Fitting in meals and hitting calorie goals

mazurkiepolish
mazurkiepolish Posts: 363 Member
edited November 28 in Health and Weight Loss
How do you guys find the time to fit in meals? Time and time again I find myself struggling to eat over 1200 calories. Sometimes, I struggle eating over 1000. Ironic, because I’ve started this journey because I couldn’t stop eating.

I’m losing weight, and inches, and I’m not overly hungry all the time, but I find myself very tired and irritated. I work 12 hour shifts at work that go from 4 in the evening to 4 in the morning. I usually sleep during the day. By the time I get up I have a meal and I’ll have a snack later on but I try to make sure I don’t eat late.

Maybe just some tips and tricks would be helpful? I know this post is all over the place, but I’d appreciate the help.

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    edited August 2018
    mazurkiepolish wrote: »
    How do you guys find the time to fit in meals? Time and time again I find myself struggling to eat over 1200 calories. Sometimes, I struggle eating over 1000. Ironic, because I’ve started this journey because I couldn’t stop eating.

    I’m losing weight, and inches, and I’m not overly hungry all the time, but I find myself very tired and irritated. I work 12 hour shifts at work that go from 4 in the evening to 4 in the morning. I usually sleep during the day. By the time I get up I have a meal and I’ll have a snack later on but I try to make sure I don’t eat late.

    Maybe just some tips and tricks would be helpful? I know this post is all over the place, but I’d appreciate the help.

    Eat some of the stuff you used to eat. Only eating 1000 cals is doing you no favours.

    Given that you work nights, why have a restriction what time you can eat till?
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    Choose more calorie dense foods and drinks. https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10142490/a-list-of-calorie-dense-foods/p8
    Sometimes it can be easier to drink than eat. Drink a glass of whole milk if you do not feel like eating much. Or have a smoothie or shake.
    Plan your food for the day/night and prelog so you can see that you will meet your goals. If you see you are not going to get enough make some different choices.
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    Your body and metabolism do not know what time it is. Eat when you can. Take some snacks with you to work. I usually take a piece of fruit or carrot sticks, a protein bar, almonds, or a cheese stick. Whatever is easy to pack and eat on the go. What is considered"late"when you work overnight anyway?
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    How are you measuring your food? If you aren’t weighing all your food, then you’re likely eating more than you think you are.

    There’s also no reason not to eat late unless it makes you feel ill or causes sleep problems.
  • HazzaMac
    HazzaMac Posts: 6 Member
    I also struggle to meet my caloric needs. Three things that have helped me are meal prepping (portions of healthy meals and snacks ready to be eaten without ANY effort to prepare in the moment), chosing nutritionally dense foods, and setting a timer for meals and snacks, because I forget or get too busy.
    Good luck!
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