I think I need to eat more, but how?

msmandyjo
msmandyjo Posts: 95 Member
edited October 1 in Food and Nutrition
I have my goal set to lose 1 lbs a week, which puts me at 1450 net calories a day. I have been losing an average of slightly less than that. According to the numbers MFP spits out everyday, I would assume I should be in the 160's by now. I don't think I'm eating enough,

I have a hard time eating all of my exercise calories. 400 would be a low burn day, most days I burn upwards of 600. I've also went from living a sedentary lifestyle to being much more active during the day, which i haven't made notation of that in my settings. Most days, I'm eating net calories anywhere between 600-1000. The only days I get close to my calories, or go over, (combined birthday party/anniversary weekend aside) are days like grocery day... out of the house, so I'm grabbing fast food, and I might even skip my workout to get out of the house sooner.

I'm just not that hungry. And, i don't want to get to the end of the day, and fill my mouth with empty calories and crap just to get up there. Some days, I'll pop a big bowl of popcorn w/ some real butter and a little salt, or a bowl of ice cream (this would be an example of the behavior I'm trying to stop) to make up for the deficit, but I'm still under, so after much rambling...my questions...

How to get more calories, even though I'm NOT hungry... and make those calories GOOD for something! I can eat ice cream all day, but I just don't think that's the best way to go about it, so I'm looking for other healthier options.

AND, if I'm super low one or two days, should I try to go over the next day or something of the sort, to kinda average out? Kind of an unofficial zigzag?

Replies

  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo
  • nikkit321
    nikkit321 Posts: 1,485 Member
    I would try to include calorie dense, health foods such as nuts, peanut butter, avocado in your day. It helps get your calories up but are healthy choices.
  • msmandyjo
    msmandyjo Posts: 95 Member
    I know I need to eat them... my question is more how and what, other than going to the pantry or freezer and grabbing the easiest thing to eat an hour before bed because I have 800 more calories i need to consume, so I'll eat 300 in junk and call it a day. I'm wanting to improve my eating habits and eat things that are better for me... but i need higher calorie options in order to keep up w/ my exercise, which I really enjoy.
  • lil_pulp
    lil_pulp Posts: 701 Member
    If you make your diary public, we can probably give you more helpful suggestions about what you could eat. I don't know what you eat, but if you're eating lots of "light" foods, you could replace them with the regular versions and if you're in the habit of just using a tiny bit of things like peanut butter or cheese, just add a bit more. It won't feel like you're eating more but your body will be able to benefit from the extra calories.
  • msmandyjo
    msmandyjo Posts: 95 Member
    I would try to include calorie dense, health foods such as nuts, peanut butter, avocado in your day. It helps get your calories up but are healthy choices.

    will add those to my shopping list.. I love avaodos anyways. I tried a "slimcado" the other day though, it was GROSS (just tossing that in there) Thanks!


    Any more suggestions?
  • msmandyjo
    msmandyjo Posts: 95 Member
    I would try to include calorie dense, health foods such as nuts, peanut butter, avocado in your day. It helps get your calories up but are healthy choices.

    will add those to my shopping list.. I love avaodos anyways. I tried a "slimcado" the other day though, it was GROSS (just tossing that in there) Thanks!


    Any more suggestions?
  • Jill_newimprovedversion
    Jill_newimprovedversion Posts: 988 Member

    AND, if I'm super low one or two days, should I try to go over the next day or something of the sort, to kinda average out? Kind of an unofficial zigzag?

    I wouldn't recommend zig zagging until you learn to eat more consistently- besides, if you're having trouble filling the calories now, how will you add in the days you need to eat even MORE?

    Many people post their diaries to be viewed by the public... My friends and I peruse each others to get some ideas. That's where I learned about little snacks I could nibble on.
    Feel free to look at mine.
    I love light string cheese, rice cakes, light laughing cow cheeses, light english muffins w/ various nut butters ( natural peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower seed butter, cashew, etc. ), protein bars, smoothies, etc.
  • Fairysoul
    Fairysoul Posts: 1,361 Member
    You can always look at mine, I try to eat healthy and get my calories, of course the junk isn't a good idea but I love cherries and banana's avocado is great too!
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    Real food, not diet food. Eggs for breakfast. Cheese, full fat dress on salads. Sandwiches with a lot of deli meat, cheese, olive oil. Nuts, cheese for snack. Beef, pasta for dinner. It's not hard. I eat about 2200 calories a day trying to net 1750.
  • nadiB
    nadiB Posts: 283 Member
    try adding extra virgin olive to your salads, pastas and stirfry. Also try using real cheese.
  • msmandyjo
    msmandyjo Posts: 95 Member
    Real food, not diet food. Eggs for breakfast. Cheese, full fat dress on salads. Sandwiches with a lot of deli meat, cheese, olive oil. Nuts, cheese for snack. Beef, pasta for dinner. It's not hard. I eat about 2200 calories a day trying to net 1750.

    other than Agave in my coffee, i do eat real food (other than the processed crap I'm trying to phasing). i switched to the Agave, as opposed to sugar, it doesn't make me feel sick if I drink more than one cup and i don't believe in artificial sweeteners since I've done some reading on them. I've started reading labels and stopped buying items that have them in there...
    The only diet food I eat would be fiber one brownies (oh my they are good!) and skinny cow ice cream... I got the skinny cow on sale, which is usually how I pick my ice cream, but it's almost gone now. Reminder to self, I need to read those labels..

    If I don't eat oatmeal for breakfast, I usually have 2-3 eggs, always with cheese, usually some lunch meat thrown in, whole milk in my cereal and when I cook with it (not a fan of drinking it, doesn't set well in my belly) i could add more beef, I prefer chicken for taste (and price) hubby would be happy w/ that tho.

    I'm going to peek around your diary, if it's open
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    It is open, but don't pay too much attention to yesterday, LOL.... I didn't have time for lunch and had cheese and crackers from the department kitchen.

    ETA: Or last weekend when I was on vacation... yeah, maybe I am NOT the best example. Opps.
  • msmandyjo
    msmandyjo Posts: 95 Member
    try adding extra virgin olive to your salads, pastas and stirfry. Also try using real cheese.

    always real cheese... chewed out hubby last night because he brought home that pre-shredded nonsense for tacos... I'd rather grate it myself than eat that stuff... eww, it's not the same... once upon a time a block of cheese, would be a snack, no crackers required, just grab the block and a butter knife... maybe I'll start doing that again... I do love cheese... I don't eat it like I used to, now I only eat it on/in things
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    My suggestion would be to plan out your days. LIke if you know that it will be a low burn day, try to spread those extra 400 calories out by maybe adding 50 to 100 extra calories to each meal/snack. That way they are already planned in, and you don't have to worry about gobbling them down after dinner.
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