i have a hard time getting enough calories a day?

Question

I am a 19 year old female and am on a 1200 diet. however i find it very hard to pack in 1200 calories, an example of my meals would be a eggbeaters omelette (60 cals) wheat bread (60) apple (80) and for a snack 100bag of popcorn, lunch a 250cal sandwich (turkey, lettuce, mustard, 1 slice cheese), i have no time for a snack between lunch and dinner because of my work schedule and for dinner i'll have a peice of chicken and green beans (110+50) and i hate to eat after dinner because my diet says not to. that's still under 800 calories, and i don't have enough appetite to eat anymore than that. what should i do?

to the person who said "whats the problem", 800 will put my body in starvation mode and i wont lose anymore, because it'll be holding on to fat and burning muscle instead. if i don't get 1200 after a while i'll stop losing.

Answer 1

Why not try drinking boost? Or another meal suppliment drink?

Answer 2

Change your diet to meals that add up to 1200 calories or add a snack between lunch and dinner or have a snack after dinner. You diet says 1200 calories so if you get the other 400 after dinner so what? Continuing to eat only 800 calories will make you anemic and then you will have more problems.

Answer 3

It seems like your diet is lacking fat which is why it might be hard to get to 1200 calories. I did the same thing and was eating about the same as you (800 per day) and I lost most of the muscle in my butt and a lot of it in my thighs. I have been trying to undo the damage for two months now and am finally seeing progress.

-Cook your eggs in a healthy margarine such as Smart Balance or Smart Balance lite to add 40-80 calories per tablespoon.

-Add lite mayo or an extra piece of cheese to your lunchtime sandwich

-Add dark chocolate to your diet (70% cocoa or more). It is really good for your body, in moderation of course, and will help add some good calories to your plan.

Answer 4

Perhaps you're miscalculating. For example the bread you mentioned is either a half sandwich or the wrong kind of bread. If you get a whole grain bread, its about 110 calories a slice. Meats have a substantial amount of calories as well. Are you seeing a gain or loss on the scales? If you're a reasonable weight for your size you should just keep on what you're doing. Your meals are fairly healthy and you're stomach is telling you its full, I wouldn't fight it too much.

Answer 5

Uh... first of all, NO 19 yr old should be on a 1200 calorie diet unless they are like 300 lbs. Even then, 1500 is safer (considering the recommended daily allowance is about 2500-3000 calories).

I'm guessing this is a joke (you can't eat ENOUGH calories???), so I will get off my soapbox.

Two words for you: BIG MAC.

Answer 6

What snacks do you like? If you like nuts -- cashews, almonds etc. are healthy but will boost the calories. If you like milkshakes - go for one of those once in a while. Also "Boost" or other creamy calorie laden drinks are great. Energy bars are another alternative.
I have quite the opposite problem, so to me, you're lucky!
Cheers

Answer 7

If it's a diet, then your goal is calorie reduction. Right?

Where's the problem?

Answer 8

your wt with this top could b a hundred forty five lbs. why do u decide to earnings weight? how ever to earnings wt u might decide for fatty meals, comfortable beverages. junk food. bakery stuff. goodies and so on.

Answer 9

try adding a diet drink, i.e. slimfast, in addition to your meals

Answer 10

Don't eat anymore than.