Having trouble eating enough calories...
 

I am having trouble eating enough calories. I try to eat between 1800 - 2000 on my high days (I am zig zagging). However, the most I've been able to eat was 1700 and that was because I forced myself to eat. Then on my low days I generally do well I eat between 1300-1400 calories. Sometimes I have difficulties eating between those calories too. Does anyone else have this problem? I see more people having the opposite problem. This is an example of what I eat during the day...

Breakfast:

Egg beaters - 2 servings = 60 calories
Canadian Bacon - 1 serving = 60 calories
English Muffin - 1 serving = 130 calories
Jelly - 1 serving = 50 calories

Total for breakfast = 300

Morning snack (Sometimes nothing because I am still full...):

Yogurt - 1 serving = 170 calories
Fruit - 1 serving = 100 calories

Total for morning snack = 270

Lunch:

Healthy Choice tv dinner - 1 serving = 350 calories
Tea w/splenda - 1 serving = 30 calories

Total for lunch = 380

Afternoon snack (Sometimes nothing because I am still full... ):

Pretzels - 1 serving = 110 calories

Total for afternoon snack = 110

Dinner:

Chicken - 2 servings = 260 calories
Vegetable - 2 servings = 70 calories
Fruit - 1 serving = 100 calories

Total for dinner = 430

Daily total = 1490 calories

This is only on a good day and if I can eat snacks (which isn't often). I have higher calorie yogurt just so that I can get calories in. I don't know how to increase my calories with good foods and without overeating. It is a little frustrating, since I really am trying to do things right. I gained most of my weight, because I am a candy and sugar junky. Now that I've cut them out, I don't know how to increase my calories. I don't want to have a plateau, which is where I am heading since I am not eating high enough calories for me to decrease later. Any help or suggestions would be great... Thanks!

I've run in to the same problem - without junk food I run out of appetite before I run out of calories.

Your day doesn't look too different from mine (I'm more likely to have a sandwich or a big salad with chicken shredded on top for lunch but the calories work out the same). The one thing I'd swap out is the pretzels - have an apple and a dozen almonds. Closer to 200 calories and good quality protein in the almonds. I'd also eat real eggs rather than egg beaters... I have oikos caramel yogurts for a "snack" food, usually in the evenings for a dessert - that's another 140 calories (I think, around that, maybe only 120). I also have 4 oz of red wine while I'm making dinner - 90 calories and good for your heart. 4 oz isn't very much - i'm not a wine drinker so it takes me forever to get through a box of wine but I treat it like vitamins - something I'm doing because it is good for me.

I'm also experimenting with biscotti - whole wheat flour and various healthy nuts and berries baked together into a not terribly sweet cookie thing. There's no fat in the biscotti recipes I'm using so for 100 to 150 calories I'm getting some micro nutrients I might miss out on otherwise. Some of my attempts have been better than others...

Thank you! I will try adding some healthy nuts to my diet. They are normally high in calories, so good advice!

I agree, nuts could be helpful there. Seeds, hummus with tahini, maybe some pb with celery. Even a tablespoon of olive oil on your veggies and chicken if you need.

Seems like you are doing great overall though, keep it up! :)