How do I get comfortable eating again?

lennonluvr · January 2015

So my diet mainly consisted of drinking enough coffee through the day to kill a herd of elephants (add in a ton of CoffeeMate French Vanilla Creamer for good measure) and one meal at night.

Sometimes I cooked and sometimes I would go out and eat fast food.

So, I decided that I really didn't like who I had become, and would start to make changes.

I started eating breakfast. I am cutting my coffee intake by 95%. I will allow myself one cup in the morning, and one cup at night.

Here is my question. I am not used to eating, and find myself horribly full throughout the day. Yet I am not getting enough calories. I am eating healthy snacks but find myself way short of what is needed. What do I do?

Aemely · January 2015

Ehh, give us a bit more info so that we can advise. Weight, height? What's your current daily calorie goal? How much exercise do you get every day?

Laurend224 · January 2015

Eat small meals of calorie dense foods throughout the day. Cheese, peanut butter, avocados, etc....until you get used to eating, not drinking your calories.

lennonluvr · January 2015

Aemely wrote: »

Ehh, give us a bit more info so that we can advise. Weight, height? What's your current daily calorie goal? How much exercise do you get every day?

I am really embarrassed about this. I am 4'11" I weigh in at 177 lbs. I'd like to do 1200 calories a day, but I find this very very hard to do.

I have tried eating peanut butter but, it fills me up. I might try the avocados.

As for exercise I am walking briskly (3.5 miles an hour) for half hour each morning, and strength training in the evening.

Laurend224 · January 2015

lennonluvr wrote: »

Aemely wrote: »

Ehh, give us a bit more info so that we can advise. Weight, height? What's your current daily calorie goal? How much exercise do you get every day?

I am really embarrassed about this. I am 4'11" I weigh in at 177 lbs. I'd like to do 1200 calories a day, but I find this very very hard to do.

I have tried eating peanut butter but, it fills me up. I might try the avocados.

As for exercise I am walking briskly (3.5 miles an hour) for half hour each morning, and strength training in the evening.

Nothing to be embarrassed about, you've decided to make a change. That's awesome! At you logging accurately? Weighing your foods on a food scale? You may be eating more than you think. It's worrisome if you are truly eating less than 1200 a day, even with your small stature.

Keep trying, small frequent meals of things you like. You can have fast food and still lose weight, if you're it. You just have to log it, and account for the calories.

lennonluvr · January 2015

Laurend224 wrote: »

lennonluvr wrote: »

Aemely wrote: »

Ehh, give us a bit more info so that we can advise. Weight, height? What's your current daily calorie goal? How much exercise do you get every day?

I am really embarrassed about this. I am 4'11" I weigh in at 177 lbs. I'd like to do 1200 calories a day, but I find this very very hard to do.

I have tried eating peanut butter but, it fills me up. I might try the avocados.

As for exercise I am walking briskly (3.5 miles an hour) for half hour each morning, and strength training in the evening.

Nothing to be embarrassed about, you've decided to make a change. That's awesome! At you logging accurately? Weighing your foods on a food scale? You may be eating more than you think. It's worrisome if you are truly eating less than 1200 a day, even with your small stature.

Keep trying, small frequent meals of things you like. You can have fast food and still lose weight, if you're it. You just have to log it, and account for the calories.

I am getting out measuring cups and counting Wheat Thins. This is how I know I'm not getting enough.

I feel uncomfortable by the end of the day. I started adding in things like butter just to get the empty calories, but the fat intake worries me.

Francl27 · January 2015

Don't eat if you're not hungry. It's absolutely OK to only have one meal at night, if it's what you're comfortable with... just don't go overboard and stay within your calorie goal.

Meal timing does NOT matter.

terbusha · January 2015

One of the first things that I would do is realize that eating a healthy diet at an appropriate calorie level is what is best for your body. Like your car, our bodies need energy to run on, which we get from the foods we eat. Keep trying to work your intake up. Whatever level you're at now, add 100 calories to that and hold that for a week. Then add another 100 calories and hold that for a week. Over time, you'll get your intake up. You can do it. Just keep in mind that by increasing your intake, you're doing what's best for your body. Great job!

SingRunTing · January 2015

Try doing two meals a day at first. No need to jump straight into three+ meals a day and snacks if you're only used to eating once a day.

Personally, I would try eating a meal (a small one at first if you need to) at 10am and then again at dinner per your usual. Then, step it up from there.

Appetite is like an animal. It can be trained, but you have to work at it and be consistent.

Liftng4Lis · January 2015

Can you open your diary?

lennonluvr · January 2015

terbusha wrote: »

One of the first things that I would do is realize that eating a healthy diet at an appropriate calorie level is what is best for your body. Like your car, our bodies need energy to run on, which we get from the foods we eat. Keep trying to work your intake up. Whatever level you're at now, add 100 calories to that and hold that for a week. Then add another 100 calories and hold that for a week. Over time, you'll get your intake up. You can do it. Just keep in mind that by increasing your intake, you're doing what's best for your body. Great job!

This seems much easier than anything else. I think this might be easier.

lennonluvr · January 2015

Liftng4Lis wrote: »

Can you open your diary?

I will be more than happy to do so if you tell me how. I honestly thought it was viewable.

lennonluvr · January 2015

Oh! I changed it. Should be viewable now.

SergeantSausage · January 2015

Time and gradual buildup.

Eat what's comfortable this week ... 800 - 1000? Who cares - whatever floats your boat and is do-able/comfortable.

Next week add to that ... say 100 calories a day - enough that it's a *slight*stretch, but not unbearable.

The following week add ... maybe 100-150 more a day. Again - stretch a little but dont be miserable.

Rinse.

Repeat as necessary to reach your quota.

Is this really that hard, folks?

lennonluvr · January 2015

SergeantSausage wrote: »

Time and gradual buildup.

Eat what's comfortable this week ... 800 - 1000? Who cares - whatever floats your boat and is do-able/comfortable.

Next week add to that ... say 100 calories a day - enough that it's a *slight*stretch, but not unbearable.

The following week add ... maybe 100-150 more a day. Again - stretch a little but dont be miserable.

Rinse.

Repeat as necessary to reach your quota.

Is this really that hard, folks?

I have it in my mind I want to be healthy. Being healthy means taking in enough calories so that my body (and I) can function.

I don't want to be a walking zombie - which is what I'm afraid of if I don't do this right. Nor do I want my liver or any other organs that are kinda vital to functioning decide that they're going to take a vacation.

Yesterday, I struggled to intake just over 1000 calories. I felt very uncomfortable. I can say I have a doctors appointment next week to go over this new diet. So, I want to get his thoughts on this as well.

Oh, and did I say I quit smoking this year too?

How do I get comfortable eating again?

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