Trouble getting calories in

I see a lot of threads like this and I always wonder why it is that someone who is trying to lose weight has this problem. I mean absolutley no disrespect. I just wonder what the difference is with someone like yourself's past calorie and food intake and a struggle to get enough calories now. LOL, it is obviously a problem I don't share as I have to watch how many and never are under unless I'm doing intermittent fasting and it's intentional.

I don't know if I'm alone in this, but I have never been a big eater. I actually don't enjoy eating very much. I also have had a great understanding of nutrition and fitness my entire life (grew up with very healthy parents). But I still ended up 90 pounds overweight. I didn't gain weight because I was eating huge portions or didn't know how to control myself or what I was doing. I gained weight because I was depressed and wanted to kill myself with food; it was the one method that didn't look like suicide. I'd deliberately pick the unhealthiest items I could (can you say Doritos for three meals a day and drinking only soda and booze?) and choke them down. I didn't necessarily eat a lot of it, but it's so high in calories that I didn't need to.

It was only when I stopped being depressed that I changed my diet. I eat with the same frequency and volume, but now that the food isn't 300 calories an ounce, the numbers don't get very high. It can be very difficult for me to get up to even 1200 calories, but I'd rather risk too few calories of nutritious healthful foods than hit a certain number with processed crap.

I guess the bottom line is that you can't assume that everyone gets fat for the same reason. Sure, a lot of people really don't know what they're putting into their bodies and education is often key. But for some of us, it's not nearly that simple. (By the way, don't read this as being upset; I just wanted to give you an answer.)

Perfect reply. Looking back on myself and my emotions, though I didnt realize it at the time, but this IS what I was doing. I didn't care enough about myself because of my depression and anxiety to do anything but eat. It was easier to grab the crap and flop back down on the couch.
I've been working on pulling myself out of this wretched funk for awhile and Sunday morning I woke up giving a crap about ME and decided I'm worth it. MONTHS of wishing I could care finally paid off I guess. Cause here I am a week later.
I still have Doritos and ice cream in the house. I've just decided I'd rather not eat that anymore. I prefer how my body, how *I* feel after a big bowl of fruits and veggies- BUT, that leaves me lacking in calories.

I don't know if I'm alone in this, but I have never been a big eater. I actually don't enjoy eating very much. I also have had a great understanding of nutrition and fitness my entire life (grew up with very healthy parents). But I still ended up 90 pounds overweight. I didn't gain weight because I was eating huge portions or didn't know how to control myself or what I was doing. I gained weight because I was depressed and wanted to kill myself with food; it was the one method that didn't look like suicide. I'd deliberately pick the unhealthiest items I could (can you say Doritos for three meals a day and drinking only soda and booze?) and choke them down. I didn't necessarily eat a lot of it, but it's so high in calories that I didn't need to.

It was only when I stopped being depressed that I changed my diet. I eat with the same frequency and volume, but now that the food isn't 300 calories an ounce, the numbers don't get very high. It can be very difficult for me to get up to even 1200 calories, but I'd rather risk too few calories of nutritious healthful foods than hit a certain number with processed crap.

I guess the bottom line is that you can't assume that everyone gets fat for the same reason. Sure, a lot of people really don't know what they're putting into their bodies and education is often key. But for some of us, it's not nearly that simple. (By the way, don't read this as being upset; I just wanted to give you an answer.)

Thanks to both of you for helping me to understand. I am a professional chef and as a result of what I do for so many hours everyday, I sometimes can lose touch with the fact that not everyone is programed with nutritional data that they work with everyday.

You've gotten a lot of great suggestions on more calorie dense foods. I'd also add full fat greek yogurt to the list. Another very healthy food that is calorie dense. One of the great things about nuts and nut butters, particularly walnuts and almonds is that they are very high in Omega 3 fatty acids. These have incredible health benefits for inflamation, heart health and brain health. Nuts are high in fat but fat doesn't make you fat, too many calories do. And the fat from nuts is the best kind of fat that you can have.

The emotional component is very real. For me stress and depression can either cause overeating or undereating. Cortisol can also promote fat retention and that is released in response to stress in the body. I am truly so glad that both of you are getting to a more healthy place, physically and emotionally. They also feed off of eachother positive or negative. When you are living more healthy physically, it helps you to be more healthy emotionally and the same in the other direction. We are integrated systems not segmented ones. The key thing is to make the choice and the act of will to go in a good direction as you both have. I applaud your efforts!!