Having a hard time eating all my calories :(
SR1986
Posts: 92 Member
I'm having a hard time eating all my calories before you guys start thinking I have some sort of eating disorder, I just don't have the time to eat 5 times a day. And get them all in. I don't I have my meals and snacks planned out a day ahead so I know what I need to cook etc. But at the end of the night I realistically haven't eaten everything I put in my log. I mean, I'm not hungry or anything except for maybe carbs but I don't cheat on non cheat days. How do you guys do it?! I know I'm not doing myself any favors by lying about calories consumed, I'm not a big eater to begin with, like I eat when I'm hungry, stop when I'm full kind of thing. And I'm just not hungry 5 times a day either. I feel like I'm force feeding myself and I don't like the way that feels. Any suggestions?
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Replies
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I DO HAVE MY MEALS PLANNED OUT A DAY AHEAD SORRY!0
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Increase fats. That's the easiest way to increase calories without much bulk.4
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If you can't eat five times a day, you don't have to. Weight loss goes by your total caloric intake not how the calories were divided up over the course of the day. I'm down over 125 lbs and I usually only eat two meals a day. Eat when you're hungry in how ever many meals you want.3
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Wynterbourne wrote: »If you can't eat five times a day, you don't have to. Weight loss goes by your total caloric intake not how the calories were divided up over the course of the day. I'm down over 125 lbs and I usually only eat two meals a day. Eat when you're hungry in how ever many meals you want.
Thanks! I really needed to hear that. I don't really need to lose weight. I'm 10 over what I normally weigh but I am trying to make sure I get enough nutrition in me to make up for my workouts trying to get back in shape.2 -
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I have the same problem - if you're eating a lot of protein it can be really hard to get enough calories in. I have a rule that if I'm under 1000, I make myself a protein shake with 8 oz of nondairy milk, a scoop of chocolate optimum powder, and a scoop of click protein. It's good, healthy calories but doesn't feel icky and heavy like eating food can, and it takes all of 45 seconds to make with a shaker cup.1
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I'm a toast addict. If I have the spare calories for it, I'll have a few slices of toast. Or some untoasted bread if I've baked any in the past couple of days, because home-baked bread doesn't need to be toasted to be extra yummy.2
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You mean I can has breads?! More than 1 slice? OMG.2
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Look_Its_Kriss wrote: »
Thanks! Much appreciated!0 -
Chia. I could add more Chia to my post workout drink. I do drink that every day. And the Chia jelly like Ness doesn't bother me. I already add 2 tablespoons. But I could always eat bread. And peanuts or peanut butter. Peanuts and baked goods are my Kryptonite
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I mean I just get tired of cooking eggs and chicken. Eggs and chicken. Cut up the veggies blah.0
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You mean I can has breads?! More than 1 slice? OMG.
You can eat whatever you want as long as you fit it in your calorie goal. Focus on mainly nutrient rich foods, and somewhat higher protein is good, but there is no reason to not have bread, ice cream or whatever else as long as you fit it in your calories. By far the most important thing is making sure you measure your portions correctly, and use the correct database entries here. Ideally a digital scale for all solids including those that are grated and ground (think grated cheese), and a liquid measuring cup or spoon for all liquids. Other than that, enjoy within your calories.3 -
Sounds like you're making too many rules - eating 5 times when that doesn't work for you - cutting out the foods you enjoy.. Etc. Throw out the rules. There's no reason to punish yourself just to lose weight.7
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I'm having a hard time eating all my calories before you guys start thinking I have some sort of eating disorder, I just don't have the time to eat 5 times a day. And get them all in. I don't I have my meals and snacks planned out a day ahead so I know what I need to cook etc. But at the end of the night I realistically haven't eaten everything I put in my log. I mean, I'm not hungry or anything except for maybe carbs but I don't cheat on non cheat days. How do you guys do it?! I know I'm not doing myself any favors by lying about calories consumed, I'm not a big eater to begin with, like I eat when I'm hungry, stop when I'm full kind of thing. And I'm just not hungry 5 times a day either. I feel like I'm force feeding myself and I don't like the way that feels. Any suggestions?
There's not enough information here to go on. What are your numbers like? How many calories did the MFP App suggest you should aim for? What is your height and weight now?
Not sure where you got the idea you have to eat 5 times a day. A normal day is Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner; or Breakfast, Dinner, and Supper. Additional snacks are optional, but the main issue is ensuring the correct balance between your Calories In and Calories Out, in order to have a Calorie Deficit at the end of each day.1 -
You mean I can has breads?! More than 1 slice? OMG.
