I ate 600 calories today and I was full. Help.

It sounds like you need to look into planning your days a bit more. Do you usually plan ahead or do you 'wing' it, choosing meals spontaneously? From what you told us it seems like you're deliberately holding back on calories during breakfast and lunch and then end up with way too much left over for dinner. Try to plan ahead and add more cals to your meals, so you have less over at the end of the day. If you can't eat more in terms of mass, see if you can use other ingredients, i.e. wholemilk dairy, etc.

Based on my desired weight loss my calorie intake is approx 1300/1400 per day. I break my calories down 400 to 500 per meal for 3 meals a day or if I want smaller meals then 300 calories allowing me five meals. On top of that I exercise or at least walk every day. I have found when I do not exercise and am sitting around for most of the day my appetite is low, I have put this down to the fact that my body does not need as much energy so doesn't need food for fuel. Therefore for me exercise is an important part of getting fit and healthy not just physically but also mentally.

From what you have said you are eating it seems you are not getting enough nutrients. I am also wondering how if you are eating a ham and cheese sandwich that your calories are under 600 as two slices of multigrain bread are 170 calories on their own and if I had a slice of cheese that can be anything from 85 to 110 calories add ham if you butter your bread or add mayonnaise bringing it up to 350 to 450? Do you drink anything with your meal? I agree with others consider adding lettuce, tomato, onions, peppers etc to your sandwich. Also in my humble opinion I don't think that cheerios is a healthy breakfast however I know sometimes due to time constraints cereal might be better than nothing. I tend to go for Cornflakes but add some nuts to bulk it up.

Anyway these are some of the meals I eat on a day to day basis. I try to make sure I get a balanced diet of protein vitamins fat and carbs obviously more protein and vitamins than fat but its important to remember not all fat is bad and our bodies need it.

Beans on toast, a banana on toast or scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast. If I am in a hurry a fruit smoothie.

Lunches might be 50g of wholewheat pasta with prawns or chicken and veggies, or two small potatoes small piece of meat chicken or turkey breast and veg, veggie stir fry which you can add chicken or prawns or other fish for your protein, jacket potatoes filled with lots of salad.

Dinner might be soup, omelette which can be versatile add mushrooms, onions, peppers or cheese or a fruit salad with natural yogurt.

I remember once hearing this advice re eating, eat like a king for breakfast, like a queen for lunch and like a pauper for dinner that is eat your heavier and bigger meals in the day leaving the lightest meal till the evening. For me this works but we are all individuals so you have to find what works for you. Hope this has somewhat helped.

Feel free to add me and good luck in achieving your goals.

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I think it's ok to say "have a bigger bowl of cereal" etc but ultimately, that might mean a smaller sandwich later if the appetite isn't there. I know it's not ideal to have so few calories per day, but if it's a one off day where you've perhaps not done very much, not burned any real energy and not worked up an appetite then surely it's OK?

Eat some apples, some almonds (good protein, good fat, high calories), some yogurt....so many healthy choices. I have no trouble getting up to 1200.

I have the same issue! Which is why I'm going to ask: Are you sure you don't have an eating disorder?
I know I do and that is why I have issues meeting the 1200 cal goal. Sometimes we train ourselves to not feel hungry, or alternatively we start to fail to recognize when we are, and because of how much we weight, having such an eating disorder is typically over looked. You may have to push yourself to eat more.
And what you may THINK is "not starving" yourself, because you ate two whole meals a day, you may be psychologically talking yourself out of help. That's how mine started "I eat two big meals, that's not a problem. I am not starving" - but it was and by the time I realized there was no going back.
You might want to review your food diary and in general think about how you eat and really consider what's going on (not just with food and weight loss, but emotionally as well. Think back, when did you start eating like this? Why to I feel like I'm not starving but my body is clearly under the amount of calories it needs for survival). I'm saying this because I wished someone had said it to me when I was younger, maybe I wouldn't be knee deep in it now.
Lots of people will tell you "as long as it's not a habit to constantly have low calorie days" but.... the reason you posted this is because it's become a habit, hasn't it? One low calorie day doesn't warrant help, or seeking advice, but I image that a couple do.
My inbox is open if you want to discuss this, I mean this only as a possible reason behind your under eating and as someone who has experienced this and knows intimately about the subject.

