finding myself with so many cals left over

It helps to add nuts daily--lots of healthy calories.

Yea, agreed with the fast food part.
If you're going to have fast food, have subway.

you will save a lot of money and be able to buy healthier groceries.

i had a big problem with fast food.
i craved it.
i had it almost everyday.

kfc, mcdonalds, burger king, harveys, and that's hwo i got to where i am.
it's still a battle.
more so out of convenience now than a craving.

but i know if i start again, i'll binge.

now that i'm eating healthier, homecooked meals, i feel amazing.


set yourself a goal.
try 1 week without ANY convenient fast foods, and log it all.
see if your calories come any closer to your target.

if not, then i guess you need to eat more. :P

Eat at home and you don't have to eat all your calories!

Sorry for all the fast food. I work at Wendy's and my boss HATES it when I bring in my lunch and take up room in the fridge

you boss sucks!!!!!!! maybe add in a few snack bars between meals, maybe just a few cups of orange juice or apple juice, around 110 calories per glass.. o and I always see people say eat some peanuts so I guess that too

Eat their salads w/ a chicken breast and very little dressing - preferably lite.

I agree that nuts is a really good way to get some extra calories
into your diet if you are struggling.

At work, is it a staff fridge? If so, I would be telling my boss that
that is exactly what it's there for...

Or, take some packet soups (if don't mind the soduim). I really
like to add sunflower seeds to cupa soups to add texture.

Good Luck
Nicola x

Careful with your sodium intake. That comes from all the processed foods (my biggest downfall). If it's consistently high, your body will revolt!

Like some of the others said, try and drop the fast food. It is easier to just pop something in the microwave or stop off someplace on the way to work but it really is more expensive and a lot less healthy for you even if you are remaining under your calorie intake.

I recommend more fresh or frozen fruits. Make your own smoothies, mix them with cereal or just eat them plain. Yes, fresh fruit and veggies are expensive but if you can look at stuff that is in season then it isn't usually as bad...like right now watermelon is in season and is like... 85 cents/pound. Also, more veggies.This does not mean salads all the time. I hardly eat salads but I stick with broccoli, various squashes (both winter and summer), green beans...etc. Those are my favorite. I can definitely get you some recipes....like I LOVE to sautee broccoli in a bit of olive oil and then sprinkle some curry powder on top of them. Doesn't even need butter and adds a really nice little taste! I really only eat veggies once a day...at dinner.

For breakfast, if you are looking to eat quick (Since I see you have been eating quite a few Dean's...and they are yummy) I usually have a a Franz or Thomas English Muffin with a little butter and honey, a little bowl of fruit, and some juice. Then I take a banana or some crackers or nuts with me to eat as my snack at around ten.

Today, for the first time, I entered in my exercise and saw it raised my normal 1280 calories to over 1700, much like yours. It is now close to dinner time and I still have 911 left because of the exercise. It is NOT happening for me to finish that many calories and I am not going to try either! I am not hungry right now and I am not going to try and stuff myself to the point of sickness just to get in the calories. I personally am going to try and keep it at around my 1300 calories even if it says I may be "starving myself". That is just where I feel comfortable.

The thing you have no doubt heard before is "calories in, calories out". Basically, one needs to in a day burn more calories then one consumes. However, some people KILL themselves at the gym to get a few thousand calories out but what so many people DON'T think of that even sitting looking at this and breathing and having your body do it's thing for keeping you alive is burning calories. Sleeping 8 hours burns something like...500-700 calories a night. You don't have to burn everything you eat at the gym nor do you have to replace the calories that you burnt at the gym. Honestly, just go with how you feel. If you feel reducing calories to 1500 (with exercise) or so is the best choice so you don't feel like you are forcing yourself to consume insane amounts of food then go for it! You are doing great girl! Keep it up!!!

If you want some ideas feel free to look at my diary since you are on my friends list. Also, let me know if you want some simple food ideas/recipes!

Get yourself an insulated lunch box and a freezer pak. Then you dont need to use the fridge.

This! I always do this with my lunch and it stays plenty cold. You can even use 2 ice packs if you have an especially long day.

If that isn't an option, try to just eat healthy snacks that don't need to be refrigerated to hold you over until you get home. Then have a healthy meal.

OR if those don't work. Try to at least get one of the healthier options from work to hold you over. All the nutrition can be found online.

I noticed you exercise quite regualily. Just because you burn those calories doesn't mean you should eat more. Kind of defeats the purpose of working out.

What utter nonsense.

The 'point' of working out is to increase fitness. Maintaining a calorie deficit is how you lose weight. But there's no requirement to starve your body to do so.