We're not about counting carbs here. We're about calories in, calories out. While it's important to make sure you get good nutrition, if you make it too hard on yourself by cutting out foods you love, you're more likely to fail in the long run. Make it easy on yourself instead. Eat what you enjoy. Just not so much of it.3 -
My go to fillers are hemp hearts or goji berries. 1oz of hemp hearts is 140 calories and has 8 g of protein. 1oz of dried goji berries are 100 calories and pack a host of vitamins. They actually taste like raisins0
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I'm having a hard time eating all my calories before you guys start thinking I have some sort of eating disorder, I just don't have the time to eat 5 times a day. And get them all in. I don't I have my meals and snacks planned out a day ahead so I know what I need to cook etc. But at the end of the night I realistically haven't eaten everything I put in my log. I mean, I'm not hungry or anything except for maybe carbs but I don't cheat on non cheat days. How do you guys do it?! I know I'm not doing myself any favors by lying about calories consumed, I'm not a big eater to begin with, like I eat when I'm hungry, stop when I'm full kind of thing. And I'm just not hungry 5 times a day either. I feel like I'm force feeding myself and I don't like the way that feels. Any suggestions?
There's not enough information here to go on. What are your numbers like? How many calories did the MFP App suggest you should aim for? What is your height and weight now?
Not sure where you got the idea you have to eat 5 times a day. A normal day is Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner; or Breakfast, Dinner, and Supper. Additional snacks are optional, but the main issue is ensuring the correct balance between your Calories In and Calories Out, in order to have a Calorie Deficit at the end of each day.
The app suggests 1200 after working out its usually about 1500-1600 a day I try to eat. My "normal" walk around weight is between 108-111. I'm 5'3" and right now I'm 118.6. I took a couple years and just ate. Not over ate, just ate freely. I didn't work out and I got up to 120. Long story short my pants don't fit and I can't afford new ones and my sweats are getting holes lol. My percentages at the end of the day are mostly protein and fat (fat from peanut butter and peanuts I'm seriously addicted) my carbs are usually low, but carbohydrates tend to have a lot of calories so I try to make sure I get an equal balance. But I don't feel hungry after eating chicken, brown rice and broccoli and a side salad so I just leave it. Maybe I'm just dumb. I thought like lots of people here ate breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, supper. To keep metabolism running all day. I dunno. I know I don't need to lose weight before someone says something. I'd just like to be able to button my jeans again. Lol.0 -
I thought like lots of people here ate breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, supper. To keep metabolism running all day. I dunno. I know I don't need to lose weight before someone says something. I'd just like to be able to button my jeans again. Lol.
Nope. The frequency of your meals has no effect on metabolism. You can eat all your calories in just one meal a day if you wanted to.3 -
You mean I can has breads?! More than 1 slice? OMG.
We're not about counting carbs here. We're about calories in, calories out. While it's important to make sure you get good nutrition, if you make it too hard on yourself by cutting out foods you love, you're more likely to fail in the long run. Make it easy on yourself instead. Eat what you enjoy. Just not so much of it.
Heck ya, I was low on cals today so i just had a serving of frozen strawberry yogurt with mini chocolate chips!0 -
Today has been a weird day for me and I am well under goal. I am thinking peanut butter and jam toast and some ice cream before bed. I'm not worried about doing that either.
The reality is that you can eat how you are comfortable, same foods, same times of the day. Just control for calories. You are frustrated because you are trying to change the things you are comfortable with. It's really not necessary. Every time I tried putting unnecessary expectations on myself, I failed. And then just felt bad.
You can do it! Just consider altering your approach a bit.2 -
Peanut butter. Most people have no idea just how calorie dense peanut butter is! I used to eat that stuff by the gigantic spoonful before I started tracking. I was probably getting about 500 calories in my "little snack."3
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I'm having a hard time eating all my calories before you guys start thinking I have some sort of eating disorder, I just don't have the time to eat 5 times a day. And get them all in. I don't I have my meals and snacks planned out a day ahead so I know what I need to cook etc. But at the end of the night I realistically haven't eaten everything I put in my log. I mean, I'm not hungry or anything except for maybe carbs but I don't cheat on non cheat days. How do you guys do it?! I know I'm not doing myself any favors by lying about calories consumed, I'm not a big eater to begin with, like I eat when I'm hungry, stop when I'm full kind of thing. And I'm just not hungry 5 times a day either. I feel like I'm force feeding myself and I don't like the way that feels. Any suggestions?
There's not enough information here to go on. What are your numbers like? How many calories did the MFP App suggest you should aim for? What is your height and weight now?
Not sure where you got the idea you have to eat 5 times a day. A normal day is Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner; or Breakfast, Dinner, and Supper. Additional snacks are optional, but the main issue is ensuring the correct balance between your Calories In and Calories Out, in order to have a Calorie Deficit at the end of each day.