NOTE: After reading some of your responses I have to tell you. Chances are... you do. Because in no way, shape of form does studying psychology make you competent enough to make this call. I have an aunt who is a doctor and while she is competent enough to diagnose others- she herself has an eating disorder and was NOT competent in diagnosing herself. This is why Doctors and Psychologists are required to see other doctors and are legally not allowed to self-medicate. Because you can't always accept that this is your reality.

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SergeantSausage wrote: »

I gotta call shenanigans here.

There is no way someone who eats to near obesity (30-ish BMI) gets "full" at 600 cal and "struggles" to reach 1200.

The Cognitive Dissonance is screaming.

I'm not buying it.

I agree. So much positive can and does result when we decide to "get real" with ourselves and see ourselves for who we really are. Change won't happen until then, either.

MrsCaldwell628 wrote: »

I agree with the thoughts on maybe this is a personal decision of not getting to 1200. Many young girls struggle with the deprivation diets instead of feeding their bodies. I was one of them, so I know exactly what it's like. I restricted myself to 700 calories a day. Now, I eat 1880 and I'm stronger physcially and mentally. It's a mind control game. You need to look at it as fuel, not calories. Maybe for a few days stop counting the calories and just focus on the food. Add more protein to your diet. Boneless chicken, peanut butter, even a whey protein shake. You're causing yourself serious health risks by keeping your body at such low levels of calories and macronutrients. Speaking of, have you ever thought about looking in to IIFYM (if it fits your macros)? This program gives you goals for protein, fat and carbs, which then equals an amount of calories so you focus more on your macros than on your calories. It might help you choose better food choices.

Regardless, we're all here to help. This is why we joined in the first place. We're not here to criticize and label. Some people might not understand what you're going through, but are trying to help any way. I understand that saying something isn't meant to be mean doesn't make it okay, but you also have to realize that that person was being HONEST with you. Getting defensive does not build your case and throwing around excuses and berating that person isn't going to help solve your problem. People sense the hostility and will cease to comment, and that doesn't help anyone.

Thank you. That's exactly what I intended - honesty. We HAVE to be honest with ourselves and each other, when honesty calls for it. Defensive posturing is a way to ward off the truth that is right there, but unrecognizable.

lilxmissxhavic wrote: »

Okay Diary is open now. I only tracked acuratley a couple times, if days are blank or only have one or two iteams ignore that I was camping and didn't have enough reception to use mfp properly.

MrsCaldwell- I'm not intentionally starving myself, I'm following the reccomended servings on mfp/the packaging. I've had a sister go through anorexia and I study psychology, I don't see how anyone could have diagnosed with so little information and I don't think I was overly defensive. But thanks for your info. good reading.

Sergeant Sausage- I don't get it either.

I'm almost going to guarantee that MFP would never recommend that a bowl of veggies is a "reasonable" dinner. So, you might be measuring the food that you're eating, but you're definitely not eating enough. And unless you're tricking yourself into thinking you're full because you ate three times, I don't buy that you were "full".

SergeantSausage wrote: »

I gotta call shenanigans here.

There is no way someone who eats to near obesity (30-ish BMI) gets "full" at 600 cal and "struggles" to reach 1200.

The Cognitive Dissonance is screaming.

I'm not buying it.

Except it happens ALL the time. Like, have you opened a book or consulted a doctor? This is why most eating disorders in fat/obese people are not addressed, because of the myth that they can't have one.

How are you determining portion sizes? Are you eyeballing it, or using measuring cups/food scale? It seems to me that you may be underestimating your portions. If that's the case, you may not be so far under your calorie goal as you think.