Issues with hitting minimum cal intake

Might find some ideas here: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10142490/a-list-of-calorie-dense-foods/p1

You could sprinkle some feta cheese on top of your hummus and use multi grain crackers instead of cucumber. Have some ice cream. Have some baguette with your soup. Have steak instead of cod. Have a baked potato with real butter and sour cream instead of rice. 2 slices of multi grain bread, a banana and peanut butter as a sandwich should run about 400 +. You just have to keep trying different things.

StaceySudol wrote: »

Wine.. Ice cream... These things do not make for healthy eating

Sure it does

StaceySudol wrote: »

Wine.. Ice cream... These things do not make for healthy eating

Malnourishment due to overly restrictive caloric intake does not make for healthy eating.

If you weigh enough to need to lose weight you are able to hit your minimum calorie level. Ice cream and smoothies are a good place to start because they go down easier. Once you start eating your minimum cals on a regular basis it won't seem as difficult to do.

StaceySudol wrote: »

I have such a hard time hitting my minimum calorie intake.

For example, yesterday I had 871 calories in total. Even someone in a coma needs more than that! My minimum intake is about 1300 and maximum is 1600. I'm just not always hungry. For example, my meal yesterday was:

Breakfast: 1 cup multigrain cheerios, 1/2 cup milk, coffee (179 cal)
Lunch: 1/2 cup elbow noodle, 1 cup homemade chicken soup with veggies (270 Cal)
Dinner: 1/2 cup rice, 9oz Lemon Dill Cod, Broccoli (405 cal)
Night snack: 1 tbsp Roasted Red Pepper Dip with cucumbers (17 cal)

So far today I have eaten the same breakfast but I forced myself to eat a banana as well and I had to choke it down. I also had a peach as a morning snack. It's even worse hitting my goal on exercise day.

There is no easy way to answer this question, so excuse my directness. You have to change your concepts of healthy food and portion size. Every one of your meals is mini. Your largest calorie meal of 405 cals is my smallest sized meal.

I can tell by how you eat that the idea of consuming a few slices of bacon, a burrito, 2 slices of pizza, 3 eggs with cheese and bread, or a 10 oz. ribeye steak with mashed potatoes probably sends shivers down your spine. And that is a problem that was likely conditioned by years of the media telling you how to eat and what is healthy vs. what is not.

What is your current weight and height? Can you estimate your bodyfat % by visiting Google images? How often do you exercise? Is it something you do fairly regularly, or intermittently? Do you have any type of noticeable muscle mass?

StaceySudol wrote: »

Francl27 wrote: »

You're using cups, so you're probably underestimating your food intake anyway.

It's not that difficult to measure out liquids and small grains with cups.

But it is not accurate either.

StaceySudol wrote: »

Wine.. Ice cream... These things do not make for healthy eating

Of course they do, eat a variety of fresh meat/fish and eggs, a range of coloured fruit and veg and a handful of seeds and nuts. Add a nice snack of ice-cream or a glass of wine before bed. As long as it is within your calorie goal you will lose weight and enjoy it. That is much more likely to be a long term way of eating than the tiny amount 900 calories gives you.

Try not to see food as good or bad, it can all have a place somewhere. Ice-cream is great calcium

StaceySudol wrote: »

Well, no. I can easily eat those things but then I go way over my calories.

Why not eat some of those things and some of what you are currently eating. Add a couple slices of bacon to breakfast. Or have the ribeye instead of fish for dinner. Or add a banana to dinner.

If you think you are "stuffed" and have to choke down more food, there's either something wrong (possibly physical, possibly ED related) that means you should consult a doctor, or you are simply limiting yourself to foods you don't care for much and so aren't hungry for them (especially if this is early days). If the latter, it will take care of itself, but is more likely to do in a way positive for your weight loss efforts if you take charge and create a healthy and sustainable (including calorie appropriate) way of eating now.

StaceySudol wrote: »

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »

StaceySudol wrote: »

Wine.. Ice cream... These things do not make for healthy eating

Of course they do, eat a variety of fresh meat/fish and eggs, a range of coloured fruit and veg and a handful of seeds and nuts. Add a nice snack of ice-cream or a glass of wine before bed. As long as it is within your calorie goal you will lose weight and enjoy it. That is much more likely to be a long term way of eating than the tiny amount 900 calories gives you.

Try not to see food as good or bad, it can all have a place somewhere. Ice-cream is great calcium

I always try to leave room for popcorn at night. I love to have a snack like that. I need to keep my hands busy.

Try knitting to keep your hands busy It's a win win

StaceySudol wrote: »

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »

StaceySudol wrote: »

Wine.. Ice cream... These things do not make for healthy eating

Of course they do, eat a variety of fresh meat/fish and eggs, a range of coloured fruit and veg and a handful of seeds and nuts. Add a nice snack of ice-cream or a glass of wine before bed. As long as it is within your calorie goal you will lose weight and enjoy it. That is much more likely to be a long term way of eating than the tiny amount 900 calories gives you.

Try not to see food as good or bad, it can all have a place somewhere. Ice-cream is great calcium

I always try to leave room for popcorn at night. I love to have a snack like that. I need to keep my hands busy.

Popcorn is a great snack. I had some earlier and I'm just about to have a Mars Ice-cream bar, only 148 calories.

Seriously, you can still enjoy those types of foods and lose weight. It's about moderation

StaceySudol wrote: »

queenliz99 wrote: »

StaceySudol wrote: »

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »

StaceySudol wrote: »

Wine.. Ice cream... These things do not make for healthy eating

Of course they do, eat a variety of fresh meat/fish and eggs, a range of coloured fruit and veg and a handful of seeds and nuts. Add a nice snack of ice-cream or a glass of wine before bed. As long as it is within your calorie goal you will lose weight and enjoy it. That is much more likely to be a long term way of eating than the tiny amount 900 calories gives you.

Try not to see food as good or bad, it can all have a place somewhere. Ice-cream is great calcium

I always try to leave room for popcorn at night. I love to have a snack like that. I need to keep my hands busy.

Try knitting to keep your hands busy It's a win win

Lol I crochet!! I started to do it so that I could keep my hands busy. I use to smoke (quite 15.5 years ago) and since then my hands need to always do something. Crocheting has certainly helped with that.... But it also stopped me from having my popcorn last night because I had a project I wanted to finish lol

I used to smoke, too, and knitting helped me a lot!!