I've been tracking my calories on MyFitnessPal and I'm having a hard time eating all my allotted 1510 calories. I notice that if I eat until I'm full, then my cals are around 1100-1150. If I push myself to eat to 1500, I get a stomach ache or I get cravings for fast food. I don't want to go into starvation mode, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how to control my metabolism.

How do I get to my calorie goal without stuffing myself?

Help! Thanks

You're not going to go into starvation mode by eating less than 1200 calories, it's pretty much a myth.

However I would recommend trying to eat closer to your goal right now because every time you lose 10-15 pounds you're going to have to readjust your calorie goal and most likely it'll be going down so by the time you're close to your goal you'll be down to less than 1000 calories.

I'm eating between 1400-1700 calories no problem daily. Take a look at what you're eating. Is it mainly 'diet' foods; low calorie or low fat options? I'd skip low fat dairy and eat at least 2%, that'll add more calories. Adding a tablespoon of oil to your veggies adds a healthy 120 calories. Nuts and avocadoes are healthy higher calorie snacks. You can also try adding a snack in between your main meals. I normally eat a morning, afternoon and evening snack. My morning snack is usually a granola bar, afternoon is 2 hard boiled eggs and evening is some yogurt.

You can add me on MFP if you'd like to look at my diary, though I do eat mainly the same thing daily and my lunches are a bit odd as they're Korean public school lunches. My name there is the same as it is here.

If you're full you're full just don't go below 1,200. You don't go into starvation mode unless you've eaten zero for days on end.

What are you eating that you are finding yourself so full? How did you get overweight if you weren't finding yourself full before?

Anyway a food log would make it easier to give you suggestions. Make it complete with accurate quantities.

I wouldn't worry about it. Stay where you are.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

To the OP: Whenever someone posts about being too full to eat their allotted calories, I think, "What planet are you from????" I'm probably just envious, but I can't imagine feeling full on 1,500 calories. I eat about 2,000 to maintain, and even that isn't anywhere close enough for me to feel full -- ever. The good thing is that I almost never feel significant hunger, which is my primary goal. But it would take at least 3,000 cals per day for me to feel full.

Freelance

Changergirl,

I don't mean to be disagreeable, but I am just wondering if what you said

is a myth, too.

I imagine some people might need to readjust their calorie intake every 10-15lbs, but I for one have not had to readjust calorie intake.

Tilly (54lb loss in 7+ months at 1500cals)

It depends on your age, height, activity level. I would think it would also depend on what makes up those calories, what types of foods you are eating.

Here is a calculator I found online that tells you how many calories you need to maintain a certain weight. I don't know, even if I entered my goal weight instead of my current weight it gives me more calories than I think I should be eating.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/calorie-ca...r/ITT-20084939

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I appreciate the responses.

I'm eating healthy things like yogurt, frozen fruit, salads with strawberry vinegar (not oil) for dressing, tuna mac n' cheese, and baked tilapia with veggies. We've stopped the fast food, and we went out for "Taco Tuesday" last week, where I had one taco and a bowl of chicken tortilla soup. As I look at it, it's mainly lower carb. I didn't plan it that way, it was just easier to prep

I had some problems with binge eating before, so I'm trying a more psychological approach this time. My main goal was to listen to my body when it told me I was full, hence the lower calories. As I look back, it's just too low, and I think that's because I eat lighter during the day. I usually eat a little more during the weekend, but nothing that I would call a binge. However, this week I'm going to add in more cals to my breakfast and lunches and see what happens. I noticed when I try to eat more at dinner, it leads to night snacking and overeating.

Anyhoo, thanks for the feedback everyone! I'll let you know how it goes

Whenever I cant reach my calories I blend together a smoothie (usually kale spinach banana lemon juice & ice) and throw in a quarter cup of Chia seeds. Good for you and altogether the smoothie is about ~300 cals

coffeeshopgirl, I just want to comment that I think you are doing a super job learning to listen to your body and notice patterns like how what you eat at one time affects how you feel at other times.

I have never had the problem of eating too little - I wish! It's completely alien to me. But if it is a concern of yours I think you are approaching it very smartly. Good luck!

Good for you, sounds like you're doing a great job listening to your hunger signals.

Just wanted to point out that you can try adding a little healthy fat to your salad. Some olive oil, some avocado, some nuts. I say this because it is very difficult for your body to absorb nutrients from veggies without healthy fat. It's true, a little olive oil would make your salad much more digestable and healthy for you.