deep fried fish and chips

    so many options.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    have a glass of milk with every meal.
  • giggitygoo
    giggitygoo Posts: 1,978 Member
    Simple answer: eat more of your favorite foods!
  • WaterBunnie
    WaterBunnie Posts: 1,371 Member
    Or slightly increase all of your portions.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    saute or roast veggies and whatnot in olive oil. cook with butter and other oils. full fat salad dressings with salad. whole fat dairy products..milk, cheese, etc. eat nuts. dark chocolate for desert...or ice cream. beer/wine, etc.

    <3 this guy
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    hmm

    ice cream
    chocolate
    Peanut butter
    cheese popcorn
    snickers bar
    beer
    pizza

    French fries with gravy
    Deep fried fish and chips

    so many options.

    and this girl.

    for realz

    my peoples!!!! <opens sticky ice cream and beer covered arms>
  • nilbogger
    nilbogger Posts: 870 Member
    Would you be willing to take some of the extra calories I eat?
  • PJPrimrose
    PJPrimrose Posts: 916 Member
    I have the same issue. I am trying not to lose weight so I eat more junk food, right? Well my stupid protein percentage goes down. I think I need to switch to eating protein by body weight not percentage of food. I tried to fill up on meat calories and couldn't eat it all!
  • georgina1970
    georgina1970 Posts: 333 Member
    Congratulations on reaching maintenance.
    Presuming you want to continue eating healthy foods I would suggest increasing your calories through healthy fats gradually. These will satisfy you, and food will be more enjoyable.
    Suggestions are:
    Raw nuts or nut butters - any kind will do
    Full cream milk for cereals etc
    Mayonnaise - the real stuff!
    Olive based dressings
    Coconut milk/cream in curries/stews, or a little over fruit and nuts for breakfast
    Chorizo sausage - fried or in a salad
    Pesto
    Maintenance is another journey that can take some time to adjust to.
    Have fun!
  • AlysonG2
    AlysonG2 Posts: 713 Member
    hmm

    ice cream
    chocolate
    Peanut butter
    cheese popcorn
    snickers bar
    beer
    pizza

    French fries with gravy
    Deep fried fish and chips

    so many options.

    Mmmm you make me hungry. Except I'll need honey mustard with my fries.
  • GothyFaery
    GothyFaery Posts: 762 Member
    Thanks for the responses. For everyone saying just eat more, the problem is I'm not that hungry. When I'm at work I have to set reminders to eat at certain times because I get caught up in what I'm doing and I just don't get hungry until I get to the point I'm about to pass out.

    As for the ice cream, I do eat it and I eat a lot of it at times. But I want to include healthier calories. I love junk food but it makes me sick to eat too much.

    Full fat milk is very doable. That used to be the only milk I would drink so as soon as the fat free stuff is gone, I will most likely go for the higher fat stuff. Any suggestions for protein powders? I have BSN stuff that I don't mind but everything else I ever had tasted so bad I never drank it.

    ETA: Oh, and as far as the wine/beer recommendations, I really only drink whisky and I usually hit it hard when I do hit it. I do know an amazing recipe for a caramel martini that I could do every now and then....
  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    I'm switching to maintenance and I just can't figure out how to get more calories.

    I hear tell that they sell them at McDonalds.

    There's no such thing as "bad food". Just stay within your calorie budget.
  • MichelleAymond
    MichelleAymond Posts: 53
    A couple of glasses of wine works wonders :drinker:

    Apart from that then walnuts, olive oil, cheese a good old slice of bread and butter........

    when i have extra that's exactly what i do, add a beer or glass of wine! maybe a handful of a trailmix here and there? you could make your own with things you like, store in an airtight container, would last for a long time. i make one with cracklin' oat bran, butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, raisins (both dark and golden), and almonds. a handful kills my sweet craving....mossst of the time!

    good luck to you.... :)
  • GothyFaery
    GothyFaery Posts: 762 Member
    I'm switching to maintenance and I just can't figure out how to get more calories.

    I hear tell that they sell them at McDonalds.

    There's no such thing as "bad food". Just stay within your calorie budget.

    Trust me, I am not the type to "demonize" food. I love fast food and go to Taco Bell every single Friday and Sunday. It's an addiction. During the week though I like to cook for me and my husband so we can get nutrious food and it's much cheaper than eating out all the time. Fast food has and will never be "bad food" as far as I'm concerned.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    Does junk food 'make you sick' because it's 'junk food' or for specific reasons?
    Most people use the term to cover a lot of food which is calorie dense, because it's the sort of food that might make them put on weight, or not lose it.

    In your case this is exactly what you want.

    I would consider a protein powder the opposite of what you want - it's not very calorie dense.
    If you're not on a calorie limit and are happy drinking milk, I'd just drink the fullest fat milk you can instead of a protein powder - more calories, more micronutrients and minerals and less hassle.

    Presuming you want to continue eating healthy foods I would suggest increasing your calories through healthy fats gradually. These will satisfy you, and food will be more enjoyable.
    Suggestions are:
    Raw nuts or nut butters - any kind will do
    Full cream milk for cereals etc
    Mayonnaise - the real stuff!
    Olive based dressings
    Coconut milk/cream in curries/stews, or a little over fruit and nuts for breakfast
    Chorizo sausage - fried or in a salad
    If we take trans fat out of the equation, just to be clear, by 'healthy fats', you mean "any fats' it would seem ;).
    I concur, but then would suggest there's no reason to try and label them 'healthy' or not!
  • Fitfully_me
    Fitfully_me Posts: 647 Member
    What do you eat on the weekends when you meet your goal? I'd suggest having that during the week.
  • GothyFaery
    GothyFaery Posts: 762 Member
    Does junk food 'make you sick' because it's 'junk food' or for specific reasons?
    Most people use the term to cover a lot of food which is calorie dense, because it's the sort of food that might make them put on weight, or not lose it.

    Most the junk food I go for has a lot of sugar in it and that is what makes me sick. Like one day a few weeks ago I had a cupcake, a spoon full of extra frosting, and ice cream all together and I felt horrible the next day. On the other end of that, junk food with a lot of salt like chips or Cheeze Itz makes me sick if I do a lot of it as well.

    So trying to eat 700 calories in junk food just doesn't sit well on my stomach.
  • GothyFaery
    GothyFaery Posts: 762 Member
    What do you eat on the weekends when you meet your goal? I'd suggest having that during the week.

    Mostly fast food. I don't cook Friday-Sunday. But I don't want to eat fast food every day. My wallet would not be happy!
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    Bread is another one for me - I can eat LOADS of it at once, which is why I mostly avoid it.

    Plenty of fast food is higher in calories thanks to fat - fried food and so on.
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    You could put whipped cream on your strawberries with breakfast. Get the real, full-fat stuff (or make it yourself) and it's amazing. Have a cup or two of whole milk with a tablespoon of chocolate syrup. I get the unflavored Isopure protein powder and add that too -- it's the best, richest chocolate milk ever and is actually really healthy. (Not that you should stay away from "unhealthy" food, but I hear you about feeling sick from too much sugar).

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