The app suggests 1200 after working out its usually about 1500-1600 a day I try to eat. My "normal" walk around weight is between 108-111. I'm 5'3" and right now I'm 118.6. I took a couple years and just ate. Not over ate, just ate freely. I didn't work out and I got up to 120. Long story short my pants don't fit and I can't afford new ones and my sweats are getting holes lol. My percentages at the end of the day are mostly protein and fat (fat from peanut butter and peanuts I'm seriously addicted) my carbs are usually low, but carbohydrates tend to have a lot of calories so I try to make sure I get an equal balance. But I don't feel hungry after eating chicken, brown rice and broccoli and a side salad so I just leave it. Maybe I'm just dumb. I thought like lots of people here ate breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, supper. To keep metabolism running all day. I dunno. I know I don't need to lose weight before someone says something. I'd just like to be able to button my jeans again. Lol.
Carbs and protein are roughly 4 calories per gram while fat is roughly 9 calories per gram.
Absolutely nothing wrong with fat, but if it's crowding out other macros then maybe look into different combos.
But then again, you're struggling to hit your target so you can make a nice peanut butter sandwich to increase your calories!
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I'm having a hard time eating all my calories before you guys start thinking I have some sort of eating disorder, I just don't have the time to eat 5 times a day. And get them all in. I don't I have my meals and snacks planned out a day ahead so I know what I need to cook etc. But at the end of the night I realistically haven't eaten everything I put in my log. I mean, I'm not hungry or anything except for maybe carbs but I don't cheat on non cheat days. How do you guys do it?! I know I'm not doing myself any favors by lying about calories consumed, I'm not a big eater to begin with, like I eat when I'm hungry, stop when I'm full kind of thing. And I'm just not hungry 5 times a day either. I feel like I'm force feeding myself and I don't like the way that feels. Any suggestions?
I didn't see where it was written that you had to eat 5 times a day. You can adjust your meals with what fits your schedule. Eat when you are hungry. Incorporate calorie dense whole food (nuts, avocados, etc.) into your diet. I prefer to eat a bigger breakfast because it gets me through to lunch. I typically only eat 4 meals a day. Breakfast, lunch, pre-workout snack, dinner. Sometimes I have more and sometimes I have less. I eat on average 1400-1700 calories a day.0 -
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I usually eat twice a day, sometimes three times a day if I am hungry. Yesterday I made beef taco's with salsa, shredded cheese, sour cream and guacamole. I replaced the taco shell with salad leaves. Just saying... It tasted amazing! Diet food does not need to be boring. Be inventive. Find a way to eat that suits you that you enjoy.0
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Peanut butter. Most people have no idea just how calorie dense peanut butter is! I used to eat that stuff by the gigantic spoonful before I started tracking. I was probably getting about 500 calories in my "little snack."
Yup! Peanut butter is my go-to as well on the off chance I need to boost my calories for the day (rarely
lol) 0 -
If you're struggling to hit your calories there's no worth in avoiding carbs because they're not worth the calories! Also, Snickers, eat a Snickers
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Eat 3 times a day if you want, there's nothing that is set in stone that says you have to eat 5, 6, 4, or even 3 meals a day.0
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OP sounds like you've fallen in the trap of believing that you can only eat certain "healthy" foods if you want to lose weight? Fact is that you can eat pretty much anything you want and still achieve your goals. That doesn't mean you shouldn't focus on nutrient dense foods, you certainly should, but you don't have to restrict yourself to chicken, broccoli, brown rice, and salad. That sounds boring and awful to me. You can eat any foods within your calorie deficit (and make sure it's an appropriate calorie deficit too - with only wanting to lose 10 lbs, a goal of 0.5 lb/week is appropriate) - I try to strike a balance of foods that provide nutrition (macro and micros), satiety (fills you up, although that doesn't sound like a problem for you), and enjoyment (fill in whatever is left with foods you love whether it be ice cream or french fries or something like that).
There's also no reason to eat 5 times a day unless you specifically want to, it doesn't sound like you do though.
So I would scrap all these preconceived notions and log a day's worth of food that just sounds good to you. Not 100% junk - but foods you enjoy eating, and that fit the criteria I mentioned above. See how that fits within your calorie allotment. Tweak from there - either add more from the list of calorie dense foods provided above, or choose smaller portions or alternatives if you are over budget.
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Try eating Healthy Fats such as avocados and nut butters/nuts. Whole grains/legumses are good, such as brown rice and beans. And eating fruit and smoothies is a good way to get in calories. Bananas and dates are more calorie dense0
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