Not eating enough calories but eating tons

Add some avocado to your wrap. Or have a tablespoon of nut butter. Easy ways to get in some calories but not much volume.

Yep, this. You just need to add in some more calorie dense foods, so healthy fats are always a good option. When I notice that I haven't eaten enough I usually grab some nuts and a banana, or just eat some peanut butter straight out of the tub.

Eating only 1100 a day will evidently lead you to weight loss, but perhaps you will lose more than just weight if you keep that up. Muscle mass. Your health. Of course everyone is different, but in your place I'd increase my calorie intake, despite the fact that I already feel full and satisfied. You need nutrients to sustain you and to keep you healthy, so aim for nutrient dense foods, if you're going to reduce your calories that much. Also remember that you will lose weight just the same if you increase your calories a bit, and you'll keep your health in the long run. Your body will thank you for it in the end.

Just eat some more food. Food is food don't get too bogged down in what is classified as 'healthy'. As long as it's a variety and balanced you'll cover the bases. If you have problems with amounts of physical volume of foods how about fruit juices/smoothies and milks.

Just peeked quickly at your diary... you ate 4.5 blackberries? 1/4 teaspoon honey? 1 oz of a homemade brownie?

But to increase calories stop using the fat free stuff, eat some peanut butter, nuts, or calorie dense foods. But I would suggest you take a look at the accurate logging link I posted because there are some issues in your diary.

Log your food accurately and honestly. Go for 80% good choices the other 20% don't worry so much about. I eat lots of delicious food and have consistently lost. Keep it simple find a REASONABLE deficit: Most people do not need to eat 1200 calories to lose.

If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide?hl=logging+step+guide

Find an activity you enjoy doing - I found I love to ride my bike and lift heavy stuff

Here are 2 more threads that will help take the time to read them:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here?hl=so+you're+new+here

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

Perfect. Read the links.

Make sure you're logging everything correctly. You could be underestimating and eating more calories than you think.

The OP is 50 and we have no idea how tall, active, etc. maybe all she needs is 1100 to lies weight. My BMR is only 1260 and I'm about the same age.

So I'm curious - and there may be a legit answer, so don't take this as calling you out.

Your tracker says you have 57 lbs to lose - that's considered a serious amount of weight loss as it's >10% of your overall body weight now. This being said, if you got to a point where you have that much to lose - how does only 1100 calories fill you up?

I have about 80 more to lose and I could honestly eat about 3,000 calories on a bad day - and that's not 3,000 calories worth of healthy food either.

How long have you been at this for? How much progress have you seen?

I am not saying 2,000 is the right path for everyone but usually, from what I've seen on here, people who are eating that much are on here to stay fit, not lose 50+ lbs.

I really am just curious because I know I got to be this big by eating way more than I was burning off, and by eating the wrong things.

This being said, if you got to a point where you have that much to lose - how does only 1100 calories fill you up?

I have about 80 more to lose and I could honestly eat about 3,000 calories on a bad day - and that's not 3,000 calories worth of healthy food either.

She implies she's new to this. It's very normal to feel full easily when your motivation is high, you're eating high fiber, low fat foods and your attention is laser focused on your diet, probably for the first time in years.

I agree with averaging across the week, and also give it a week before you feel like you have to force in more fats to hit some number.

Thanks for the information! I don't remember this when I first started, but it does make sense!

If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal

Thanks, this is very helpful!

So I just put in todays food-I eat fresh fruits and on fridays I am running so I eat wraps for lunch and Dinner-my total intake will be under 1100 calories. I feel very full and satisfied-I am eating healthy foods so should I increase or just wait another week or two as I am very new to this site.
Karen

Hi Karen, welcome.

If you're eating lower calorie foods but feeling full, you add some more calorie dense food into your diet. Do you like almonds or almond butter, peanuts or peanut butter, other kinds of nuts, dried chickpeas fish, steak, chicken? Even if you don't like to snack, you can chop up 28 grams of cashews for that wrap and it will add about 160-170 calories.

What about some salmon? Grilled or steamed, it has about 58 calories per ounce. Gee, just a couple of ounces adds 116 calories.

Do you like breakfast? If you do,then have you tried oatmeal (I use Bob's Red Mill organic whole oats, but you cam use any kind you like) with 16 grams of peanut butter, fruit, and coconut milk?

These are just examples of some stuff I eat to keep my calorie count up.

The mistake many people make when it comes to calorie restriction is they think you have to eat all low calorie and/or low fat foods. The secret to weight loss is keeping all the foods you love but eating less of it so that you are eating at a calorie deficit.

My diary is public. Feel free to take a peek if you want.

From your diary, it doesn't appear that you are using a food scale. That is the first thing I would recommend you get. You MAY be eating more than you think, or maybe less. But that is the first thing to get a handle on before you start adding food, as you say you feel full and satisfied.

So I just put in todays food-I eat fresh fruits and on fridays I am running so I eat wraps for lunch and Dinner-my total intake will be under 1100 calories. I feel very full and satisfied-I am eating healthy foods so should I increase or just wait another week or two as I am very new to this site.
Karen

Eating volume isn't the same as eating density. Find some foods that are calorie dense and add them in.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Karen,

I just looked at your diary. I think you are underestimating calories in AND calories burned.

I question your 0.8 ounces for your almond milk (I think it was almond). That way less than even a quarter cut. Are you sure that is correct?

I suggest weighing your fruits. A half cup of sliced banana or a half apple is too generic It's a strong chance that the calorie content for said fruit is more more calories when measured out in grams than in a generic measurement. Take my banana I put on my oatmeal each morning. Here's an interesting history of banana weights from my own diary, wherein the generic is 100 calories

113 grams 101 calories
125 grams 111 calories
123 grams 109 calories
76 grams 68 calories
67 grams 60 calories
153 grams 136 calories
93 grams 83 calories
146 grams 130 calories
148 grams 132 calories
105 grams 93 calories

That's fourteen days of banana, many of them appearing to be the same size, but not one single serving is the same. +/- those are big difference from the 110 calorie generic entry in the database.

I could go on with other foods, but the point is that our eyeballs and measuring cups/spoons tend to be a little selective at times.

4 blackberries...wow....

and that's "tons"....

Sorry but I am honestly in "awe"...

I LOVE blackberries, especially fresh picked. There is no way I could only eat four.. More like 40.

Yeah, I had a cold this week and have been having the same problem. I am eating very healthy but have a really hard time eating enough food when I don't feel well.

it's kinda normal that people can have less appetite when they are sick...but in day to day life, really? having said that, everybody has days that they just don't eat as much. it's normal, too