[vmo1]

I'm trying to get better about counting calories and proper proportions. What does anyone else do for their calorie allowances for each meal? I rarely have time to eat 5-6 small meals, even though I know I should. I've been recently making smoothies for breakfast with a protein powder since I wasn't getting enough but just added it up and it's 560 calories (pro biotic organic yogurt, fruit juice, fruit and the powder)! Of that it's 27.5 grams protein and 12.5 grams fiber but does that seem like a high number for anyone else? It does seem to keep me full, and is quite balanced with all the vitamins, etc in it but I'm wondering if I'd be better off with fewer calories?

[Betsi]

That sounds like a perfect amount if you're getting around 3-4 meals a day. There's a great thread called "How many calories do I need?" here in the Calorie Counters forum that will give you a good idea of how many calories you burn a day. Subtract 500 from the amount you come up with to figure out how many calories to eat if you are looking to lose a pound a week. Then divide that by how many meals you're getting to find a ballpark figure for how many calories to aim for per meal.

[vmo1]

Thanks so much Betsi! I'm very new at counting calories and it's a bit intimidating at the moment.

[StillTryin]

VMO....to me that seems like a lot of calories for that kind of smoothie. I make one also:
1 cup greek yogurt 100 cals
1 cup frozen fruit 50-80 cals
1 scoop egg white protein powder 100 cals
1/4 cup skim milk + protein 40 cals
add a little ice or water if needed to thicken or thin.
I end up with 50 grams of protein and about 330 calories in 16oz

[lorilove]

If it works for you then there is nothing wrong with it. There is no hard and fast rule that you have to eat 3 meals and 2 snack or some combination of 6 meals a day. These are just general recommendations based on what works for others.

On average, most recommendations stress the importance of eating breakfast and spreading your calories throughout the day (not necessarily exactly even). So yes 500+ calories is a bit high for most of us but there is certaintly nothing wrong about it. I am personally a cereral fanatic so I have a big bowl daily with skim milk and fruit on the side. My breakfast calories are around 400 but then I have a snack mid-morning which add anywhere from 100-150 calories so I am not that far off from you.

When I first started I stuck closer to 3 meals a day. As time went on I got in the habit of not eating everthing that I planned at once. If I was full, the fruit I planned for breakfast I would save and eat an hour or two later or the fruit I planned for lunch I might eat an hour earlier etc. As time went by, over time this became routine and got me in the habit of eating 3 meals and 2 snacks. I still plan my food and think in terms of 3 meals a day.

Lori

[vmo1]

Thanks for all the ideas! Thinking about it, I'm really not getting any nutrition from the juice other than vitamin C which I already get enough of. I'm going to try making it with skim milk or water tomorrow, cutting 150 calories making it 410 which seems a little more reasonable. StillTryin, what type of egg protein powder do you use? I've been looking all over for a good, well rounded protein powder and all I've come up with so far is the Kashi, which I really like, but I love options!
I wish I liked breakfast, lol, but it's never stuck with me! I will find something I really like--Ezekiel 4:9 is wonderful-- but after a week I'm back to not eating anything in the morning. I loath getting up early and 5 am is much too early as is! But my job is pretty taxing so I'm looking for all the ideas I can to get breakfast in the morning.

[StillTryin]

I get mine from a1supplements.com it is like $25 and lasts for a month if used 1 time per day. I dont use it daily..sometimes then sometimes every other day...just depends on my mood. It seems less (funky) tasting for lack of a better word. The one I use has no carbs, no fat also so that helps me.